Bayside Bulletin Newsletter, 4 March 2025

Deputy Principal’s Message

Warmest greetings to all our families.

As parents and teachers come together in partnership, our shared goal is to nurture and equip each student to grow holistically – academically, emotionally, and spiritually – so they may thrive and reflect Christ’s love in His kingdom. Our staff dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the care and development of your children, and when concerns arise, please know that our approach is always driven by a desire to support each child and each family. This is our service to our College community, and ultimately, to our Lord.

We ask for your trust and kindness when engaging with all staff, who give so much of themselves daily. By working together with respect and understanding, it makes it much easier to achieve the best outcomes we all seek for every child.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership – may we continue to support one another in raising confident, kind, caring and resilient young people, guiding them to live in a way that reflects Christ’s love for us all.

Over the past fortnight, we have been faced with challenges related to students’ online behaviour. As children spend more time in the digital space, often unsupervised, the influence of parents decline, while the pull of social media grows stronger than ever. Many young people are navigating technologies and social situations they are not yet cognitively equipped to manage, particularly within social media. Issues now follow students on their devices, making it increasingly difficult for them to disconnect.

We appreciate the partnership between home and school in guiding children through these challenges. We encourage parents to remain vigilant and actively involved – keeping a close eye on their child’s interactions across gaming, chat platforms, social media, and online trends. Conversations around digital consent, responsible online behaviour and dangerous trends are truly important in shaping their awareness and keeping them safe. With your support, alongside the guidance provided at the College, we hope to build their knowledge and understanding to make safer choices online.

Exciting Partnership with Cybernetic Shield

We are proud to announce our new partnership with Cybernetic Shield, further strengthening our commitment to student safety in the digital world.

As part of this initiative, you will soon receive a letter outlining Cybernetic Shield’s request to assist your child in downloading the MindShield Cyber Incident Helpline onto their devices www.mindshield.au This app provides access to a 24/7 hotline, connecting students with trained first responders whenever they experience a cyber incident.

We understand that children may be hesitant to report online issues to parents or teachers. This helpline allows them to have an anonymous and confidential conversation with professionals who are specifically trained to assess their situation. If further support is needed, they will guide families on available options, including counselling and investigation services.

What This Means for Our College Community

Through this partnership, our students and staff will have access to:

• A 24/7 Cyber Incident Hotline available year-round
• 10 fully resourced cyber safety lessons per year level
• 20 additional hours of CISO (Cyber Information Security Officer) support
• Professional counselling services
• Expert investigation services
• Insurance coverage to support counselling and investigation costs

We are excited about the benefits this partnership will bring in safeguarding our students and empowering them to navigate the online world with confidence.

Cybernetic Shield also offers all our parents complimentary access to our MindShield Membership which aims to support you and empower you with knowledge of the latest tips, trends and what to look out for in our digital world. (This will also provide you with your own access to the Cyber Incident Helpline as well).

Community Chapel Service

Our wonderful Chaplains, Chappy Matt and Chappy Carmen, will be leading their first Community Chapel Service for our College. This special event will take place on Monday 10 March at 6:30pm at Hervey Bay Baptist Church and we warmly invite our community to come together in unity and shared love for God.

This is a wonderful opportunity to:

• Worship alongside your children and the school community.
• Hear a message of hope and encouragement.
• Reflect on the depth of God’s love.
• Connect with other families and school staff.

We would love to see you there as we join in faith, fellowship, and worship.

Harmony Day

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 on Friday 21 March, and we invite students to take part by wearing their cultural dress 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!

Come and Support Our Barracudas!

Our Barracudas are set to play their first game of the Broncos Challenge on Wednesday 12 March, at Stafford Park on Bideford Street. Games kick off from 4:00PM, and we would love to see our community come together to cheer them on!

Enjoy a Sausage Sizzle and the chance to win an Indigenous jersey giveaway. Our Drum Corps will make sure 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!

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:

May all our students and families have a wonderful fortnight. May we be united by our love for our children and the love of Christ that bonds our Bayside community.

John 13:34-35:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

May God watch over us and continue to guide us as a community grounded in peace.

Edelle Broadhurst
Deputy Principal

School Captains’ Breakfast

On Wednesday, 26 February, George, Jack, Katelyn and I, accompanied by Mrs Taylor, had the privilege of being invited to the Hervey Bay School Captains Breakfast at Urangan State High School. This was a great opportunity to be able to network and connect with like-minded students from Hervey Bay and share our aspirations for next year, whilst enjoying a meal together.

