No. 24 Term 2 - Week 8 Newsletter, 2024
From the Principal
I know I am back in Queensland!
This week has really helped me to realise I am back in Queensland. This time last year while living in Hobart, Tasmania, the State of Origin would come by and very few people were interested or even really knew it was on. I really missed the sense of coming together as a Queensland community to show our sense of Maroon Pride. However, this week, it all changed again. Having the opportunity to be part of Supporters' Day was wonderful. The sea of maroon throughout the school was fantastic even with the splashes of blue. These days are great in the life of a Queensland school. It was also a great initiative by our Year 12 students to work towards raising funds for their Year 12 gift at the end of the year.
Celebrating 50 Years of BCHS - Weekend Celebrations
The planning is in the final stages for our enormous weekend of celebrating 50 years of BCHS. We have three events planned - come to one OR come to all. Friday Night will be a free ticketed event; Saturday Night will be a cost ticketed event and Sunday Morning, our Anniversary Mass.
Tickets for the Anniversary Gala Dinner will go on sale very soon.
School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) Update
To boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide, the Australian Government is providing up to 30,000 eligible families with no internet at home a free National Broadband Network (NBN) service. Originally a 12-month commitment, the initiative has been extended meaning:
- The period in which a family can nominate to receive a free service is up to 31 December 2024.
- The duration of free services will continue until 31 December 2025 for all existing and new families.
To be eligible, a family must:
- Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school.
- Have no active broadband service over the NBN network.
- Live in a premise where they can access a standard NBN service.
- Not have had an active NBN service during the previous 14 days.
- Families can directly contact the National Referral Centre to have their eligibility assessed or be referred by a participating nominating organisation.
Reminder - Sibling Enrolments
Sibling enrolment involves the same process as the enrolment for your current child at Burdekin Catholic High School.
Kindly submit the Online Enrolment Application via our website. Our Round 1 Year 7 2025 Enrolment applications are due 21 June, 2024.
The interview and the confirmation of enrolment process must be completed early in Term 3, 2024.
BCHS Debutante Ball
The annual BCHS Debutante Ball is being held this year on Saturday 20th July at the Burdekin Memorial Hall. This is one of the school’s biggest fundraisers and we are seeking volunteers to assist on the night.
As there will be many of our students participating in the Deb Balls of the future, we are seeking assistance from parents and caregivers and Year 10, 11 and 12 students.
This is a great opportunity for the parents to get involved and see what happens at the Debutante Ball and what they can expect when it is their turn. Year 10, 11 and 12 Students will also be able to add their hours worked to their BCHS Service Card.
A parent letter went home via Compass this week with further details and instructions on how to volunteer. I would like to urge our parents to support this fundraising opportunity for the school.
Yours in Christ
Lorraine Wolffe
Principal
From the Deputy Principal
Assessment and Reporting
Over the next two weeks, teachers will be finalising end-of-Semester assessments and completing report cards. Reports cards will be issued via the Compass portal and at the same time will be the details of Parent-Teacher Interviews due to be held Wednesday, 17th July.
If students are absent for assessment, due to circumstances beyond their control, it is important teachers and the office know in order to begin the process of special provision. Variations to assessment dates, including tests need to have the appropriate documentation provided, i.e. note from home for Years 7 - 10 and a medical certificate for Years 11 - 12. Events within a student’s or family’s control, such as holidays or external commitments are not grounds for special provision. Students are to submit assignments prior to their absence and tests are only rescheduled under the aforementioned circumstances.
Authentication of student responses is a process by which teachers check student responses against other sources for plagiarism and/or the use of AI. Student responses must be their own work. Using a tool such as CHAT GPT or Quillbot to compose a response to a task is not completing that task as directed. Passing AI or plagiarised work as an individual response means the work cannot be authenticated as the student’s own work. Therefore, only the work that can be verified at the original student work will receive feedback and a final result.
Drama Festival Wrap
Last week students took to the stage to perform Beowulf on a Budget at the annual Burdekin Inter-School Drama Festival. The cast and crew were outstanding and the the play was an overwhelming success for our school. Congratulations to Riley, Ruby, Ashley and Jace who received awards on the night. Next the Drama Festival turns 50! There is the hope that previous performers will be interested in taking part in the celebrations in 2025. If you are interested, let us know, so we can keep you posted of any future plans.
In Rehearsal
From the Assistant Principal - Pastoral
Year 10 – Road to Success
Try Time! is an educational program run by the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys. The Year 10 students engaged in the ‘Road to Success’ module during their pastoral care lesson on Wednesday 29 May. Presented by Ray Thompson, the presentation was both interactive and engaging, using the game of rugby league in its delivery. The main outcome of this module was educating our upcoming and new Learner drivers on road safety.
Year 12 – McCathies
Mrs Paula Mottin, representing Nutrien Harcourts McCathies Ayr recently visited our Year 12 students. Our students were walked through the renting process step-by-step including how to apply. Our students were very appreciative of the valuable information shared by Mrs Mottin as they prepare for independence in the very near future.
