By Mr Stuart Ralph, Principal

NAIDOC Week 2026 runs from 5 to 12 July and marks 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.

The 2026 theme is 50 Years of Deadly. In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander English, "deadly" means excellent, powerful, amazing, or inspiring. It is a term of deep affection, pride, and celebration of survival.

For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities – steady, unapologetic, and proud. Each year, its themes have called for truth, celebrated culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who First Nations people are. Fifty Years of Deadly marks a milestone. It is a tribute to the people who built the movement. The Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year.

NAIDOC Week celebrates past achievements and the bright future ahead, empowered by our young leaders, our communities' vision, and our ancestors' legacy. Several Initiatives will be run in our College to celebrate NAIDOC Week, including our Year 9 Cultural Day and a visit from Mr Scott Darlow.

I have known Scott for over 20 years, and we are very fortunate to have him work with our students. Scott is a passionate Indigenous educator who regularly speaks in 100+ schools globally annually in Australia, the UK, and Asia. He uses his music and speaking skills to entertain and educate audiences Australia-wide about First Nations culture, Australian history, racial tolerance, harmony, and critical social matters. His keyword ‘FLUTE’ (Forgiveness, Love, Understanding, Tolerance, and Empathy) forms part of his work with the students on the day.

Teaching and Learning

I would like to congratulate our senior students in Years 10-12 who have sat their exams over the last few weeks. These exams provide an important opportunity for our students to assess their understanding, while staff can provide specific feedback on their mid-year progress. Our mid-year exams also provide an important opportunity to prepare our students for end-of-year exams. For our Year 10s, this begins preparing them for their senior years.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Year 7-9 students, as the level of academic focus has been really pleasing to see. As I move around the College daily, I see students engaged and connected to their learning.

NAPLAN Results

I am pleased to report that the 2026 NAPLAN results have been released and St Brendan-Shaw College's results are extremely strong. In 2025, we were the 10th highest-ranked school in the state and the highest-performing Catholic school.

Our 2026 results indicate that our Year 9 students performed above the Australian mean compared to the 2025 mean data in the areas of Writing, Grammar and Punctuation, and Spelling. The 2026 mean data will be released shortly. These results reaffirm the positive work our college is doing with consistent pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning, and the consistent practices and routines we expect of all classes within the College.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent-teacher interviews for Years 7-10 will take place this evening. If you have missed this opportunity, I highly encourage you to contact your child's teacher and arrange a time to discuss your child's progress.

Enrolments Year 7-12

Round one enrolments for students commencing Year 7 in 2027 are now closed. The College has received a significant number of applications. Over the last few weeks, we have interviewed over 110 students for Year 7, with 120 applications received so far. We encourage current families with Year 6 students to complete an enrolment application as soon as possible to secure their place at the College next year.

This week, the College held an information session for families looking to enrol for Year 11 in 2027. The College has received much interest in joining our community for senior school.

Over the last few weeks, several new students have commenced at the College. We warmly welcome all of these new families. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces at our new students' luncheon on Tuesday.

Congratulations to the following students:

• Kovidratna Aditya (Year 12) completed the UTAS High Achiever exams: 94/100, HD, Mathematics 1A.
• SBSC3 (Year 7) won the Grand Final 33-26 against Latrobe High.
• The College Chess team won the interschools chess tournament this week and now has eight players going to the state finals.
• 7/8 Boys Football played in the NW Grand Final on Thursday against Marist Regional College. Unfortunately, the boys were defeated.
• Rose Holland (Year 8) and Eli Mackie (Year 7) represented Tasmania at the National Judo Championships. Both did great, and Eli finished 5th overall.
• Lucas Heazlewood (Year 11) kicked 6 goals in the Devils U18 over the weekend.
• Nate Costello (Year 8) has been selected for the School Sport Australia Australian Football Under-14 Championships.
• Billy Chisholm (Year 10) has been selected to represent Tasmania at the U16 AFL National Development Championships.
• Kurt Weaver (Year 11) has been nominated for the Pre-Apprenticeship Learner of the Year at the 2026 TasTAFE Trade Excellence Awards.

