By Mr Stuart Ralph, Principal

NAPLAN will draw to a close for our Year 7 and 9 students when the National testing platform closes on Monday. I would like to thank and congratulate our students for their application and cooperation with staff, particularly during times when technical glitches occurred with the platform.

This week has brought me great joy as I have had the opportunity to work alongside our students in their learning during classroom visits. I have been impressed by the vulnerability of students in their learning and the passionate way our staff have been delivering class content.

Ordination of Fr Mark Freeman

Today, we warmly congratulate Fr Mark Freeman on his ordination as Bishop of Ballarat. Having served our Mersey-Leven Parish, Bishop Mark holds a special connection to our community. We give thanks for his service and keep him in our prayers as he begins his ministry in Ballarat.

Visit from Mr Scott Roth

This week, Mr Scott Roth, Head Coach of the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers, came to speak to our students about leadership, his personal journey, and striving for excellence by being the very best versions of themselves. He challenged our students to “invest in someone else” and “develop good habits” because that's where you will go when things get tough. These messages certainly resonated with the students in the room.

Scott's personal beliefs around leadership and his own story personally impacted me. I was a learner in the room; I'm sure other staff and our students were too!

Congratulations

It is always encouraging to see our students pursuing opportunities beyond the classroom and using their gifts in ways that reflect positive participation, personal integrity and a commitment to excellence.

Atticus Pacey has been appointed to the Mental Health Youth Advisory Group, representing Tasmania in an important national role. This is a significant achievement and an opportunity to contribute to conversations that matter to young people across Australia.

Hamish Rootes, in Year 10, has been selected for the State Under 16 Soccer Team. This is a wonderful achievement and a reflection of his commitment to growth and development in his sport.

Our College Captain, Isabella Connelly, recently placed second in the 25-kilometre Gone Nuts race, an outstanding result in a demanding event that speaks to perseverance and personal excellence.

We also congratulate Taryn Lowe, in Year 11, on her selection in the Tasmania Devils Talent Pathway. This is an exciting opportunity and recognition of her talent, effort and dedication.

Lucas Heazlewood, also in Year 11, has been named in the boys' Tasmania Devils Talent Pathway, a terrific acknowledgement of his continued development in the sport.

Mason Speight (Year 9) is currently part of the AusCycling Tasmania MTB Academy state team, competing in Under 17 cross-country mountain bike events. His involvement at this level is a tremendous achievement and reflects both discipline and determination.

Seb McIver (Year 7) recently competed in the State Surf Life Saving Championships in Burnie and retained his title of State Champion in the surf swim event for his age group. This is an outstanding achievement and a wonderful reflection of his commitment.

Enrolments for Year 7 2027 are Now Open

Enrolments for students commencing Year 7 in 2027 are now being accepted. Families are warmly invited to join us for our Year 7 2027 Enrolment Open Night and Tours on Thursday, 26 March at the Nazareth Centre. Please arrive between 5:30 pm and 5:45 pm to collect your information pack for a 5:45 pm start.

Choosing a secondary school is a significant family milestone, and we would be delighted to welcome prospective students and their families to explore all that St Brendan-Shaw College has to offer. The Open Night is a wonderful opportunity to hear about College life, meet members of our community and experience the breadth of opportunities available to our students.

There is a registration process for this event, and we encourage families to register in advance. We would also appreciate your support in sharing with friends, family and members of the wider community who may be interested in attending.

Register online: https://sbsc.me/4rfgsMq.

The College has recently visited our Catholic feeder schools, Our Lady of Mercy, St Patrick’s Latrobe, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Sacred Heart, in preparation for the Enrolment Open Night.

Just Act at St Brendan-Shaw College

Our Just Act students are commended for their leadership in our community. This term, they have been actively leading our support for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. The students have coordinated collections in Homeroom and the placement of collection boxes around the College. This initiative will conclude at our Holy Thursday Liturgy on Thursday 2 April.

School Improvement Surveys

This week, we will be posting invites to parents to take part in our School Effectiveness Surveys, which are being conducted by Insight SRC on behalf of St Brendan-Shaw College and Catholic Education Tasmania.

