By Mr Stuart Ralph, Principal

Dr Andrew Fuller

On Monday, St Brendan-Shaw College hosted Dr Andrew Fuller, who worked with students, staff and parents in the evening. One of the key lessons I learned from working with Andrew was the concept of CPR of wellbeing. Andrew highlighted three important elements: people thrive when they feel connected, when they feel protected by those around them, and when they feel respected by others.

I found this particularly affirming for our College Positive Behaviour Framework, which centres around Learning, Participating and Respecting. As a College, we want our young people to be connected through participation in all elements of College life. We continually strive to create a safe place of learning centred around respect for self, others and our environment.

R U OK?

R U OK? Day is held annually on the second Thursday of September. The day encourages Australians to connect with people who have struggles in their lives, address social isolation and promote community cohesiveness. Today being R U OK? Day is another example to our students of the importance of community. Our Pastoral Care team have organised several initiatives on the day, and I thank Mrs Debra Bonde and Mrs Jayne Charlesworth for their organisation of this event. Our students were encouraged to wear yellow and outrageous socks to start the conversation. R U OK? Students also enjoyed doughnuts, and the Bombshell Coffee van was on site.

NSATIS Sports

We congratulate the St Brendan-Shaw College students selected in the NSATIS representative teams with the North, who proved too strong in all the games our students featured last Friday in Launceston. Special mentions go to Joss Littler, who scored two goals in the boys' soccer with a 3-2 win, and Lucy Aherne, who received Most Valuable Player in a dominant display in the girls' basketball.

Devonport Eisteddfod – Speech and Drama

Last week, a number of Drama students competed at the Devonport Eisteddfod. St Brendan-Shaw College performed very well, with the following students taking out first place in their respective categories:

• Charlie Allen, Atticus Pacey, Lili Wild, Ilse Taylor, Mia Irvine, Ella Holland
• Ivy Bennett, Tahlia Crawford, Merryn Bryan, Oscar Lakeland
• Sam Harrison, Lincoln Williams

We also congratulate Addie Myers and Eloise Barts-Rickert for achieving second place, and our Year 9 performers were also awarded Best One Act Play. Lincoln Williams was awarded Best Supporting Actor at the conclusion of the Eisteddfod.

Vinnies Sleepout

Our Just Act (Vinnies) students will engage in their annual sleepout this Friday evening. We wish Miss Sophie Lansley and the students all the best in this wonderful act of solidarity for those in need.

Tournament of the Minds

We had a number of students travel to Hobart last Saturday for the Tournament of the Minds. The team were accompanied by Mrs Bridget Leary, Mrs Kiralee Page and Mr Sam Gleeson. We congratulate the team that received credit in the Social Sciences category.

Year 10 Celebration Dinner

Last Friday evening, our Year 10 students’ celebration night was held at the Don River Railway Two Tracks Function Centre. Students travelled together on the train to the event. It was a wonderful experience for our students to celebrate their education to this point and we look forward to them getting a more formal opportunity in their senior years at the College, being the Senior Ball.

French Trip

Only 13 days to go! The countdown for staff and students is truly on.

Schoolbox

Preparation for the College to move to our new learning management system, Schoolbox, is progressing well. Last Friday, our staff worked with Schoolbox experts, participating in an intensive training day.

One Day School

Next Friday, St Brendan-Shaw College will host the Catholic Education One Day School program. Around 40 primary school students from our Catholic feeder schools will congregate for a day of learning. Our extension students will work with the primary students in a mentoring capacity.

Tasmanian Rock Challenge

Congratulations to Max Wilson, Charlie Wicks and Nate Starkey for progressing to the Tasmanian Rock Challenge Finals. After a fantastic performance in the Northwest Heat, we know you will bring your best to the stage in Launceston tomorrow night.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Stuart Ralph
Principal

Sometimes the greatest gift you can give is your presence and a simple question: 'Are you okay?'

We can all make a difference in the lives of those who might be struggling by having regular, meaningful conversations about life's ups and downs.

If you feel like something’s not quite the same with someone you know – there’s something going on in their life, or you notice a change in what they’re doing or saying – trust that gut instinct and take the time to ask them, “Are you OK?”

