Burdekin Catholic High School

From the Principal

Welcome Back to Term 4!

Hopefully, the Term 3 break was a restful one and provided all in the community the opportunity to share time with family and friends. My time in Europe to study in the area of Catholic Identity was a very rewarding experience. I look forward to sharing my learning with our community over the forthcoming months.

I would like to begin this week by congratulating our students on the enthusiastic start they have made this term. Classrooms are already a witness to be vibrant learning spaces, filled with motivated students. Another term brings with it many exciting opportunities. At times, these opportunities will take students our of their normal class routine. There is an expectation that students plan for known absences. They are expected to seek out missed work and to plan for time to engage with any missed learning. Attendance at all school learning events is compulsory unless discussed with the relevant teacher.

I can't do this - Learning is challenging

As students progress with their learning they are continually challenged by new content and an expectation to learn new skills. The response 'I can't do this' is often heard. Learning does involve determination and persistence. It does not always come easy. Students are presented with learning that involves the development of critical thinking and complex problem-solving. It is okay for students to feel challenged. Teachers at BCHS use a range of teaching strategies to support students in their learning. Teachers intentionally challenge students to achieve their potential with support. If you do have concerns with your child's learning, the concern should be raised respectfully with the appropriate teacher.

Welcoming our Year 7s 2025

The beginning of Term 4 marks the commencement of an important transition time in the life of the school. It is a strange time where we continue with the 'usualness' and also ensure our preparations for 2025. We are in preparation for our 2025 Year 7 students and their families who will be joining us on Wednesday 27 November for their Orientation Day. Over the next few weeks, Mrs Berryman (Year 7/8 Pastoral Leader) and Mrs Flanagan (Inclusive Practices Teacher) will be visiting our feeder primary schools to come to know and understand more of the learning and well-being needs of the incoming Year 7 students.

Lorraine Wolffe
Principal

From the Assistant Principal - Religion

This term will see many memorable events and moments for our Senior class.

The first of these events will be the Youth Mass this Sunday at the Sacred Heart Parish, 5: 30 pm. The focus of the Mass is to pray for our Seniors as they complete the last week of lessons, apply for apprenticeships and prepare for external exams. To keep the tradition alive the Seniors will share a meal after Mass with their peers, teachers and Father Truong and Father Manoj. Our 2025 School Leaders will be leading the Mass and they have approached this task with enthusiasm and vigour. We hope to see our school community at the Mass this Sunday to support our Seniors.

This year the new Senior Religion and Ethics syllabus has rolled out with the Year 11 Students This semester the unit of study is Social Justice. Last term the assessment task addressed the issue of Youth Homelessness and students wrote a feather article addressing this issue. Past student Rebecca Grogan (Hibbard) from the Burdekin Community Association talked to student about homelessness in Ayr and the services that they provide. This presentation educated students on the issues of homelessness in our own backyard and formed the foundations of their research and understanding of the assessment task. This Friday the Year 11 students will travel to Townsville for an excursion to develop a deeper understanding of the work that St Vinnies do. A combination of presentations from crisis workers at the Men’s Shelter and the Diocesan President will equip students with the knowledge and resources for their next assessment focusing on a social justice project in our school community, what this space for more information. Through the study of Religion and Ethics student gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic Social Teachings which opens the dialogue for how we can live our lives respectfully and responsibly in a global community.

Antonetta Dalle Cort
Assistant to the Principal - Religious Education

From the Year 12 Pastoral Leader

Announcing: Cans for a Court – A Whole School Fundraising Initiative

Dear Parents and Families,

As part of our tradition, each year our Year 12 students work hard to leave a meaningful gift for the school community. This year, they’ve decided to embark on something a little different and exciting. Instead of a one-time gift, they want to create a legacy—a project that the whole school can contribute to and enjoy for years to come.

We all know how much our students love playing basketball in the Marcellin Centre during lunch. Imagine if they had access to an outdoor half-court! While this won’t happen overnight, we have set an ambitious goal to raise approximately $15,000 to bring this idea to life. To kickstart this project, we are launching "Cans for a Court."

