By Mr Stuart Ralph, Principal

I am grateful to everyone in our community. Every day, I am enriched and inspired by the magnificent young men and women who contribute to building a college culture of success. This week, students have had the opportunity to participate in NSATIS athletics, our College Swimming carnival, NSATIS basketball and Tennis, Vinnies—Just Act, and College Production rehearsals. These are all examples of enriching opportunities that allow our students to flourish as well-rounded individuals inside and outside the classroom.

This year marks 65 years of our existence as a school community. St Brendan’s College started in 1960 on the site we call home to St Brendan-Shaw College today. We acknowledge the Vision of Archbishop Guilford Young and the work of Fr John Griffin in laying the foundations of our school community.

Rest in Peace, Fr Phil McCormack

With great sadness, I inform our community that Rev Fr Phil McCormack was called to Eternal Rest in the Lord on 16 March 2025. Fr Phil McCormack's Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Newstead, on Monday, 24 March, at 11:00 am, followed by burial at Carr Villa.

Affectionately known as "Smiley", Fr Phil was ordained by Archbishop Guilford Young on July 30, 1971, at St Brendan and Shaw College in Devonport.

During his 53 years of priestly ministry, he tirelessly served in 20 parishes, touching the lives of many with his dedication and kindness. May the good Lord grant him Eternal Reward in His Heavenly Home!

Head of the River

On Saturday, I had the privilege of watching our rowing team in action at the Head of the River, the final school regatta of the season. We had some outstanding performances on the day, most notably our Senior Open Coxed Four: Moleigh Clemens, Leeyah Clemens, Matilda Spaulding, Eloise Fieldwick, and Mia Fieldwick (Cox), who won their race.

Other notable performances included Moleigh Clemens, who placed second in her skull; Lars Brown, who placed third in his skull; Leeyah Clemens and Moleigh Clemens, who placed second in the Girls 16 and Under Double Skull; and Matilda Spaulding and Eloise Fieldwick, who placed third in the Girls Open Double Skull.

I thank Mr Mark Clemens and Mr Marcel Brown for coaching our crews. I also congratulate both gentlemen for being recently selected for the newly formed Rowing Tasmania School’s Commission.

We wish the following St Brendan-Shaw College crews all the very best at the National Rowing Championships on 24-30 March:

• SG1x Matilda Spaulding
• SG2x Eloise Fieldwick, Matilda Spaulding
• SG4x+Sprint Eloise Fieldwick, Leeyah Clemens, Moleigh Clemens, Matilda Spaulding, Mia Fieldwick (Cox)
• Lars Brown, Year 10, will also compete, representing Mersey Rowing Club.

NSATIS Athletics Carnival Tuesday 18 March

I congratulate the large contingent of 84 Athletes who represented our College this year. Last year's team was the largest we had assembled in a very long time, and I am delighted we have sent an even larger team in 2025. This is consistent with students' desire to participate and represent their College.

I thank our staff, Mr Brady Butcher, Mrs Shania Brown, Mr Sam O’Keeffe and Mr Joseph McGechaen for supporting the students on the day.

College Swimming Carnival Wednesday 19 March

Our Carnival was a magnificent day of participation and commitment from our students at our swimming carnival. Underpinning participation and competitive spirit, the behaviour of our students and support of each other must be acknowledged.

I congratulate all our age group winners and Lyons House, who took out the carnival in 2025 for the first time since 2006. I thank Miss Renee Sushames, who ran and organised our carnival this year. I also take this opportunity to thank Miss Sushames for her leadership in acting in the Sports Coordinator role while Mr Sam O’Keeffe was on leave.

NSATIS Sports

I wish our Senior First Girls basketball team, who are playing St Patrick’s College in the NSATIS final at St Brendan-Shaw College at 1:30 pm tomorrow, all the best. Our Senior Second Girls basketball team will also play St Patrick’s College in a semi-final in the Nazareth Centre at 2:30 pm.

Primary Music Program and College Concert Band

I am delighted to inform families that our primary music program at our Catholic feeder schools, Our Lady of Lourdes, St Patricks, Our Lady Of Mercy and starting this year Sacred Heart, has started for the year. Students in Years 4-6 can participate in strings, woodwind or brass.