We had the privilege of receiving valuable input from the Mayor, Cr. George Seymour, about leadership, public speaking and working as a team. As the next generation, we were able to learn and to share our opinions about events on the Fraser Coast and about creating more sustainable schools. We thoroughly enjoyed this valuable opportunity and hope to be able to attend many more of these networking events throughout the year.
Mason Rodda
College Vice Captain

Music Update

In the Year 7/8 Video Game Unit, students are composing video game music using Chrome Music Lab, creating character profiles and game overviews, and performing snippets of video game soundtracks while learning to play diatonic instruments and understand musical concepts. Meanwhile, Year 9/10 students are exploring Indonesian Gamelan music by learning to play, notate, and analyse its elements, creating compositions with MuseScore, and incorporating Gamelan notes in the slendro scale. The choir is also busy improving their breathing, tone control, and expanding their vocal range with “This Little Light of Mine.”

Join our Run/Fit Club!

Run/Fit Club meets every Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM on the big oval, where we take part in activities to improve our cardiovascular fitness. We are focusing on interval training and bodyweight exercises to help build strength, endurance, and stamina. Our big goal is for all students to participate in a Park Run towards the middle of the year! Regular exercise is great for kids because it helps improve energy levels, concentration, and overall health, while also being lots of fun!

Message from Head of English/ Languages

It has been a big start to the year for the English faculty as we embrace a number of exciting changes. Firstly, some changes to the English Faculty Team, as we welcome the fresh faces of Mrs Gemma Boucher and Mrs Donna Colquhoun. Mrs Boucher brings a lot of energy to the space and utilises her background in Drama and Music to create fun and engaging Year 9 English lessons. Mrs Colquhoun is a familiar face whom many of our Year 7 and 8 students will recognise as their Year 6 teacher from the past few years. She has made the switch to our English Faculty Team and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and understanding of curriculum, but also a deep care and already established relationship with our students that is invaluable.

Now, to the classrooms! Reading is the primary focus across 7-10 to start 2025, so break out your bookmarks and night-lights!

Year 7 English

7 English are diving into a novel study on Louis Sachar’s Holes. Always a favourite, this book delves into themes of friendship, kindness vs cruelty, and the idea of fate vs cause and effect. Students will develop their analysis of the way stories are constructed and presented to teach us in an entertaining way, and they will demonstrate this learning in the form of an analytical essay.

Year 8 English

8 English are stepping through their wardrobes into the world of Narnia in our novel study of C.S Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Students will learn about the power of allegory and symbolism and how these can be used to teach us moral lessons through the medium of narrative. Students will analyse and unpack these moral lessons in the form of an analytical essay.

Year 9 English

9 English are focusing on the art of short story writing. Students will read a suite of selected short stories from a range of authors and unpack the dos and don’ts of writing in this medium. They will then work through the ‘7 Steps to Writing Success’ to further improve their own writing, and demonstrate what they have learned in the form of their own short story narrative.

Year 10 English

10 English are delving into dystopian fiction through their novel study of Ray Bradbury’s Farenheit 451. We unpack the ways that dystopian fiction can present “what if” scenarios that reflect on our own world and analyse how a story published over 70 years ago can still feel so relevant. Students will present their findings in the form of a persuasive presentation, supported by analysis of the book.

Senior English

Year 11 English is very rooted in the real world this term. 11 Essential are focusing on workplace language and effective communication, demonstrating their growing confidence and expertise in the form of a TEDTalk-style presentation. 11 General are looking into biopics, with a focus on big historical movements in civil rights. Students are unpacking two films, Mabo and Hidden Figures, and looking into how the medium of the biopic is used not only to entertain, but to inform. Students will demonstrate their understanding in the form of a multi-modal presentation.

Year 12 English continue to charge through their final year of schooling. 12 Essential are deep in preparation for their common internal assessment, which focusses on the concept of ‘City Living vs Country Living’ and how these are represented in various media. 12 General are reading Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and reflecting on how Miller’s original use of the Salem witch trials as a warning about the “Red Scare” in the 40s and 50s, and the dangers of baseless accusations, can also be applied to current day issues with “cancel culture” and online info-wars. 12 Literature are bolstering their understanding of poetry and how to analyse for deeper meaning, then presenting their interpretations in the form of a creative spoken.

Languages

2025 has also brought some big changes in the Languages space. Years 1-4 will continue to progress in Auslan under the leadership of Mrs Amanda Mulder.

However, from Year 5 through to Year 9 (with opportunities to continue into Year 10 in our Language Elective), our focus now shifts to Spanish. Bayside is excited to partner with Meg. Languages and their online Journeys platform to provide students with excellent opportunities for engaging and self-paced language learning. The Journeys platform provides students with video lessons, interactive revision activities, and even educational games that really bring the fun to learning a new language.

Conclusion

It has been a busy but energising start to 2025 for the English and Languages Faculty, with students across all year levels hitting the ground running, ready to strive and thrive in 2025. We look forward to continuing to progress and grow as a faculty and a school as we work to empower life-long learners.

Mr Owen Whittaker
Head of English and Languages

Secondary Swimming Carnival: A Splashing Success!

