Student Stories, Achievements & Community News
Student Stories & Achievements
Congratulations to our Da Vinci Decathlon teams, who represented the College with great pride. First and foremost, to our Year 8 team for their incredible 1st place finish in the Legacy category! It is a remarkable achievement to be at the very top of such a challenging field. We also celebrate the Year 9 team, who secured a brilliant 2nd place in Creative Producers.
Our boys competed against some of the top schools in the state, with as many as 30 to 40 schools participating in certain year levels. Their approach to collaboration and tackling complex problems under pressure was inspiring.
Year 7 Team - Talon, Savvas, Luke, Kai, Oscar, Olivier, Edward and Lachlan
Year 8 Team - Dylan, Zander, Ezra, Thomas, Kristian, Denver, Karl and Jensen
Year 9 Team - Lucas, CC, Max-Xavier, Lukas, Sam, Ren, Brandon and Daniel
Year 10 Team - George, Hamish, Rory, Adam, Henry, Aidan, Jackson and Sebastian
Congratulations to our stellar team who won the ACC Open Public Speaking Competition in aback-to-back victory. Teammates Nick Shipham, and Daniel Athaide (College Vice-Captains), Vinnie (Year 11) and Lucian (Year 8 ) took the lead straight away at the end of the prepared speeches, scoring 307.
As the day went on, they pulled away, bringing much excitement. The boys demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship among themselves - coaching and supporting each other - and across the competition. Vinnie shares his highlights.
“Our success can bring more people into Public Speaking and provide many people with the opportunity to just give it a go. It gets people out of their comfort zones and positively represents the College. I believe the entire win itself really reflects our teamwork and unity we have at the College. While Public Speaking can be stressful, I learned from it how to stay calm, and deal with those higher-pressure situations."
Congratulations gents on your stellar work! Many thanks to Kath Flynn (Program Coordinator) for her coaching and support.
The Rostrum Voice of Youth Competition saw our our students write and speak passionately about issues important to them. Lucian and Kristian (Year 8) and George (Year 10) each wrote and delivered an original piece. Lucian's humourous 6-minute sppech focussed on the need for a Digital Detox in which he ended his speech with a call to action: “And perhaps… the most rebellious thing you can do in 2026 is ignore the ding.”
Kristian's topic Laughter is the Best Medicine started off with a comparison, “It’s like releasing pressure from a boiling kettle. One second, everything is contained. Controlled. Quiet. Then something small happens… suddenly there’s a release. A crack in the tension. A burst of steam. That’s what laughter is. Not entertainment…Release.”
George's thoughtful 8-minute reflection on the consequences of what US former President George Bush Sr termed the New World Order left the audience to consider his call to action, “We must resist this temptation to prioritise political comfort over our morals. Only by preserving our beliefs, only by guarding what makes us really us, can we offer a healthy redemption to a society warped in a swamp of materialism.”
Three student teams represented the College at the All Schools Cross Country Relays, competing against the best runners in the state. Outstanding running by all our students, averaging well under 4 minutes per km for their 3k on a hilly and cross country course.
Under 14 - 1st - Marcus, Asher, Sam and Jess
Under 16 - 3rd - Hugo, Christian, Tom and Marcel
Under 18 - 4th - Eoin, Will, Charles and Jonas
Our Kilbreda x St Bede's Netball Friendly is always a highlight and another great reason to catch up. Whilst our gents did their very best, the ladies outshone the competition with grace. Thanks to all the players for their excellent spirits and sportsmanship!
Our Year 12 were thrilled to get their Class of 2026 hoodies and are wearing them with great pride. Designed by the College Captains, the hoodie is much more than an extra layer, says proud student Kevin (Kev).
"Genuinely, it’s a huge milestone and a special tradition. It's one of the most significant pieces of history that I can keep for life. Now everyone can recognise me as a Year 12 student - the most important part of my final year of school.
The hoodie represents the culmination of my 6 years at the College (3 years at Bentleigh East, 3 years at Mentone).
The staff and students at St Bedes are incredibly supportive and proud of me for stepping up as a leader, adapting to lots of changes, being kind to everyone, my friends, all of the achievements I’ve done and doing a great job in the school.
I love my name on the back, the logo at the front, and the lines on the sleeves. Wrapping myself in my official Year 12 jumper provides a tangible hug from the past, reminding me favorite teachers, and the best of my school memories that I’ll never forget. It is a symbol of greatness and where I belong."
Year 7 Reflections
What makes a good friend?
"A good friend has strong communication skills and a friendly personality. They listen, include others, and make people feel supported and valued.
Kindness and respect are also important. True friends respect your feelings, opinions, and wellbeing, and they treat others fairly. Encouragement is another valuable trait, as good friends support you, celebrate your achievements, and help you stay confident. Honesty and trust are key parts of strong friendships too. Friends should feel comfortable being truthful and open with each other. Finally, great friends face challenges alongside you and grow with you through new experiences and difficult times. These are some of the qualities I value most in friendship." Beau, Class Captain
"Being a great friend starts with trust, being honest, kind, caring, and respectful. Always have your friends’ backs and never talk badly about them behind their backs. Support them, stand up for them if they’re being hurt or bullied, and include them.
Great friends listen, show up in good times and tough times, respect boundaries, and make others feel safe, valued, and accepted. At the end of the day, being a good friend is simple: be someone others can trust, rely on, and enjoy being around." Renny, Class Captain
Camp Favourites
"Some of my favourite activities were rock climbing, fishing, boogie boarding, ping pong, and bowling. Rock climbing was challenging but really fun, and boogie boarding in the waves was one of the best parts. Fishing was exciting, even though we only caught two fish! The food was amazing, and spending time eating and hanging out with friends made it even better. Movie night was also really cool, and staying up in the cabins talking and laughing was one of the funniest parts of camp. Cypress Lodge Camp was an awesome experience filled with fun, great memories, and lots of laughs. Thank you Mr Nesci and Mr Valastro for making it so enjoyable." Asher
Top 5 Tips for Surviving High School
Tips to help you stay organised and make school easier from Elliott 7.2 and Tullow 7.4.
Stay organised – keep your locker tidy and be ready for class.
Arrive early – being at school on time helps you feel prepared for the day ahead.
Solve problems early – ask for help before small problems become bigger ones.
Don’t compare yourself to others – focus on your own growth and progress.
Make friends early – getting to know people can make every day more enjoyable.
Follow these simple tips and school can feel a lot easier and less stressful!