This week's Principal's Message from Mr David Johnston

 
Catholic School Parents South Australia – Parenting Conference

Stronger Families: A Positive Parenting Conference

Presenters include: Maggie Dent, Wayne Holdsworth, Greg Attwells, and Madhavi Nawana Parker

Date: Saturday, August 16, from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm

Venue: The Sanctuary, Adelaide Zoo

Cost: $25 including lunch

Join us for a powerful day of insight, support, and community connection – featuring four inspiring speakers who are helping families navigate the challenges of raising resilient teens in today’s world.

Maggie Dent – Calming Teen Stress and Anxiety. Discover how stress and anxiety, when understood and managed, can become strengths. Maggie will share practical tools to help teens – and those who care for them – cope in healthy, empowering ways.

Wayne Holdsworth – Start a Conversation Now. After the heartbreaking loss of his son Mac, Wayne founded SmackTalk to raise awareness of suicide and online exploitation. His moving presentation is a call to action for all of us to listen, support, and protect our youth.

Greg Attwells – You Can’t Out-Parent an Algorithm. Greg exposes how social media is designed to shape teen behaviour – and how families, schools, and faith communities can respond. He’ll break down the upcoming law to raise social media access to age 16 in Australia, and what parents need to know before November 2025.

Madhavi Nawana Parker – Self-Regulation: Staying Connected, Calm and Influential in Your Child’s Life.  Learn simple, evidence-based tools to stay grounded while guiding your children through emotional ups and downs – especially in the digital age.

More info or group bookings: trish.jarvis@cspsa.catholic.edu.au

Last year’s tickets sold out – don’t miss out this time.

Mr Cameron Alexander
Executive Deputy Principal

 
This week, I have been meeting individually with each member of the Senior Campus Leadership Team (SCLT) to review our progress on the Annual Improvement Plan (AIP). Only two acronyms, I promise! In short, at the end of each year, the SCLT spend a day together planning and identifying goals for the following year that operationalise the College’s Strategic Plan. At the 6-month mark, we review our progress. It may sound like a lot of administrative mumbo jumbo, but the point of this exercise is to ensure we are in a constant state of improvement that is strategic and thought out, not impulsive or reactive. We do not fall into the trap of “doing things the same as last year”. However, we are cognizant not to throw the baby out with the bathwater and change things just for the sake of change. Essentially, it is adding minor tweaks and improvements that add value. While we are only doing the halfway check, I am grateful for the SCLT in all their contributions and how they lead their respective teams and portfolios. In the review, we have already achieved some goals that include:

• Increasing student and community engagement with local charities, parents, and transition
• Improvements to the Rite Journey events and transition into High School (look at how happy the Year 7s are!)
• Increased representation and opportunities within the Performing Arts
• tracking and responding to learning outcomes by identifying students at risk and providing support or specialised programs

The above are just a few examples; there is still much of the AIP to complete. However, genuine improvement and progress are always strategic and granular.

2026 Enrolments

Our Year 11s and Year 10s are almost complete in selecting their subjects for 2026. The rest of the campus will be invited to engage with this process shortly. It is an essential time for the boys and the College as we begin putting the infrastructure in place for next year.

As we are committed to class sizes below 25 and limiting cohort sizes to avoid overcrowding, it is worth noting that the Senior Campus is reaching capacity for 2026. There are a few Year Levels that have waiting lists. This is an excellent problem. However, if your son is not returning to CBC next year, please notify either his Head of House or the College registrar. Depending on the Year Level, this may open an opportunity for another young man. 

Congratulations and Good Luck

Finally, good luck to all the boys participating in co-curricular events and finals over the next fortnight. Firstly, to all the young men performing and supporting the play Journey’s End… break a leg. Secondly, and indeed no breaking anything, good luck to our Open A and Middle A Basketball teams in their respective semi-finals tomorrow and our First XI Soccer team in the Division 1 Grand Final next week.

