By Mr Stuart Ralph, Principal

Welcome to the 2025 school year at St Brendan-Shaw College. As we start the year, I extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to new and returning students and their families. I am excited about what 2025 brings to our school community, including the construction of the new student wellbeing centre, refurbishment of the upper level of the Shaw building, and a new classroom in the Tenison Woods Centre for senior students.

In 2025, our College will again experience growth due to adding more students to our senior campus. This year, 30 additional students from Marist Regional College, Leighland Christian School, and Geneva Christian School will join us for one day per week to access our growing Vocational Education and Training program, including the addition of Aviation.

We welcome Mrs Josie Lutwyche to the College as Director of Pastoral Care. Josie's appointment is an addition to our college structure, and I have no doubt she will bring a wealth of experience in supporting student wellbeing.

We also welcome Miss Hayley Garner to our school community, teaching English and HaSS.

I also take this opportunity to welcome several new teacher assistants and cleaners to our school community:

Harry Barton - Teacher Assistant

Alyssa Otten - Teacher Assistant

Ben Sallese - Teacher Assistant

Danielle Smith - Teacher Assistant

Mandy Bakes - Cleaner

Jaiden Armstrong - Cleaner

Marcus Jones - Cleaner

Start Dates for Students

Thursday 6 February, new students induction Years 8 - 12 (9:00 am - 11:00 am)

Friday 7 February, Year 11-12 students commence (8:40 am in the Senior Study area)

Monday 10 February, Year 7 students commence

Tuesday 11 February, Year 8-10 students commence

Community Welcome Evening and BBQ Save the Date:

We are pleased to inform you that our Community Welcome BBQ will be held on Thursday 20 February, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the West Court area. This is an excellent opportunity for all new community members to meet the homeroom staff and key teachers for their children.

Uniform

I take this opportunity to remind parents to familiarise themselves with our Uniform Protocol, which can be found below and on our website. Perennial conversations with students and families include ensuring students have black leather school shoes, if you are unsure please refer to examples of what is acceptable in our Uniform Protocol. Please note that facial piercings do not form part of our school uniform. These should not be visible; a clear retainer is acceptable. Families are reminded that white sports socks need to be worn with our College sports uniform.

Uniform Protocol: https://sbsc.me/48hp8Kd

College Canteen

Devonfield Enterprises will again run our College Canteen. The college has been working closely with Devonfield to ensure our canteen meets the Government's National Healthy School Canteens Guidelines. This will provide greater access to healthy, nutritious options and less access to sugary confectionery items. The new College menu will be shared with families in the coming week.

National Healthy School Canteens Guidelines: 
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/national-healthy-school-canteens-guidelines-for-healthy-foods-and-drinks-supplied-in-school-canteens.pdf

Please note that the Canteen will not be open on Friday 7 February when senior students return, nor Monday 10 February when Year 7 commences. The first day of service will be Tuesday 11 February.

Student Learning System - Connect

The College has moved to a new student learning management system, Connect. Our staff spent 2024 preparing for this move, and I am excited about its impact on teaching and learning. Parents will not have access to this platform until the end of Term 1 as part of our staged approach to engaging our community—staff, students, and parents—with it.

College Photos

Photographers will be at the College on Friday 28 March and Thursday 3 April for the catch-up day. Please ensure that students are in full formal uniform these days and neatly presented as per the Uniform Protocol.

Further information will be shared closer to the date.

Dux Ceremony

The College Dux Ceremony will be held on Friday 14 February, in the Nazareth Centre. I was extremely pleased with our senior results in 2024, which resulted from exceptional teaching, and, undoubtedly, the support students received in their studies.

