Principal 

Welcome to the 2021 school year, a significant one in the life of the College.

A special welcome is extended to those who join the College for the first time, including our many families who have come to us from St James College. This year marks the beginning of St Bede’s College as a two campus school. Two campuses and one community.

Amalgamation Ceremony

Staff from across the College were joined by a large number of official guests to formalise the Amalgamation through a signing ceremony. The ceremony was preceded by a number of prayerful intercessions and keynote talks.

The signing of the document comes at the end of a two and a half year process of discernment and discussion between St Bede’s College, the Canonical Administrators of St James College, the Archdiocese and the De La Salle Brothers.

Opening Assembly

This assembly took place on Monday, which is symbolic as it was on the corresponding day, February 8 in 1938, that St Bede’s College began in Mentone. Given that the construction of the College occurred between the Great Depression and the Second World War, it is clear that the Brothers did not lack conviction. From an enrolment of day students and boarders totalling of just over 100 students, our College has grown to a two campus community of around 1940.

We were able to gather our entire College in a COVID Safe way whilst also inviting the families of our student leaders onsite, as well as the families of our high achievers from the Class of 2020. Both these groups were in the College Auditorium watching a live stream link to the assembly in the Sports Centre.

Our leaders were ceremonially invested with their blazers and badges, pledging to support and enliven our College through servant leadership

Our Class of 2020 bore the brunt of the COVID experience for students, given that most Year 12 events were cancelled and home learning dominated. Given all of that, we are incredibly proud of our graduate class who have gone on to high level university courses, apprenticeships, full time work a gap year or other options. Success comes in many forms and is personal to each young man.

Our boys were highly respectful listeners whilst also joining in the celebrations to recognise our Class of 2020.

I encourage you to view the Principal’s address, given in video form below:

https://vimeo.com/510005257/1e603ec7a0

Student Start

We were unable to run our Flying Start Program in late 2020 (rollover of classes into their next year level) due to the machinations of COVID through the late VCE examination period for Year 12 students. That rollover occurred last week. Our Year 7 students and incoming new Year 11 students had an Orientation Day prior to all other students returning. Again, this was a delayed day due to prior COVID restrictions.

All students are now onsite, a delightful outcome given the experiences of last year.

Families

We had a significant number of parents onsite for the Orientations, a combination of interest and a joyous recognition on their part that parents can now legally join us in a COVID safe manner. The Morning Tea was extremely well attended at both campuses with a large degree of interest shown in the Parents and Friends Association. 

Enrolment

We have begun the year with 1940 students across our two sites. Our Year 11 and 12 cohorts will settle at around 300 students per year level. This is a large number, reflecting well on our retention rate as boy’s journey through the College. We need to be a place for all, where a high end academic course, an apprenticeship, part or full time work, a gap year or a combination of those, is all accessible to our students. Everyone should feel valued and be able to prepare for a life of purpose beyond our gates.

College Theme

Our theme is: 

United by        Our Vision 

Our Passion 

Our Future 

Given below is the graphic for the theme: 

This is most appropriate for two reasons. Firstly, because it sums up the sentiment around the Amalgamation and secondly, it is the theme being used this year internationally by Lasallian schools and institutions.

2020 VCE Results

Success comes in many forms. Some of our students chose an unscored VCE, 25 students chose a VCAL Pathway and the remaining 238 undertook their delayed examinations for VCE. Our focus last year was in maintaining some form of normality in a highly abnormal year. Mental health and wellbeing were an absolute priority.

In terms of numbers, we had four students achieve higher than 99 with our Dux, Will Devlin, scoring 99.90. This was outstanding. There were 22 students who achieved an ATAR over 90, which equates to around 10% of the entire year level. There were 3 perfect scores of 50. 

Every student has his own story. We trust that all of our young men move on to the next phase of their life with a sense of hope and optimism.Success comes in many forms. Some of our students chose an unscored VCE, 25 students chose a VCAL Pathway and the remaining 238 undertook their delayed examinations for VCE. Our focus last year was in maintaining some form of normality in a highly abnormal year. Mental health and wellbeing were an absolute priority.

Newsletter

Given the change to a two campus school, the St Bede’s College Newsletter will be composed of a common section relevant to all families and two sections related to life on each campus.

Every blessing to you and the family for the year ahead.

Per Vias Rectas

John Finn 

Principal