This year’s R U OK? Day at St Brendan-Shaw College was all about wearing a splash of yellow, connecting, and starting conversations that matter.

Our students participated by wearing a touch of yellow or some fabulous socks with their uniforms, showing support for mental health awareness. Lunchtime was a time for connection, with board games, yellow ribbons, and yellow doughnuts available in the undercover area—a sweet reminder to check in on friends and classmates.

Staff began the day with a 30-minute walk and talk before school, encouraging connection through physical activity. During lunch, a coffee van and yellow doughnuts provided a well-deserved break. Catholic Care representatives hosted a session in the boardroom, offering resources and support for staff wellbeing.

R U OK? Day reminded us all of the importance of asking questions and being there for one another—not just on the day itself, but every day. Let’s keep these meaningful conversations going!

The CSPA 2024 Parent Survey on Student Wellbeing and Learning is seeking your perspective as parents/carers of children who attend a Catholic School in Australia.

You are invited to share your views on existing and emerging affirmations and/or challenges in relation to your child/children’s wellbeing and learning. Please consider completing this anonymous, confidential, and completely voluntary online survey.

Here is more information about the study, including how to participate and how to have questions answered.

Thank you for your interest.

We invite our college community—students, staff, and families—to gather for Mass with Fr Chathura Silva every Friday morning.

When: Fridays during the school term
Time: 8:15am start (concludes before homeroom)
Where: College Chapel

Start your Friday with reflection and connection. All are welcome!

The changeover to summer uniform occurs at the beginning of Term 4. Now is a great time to check summer uniform garments for fit and condition. The Uniform Shop is fully stocked with summer uniforms.

Please note that St Brendan-Shaw College Midford Uniform Shop will close for the term break on Thursday 26 September 4:00 pm.

During the term break the Uniform Shop will be open at the following times:

Thursday 10 October – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Monday 14 October – 8:00 am to 11:00 am

Regular trading hours will resume on Tuesday 15 October.

Regular Trading Hours
Throughout the school term, our regular opening hours are:
Tuesday 8.00am to 4.00pm
Thursday 8.00am to 4.00pm

Midford Uniform Shop Online
You are welcome to purchase from the online uniform shop at your convenience and your order will be filled when the store is next open. Log onto www.midford.com.au using passphrase SBSC505.

The school immunisation program will take place on Thursday 24 October 2024.

Year 10
– Meningococcal ACWY
Year 7
– Human Papillomavirus (Catch-ups) – For students who missed Session 1 earlier this year
– Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Whooping Cough (Pertussis) dTpa

If you have returned a Consent Form for your child, he/she will be vaccinated as requested, unless the Health Department has otherwise notified you.

IMPORTANT: If your child has received vaccinations elsewhere since completing the Consent Form, is unwell or has commenced taking some form of medication, you MUST advise Devonport City Council Customer Service immediately on 6424 0511.

Parents are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of information provided on the Consent Forms and for any necessary alterations to the information being passed on to the Health Department.

Should you have any other queries about the program, please contact Devonport City Council’s Customer Service Department on 6424 0511 during Council’s office hours.

By Michael Allen, Drama Teacher

Following the exciting news of our dance students' achievements at the Devonport Eisteddfod, we are thrilled to share the results from the Speech and Drama section, where our students have again made us incredibly proud.

The Devonport Eisteddfod, known for its wide range of performing arts competitions, brings together the best young talent in the region. In the Speech and Drama category, students have the chance to perform in various formats such as monologues, group performances, and poetry recitations, showcasing their expressive abilities and stage presence.

We are delighted to announce that our students performed exceptionally well, with many earning top awards:

• Charlie Allen, Atticus Pacey, Lili Wild, Ilse Taylor, Mia Irvine, Ella Holland, Ivy Bennett, Tahlia Crawford, Merryn Bryan, and Oscar Lakeland each took home first place in their respective categories.
• Sam Harrison and Lincoln Williams were also awarded first place, with Addie Myers and Eloise Barts-Rickert placing second in the same category.

