By Mr Stuart Ralph, Principal

Welcome to Week 6 of Term 3.

Tonight marks an important transition for our Year 10 students as we hold their celebration dinner, marking an important step as they begin to transition into life as senior students of our College.

Research shows that healthy transitions are an important part of growing up and the transition to adulthood, as are the many conversations that we continually need to have with our young people.

“A successful and happy adolescence entails hundreds of conversations about what matters, who you are and what you stand for...”

– Steve Biddulph, Sydney Morning Herald, June 2, 2007

Celebrating Safely

I would like to take this opportunity to remind families, as we enter the celebration phase of the school year for our senior students, that partying and young people engaging in risk-taking behaviours can start to present.  While the College does not support arranged after-parties, I would encourage parents considering hosting such events to consider the following:

• Have parents provide permission for their child to attend.
• Have set drop-off and pick-up times arranged.
• Register your event with Tasmania Police Party Safe Program.

We all want our young people to have a healthy transition to adult life, but we must continue to work together to ensure they are safe.

Year 7 2024 Enrolment Interviews and Upcoming Taster Days

This week, we had the second round of Year 7 interviews for 2024, and on Monday the 4th of September, we will host the Grade 6 students enrolled at St Brendan-Shaw College from St Patricks Latrobe and Our Lady of Mercy Deloraine to attend their second taster and challenge day at the College. Students enrolled from Department of Education Schools will attend our Taster Day on the 26th of September.  I have been very impressed by the calibre of young men and women we have joining our College community in 2024.

Devonport Eisteddfod

Last weekend, we had a large contingent of students representing the College at the City of Devonport Eisteddfod. Some of the highlights included:

• Year 8 class receiving Highly Commended for their Mean Girls routine
• Year 9/10 class receiving 1st Place for their performance Stronger
• Our Open Jazz trio of Grace Hamilton, Sabrina Paez and Sienna Wilson-O’Mahony received 2nd Place for their Confidence routine.
• Lilliana Clarke received 1st place in the Contemporary Solo
• Our Open Hip Hop received Highly Commended
• Year 9 were awarded 3rd Place in the U16 Contemporary section and Year 10 were awarded Highly Commended 

I congratulate all of our young ladies for these wonderful achievements. 

Children’s Book Week

Last week was Book Week, and I thank Mrs Cheryl Gamble and our Library staff for creating an environment where students could celebrate a love of reading and share this with our community.  It was great to see staff and students get involved and bring a sense of fun to our week!

TASC Exam Timetable

The TASC exam timetable will be available to students next week, and the next few weeks will be an important period for students to solidify their learnings and begin a process of preparing for their exams.

Trivia Night Fundraiser

We welcome you to join us on Friday, 8 September from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Genesis Centre for the SRC's Trivia Night Fundraiser. A fun evening to test your knowledge, win prizes, and support a great cause – with all proceeds go to Warrawee Women's Shelter.

Registration has been extended to and now closes Wednesday 6 September. Book a table for 8-10 people at just $50. Bookings can be made at the College Reception or call 6424 7622. It’s BYO food and drinks and a wonderful opportunity to share a platter of your favourite food with friends and family. We are looking forward to a very entertaining evening. Let's come together for a night of community, challenge, and charity. 

NSATIS Swimming Carnival

Next week, our Swimming team will head to the NSATIS Carnival in Launceston. We wish them well and every success.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Stuart Ralph
Principal

Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
– Leo Buscaglia

It's Teacher Aide (Assistant) Appreciation Week! 

A heartfelt thank you to our remarkable teacher assistants at St Brendan-Shaw College. Every student and teacher has felt the positive ripple of your dedication. Here's to celebrating your invaluable contribution to our community. Thank you for making a difference every day! 

This year, our SRC has organised a special event designed not just to tickle the intellect but also to support a noble cause. Let's delve into the details of what promises to be an unforgettable evening.

A Cause Worth Competing For

At the heart of this event is our desire to give back. The Warrawee Women's Shelter has been an unsung hero in our community, providing invaluable support to women and children. Every cent raised during our trivia night will be directed towards this sanctuary, ensuring they can continue their commendable work.

What's On the Cards?

This isn't just any trivia night. With 8 thrilling rounds of 10 questions each, participants will need to keep their wits about them. But it's not all serious business – we've sprinkled in some light-hearted games and activities to ensure there's never a dull moment.

Prizes, Prizes Everywhere

To spice things up, attendees can look forward to a raffle chock-full of fantastic prizes. Additionally, there'll be rewards for the numerous games peppered throughout the evening. So even if trivia isn't your strong suit, there are plenty of chances to walk away a winner!

The Essentials

Date: Bookmark Friday, 8 September. The battle of wits will rage from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.
Venue: Genesis Centre, St Brendan-Shaw College.
Food & Drinks: This is a BYO affair, so pack your favourite nibbles and beverages.

Joining the Fun

Teams and tables can have 8-10 participants, and each table booking is priced at just $50. 

To book a table, head over to the College Reception or ring us at 6424 7622. 

