“Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with You.” – Saint Brendan

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Week 8 of Term 2. Our focus this week has certainly been teaching and learning, with our Parent Teacher Interviews held on Wednesday evening.  It was so pleasing to see so many parents on site and students as well! Our Mid Year Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews are particularly important as we look to students developing a growth mindset where they can focus on their strengths and weaknesses in order to improve.

For those students who did not attend with their parents, I particularly encourage you to ensure you attend in future because it is all about you and your growth!

Mid Year Exams start for our senior students next Tuesday, with Monday being a study day for Years 11 and 12.  Particularly for our Year 11 students who will sit senior exams for the first time, I wish you the very best.  Remember that no point in your life ever defines you as a person; however, every experience is an opportunity to grow and learn.

The College has awarded scholarships for Year 7 2024 in the areas of Sport, Leadership, Academics and the Arts.  We congratulate all recipients.

Scholarship recipients for 2024 came from: Our Lady Of Lourdes, Our Lady Of Mercy, Sacred Heart Ulverstone, St Patrick’s College Latrobe, Port Sorell Primary, Forth Primary, Devonport Primary and Central Coast Christian College NSW.

The College will shortly be advertising scholarships for Academics (10-12) - Maths, French, Japanese, Arts, Academics General, Vocational Education and Training (10-12), Electrotech, Animal Studies, and Hospitality.  This is another exciting opportunity not only for current students but also for potential new students in our community.

The College will be conducting enrolment interview evenings, for Yr 7 2024, on Wednesday and Thursday next week.  Letters of offer will go out to families by the end of Term 2, with our final places for Year 7 to close on Friday 30th of June.  Families will need to pay a $100 non-refundable deposit (credited to fee account) to secure their position at the College for Year 7, 2024. 

This Term, we have had 12 new students start at the College.  I welcome all new families to our College community and hope that your child's transition has been a successful one.

Last Thursday afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending our Production rehearsal and was most pleased to see the progress our students are making in preparation for our musical Pippin.  The dancing, acrobatics and vocals are certainly going to be a highlight for our community.

I would like to remind all students we value respect for self, others, and the environment at all times. When we do this, we create an environment we all enjoy and value.  

A reminder to all families that students need to be in complete St Brendan-Shaw College uniform.  With NSATIS and State All Schools Cross Country coming up next Tuesday, students selected in the team, please ensure your child(ren) have a full sports uniform ready for this event.  Both what you arrive in and compete in on the day.  All students competing, I wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing you in action.

Today I have the privilege of being invited to lunch at our Long Table event with a number of staff put on by our TASC 2 Hospitality students.  I was treated to a delicious two-course meal, a homemade schnitzel with salad and poached pear, brownie and ice cream, and a mocktail. 

I wish our Netball players who have elimination finals this Saturday all the very best!

We also congratulate past student Rubi Gray who has left the College on a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport and has also just signed with the American Sacramento State College, which is a Division 1 college of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. 

Yours sincerely,

Embarking on a delightful gastronomic journey, our senior hospitality students were thrilled to welcome staff to the tasteful long lunch. The luncheon commenced with a delicious cheeseboard. Next, the stage was set for a delectable choice of panko-crusted pork cutlets and marinated pork skewers, both inviting a symphony of satisfaction. Concluding this vibrant experience, the staff were presented with the luscious duo of chocolate brownies and panna cotta while enjoying the bright colours and fruity flavours of the tropical sunrises. 

We would also like to express our sincere thanks to Alex Noble for his informative and inspiring presentation, Building Positive Mindsets.

Alex's story serves as a powerful reminder of the incredible potential that lies within each of us, even in the face of adversity. His remarkable achievements, despite the challenges he has faced, exemplify the strength of the human spirit and the limitless possibilities that exist when we refuse to be defined by our circumstances.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the students for embracing the opportunity to learn from Alex.

Our St Brendan-Shaw College community extends a resounding congratulations to Year 10 student Lucy Aherne for her well-deserved selection into the FIBA Under 16 Women's Asian Championship Basketball team! Lucy and the Sapphires team embark on an incredible journey to Amman, Jordan, in July. 

We cannot wait to see her talent and dedication shine brightly on the international stage. We wish her nothing but success and an unforgettable experience! 

#stbrendanshawcollege #devonport 

We have quite a collection of un-named SBSC College Blazers brought to Caritas.  If your child has misplaced theirs - please call into the office to take a look - we may have it.

It is helpful if all clothing items are named, so these can be returned easily when found. If you haven't done so, please check that all uniform items are clearly named.

As we are now in full swing of winter, as a reminder, we suggest anyone who is feeling unwell with any cold/flu symptoms remain at home and return to school when symptom-free. 

Winter Wellness Fact Sheet For Parents

International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is a suite of online competitions designed specifically for primary and secondary students. ICAS is conducted annually in Australia and in over 20 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Pacific countries, and America. Top scoring students in each year level in each subject are awarded an ICAS medal. ICAS assesses students' skills in Digital Technologies (year 7 only), English, Mathematics, Science and Writing.