Additionally, our Year 9 Group received the Best One Act Play award, demonstrating their remarkable teamwork and creativity. A special mention goes to Lincoln Williams, who was honoured with the title of Best Supporting Actor, recognising his standout performance in the competition.

The Devonport Eisteddfod is more than just a competition; it offers our students the opportunity to grow, develop their public speaking skills, and explore the power of performance in front of an audience. We are incredibly proud of all of our participants for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding achievements.

We look forward to celebrating more successes together as our students continue to shine.

In the spirit of Spring Cleaning, the Just Act (Vinnies) group is holding a pop-up clothes swap stall at Founders’ Day. For the next few weeks, we are collecting clothing donations on Tuesdays and Fridays during Homeroom. These will be upcycled and available to swap on Founders’ Day. Anyone who donates an item of clothing will have their name recorded, and on Founders’ Day, a Just Act member will deliver your number of tokens to you. These tokens can then be swapped for donated items at the stall.

Accessories such as hats and scarves are worth one token; shirts, pants, skirts and dresses are worth two tokens; jackets and jumpers are worth three tokens. Any items left after the stall is finished will be donated to St Vincent de Paul Society, Devonport branch.

We hope that by doing this, we raise awareness of the pressing issue of fast fashion. This issue has both an environmental impact and a humanitarian one, including sweatshops and modern slavery. The Just Act (Vinnies) group is committed to the College values of Justice, Truth and Service in highlighting modern issues such as fast fashion.

By Mrs Indea Clark, Teacher

Students in Biology Level 2 recently completed a rat dissection to conclude their learning of Body Systems. Students used a range of laboratory skills to observe the respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems of a rat, which closely resemble that of the human body, which has been a focus of their studies during Term 3. Some students were apprehensive at first towards the dissection, but after watching a demonstration by Mrs Clark, it was great to see so many get involved and have a go. They showed a high level of interest and intrigue in identifying structures in a real model instead of images and diagrams shown in class.

By Ross Hubble, House Head – Dillon

In the lead-up to National Child Protection Week (1-9 September), our Year 9 students were invited to a presentation by guest speaker Constable Jason Rybarczyk from Tasmania Police. The discussion focused on the serious topics of family violence and online safety.

With social media becoming such a key part of everyday life, the year level was encouraged to think about certain scenarios and their consequences. These included instances of cyberbullying and inappropriate sharing of private photos. The cohort was then given steps to take if they, or any of their friends, found themselves in any of these scenarios.

The key takeaway: you are not alone.

The students came out of the presentation with a better awareness of how to protect themselves and others from the harm that can be caused by sharing content online and even to call out their peers if they see someone else doing the wrong thing. Part of our College Vision is to encourage students to seek justice, enabling us to live with others and extend the same regard to every individual. Every member of our community has the right to feel safe and supported. Our Year 9s continue to make us proud with their genuine care for one another.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help, please get in touch with Tasmania Police:
https://www.police.tas.gov.au/
For more information regarding College policies on eSafety please visit:
https://www.sbsc.tas.edu.au/ne...

In August, Year 12 student Josh Lowry was able to experience University life first-hand after winning the Deakin University prize. This included transport and one night’s accommodation at a student residence for Josh and a parent/carer, his Mum Dee Lowry, with tours of the many facilities available to Deakin students. It was a fantastic chance for Josh to explore options for his future.

Day one - Geelong Waterfront + Waurn Ponds

Josh stayed at the Geelong Waterfront Campus, which has single-resident rooms with shared bathroom facilities and kitchen/lounge. It also features a fabulous recreation zone on the 11th floor, overlooking the Geelong Waterfront. After exploring this location, it was time to jump on the shuttle bus to visit Waurn Ponds Campus and attend the Uni Open Day.

Open Day included various tours and information sessions about Uni life and specific courses, as well as live music and parading entertainers. One thing Josh noticed was the wonderful sense of community amongst the students, especially those who lived on campus, and he even met a student from NW Tasmania! The accommodation facilities here were just as impressive, with communal kitchens, movie rooms, pool tables, foosball tables, lounges and daily activities. Many of these focused on wellbeing and social connection outside of studies and were inclusive of all students.

