As an educator, I distil the role of a school to serve two fundamental purposes.  One is the ‘passport’ to the next step in a journey of learning, be it a trade, paid work, or academic tertiary studies, together with certain ‘employability skills’.  This ‘passport’ has limited currency, however, and is superseded once the next qualification is achieved.  The second purpose incorporates ‘employability skills’ but is, I believe, more broadly about equipping students with the social and civic skills to offer them the opportunity to thrive … ‘to have life and have it to the full’ (Jn 10:10).   To serve this goal, our College vision is “to be a vibrant Catholic community with a generosity of the human spirit.”

To achieve this, we have to tap into more than the minds of people, but their hearts as well - to help form them and not just to inform them.  Thus, as we celebrate having our school, re-united, we have chosen to begin the day with music - food for the soul.  For the moment, instead of a bell to mark movement to Homeroom, we are playing Macy Gray's "Beauty in the World".  Not only is it an uplifting melody, it reminds us that our world is full of beauty.

Frank Pisano
Principal

As lockdown restrictions are slowly being lifted to varying degrees, we enter a time of transition and adjustment. The circumstances of this situation have significantly impacted us all. For some it has been an opportunity to reflect on what is important, whilst others have embraced the opportunity to learn new things.

Many young people may be excited at the prospect of restrictions being lifted; others may feel mixed emotions. Reactions will differ depending on how well they cope with stress and change. Keeping a check on your child’s mental health and wellbeing as they adjust to new routines, will be vitally important.

There is still a lot of uncertainty ahead of us, so focusing on the things you can control or enjoy doing or even value, can help establish predictability and familiarity for the whole family. Adult carers need to provide young people with reassurance by acknowledging any concerns and fears they may have at this time. Consider this to be a normal reaction, however it may be best to focus more on their feelings and emotions, rather than the practicalities at this stage.

In this Special Report, we share a few ideas to help ease this time of transition and adjustment. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://sbsc.tas.schooltv.me/w...

COVID-19 has presented us with a number of unprecedented challenges so far this year, with students in Years 11 and 12 particularly affected and concerned about how this will impact their studies.  All stakeholders including TASC, all school sectors, the University of Tasmania and public and private registered training organisations have been working together to address issues that may affect the attainment of the Tasmanian Qualifications Certificate, Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) and the calculation of ATAR scores. 

It has been confirmed that TCE external assessments for pre-tertiary (Levels 3 and 4) courses are going ahead in 2020, and written exams will take place between 9 and 19 November 2020.  However, in light of what has been an extraordinary year for students, some adjustments have been made to external assessments for 2020 to ensure student wellbeing is supported.

Consideration has been given to a range of options that demonstrate a student’s learning, noting that exams can be stressful and that student wellbeing is at the forefront of any adjustments to external assessment.  All 2020 external assessment adjustments have been finalised, aside from English 3, and Maths and Science courses, which will be available as soon as possible.

Adjustments made to external assessments have been grouped into four types.

Adjustments to reflect 2020 adjustments to courses. For example, Art Production, Media Production, Drama, Health Studies.
Adjustments to written exams to streamline content. For example, Accounting, English Literature and Economics.
Adjustments to some folio due dates. For example, some folios have a later due dates to give students more time including Student Directed Inquiry, Psychology, Housing and Design.
Adjustments to externally assessed performances. For example, Dance Choreography and Performance, Music.        
Students who are eligible can be confident they will receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) which, as always, will be comparable with other Year 12 students across the country.

Details of 2020 external assessment can be found on the TASC website at https://www.tasc.tas.gov.au/students/courses/.  To locate specific course advice, find the individual course from the list and locate the drop-down section within the course information – Supporting documents including external assessment material.  The 2020 external assessment advice is named 2020 External Assessment Specifications.

This year we have been trialling SEQTA Engage at the College and we are pleased so many parents/guardians have activated their account and access it  regularly. We hope that this communication platform is proving beneficial.

As mentioned in the Online Feedback Letter for Families that accompanied the Interim Reports "St Brendan-Shaw College teachers will be providing more frequent information to families on an ongoing basis, therefore mid year reports will not have subject comments." 

This information is available through Engage as feedback. You may also notice that remote learning fast-tracked student online submission through something called 'WISP'.  Both feedback and submissions can be seen through the Assessments tab, so have a look from time-to-time!

If you missed the email earlier in the year, or have not yet created an Engage account, a second round of email invitations will be sent within the week for you to do so. Remember that the Starting Out and User Guide documents are always available on the College website.

Sandra Farr
Learning Management System Integrator

In the holidays, Bella Padman, Year 8, participated in the BrainWays Academicus Online program: STEAM - The biology of being scared. BrainWays, in conjunction with UTAS offer extension courses for students who wish to expand their knowledge and test their abilities. 

Bella said:

“It was an amazing experience, I learnt so much about the way our brains work, the effects of fear conditioning, PTSD and chronic stress. We did group activities and each week we had an assignment to complete that we got scored for. Over the three weeks I got an overall score of 270 out of 300. The lessons were challenging and made us think. We learnt about interesting real life situations like the case of “SM”, who shared their experience of being part of a research group who were exposed to different fear-inducing scenarios. I would encourage many others to participate in activities like this.”