These surveys help us understand people’s experiences of school, what’s working well, and where we can improve. The feedback is used to support school planning and to inform programs and priorities that strengthen student learning, wellbeing and engagement.

While participation is voluntary, we encourage everyone to take part so the results reflect the breadth of our community.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our community.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Stuart Ralph
Principal

This Friday, 20 March, students are invited to take part in Floral Friday by swapping one item of their academic uniform for something floral.

Floral Friday is a simple way for our College community to acknowledge and celebrate our Torres Strait Islander community and the rich cultural significance of flowers in Torres Strait Islander traditions. Flowers can represent connection to land, spirituality and identity, and this day offers an opportunity to recognise and honour that meaning.

Students will also take part in activities during Homeroom on Friday to celebrate Floral Friday and acknowledge the cultures and contributions of our First Nations peoples.

We look forward to seeing our community add a touch of floral on Friday.

By Miss Sophie Lansley, Deputy Principal: Teaching & Learning

NAPLAN 2026

Thank you to our students, staff and families for your patience and support throughout the NAPLAN testing period. We appreciate the flexibility shown by everyone as we managed the various scheduling requirements and minor disruptions over the past week.

Testing is being finalised this week, with all remaining catch-up assessments scheduled to be completed online by Monday 23 March.

Interim Reports

Our Term 1 Interim Reports will be published and available for parents to view via Connect on Thursday 2 April.

These reports are designed to provide a snapshot of student progress and engagement early in the academic year. Rather than providing a formal academic grade, the Interim Report focuses specifically on a student’s attitude and application within the classroom.

Please note that there are no formal Parent-Teacher Meetings scheduled for this term. However, if you have specific concerns regarding your child’s report, we encourage you to reach out to the relevant subject teacher via email.

Later this term, St Brendan-Shaw College will invite parents, students and staff to take part in our School Improvement Surveys, conducted by Insight SRC on behalf of St Brendan-Shaw College and Catholic Education Tasmania.

These surveys help us understand people’s experiences of school, what’s working well, and where we can improve. The feedback is used to support school planning and to inform programs and priorities that strengthen student learning, wellbeing, and engagement.

While participation is voluntary, we encourage everyone to take part so the results reflect the breadth of our community.

What to expect

• Parents and guardians: A letter will be shared with our parent community by post, including details on how to complete the survey.
• Students: Time will be allocated at school for students to complete the survey.
• Staff: Time will be allocated for staff to complete the survey.

A reminder that the Devonport City Council’s 2026 school-based immunisation program for Year 7 students is taking place on Thursday 26 March. Please see below for more information.

The College currently has a significant collection of lost property following our recent Year 7 Camp, Athletics Carnival and Swimming Carnival. We also have a variety of drink bottles, blazers and hoodies found around campus throughout the term.

If you believe any of these items may belong to your child, please contact the Caritas Office on 6424 7622 or at admin@sbsc.tas.edu.au to arrange collection.

A Friendly Reminder: To assist us in returning lost items to their owners, please ensure all clothing and equipment are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

By Mrs Crista Christie, Teacher

This week, the Year 9 and 10 Agriculture class carried out experiments on our school garden soil and samples from home for comparison, in an effort to measure the health and readiness of our garden for upcoming planting. We tested the pH of the soil and permeability in each garden bed as well as six different locations in the North West to provide further examples of how soil composition impacts permeability. Next week, we will delve into planting and testing soil composition in more detail.

The results obtained this week will provide us a scientific basis to plan for our upcoming companion planting task, as well as understand the impact of these variables on plant growth: pH, permeability and soil composition.

It was fantastic to see with our eyes and feel with our hands how soil composition impacts the way water filters through and holds water. It’s one thing to draw a diagram or explain in theory, but for many of us, seeing it and doing it is the better teacher.

Watch this space for updates as our students team up and aim to cultivate flourishing crops of their choice this year. From this point forward, students will share their results with you on a monthly basis – welcome to ‘The Dirt on Soil’ with 9/10 Agriculture.

By Mrs Crista Christie, Teacher

Last week we held our first official club meeting of 2026. We talked about what we would like to hatch, what we’d like to learn and even chicken-related craft ideas that could be fun projects.

