BDC
www.bdc.nsw.edu.au
Issue # 12
BISHOP DRUITT COLLEGE
FAITHFULNESS IN SERVICE
2 May | 2014
COFFS HARBOUR
From The Principal
College News
Term 2 has begun with a flourish. On Monday, we held our school ANZAC service. Mr Lambert was our Master of Ceremonies. Mr Mike Colless’ address as the guest speaker gave the service a special resonance. He spoke about his father, Alan Colless, who served on the original HMAS Sydney and was involved in the Royal Australian Navy’s first victory at sea on board the ‘Sydney’ – the defeat of the German cruiser ‘SMS Emden’ on 9 November, 1914. Alan Colless was 16 when he joined HMAS Sydney, something our assembled teenagers must have found quite difficult to imagine. Wounded by shrapnel, Mr Colless Sr joined the Australian Army at the outbreak of World War II. In thanking Mr Mike Colless for his presentation, I likened our individual histories to threads of a tapestry. To have someone from the BDC give life to one of those threads with such clarity made this year’s BDC ANZAC service poignant indeed. Yesterday, we celebrated the naming and dedication of The Roger Oates Centre, our new trade training centre. We were very pleased to have Roger and Wendy Oates as special guests, and were also pleased to welcome Rev. J.P. Kavanagh (former chaplain) and Len Tyzack (former Business Manager) back to the school. It was also the first official visit of Bishop Sarah Macneil to BDC. The service was a real celebration of a milestone in BDC’s history. Roger Oates was Principal from 2004 – 2009. In his address, I was pleased to hear Roger use the possessive ‘our’ a number of times when referring to BDC. It is gratifying to know that in his fifth year away from the school, he still feels a sense of belonging. The service brought many members of the extended BDC family together. The school hymn ‘Lord of the Dance’ was sung with great enthusiasm by those assembled, and I was very proud of the way our student body engaged with the ceremony. I am sure that Bishop Sarah will have been most impressed with the way the school community came together yesterday. Following the service, guests and staff were treated to some fine cooking prepared by our Year 11 Hospitality class. Mrs O’Connor and Ms Pearce supervised the class, who proudly served their creations to the guests who had gathered outside the centre. Adding to our busy first week back at school was a successful Year 1 Parents and Carers cocktail evening and the Music faculty’s pre-tour concert. This was a showcase of some of the extremely talented musicians we have at the school. 47 students will tour to the Sunshine Coast next week, visiting Matthew Flinders Anglican School and Sunshine Coast Grammar School, joining workshops with music Staff Spotlight students from those schools as well as performing in concerts at both. Having heard them perform at the pre-tour concert on Wednesday, I am Teacher in profile: sure they will have an extremely successful trip to Queensland. Karen Curtin Congratulations this week to: • Natalie Giri (5), Tess Parker-Reynolds (6) and Paris Warncken (6) who competed at the ‘Ikin X Factor’ Sport Aerobics invitational competition on the Gold Coast at the weekend. Natalie Giri won gold in the national mini division. Tess won silver in the national cadet division. Paris won silver in the international cadet division. The girls are now heading to the State Championships in Newcastle on 10th May. Congratulations girls! • Zac Freuden (11) who swam at the NSWCIS Swimming Championships. He swam four PB’s to win a Silver Medal in the 17 yrs and Over 200 IM, another Silver medal in the 100 Butterfly, and then followed that up with a Gold Medal in the 17 yrs 200m Butterfly. • Madeleine Gough (9) who also swam impressively winning a silver medal in the 400m freestyle, and a bronze medal in the 200m Butterfly at the same meet. • Kaman Malou (9) who completed in the AFL All Nations Championships. Kaman won pre-selection for the 35 man U16 “World Team”, and will participate in further selection trials for the final squad of 25 to compete at the U16 national championships in July. • Jennessa Mok (10) who will perform in the PAA concerts this weekend, performing the Bach D Minor Double Concerto on piano. Alan Ball Principal
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I currently teach: Learning Support in the Primary I came to BDC from: Toormina Public School I studied at: Northern Rivers C.A.E in Lismore, (now known as Southern Cross University) I have also taught at: Blaxcell Street P.S. South Granville; Prince of Wales P.S. Peterborough, Ontario Canada; Whaley Bridge P.S. Derbyshire U.K. I grew up in: Narromine (near Dubbo) and Coffs Harbour. I went to school at: Narranga P.S. and Orara High School Subjects I have also taught: All grades K-6 I engage my students by: Teaching to their strengths. I am currently reading: The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory – an historical novel. My proudest career moment: Being a workshop presenter at a district school’s conference in Peterborough Ontario Canada. An area of expertise or my Literacy passion in education is: A leader/s I respect: Mother Teresa I am grateful for: My health and my family. Something students might find interesting about me is:
I have been ice fishing and dog sledding in Algonquin Park, Ontario Canada.
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