Mr Paul Kenny has 45 primary students involved in our Programs. This year, the College has launched its College Concert band, which will practice once a week. Parents who would like to involve their child in either of these music programs should contact Mr Paul Kenny at the college at your earliest convenience.

Enrolments for Year 7 2026 are Now Open!

Enrolments for Year 7, 2026, are now being accepted. Our Year 7 2026 Enrolment Open Night will be held on Thursday, 27 March, at 6.00 pm in the Genesis Centre.

College Board

Mr Adam Jacobson will be resigning from the College Board at our AGM next week. I wish to thank Adam for his commitment, dedication and service to our College community.

I invite all parents to consider a nomination for our College Board. Please contact Iola Turner, principalsea@sbsc.tas.edu.au to receive a nomination form.

Members of the current St Brendan-Shaw College Board are:

• Mr Malcolm Nield
• Mrs Gina Casey
• Mrs Pettina Borlini
  
• Mrs Angela Phipps
• Mr Jamie Goodwin
• Mrs Eve Woodhouse

I thank all members of our community for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Stuart Ralph
Principal

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." 
– Mother Teresa

This week is Harmony Week; a celebration that recognises our country’s diversity and unites Australians from all different backgrounds. It emphasises inclusivity and respect, and this year’s theme is “Everyone belongs”.

Did you know?

• More than half (51.5 per cent) of Australian residents were born overseas or have at least one parent who was.
• Since 1945, more than 7.6 million people have migrated to Australia.
• Nearly every single country from around the world was represented in Australia's population in 2020.
• More than 150 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander languages are spoken in Australia
• Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Punjabi.
• We identify with over 300 ancestries.

It is also important to remember that Harmony Day coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which focuses on combatting racism wherever and whenever it arises.

With the start of the Lenten season, comes the start of Project Compassion by Caritas Australia. This year we are aiming to double our fundraising from last year with a goal of $1500. This goal would allow Caritas Australia to support 10 or more individuals to start their own business and gain economic independence in the DRC and other countries.

If you are unfamiliar with Project Compassion and Caritas Australia, it is a Catholic run non-profit organisation that seeks to work with communities around the world to eradicate poverty and injustice. Part of their work includes working alongside communities and individuals to allow them to be as independent as possible - economically and socially.

There are collection boxes available in each morning Homeroom for students to donate to, as well as around the College.

There will be a whole school incentive if we reach our goal of $1500 - more details to come!

There are also house points on offer for the house that raises the most: 1st place = 100 points, 2nd place = 75 points, 3rd place = 50 points, 4th place = 25 points. These could make a big difference for the end of year house cup.

We are pleased to announce that MSP Photography is our new school photo provider in 2025. MSP Photography services many schools across Tasmania and nationally.

School Photo Day is on Friday, 28 March, and all students are required to have their ID photo updated each year.

On Friday morning, 21 March, students will receive their School Photo order forms from their homeroom teacher. Each form includes the student’s name and a unique ‘shootkey’ code, which is required to place an online order.

Students who are absent on Friday must collect their order form from the Front Office.

Sibling (Family) Photos

• Families wishing to order sibling photos can collect a Sibling Photo order form from the Front Office.
• Orders must be placed online, and the completed form must be brought to Photo Day for the sibling photo to be taken.

Order Deadline & Contact Information

All individual student photo orders must be placed online by Friday, 4 April.

Uniform Expectations

To ensure a professional and consistent appearance in school photos, all students are expected to wear their formal summer uniform on Photo Day. This includes:

• Neat and correct formal summer uniform, worn as per the Uniform Protocol
• Hair neatly groomed and presented following school guidelines in the Uniform Protocol

Year 12 Group Photo

The Year 12 Group photo will run a little differently than in past years. All Year 12 students are required to be at the Genesis Centre promptly at the start of recess. This year the image will be taken as a whole group photo. It’s important that you attend on this day.

Misplaced Forms

The College does have a register of shootkey codes that have been distributed to students. Please email us at admin@sbsc.tas.edu.au or call 6424 7622. 

For any questions regarding the online ordering process, please contact MSP Photography directly on 03 6231 5880.