Registration has been extended and now closes on Wednesday, 6 September.

Whether you're a trivia buff or just looking for a fun evening out in the community this event is sure to be a great night out! 

We look forward to seeing you there.

By Ms Leah Sussman, Teaching and Learning Leader - Mathematics & SRC Coordinator

This year marks the 94th City of Devonport Eisteddfod with Dance being held at the Town Hall from August 23 to 27.

On Friday, the first day of the eisteddfod, our Year 8 class came out with a Highly Commended for their Mean Girls routine, and our Year 9/10 class received First Place for Stronger – a routine with a powerful theme about the hold our mobile phones and social media have on our everyday lives. This was choreographed by the talented students in this class.

On Saturday, the success continued with another brilliant day. In the morning, 2nd Place was awarded in the Open Jazz Duo/Trio section, with Grace, Sabrina and Sienna dazzling us with their 'Confidence' routine. In the afternoon, a captivating performance of 'Fat Funny Friend' by Lilliana Clarke received 1st Place in the Contemporary Solo category. To round off a very successful day, a Highly Commended was achieved in the Open Hip Hop Section. 

On the last day of the Devonport Eisteddfod, our Year 9s were awarded 3rd place in the Under 16s Contemporary section with their poignant 'Body Love' piece, leaving many in the audience moved to tears. Meanwhile, our talented Year 10s were recognised with a Highly Commended for their captivating ‘Bridgerton Love Story’ performance.

There were also outstanding performances by students from the College who performed through their dance schools, including Caroline Small School of Dance and Tech Steps Dance Studio. 

Caroline Small School of Dance

• Ruby Symons was awarded 1st Place in the Open Rebecca Bickerton Own Choreography Award Solo
• Ruby Symons and Paige Arnold, Ashlee Lovell, Sophia Brown, and Acacia Myers were awarded 1st Place in the Open Classical and Open Contemporary Group
• Paige Arnold 1st Place in Classical U16 Solo; 2nd Place in Open Broadway or Cabaret Solo; Highly Commended for U16 Demi Character Solo
• Ashlee Lovell 2nd Place in Classical U14 solo
• Acacia Myers 3rd Place in Classical U14 solo

From Tech Steps Dance Studio

• Sabrina Paez competed was awarded 2nd Place in the U16 Hip Hop Solo

A successful and rewarding weekend for all of our dancers, families and staff!

Congratulations to Tayla Smith, Georgia Maloney and Beliah-Lea Fitzpatrick, who have made it through to the State Round of the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee!

Students taking part in the Spelling Bee are given 30 random words from their reading-level word list with just 25 seconds to spell each word, and participants may not be familiar with all the words they are asked to spell! The bee is a great opportunity to expand vocabulary in a fun online environment where they race the countdown clock

From Ms Kim Walters, Deputy Principal – Pastoral Care

Last week, our Year 9 and 10 students attended a Be Wise session led by the Pat Cronin Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to eradicating the 'coward punch' through social violence prevention education. The presentation highlighted the dire repercussions of coward punches.

Aidan Phelan delved deep into the subject, shedding light on the complexities of secondary emotions like anger. With his own lived experiences, he illuminated the intricate processes that underlie violent behaviour. Aidan discussed the importance of recognising and understanding these emotions, advocating for self-awareness as a first step towards making wiser decisions.

A particularly powerful moment was when a video was shown, detailing the extensive impacts of social violence. The video underscored not just the plight of victims but also the cascading effects on families, friends, and the wider community.

Addressing the use of violence in educational settings is not straightforward. While schools typically adopt a zero-tolerance stance on violence, it's essential to discuss its underlying causes. It's vital for our young individuals to grasp the implications of social violence and be equipped with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions. We thank Aidan for joining us at the College.

The Brendan Shaw College Vinnies group has chosen to take on a fantastic fundraiser for 5 weeks, which we are naming “People Plus Paws”! 

The theme for this week is Companion Animals.

For those of us with pets, we all know that they are the most loving and kind companions out there. Sadly, a pet may be someone’s only companion.

This Week’s Fact 

Although pet ownership greatly enriches the quality of life for those who are experiencing homelessness, it also has a financial cost that may be difficult to meet, and at times results in the forfeiture of personal welfare by the owners to ensure the health of their companions.

How You Can Help

Continuing on until the 15th of September, we will be collecting donations of essential items for people (with a focus on mature females (between the ages of 55 and 85)) and their pets. Some of these items include blankets, dried or canned food for pets, beanies, and jumpers. 

Students can check their Homeroom notice boards for the complete list of items to donate, and they can look forward to the daily facts in the morning notices! 

For those in the community who want to support us in this work, please drop goods into Caritas Reception.

Caitlyn Cox received a book prize as the winner of the SBSC Library Women's World Cup 'Pick the Winner' competition.  In excess of 40 entries were received from staff and students, with Caitlyn the only person picking Spain to win. Not surprisingly, the majority of entries were hoping for a Matilda's victory. Congratulations, Caitlyn!

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