Dr Lee Del Col
Deputy Principal – Head of Senior Campus

 
This week, many of our boys enthusiastically took part in the diverse range of Art Week activities offered each lunchtime. We kicked off the week with scissor art inspired by the bold, colourful works of Henri Matisse. On Tuesday, the creative energy continued as students recreated Monet’s iconic water lilies, immersing themselves in impressionist techniques. Wednesday was a clear favourite, with boys designing and crafting their own badges using our brand-new badge maker—an activity that sparked both excitement and originality. On Thursday, students explored the fascinating world of optical illusions, challenging their perception through clever artistic techniques. We rounded out the week on Friday with artwork inspired by the geometric style of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, ending Art Week on a vibrant and imaginative note. Thank you to all the staff who assisted throughout the week – your help was greatly appreciated.

Art Week Activities

On Saturday 2 August, while visiting some of the soccer matches and the Year 4, 5, and 6 football games, it was truly heart-warming to see so many families on the sidelines, cheering on their sons and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere that school sport brings. A sincere thank you to everyone I caught up with over the weekend – it’s always a joy to see our community come together, even on these chilly winter mornings, to support and celebrate the sportsmanship on display. With only a few weeks remaining in the Term 3 sports season, please remember to inform someone from your team if your son is unable to play, so we can keep coaches informed. A big thank you also goes to our dedicated coaches and staff who support and attend the games each week.

This week, on Thursday 7 August, we had the privilege of being captivated by Mr John Santini from the Senior Campus, along with a group of enthusiastic Senior Campus students, who delivered an engaging and informative session on the night sky and stargazing. Their presentation not only sparked curiosity but also served as a brilliant launch to our Science Week celebrations, which officially begin on Monday, 11th August. It was a fantastic way to ignite excitement and wonder as we prepare for a week dedicated to scientific exploration and discovery. Thank you to all the families who came along to this event.

Stargazing at the Senior Campus

Some of the exciting lunchtime activities we have planned include building marshmallow launchers, making slime, exploring the science behind lightning, and experimenting with colour absorption.

Cross Country

On Wednesday 6 August, CBC Primary proudly participated in the annual SACPSSA Cross Country Carnival, fielding our biggest team yet with 34 boys from Year 3 to Year 6. Despite early morning rain making the 2km course slippery and muddy, our students approached the challenge with enthusiasm, determination, and true CBC spirit.

With a large number of schools competing and each race having almost 200 individual participants, the atmosphere was busy and very competitive. Our boys showed great determination and resilience as they navigated the tricky terrain, giving their best efforts from start to finish.

It was awesome to see such strong participation across all year levels, with every runner representing the school with pride.

A huge well done to all who took part – your teamwork and effort should be recognised!

Junior School students participate in the Cross Country

Thank You!

On behalf of the P&F Association, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you for your generous support in response to our request for home-baked cakes and goodies for the cross-country carnival fundraiser held on Wednesday, 6 August 2025.

We were truly overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and generosity shown by our wonderful community. Your contributions helped make the day a great success, and your support means so much to us all.

For those who asked for recipes (and we know there were quite a few!), We’re happy to share two favourites that were an absolute hit at the stall. Why not try one over the weekend?

 

Delicious chocolate brownies

Ingredients:

• 200g unsalted butter.
• 200g dark chocolate chips
• One cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Half cup (75g )plain flour
• 1/4 cup (30g) cacao powder
• Pinch of salt.
• Optional: 180g dark chocolate block/bar, chopped

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking: 35 minutes at 180 degrees
Makes: 16 pieces

 

Classic Blondies

Ingredients:

• Half cup butter, melted
• One cup (220g) brown sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• One cup all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup 60g butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Makes: 16 pieces

We hope you enjoy baking and eating these treats as much as the students and community did!

Mrs Maria Guider
President, CBC Parents & Friends Association

Book Week - Week 5

Book an Adventure – Book Week is Coming!

