Bayside Bulletin Newsletter, 19 November 2024

Principal’s Message

Does the sailor improve their skills in calm waters? Do we improve in our sporting abilities when we face far weaker competition? What can we gain through challenge and adversity?

There is no doubt that when our skills are tested, we have the opportunity to adapt, to overcome, and to grow in experience and resiliency. Sometimes challenge forces us to reflect on our skills and training, and seek additional learning or improvement from ourselves, whether it be in our commitment to training, or the effort we apply to the task.

I have never known anyone who has not faced a personal struggle, and have wondered why a loving God allows us to face such challenge. The answer may be found in our very own actions as parents, as we allow our children to face increasing challenge—in short these events they help us to grow.

God loves us and of this there is no doubt. The trials and challenges we face are opportunities to bring us to spiritual maturity, to bring us closer to Him. After we have come through the trial, we may realise that He has brought us through it, and if we can see this, then our foundation of trust in Him is strengthened. With each passing trial, our confidence and dependency on Him increases as we can see the love He has for each of us. We must remember that while we look at the limited years spent on Earth, our Lord is timeless and looks to a relationship with us for eternity.

In every trial, we have choice, and through our choices we may act as God would have us do or not. This too can be an opportunity for ‘constructive corrections’ in which we may receive feedback on our choices, with the aim of helping us to make better choices that are in accordance with God’s will.

We are but God’s children—there are those who are rebellious, those who test the boundaries and need ‘constructive corrections’ to direct their energies, and those who seem to be far more connected with God’s intent as a result of their frequent prayer, meditation, and relationship with Him. In this relationship, we as his children, often need the ‘constructive corrections’, and the challenge to help us learn and develop as a child grows to adulthood.

While there are times our challenges seem insurmountable, we can truly seek God’s blessing in prayer, and most especially when we acknowledge that we cannot do these things without Him. He hears our prayers and I know this, through the prayers of desperation I have offered over the last few months. Let us not fear the challenge or the rough waters, but rather look to them as God calling us to rely on Him, and in giving ourselves to Him in prayer, He will make all things work for good.

As our Year 12s now leave us and enter the season of their life beyond school, they will indeed face a great many challenges. May they be surrounded by friends and family, who can continue to steer them towards our Father, for his comfort and support, and when needed, the ‘constructive corrections’. May God bless each and every one of our students as they enter the next exciting season.

Brian Grimes
Principal/CEO

Deputy Principal’s Message

Warm greetings to all our Bayside families! It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of 2024! As we approach the final weeks of the school year, I would like to highlight some important dates for our upcoming events:

• Prep Transition Day (Day 2) – Wednesday 20 November
• District Swimming Carnival for 10–12 Years – Friday 22 November
• Instrumental Music Concert – Friday 22 November at 1:45 PM
• Prep–3 Awards Night – Tuesday 26 November at 5:00 PM
• Year 4-6 Awards Night – Tuesday 26 November at 7:00 PM
• Year 6 Graduation Breakfast – Friday 29 November at 7:30 AM, followed by the
• Year 6 Graduation Assembly at 8:45 AM
• Prep-Year 4 Wetside Excursion – Monday 2 December
• Last Day for Term 4, 2024 – Tuesday 3 December

Annual Awards Night

The Years 7–12 Annual Awards Night was a night filled with joy, celebration, and a time to recognise our students and staff. Our Junior Annual Awards Night is just around the corner, scheduled for Tuesday 26 November 2024, at the Hervey Bay Baptist Church, Nikenbah. This special event is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of our Junior School students.

Prep–Year 3 Ceremony: Tuesday 26 November 5:00 PM

Years 4–6 Ceremony: Tuesday 26 November 7:00 PM

We kindly ask all students to arrive 15 minutes earlier for roll call to ensure a prompt start. Students in Years 2–6 are required to wear their formal uniform, ensuring it meets the highest standard. We warmly invite all parents and community members to join us for this memorable evening. Please join us to honour our students’ achievements.

Year 12 Graduates

Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating Year 12 Valedictory Week, a time to farewell our graduating students. Thank you to Mrs Emily Taylor for her effort in organising events that brought joy and lasting memories to our Year 12 students.

Congratulations to our staff for taking home the annual “Bayside Lucky Duck Shield”, a tradition and award for winning the annual Staff vs. Year 12 Students Sporting Competition. This friendly rivalry added excitement and fun to the week, and we already look forward to seeing who will claim the shield in 2025!