NSATIS Sport Next Term

• Soccer Senior First and Seconds Boys and Girls
• Netball Senior Firsts and Seconds
• 7/8 Boys Football
• 9/10 Boys Football

Important Upcoming Dates

Week 1 Monday 27 July – Student-Free Day – Staff Spirituality Day
Week 1 Thursday 30 July – Subject Selection Evening
Week 2 Thursday 6 August – Principals Tour for Prospective Students
Week 3 Tuesday 11 August 11:00 am – Catholic Education Week Mass (Ulverstone)

I wish all families a wonderful term break, and we look forward to students returning on Tuesday 28 July.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Stuart Ralph
Principal

By Miss Sophie Lansley, Deputy Principal: Teaching & Learning

Subject Selection Evening

Families will receive information regarding the upcoming Subject Selection Evening over the coming days. This will take place on Thursday 30 July and will be held in the Westcourt building of the College.

Year 7 – Semester 2 Timetable Changes

For Semester 2 (Term 3 & 4), there will be a new timetable available for Year 7 students, to allow for taster subjects to change over. These timetables will be available on the first day back next term for students.

Getting in Touch with Teachers

If you have any questions regarding your child’s learning, please make sure to contact the class teacher in the first instance. They are in the best position to comment on what is occurring in the classroom and what support can be provided to the student. I encourage all parents/guardians to be checking Connect for information regarding assessments, feedback and marks.

Coming Prepared for Term 3

Looking ahead to Term 3, I would like to remind all students of the importance of arriving to class prepared to learn. Being organised helps students settle quickly and make the most of each lesson.

Students should bring:

• a fully charged device
• their pencil case
• relevant subject workbooks
• all required resources listed on the booklist.

It is also a good idea for students to keep their device charger in their locker so they are prepared if their battery runs low during the day.

By Mrs Kylie Reid, Librarian

Staff and students are invited to take part in Book Week Dress Up Day on Friday 28 August, celebrating this year’s CBCA theme, Symphony of Stories. Costumes can be inspired by a favourite character, author, book or genre, with plenty of room for imagination and low‑cost options. Please ensure costumes are appropriate and comfortable for a normal school day.

Image credit: © Children’s Book Council of Australia. Artwork by Briony Stewart. Used with permission for non‑commercial, educational purposes.

Staff and students are invited to take part in Book Week Dress Up Day on Friday 28 August, celebrating this year’s CBCA theme, Symphony of Stories. Costumes can be inspired by a favourite character, author, book or genre, with plenty of room for imagination and low‑cost options. Please ensure costumes are appropriate and comfortable for a normal school day.

To keep the day inclusive, the library will host a lunchtime photobooth, including a ‘Book Face’ station for students who prefer to participate in school uniform. This ensures everyone can join in, regardless of costume.

As part of our Book Week celebrations, the library is pleased to host a live music performance at lunchtime on Monday 24 August. This event connects with the Symphony of Stories theme, highlighting how music and literature both shape emotion, imagination and shared experience. Throughout Book Week, students can also take part in daily emoji challenges, with house points up for grabs.

This year’s Book Week has a meaningful local connection. Dame Enid Lyons, Australia’s first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in Federal Cabinet, spent much of her life in North‑West Tasmania at Home Hill, Devonport. She and her husband, Joseph Lyons – former Premier of Tasmania and Prime Minister of Australia – share a direct historical link with our region and with St Brendan‑Shaw College, which honours the Lyons legacy as part of its local heritage.

One of this year’s celebrated titles, A Loo of One’s Own by Eleri Harris, brings this history to life. Shortlisted for the CBCA Eve Pownall Award, the book tells the story of 1943, when Enid Lyons and Dorothy Tangney became the first women elected to Federal Parliament - only to discover there were no women’s toilets in Parliament House. Through humour and narrative non‑fiction, the book introduces readers to Australian politics, gender equality and representation, offering a powerful link between national storytelling and our local Tasmanian history.

A selection of 2026 CBCA shortlisted books are available to borrow, giving students the chance to explore the stories being celebrated nationally.

We look forward to celebrating the connection that reading brings to our College community.

Students in Years 7 to 12 are invited to submit an Expression of Interest for the St Brendan-Shaw College Co-curricular Instrumental Music Program, commencing in Term 3.

The program provides opportunities for students to learn and develop their musical skills through individual or shared tuition with experienced tutors. Tuition is available across a range of instruments and voice, with opportunities for students to participate in ensembles, performances, liturgies and College events throughout the year.

Whether students are beginning their musical journey or continuing existing studies, the program aims to support confidence, creativity, collaboration and personal growth through music.

Families are encouraged to review the 2026 Co-curricular Instrumental Music Program Information Booklet before submitting an Expression of Interest.

Expressions of Interest assist the College in determining student demand, scheduling lessons, allocating tutors and planning instrument hire requirements. Submission of an Expression of Interest does not guarantee placement within the program.