As of now, specially marked bins will be placed in the school’s quad, where students can drop off 10-cent recyclable containers. Every item collected will bring us one step closer to building the basketball court. In addition to the school collection, we invite families and members of the community to join us in this effort. You can now drop off recyclable containers at NQ Green Solutions and ask for the funds to be donated to Burdekin Catholic High School.

While the Year 12s are leading the charge, this is a project that requires the support of our entire school and community. Together, we can also look forward to future fundraising events like $2 soft drink days, free dress days, and perhaps even a revival of the school disco—all in support of this exciting goal.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students, families, and the community to come together and achieve something special. With everyone’s help, we’re confident we can make this dream a reality.

Thank you for your continued support!

Kristie Stennett | Pastoral Leader

From the Science Department

ANSTO Think Science Competition 2024

During terms 2 and 3, students participated in the “The Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Think Science! Competition” which involves small teams of students to conduct a practical science investigation on a topic of their choosing. The competition saw teams from all states and territories around Australia submit entries.

Students worked during their lunchbreaks to extend their science investigation knowledge to solve a Science Inquiry question. They documented how they followed all steps of the Science Inquiry strand of the Australian Curriculum to develop their project and then conducted an experiment to gather data in the laboratory to answer their question and draw a conclusion.

As part of the competition process, students prepared and submitted a short video, which summarised their investigation, where it was assessed by an expert panel against other student submissions.

It is with pleasure to share that the rural prize for Years 7-10 has been awarded to a talented group of students from Burdekin Catholic High School.

Congratulations to Alice O'Connor, Anna Nguyen, and Katrina Nguyen for their excellent investigation into "Length of Wire vs. Resistance."

The judges commented that ‘the entry the students submitted shows that they enjoyed learning science skills and making their video, which the judges greatly enjoyed watching.’

Year 10 Business

In celebration of Mental Health Week, Year 10 Business students are taking their learning beyond the classroom by focusing on community well-being. Each year, the students develop and manage mini-businesses, gaining valuable real-world experience. Last year, their efforts supported the Burdekin Men’s Shed Association, an organisation dedicated to promoting men's mental health. The students proudly donated the profits to fund a games cabinet for the group, creating a lasting impact for the members' well-being.

This year, our Year 10s will continue this tradition of giving back, with all profits from their Week 4 ventures going to the Vinnie's Christmas Appeal. By linking their business projects to community service, our students not only learn valuable skills but also contribute meaningfully to important causes, supporting those in need during the festive season.

Career Kickstart

Congratulations Layla Pavone (Year 10) who is now a School Based Trainee at Burdekin Veterinary Services where she will be doing a Certificate II Animal Care. Thank you to Des Viero and the team at Burdekin Veterinary
Services for this opportunity. The BCHS Community wishes Layla all the best in starting the career of her dreams. If you are a local business and would like to know more about School-Based Apprenticeships, contact Antonetta Dalle Cort on 47832366.

YEAR 9 CAREERS DAY

In week one Year 9 Students participated in a Careers Day held on campus.

The day focused on explored Carol Deweck's Growth Mindset theory and how to change our thinking to achieve goals. Other activities included exploring the tools and resources on the BCHS Career Website. Student participated in a number of activities on the website that matches personality traits, interests and abilities to careers.

Next year this group will spend a whole week exploring their career options in a multitude of activities that delves deeper into academic and vocational pathways for our young people.

Love Bites: Fostering Respectful Relationships and Consent

On Friday, October 4th, our Year 7 and 8 students participated in the impactful “Love Bites” program, a pastoral initiative designed to educate young people about respectful relationships and the importance of consent.

This engaging program aimed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate relationships in a healthy and respectful way. Through interactive workshops and discussions, students explored key topics, including setting boundaries, recognizing unhealthy relationship patterns, and understanding consent in various contexts.

