Principal's Update 

VCE Unit 3/4 Examinations

All students undertaking Unit 3 & 4 VCE Exams have now completed their schedules and are to be commended on how they approached these exams during the almost daily media coverage surrounding the large number of exam concerns. 

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s (VCAA) Interim Chief Executive Officer, Dr Marcia Devlin AM, has delivered an apology on behalf of VCAA for the errors in the examinations, acknowledged how hard students have worked over many months to prepare for the assessments, and outlined the process VCAA will follow to ensure each student is marked fairly.

VCAA has published information including Q&As on their website at www.vcaa.vic.edu.au

Looking To 2025

With the issuing of student reports, exam results and final grades comes questions about goal setting, subject choices, future career pathways and a personal assessment of the commitment given to the current school year. 

How does that commitment measure up to what is required to find success in academic studies and giving the best chance of achieving a 'personal best'? All our boys are encouraged to set realistic, but aspirational goals (both short, and long term) and to commit wholeheartedly to these goals. Learning from such commitment, and being resilient to the inevitable hurdles or failures, is an important life lesson, and part of the formation of our students.

There is an important difference between being generally interested in a goal, and being fully committed to that goal. Often, we have goals we may be interested in and will happily give the level of effort that is convenient and relatively easy if those actions happen to point us in the general direction of our aim. But if our application to a goal is limited to an interest only, rather than being a full commitment, we may be more likely to opt out when the going gets tough, or when desired outcomes do not come easily. Boys know this on the sports field as “putting in the short steps.” It is then easy to find the excuses as to why we cannot commit to the necessary hard work and hardship to achieve some worthwhile gain. Full commitment demands nothing less than applying ourselves totally and honestly to achieving our personal best.

During this week’s 2024 Student Awards Evening, it was a pleasure to acknowledge many students who have displayed high levels of commitment and performance in their academic studies throughout the year.

Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, once said “We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” (or commitment). 

Each time a grandparent, parent, coach or mentor has said, “If you are going to do a job, do it properly”, or “Near enough is not good enough”, or “Only perfect practice makes perfect”, they are reinforcing the same message as that of Aristotle, given so long ago. 

If a student is not able to say he has given full commitment to studies this year, they already have a very worthwhile goal for next year.  "I will do what is needed to achieve a personal best in 2025!"

Music on the Lawn

Last Wednesday evening, we were treated to a fitting end of year celebration of the College’s music program with our annual concert displaying all facets of our musicality.

Well done to our musicians and vocalists providing entertainment to those in attendance, and to our teams of staff who swiftly and graciously relocated the event into the Sports Centre ahead of a wild storm. 

ACC Competitions - 2024 Wrapped

The College has again performed to a high level in all aspects of Associated Catholic Colleges’ (ACC) Competitions. The College placed first in both the Swimming Carnival and Cross Country Carnival, in both cases, for the 5th consecutive year! 

We also won individual and team ACC Triathlon events; and placed first in both Senior and Intermediate ACC Public Speaking. In our various weekly sporting competitions, St Bede’s College top results were as follows: 

Seniors 

Cricket 35 Overs - Premiers

Cricket T20 (2) - Second

Hockey - Second

Table Tennis - Third

Year 10 

Tennis-Premiers

Volleyball-Second

Soccer-Second

Table Tennis-Third

Year 9

Football-Premiers

Hockey-Premiers

Tennis-Premiers

Volleyball-Second

Soccer (1)-Third

Soccer (3)-Second 

Basketball (1)-Third

Basketball (2)-Third

Badminton-Third

Table Tennis-Third

Year 8

Hockey-Premiers

Cricket (2)-Premiers

Volleyball (1)-Second

Volleyball (2)-Second

Football (1)-Third

Football (3)-First

Basketball-Third

Badminton-Third

Table Tennis-Second

Year 7

Soccer (3)-Second

Hockey-Second 

This is a great reflection on the very large number of students who participate and excel in all of the activities and to our staff who coach and manage the teams. Thank you to all who support in ways big and small. 

Christmas and End of Year

On Tuesday, we gathered for our end-of-year Liturgy, where we expressed gratitude for the blessings that have been brought to the St Bede’s College Community during 2024.  

As we bring the school year to a close, we continue to prepare during Advent for the amazing season of Christmas. As a society, we are increasingly inundated with media-driven messages that may be reducing the celebration of Jesus’ birth to a plain and ordinary event. Retailers worry that current economic conditions will curtail Christmas spending. With this season characterised by urgency, commercialisation and indulgence, we must remind ourselves of the simple and beautiful message of Christmas.

On the very first Christmas day, Christ was born into the most modest of surroundings. His arrival and subsequent mission on earth was to bring us into a closer relationship with God and with each other. The absolute lack of ceremony of his birth in a humble stable serves as a real reminder that Christmas is meant to be a simple and joy-filled occasion. A time to relax, to spend quality time with family and friends, to renew important relationships, and to truly appreciate the important place of people in our lives and the important place of God in our lives. This is the great gift at Christmas and gives cause for true celebration.

2024 has given St Bede’s College much to be grateful for. The year has shown once again that it is people — students, parents, staff, the College Board, the Brothers, Old Collegians and friends — that truly make a school. I thank all our staff members who have worked so hard to give students a positive learning experience—in, and out of, the classroom. Our staff are creating memories and moments that our students will remember for years to come. You are all so well deserving of the break ahead and our blessings go with you.  Return well and refreshed for 2025!  

Mateship is very strong at the College. I am grateful for the learning, friendships, experiences, opportunities, achievements, and events that have marked our year.  

Thank you to all our students for the part you have played in supporting one another and making the year enjoyable for each other. It is so pleasing to see you participate with such enthusiasm in the many aspects of College life, in and outside the classroom. While your love for sport has been high as ever, it his particularly pleasing to observe the increasing numbers of students who have taken part in the academic competitions and learning experiences beyond the classroom.

Our student body has also looked beyond its own needs and has contributed to the local community in so many ways, and also to fellow Lasallian schools, especially in the magnificent response to Mission Action Day. This generosity allows a rich and vast love to be shown and shared. Next week, we look forward to celebrating the achievements of our Class of 2024 students as they receive their results. 

I am most grateful to our College Board, so ably led by Keiren Tilbrook (Chair) and Sal Algeri (Deputy Chair). 

As is always at the end of the school year, we have students and staff who will be leaving our College Community to follow different pathways. To those who are beginning their new adventures beyond our gates, you do so with our best wishes and many blessings. Good luck into next year and we trust that some of the Beda Spirit goes with you.

I wish everyone a Happy and Holy Christmas as we look forward to a wonderful 2025. 

Enjoy a safe and relaxing holiday break.

Per Vias Rectas

Deb Frizza 

Principal

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation, whose ancient wisdom nurtured these lands and waters for millennia.