Day two - Melbourne Burwood

After a massive first day, Josh also visited the Melbourne Burwood campus. This was another good option, much closer to the Melbourne CBD and quite different from the Geelong campuses. Here Josh had a personalised tour around the accommodation choices and campus buildings by a member of Student Services.

Overall, this was a fabulous and exciting opportunity and Josh enjoyed learning about Deakin University and the various courses on offer. The staff at Deakin University who coordinated the trip went out of their way to ensure everything went smoothly. Josh is strongly considering Deakin University for his future studies in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics.

By Ms Imelda Martinez, Teacher

Recently, in the Business Enterprise and Technology class, the students learned about the power of marketing, the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of consumer needs and wants, and the importance of brand identity. To show how essential market research is and how powerful brand marketing is, part of the lesson involved a blind taste test.

The Year 9 and 10 students were invited to try four unmarked food and drink samples and write down the differences between each product sample’s texture, smell and taste. They were then asked to try and identify the brand from these elements alone and to vote on the samples based on their personal tastes and preferences. Through this exercise, students have learnt that the products that we buy are not just based on our tastes and preferences, but due to the effective brand marketing strategies that businesses employ in selling their products.

It proved to be quite eye-opening as many students identified and clearly distinguished between the sugar-free cola samples. One student stood out in clearly identifying the difference between Vegemite, Marmite and Promite spreads from the colour, smell and texture, but none of them knew about the gluten-free Mightymite spread. One student preferred the taste of the generic brand of corn chips but later confessed that he had never seen this product on any supermarket shelf before.

This little exercise will certainly change students' perspective next time they visit the supermarket!

By Mr Sam O'Keeffe, Sports Coordinator

Girls Soccer

While the Lady Saints had their first loss of the season, this did not impact their finals chances and the team hosted Launceston Christian School on Wednesday 4 September at Valley Road. Conditions were fair and both teams were eager to take control of the game. The game had a fantastic Semi-Final feel to it and both teams continued to take their chances. Credit to Chloe Casey and the LCS Goalkeeper who kept their teams in the game with some fantastic goal-keeping efforts. Late in the first half, LCS was awarded a penalty for an accidental handball in the box allowing LCS to take a one-goal lead. The Lady Saints were relentless in their pursuit to even the game up and Felicity Downward showed her presence again in the forward line with plenty of chances on goal but was unable to get anything past the LCS goalkeeper. Lulu Graham was also busy in the midfield, assisted on her wings by Emma Watson and Ej Sullivan who put in solid performances as well. With time winding down, the Lady Saints would eventually go down 1-0 to LCS and conclude their season. The team would like to thank Mr Allen for coaching the team this season and for all the support, encouragement and effort he put into the team this year.

Boys Soccer

The Saints men also had two games last week with the weather the week before closing all the grounds in Devonport. The Saints men had two must-win games if they were to secure their spot in the Grand Final.

In a tough match-up on Monday afternoon SBSC took on top of the table LCGS at Valley Road. The game got off to a competitive start, with both teams pressuring the defence early, trying to find a way to score. LCGS would open the scoring partway through the first half, but SBSC was quick to respond, levelling the game at 1-1. The Second half was a tussle between both teams, with each team looking to take the lead. LCGS would find the back of the net for the second time and secure the win 2-1, knocking the Saints men out of finals contention.

The Saints men backed up Monday afternoon's efforts with a big match-up against NW rivals Marist Regional College. With several players playing their final game for SBSC there was plenty of pride on the line. Both teams went back and forth for the first half with neither team able to find the back of the net. The second half proved different for the Saints as they began to move the ball more freely creating plenty of opportunities to take the lead. Midway through the second half a cross to the penalty box found the head of Senior Elijah Savage who had a textbook finish slotting past the goalkeeper for arguably the goal of the year for the Saints men. Shortly after the Saints took the lead as the ever-reliable Joss Littler took advantage of his opportunities and slotted the team's second goal to secure a 2-0 victory over MRC. Unfortunately, the Saints men would finish 4th of the season and miss out on finals. The team would like to thank Mr Tenaglia and Mr Hicks for their support and coaching this season.

