Burdekin Catholic High School

From the Deputy Principal

Welcome to Term 2! Even though the first two weeks have been short on time, we have still managed to be buzzing with a hive of activity.

Last week we held our school-based ANZAC Day ceremony. Our students stood front and centre of our commemorations - Ethan Pengelly played the bagpipes; the Air Force Cadets stood tall and proud and our Year 12 Leaders led our ceremony. At Burdekin Catholic High School we have a strong tradition of moving ANZAC Day ceremonies, thanks to Dr Brian Glover. It is due to Dr Glover we have such a strong tradition that remembers those who have served our country in times of war and other conflicts. This year was the first time Dr Glover could not attend the ceremony, but rest assured he was more than happy hearing the reports of the service. It was indeed an honour to be mentored in the logistics of this ceremony by Dr Glover while he taught at Burdekin Catholic High School, and an honour to keep this tradition unique to our school.

Students then attended on Friday the various services across the Burdekin district and one student attended Townsville’s march. Burdekin Catholic High School was represented at all Burdekin services. If you have not yet had the opportunity, please see our photos from the day on our Facebook page.

This week we held our Parent-Teacher Interviews. As always, we do not limit opportunities to discuss your child’s progress to just the formal interview. Throughout the year, parents and carers are encouraged to reach out to teachers to check-in on progress. Our next reporting period will be at the end of this term.

Year 11 and 12 students are nearing the end of Unit 1 and Unit 3 respectively. A reminder as we enter the winter months, that staying fit and healthy are two ways of beating the dreaded winter flus that make their presence known. If students do fall in, and are absent, and this absence impacts the completion of assessment, medical certificates are required for the AARA process. Students in Years 7 - 10 require a note from home should rescheduling of assessment be required. All students are required to complete a ‘purple form’ for special provision. A reminder that any Year 11 and 12 students who have long-term conditions that require AARA, they need to make time to see me to go through the AARA process.

Throughout this term there will be opportunities for students to be involved in various school representative activities. As always, students need to ensure they manage their time and commitments to meet their assessment and homework deadlines.

Coming up this term will be auditions for the musical and over next week for the Drama Festival. Students are encouraged to be part of these two great opportunities in The Arts for 2025.

Elisa Rigano
Deputy Principal

From the Assistant Principal - Religion

Only a week ago, the world was rattled by the news of the passing of our beloved Pope Francis. We as a school community showed solidarity with the rest of the Catholics worldwide with a para-liturgy, in memorial of Pope Francis. We started this school term with the sad news of the passing of Pope Francis. How fitting that his Holiness decided to wait until after we celebrate our Lord’s resurrection, for his passing into the next life. This is significant because it demonstrates the man he truly was – a humble person who wanted no attention and in fact always pointed the direction first and foremost to our Lord.

From the very beginning of his papal ministry, Pope Francis pointed us to the Lord. On the balcony, when he first appeared to the whole world as Pope, he didn’t tell us about his great plan for the Catholic Church. Nor did he want the attention to go to him. Instead, he asked the whole world to bow their head and pray for the papacy. Take a moment to really digest that statement. Everyone listening to the radio or watching the TV at that moment was stunned by the request – Catholics and Non-Catholics. Everyone was invited to spend a moment with God. Then, throughout his papacy, he consistently points to us the way to the Lord – by doing what the Lord has done, namely, showing mercy and compassion to the poor, the ostracized and the marginalised. He reminded us one of the great teachings of Jesus in Matthew chapter 25, ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty, drink, naked you clothed me, sick, you cared for me and in prison you visited me.’ Through the simplest of Jesus’ teachings, Pope Francis opened our eyes to the richness of God’s love, especially when very so often we are clouded by doctrines and Church traditions. This year, the Jubilee Year of Pilgrims of Hope, he would have known that this will be his last and chose to go on a pilgrimage himself to our heavenly Father as his last act of demonstrating true faith in God.

We ask for Pope Francis to pray for us, the Church. We pray in particular for the College of Cardinals who will convene shortly for the conclave. We pray that our Lord grant us a new Pope who will take our Jubilee celebration with a renewed faith in our Lord and bring all into his loving embrace. Finally, we pray for our school community as we begin Term 2 – our staff, students, parents and the wider community.

Always remember – to pray for another!

EASTER LITURGY

On the last day of Term 1, we celebrated our Easter Liturgy with a dramatization of the story of Jesus’ agony in the garden and His arrest as recorded in John’s Gospel. Our Year 12s led the liturgy with confidence, in a sure hope that in the coming years, this year group will be leading all Easter Liturgy celebrations for the school.

The story started when Jesus chose three of his trusted disciples to accompany him in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was there that Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, brought with him Roman cohorts, Soldiers of the Chief Priest and Pharisees to arrest Jesus. The story continued to take Jesus into an interrogation spiel, particularly with Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor in Judea at the time and ended with Jesus being presented to the Jewish people for a possible release and standing next to Jesus was Barabbas. The story ended here as an invitation to our students to continue on with that story during the school holidays by attending Masses, particularly during the Easter Triduum; Good Friday (using a Jewish methodology where a day is from sunset to sunset: Holy Thursday sunset to Good Friday sunset), Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

We extend our gratitude to all Year 12 students in their dedication and solemnity in preparing for the event. We pray for all our students and their families as we celebrate the life, death and resurrection of our Lord. Happy Easter to you all!