For further information and to submit an Expression of Interest, please access the links below.

Information Booklet: https://sbsc.me/4ebpZj8

Expression of Interest Form: https://sbsc.me/4fUsRUf

St Brendan-Shaw College students have 24/7 access to a rich collection of eBooks and Audiobooks through ePlatform - and it’s completely free. This digital library extends what students can borrow beyond our physical library collection, making reading easy at home, on weekends, and during school holidays.

ePlatform is designed to support every type of reader. The platform offers tools that make reading more accessible and enjoyable. Features such Notes & Highlights help students annotate and organise ideas, which is especially useful when studying class novels or preparing for assessments.

Highlighted features

• 24/7 borrowing - students can read or listen on any device, anywhere.
• Inclusive reading support - adjustable fonts, dyslexia-friendly settings, and read-along options.
• Study-ready tools - built-in comprehension features and annotation tools strengthen understanding.
• Easy access - download the free app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, or visit https://sbsc.wheelers.co/.

Students use their SBSC username and password to sign in. If you need help accessing our digital collection, please contact the Library team at library@sbsc.tas.edu.au.

Splash Devonport is on the hunt for some new faces to join their Swim Teaching Program. They are looking for suitable people aged 16 or older. If this is something you might be interested in, scan the code on the poster or click the poster to follow the link and express your interest.

The 9/10 Boys Football team had a tough semi-final against a strong Marist Regional College (MRC) side in the NWJFU roster. Holding a narrow lead at quarter-time, the Saints were looking to maintain control of the game. However, MRC responded strongly in the second quarter, taking the lead early and maintaining their advantage for the remainder of the match.

The Saints battled hard across all four quarters but were unable to secure a place in the NWJFU Grand Final, going down 63–31.

Despite the result, the team should be proud of an excellent season, finishing as semi-finalists in a highly competitive competition.

In their NSATIS fixture against St Patrick's College, an undermanned SBSC side put in a courageous performance against strong opposition. The players who took the field worked tirelessly throughout the game and produced several impressive passages of play. Although unable to match SPC's speed across the entire contest, the Saints competed strongly in a game played in terrific spirits.

The Devon Netball Autumn Roster concluded over the weekend, with all four SBSC teams qualifying for the semi-finals following strong seasons on the court. Unfortunately, the semi-finals proved challenging for three of the teams, with SBSC 1, SBSC 2 and SBSC 4 all suffering narrow and heartbreaking defeats.

SBSC 3 were the sole College representatives to progress to the Grand Final and produced an outstanding performance. Controlling the game from the outset, SBSC 3 led at every break. While there were several periods where the contest tightened, the team remained composed and went on to defeat Latrobe 7/8s 33–26.

Congratulations to Sophia Ray, who was named Player of the Match for her excellent performance.

The College would also like to thank Nicole Boxhall (SBSC 1), Ella Holland (SBSC 2), Rebecca McKenna (SBSC 3), and Mia Irvine (SBSC 4) for coaching the teams this season. Your contribution to our netball program is greatly appreciated.

The 7/8 Soccer team delivered a fantastic performance in their Grand Final against St Patrick's College. Both sides were strong defensively, making quality scoring opportunities difficult to create. With both teams moving the ball effectively, SPC managed to find the back of the net late in the first half to take a 1–0 lead into the break.

As the second half unfolded, the Saints created numerous attacking opportunities and, with 15 minutes remaining, levelled the scores at 1–1. With the intensity building and both teams pressing forward, the Saints launched a superb counterattack. Breaking through the SPC defence, they calmly finished to take a 2–1 lead.

As time began to run out, the Saints struck again to seal a memorable 3–1 victory, claiming the NSATIS 7/8 Division 2 Championship.

The team would like to thank Ms Christie for all her support throughout the season and the Devonport Strikers for hosting the Grand Final.

The 7/8 Boys Football team competed strongly in their NWJFU Grand Final against Marist Regional College. Both teams entered the match undefeated in their respective regions, setting the stage for an exciting contest.

The Saints performed admirably against a bigger and more experienced side, working hard both on and off the ball. However, they found it challenging to adapt to the larger playing surface at Turners Beach and were unable to generate consistent scoring opportunities.

Despite the result, the Saints played a determined and physical four-quarter game. Marist Regional College eventually prevailed 55–17.

The team would like to thank Mr Byard for his coaching, commitment, and support throughout the NWJFU season.