Year 11s

The deadline for completing the Basic Financial Literacy Cert 1 is this week [17th -21st March]. We encourage you to complete as many units as possible, as you receive TCE points for every unit of the course you complete.

Year 11s and 12s

Reasonable Adjustment Applications for 2025 are open and information has been emailed to all students and parents. Please check your inboxes for an email, which was sent on Friday 14 March.

2025 TASC Exams

The 2025 TASC written exam period will be Monday 10 November – Thursday 20 November.

Please remember to check with admin staff at the Caritas office if you have lost any items, particularly from the recent Grade 7 camp or Athletics Carnival. There are still many lost property items that remain unclaimed.

Also, we would like to remind everyone to label items of clothing to ensure these can easily be returned if they are misplaced. 

Young people today are growing up in a world where exposure to other people's lives is constant. Through social media and other platforms, they are regularly presented with curated highlights - from flawless holiday photos and academic milestones to the latest fashion trends and fitness achievements. This continuous stream of idealised content fuels what is known as comparison culture, where self-worth is often measured by how someone stacks up against others.

For children and adolescents, who are still figuring out who they are, this culture can be particularly damaging. Constantly comparing their appearance, achievements, or social standing to friends, influencers, and even strangers can lead to unrealistic expectations and a skewed sense of self-worth. This relentless need to measure up can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiety - undermining both confidence and emotional wellbeing.

It's vital that parents and caregivers understand how deeply comparison culture can influence a child's self-perception and sense of value. Left unchecked, it can foster perfectionism and a dependence on external validation, where a 'like' or comment becomes the measure of their worth.

The good news is, families have a powerful role to play in helping young people navigate these challenges. This Special Report will help you empower your child to build the resilience and confidence needed to navigate today's comparison-driven world and embrace their own unique path.

Here is the link to your Special Report: https://sbsc.tas.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-social-media-comparison-culture-au

Yesterday's Swimming Carnival was packed with unforgettable moments as students dived into the spirit of the day.

With perfect weather on our side, the morning was filled with exciting races, while the afternoon brought even more fun with a range of activities, including a water slide, aqua Zumba, and water polo.

A big thank you to all our students for their enthusiasm and strong team spirit, with many fabulous outfits on display.

Congratulations to Lyons for clinching the cup for the first time since 2006 – an incredible accomplishment and a true reflection of their engagement throughout the day!

Last week, the St Brendan-Shaw College NSATIS Girls 1st Basketball team attended the International Women’s Day School Girls’ Brunch, an event that brought together young women in sport to be inspired and empowered.

Hosted by Womensport and Recreation Tasmania (WSRT) in partnership with Devonport City Council, the event featured a panel of guest speakers from the sporting world, who shared their experiences, challenges, and insights into leadership, resilience, and success.

It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to connect with like-minded peers and gain motivation to chase their sporting goals!

The Year 10 VET Introduction to Baking and Cookery students have been looking very smart in their new College aprons. This new 2025 class has embraced sustainability during their early lessons, using herbs from the College garden and even apples grown on campus!

This year, the Year 10s have some fabulous VET introduction classes on offer. Our VET Introduction to Electrotechnology, which takes place in St Brendan-Shaw’s own purpose-built electrotech facility, provides aspiring electricians and related fields the chance to get a head start on their careers.

The VET Introduction to Electrotechnology course provides students with a foundational understanding of the electrical trade, covering key principles such as Ohm’s Law, which includes voltage, current, resistance, and power.

Students apply these fundamental concepts in a hands-on workshop environment using safe Extra Low Voltage (ELV) systems, where they verify theories through practical experimentation and document their findings.These principles form the core of all electrical work within the Certificate III trade qualification, making this course a fantastic foundation. The students are already getting stuck into hands-on classes, recently learning to isolate a circuit and test resistors.

Our facility and course structure are second to none within Tasmania and stands out across Australia!

St Brendan-Shaw Year 11 and 12 students are invited to find out more about studying Medicine at the Rural Clinical School. From 2025, students can study the complete medicine course right here on the coast. 

Join us for an information session at 12.40 PM on Tuesday, 25 March, in the T3 Room on campus.