Yesterday we set the incubator with leghorn, Orpington, Legbar and Maran cross variety eggs. These will all hatch and be wonderful backyard laying birds. Despite the colour differences, every egg you see there is a chicken egg!

Chicks will begin hatching from the 7th of April to 9th of April and will be kept at school under heat plates in the science laboratory on display for students to visit and enjoy until the last day of Term 1. All students are welcome at the Poultry Club which runs Day 4 at lunchtime. 🐣 Email or come chat to Mrs Christie for more information.

Last Friday, our students were proud to support the World Triathlon Para Series at The Bluff in Devonport, helping at an event that drew elite para-athletes from around the world to our city.

We are so grateful to our students for representing St Brendan-Shaw College so well. We received lovely feedback from community members and visitors who noticed the way they supported athletes and the wider event with such enthusiasm.

By Mrs Whitney Banfield, Teacher and Careers Advisor

Work Experience Paperwork

A reminder that Work Experience paperwork must be returned to Mrs Banfield by Friday 27 March. Please note that late forms cannot be accepted.

For any questions, please contact Mrs Banfield.

ANU Guest Speaker

A big thank you to Christian Fobister from the Australian National University (ANU) for visiting the College this week. 

Christian met with some of our senior students to provide insights into the future pathway options and programs available at ANU.

Athletics Carnival

Last week, despite the weather doing its best to disrupt plans and a few last‑minute changes to the Athletics schedule, students and staff enjoyed two fantastic days of house competition and fun.

Although the weather on either side of the carnival left much to be desired, the days we were given could not have been better. The sun was shining, the music was upbeat and the competition was fierce across all events.

College Captain Isabella Connelly opened the carnival in spectacular fashion, breaking the 1500m record with a time of 05:35.94, finishing four seconds faster than the previous benchmark. Isabella backed up this outstanding performance with an equally impressive run in the 800m, setting another record with a time of 02:45.40, again four seconds clear of the previous best.

With novelty events offering plenty of opportunities to earn points, the house competition remained tight throughout both days. In the end, Dillon House emerged victorious, claiming the Athletics House Cup with 3575 points – a well‑deserved result and a testament to their strong participation and team spirit.

Well done to the following students, our Track and Field Champions for 2026.

Track

• Year 7 Girls - Kailyn Jones
• Year 7 Boys - Cooper Gould
• Year 8 Girls - Veronica Kelly
• Year 8 Boys - Archer Brett
• Year 9 Girls - Minnie Wilson
• Year 9 Boys - Charlie Jones
• Year 10 Girls - Brydee McPherson
• Year 10 Boys - Jaxon Hope
• Open Girls - Isabella Taylor
• Open Boys - Will Potter

Field

• Year 7 Girls - Kailyn Jones
• Year 7 Boys - Brax Peden
• Year 8 Girls - Rose Holland
• Year 8 Boys - Riley McMahon
• Year 9 Girls - Alanna Brimfield
• Year 9 Boys - Trick Lowe
• Year 10 Girls - Willow Farr
• Year 10 Boys - Jaxon Hope
• Open Girls - Jasmine Minton-Connell
• Open Boys - Theo Powell

Thank you to all staff and students for two great days.

NSATIS Boys 1st Basketball

Boys 1st – St Pat’s 79 def. Saints 64

The Saints Boys 1st team had a tough matchup against top‑of‑the‑table St Patrick’s College. The Saints were slow out of the gates, finding it difficult to score and even harder to defend, heading into the half trailing by 17 points. Despite strong performances from Henry Summers (25 points) and Luke McCoy (24 points), the Saints struggled to find their rhythm. A fourth‑quarter surge brought a spark of hope as they narrowed the margin, but St Pat’s maintained control and the Saints eventually went down 79–64.

Boys 1st – Saints 74 def. LCG 72

In their second‑last round, the Saints hosted a strong Launceston Church Grammar side. In a game that could have gone either way, the Saints managed to hold the lead throughout but found it challenging to take complete control. Tom Ryan was outstanding with 26 points, while Henry Summers added 21. The final quarter was intense, with the Saints holding just a two‑point lead with a minute remaining. Both teams defended strongly and collected key rebounds and Grammar had one last chance to win but couldn’t convert. The Saints held on in a thrilling 74–72 victory.

