Bayside Bulletin Newsletter, 18 March 2025

Principal’s Message

Dear Parents and Guardians

Last week I spoke to a man who said, “there is no relevance in the Bible for today’s world”, he was not a strong believer but he did feel that in some way (when he thought about it deeply), that the idea of a ‘creator’ made sense. This cognitive deduction was somehow diluted as he related this to his day, and at times lost from his consciousness.

The fact is we either believe we were created or we believed we evolved as a result of randomness and probabilities. From the stance we take here, all else should flow. How could we NOT be created? Look at the complexity of even the simplest animal or plant – the design and manner in which it holds its structure together, generates energy, removes wastes, multiplies – staggering complexity. Now look at our bodies. The argument of evolution and random generation of life simply does not stack up.

If we believe in an almighty creator, then why we would we think that a book that has lasted 2,000 years does not still hold relevance today.

One of my favourite passages of Scripture is found in Matthew 7: 3-5:

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

How can this not be relevant to our lives? This is in fact a message that every person should live by … Let’s focus on our own errors and misgivings before we condemn another for theirs. Is this not a great way to live life? Would this not reduce arguments, disputes and complaints? Would this help us focus on the goodness of another, if we saw their mistake, in proportion to our own?

A second passage of Scripture I love is also found in Matthew (22: 37-40):

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

How can this not help us in life today? This is another way in which we ALL should live. Love God with all our being and love all others as we would want to be loved ourself. If we all treated each other the way we wanted to be treated think of all the wrongs that would never occur.

I do not think that the Bible has lost any relevance in our world, but instead feel it is even more relevant today with the manner in which we have turned away from God as people and the choices we make for our lives. The messages written so long ago, have relevance then as they do now, the difference is that even those of us who have a faith and belief in God, struggle to walk the path we ought to travel. I think this makes passages like the above even more important to remind us of what we should do and how we should reflect on our lives.

As we go about our week, I ask you to consider focussing on the meaning of these two passages alone, and see the difference they can make to your life and those around you. If you find these passages relevant, consider the other wisdoms that are found in the longest surviving, most translated, and most published book in history.

God Bless.

B Grimes
Principal/CEO

Deputy Principal’s Message

Warmest greetings to all our families. Last week, we experienced the impact of the powerful storm that swept through our area, bringing heavy rains, power outages, and flash flooding. For the safety of our students, staff, and families, we made the difficult decision to close the College last Monday. Times like these can be challenging and unsettling, yet through the storm, we are reminded of God’s presence and faithfulness.

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

While the storm brought disruption and difficulty, it also brought something beautiful – our community’s strength, generosity, and heart for one another. I was encouraged to see so many from our College community offering help to friends, neighbours, and even strangers in need. From families opening their homes, to people sharing items to donate, and others giving up their own comforts so that someone else might have what they need – this is a true reflection of God’s love in action.

It is in times like these that we see God’s will for us so clearly – to care for one another, to bear each other’s struggles and to stand together in love. Though the storm may have brought challenges, it also brought us closer as a community, reminding us that we are never alone. Through faith and kindness, we have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ, showing His love in tangible ways.

Harmony Day Reminder

We celebrate the beautiful diversity found in God’s people and reflect on the truth that we are all His children, created in His image. Our College will recognise Harmony Day this Friday 21 March, and we invite students to take part by wearing their cultural clothing or orange clothing and accessories on this day. In Australia, orange symbolises social communication, respect, and inclusiveness.

On this special day, our College will reflect on:

• God’s goodness
• That we are created in His image
• That all people are equally valued
• That diversity is a beautiful gift from God, meant to be celebrated
• God’s commandments in Matthew 22:37-40

Matthew 22:37-40
[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
[38] This is the first and great commandment.
[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

We look forward to celebrating this day with our students and embracing the wonderful diversity within God’s people!

Barracudas Broncos Challenge Game

We have our big opening game and Indigenous Round on Wednesday 2 April. Please join us for a Sausage Sizzle and a chance to win an Indigenous jersey giveaway. Our Drum Corps will ensure our presence is felt, and the Bayside Believers Cheer Squad will be there to rally behind their brothers and sisters in this exciting first Broncos Challenge game.

Let’s fill the stands with a sea of blue – come and show your support for our Barracudas!

NAPLAN

This week, our students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 will be participating in the NAPLAN assessments. We wish them all the best as they tackle these important tests. NAPLAN provides insights into students’ literacy and numeracy skills, helping us understand their academic progress.

It is, however, very important to remember that NAPLAN is just one measure of a student’s abilities. It does not capture all the wonderful qualities that make each student unique. Creativity, kindness, resilience, and teamwork are just a few of the many attributes that contribute to a student’s overall development.

To all our students: We believe in you and are proud of your efforts. Remember, these assessments do not define you. Your hard work, dedication, kindness and the positive and compassionate impact you have on those around you are what truly matter. Keep trying hard and doing your best!