Any interest in future opportunities such as this can be directed to Miss Leary at the College.

Monday 8th June is a Student free day due to the Queen's Birthday Public Holiday.

"Pope Francis has made numerous appeals to promote the culture of encounter in an effort to
combat the culture of indifference in the world today. It means seeing through the eyes of others rather than turning a blind eye. “Not just to see but to look. Not just to hear but to listen. Not just to meet and pass by, but to stop. And don’t just say ‘what a shame, poor people,’ but allow ourselves to be moved by pity.” – Pope Francis."

“We ourselves need to see, and then enable others to see, that migrants and refugees do not only represent a problem to be solved, but are brothers and sisters to be welcomed, respected and loved.”
Pope Francis 2014

Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. Originally celebrated in 1986, Refugee Week coincides with World Refugee Day (20 June).

The following filmmakers who have made their films freely available for the duration of June to help celebrate Refugee Week. 

WATAN (DOCUMENTARY)

Seven years. Six million displaced people. The biggest humanitarian emergency of our time. The Syrian refugee crisis remains at the forefront of the global consciousness: as statistics, as photographs, as a bargaining chip in international politics. But inside the camps real people settle in to a life in limbo. Watan explores two of the biggest refugee camps in Jordan – Zaatari and Azraq – along with neighbouring city Jerash, to paint intimate portraits of the men, women and children who have found themselves there.

Access the film here: https://www.watanfilm.com/ 

The makers of Watan have generously offered to make their film available for free download for the month of June to celebrate Refugee Week. 

STATELESS (ABC MINI-SERIES)

Inspired by true events; a woman escaping a cult, a refugee fleeing with his family, a father trapped in a dead-end job, and a bureaucrat on the verge of a national scandal find their lives intertwined in an immigration detention centre.

Access the mini-series here: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/... 

REVENIR (To Return) (FEATURE FILM)

For years, the stories of West African migrants and refugees have been told through the lenses of foreign journalists. Now there is a story from the inside.

Part road-trip, part memoir, part journalistic investigation, REVENIR follows Kumut Imesh, a refugee from the Ivory Coast now living in France, as he returns to the African continent and attempts to retrace the same journey that he himself took when forced to flee civil war in his country … But this time with a camera in his hand.

Traveling alone, Kumut will be documenting his own journey; both as the main protagonist in front of the camera, as well as the person behind it, revealing the human struggle for freedom and dignity on one of the most dangerous migratory routes in the world.

A controversial film experiment, a courageous journey, and a unique collaboration between filmmakers and refugees; which is not without consequences.

Access the film here: https://david-fedele.us8.list-...

Georgia Baxter is dyeing her hair for the Worlds Greatest Shave on the 31st of August - her goal is to raise $2500 and so far she's raised $1330. Georgia's mum was diagnosed with leukaemia mid last year. All donations make a huge difference in supporting people living with blood cancer. 

http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/georgiabaxter

To read this weeks National Catholic Education Commission newsletter please click here:

https://ncec.schoolzineplus.com/edm/campaign/view/email/280/5ed82b732b3c5

Online Safety for Students:

• CyberPass is an online tool that provides children and young people with strategies to manage their online life in a safe and responsible manner.

• It is endorsed by the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s Office and is widely used across Australia and internationally. CyberPass is available free of charge to schools, parents and the general community.

• No login is required. CyberPass can be accessed at https://free.thecyberpass.com/

"This program helps with helping you become the best scientists or enthusiasts in your science field and will cater everyone’s needs"                                                                          

- Jake, NYSF 2020 Participant

NYSF 2021 YEAR 12 PROGRAM

Dear Schools,

We would be very appreciative if you could share this information with your Science Coordinators and Year 11 Science and Maths Students. Past participants have said our program is "Life-changing", "Unforgettable", Eye-opening" and more, and we want all students to know that they too can apply now.

The NYSF Year 12 Program is a residential program designed to give students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage continued studies in these fields.

WHO CAN APPLY

Year 11 students who are interested in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

live on campus at one of our host universities (Australian National University or University of Queensland);
tour science and technology labs and sites to experience facilities and learn about research being conducted;
engage with industry partners and research providers;
learn about university and STEM career pathways;
mix with other like-minded students from all over Australia; and
network with former NYSF participants to further increase understanding of STEM related study and career experiences
WHEN & WHERE IT IS HELD

Session A – Canberra, The Australian National University, Mon 4 – Wed 13 January 2021
Session B – Brisbane, The University of Queensland, Mon 11 – Wed 20 January 2021
Session C – Canberra, The Australian National University, Mon 18 – Wed 27 January 2021
Application process

Students applying for NYSF 2021 are required to submit an application through the NYSF website. Rotary Clubs can also be contacted to support students with their applications. Read more at www.nysf.edu.au. 

Promotion Toolkit

To ensure promoting the program is as easy as possible for you, we have put together a toolkit full of resources such as posters, flyers, suggested social media posts, photos and PowerPoint presentations. 

Follow this link to access the toolkit: LINK

If you have any questions please contact the NYSF office on 02 6125 2777 or nysf@nysf.edu.au

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 14 JUNE 2020