This season the Devonport Junior Soccer Association intends to run a year 7 soccer roster on Saturday mornings.

Below is more information about the roster.

Year levels - 7 only
Format - 9 a side
Registration - $90. A link will be sent to interested students and parents for registration.
Start and Finish - 5th of April - 23rd of August.
Team Expectations - Teams playing first must set up the fields and teams playing last pack up fields. Teams will also be expected to volunteer in the canteen.

For teams to enter, there must be at a minimum a coach for the team. The College will not have capacity to provide coaches for soccer on Saturday mornings. If a team does not have a nominated Coach then the team will be withdrawn from the roster. All volunteers involved with the teams must have a valid WWVP card.

If you are interested in playing in this roster please complete this form by Monday, 24 of March.

Paid temporary jobs at the federal election The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has up to 100,000 paid temporary jobs available at the next federal election.

More than 9 in 10 previous temporary staff say they’d recommend the work to others – and that they’d do it again. Why not join them?

There is a range of different roles from entry-level to senior positions in metro, regional and remote areas. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t worked at an election before. You’ll get paid to train and on-the-job support.

Most jobs are on voting day, but some roles are for several weeks before or after, making it a great opportunity to earn extra money. You’ll also be contributing to your community and working as part of a team.

Many of the people who worked on the last major event, the referendum, enjoyed the experience:
‘It was an AMAZING team environment where I worked and a great vibe.’
‘An opportunity to connect with people in my community, some of whom I hadn't seen in decades.’
‘I was thrilled with my staff. Most had never worked in an election before however they were keen and happy to do any task asked of them.’

As the AEC’s role is to deliver the election with the highest levels of integrity and impartiality, you must be and be seen to be, politically neutral. The AEC strives to have a workforce that reflects and supports the diverse community we serve. We encourage people from all backgrounds and locations to join our team, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. 

Tell your friends and family about this work opportunity too. 

To register and find out more, visit aec.gov.au/electionjobs

Wynyard Wildcatz are sending their youth cheerleading team of 12 girls aged between 7-12 to Orlando, Florida, to compete in an invitational event. The parents have been fundraising hard and have managed to raise $55,000, with a target of $60,000. Their last fundraising event, a Slime Run, is coming up on 30th March. You can register your interest using the QR code. 

About Reclaim
Reclaim is a series of free events during Youth Week Tasmania and features: art, music and social activities for young people of all ages and their families. This event gives young people the chance to experience new things, to be involved in their community, to have fun and to use their voice.

Reclaim 2025 Youth Art Exhibition
For young artists, this exhibition showcases the artistic talent of young people from the North West.

The exhibition will be shown at RANT Arts in their Community Space. Applications for this exhibition are open to young people aged 12-25 from North West Tasmania.Entries must be received by 10pm on Sunday, 23rd March 2025.

Applications can be submitted here: https://rantarts.smartygrants.com.au/Reclaimexhibition2025

For more information, follow this link: https://www.rantarts.com/reclaim-exhibition2025

Reclaim 2025 Youth Photography Exhibition
The exhibition will take place in our Project Space, where all works will be digitally projected, giving your photography the perfect platform to shine. This exhibition will run concurrently with the RECLAIM Youth Exhibition, creating a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere for all attendees.

Entries must be received by 10pm on Sunday, 23rd March 2025.

Applications can be submitted here: https://rantarts.smartygrants.com.au/photographyexhibition2025

For more information, follow this link: https://www.rantarts.com/youth-photography-exhibition

Looking for a fun, welcoming place to hang out and meet new people? Join us at the Welcome Cultural Services Youth Group (ages 12+) at the Devonport Library every second Monday during school terms from 3:30pm to 5pm. Whether you need homework help, English practice, information about driving, or need assistance applying for work or filling out forms, we’ve got you covered. Plus, enjoy free snacks and the chance to make new friends. Fun activities each fortnight. No cost, no registration, just show up and join in!

Level 1 – paranaple centre, Devonport Library - 137 Rooke Street, Devonport.

For more information contact:
Libby Dobson at Welcome Cultural Services
libby.dobson@welcomeculturalservices.au
0418 767 171

Welcome Cultural Services Youth Group at Devonport Library Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite