In this issue
Important Dates
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Date |
Event |
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25 September |
Year 12 Assembly and last day of Term 3 |
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12 October |
Home Study Day |
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13 October |
Students commence Term 4 |
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14 October |
Leadership Assembly |
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19 October |
P&F Meeting |
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21 October |
Year 12 Mass & Graduation |
Principal's Report
As we reach the end of Term 3, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of our students and staff throughout what has been another busy and productive term.
A special mention must go to our Year 12 students, who have now concluded their final weeks of formal classes at Bunbury Catholic College. This is a significant milestone in their educational journey as they transition into the next phase of their studies, including Trial Examinations and preparations for their final assessments. We are incredibly proud of their commitment, resilience and contribution to College life over the years and look forward to celebrating their achievements at our Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday 21 October.
Our 2027 Student Leadership interviews have recently taken place, and I would like to commend all students who nominated themselves for leadership positions. The calibre of applicants was exceptional, and we thank each student for their willingness to serve our College community. We look forward to announcing the successful candidates at our Leadership Assembly on Wednesday 14 October.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our dedicated staff for their professionalism, support and commitment to the students in their care. Their efforts continue to enrich the learning experiences and opportunities available to all members of our College community.
As Term 3 concludes, I wish all students and families a safe, restful and enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to welcoming students back for the commencement of Term 4 on Tuesday 13 October, refreshed and ready for the final term of the year.
Thank you for your continued support of Bunbury Catholic College, and I wish you all a wonderful holiday break.
Ben PriestPrincipal
Endeavour Awards
The Endeavour Awards recognise students who consistently demonstrate effort, commitment and a positive attitude towards their learning.
These awards celebrate students who apply themselves diligently in class, persevere through challenges and strive to achieve their personal best.
By acknowledging effort and application, the Endeavour Awards reinforce the importance of growth, resilience and a strong work ethic as key foundations for success.
Ministry and Pastoral Care
Winter Sleepout Donations
Our Year 11 students chose to experience a cold August night sleeping rough so they could gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing people experiencing homelessness, while also collecting donations for two local charities supported by the College.
Christian Service Learning Coordinator Michael Chappell said that with support from every class, our students were able to make valuable donations to:
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The St Vincent de Paul Society, happily received by Mick Dixon and Keiran Noonan; and
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Pregnancy Assistance Bunbury, warmly accepted by Janet Mazza.
Red Frogs
Thank you to Bree Kininmonth from Red Frogs Australia who made a presentation to our Year 12 students.
The Red Frogs organisation encourages and empowers students to make positive choices within party environments, particularly during Leavers celebrations.
Bree’s key messages were: look after your mates, ask for help if you need it and have fun!
The Red Frogs Hotline number is 1300 557 123.
MADALAH Graduates
We are proud of our 2026 Year 12 Graduates who attended the MADALAH Graduation Dinner at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
First Nations Coordinator Ijah Coyle said that after six years of schooling at Bunbury Catholic College, Baylee Froome, Izhaak Amat, David Jones and Sean Woods were treated to a well-deserved dinner celebrating the last 12 years of dedication to education.
“Highlights of the dinner were the in-depth Welcome To Country followed by a cultural dance performance by graduating students of the program, with our very own Sean Woods joining in the performance,” he said.
“We wish our graduating MADALAH students nothing but success in their future, no matter what pathway they choose, and a wonderful life. Remember you will always be part of our family here at Bunbury Catholic College.”
Retreats
The Year 10 Retreat was a time of reflection, giving students the opportunity to better understand themselves, each other and their faith.
Our students were joined by special guest Hannah Taylor from the St Vincent de Paul Society, and together they explored concepts ranging from social justice to the Marist principle of love of work.
They joined in activities on the cost of living, understanding your place in the world and Ikigai, which translates to "a reason for being".
Year 11 students completed a pilgrimage, or camino, as the feature of their retreat.
Stopping at notable spots such as Wyalup-Rocky Point, the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery (the former Sisters of Mercy Convent) and St Patrick's Cathedral, our students had the opportunity to reflect on their path and the way of Mary.
Father’s Day Breakfast
Many of our Year 8 students brought their dads to school in the lead-up to Father’s Day on Sunday 6 September.
The Father’s Day Liturgy was a special occasion to enjoy a hearty breakfast, live music and games in the La Valla Sports Centre.
Year 9 Wellness Week
Looking after their own mental and physical health was the focus of the recent Year 9 Wellness Week.
This initiative was organised and run by the Year 9 Student Leadership Team with the aim of supporting students to develop their overall wellbeing.
Wellness Week activities included a scavenger hunt, mindful art and creating mandalas, selling cupcakes and a presentation from College Mental Health Practitioners.
The sports uniform day and cupcake decorating stall have raised $591 for the Caritas Nepal Emergency Appeal.
Matt Jackson
Head of Year 9
Learning Areas
Humanities - Ancient Worlds, Modern Minds
The past leaves clues — our students went looking for them.
Our Year 7 Humanities students have been getting hands-on with the past through their Ancient Civilisations artefact reproduction task. For a time, the Library was transformed into our very own museum, with the ancient world on display through an extraordinary collection of student-created artefacts.
From a school-safe samurai sword and a satsuma samurai kimono to a meditation book, a reproduction of the Titulus Crucis (Latin for ‘Title of the Cross’, the inscription placed at the top of the cross of Jesus Christ), and an impressive model of Pompeii before and after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the display showcased imagination and careful historical research.
Each artefact had its own story to tell. In examining these objects, students explored what they reveal about the people who created and used them — their beliefs, values, priorities and responses to the world around them.
Tanya Ferres
Head of Humanities
Geography in Action – Year 12 ATAR Perth Fieldwork
Our Year 12 ATAR Geography students put their study of Planning Sustainable Places into action when they swapped the classroom for the streets of Perth.
Beginning in the rapidly growing suburbs of Wellard and Bertram, students investigated urban expansion, population growth and the increasing demands placed on infrastructure and services.
A CAT bus trip to East Perth provided the opportunity to examine urban renewal and redevelopment, with students considering the social, economic and environmental challenges associated with inner-city growth.
The day finished at Karrinyup Shopping Centre, where students explored the role of major retail centres in servicing Perth’s expanding suburban population.
It was a fantastic opportunity to see Geography come to life — connecting classroom concepts with the changing urban landscape of our own capital city and gathering valuable fieldwork observations along the way.
Jason Schuttloffel
Humanities Teacher
Technologies Baking Challenge
Year 11 Food Science and Technology students put their baking skills to the test in an exciting Baking Challenge. Their task was to design and produce a café-style biscuit or cookie that showcased creativity, technical skill and an understanding of food science principles.
Students carefully selected ingredients, applied a range of processing methods and focused on achieving professional standards in presentation, flavour, texture and appearance. Throughout the challenge, they demonstrated excellent organisation, safe food handling practices and effective use of specialised kitchen equipment.
The results were impressive, with a variety of innovative and delicious café-quality creations produced. The challenge provided students with a valuable opportunity to combine theory with practical application while developing skills that are highly relevant to the food industry.
Congratulations to all students for their enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to producing high-quality baked products.
MaryAnne Ashby
Food Science and Technology Teacher
Iluka Visions
Our Visual Arts students have been busy experimenting with new techniques, exploring exciting themes and producing some incredible artworks.
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Year 7 students created flip books inspired by nature, while developing their understanding of the elements and principles of art through tonal drawing techniques.
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Year 8 Visual Arts students explored the vibrant world of Pop Art, creating colourful paintings of everyday food items inspired by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg.
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Year 8 Creative Clay students designed and sculpted Freaky Fish, inventing imaginative new species using ceramic construction techniques.
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Year 9 Visual Arts (3D) students investigated the theme 'Home is Where the Heart Is', creating meaningful ceramic sculptures that reflected their personal interpretations of home.
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Year 9 Visual Arts (2D) students drew inspiration from the fascinating world of insects, producing beautifully rendered pencil drawings before transforming them into vibrant mixed-media collages incorporating Art Deco-inspired pattern and design.
Congratulations to all our talented students on their creativity.
Brenda Della-Sale
Head of Arts
Student Spotlight
International Earth Science Olympiad
Year 12 student Mali Hart was part of the Australian team that contested the 2026 International Earth Science Olympiad in Italy, with some amazing results.
Mali won an individual gold medal, as well as a silver medal and bronze medal. Here’s what said about her experience and how it will influence her future beyond the College...
Reflecting on the past year, it is hard to believe how far this journey has taken me. It began back in January with a three-week summer school at Australian National University, followed by a formal blazer ceremony at Parliament House, and two weeks of intense geological fieldwork in New South Wales.
All of this preparation led me to Turin, Italy, for the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO), where I joined 160 students from 40 countries.
The competition was intense, involving around 15 hours of individual exams alongside hours of collaborative international projects, in which our efforts were rewarded with a bronze and silver medal.
It was an honour to work alongside such like-minded people from around the world, which made the struggle worth it in the end.
Individually, I was thrilled to win a gold medal. To top off an unforgettable year, ANU accepted my early offer, awarding me a maximum admission rank of 99.95 and a chance to receive a $15,000 scholarship as a result of the IESO gold medal.