With the end of the soccer season comes the end of school sports for several seniors in both soccer teams, the College would like to thank the following seniors for their commitment to Sports at the College and in particular to the soccer programs many of whom have played in the NSATIS Soccer team for 4-5 years along with many other sports for the College.

Girls Soccer - Ellie Ryan, Sarah Welch, Piper Emmerton, Mia Brinkkemper, Hollie Tattersall and Olivia Burridge

Boys Soccer - Baxter Tu, Elijah Savage, Fletcher Cruden, Spencer Butler, Xavier Williams, Trent Steven, Riley Phipps, and Jonah Evans.

NSATIS Netball

The Lady Saints netball team travelled to Launceston on Tuesday 3 September to take on top of the table at St Patrick's College in a semi-final. St Patrick's College went into the game undefeated and were always going to be a challenge for the Lady Saints. However, confidence was high after two great games leading into the semi-final and the team challenged SPC for all four quarters. With big games from all players, the team stayed on the heels of SPC to the final buzzer. Unfortunately, the Lady Saints would go down 48-37 to end their season. The team would like to thank Mrs Clark and Miss Steven for coaching the team this season and all their support.

On Friday 6 September while many students were enjoying a day off school, seven of our students travelled to Launceston as part of the NSATIS Basketball or Soccer teams. Students were selected by coaches from opposing schools to form the NSATIS representative teams to play in the inaugural North V South SATIS competition. A one-off game with the best players from the North versus the best players from the South.

Girls Basketball - Lucy Aherne, Jade McCoy and Mia Aylett represented the College in Basketball and as they have done throughout their basketball careers at the College they did not disappoint. Lucy top scored for the game and was awarded player of the match and the Northern girls went on to defeat the South 78-36.

Boys Soccer - Joss Littler was the sole SBSC player for the NSATIS Boys Soccer team and had a huge impact on the game. In a tight game in trying conditions, both teams created plenty of opportunities to score. With the game tied at 2-2 late in the game, the NSATIS boys would get a stroke of luck as the South netted an own goal to give the NSATIS boys a 3-2 victory. Joss was the standout from both teams top scoring for the day with 2 goals to help the NSATIS Team to victory.

Girls Soccer - Lulu Graham and Ej Sullivan again showed their skills at a high level as part of the NSATIS Girls Soccer team as they also went on to defeat the SSATIS Girls soccer team. Both girls had fantastic games with Lulu controlling the middle of the park and Ej providing great support on the wing. Being the second soccer game of the day the field was deteriorating quickly and made the game tough for both teams as conditions played their part in the game. The NSATIS girls would go on to defeat the SSATIS girls 3-2 in a close game.

The students would like to thank Mrs Banfield for accompanying them and stepping in to manage the Girl's basketball team.

Expressions of interest for the Devonport Touch Football Association High School Roster commencing in Term 4 have been sent to students in the morning notices and are also attached here. 

Students who wish to participate in this roster need to complete this form by Thursday 19 September. As this is a social roster, students can make their teams with their friends. 

Teams must have a minimum of eight players to be entered into the roster. Where teams are short, depending on numbers, teams may be combined. 

Once these expressions of interest have been completed, students will then have an opportunity to send me their team lists for the roster. Further information about the roster will be distributed following the close of this form.

EOI Google Form: https://sbsc.me/47pskDl

Don't miss your last chance to see ArtRage 2023, closing this week at Devonport Regional Gallery (DRG). The showcase celebrates works by Years 11 and 12 students across the Northwest Coast of Tasmania.

While you're there, you can also check out the other exhibits: WOMEN’S ART PRIZE TASMANIA 2024 is an art prize celebrating professional and emerging women artists around Tasmania, and REX GREENO: Memories through Sea Stories is showing works by Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder Rex Greeno.

ArtRage

27 July 2024 - 14 September (closing weekend)

WOMEN’S ART PRIZE TASMANIA 2024

3 August 2024 - 21 September

REX GREENO: Memories through Sea Stories

3 August 2024 - 14 September (closing weekend)

Upcoming:

This is Us - Place

21 September 2024 - 26 October

Paper on Skin™

28 September 2024 - 16 November

For more information, check out the full Devonport Regional Gallery program here.