Principal's Update 

F1 in Schools National Finals

Congratulations to Team Aiolos, who competed in the National Finals last week in Adelaide, and came home with Best Graphic Design award. The team placed 7th overall in a very tough competition. 

This is an incredible achievement and one we should all be very proud of. Well done to the team - Nick Shipham, Luca Sullivan, T’zario Lay, Matt Donnelly and Roháhn Marie-Jeanne - for their extraordinary efforts since they began their journey in mid-2023. 

My gratitude goes also to our staff, Peter Russell and Donald Ngo who expertly mentored and supported these students throughout the competition and accompanied them on the return trip to Adelaide. Bravo. 

ACC Swimming Championship

Best of luck to our swimming squad and coaches ahead of the ACC Swimming Competition next Wednesday at MSAC. Head Coach and Health and PE Teacher, Gavin Brown says the squad has been training diligently since October 2023.

"The squad trained two mornings a week for all of Term 4 last year and Term 1 to prepare for next week's Championship. We have won the last 4 years at ACC Swimming, so we're going for 5 wins in a row. This is not just luck though, all our students work really hard to represent our school and get deserving results." 

Squad Members 

Coaches

Gavin Brown, Jess Kirk, Greg Roberts 

I very much look forward to cheering you on. 

Mission Action Day

Friday 22 March 

A powerful event in the history and tradition of St Bede’s College, Mission Action Day (MAD), takes place tomorrow. It is a day where we come together to make a difference to those less fortunate than ourselves through the Lasallian Foundation. 

Our College Captains have been busily preparing for the day and have set students the ambitious target of raising $90,000. As at publishing time of this College Newsletter, we have collectively raised $65,386 - an incredibly heartwarming testament to the generosity and global perspectives of our College Community. 

Funds that we raise contribute largely to the development of De La Salle Mission schools in Pakistan and Papua New Guinea and other areas of identified need.  In this way we support our Lasallian brothers and sisters in the provision of education in developing communities and countries. The photographs below are wonderful evidence of the facilities our MAD funds have contributed to at St Solomon's School in Ahmedabad, India. 

We take immense pride in the active involvement of our students and Community. We look forward to your continued support for Mission Action Day 2024. Donations can be made until April 19 this year via student links or to the overall fundraiser here.    

Educating and Understanding Boys

Teaching Standards 

Our teaching and learning strategies for boys’ education at St Bede’s College align with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. The seven standards listed below identify what is expected of teachers.

1. Know students and how they learn. This is a fundamental precept of John Baptist de La Salle and we place a great emphasis on every boy being known by name by his teachers, by other boys and indeed most people he will encounter across the school day.
2. Know the content and how to teach it.
3. Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning e.g. data and regular formative assessment indicates that students have made progress.
4. Create and maintain effective teaching and learning.
5. Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning.
6. Engage in professional learning.
7. Engage professionally with colleagues, parents, carers and the community.

Positive relationships between our students are essential and are developed through a culture of mutual respect, which is modelled and taught by our teachers. We commit ourselves to our Guiding Principles in everything we do:   

Our Guiding Principles

• God is our focus. God is spoken about and we give time and energy to worship and social action. 
• We are Brothers and Sisters to each other. We always take care of each other. The Lasallian Spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood underpins all our actions.
• Always be honest. The value of honesty and integrity is at the heart of all our relationships. 
• Respect. For self, for others and for property. These are sacred gifts. 
• Achievement is valued. We strive to give our best efforts across cultural, academic and sporting fields. 

Teachers who create positive teacher-student relationships are more likely to have an above average impact on student achievement. 

It is our honour to teach your boys and we remain committed to supporting and understanding them along their journey. 

A Message For Easter

Prior to the Term 1 holiday, next week our students will engage in a Holy Week/Easter liturgy. During this Easter season, we might pray for the personal faith and humility to be open to God’s infinite grace and light.  We may pray, too, that all of humanity might be open and receptive to God’s life-giving energy.

Nicodemus is a prominent figure in the Gospel of John. He is important because his interaction with Jesus provides significant theological insights that are central to the Christian understanding of faith, rebirth, and salvation which are the central matters of the Easter story.

We know from the Gospel according to John, Chapter 3, that Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin – the Jewish Authorities’ ruling council – who came to Jesus at night with a question. He received an answer that generations of Christians would keep in their hearts.

Nicodemus is mentioned two more times in the Gospel of John.  In John 7:50-52, he questions the Sanhedrin's decision to arrest Jesus, suggesting that Jesus should be given a fair hearing.  Later, in John 19:38-42, Nicodemus, along with Joseph of Arimathea, is involved in the burial of Jesus, signifying a public identification with Jesus and His movement.

The importance of Nicodemus's story lies in these key aspects:

Teaching on Spiritual Rebirth:  The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus is a foundational teaching on the concept of being "born again" or "born of the Spirit."  It highlights the spiritual transformation that is central to Christian faith in salvation.

Diverse Responses to Jesus:  Nicodemus is a Pharisee who, despite his initial caution, was open to considering the claims of Jesus. This highlights people's diverse responses to Jesus during his ministry, from sincere curiosity to extreme opposition.

Public Witness:  Nicodemus's later involvement in the burial of Jesus demonstrates a shift in his relationship with Jesus from a secret inquirer to a more public association, which can be seen as an act of faith and commitment.

In a recent Gospel passage, we have an inspiring, hope-filled message:

Yes, God loved the world so much

that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost

but may have eternal life.

For God sent his Son into the world

not to condemn the world,

but so that through him the world might be saved.

Best wishes for a holy, happy and safe Easter 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.