As a registered ICAS testing centre, St Brendan-Shaw College is pleased to be able to offer the facilitation of ICAS testing.  If you would like more information on ICAS in a general sense, or on the process involved in purchasing tests, please email Bridget Leary on bleary@sbsc.tas.edu.au

Read the latest issue. Mersey Leven Catholic Parish Bulletin: Sunday 18 June 2023  Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

On Friday 7 July, we will be holding our SBSC Big Freeze, where staff will be taking the plunge into an icy pool of water to raise funds and awareness for MND Tasmania. 

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) attacks the nerve cells ability to control the muscles that enable us to move around, speak, breathe and swallow, and 1 in 300 people are affected; so the Student Leadership team want to do their part in supporting the research conducted by MND Tasmania. 

As a College, we have a major goal of $5000, which we hope you, as members of our school community, will help us to achieve. 

Students have the opportunity to make donations (via EFT and cash) during HR, but if family and friends would like to make further contributions, donations can be made over the phone to Caritas on (03) 6424 7622.  

And… look out for the livestream of the SBSC Big Freeze on the day!

Parents and guardians are invited to attend Not Even Once, a drug prevention workshop for parents with Tanya Cavanagh. 

Where: St Brendan-Shaw College, 127 James St, Devonport TAS, 7310 
When: Tuesday 4 July from 7:00pm - 8:30pm 
RSVP: To the College by phone on 6424 7622 or by emailing deputies@sbsc.tas.edu.au

#NotEvenOnce® aims to assist parents, teachers, and community members to get up to date with the latest information. The Seminar for Parents, Teachers, and Community members is designed to educate on the effects of Alcohol and other Drugs on the brain and body and signs to look for with your young people and loved ones. The session will equip you with tools to have conversations and help build resilience in your families.

St Brendan-Shaw College students in Years 7-10 will attend workshops with Tanya during the day. 

Please visit the Not Even Once website for more information.

All parents, friends, and community members are welcome to attend. Please note that this is a parent-only event.

Rehearsals are well underway for the College production of Pippin. Students have been working hard on dancing and singing, and things are looking positive. We have some wonderful, talented students in the lead roles and supporting players with some great vocal talent. The choreography as well is led by some very well-tuned dance students. The sets are being created by a fantastic artistic team and constructed by Bevan Scramm and his crew.

Pippin tells the story of a young man, fresh from his studies at University, determined to live a fulfilling life and do the extraordinary. As he moves through his life, he realises that the promise of an exciting life isn't all it is cracked up to be. With some fabulous choreography and singing, Pippin will be a show you will never forget.

DATES

Thu 17 Aug, 7:30pm
Fri 18 Aug, 7:30pm
Sat 19 Aug, 1:00pm
Sat 19 Aug, 7:30pm

TICKETS

Tickets are available from the paranaple centre. Make sure you get your tickets early!

https://www.paranapleartscentre.com.au/events/pippin

Adults -  $30 
Concession -  $22
Student  - $20

Strengthening Young People Against Anxiety

When: Tuesday 27 June 2023, 7:00pm

Where: paranaple Convention Centre
Tickets: $25.00 and available through Eventbrite

Karen Young, a distinguished expert in child psychology and emotional wellbeing, will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to empower young people (and older people) to combat anxiety, equipping them with invaluable tools to navigate the challenges they may face.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Discover an empowering approach to help children, teens, and adults manage anxiety effectively.
• Gain insights into the various manifestations of anxiety and learn how to address them.
• Understand the link between anxiety and learning and how to activate the learning brain.
• Explore the connection between anxiety and performance and strategies to overcome it.
• Recognise why anxiety can sometimes appear as anger and learn appropriate responses.
• The power of guiding children towards courageous behaviour, even in the presence of anxiety.
• Develop techniques to respond to anxiety in the moment, fostering calm and courage.
• Build a toolkit of proven strategies for young people to alleviate anxiety.
• Cultivate a mindset that strengthens resilience and encourages brave behaviour.

Bringing Science (and loads of heart) to Parenting to make sense of feelings, behaviour, learning, and connection.

When: Wednesday 28 June 2023, 10.30am
Where: paranaple Convention Centre
Tickets: $25.00 and available via Eventbrite

Join us for a special session with Karen Young, a renowned expert in child psychology and emotional well-being. She will share invaluable insights and practical strategies to empower young people to overcome anxiety. Discover effective tools to navigate challenges and build resilience for a brighter future.

Childhood is a period of immense growth and development, typically filled with pure joy. However, there are also moments when emotions and behaviours can become overwhelming. Fortunately, significant advancements in neuroscience have shed light on why children act the way they do and what their developing brains require to flourish. This understanding helps make sense of seemingly nonsensical behaviours and provides valuable guidance on nurturing the foundations of learning, behavior, regulation, and social and emotional development in all children. This presentation combines neuroscience with heartfelt insights, offering valuable information for parents, caregivers, and educators who live or work with young children.