Bayside Bulletin Newsletter, 22 July 2025

Deputy Principal’s Message

Warmest greetings to all our families. A big welcome back to Term 3 and a special welcome to the new families and staff joining us this term. I hope the break brought rest and special memories with loved ones.

During the holidays, I had the opportunity to travel to the Philippines — a trip that touched my heart and reminded me of the power of gratitude. What struck me most was the incredible resilience and joy of the people — many of whom live with very little. Despite facing daily challenges, they carried a sense of peace and a strong faith that reminded me what it truly means to trust in God.

No matter what they had been through — poverty, uncertainty — they still smiled, they still praised and they still believed. Their joy was not dependent on their situation, but on their trust that God never leaves them.

A simple reflection on food is one that has been on my mind. At home, we often find ourselves saying things like, “Oh no, what am I going to cook for dinner tonight?”— sometimes even complaining about the choice. Yet over there, for many families, the question is not what they will cook, but if they will eat at all. The idea of having options, or being frustrated by the task of meal prep, is something many could only dream of. That contrast humbled me and reminded me how easy it is to forget just how blessed we truly are. This experience encouraged me to live with a heart of gratitude — to see beyond inconvenience and into abundance, to remember that what we often take for granted is a gift others pray for.

Deuteronomy 31:8:
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

For our students returning to school life — with assessments, routines, and responsibilities — it is easy to become overwhelmed or to focus on what feels stressful. For us as active working parents, the juggle of work, family, and daily demands can feel just as heavy. But what if we paused — just for a moment — and shifted our focus to all that we do have? What if we looked at our lives through the lens of gratitude, recognising the many blessings that surround us each day — the gift of education, the strength of friendship, the support of loved ones, the safety we often take for granted, and the privilege of being part of a community that genuinely cares?

If those with so little can still be so full of joy and faith, then surely we too — together as a College community — can choose to be thankful. Sometimes, changing what we focus on changes how we see everything. May we be encouraged that God is with us in every moment — faithful, present and always providing. In the harder times, we can lean not just on Him, but on one another.

May we be a community marked by care and trust that God is doing more than we can see.

God bless.
Edelle Broadhurst
Deputy Principal

Bayside Ladies Brunch

A big thank you to all the wonderful ladies who joined us for our Ladies Brunch last term. It was such a beautiful opportunity to connect — as mothers, as women and sisters in Christ. The warmth, encouragement, and connections made was truly wonderful. I am already looking forward to our next gathering and hope that even more of you will be able to join us for another special time together.

 Upcoming dates:

• Wednesday 23 July – Parent-Teacher Interviews (3:30pm–7:00pm)
• Friday 25 July – Years 7–10: QLD All Schools Oztag Tournament
• Monday 28 July – Barracudas Presentation and Dinner Event (at the College)
• Tuesday 29 July – Hervey Bay District Athletics Carnival – Day 1
• Wednesday 30 July – Hervey Bay District Athletics Carnival – Day 2
• Thursday 31 July – 10–12 Years Hervey Bay District Athletics Carnival; Barracudas Karyn Murphy Cup (Years 7–12)
• Friday 1 August – Wide Bay 13–14 Girls Rugby Trials
• Monday 4 August – Barracudas Broncos Challenge (Bundaberg); Year 10 RYDA (Maryborough Showgrounds)
• Tuesday 6 August – Year 6 Excursion to Urangan Markets
• Thursday 7 August – Australian Mathematics Competition
• Friday 8 August – 4:30am: Barracudas Dolphins Trip; Dr Ron Neller Lecture
• Monday 11 August – Year 11/12 Sport & Recreation Camp
• Thursday 14 August – Year 7 Transition Day
• Monday 18 August – Vietnam Veterans Day
• Wednesday 20 August – Prep Open Day
• Thursday 21 August – Year 6 Market Day
• Friday 22 August – Book Parade; Grandparents & Special Friends Day
• Wednesday 27 August – School Musical Performance (Hervey Bay Baptist Church)
• Thursday 28 August – School Musical Performance (Hervey Bay Baptist Church)
• Friday 29 August – Years 3/4 Gala Day
• Saturday 30 August – School Musical Encore Performance
• Thursday 4 September – Father’s Day Breakfast & Stall
• Friday 5 September – Student-Free Day
• Thursday 11 September – Senior School Transition Day
• Friday 12 September – Barracudas Highway Cup; Years 5/6 Gala Day
• Monday 15 September – Year 7 Camp (Splitters Farm)
• Friday 19 September – Year 12 Formal; Last Day of Term 3

Year 7 Science

To wrap up Term 2 and our unit on forces, students rebuilt Rube Goldberg machines to demonstrate their understanding of the six simple machines: ramps, levers, wheels, pulleys, screws, and wedges. It was a fantastic hands-on experience, and as you’ll see from the photos, we had plenty of fun along the way!

New Furniture for Year 6

Year 6s working with our wonderful teacher aide Ms. Minda and enjoying the new furniture on our deck.