The Saints Boys 1st will play their final round next Wednesday at home, hosting Scotch Oakburn, with tip‑off 3:30pm.

NSATIS Boys 2nd Basketball

Boys 2nd – St Pat’s 76 def. Saints 53

The Saints Boy’s 2nd team made a strong start against St Patrick’s College, leading at the first break. However, unforced turnovers and lapses in concentration proved costly on the scoreboard. With scoring shared across the team, Angus Partridge and Lincoln Williams led the way with 16 points each, but it wasn’t enough to hold off a determined St Patrick’s outfit, who claimed the win 76–53.

The Saints 2nds had a bye this week and will play their final fixture of the season against Launceston Christian School on Wednesday, 25 March.

NSATIS Girls 1st Basketball

Girls 1st – Saints 56 def. St Pat’s 51

The Lady Saints hosted top‑of‑the‑table St Patrick’s College in what became a hard‑fought and memorable game. The Saints started strongly, holding narrow leads at the first two breaks. While turnovers prevented them from building a comfortable margin, the team continued to compete with intensity. In her first game of the season, Brydee McPherson impressed with 34 points. With both teams defending well, scoring was difficult to come by, but true to the story of their season, the Lady Saints fought until the final whistle, defeating St Pat’s in a thrilling 56–51 victory.

The Lady Saints had a bye this week and will host Scotch Oakburn College in their final home game of the season next Thursday, 26 March, with tip‑off at 3:30pm.

Rowing – Head of the River

Last weekend, several students proudly represented the College at the Head of the River Regatta, widely regarded as the pinnacle of school rowing in Tasmania. Despite having a smaller squad than many competing schools, SBSC continued its tradition of punching above its weight. Led by Rowing Captains Matilda Spaulding and Eloise Fieldwick, the team displayed strong determination and teamwork throughout the event.

The Head of the River also marks the end of the rowing season for most students. However, Moleigh Clemens, Eloise Fieldwick and Matilda Spaulding will continue their campaign as they represent the College at the Australian Rowing Championships next week.

We extend our sincere thanks to the coaches at Kentish Rowing and, in particular, the Mersey Rowing Club. Their expertise and support have helped many students achieve state championship success at both the school and club levels, and their dedication continues to shine through in the strong performances of our athletes.

Devon Netball

Devon Netball kicked off last weekend, with our teams competing in two modified matches to open the season.

SBSC 1 began their campaign strongly, opening with a comprehensive 25–4 win over Reece High School. Their momentum continued into the second game, where they once again dominated, securing a convincing 20–0 victory to finish the day undefeated.

SBSC 2 also started well with a solid performance in their first match, defeating Latrobe High School 15–6. Their second match proved more challenging, but the Saints showed great determination throughout. Despite their strong play, they narrowly went down to Leighland Christian School 10–5 in a competitive contest.

SBSC 3 made an impressive start to their season in an all‑SBSC matchup against SBSC 4. They were able to take control early and eventually claimed a 21–6 win. Carrying this confidence into their second game, SBSC 3 continued their excellent form with another strong display, defeating Ulverstone High School 17–5.

For many players in SBSC 4, these matches were their first taste of high school netball, and they handled the occasion extremely well. After a difficult first outing against SBSC 3, the team regrouped with determination for their second match. In a tightly contested game, the Saints fought hard and were rewarded with a close 5–4 victory over Devonport Christian School.

Many in our community will remember the striking work of our 2025 Dux, Hannah, from last year’s Arts Evening. Her piece, Reclamation, was a highlight of the display and we are thrilled that her talent has also been recognised on a state level.

Hannah’s work, titled Overwritten, was selected for ArtRage: The 2025 Selection at QVMAG. This annual exhibition showcases the creativity and technical skill of Year 11 and 12 art students from across Tasmania.

Overwritten explores cycles of life, growth and decay, using discarded objects and textile interventions to reflect on how impermanence shapes our relationship with materiality and sustainability.

The exhibition is open at QVMAG (Museum & Planetarium, Launceston) until 2 May. If you are visiting Launceston over the coming weeks, it is well worth a visit to see this exceptional piece in person.