During the Valedictory Day Assembly, it was lovely to hear our graduates reflect on their journey and share their blessings. Their words highlighted the maturity, confidence, and growth they have achieved throughout their time at Bayside.

As our graduates step into the next chapter of their lives, our thoughts and prayers go with them. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

May God guide and bless our graduates in every endeavour, and may they walk confidently, trusting in His greater plan and purpose for their lives.

Prep Transition Day

Last week, we welcomed our 2025 Prep students to their first Prep Transition Day! It was wonderful to see their excitement as they participated in various activities designed to help them familiarise themselves with the classroom environment before starting their learning journey with us.

We are looking forward to the second session of Prep Transition Day, which will take place on Wednesday, 20 November at 9:00 am. We can’t wait to see our future Preppies again and continue this exciting introduction to school life!

Remembrance Day

Last week, our students took a moment to honour the servicemen and servicewomen who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Our Year 12 student leaders placed a wreath on behalf of our College at Freedom Park, while we held a ceremony here at the College for our staff and students.

We send our sincere thanks to the Diggers Military MC Fraser Coast for their service, presence and support during our event.

May all our students and families enjoy a relaxing, safe, and joyful holiday break together.

Christmas is a season of reflection, gratitude, and celebration—a time to rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift to humanity. Through His life, Jesus brought us closer to the Father, and through His ultimate sacrifice, He offered us redemption and everlasting hope.

May the spirit of Christmas fill your hearts and homes with peace, love, and joy. As you gather with loved ones during this special time, may you be reminded of God’s unending love and His plans for a future filled with hope and purpose.

We wish you a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year. May God’s grace guide and protect you as we look forward to another year of learning, growth, and community at Bayside.

We look forward to welcoming all students back to Bayside Christian College for the start of Term 1 on Tuesday 28 January 2025.

God bless.

Edelle Broadhurst
Deputy Principal

Prep Q

As we near the end of the final term of 2024, there’s a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Term four is filled with a wide array of exciting events such as swimming lessons and Academic Awards Night. It also brings a unique opportunity for reflection, achievement and growth. I could not be any prouder of how far Prep Q has come this year.

We have dived right into new learning as we observe how objects move in science; we have already become authors and illustrators as we write alternate endings to familiar stories in English and we have been travelling the class train to a variety of destinations during HASS. Games such as bowling have seen students solving subtraction problems and we have been learning the different ways we can praise the Lord. Lots more fun to be had before the year is complete. Miss Eliott and I are looking forward to spending the next part of the term enjoying this last part of the Prep Q learning journey.

News from the Faculty of Science and Technology

This term has been a fantastic one for Science and Technology, filled with new faces, exciting discoveries, and a wealth of hands-on learning opportunities for students across all year levels. First, we’d like to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Roger Bust, who has joined our department from Brisbane to teach Chemistry. We’re thrilled to have him on board and know his expertise will be invaluable to our students. We were also fortunate to have Ms. Jessica Peng, a preservice teacher from Christian Heritage College, join us for her practicum. She embraced the experience with enthusiasm, and we hope she has gained valuable insights during her time with us.

Our Year 7 Science students have been hard at work exploring Earth’s precious resources. They’ve delved into renewable energy sources, which was the focus of their assessment. Through research and practical activities, they’ve come to understand the significance of renewable energy in preserving our planet.

In Year 9 Science, students have been investigating the physics of energy, including light, sound, and heat. This hands-on unit has been a favourite, filled with experiments involving light boxes, fish-eye dissections, tuning forks, the Van de Graaff generator, and circuit-building. These interactive activities not only enhance understanding but also bring the wonders of physics to life in exciting ways.

Year 10 Science students have been diving into the fascinating world of genetics and evolution. Their term’s assessment focuses on examining a scientific claim, encouraging them to develop critical thinking skills by evaluating real-world scientific statements. This unit has prompted thought-provoking discussions and inspired many students to explore the genetic ties that connect all life on Earth.

Our Senior Science students have settled into their studies, delving deeper into their respective fields:

Year 11 Biology students explored the microscopic world of cells, enhancing their understanding of life at its most fundamental level.

Year 12 Biology students focused on ecosystems and are eagerly anticipating a field trip to the rocky shore next week, where they will conduct various ecosystem studies.

Year 11 Chemistry students investigated atomic structure and chemical bonding, while Year 12 Chemistry tackled the fascinating concept of reaction reversibility within chemical systems.

Year 11 Physics covered energy transfer and transformation, while Year 12 Physics explored gravity and motion—key topics with connections to the real-world science of space exploration.

Our Senior Psychology students examined brain structure and function, gaining insights into the physical basis of behaviour and thought.

In Forensic Science, students have experienced a hands-on approach to investigative science, exploring the vital role of forensic scientists and their many specialties. This term, they mastered fingerprint processing and lifting techniques, assumed the role of arson investigators studying fire behaviour, and analysed trace evidence like hair, fibres, and tool marks.

In STEAM, students spent the term innovating in game design, working collaboratively to create unique and engaging board games. This project allowed them to blend creativity with strategic thinking, resulting in some truly inventive and memorable designs.

In Digital Technology, students dove into the world of robots, tracing their journey from fiction to reality. They expanded their programming knowledge by using a robot simulator, solving complex problems and applying their skills to real-world scenarios. This hands-on experience helped students understand the power and potential of robotics in today’s society.

Our new Engineering elective has been an exciting addition this term and was very well received. Students tackled fresh challenges each week, learning to apply engineering principles to solve real-world problems. From designing rubber band-powered racers and constructing bridges to creating trebuchets, they demonstrated creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills.

It’s been a full term with a multitude of engaging activities, discoveries, and fun across the Science and Technology department. We look forward to a new year of exploration and innovation. Thank you to our wonderful students and teachers for their hard work and enthusiasm!

Bayside Barracudas Sponsorhip Plans

Bayside Christian College is proud to now release the Sponsorship Plans available for the Bayside Barracudas Rugby League program.

Launched in July of 2023, the Bayside Barracudas Rugby League Program is already the most elite and sought-after sporting program in the Fraser Coast Region. With applications exceeding 260% that of program capacity, this program has selected only the finest of young athletes, both boys and girls, from Year 6–10 for 2025, and with more than 30 applications already submitted for 2026 commencement, the future is promising.

This program is designed to develop truly outstanding leaders, ambassadors, and players of the game. Students fortunate to be selected will do far more than merely play rugby league. They learn about themselves, to grow in their leadership strength and potential, develop an inward confidence and strength to live life well, to avoid the many pitfalls that others fall into, and to develop their thinking about the game, enhance their skills to enable them to play at their very best, and will develop strategies and understandings about wellbeing, personal health and nutrition.

Students admitted to the program will be provided with a personal Academic Mentor in addition to the normal pastoral structures found within Bayside Christian College to ensure they are receiving the very best support academically.

The Bayside Barracudas Rugby League Program is proud to have the Dolphins NRL team, the Hervey Bay Seagulls Rugby League Club, and now World Gym – Hervey Bay, as our Patron and Team Sponsors. Their involvement in the collaboration of player development and coaching, will ensure broad exposure for the players within the program and opportunities for growth and development.

The Bayside Barracudas Rugby League Club are now offering A LIMITED number of Sponsorship Packages for the program in 2025. Please contact the Principal/CEO of the College directly on principal@bayside.qld.edu.au to secure a Sponsorship Plan.

Details of all available Plans as of this date are contained in the linked PDF button below.

We look forward to you joining the most sought after, promising, and elite Rugby League Program on the Fraser Coast.

The Bayside Barracudas wish to thank their Platinum Sponsor

Bayside Students on Stage

William, Carter, and Hamish star in Object Permanence hosted by ex-student Noah Byne at the Z-PAC theatre. Object Permanence is a fast-paced improv game in which each group must finish a goal collectively, but each actor has a personal objective to complete.

At any point, the scene can be frozen and a random prop added, and the actors must to justify each prop.

Object Permanence will be performed on the 22nd and 23rd November from 7:30pm to 10:00pm. Book online at zpactheatre.com.au

Teacher Jonathan Maurer will be features in The John Drama

Students excel in the SINGACUP

Malakai and team mates are extremely excited to have come 3rd overall for U12’s at the SingaCup. There were 25 teams in their division (they played Indonesia, Singapore, India, Phillipines, Laos). Such an amazing opportunity to be selected and play alongside such talented players in very trying conditions. They’re exhausted and finally on their way home! (And of course – super proud of the coach!!!)