The “Love Bites” program is not just about addressing the issues that young people may face but also about promoting positive behaviors and attitudes. By fostering open conversations about respect and consent, we hope to equip our students with the tools they need to build strong, healthy relationships now and in the future.

As a school community, we are committed to promoting a culture of respect and understanding. Programs like “Love Bites” are essential in guiding our students toward becoming responsible and empathetic individuals. We look forward to more initiatives like this in the future, ensuring our students are well-prepared for the challenges and joys of relationships in their lives.

Thank You

A special thank you to the staff and facilitators who made this program possible, and to our Year 7 and 8 students for their enthusiastic participation. Together, we are building a more respectful and informed school community!

2025 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey

Year 12 students will be invited to participate in the Next Step Year 12 Completers survey starting in March 2025, following up on their activities after graduating.

The invitation will arrive via a letter from the Minister for Education, or an email or phone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please check your contact details are correct with the school and learning account that your child can access via the student portal at https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/.

Your child’s feedback helps our school improve services for future students, and they can win a prize for participating. For more info visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.

Review of the TCE Reporting Processes

The Townsville Catholic Education Office has in place guidelines for use by schools on reporting student academic achievement from Prep to Year 10. The guidelines are being reviewed during this term in readiness for 2025 and I would like to invite you to complete a survey to provide feedback on your experience and value in the current reporting processes.

All schools in the Diocese are bound to comply with the Australian Government Education Regulation (2023) which requires schools to provide the following:
A report must be readily understandable to a person responsible for a student at the school.
A report must be given to each person responsible for the student at least twice a year.
For a student who is in any of years 1 to 10, the report must:
give an accurate and objective assessment of the student’s progress and achievement, including an assessment of the student’s achievement:
(i) against any available national standards; and
(ii) relative to the performance of the student’s peer group; and
(iii) reported as A, B, C, D or E (or on an equivalent 5 point scale) for each subject studied, clearly defined against specific learning standards.
In order to comply with this regulation, schools provide parents/carers with a written report at the end of each semester that includes a grade for each subject, some comments, investment in learning (effort) and days absent. For Prep to Year 10, the national standards refer to the Australian Curriculum achievement standards.
The survey seeks your feedback on the current reporting process and its effectiveness in communicating your child’s progress. Your input at this point is valuable in ensuring that our reporting practices meet both regulatory requirements and the needs of each school’s community.

Access to the survey can be found here: Parent/Carers Survey

Your responses will be confidential and used to inform the review of the TCE Reporting Guidelines document. Responses to the survey need to be completed by Friday 25th October.

Enrolment Information Updates

Enrolment Terms and Conditions
When a student is accepted for enrolment at our school, parents/carers/guardians sign a Student Enrolment Agreement which contains important terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are updated from time to time, and were last updated earlier this year.

The Conditions of Enrolment are available on our school website (Insert link). Please contact the Principal if you would like to discuss the information contained in these documents.

Media/Photography/Video Consent for students
During the enrolment process, parents/carers/guardians consent to the use of images of their child. The consent is outlined below. Parents who wish to withdraw this consent should contact the school.

Photos, video footage and work samples of students are used regularly by the school for the purpose of acknowledging the efforts of the student/school, or for promotion, marketing or advertising the school or Catholic Education. Parents consent to the student being photographed or filmed for school, Catholic Education or Townsville Catholic Diocese related communication or for education purposes. Parents understand this may include media (e.g. television, radio, publications), school publications (e.g. newsletters, year books), online media (e.g. websites) and social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram). Please note the student’s name and voice may be included with the photograph/video. Parent’s understand it is their responsibility to notify the school if they do not wish to consent to the student’s photograph/ video appearing in any or all of the above, or if they wish to withdraw this authorisation and consent.

Enrol for 2025

We have commenced our interviews for enrolments for 2025. It has been wonderful to meet our potential new students. If you would like to enrol in 2025, especially Year 7, please enrol now.

Online applications can be completed here: