Principal's Update

Farwell Class of 2025

For our Year 12 students, the daily routine that has been central to their lives in recent years, but particularly in this, has now ended and a new chapter begins. During the past week, our Class of 2025 has participated in rituals that celebrate and recognise their passage from a student under the care and responsibility of St Bede’s College, to a young adult, now more independent. This transition had started with final classes for our VCE-VM students and the Language Oral and Music Performance examinations already completed, and for many with the final written examinations commencing October 28; for others it comes with the first day of work, Apprenticeships or Further Training, or with the break that some will take. 

The final day for Year 12 students was celebrated in a respectful, fun and happy way with an early breakfast accompanied by their parents at the College and then gathering for the final time as a Class and House group. I am proud of the students for participating in the day with such enthusiasm and positivity.

Later in the morning, the College gathered for a Farewell Assembly that was truly memorable. Introduced by the wonderful Drumline, our Year 12s entered Assembly for their final time. It was an opportunity to reflect on their journey so far, to remember times shared and lessons learned and, in a more immediate sense, to wish them well over the next few weeks as they embark on a final set of examinations and then apply for further training, university or work. The Class of 2025 was thanked and congratulated for its contribution to the College over these past six years. The ethos and culture that underpins daily life at St Bede’s College is an accumulation of the contributions of graduating classes going back to 1938.

Maurice Kerbage, 2025 College Captain gave his final address to the assembled students, and our Captains presented the College with a Cedar tree. We will plant this to remind us of this wonderful cohort.

On Tuesday 21 October, we welcomed our Year 12 students, their families and our staff to the Class of 2025 Graduation Mass and Valete. This was a very special, large gathering of the College Community to worship and pray for our graduating students, express gratitude and acknowledge this milestone for the Year 12s. Each student was officially inducted into the Old Collegians Association with the presentation of the Old Collegians tie by Old Collegians Association President, Dr Jason Smythe, who also addressed the group. We have also commenced a new tradition, with a tie pin for each student from our P&F Association. A connection has now been forged between our Old Collegians Association and our P&F, to continue this tradition into the future.

On behalf of our College Community, I wish our Year 12s every blessing for their futures and thank them and their families for their contribution to our college. I express our gratitude to Chris Mills, Senior Years Coordinator, and his team for all they have done to support our Senior Students over the year, particularly during these final weeks of class.

Thailand Service Program

Seventeen students and four staff members have returned from their recent journey to Sangkhlaburi, Thailand, close to the Myanmar border, where the La Salle Learning School and the BlueSky Home help support impoverished and displaced children.   

Working with these institutions, our group participated in a host of outreach activities, including tutoring, teaching English and organising recreational activities and events for schoolchildren, along with assisting local trades people in the building of a perimeter wall to improve safety at the school. 

Materials and expert labour required to make the project possible was financed by the generous funds raised on our Mission Action Day.  Returning students have referenced their opportunity to live the Lasallian saying of supporting “the Least, the Last, and the Lost.”

2026 House Captains

We are pleased to announce our House Captains for 2026. The four Houses named in honour of Founders of the Lasallian Brothers and of St Bede’s College are integral to the culture and ethos of this College. 

Over time, each House has built up its own history and tradition and our new House Captains are charged with continuing, and building on these traditions. 

We wish them every success as they officially step into their Leadership roles at their Investiture Assembly in November. 

Benilde 

Captain: Angus Liddell, Vice Captains: William Fox & Tom Gillard

La Salle 

Captain: Lucas Nanfra, Vice Captains:  T’zario Lay & Alexander Tsaouidis

McCristal 

Captain: Max Matthews, Vice Captains: Harry Daniels & Sebastian Pliatsiaris

Solomon 

Captain: Luke Kinsella, Vice Captains: Oscar Balsille & Zack Shaw

We look forward to announcing more leadership positions for 2026 in coming weeks. 

Staff Honour

Ria Greene, Deputy Principal - Faith and Mission recently spoke on Education and Faith Formation at the Symposium on Vatican II for the Catholic Theological College / Yarra Theological Union. The symposium brought together experts from around Australia to reflect on key themes of Vatican II that continue to shape the Church today. 

Ria's address centred on the importance of forming all members of a Catholic school community within a framework of Catholic pedagogy, for integral formation of the whole person, while honouring the lived experience of all and the cultural context of the school.

Congratulations

To the students of our Bentleigh East Campus currently performing with the girls of OLSH Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Bentleigh, in their production of the comedic stage play, The Day the Internet Died.

Our students, families and staff were delighted to enjoy the creativity, talent and thought on display at our 2025 Art & Technology Show. Well done to all the award nominees and winners - see the full list and images here. Thanks to our presenters, Kamila Kotowski (President - P&F Association) and Dr Jason Smythe (President - Old Collegians Association) and to the Art Department, led by Paul Morrison, and other volunteers whose efforts made the show a success.

Our Spring Music Concert featured an array of talent across the year levels. From those who have been learning an instrument for this year only, to those ‘pros’ who have been performing for the College over the years, the quality was exceptional. Many thanks to our Music Staff, led by Laura McCormick. 

We now look forward to our inaugural Christmas Concert, coming up on December 8, which promises to be a fantastic evening to remember. 

Social Services Sunday - Anchors of Hope

Social Services Sunday was marked in the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne during the school holidays, 28 September. On this day, we give thanks for the dedicated work of the thousands of staff and volunteers who stand with and serve the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised in Victoria, reaching the lives of more than 300,000 people each year. 

We recognise and appreciate their commitment and compassion and reflect on our shared call to be anchors of hope in building a more just and equitable society. 

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference released its Social Justice Statement for 2025/2026 – Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving Homeless People with Mental Ill-Health. Australia is facing a deepening crisis. Over 273,000 people sought help from homelessness services last year, with many also struggling with mental illness.  

Services are overstretched and many people are left without care, shelter, or hope. Many who are homeless also live with serious mental health challenges. Services are overwhelmed, and too many people are left without the help they desperately need.

This year’s Social Justice Statement calls us to follow the example of Jesus, who always noticed, listened to, and cared for those on the edge of society.  Just as Jesus healed the blind man Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46–52), we are called to see and respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers living in hardship.

I invite you to read theSocial Justice Statement2025/2026. 

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. 

We pay our respects to their elders, both past and present. 

May we always walk together by right paths.