Get ready to turn the page on an AMAZING adventure! Our annual Book Week celebration is just around the corner in Week 5, and this year's theme 'Book an Adventure' promises to be absolutely spectacular!

We are calling all pirates, princesses, superheroes, wizards, and every fantastic character in between to join us for a week of literary magic.

The Grand Book Week Parade – Friday 22 August

Mark your calendars because Friday, August 22nd will be the highlight of our Book Week celebrations! Our school will transform into a living, breathing story book as students parade in their amazing costumes. Throughout the week, students will also explore the CBCA shortlist books and immerse themselves in the pure joy of reading through exciting classroom activities and adventures.

Costume Tips

Don't stress about creating the perfect costume! Sometimes the most creative outfits come from your imagination and what's already at home. A simple cape makes you a superhero, a cardboard sword turns you into a brave knight, and face paint can transform you into any character you dream up!

Book Week celebrates the incredible power of stories to transport us anywhere our imaginations can go. So dust off your favourite book, start planning that amazing costume, and get ready for an adventure!

Can't wait to see all our amazing literary characters come to life on 22 August!

The adventure begins soon... are you ready?

Kids Helpline@School: Building Student Wellbeing

As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, students in Years 2–6 are participating in live, interactive workshops through the Kids Helpline @ School program. These sessions are delivered by professional counsellors and are designed to equip students with age-appropriate strategies to support their mental and emotional well-being.

So far, our Year 2 and Year 3 students have taken part in the program, exploring the topics of Developing Resilience and Balancing Your Tech Time. The sessions were engaging, thoughtful, and provided practical tools that students can use in their daily lives. Both year levels responded with maturity and curiosity.

We now look forward to the upcoming sessions for the remaining year levels:

• Year 4 – Gaming and Your Brain
  Monday Week 4 – 11 August 2025 | 9:30–10:30 am
• Year 6 – Transition to High School
  Tuesday Week 4 – 12 August 2025 | 2:00–3:00 pm
• Year 5 – Unlocking Your Inner Leader
  Thursday Week 6 – 21 August 2025 | 2:00–3:00 pm

Thank you to our staff and students for their participation so far – and we look forward to continuing this important learning in the coming weeks.

Upcoming Events:

• Monday 11 – 15 August – Science Week at the JC
• Friday 15 August – Assumption of Mary / College Birthday
• Friday 22 August – Assembly at 9 am and Book Week Parade

Mrs Alison Ronoastro
Head of Junior Campus

 
Homelessness and Walk-A-Mile Community Event

This week during pastoral care, students debunked the myths around homelessness in the lead up to the annual ‘Walk-A-Mile’ event to raise funds for our very local charity The Hutt St Centre. This is a charity very close to our hearts and ongoing support from CBC is an important facet to actively living Catholic Social Teachings. Understanding and supporting those at the margins is the ethos of Edmund Rice Education and seeing so many of our young men support this cause without prompting makes us truly proud of the ‘Purple and White’. Well done all who braved the cold and very early start on Friday 8 August.

Leadership launch and process

In the cyclical nature of the beast that is College life, we also launched this week, the application process for the 2026 Student Prefects. The future leaders were challenged to embrace the words and theories of Brené Brown and 'Be Brave' with their approach to leadership and involvement in making CBC a wonderful community where learning, growth and belonging can thrive.  A summary of the process is below:

Application process

• Applications distributed at Year 11-year level meeting, Friday 8/8/25 (week 3)
• Apply by 4pm Thursday 14/8/25 (Week 4)
• Interview with Principal/Deputy or HOH, depending upon position applied for – weeks 6 and 7
• Voting (peers and staff) (Week 9)
• Leaders named informed (Week 9/10)
• Presented at Assembly Friday 26/9/25 (Week 10)

Uniform Matters

Mobile phones and bag reminders

It has been great to see most students comply with the school and laptop bag expectations which have now been part of the school uniform code for a number of years. However, attention is once again needed to ensure that black ‘backpacks’ with sporting logos are not used on a daily basis and laptop bags are used instead.

