Dear Families

Welcome to the 2023 school year!

Teaching and learning has begun in earnest and I have been most impressed with the quality of learning experiences taking place.  I have enjoyed visiting classes and seeing positive learning habits taking shape.  Because I value teaching and learning highly, St Brendan-Shaw College will only have one PA announcement, prior to lunch each day.  Can I please ask that families picking up their child throughout the day have communicated this to their child in advance as reception staff will not be calling students to Caritas over the PA system.   We understand that emergencies arise and our staff can always assist.

At our assembly on Monday I shared with students that the start of the 2023 school year marks the beginning of a wonderful journey and new chapter in their lives.   I expressed my hope for each and every student, that they flourish and reach their fullest potential as young men and women of the highest character. 

It is pleasing to see so many of our students wearing the uniform well and meeting our uniform expectations.  I do ask parents to ensure they are familiar with our uniform protocol which is included on this week's newsletter.  I have been very clear with students that wearing the uniform well and with pride is a focus for our school community.

Co-curricular sport has already begun and it has been most pleasing to get to our Senior Basketball for girls and boys, along with our Senior Tennis during the week. Participants have represented our College in an outstanding manner.

On Friday we celebrate academic achievement for 2022, at or 2023 Dux Ceremony.  Our ceremony is a celebration of academic excellence and I congratulate all of our award recipients.  Each student who will be acknowledged has also no doubt been involved in many extra-curricular opportunities throughout their time at the College. In particular, involvement in social justice initiatives and outreach programs, music, sport, drama, debating and public speaking. It serves to remind us of the importance each one of us play in contributing to the St Brendan-Shaw community generously and freely. For when we have free and full participation in these opportunities, we are truly alive as a school community. 

I look forward to meeting all members of the community, and in particular extending a warm welcome to all new families to the College in 2023.


Kind regards,

Stuart Ralph

Uniform Protocol

Upcoming webinar for parents – How to Help Get (& Keep!) Your Child Motivated

We’re excited to announce that on Wednesday 15 February Elevate Education is hosting its first free webinar of the year for parents.

Elevate Education works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, well-being, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series you will learn how you can help better support your children at home by reinforcing the skills they learn at school:  

Wednesday 15th February

How to Help Get (& Keep!) Your Child Motivated

Click here to register for free

Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:

• What impacts do praise and reassurance have on your child’s motivation?
• What are the best types of goals to be set with your child? 
• How can you help your child create meaningful and lasting motivation?

We hope to see you there!

To begin the College's academic school year, we welcomed our Year 7, 11, and 12 students last Friday. Year 7 students, learned to decode their timetables, master their combination locks, and navigate the College with the help of our friendly senior students and staff.

On Monday, it was great to see the whole College buzzing as we had Year 8, 9, and 10 students arrive for their first day. We held our first College Assembly where students listened on and learned the importance of our College community and the exciting journey 2023 will be for all of us. Our Year 7 SRC students also received their badges.

Traffic Management – Drop-Off and Pick-Up of Students

Parents/Carers are encouraged to move around to the western side of the pickup/drop off point when dropping off/picking up students. This allows

other vehicles to also access the drop off zone and reduces back up and congestion on James St.

Western Side of pickup/drop off area

It is critically important that everyone using the drop off zone obey all speed limits and drive carefully and safely at all times.

Staff will be on duty to ensure that traffic flows smoothly and we appreciate everyone's cooperation with following their instructions.

Thank you in advance for your considerate and safe use of our College roads.

Steve Powell

Health, Safety and Culture Officer

Today students in Years 10, 11, and 12 began their journey with TasTAFE undertaking Cert II in Construction Pathways. Students will attend TasTAFE once a week learning valuable skills in the construction industry to put themselves in the best possible position for future employment. This year is the first time that Year 10 students were eligible for the opportunity to enrol in the program. We thank Dave and Chris from TasTAFE for their ongoing commitment to our students. 

Our goal at St Brendan-Shaw College is to work together with parents in order to develop resilient adults. Resilience is developed through adolescents facing age-appropriate challenges, sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding. It is a "muscle" that cannot develop if a young person never faces challenges. I came across this article which addresses the subject clearly, with a strong research base:

https://theconversation.com/grit-or-quit-how-to-help-your-child-develop-resilience-195195

I encourage parents to read it.

An update to our guidelines regarding Illicit and illegal drugs is in production which acknowledges the battle all schools and parents of teenagers are having with vaping. I include for your reference, this excerpt relating specifically to vaping:

In order to combat vaping, which we recognise as a significant concern, the following apply:

Anyone seen by a staff member vaping will be externally suspended and will be on probationary enrolment upon their return to the college.

Anyone caught with a vape in their possession at school - as above. The exception is if it is seen because they are surrendering it to a staff member, or found incidentally.

If a staff member is a witness to obvious vaping in toilets but no one confesses, all students present will be subject to one school day internal suspension if it is their first offense.

Anyone seen by a staff member coming out of a toilet cubicle with another student will result in a 1 school day internal for both students if it is their first offense.

If any student is reported to staff for suspicion of vaping parents will be contacted on each occasion.

For the awareness of parents, we have found that some students are hiding their vapes in their underpants. This presents an additional health concern when that same device is then placed in the student's mouth.