Years 7–12 Athletics Carnival

On Friday, 20th June 2025, students from Years 7 to 12 gathered at the Dundowran Athletics Fields for an exciting day of competition at the annual Athletics Carnival. Dressed proudly in their house colours, students participated in a wide range of track and field events, showcasing not only their athletic abilities but also their school spirit and sportsmanship.

The day brought perfect weather conditions, encouraging students to give their very best. Those who competed in at least three track and three field events earned points for their house, with the highest individual scorers in each age group being awarded the prestigious Age Champion trophy and Runners-Up medals. Our Spirit Award for the day went to William Tom who participated in all events to the best of his ability with enthusiasm and positivity. Congratulations to William, what a great role model.

Congratulations to all students who competed and contributed to their house teams! We now look forward to seeing our top-performing athletes represent the College at the District Athletics Carnival on the 29th and 30th of July. We wish them every success in their events.

Congratulations to Chisholm House for winning the Overall House Championship at the Athletics Carnival.

Colouring in Competition. Chance to Win Peter Pan Tickets!

Competition open to all ages. Grab your pictures from reception, colour them in and enter for a chance to win one of two family passes to the School Musical Peter Pan Jr!

Peter Pan Jr. School Musical

Join us for an unforgettable adventure as Bayside Christian College proudly presents Peter Pan Jr. — a magical musical brought to life by our talented students over four spectacular performances across three days!

From the sparkle of fairy dust to the swashbuckling antics of Captain Hook, this enchanting production will whisk you away to Neverland, where dreams take flight and imagination knows no bounds.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the magic — come join the journey!

Show Dates & Times:

Wednesday, August 27th 6:00 pm
Thursday, August 28th – 6:00 pm
Saturday, August 30th – 11 AM & 6:00 PM
Location: Hervey Bay Baptist Church. 20 Nikenbah Dundowran Rd, Nikenbah QLD 4655

Purchase your tickets via the button below:

Time to meet the Senior Rock Band!

Our Senior Rock Band is made up of a number of students in Years 9 to 12, and brings us many levels of talents and skills combined with a range of instruments from Drums, Percussion, Guitars, Bass, Cello, Violin and Vocals.

Ms Cirillo and Mr Young have the pleasure of working with the Senior Rock Band each Wednesday. In our first Term we learnt and rehearsed two songs. Each Term we are working towards learning two to three songs to share with you all.

If you would like to join the band it’s not too late. Head to the Music Room, Wednesdays SSL1, to join in the fun.

We can’t wait to show you what we have been up to.

Message from the Director of Learning Systems

Mock Exams for Years 11 and 12

All Year 11 and 12 students will sit Mock Exams for General subjects across six days, from 8–15 September. These practice exams are a vital step in preparing students for the external assessments in Year 12.

Year 12 students will receive in-depth feedback from their Mock Exams in early Term 4, allowing them to focus their revision and preparation ahead of their final exams, which begin on 27 October. A detailed exam schedule and further information will be released shortly.

Year 11 Electives: Subject Selection for 2026

Year 10 students will finalise their Year 11 subject choices early this term, following completion of the SET Plan process. This planning is in preparation for the commencement of Year 11 in Term 4.

All students are required to select six subjects for Semester 1. However, students who commence a Certificate II or higher by end of Term 1 2026 may request to drop one subject and use that time as a study period to catch up on work missed due to TAFE or external commitments.

Year 6–9 Electives: Term 4 Transition

From Term 4, Year 6 students will begin their Year 7 electives, aligning with our senior school timetable where Years 8–11 roll up a year level.

A detailed email will be sent to families later in Term 3 outlining the elective selection process. Students will make their choices during extended homeroom in late in Term 3.

Mrs T McKendrick

News from the Maths Department

Term 2 Beginner Number Theory – Maths HQ

Congratulations to the following students who participated in the Term 2 Beginner Number Theory course through Maths HQ. Their commitment to extending their mathematical understanding outside the classroom is commendable:

• Yuhan Lu – Grade 10
• Nathaniel Coxhead – Grade 10
• Elizabeth Mariam Firouzfar – Grade 10
• Dylan Mitchell – Grade 8
• Jeshua Thompson – Grade 8
• Jarel Carney – Grade 8

Well done to all involved!

Success in Maths: Practice and Consistency Matter

Just like any other subject or sport, passing Maths requires regular practice and consistent attendance. We understand that sometimes students may be ill or have other commitments during school hours. In these cases, it is important they take responsibility for catching up on any missed lessons to avoid falling behind. Students are encouraged to attend any available Maths help sessions. All class notes are accessible via a shared OneNote, and every student also has access to an online textbook that includes helpful videos they can watch to reinforce their learning. Making the effort to use these resources is essential for staying on track.

AMC Maths Competition 2025

We are excited to announce that the AMC Maths Competition will be held again this year on Thursday, 7 August 2025. Invitations have been sent to all students from Year 3 to Year 12. Participation is voluntary, with an entry fee of $9.

Primary division students will have 60 minutes to complete the online competition, while secondary students will have 75 minutes. To help students prepare, practice questions are available on the AMC website: https://www.amt.edu.au/amc. We encourage all interested students to take part and challenge themselves in this nationally recognised competition.

Overview of Maths Topics for This Term

Year 7

This term, Year 7 students are building essential skills in percentages and ratios, learning to apply these concepts to practical problems. Their algebra journey includes substitution, simplifying expressions, and working with like terms, while also practising multiplication and division of expressions. They are strengthening their grasp of decimals—covering operations, rounding, and links to fractions and percentages—and are beginning to explore negative integers and the Cartesian plane.

Year 8

Year 8 learners are tackling problems involving rates and speed, while extending their understanding of equations, including those with fractions, brackets, and pronumerals on both sides. They are developing skills in data interpretation by analysing graphs and frequency tables and deepening their statistical knowledge through measures of central tendency. Probability concepts are brought to life using Venn diagrams, tree diagrams, and two-way tables. In algebra and graphing, students explore linear relationships, learning to determine rules, intercepts, and apply straight-line graphs.

Year 9

In Year 9, students are consolidating their knowledge of geometric concepts such as angles, triangles, and parallel lines, and advancing to congruence and similarity of triangles. Their algebra studies focus on expanding and factorising various expressions, including quadratics and algebraic fractions. Probability and statistics are explored through practical tools like Venn diagrams, two-way tables, arrays, and tree diagrams. Additionally, they examine data displays and measures of spread and central tendency.

Year 10

This term, Year 10 students are applying trigonometric principles to solve problems in two and three dimensions, including those involving directions and bearings. Their study of probability includes conditional probability, two-step experiments, and identifying independent events, using Venn diagrams and tree diagrams. Algebra continues with a focus on expanding and factorising expressions, solving quadratic equations through various methods, and applying these techniques in real-world contexts. Students also explore the properties and transformations of parabolas.

Mrs McKendrick

Year 2 Space Day – End of Term 2 Blast Off! 🚀

To celebrate the end of Term 2, our Year 2 students had an out-of-this-world experience with a very special Space Day! The classrooms were transformed into an exciting space planetarium and disco, filled with glowing stars and swirling planets.

Throughout the day, the children participated in a range of creative and educational activities. They crafted amazing space hats, designed and tested their own sundials, and built colourful models of the planets in our solar system. It was wonderful to see the students so engaged as they explored fascinating facts about each planet — from Mercury to Neptune.

The energy and enthusiasm were incredible, and we’re so proud of how much the students learned and created. A big thank you to the Year 2 crew and children for making the day a cosmic success.

We can’t wait for the next adventure in Term 3!

Ms Frame and Mrs Davis

Chappy’s Message

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:26-27

In our senior chapels last week we shared this passage of scripture. Although the whole passage is beautiful and compelling, our main focus was on the last section. We discussed practical ideas on how to keep oneself from being “polluted” by the world. The concept of “garbage in, garbage out” can be a very convicting subject. What are we listening to? What are we watching? What are we reading? Are we shaping the culture or are we letting it shape us? Are we letting ourselves be polluted by the world?

Philippians 4:8 gives us some very helpful advice, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” It sounds so simple but can be so hard to put into practice. One step at a time, one day at a time, let’s make our corner of the world a little brighter (and a little cleaner).

Live Loved,
Your Chappies
Matt and Carmen

“Evolutionist to Creationist: A Personal Journey of Faith”

Special Guest Speaker: Dr. Ron Neller

We’re excited to announce that Dr. Ron Neller, an internationally recognised scientist and speaker from Creation Ministries International, will be visiting our school on Thursday, August 8th, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.

Dr. Neller will be speaking to our Year 10–12 classes about his personal journey from believing in evolution to embracing the truth of Biblical Creation. He’ll also tackle intriguing questions, including What happened to the dinosaurs?

Limited Seating Available

While this event is primarily for our Year 10–12 students, we have limited spaces available for interested students in Years 7–9. We warmly welcome and invite our parents to attend this special talk, though we kindly ask that you RSVP to the email below if you are interested in attending.

RSVP for More Information

If you’d like more information or wish to attend, please email chaplain@bayside.qld.edu.au.

Learn More About Dr. Neller

For additional information on Dr. Ron Neller and Creation Ministries International, please click here.

Bayside Barracudas thank their Platinum Sponsor!

Message from the Head of English and Languages

Welcome back to Term Three! I hope everyone had a chance to rest and recharge over the break. It is amazing to realise we are already more than halfway through the year! As we step into the second half, our English and Languages classrooms are full of energy, creativity, and thoughtful discussion. Students across all year levels are engaging with a rich variety of texts and writing tasks that challenge them to think critically, express themselves clearly, and explore the world through literature and language.

Bayside Believers Merchandise

We still have some Believers Merchandise available for purchase. If you would like to order any of the items, please complete the form below and Sharleen Sneath will be in touch to organise payment and collection.

Bumper Sticker Competition Winner!

Congratulations to Naomi whose car was spotted driving around with a Bayside Bumper sticker. She has won this fortnight’s bumper sticker competition prize of a $50 voucher for the school’s Castaway Café.

To be in the running for our fortnightly prize, grab a bumper sticker from reception, stick in on your car and register using the button below.