Preparations for 2025 Student Leadership
Our Year 11 students will take part in the Year 11 Leadership Days next Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday will be held at the Ayr Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse and Wednesday at the Parish Hall and Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Unleashing Personal Potential (UPP) will deliver the Equip Leadership course over the first day. The action-packed and fun-filled activities scheduled for this day will equip our students with the skills to be positive leaders and role models - by example, service and action.
Information regarding the 2025 leadership positions and the leadership nomination process will be the focus of Wednesday’s program. We will be looking for leaders who take a servant leadership approach, like Marcellin and Mary, serving God and Jesus Christ by:
- Making Jesus Christ known and loved.
- Believing that all can become good Christians and good citizens.
- Acting with a strong mind and a gentle heart.
Uniform Expectations Update
A letter was recently emailed to all families regarding the currently trending ‘burst fade’ hair style. As stated in the letter, burst fades are a unique type of mullet and therefore do not meet our Uniform Policy and specifically expectations regarding mullets. Our Uniform Policy states that:
Hairstyles must be neat and tidy, with no extremes of cut, style, or colour that deviate significantly from the natural hair colour. Undercuts, mullet cuts, and shaved portions (tracks) of hairstyles are not acceptable. Hair length for males should not extend beyond collar length and must be out of the eyes. Long hair for females should be tied back off the face, and fringes cannot impact vision.
Chiara Guy
Assistant to the Principal - Pastoral Care
From the Assistant Principal - Religion
Thursday 6th June is the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnt the founder of the Marist Brothers. Our school community celebrated with Mass on Wednesday and Fun activities on Thursday. Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, Marcellin was made a Saint of the Catholic Church for his dedication, leadership and inspiration to generations of Marists. Here at Burdekin Catholic High School, we continue the legacy of St Marcellin and the countless students and staff who have gone before us. As the present Catholic community in the Marist tradition, continue to let our light shine, revealing God’s Spirit in the world through our actions and care for one another.
The communion hymn Standing on the Shoulders was accompanied by a PowerPoint that showed images students past and present which echoed the theme of this hymn.
Father Truong presided Mass. His homily highlighted the Marist Characteristics in particular Simplicity. At the core of the homily he impressed on the students that we need to be genuine and transparent and to not pretend to be something or someone that we are not. At times we make mistakes, but it is OK, we should divert our energy to make yourself better.
Congratulations to the Year 7 students who led the Mass. Their readings, and participation was admirable.
On Thursday fun activities were held in the Marcellin Centre to encourage House Spirit. Students from Years 7 to 12 joined in the games to earn points for their House. Polding was on top with, 36 points, Marcellin 24 followed by Clarance 18. To finish the day students were treated to Zooper Doopers in the Quad. Thank you to our Senior Students who assisted with activities.
Marcellin Feast Day Mass
Enrol for 2025
Enrolment applications for Year 7, 2025 (current Year 6 students) have opened and Round 1 Applications Close 21 June 2024. Please enrol now. Applications for other year levels are also available.
Online applications can be completed here:
When you have reviewed the information on this page, you can start an online application. To enquire about vacancies in other year levels, please contact our School Office 47832366.
From the School Chaplain
Dear Families,
My name is Stephanie Ryder, and I am the School Chaplain for both Burdekin Catholic High School and St. Francis Primary. Allow me to share a bit about myself. I have been a part of BCH for seven years and, as of this year, have also assumed the role of Chaplain at St. Francis Primary. The connection I have with both schools is truly special, and we are fortunate to have them as integral parts of our community.
Both BCH and St. Francis hold significant meaning in my life. I completed my education at both institutions and had the honor of serving as School Captain at BCH in 2007. After returning to BCH in 2017 as a Student Wellbeing Officer, I pursued further education, obtaining my Cert IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care.
In my role as School Chaplain, my foremost priority is the wellbeing of our students. I am here to provide a listening ear and support to ensure our students thrive emotionally and mentally.
Outside of my professional life, I am a proud mother to two wonderful daughters. Ava, who is currently in Year 3, attends St. Francis, while Ivy is enrolled at Big Birds. My husband serves as the Station Officer at the Ayr Fire and Rescue Station, and together, we feel incredibly blessed to lead fulfilling lives here in the Burdekin.
Warm regards,
Stephanie Ryder
School Chaplain
From the Guidance Counsellor
Finding appropriate support can be a challenging task, wait times and access are often barriers. If you are chasing support for you child, I do recommend checking out Momentum.
Momentum offers tailored online treatment programs to help children and adolescents learn new ways to cope with feelings of anxiety and/or unhappiness. Momentum also offers help with sleep difficulties, as well as information on well-being and help-seeking, and tips and information about substance use for adolescents.
Momentum has been designed in collaboration with young people, parents, clinicians and researchers. The program is free to use in Australia and can be worked through at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home.
More information can be found here!
Michael Dixon
Guidance Counsellor
Burdekin School Sports
Community News
Little Athletics QLD is hosting a Little Athletics Coles Winter Carnival in Townsville at the Townsville Sports Precinct on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June and it is open to U7 to U17 Athletes. This competition is open to non-registered athletes for a fee of $25!