Also, Antonio had a wonderful time in Singapore, he met new friends, he played well during the competition, they lacked just one goal to qualify for the quarterfinals. They have won 2 games against the elite team of Singapore and Indonesia. Overall Antonio and his team has represented Queensland with sportsmanship and pride.

UPDATE: SINGACUP 2024: U12 QLD Raptors Secure 3rd Place!

The 14th edition of the SINGACUP, an international youth football tournament was held in Singapore from 2nd to 9th November 2024. Known for its competitive spirit and diverse teams, this annual event showcased youth football talent from across the globe.

The U12 QLD Raptors (Australia) put on a fantastic display, finishing in 3rd place after a thrilling 2-1 victory over PKP Luang Prabang (Laos) in the 3rd/4th place playoff on November 5th, 2024, at the Rainforest Sports Hub.

Group Stage Performance:

The Raptors dominated their group with an unbeaten record, scoring a remarkable 30 goals and conceding just 1 goal.

Group Standings:

1. QLD Raptors (Australia) – 12 points (+29 goal difference)

2. Warriors United FC (Singapore) – 9 points (+23 goal difference)

3. G8 Academy (Philippines) – 6 points (-8 goal difference)

4. Bali United (Indonesia) – 3 points (-11 goal difference)

5. Conscient Sports Delhi (India) – 0 points (-33 goal difference)

Key Highlights:

• Dominant performances in the group stages solidified the QLD Raptors’ position as one of the strongest teams in the tournament.
• A hard-fought semi-final saw the team narrowly miss the finals but bounce back with resilience to claim 3rd place.

Congratulations to the QLD Raptors on their outstanding performance and for making Australia proud on the international stage!

Swimming Carnival 10-12 years

Last week students attended the swimming carnival at the Hervey Bay Swim Centre under warm and sunny conditions. Fun was had by all in the swimming and novelty races with teachers joining in! Chappy Karl was the highlight competing in the relay fully clothed!

HPE with Mrs Taylor

Year 9 and 10 HPE students have been working hard during their Touch Football and Aquatic Safety units this term. It has been wonderful to see the students grow in their confidence and skills each week as they implement what we have discussed in the classroom during their practical lessons.

In Year 9 Touch Football, we have seen some fantastic flowing games. It is evident that the students’ knowledge of the game has improved significantly, and the speed at which they play has increased.

Year 10 students have completed their sessions at the Aquatic Centre, where they successfully demonstrated a variety of life-saving skills. The students displayed resilience during this unit, as some of the practical components were quite challenging.

Senior School Coordinator Article

As we step into Week 8, it would be remiss not to reflect on the wonderful events of Week 7, where we bid farewell to our graduating Year 12 students for 2024. It was a week filled with emotion and memorable activities where our students learnt valuable life skills such as learning to cook on a budget, mastering basic car maintenance and explored budgeting strategies. These activities were not only educational but also provided a valuable opportunity for students to bond and enjoy each other’s company for the final time as a cohort. The students also participated in a variety of games and had an outing to Bundy Bowl and Leisure Centre.

Thursday saw the annual Lucky Duck Shield, where staff competed against Year 12 in a sport of their choosing. This year, the chosen game was a Bayside favourite, Stoneball, and I’m pleased to report that the staff emerged victorious with an 8-5 win. The friendly competition and sportsmanship displayed by both teams was fantastic to see.

The defining moment of the week was the graduation ceremony on Friday morning. It was a morning filled with pride, joy, and a few tears as we celebrated the achievements and journeys of our Year 12 students. Another proud Bayside tradition is Guard of Honour where the entire college community says farewell to the graduates. The beautiful gifts prepared by the classes for our graduates truly highlighted Bayside’s strong sense of community and connection.

As we head into the final two weeks of the school year, I encourage everyone not to get too caught up in the presents, parties, lights, and food. Instead, take a moment to reflect on the true reason for the season. Spend time with your family and consider starting a new tradition of practicing Service this Christmas by giving back to those in our community who might need it. Whether it’s volunteering at a local charity, donating to those less fortunate, or simply offering a helping hand to someone in need, these acts of kindness showcase the spirit of Christmas and the teachings of Christ.

Let’s finish this year off strong, celebrate all that we have achieved and be thankful for all that we have been blessed with. Remember, the greatest gift we can give is our love and service to others.

God bless.
Mrs Taylor