The Mud Run was a wonderful afternoon of community and smiles.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:1-2,6-7
Mud Run
The Mud Run was a wonderful afternoon of community and smiles. Families have raised almost $5000 and donations are still possible via the trybooking link - https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=568914
Funds raised will contribute to Parents’ and Friends’ Association projects, the Coffs Harbour Marina Seabin project and the Soup Kitchen.
BDC-CVAS Announcement
A new multi-school group partnership
Exciting news is occurring in the Anglican education sector in our region with Bishop Druitt College, in Coffs Harbour, and Clarence Valley Anglican School, in Grafton, agreeing to a more closely aligned partnership.
A joint school council steering committee has been established and will continue to meet on a regular basis to support the schools moving into a new multi-school group partnership. A multi-school group is a group of 2 or more schools that share key organisational structures and facilities to allow for a greater focus on teaching and learning outcomes for their students. This announcement comes close on the heels of the BDC announcement regarding the construction of a primary school in Woolgoolga.
The Chair of Bishop Druitt College, Mr David Ford stated ‘I can see that this partnership will bring to the Coffs Coast and Clarence Valley a new level of opportunity for our students creating a broader and more diverse curriculum.’
Mr Kieran McAndrew, Chair of Clarence Valley Anglican School stated ‘our combined vision is to work collaboratively to identify new ways to deliver premium Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 independent education to our region.’ Mr McAndrew further said that he would also like to thank Mr Martin Oates, who is retiring in July, for his service to the Clarence Valley and to Anglican education across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland over his 35 plus year career.
Mr Nick Johnstone, Principal at Bishop Druitt College, is excited by the opportunity to offer a very high standard of education to our greater region. ‘I am looking forward to working with the new CVAS Principal in our new joint role of developing this exciting new multi-school partnership.’
Survey
Perspectives: Your school in focus survey
I am excited to invite you to participate in the Perspectives: Your School in Focus survey. This is a school-wide survey for staff, parents/guardians, leaders and board members to assist in the growth and development of our whole school community.
The purpose of the survey is to gather your insights and perspectives on how our school community can continue to lead improvement, innovation and change. Your input and contribution are important as we review and reflect on current practices.
The survey focuses on five important domains: School Environment, Teaching and Learning, Student Wellbeing, Leadership and Community. Collecting information about these areas from our school community members ensures we continue to meet your needs.
We will ask you, and the school community to participate in this confidential and anonymous survey. The online survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete on any internet-connected device and will be available from Monday 30 March through to Friday 10 April 2020.
Only one parent/guardian from each household/family should complete the survey. If you have more than one child currently at the school, please respond considering the child with the next birthday.
You will be emailed details about how to access the survey shortly. Should you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact hheather@bdc.nsw.edu.au or sueoconnor@bdc.nsw.edu.au
As a valued member of the BDC community, I thank you in advance for engaging with the survey and sharing your feedback and thoughts.
New Northern Beaches Bus
The BDC bus that has supported the Northern Beaches over the last two years has been so successful we have decided to extend the service to a second bus. Very soon there will be two services - one that will run from the college through to Lakes estate, through to the netball courts and basketball stadium and then through to Sapphire Beach. The second bus will run from school through to Moonee Beach and then have multiple stops through to Woolgoolga. If you would like to find out more information regarding this service please contact the college reception.
Open Day - Date Claimer - 26 May
Our college Open Day is always a highlight in our calendar and if you missed it last year I would encourage you to find the time to visit and maybe bring a friend as well. We will be showcasing our signature teaching and learning programs as a key part of the program for 2020.
Scholarship Opportunities - 2021 applications close 9 April
Applications for scholarships with a special focus are open until Thursday 9 April 2020. Scholarships are available to new and existing students. Preference is given to those applicants who would greatly benefit from a BDC education but who, without financial assistance, would be unable to attend.
