Principal
Late in May, our Year 11 students have their mid-year examinations and our Years 9 and 10 students follow with their examinations early in June. At St Bede’s College, our philosophy is to give students increased opportunities to sit formal examinations as they move into the higher levels. With practice, students learn to better prepare for such formal assessments and develop techniques for reducing the anxieties that can sometimes be associated with them. While ‘practice’ (study and revision) may not necessarily ‘make perfect’, practice certainly increases the likelihood of improved outcomes. We all know that rewards tend to follow hard work and commitment.
The results achieved on this set of examinations are significant and they will influence a student’s overall performance and grade in each subject. Students should then use their examination results as a catalyst to improve their standing for Semester Two. Results, supplemented with our matrix for assessing Student Learning Habits, will certainly help students and families in academic goal setting. The Student Learning Habits matrix provides a general picture of how well a student is engaging in their schoolwork, behaving in class, contributing to the learning process, relating positively to peers and staff, managing their own learning and striving for personal excellence. With the right attitude, a determined approach and consistent application to home studies, considerable improvement can be achieved in the coming semester.
Teaching and learning is at the core of what we do at St Bede’s College, and we look to our students to set themselves high expectations and constantly seek for that “personal best”. Home and school are partners in this learning process, and I encourage parents to ensure there is time and space, rituals and routines, to ensure their sons complete homework, review and prepare for classes, and read. Striving for a “personal best” requires our students to be preparing for these examinations NOW - the examinations are not just a 3/4-day event; pre-training and preparation are required!
Some tips for students preparing for mid-year tests and exams:
- Establish an exam study plan and post it where all the family can help keep the schedule (including the weekend). Assign time to each subject on a systematic basis. Don’t use a “hit or miss” approach.
- Schedule several subjects a night covering all subjects several times a week and plan to get study notes complete well in advance, leaving time for learning/memorising content and practicing questions.
- Make study notes – use a book or folder for each subject; review chapters and or topics making summary notes of content.
- Learn/memorise essential content identified in these summary notes.
- Practice answering actual questions – go over past tests, and ask your teacher to identify the essential concepts.
- Practice, practice, practice - do not look at the question and assume you know how to answer it, actually do it - put yourself to the test!
- It can clarify your thoughts by occasionally discussing possible questions or difficult aspects of the work with your mates and your teacher.
- As with sport, your body needs to be ready—a healthy diet, good sleep routines, breaks from work from time to time, drink plenty of water.
The Rite Journey Program
Learning how to be an adult male or female in any society requires guidance, mentoring and a great many conversations. Young people often turn to their peers and various media to source their knowledge and guidance. Recently, our Year 9 students were introduced to the “The Rite Journey Program”, where - in class and with their teacher-mentors, who have undertaken special training - they will be have important conversations about what it is to be a respectful and responsible person in our society.
In conversation and in the completion of set challenges, students will explore four main themes: Relationship with Self, Relationship with Others, Relationship with the Spirit and Relationship with the World. Students will, personally, and with others, explore:
Who am I really?
How do I get on with others?
Is there something more?
What is my purpose and what do I have to give?
The challenges they are given is not about competing with others, winning or even necessarily succeeding. The primary purpose is to learn about how to deal with challenge, what you can learn from it and how you respond to success or failure. Meeting challenge builds self-confidence, teaches new skills, helps to reveal strengths, helps to discover the areas in which one can develop more skill and stretches one beyond what was thought possible.
"The Rite Journey Program” sits alongside the work students do in Religious Education, Physical and Health Education, Camps, Retreat and Reflection Days and the messages that are given every day by parents, carers and relatives to help youngsters develop the values that will guide them into adulthood. Of course, these learnings will not stop at Year 9; they will continue through their remaining years at the College.
ACC Swimming Carnival
Our congratulations to the St Bede’s Swimming Squad on their recent success at the ACC Swimming Carnival – Division 1. With new head coach, Gavin Brown, there was some pressure given our recent success in the swimming. Gavin, the assistant coaches and the students kept up the high standard – consistently extending their lead throughout the evening. The support of the students for each other was outstanding and a pleasure to see and be a part of.
ANZAC Services
St Bede’s College played a role in honouring those who fought for our country at the recent local ANZAC Services. From participating in drumming, speaking, laying a wreath or gift, or simply attending, our students and staff showed their respect for those who sacrificed for us.
Mothers’ Day - Sunday 14 May
A guiding principle for all Catholic schools is the understanding that parents are the primary and most important educators of their children. Our role is to complement parents in the formation of their sons. Child Education expert, Michael Grose notes, “… it is within the family unit that children, both big and small, learn the most valuable and far-reaching lessons for life.” Not surprisingly, he goes on to comment on the very special role that mothers have in this regard. He suggests that in our very fast paced and contemporary lifestyles, with different work patterns and changing family dynamics, it is mums that provide the real presence and security that children need in order to develop healthy attitudes and behaviours. In other words, mothers generally provide the foundation of love upon which children grow and develop. Mums are good at being mums!
So, on May 14th we celebrate our mothers and other significant mother figures in our lives. The phrase ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ brings with it much more than a wish for a happy day. Contained within these words can be found some of the many things we never say, or do not say often enough. Happy Mother’s Day means I love you and I want to thank you for all you do. It means you matter a lot to me, and that I honour you and your role as a mother.
Baptist Minister, Jan Chrouchin in her ‘Mothers’ Day Creed’ reflects on the particularly wonderful blessing our Christian faith gives to motherhood and its place in giving birth, nurturing, sacrificing, loving and ultimately, letting go.
“I believe in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who was born of the promise to the virgin Mary.
I believe in the love Mary gave her Son that caused her to follow him in his ministry and stand by his cross as he died.
I believe in the love of all mothers and its importance in the lives of the children they bear.
It is stronger than steel, softer than down, and more resilient than a green sapling on a hillside.
It closes wounds, melts disappointments, and enables the weakest child to stand tall in the fields of adversity.
Thank God for all-loving Mothers; and thank Mothers for helping us to understand an all-loving God.”
We trust that all mothers enjoy a very special Mother’s Day and receive some very special treatment on that day - it will be well deserved!
Vale Fr. Bob Maguire
The following message was released by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli in response to the death of Fr Bob Maguire on Wednesday 19 April:
“It has been sad news to hear of the death of Fr Bob Maguire earlier today. Bob has been a faithful priest of the Catholic Church in Melbourne since his Ordination in 1960, and a fierce friend of the downhearted, the broken and the lost throughout his whole life. Without a doubt, he was the ‘larrikin priest’, who had a great love for Jesus who also lived with the outcast and the unloved.
Recent months have been a struggle for Bob in both health and relationships. We pray that he is now at peace with his Saviour and Lord. In faith, we now entrust Bob to eternal life. May he be welcomed to the Heavenly feast”.
Per Vias Rectas
Deb Frizza
Principal