Factsheet

Vaping and the Law

Students who are placed on suspension for any vaping-related infraction will be required to watch this Four Corners Documentary, which you may wish to view with your child.

For the benefit of those new to our College community, I provide an introduction to the pastoral care team at St Brendan-Shaw College.

We have a vertical system which means students' pastoral needs are overseen by their House Coordinator with the daily assistance of the Homeroom teacher, whereas other schools in our area have Year Coordinators. Each student is allocated to a House and remains in the House for the duration of their time at the College. Our four House Coordinators are as follows:

 
Dillon
Mr. Ross Hubble rhubble@sbsc.tas.edu.au

Griffin
Miss Jess Campbell jcampbell@sbsc.tas.edu.au

Lyons
Mrs Kiralee Page kpage@sbsc.tas.edu.au

MacKillop
Mr Kurt Byard kbyard@sbsc.tas.edu.au

We are also fortunate to have our college counsellor Lynda Beaven lbeaven@sbsc.tas.edu.au - all new students and Year 7 students have been introduced to Lynda. Parents are also free to contact Lynda directly to refer their child or discuss a concern. Lynda's work days are Monday to Thursday.

Students were reminded at Monday's whole school assembly that they are required to have a College lock on their locker. Staff are unable to assist in the event a student is missing something from a locker that was not locked.

Students were also reminded that it is an expectation that their blazer is worn while travelling to and from school, ie from the time they leave home in uniform until they arrive at school, then from the time they leave school until they arrive home. This means, for example, that if I drive past McDonalds on my way home and spot St Brendan-Shaw College students, they should be wearing their blazers. Any student in public in uniform is representing the College.

This week NSATIS Basketball started for our Senior Girls and Boys teams. Our Girl's team competing in the Firsts Division started the year well with a convincing win over Launceston Church Grammar 73-30. Lucy Aherne and Clair Martin top scored with 17 points each. 

In an exciting first game of the season, the boys got off to a good start. With a tight game early as the team found its rhythm it was not long before the team started to stretch the margin. With some great scoring all around, Ethan Savage was the top scorer with 26 points. The boys would prove too strong for LCGS and take the win 60-23.

On Monday, 13 February, the Boys and Girls basketball teams will again be at home. All NSATIS Rosters can be found at www.satis.com.au 

Both our Girls' and Boys' tennis teams were in action on Wednesday this week. With some new faces, both teams performed well for their first hit-out for the year. The girls, led by Annabelle Radcliff, had a very good win, defeating LCGS 49-34. The boys, led by Baxter Tu, had a varied start splitting doubles and singles games. Unfortunately, it was not enough to keep LCGS at bay with LCGS defeating SBSC 50-34.

On Monday, 13 February, our Boy's Team heads to Burnie to take on North West rivals Marist Regional College and the girls have the bye. All NSATIS Rosters can be found at www.satis.com.au 

On Wednesday, 15 February the College swimming carnival will take place at the Splash Aquatic centre. This will be a fantastic day with plenty of competition for House points up for grabs as well as the waterslide and plenty of novelty events so that all students can have some fun in the sun. Parents, please note that any students who wish to participate in the 100m Freestyle or the 50m Butterfly will need to sign up for these events prior to the carnival. There are sign-up sheets in the gym. Students competing in these events will need to have the capacity to arrive at the Splash Aquatic centre by 8.45am at the latest as the first race will begin at 8.55am. Students can arrive by 8am to warm up if they please, there will be staff on sight at this time.

Devon netball sign-ups for the winter roster will commence next week. Students in Years 7-10 who wish to play on this roster, please come and sign up next week. Sign-ups will close Friday 17th of February. 

On Wednesday, 15 February the College swimming carnival will take place at the Splash Aquatic centre. This will be a fantastic day with plenty of competition for House points up for grabs as well as the waterslide and plenty of novelty events so that all students can have some fun in the sun. Parents, please note that any students who wish to participate in the 100m Freestyle or the 50m Butterfly will need to sign up for these events prior to the carnival. There are sign-up sheets in the gym. Students competing in these events will need to have the capacity to arrive at the Splash Aquatic centre by 8.45am at the latest as the first race will begin at 8.55am. Students can arrive by 8am to warm up if they please, there will be staff on sight at this time.

Families are still able to purchase student photos by following the below instructions. If you require the access key, please contact the College reception. Family/sibling photos cannot be purchased. Photo catch up day for students who were unable to attend the first session will be held on Friday 3 March. 

1. To place an order for school photos go to www.leadingimage.com.au select - order your school photos, choose your state, enter your access key.
2. No credit card fees apply for online orders.
3. There is one access key for all student and family photos - please enter students' details correctly when placing you order. 
4. Once you have ordered online please keep your order reference number which will be emailed to the email address used when placing the order. You do not need to advice the school or Leading Image of your order reference number. 
5. If you lose your access key, please contact the school office to retrieve it. Leading Image does not give out access keys over the phone due to students' privacy.
6. Only parents who have ordered a family photo and pay for it before the photo day will have a photo taken.
7. Family packages must be ordered before 4:30 pm the night before photo day. 
8. The family discount is available to all families who have three or four students attending the school, where parents pay for two students and receive their third and fourth students' packages for free. 
9. Leading Image do not have control over the way your child's name appears in the photo - any changes or requests are strictly handled by the school.