Good luck and know that we are here to support and encourage you.

You’re Invited: Family BBQ Day!

Join us for a FREE Family BBQ Event filled with food, fun, and community spirit! Enjoy an afternoon of activities, sports, games, and live music as we come together to celebrate and connect.

Date: Saturday 29 March

Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: College Oval

We look forward to sharing this special day with you. Bring your family, bring your friends, and let’s make it a fantastic afternoon!

Please RSVP by the 21 March by going to the link below:

https://bccbbq.paperform.co/

College Assembly

Last Friday, we came together for our Full College Assembly, a special morning of celebration. Our Preps took the stage for the first time, delighting students and families with their performance. We recognised those who went all out for “Best Dressed” at the Swimming Carnival, watched our Year One students proudly present Jerseys to our Year 12s, and celebrated the efforts of students across the College with our special Home Room Awards. It was a wonderful way to acknowledge and appreciate our students and a great way to end the week!

May all our students and families have a wonderful fortnight. May we continue to encourage and uplift each other, knowing that in every challenge, God is our refuge, our strength, and our constant help.

Nahum 1:7

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.“

May God continue to watch over us and guide our community with wisdom, love, and peace.

Edelle Broadhurst
Deputy Principal

Drama Report

This term in Drama, our students have been diving into some exciting and creative projects! Year 7/8 have been exploring Treasure Island, having fun with costume and set design, scriptwriting, and even map-making. We’ve certainly got a class full of talented pirates!

Year 9 and 10 have been exploring Epic and Brechtian theatre techniques, studying ways to provoke thought and challenge traditional performance.

Meanwhile, our Year 11s are working hard on creating original devised dramas, using Flood by Rory Mullarkey as a stimulus to inspire their work. It’s been an amazing term full of creativity and hard work!

Our drama classes are diligently working to polish their creations, preparing for an exciting performance at the end of Term 1. These talented students are pouring their hearts into their work, and we can’t wait for you to see the result of their dedication and creativity. Keep an eye out for an announcement that promises something ‘magical’ — an event that will undoubtedly captivate our drama, music, and dance enthusiasts. Stay tuned for more details! 🎭✨

Library Book Donation Sale

Calling all book donations! The library will be holding a book donation sale for grandparents day this term on Friday 4th April. We are looking for books that are still in good condition that you no longer want or need to be donated to the library for other students to buy at a bargain price. Any unsold books will be given to charity and all money raised will go to Kindness Works. Books can be fiction or non-fiction, picture or chapters, we just ask for no textbooks or activity books. Donated books can be dropped into the library to Mrs Magrin or Mrs Shrives. Your donations are much appreciated.

Mrs Magrin

School Futsal Titles

Our U12 Bayside Futsal team gave it their all at the School Futsal Titles on Tuesday 4th March. After a tough 6-1 loss to Victory College, they bounced back with a 4-1 win over Star of the Sea before a narrow 4-3 loss to Kawungan State School. The boys showed incredible effort, sportsmanship, and improvement throughout the day, even earning the cheers from several other schools in their final match! They were a pleasure to coach, and I am extremely proud of their dedication and teamwork. Well done team – you should all be very proud of yourselves!

Futsal Team Receives Medals

Our U14 Bayside Futsal team competed at the Fraser Coast School Futsal Titles on Wednesday 5 March. In the group stages, we secured three wins – a 3-1 victory against Maryborough A, a 9-2 win over Gympie SHS, and a 4-1 win against Maryborough B – along with a hard-fought 3-3 draw against Xavier, earning us a spot in the semi-finals. We faced Maryborough A in a tough semi-final, coming out on top with another 3-1 win. In the Grand Final, the boys gave it their all, pushing until the final whistle, but despite their efforts against Urangan SHS, we finished as Runners-Up, proudly receiving Silver Medals. The team proudly represented Bayside and based on their performance will receive an invitation to attend the Schools  ‘Champion of Champions’ State Futsal tournament.

Selections

Throughout the tournament players were selected to play for the Australian Futsal Associations QLD Country team. This is a great opportunity for regional players to take part in larger tournaments held in Brisbane and Gold Coast. Congratulations must go to Antonio in the U12’s and Malakai, Bo, Matthew and Quentin in the U14’s for receiving these nominations.

Carmen Yeatman

Students Selected for District Football Team

Malakai (U13) and Bo (U14) were selected in the Hervey Bay District U15 Football team. This is a great achievement against older players from our region. They will trial next week,18th March, in Bundaberg for a place in the Wide Bay team.

Also, Antonio was selected for the Hervey Bay District under 12 Football Team. His hard work has paid off and he is very happy to be representing the college. Well done Antonio!