ATAR 2024 Senior Results

Score above 80 = 26%

Score above 85 =19.6%

Score above 90 = 14.75%

Score above 95 = 8%

88.5 of our students attained a TCE

George St Drop-Off

I ask that families do not use George St for drop-off in the morning or afternoon while the redevelopments occur. The George St access is now being used as a site compound, and student access has been blocked.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Stuart Ralph
Principal

To ensure we have the most up-to-date details for your child’s safety and wellbeing, we ask parents and carers to notify the College if any of the following information has changed:

• Medical Action Plans – If your child has a medical condition requiring a new or updated action plan (e.g., asthma, anaphylaxis, diabetes), please provide the latest copy from your doctor.
• Medication Information – If your child takes medication at school or their prescribed medication has changed, please inform us so we can update our records accordingly.
• Contact Information – If you have moved house, changed phone numbers, or updated emergency contacts, please let us know to ensure we can reach you when needed.
• Mobile Phone Exemptions – If your child requires an exemption from the College’s mobile phone policy, please contact us to request an application form.

To update your details, please visit the College Administration Office, email us at admin@sbsc.tas.edu.au, or call 03 6424 7622.

Students travelling to school by car should be dropped off in a safe area. The following guidelines are for the use of the Drop-Off Zone at the James Street entrance and are aimed at improving safety.

Parents/Guardians are asked to familiarise themselves with the following Drop-Off zone guidelines:

• The Drop-Off Zone starts at the pedestrian crossing and is marked as the lane to the left of the pedestrian buffer area.
• It is designed to operate as a quick-moving taxi rank.
• Please stay in the queue and move forward as space becomes available, moving towards the western exit side. This allows vehicles to move in at the back of the queue and reduces backup and congestion on James St.
  
• Please remain in the car while in the Zone and have students place school bags and other items in the car, not in the boot.
• If parents/carers choose to wait in the Zone before the end of classes at the end of the school day, it is essential that their child/ren arrive promptly; otherwise, the Zone will not flow freely.
• There is a staff presence near the James Street Drop Off Zone from 8:10 am and 3:00pm.
• Please also note that the exit to James St is a left-hand turn only.

Important: Building works are currently underway on Tuition Admin and the area from George Street to the Tuition Admin building is not accessible for either foot or vehicle access (maintenance vehicles excluded) for the duration of the building works, with gates being installed. For safety reasons, we ask that students do not enter the College grounds from the George Street entrances.

Our goal is to keep everyone safe when using this area, so please be considerate of others and observe speed limits and pedestrian crossings.

Thank you for your support.

School bus services commence this week. Families are encouraged to check school bus routes and timetables to ensure a smooth start to the term.

All details, including route maps and fare information for Kinetic school bus services, can be found on the Transport and Parking page of the College website:

View School Bus Services

For further enquiries, Kinetic can be contacted at 6427 7626 or via email at admin@merseylink.com.au.

Students are invited to enter a quilting project in this year’s Island Quilts Exhibition. Online Entries will open on 16 June and close on 11 August 2025.

The Devonport Online Access Centre, located inside the Paranaple Centre, is currently running a free weekly event aimed at 12-18 year-olds. It includes a range of board games, card games, and PC and console games to play. VR equipment is available for use in this program and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The Tasmanian Tennis Academy at the Devonport Tennis Club have spaces left in their tennis lessons for Term 1. Registrations close when a class is full.

There are plenty of activities about to get out and enjoy in the nice weather

Check out the Devonport events for February and March below!

Anyone can subscribe by using the subscription button on the Council Website here.

7 February - Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing Workshop
8 February - Symphony on the Waterfront
12 February - North West Film Society - Stormskerry Maja
13 February - OUTspace
14 February - The Man Walk Devonport
14 - 16 February - Don River Railway 50 Year Gala Weekend
18 February - Community Connector Event
21 February - Understanding Mental Wellbeing for effective communication training
22 February - Pub2 Club 2025
27 February - Empower Golf Clinic
28 February - Providing an Inclusive Practice and Community for LGBTIQA+ People
2 March - Clean Up Australia Day
6 March - 2025 Diamonds of Devonport
7 March - CORES Suicide Prevention Training
7 March - DCCI Breakfast - International Women's Day
15 - 16 March - Devonport Triathlon
16 March - CD Joinery Bluff 2 Boat Ramp
21 March - Harmony Week Celebration
22 March - Walk for a Bloke
22 - 23 March - Jewellery, Gem & Fair

Students in grades 7, 8, 9, 10 are invited to participate in a lawn bowls tournament in Latrobe on Sunday 23 February.