Scholarships are awarded at a rate of full (100%) or partial (25% - 50%) tuition fee depending on the pool of applicants and the scholarships available. The number of scholarships presented each year is at the discretion of the Principal. Application fee, enrolment fee and sundry items such as subject levies, elective excursions, subject-related costs and uniform purchases are the responsibility of the family.
Scholarships are generally awarded for a three-year period, provided all conditions upon which the scholarship was awarded are met. This includes general conditions applying to all scholarships and specific conditions applying to individual scholarships.
https://www.bdc.nsw.edu.au/join-our-school/specific-focus-scholarships
Pancake Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
As an Anglican college, we celebrate key events in the Christian calendar. Pancake Tuesday (or Shrove Tuesday) and Ash Wednesday are important traditions for our community. Pancake Tuesday was celebrated on Tuesday 25 February and is a time to indulge with flour, sugar and other sweets. Thank you to all the students and staff involved in putting these goodies together for our community. Ash Wednesday was recognised with a full school service in the Branson Centre the following day. Ash Wednesday sets off the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of penitence and reflection that commemorates the trial and deprivation faced by Jesus during his time in the desert. The practice of marking the forehead with a symbol of penance, mourning and mortality was originally observed by Anglicans across the world.
Classes for 2021
Enrolments for 2021 are being organised at present and I encourage families who have not yet informed the college about their plans for 2021 to do so before the end of Term 1. If you have family or friends wishing to join the college please encourage them to organise a tour with me this term so that the enrolment process can be organised in a timely fashion. Year 7 classes for 2021 are close to full already.
International Tours and School Camps for 2020
We have been working on updating our college tours based upon COVID-19 (Corona Virus) advice from the NSW Department of Health and the Department of Education. We have also been cross-referencing this with the travel advice from the Commonwealth government smart traveller website.
Primary School Round Square Student Conference to Thailand - this conference has been postponed by Round Square. No date as yet has been set for this conference. It is a group booking through our partners at Travel Counsellors so these funds can be transferred to the new booking when this is available. Person in Charge - Karin Lisle klisle@bdc.nsw.edu.au (working with Karina Rothacker).
Japanese exchange students - the college was to host a number of students from Japan later this month. We have advised our Japanese tour agent that this will be deferred to later in the year with a date to be confirmed. The region the students are from is a high-risk area and the travel advice for Australians is to "exercise a high degree of caution". Person in Charge - Karina Rothacker krothacker@bdc.nsw.edu.au
New Caledonia Tour - the college has decided to postpone this tour with a date to be confirmed. While there are no immediate concerns for New Caledonia there are some travel restrictions in place at present. Person in Charge - Katherine Wyndham kwyndham@bdc.nsw.edu.au
Cambodia Student and Teacher visit - in Term 2 we will be hosting a teacher and a student from our sister school in Ban Lung. I have advised our entry protocols to the principal of Krou Yeung and if there is a concern this visit will be postponed. Person in Charge - Mick Klipin mklipin@bdc.nsw.edu.au with Nick Johnstone.
Cambodia Study Tour - at present this tour will continue as planned. The tour is planned for December and there are no concerns in the north of Cambodia at present. We will be working with the tour operators and our sister school more closely on this issue. Person in Charge - Troy Sodeau tsodeau@bdc.nsw.edu.au
Primary School Sports Tour to New Zealand - planning for this tour is continuing as normal. New Zealand has a travel restriction for people who have visited China but no other concerns exist at present. Person in Charge - Marty Kelleher mkelleher@bdc.nsw.edu.au
School Camps and Ski Trip - all school camps and the ski trip will continue as planned.
The college is monitoring the situation closely and this issue is evolving on a regular basis. We will advise if any updates arise or should the above decisions need to change, we will keep our community informed.
If you have any questions please direct them to the person in charge of the tour, their contact email addresses are linked above.
Resources:
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/coronavirus-faqs.aspx
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/school-safety/novel-coronavirus
Nick Johnstone
Principal