News From the Mathematics Department

Welcome to an exciting new year of learning in the Mathematics Department! Our dedicated team of teachers— Ms Sumé Mac Donald, Mr Harry Monteith, Mrs Tabbetha Sadler, Mr Rod Air, and myself…

read more…

From the Director of Learning Systems

As the Director of Learning Systems, I am delighted to reach out to you with warm greetings. It brings me great joy to provide you with valuable insights and updates concerning our learning systems…

read more…

News From Prep T!

English

We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day! We’re not scared.

Prep T have been reading the narrative We’re Going On a Bear Hunt written by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. As a class, we discussed the importance of narratives and how we read different texts to give us enjoyment. We also discussed texts print conventions such as front cover, back cover, title, characters, the author and illustrator.

Phonics

Since the beginning of the term, Prep T have been learning to identify the beginning, end and middle sounds in words. We have also learnt how to segment and blend and write certain letters of the alphabet. Look at us go with our phonemic awareness!

Maths

Look at us being mathematicians! Prep T students have learnt a lot on number recognition and counting. We understand that we need to count one-to-one correspondence, and it is easier for us to count when we place our counting items in a line, a row or in groups. We have also learnt about our days of the week. We have participated in a variety of hands-on activities including playing our days of the week memory game.

Science and Visual Arts

Welcome to Bayside’s new meteorologists! Throughout our science unit, we have been discussing different types of weather. We discussed what we could do to warm us up or cool us down in different weather types. Everyone came up with some fabulous ways to keep cool in the warmer weather and what to do in the colder months. I love the hot chocolate in winter and going under the sprinkler in summer! We integrated visual art with our science learning and completed some beautiful artwork using our knowledge of primary colours and different art textures to create different weather types.

We certainly have been busy, but we have had so much fun along our learning journey!

Learning Auslan in Prep to Year 3: A Fun and Engaging Experience!

Our P–3 students have been enthusiastically participating  in Auslan (Australian Sign Language), learning to sign basic greetings and introduce themselves with confidence. Through interactive and engaging lessons, they are building foundational skills in sign language while also gaining an appreciation for Deaf culture.

One of the highlights of our Auslan lessons has been learning about colours through our beautiful Rainbow Song. By combining signing with music, students not only remember the signs more effectively but also develop a deeper connection with the language. Additionally, we are exploring popular nursery rhymes with accompanying actions, making the learning process both fun and meaningful.

Fingerspelling, expressive signing, and interactive activities help our students understand and respect Deaf culture. They are discovering how sign language is a rich and expressive form of communication, fostering inclusivity and awareness within our school community. These lessons emphasize that communication goes beyond spoken words, encouraging all students to develop empathy and connection with others.

Auslan lessons have quickly become a favourite among students, proving that learning through movement, gestures, and creativity is not only effective but also incredibly enjoyable. We look forward to continuing our Auslan journey and expanding our skills in this wonderful language!

Barracuda Chosen for Broncos Development Squad

Bayside Christian College is proud to announce that a second player in our Rugby League Development Program – and an inaugural member of the Bayside Barracudas, Braxton Thompson has been selected for the Sunshine Coast 2025 Brisbane Broncos Development Squad. This marks a historic achievement for both Braxton and the College, with Braxton becoming the second Barracuda to secure a place with a National Rugby League (NRL) team.

Braxton’s journey with the Barracudas has been nothing short of remarkable. Under the guidance of Coach Brett Carter, from the Under 7’s Seagulls Team to now in the Bronco’s Development Squad, there is little doubt this young man is destined for the NRL.

We acknowledge both the Hervey Bay Seagulls Rugby League Club and our own Barracudas Coaches in Braxton’s development, and congratulate him on this significant achievement.

Bayside Barracudas thank their Platinum Sponsor!

Bayside Scientists reach the Final of the ASTA Awards

The College is proud to announce that two of our most capable Science students – Chloe Mills and Ruby Burge, have reached the Final 8 in the National ASTA Awards. This is a tremendous achievement and the first time our students have achieved the Finals.

After much hard work and dedication, Competition Organisers will announce their decisions on the 25 March.

If you would like to see the competition’s Virtual fair you may do so from this link: ASTA iCubed Awards Virtual Fair: https://asta.edu.au/programs/asta-i3-awards/

Additionally, if you would like to join the virtual ceremony for the big announcement you may do so via this link: Virtual Ceremony Link: https://unsw.zoom.us/j/82699875966

This is a wonderful opportunity for Ruby and Chloe to showcase their project and gain valuable experience. No matter the outcome, reaching this stage is a testament to their talent and perseverance. We are very proud of these young ladies and wish them well for the Final announcement — good luck, Ruby and Chloe!

Also a big thank you to Ms Ashton for supporting and mentoring the girls!

Noosa Film Academy Workshops

This Channel 7 News Interview and Noosa Film Academy Facebook have information on the Noosa Film Academy.

(These activities are not endorsed by Bayside Christian College but rather included here as a community announcement. Participation suitability is therefore the responsibility of parents.)