Dear College Families
We began this term with Founders’ Day celebrations and the launch of the six Houses named after our Founding Families. Due to the games planned for students across the College and the need for strict duty of care, we were unable to make this an open event for families, but please see the link here of the video of the event which is also on our website for your viewing. It was such a fun morning with our Founders, students and staff and certainly gave rise to our theme for this year ‘gather to unite’. Thank you to all staff and the organising committee. Please enjoy the link below.
Heritage | South Coast Baptist College
This Term, we also implemented the opportunity to partner with FirstPoint USA which will enable students the option to gain future opportunities in the US post their graduation, should there be interest in studying overseas at a US University gaining entry through sporting prowess and academic capacity. This is one of the many offerings we have added to the opportunities in our full suite of preparations for post school. It is our aim to provide all students with a myriad of opportunities regardless of what pathway they wish to pursue, University, VET Australian Qualifications, apprenticeships, the workforce and networking into industry.
Congratulations to our students who gained recognition for their Art Awards at the Kwinana Industries Council Youth Art Awards. You would have seen photos of our students on our socials as they received due recognition for their exceptional talents and we were very proud of them.
Congratulations also to our ACC Interschool swimming teams who achieved exceptionally well at the Swimming Carnival. SCBC scored second place overall girls, first place overall boys, first place overall junior boys and were the runner-up Champion School. Well done to our swim squad.
Our new Microsoft devices have already proven compatibility with systems and the consistency is enabling a smoother connection for NAPLAN testing, greater digital capacity and a safer cyber environment. We hope students are enjoying using their new devices in secondary and as staff and students become more familiar with the capacities of the new devices the learning in the classroom will accelerate. Staff will be attending Microsoft professional learning sessions on staff day in Term 2 before students return, to continue being equipped for best practice teaching delivery using the devices.
On March 19 of the term, we were greatly honoured to host Mrs Darrilyn Dawson, wife of His Excellency, the Honourable Mr Christopher John Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia. Mrs Dawson is an award-winning experienced educator and was our special guest keynote speaker at the CSA Women in Leadership event held at SCBC. It was a pleasure to co-host the event with Ms Laurelle Cotto CSA WAEO and to welcome several women in leadership within Western Australia, to our College for the evening. We were all immensely proud of and thank our hospitality students who catered and managed the dinner for the event, Mr Craig Hywood our Chef and Foods Science Teacher, Ryder Meyerink’s for his talents with the piano, Grace Trimble whose remarkable voice touched our hearts as she sang ‘The Lord’s Prayer ‘ accompanied by Head Girl Joelina on electric guitar. Joelina’s prayer for the meal was straight from her beautiful heart. It was a meaningful and special occasion and thanks must also go to Kelly Clarke (EA), Linda Lee, Simone Vuyk and Laura Zapata of the Development Office for their superb organisation and attention to detail. We were very proud of our staff and student teams for the evening. Thank you to those parents who supported the event by allowing your child to be part of the occasion if they were part of the hospitality class. You would have been so proud of them!
As part of our work with external providers please note that the College does have at least 10 companies who are registered through MOUs with the College to offer health services to students with needs. Should families wish to apply for their chosen provider to work with their child who is not already registered with the College, it is important to realise that due to shortage of room availability which must first be used as teaching classrooms, it may not always be possible to provide spaces for providers to meet with students on site. Our duty of care practices are also very strict in this regard. However, if families wish to apply for their chosen provider, not registered with the College, to see their child, it will be important to apply for this access through the Business Office. In the first instance please speak to: For Secondary; The Head of Individualised Education (Tina Phizacklea) or, the Deputy for Wellbeing in Secondary (Alex King) or, Director Pastoral Care (Caroline Crowther). For Primary; The Deputy K-2 (Jo Gudgeon), or Deputy 3-6 (Michelle Horne), should you wish to apply to engage your chosen provider through our MOU expectations. Our team after discussing your concerns with you, will direct you to the Business office contact for the application process. Bookings can only occur pending room availability and all compliances met.
In order to ensure we are always improving safety standards for all areas of the College, we will be installing over the coming break an electronic automated lock at the front reception door into the College from 9am until the end of the day. There will be an identified buzzer for parents to ring during College hours at the College entry doors, and our friendly reception staff will electronically open the front doors for you. Our reception staff will gladly attend to families’ needs as you enter the main administration building. We do not wish this procedure for the safety of students and staff to be considered unfriendly nor inhospitable, nor is it the result of any reported threat. It is merely an added safety precaution in our compliances. We hope to have these instalments in place by start of Term 2.
In the first week of Term 2, I remind College families that we will be celebrating the 40th Birthday of the College on Open Day 30 April 4-7pm. Students will be dismissed from 12.00 noon after receiving a special treat for the 40th birthday. We thank the selected student leaders who will be helping staff to set up for the occasion. College Families and friends are very welcome to join in on the celebrations and we look forward to spending the time together as a community.
During weeks 2-5 of Term 2, and as part of my contract, I will be away on the east coast on a research trip visiting several schools, with the objective of bringing back ideas concerning solutions for rapid growth issues in schools. During this time away I wish to thank: Mr Anthony Moses who will step in as Acting Principal, Mrs Jo Gudgeon as Acting Head of Primary and Mrs Adele Hutton as the Acting Deputy K-2. I also thank Ms Laura Gibb and Ms Elise Kellett for taking on extra duties to free up Mrs Hutton and other subsequent operations.
Our Year 12 students will be enjoying their Year 12 Ball at the Pan Pacific at the end of this term and we wish them a joyous, celebratory and very memorable evening of elegance. I believe all staff attending have also been roped into a one-off special line dancing performance for students and hopefully we will be able to carry it off in style, such that students will be compelled to join in for fun for the one song. We look forward to spending the time with our students and hope that our Class of 2025 in the 40th Anniversary of the College will remember their graduating year as a special time in their personal history. They are a delightful group of students.
May blessings in the knowledge that Jesus our redeemer has given us the gift of his everlasting grace, be upon you as you enjoy the celebrations of Easter coming soon.
God bless
Dawn Clements
Principal