Term 1 Draws to a Close
By Mr Stuart Ralph, Principal
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members of our Community a safe and restful holiday period. It has been a busy term for staff and students alike, highlighting and reinforcing to me that St Brendan-Shaw College is far more than just a school; we are a community.
A community that celebrates the success and growth of individuals, a community that inspires and provides opportunity for growth, and a community that supports young people to value the importance of service.
Over the past week, we have come together as a community through our Year 7 Camp at Camp Clayton, Year 8 House Camps at Sheffield and Stanley, our McGrath Foundation Cricket Match, and our Lyons House Mass last Friday. Tomorrow, our staff will gather for our Formation of Mission Day.
Amongst all of this, we have had educators from Shaping Minds Australia working with our teachers over the last few days, further unpacking The Science of Learning pedagogy to provide enriching learning experiences for students of the College as we continue on our journey of becoming the most improved school on the North West Coast.
Our goal as a school community is to create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment that enhances our school culture, where we maximise individual academic and social growth. Our students' experience at St Brendan-Shaw College is supported by our College Values.
Uniform Changeover
I would like to remind families that the upcoming Term break will see the transition to winter uniforms.
Term break opening hours are:
Tuesday 23 April: 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Monday 29 April: 8:00am - 11:00am
Midford, the college's Uniform Shop, has advised that the new sports uniform items, hoodies, and soft shell jackets will arrive in Week 1 of Term 2.
Enrolment and Scholarships
Enrolments for 2025 are now open in Years 7-12, with scholarship opportunities for newly enrolled students in the areas of Academics, The Arts, Sports, Leadership, and Vocational Education and Training for senior students.
Sports
Congratulations to our senior girls and boys Basketball teams, which have progressed to the NSATIS final, which will be held here at the College in Week 2 of next term. We have also had several students away with State U18 Basketball teams this week. Congratulations to Jade McCoy and Lucy Aherne (Captain). Mrs Jo Aherne has been fulfilling team manager duties. Recently Basketball Australia has released an interview conducted with Lucy, who is an outstanding representative of St Berendan-Shaw College, her State, and the Devonport community.
We encourage you to head to the College’s Facebook page to watch the story. https://fb.watch/rmRUsVGBhs/
Anzac Day
During the term break, the College will be represented at services around our region, where our student leaders and Student Executive will march, and deliver addresses and readings. The Morning Service commences at 11.00am at the Devonport Cenotaph. All students are welcome to join us, if you wish to march with the College to the Cenotaph, meet at 10.30am at the Senior Citizens Club Rooms on 8 Victoria Parade, Devonport. Please email Mrs Bonde if you intend to march and wear your full academic uniform.
Anzac Day remembers the Gallipoli campaign, where on 25 April 1915, thousands of brave young men went ashore on a foreign beach in a far-off land. This was far from the last of Australian involvement; in fact, three years later, on 24 April 1918, Australian soldiers played a pivotal role at Villers-Bretonneux in the Allied victory.
Shortly after nightfall, the ANZACs launched their assault – a ferocious house-to-house battle that went through the night. By dawn on the 25th of April, Villers-Bretonneux was in Australian hands. They were lauded for their bravery, but it came at a cost, with some 2400 killed, missing or wounded.
While the battle of Villers-Bretonneux and Gallipoli stand in folk law, this Anzac Day, we remember all service men and women:
World War 1 – 1914-1918
World War 2 – 1939-1948
Korean War – 1950-1953
Malayan Emergency – 1950-1960
Vietnam War – 1962-1975
Indonesian Confrontation – 1963-1966
Gulf War – 1990-1991
Afghanistan – 2001-2021
Iraq – 2003-2009
Peacekeeping – 1947-present
Attending the Dawn Service with my sons, where they can pay their respects and wear their Great-great-grandfather’s medals, is an important part of our family history and an opportunity for me to instil in them the sacrifice many men and women made for this great nation.
From the shores of Gallipoli to the Valleys of Afghanistan – in theatres of war and peace – we remember the incredible sacrifice and service of the Australian Defence Force.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
Farewell and Thank You
During the coming school holidays, Fr Jaison Kuzhiyil and Fr Steven Smith, our Mersey-Leven Parish Priests, are moving on. Fr Steven travels down to Hobart to join the Cathedral Parish and Fr Jaison travels to the United States. As a College community, we thank them for their service to the Mersey-Leven Parish and to us as a Catholic school. They have worked tirelessly in the local community and supported staff and students over their time here. We wish them all the best for the future and welcome our new Priests in the coming weeks.
End of Term Reminder
A reminder to all families that Term 1 concludes for all students today, Thursday 11th April, with tomorrow being a student-free day. The College will be closed for all staff to participate in their Formation of Mission Day. Caritas will reopen on Monday 15 April at 8:00am.
Have a wonderful holiday period.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Stuart Ralph
Principal