I am so grateful for the support of the school community throughout this journey, particularly Dr Usher and Mrs Morris, who have shared my excitement every step of the way.
Tavian Tripp
Tavian Tripp in Year 10 was among the first group of teenagers to attend a WA Fire and Emergency Services (WAFES) Conference and be recognised as future emergency services leaders.
He is passionate about emergency services volunteering and recommends it for young people who want to open doors to opportunity.
Read Tavian’s article about his WAFES Conference experience here.
Luc Friedrich
AAFC 7 Wing Freedom of Entry Parade
More than 1,000 Western Australian Air Force Cadets were given Freedom of Entry to the City of Perth to mark the national AAFC's 85th anniversary — and one of them was Year 11 student Luc Friedrich.
Luc is the Warrant Officer for 710 Squadron in Bunbury. On 13 September, the parade marched along Barrack Street toward the Swan River before being halted by the Police Commissioner who granted the Freedom of Entry.
The march continued to Langley Park where the Lord Mayor of Perth inspected the parade.
Tylo Gitzel
Tylo Gitzel in Year 8 competed in the School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships held in Sydney from 14–17 September.
He ran 4kms in a time of 14.01 to finish 12th for his age group and 30th in the combined 14/15 Years Boys category.
Tylo then competed in a 2km time trial, finishing second in his age group and fifth overall. Well done!
Casey King
Casey King in Year 11 won a Silver Medal at the South West Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Busselton on 13 September.
The one-day Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event had more than 350 competitors aged from six years competing in matches throughout the day.
Congratulations Casey!
VET & Careers
WorldSkills
Year 11 student Finn McDonald is competing in the WorldSkills Carpentry competition at South Regional TAFE.
WorldSkills Australia promotes skills excellence and showcases the value of vocational education and training. It provides young people with opportunities to compete, challenge themselves and develop industry-relevant skills.
Operating on a two-year competition cycle, WorldSkills hosts more than 700 regional competitions across Australia, giving more than 6,000 apprentices, trainees and students the opportunity to test their skills and progress to the National Championships.
Finn is aiming to qualify for the WorldSkills Australia National Championships in Adelaide in 2027, where he will compete against Australia's best emerging tradespeople. We wish him all the best for the competition.
South West Career Expo
Join us as we mark 20 years of connecting students, caregivers and the South West community with career, education, training and employment opportunities across the region.
Date: Wednesday 5 May 2027
Venue: Bunbury Catholic College La Valla Sports Centre
Save the date and be part of this special milestone event. More details coming soon!
Sport
Elson Cup
The lunchtime indoor soccer competition known as the Elson Cup returned to the La Valla Sports Centre during Term 3.
Four Year 12 student teams and one teacher team competed over seven weeks, with congratulations going to the students in Staunch Up FC, who won the tournament undefeated.
College Vice Captain and competition organiser Liam Hackland said that, more than just a soccer tournament, the Elson Cup is a valued tradition and an important part of College history.
“A huge thank you to all the staff who refereed the games, especially Mr Chappell for organising the team of teachers,” Liam said. “It was great to see students and staff come together and enjoy this special College tradition.”
Madex Cup
The Madex Cup basketball competition is a chance for the Year 12 cohort to show off sporting abilities and play against all our favourite teachers.
The creation of the Madex Cup was inspired by the story of Jake Elson, who established the Elson Cup soccer competition which has run for 14 years.
The Madex Cup was played over seven lunchtimes during Term 3 leading up to the final game on 3 September and it did not come as a surprise when the Teachers were playing in the finals against Team 2, which is the team I was in.
The Teachers won the final game by 3 points, with a 23–20 score at the conclusion of the Madex Cup.
Bradley Madenyika
Year 12 Student Leadership Council member
Year 7 Enrolments for 2029
Year 7 2029 enrolment applications are now open
Families considering Bunbury Catholic College for secondary schooling are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible.
For further information, please visit: https://www.bunburycatholic.wa.edu.au/enrolments/enrolment-information/ or contact Enrolments on 9721 0000.
Alumni
Head to our website to update your details and view upcoming reunions here.
Email us: bcc.alumni@cewa.edu.au
Parents and Friends (P&F)
Thank you to the P&F for the recent donation of soccer goals and a trough and racking for Outdoor Education. We would love to see some new faces joining the Term 4 P&F meeting.
Date: 19 October at 6pm
Venue: The Administration Building
Community Notices
CSPA National Parent Survey
The Catholic School Parents Australia 2026 Parent Survey on Student Wellbeing and Learning is seeking the perspectives of parents/carers of one or more children who attend a Catholic School in Australia.