Under the bright sunshine on Friday, February 28, our secondary students plunged into a day of aquatic excitement at the annual swimming carnival. The pool buzzed with energy as students competed in a variety of events, from spirited novelty races to intense swimming contests. The boat races brought an extra dose of chaos and fun, with teams paddling furiously to secure victory. Adding to the excitement, our enthusiastic staff joined in, earning valuable house points in every novelty race they participated in.

The novelty races welcomed students of all swimming abilities, transforming the event into a true celebration of inclusivity and fun. The House Spirit competition at lunchtime saw Johnston House roar to victory with their enthusiastic cheers. This year also marked a record number of students winning best-dressed awards, with Kara Jacobs, Damon Smith, Emme Nienhuis, Jack Montague-Elliot, Mia-Bella Sainsbury, Katelyn Juffs, Isabella Howells, and Charlie Whitmore-Lawrence all earning points for their houses —congratulations to these students!

With the highest participation rate to date, the carnival showcased students pushing their limits, embracing the challenge, and creating lasting memories. Chisholm House emerged as the overall champion, dominating across various events. A huge congratulations to all age champions and runners-up on their outstanding achievements!

Secondary Swimming Carnival: Age Champions and Runner up

House Results

Sport and Recreation – Bayside Fun Fest Carnival

Students in Sport and Recreation have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming Bayside Fun Fest Carnival on Saturday, March 29. As part of their Event Management Unit, they have been actively involved in the planning and coordination of engaging games and activities designed for families to enjoy throughout the day. This unit allows students to explore key aspects of event management, including logistics, resource allocation, and participant engagement, giving them valuable hands-on experience in organising a community event.

From interactive sports challenges to fun recreational activities, students have carefully selected and structured each element to ensure a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for all ages. Their work not only contributes to the success of the carnival but also provides them with essential teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. With their dedication and enthusiasm, the event is shaping up to be an exciting and memorable experience for the entire community.

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating the students’ efforts in bringing this fantastic event to life!

Junior School Art

I cannot believe that we are already in Week 5! What an amazing start to the year we have had.  Year 1’s and 2’s are creating artworks that use Matt Cosgrove books “Macca the Alpaca” “Dharma the llama” as reference for their art making. We have examined patterns, expressions, light reflections, and colour. The students have enjoyed using a variety of media and are becoming familiar with observing shape.

Year 3 and 4 are examining the work of Indigenous artists and the varying styles employed across the country. From X-ray art, to stencilling and learning the narratives for creation and living in community, students are creating artworks that use features and characteristics of each style.

Year 5 is working with a sea or marine theme this term. They will be using a variety of different media to create artworks and are exploring the techniques to achieve intentional effects. Students are encouraged to add their own unique art style to their work.

Year 6 are learning sketching techniques and learning to observe tone and value within their work. A variety of exercises and processes assist them to observes the variation in tones within their reference images. They are building a portfolio of work that explore tone.

Year 7 to 10 Visual Art

This term Year 7 and 8 are exploring masks in various cultures.  They will examine the features and characteristics of the masks and their purpose within the culture. Students are learning a variety of mask making techniques as part of this unit and have created two different masks so far this term. One using paper, cardboard, and foil and the other using clay. Students will learn a variety of different approaches to creating mask.

Year 9 and 10 are completing a unit of work for this year Fraser Coast Show. The theme for this year’s show is “Our Rich History”.  Students are unpacking the theme, creating and designing ideas, and practicing their art making, in order to complete a resolved artwork for the show. 

Sponsors Receive Indigenous Jerseys

Two of our generous jersey sponsors, Bespoke Accomodation Services and Wittemans Fabrication , were given their jerseys on Monday. The Barracudas thank them for their continued support!

Bayside Barracudas thank their Platinum Sponsor!

Year 12 Physics

Last week we started our projectile experiment. For our assessment we had to take an experiment we had already done in class and modify or improve it in some way.

Previously we had looked at how the range changed with the angle we fired our steel ball. Now we are keeping the angle the same and varying the speed to find the effect on the range.

Careful attention to safety was also part of our assessment.

While we enjoyed working together to problem solve and set up an experiment with minimal errors, then it was time to work independently to analyze, calculate and understand our results.

So far things look pleasingly accurate and in line with what our formulas predicted.

2025 Fraser Coast Career Showcase visits Bayside Christian College

On Tuesday, 18 February, our Year 10-12 students participated in an exciting opportunity to explore a wide range of tertiary education options and prepare for life after high school.

The engaging presentation and one-on-one interactions with representatives from Queensland universities, including UniSC, QUT, ACU, Griffith, UniSQ, CQU, UTAS, TAFE Queensland, and the Australian Defence Force, provided students with valuable insights, answered questions, and offered firsthand career market experience. It allowed students to gather information on various tertiary pathways, understand how to apply, learn about costs and accommodation options, and get tips on adapting to university life.

The session began with an engaging 30-minute presentation, followed by an opportunity for students to speak one-on-one with each Showcase representative.

Overall, the visit provided students with invaluable insights and comprehensive information about future education and career pathways.

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