Merit Awards, Demerits and Detentions
We are happy to share with our parents and carers the amazing number of merit awards received by our students over the first four weeks of school.
The effort put in by many of our students in their classes and with their homework has been very pleasing. We celebrated the students who received multiple awards at the assembly last week and introduced a level system with certificates and recognition at assemblies and newsletters. Keep your eye out for developments in this space throughout the term.
Similarly, the small number of demerits has been very pleasing also. We remind the students and parents that the types of behaviours that will result in a demerit include not having a hat, being caught with a mobile phone, chewing gum, not having a blazer at Chapel and Assembly, being rude or disrespectful to staff, unkindness to others, swearing, vandalism of school property, truancy, etc.
Further details of our expectations for students can be found in the student diary/journal and in the Student/Parent Handbook. Where a student has been issued three demerits in a two-week period, an after-school detention will be issued. In 2025, these will take place on a Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Students with their parents will be required to sort out the logistics of getting home from school after a detention. The late buses provided by the College may be useful in many circumstances for students out of Bathurst.
NAPLAN
Next week our Year 7 and 9 students commence their NAPLAN testing. Students will do these in the Bulkeley House Exam Room. Students will need fully charged laptops and headphones (we will have some wired ones to lend students) for the tests. A schedule of the tests will be shared with the students. If a student misses a test, they can be caught up during the testing window. We encourage our students to do their best on the tests and to take their time with them. The data is very useful for our teachers and learning support staff to best support our students with their learning needs.
SRC Representatives for 2025
We are proud to announce our SRC Representatives for 2025 and thank our Vice Captains, Deliah and Patrick, for their work in organising the nominations, elections and interviews. We have met with the new SRC students to talk about the projects and initiatives for the SRC this year and look forward to our next assembly, where we will present the students with their SRC Badges. We congratulate and thank the following students for being willing to serve.
Year 7 – Felix Betts, Juliet Erickson, Amelia Guihot
Year 8 – Oliver Cumming, Clara Klootwijk, Tara Matthews
Year 9 – Anmol Dhanda, Claire Granger, Archie Maclean
Year 10 – Zoe Boss-Walker, Mary Romanous, Matthew Slater
Year 11 – Lacey Booth, Leo Klonis, Laura Moorhead
Year 12 – Sam Brown, Millie Francis, Claire Thomas
Vaping
Reports from local authorities suggest that vaping (e-cigarettes) is sadly on the rise in the Bathurst community. The local black-market supply seems to have recovered, and access has become easier. We know that sometimes young people are inquisitive about such things and can be easily tempted. There will be no leniency spared for students caught with vapes at our school.
They are illegal and not welcome. There are some great resources for parents available. Below is an extract from QUIT and a link to the website about how parents can start the conversation about vapes with their children. We encourage you to not only keep your eyes and nose out for signs of use but also to have a conversation with your children about the dangers of them.
How Do I Know My Child Is Vaping?
The easiest way to detect e-cigarette use is if there is an unexpected smell in the air from e-cigarette flavouring. Teens tend to use fruit or sweet flavours, so this scent is usually sweet. E-cigarettes come in flavours like fruit punch, fairy floss, chocolate milk and cola ice to make them palatable.
Some children use large amounts of spray-on deodorant to mask the smell of vaping.
If your child is irritable after 45-50 minutes of being in a situation where they cannot vape, they might be exhibiting signs of nicotine addiction.
https://www.vapingfacts.org.au/start-the-conversation
Upcoming Senior School Events
12-21 March: NAPLAN – Years 7 and 9
31 March – 4 April: Year 9 Camp
Mr Justin Adams
Head of Senior School
Lost property
Can parents please check their child’s room and school bag for items of lost property.
Some items have gone missing at school, and they can’t be tracked down.
If your child has accidentally picked up a blazer or hat at school and taken it home, can you please organise for them to bring it back?
These can be handed into the front office.
Please also make sure all items you have purchased are labelled with your child’s name so they can be returned to you.
Australian Youth Space Academy
Scots All Saints College has been lucky enough to secure Matt Dodds and his team from the Australian Youth Space Academy on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 March. On these days, workshops will be available for students on Rocketry and Star Gazing. Further information has been sent through Operoo.
Bonjour Bathurst Investigates
What Do the French Eat for Breakfast?
As Term 1 begins, the Bonjour Bathurst team hit the playground with an important mission – uncovering what students at our school think the French take for breakfast. They interviewed students from all year levels to get their take on the most important meal of the day.
The results? A delightful mix of logic and creative guesswork.
“Croissants and coffee—everyone knows that!” declared one confident Year 10.
“Definitely something fancy, maybe with cheese and pastries?” mused a thoughtful Year 11.
“Do they even eat breakfast, or just sip espresso and look chic?” wondered a Year 9 student.
Thankfully, the Bonjour Bathurst team set the record straight – while croissants and coffee are indeed popular, the French breakfast is often a simple affair of a fresh baguette, butter or jam, and a warm drink. No extravagant feasts, no towering plates of eggs and bacon, just a light and delicious start to the day.
With one culinary mystery solved, the Bonjour Bathurst reporters are already planning their next big investigation. Stay tuned!
Bonne Journée
from the Bonjour Bathurst Team
Click HERE to watch video
