Student Stories, Achievements & Community Updates

Year 12 VCE-Vocational Major Sugar Tax Awareness Campaign 

The effects of sugar on the body are being researched by our Year 12 VCE-VM students, to help them form their own opinions about whether or not Australia should have a sugar tax.

The students reflect on this below: 

"People consume more sugar than their bodies require for a day. Our bodies only need 6 teaspoons of sugar per day and the average adult has around 17 teaspoons of sugar. That is almost three times the amount of sugar they are meant to consume in one day." Brodie Peck

"Most people will go shopping for the week and fill the basket with sugary foods. Families think all these healthy foods are great and have heaps of added health preservatives but really, they're packed with sugar. It's recommended that you have no more than 24 grams of sugar per day (6 teaspoons). Most people will have that before they even leave the house in the morning." Jonathan Kotsiopoulos

"There is sugar in absolutely everything that we eat. Not everyone is aware of that. It is a big problem for a lot of young people." Tyler Beattie

"Products don't have enough warnings for sugar levels and it is absurd the amount of sugar in some products, it should be more obvious how much sugar is in an item and there should be warnings for the amounts of sugar." Eli Russell

"I am having way more sugar than I actually thought I was! Half a jar full of sugar from my 24-hour Food Diary. I have something to think about and changes to make." Sam O’Connor

How do these student experiences and opinions on sugar differ from yours? 

VCE Vocational Major - City Excursions 

Our Year 11 VCE VM students recently took to the city to visit the Victorian Trades Hall 

as part of their Unit 2 WRS - Skills and Capabilities for Employment and Further Education. 

Run by the Young Workers Centre, this organisation teaches students and youth about their rights at work, how to resolve workplace issues and other practical employee skills and knowledge. Students discussed real life stories and case studies, had a tour of the Victorian Trades Hall building – a stunning historic building undergoing a process of restoration – and participated in a learning module entitled ‘Apprentice Ready’. 

This was followed by a visit to The Salvation Army for their Unit 2 Literacy - Understanding Issues and Voices. Students undertook a youth homelessness city tour, where they engaged with stories and interactive activities to explore homelessness, challenge stereotypes and promote compassion. This expands on Literacy studies exploring issues such as Homelessness, and significant Social Movements such as #metoo and Black Lives Matter. 

Modern History Excursion - Melbourne Holocaust Museum

Our Year 11 students studying History: Modern History had the opportunity to attend a session at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum this month. They met Holocaust survivor Henry Ekert AM and heard about his experiences in Poland during WWII. Student Jordan Poulier reflects on his experience.

"The Melbourne Holocaust Museum gave us an insight into the brutal Nazi regime that millions of people had to live through during the Holocaust. The fact that many survivors are still willing to tell us their traumatic story shows us that they are forever grateful for those who saved their lives, as well as their second chance of life that they were offered."

These students also attended a VCE Research Skills session at the State Library of Victoria, having a tour of the library and then attending a session where they learnt valuable skills to help them in their VCE.

Student Achievements

VCE Vocational Major - Year 12 Subject Awards 

On their final day today, these VCE VM Year 12 students received awards for their efforts in their subjects this year. Congratulations to the following students on their achievements.    

Public Speaking 

Congratulations to the following Mentone students who were judged the best speakers in their Year Levels:

Year 7                  Chris Ou & Dan Pickett

Year 8                  Jacob Murphy & Aaron Vu

Year 9                  Daniel Athaide & Nicholas Shipham

Year 10               Harrison McCawley & Alex Tanti

These students will be joined by the best public speakers from our Bentleigh East campus, and the following Mentone Senior students, in the 2023 Br Quentin O’Halloran Public Speaking Evening on Monday 9 October. 

Year 11               Liam Casey & Noah Honey

Year 12               Christian Ballarin, Matthew Billing & Austin Warfe

Debating DAV Schools Competition 

This week, our Year 10 (C-grade) debating team that progressed to the finals of the DAV schools competition competed in the Octo-finals. 

Team Beda was up against Braybrook College and debated the topic ‘That politicians should earn the median wage,’ making the negative case. It was a really closely contested debate, and in the end St Bede’s came away with a two point win! 

Best speaker in the event was awarded to the formidable Tomas Polintan.

Harry McCawley and Oliver Bradley also spoke in the debate, supported by teammate John Carino.

Our students now progress to the quarter finals in Term 4 Week 1 at Loreto College in Toorak. This now puts them in the Top 8 teams of the competition that started with a pool of 300+ teams from schools around the state. It’s a massive achievement for this team - congratulations! 

St Bede's College Golf Championships 

45 students competed from all year levels at our College's Year Level Golf Championships on Monday at Rossdale Golf Club. 

Each student was vying for Best Golfer in their Year Level, Senior Group, Junior Group and Overall Champion. 

This year, Year 10 student Toby Coleridge won Overall Champion and ‘Bradley Hughes Scholarship’. Toby won by the finest of margins, as not even a play-off hole could split he and Maxwell Oldham. It went to a countback and Toby was determined the winner. The ‘up and down’ Toby made on both the 18th and 19th holes were the definition of ‘clutch’ and moves so impressive, that Golf Co-Director, Mr Greg Roberts couldn't help but sing his praises aloud. 

While there winners and runners-up in different categories, it was the spirit, politeness and overall behaviour of our Beda students that struck a chord with the members of Rossdale Golf Club. On a number of occasions, both Mr Roberts and Golf Co-Director Mr Jamie Parton were approached by club members to share how wonderful they thought our Beda students are.  Before we await with great anticipation the Junior ACC Championships early next term, we congratulate our Champions below. 

"To win the school championships means a lot to me, especially to win on my home course. It was a good experience having the result come down to a playoff hole against Max." Toby Coleridge

The Results

Overall Champion- Toby Coleridge

Overall Runner-Up- Maxwell Oldham

Senior Champion- Toby Coleridge 

Junior Champion- Thomas Elliot

Year 12 Champion- Maxwell Oldham

Year 12 Runner-Up- Luke Sullivan

Year 11 Champion- Jack Cheron

Year 11 Runner-Up- James Loffel

Year 10 Champion- Toby Coleridge 

Year 10 Runner-Up- Campbell Gatt & Patrick Henry 

Year 9 Champion- Thomas Elliot

Year 9 Runner-Up- Riley Shimmin

Year 8 Champion- Finn Butterly 

Year 8 Runner-Up- Will McKean

Year 7 Champion- Cooper Bruce

Year 7 Runner-Up- Ben L’Huillier  

Congratulations

Jamie Ritzert (Year 10) competed in the 2023 Ronde van Taminick Road Race on Sunday 13 August. Jamie came 6th in the time trials and 4th overall in his age group, riding for 2hrs and 58 mins.