Blessings,
Denis Tutaka
Assistant Principal - Religion

From the Guidance Counsellor

A Special Report: Social Media Influencers

Social media influencers have become powerful individuals who often shape the opinions and beliefs of others due to strong connections with their audiences. In today's fast-paced digital world, attention has become a valuable commodity.

However, the impact of social media influencers on youth mental health is a growing concern, most recently, the controversial actions and statements of Andrew Tate. His rise to fame has made him a polarising figure, amassing a significant following of mostly young males. Educators and families have raised urgent concerns about the damaging nature of Tate’s content, worried that his messages may radicalise students and create a generation of young men with regressive and harmful beliefs.

Young people often compare themselves to the idealised lives presented by influencers, leading to feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth and dissatisfaction. Social media algorithms may also expose them to inappropriate or harmful content such as explicit material, promotion of harmful behaviours, or distorted perceptions of body image or mental health.

It is important to guide a young person’s social media use and promote open communication. Be curious to comprehend why they might be drawn to radical influencers, like Andrew Tate, and actively seek understanding as part of the solution. While not all influencers have a negative impact, parents play a vital role in ensuring a balanced approach to social media. By actively modelling kindness, respect and positive values, parents can help tackle the sway of radical influencers and be part of the solution to countering unhealthy masculinity.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to respond to misinformation and disinformation, instead encouraging critical thinking and emphasising the value of real-life connections.

Here is the link to your special report:
https://bchs.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-social-media-influencers-au

From the Careers Department

Congratulations Wil Michielin (Year 11) who is now a School Based Apprentice.

At the end of Term 1 Wil commence his Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology at Jake's Automotive Electrical & Air Conditioning. Every Tuesday Wil will be working a full day where they will start to learn the skills of the trade.

Thank you to Jake Biffanti (a BCHS past student) for providing this opportunity for Wil.

There are also two other students that will be commencing School Based Apprenticeships in May – Hairdressing and Diesel Fitting apprenticeships. More about them in the next newsletter. If you are a local business and would like to know more about School- Based Apprenticeships, contact Antonetta Dalle Cort on 4783 2366.

Over the Easter School holidays we had eleven students across Years 11 and 12 participate in work experience. One of the placements resulted in a School Based Apprenticeship. If you are a year 10, 11 or 12 student and wish to do work experience over the June / July holidays you need all your Work Experience Agreement, Workplace Health and Safety Certificate and White Card* handed in by Friday 6^th June.

*select placements only – refer to the Work Experience Program poster below.

From the Science Department

Y7 Science: Inertia and Crash Test Dummies

In Y7 classrooms this term, students are using “crash test dummies” to better understand the laws of physics. These lifelike mannequins, typically used in the automotive industry to test vehicle safety, are now helping students grasp the concept of inertia—a fundamental principle of motion described by Newton’s First Law.

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist any change in motion. To bring this concept to life in the classroom, students simulated collisions using scaled-down vehicles and playdough crash test dummies.

When the toy car carrying the dummy collided with a barrier, the dummy continued moving at the same speed and in the same direction, even though the car had stopped—demonstrating that the dummy's inertia kept it in motion. By observing how the dummies behaved during sudden stops and collisions, students observed firsthand how inertia affects passengers in real-life accidents.

Using crash test dummies in this way helped students understand the scientific principle of inertia but also appreciate real-world applications, particularly in vehicle safety and engineering.

From the Business Department

Sparking Innovation and Teamwork Through Entrepreneurship

In our latest unit, students have been diving deep into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, discovering how it serves as a driving force in shaping successful businesses and creating competitive advantages in today’s fast-paced marketplace. This engaging unit encourages students to think like entrepreneurs—spotting opportunities, developing innovative solutions, and crafting strategies that give businesses an edge over competitors.

To bring these concepts to life, students have been working collaboratively in groups to develop their own business plans. Each team has been tasked with identifying a market opportunity, designing a unique product or service, and outlining a strategic plan to launch and grow their business. This process culminates in a pitch presentation to a panel of mock investors, simulating the high-stakes experience of real-world entrepreneurship and sharpening students’ communication and persuasion skills.

To kick off the unit and foster strong team-building skills, students also took on a creative and fun challenge: building the tallest tower possible using only marshmallows, spaghetti, sticky tape, and two paper bags. This hands-on activity required innovation, collaboration, and quick problem-solving—mirroring the challenges faced by entrepreneurs as they bring their ideas to life.

Highest Tower – Gabriella and Isabella

This unit not only equips students with valuable business knowledge but also empowers them with critical soft skills like teamwork, creativity, and resilience. It’s been inspiring to watch our future innovators take bold steps toward becoming the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

From Our 2025 Seniors

Being one of the youngest in my grade, I'm used to watching everyone else hit milestones months before me. Watching my peers receive their licenses was no different. Saint Christopher is known as the protector of travelers, and as we start driving more — heading to university, school, or work — having that little reminder tucked in our car means a lot.

When a student receives their license, Mrs. Stennett awards them with their very own Saint Christopher charm to help keep them safe on the roads. As I watched all my older classmates receive their Saint Christopher charms, it not only built the excitement for me to reach that milestone but also showed just how thoughtful Mrs. Stennett is taking the time to give each of us something so meaningful to carry into the next chapter of our lives.

Getting mine last week felt like a little extra boost of confidence (and protection) for all the adventures ahead.
Thank you, Mrs. Stennett, for making sure even the youngest of us are ready to hit the road!

- Sienna Prescott