Hoodies

With the cold mornings, students are often tempted to wear a ‘hoodie’ to and from school. This is not part of the uniform policy. Students are directed to wear undergarments that keep you warm but cannot be seen. Anaconda, for example, has some great ‘thermals’ which can keep you nice and toasty without detracting from the beautiful purple blazer! With the winter uniform, the grey jumper can be worn, remembering black leather shoes and no sneakers!

Jewellery

For safety and uniformity, we have specific guidelines for jewellery. The following jewellery can be worn:

• A medical alert bracelet and/or necklace which must be worn at all times.
• Watch.
• A necklace that sits below the top button of the shirt with or without an acceptable religious icon attached.

Earrings

Clear stud earrings are permitted. Diamond earrings are not permitted. They can pose a safety risk during physical activities.

Formal events

CBC requires students to wear full uniform to formal school events, such as Assemblies and sporting events. Students are always repeatedly reminded prior to such events at House assemblies, PC lessons and the notices. Students and parents are also direct messaged before formal events. The next formal event in the College birthday on Friday 15 August. So, make sure you represent the College by wearing your full winter uniform with pride! As always, if there is an issue with uniform, please communicate this to either me, your PC teacher or Head of House.

Name on Uniform

One other thing to note, particularly for our Middle School students, is to remember to write your name on your uniform. The Front Office currently has a plethora of uniform which is unclaimed lost property, due to the fact that it cannot be identified and returned to its rightful owner!  Name it and claim it!

Ms Debra Withers
Director of Students

From the Middle School

Celebrating Connection and Community: A Term of Memorable Events

This term has been filled with meaningful opportunities to connect, celebrate, and grow as a community.

We are delighted to share the success of the recent Year 8/9 Purple and White Social, which was a fantastic evening of energy, fun, and community spirit. Our students embraced the event with enthusiasm and conducted themselves with maturity and respect throughout the event. Thank you to the staff and student leaders who helped organise and supervise the evening, and to all who contributed to creating a positive and inclusive experience for our boys.

We also recently hosted a highly successful ‘Evening at the Senior Campus’ for current Year 6 families. With over 30 families in attendance, the evening provided valuable insight into the exciting journey ahead for their sons in 2026. The presentation outlined the transition program, academic and well-being support structures, and opportunities at the Senior Campus. Families then participated in guided tours of the campus to experience the learning environment and facilities first-hand. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this critical step in the transition process.

Looking ahead, we are excited to invite Year 7 students and their fathers or male mentors to our upcoming Father/Son Evening on Wednesday, 27 August, in the Senior Campus Gym. This event offers a meaningful opportunity to strengthen the father-son bond through conversation, reflection, and shared experiences. Fathers are asked to bring an item of significance from their childhood to share with their son during the evening. The session will run from 6:30 pm to 7.45 pm and we strongly encourage attendance at this special event.

Please RSVP using the link below by Monday 25 August.

Thank you to all families for your ongoing support as we build a strong, connected, and supportive community.

Mr Riley Atkinson
Assistant Director of Students (Middle School & Transition)

INSIDE CBC Issue 5 Now Available!

Click to Read Now

 
Feast of the Assumption and College Birthday – Friday 15 August

On Friday 15 August, 2025 the College will be celebrate the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady, which honours the life and devotion of Mary, the Mother and first disciple of Jesus. Fittingly, we also celebrate our (147th) birthday as a college, where the foundation stone of Christian Brothers College was first laid on 15 August, 1878.

In our tradition, it is believed that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken up into heaven, both body and soul. Mary is honoured and respected globally, across various religions and cultures, for her universal spiritual motherhood. As a school in the Edmund Rice tradition, we hold a special devotion to Mary and strive to impart this to our students, rooted in our four College Values and Touchstones.

Classes will proceed as normal in the morning on both the Junior and Senior Campuses. The entire College will then celebrate the Feast of the Assumption with a Mass in the Senior Campus Gymnasium at 12:45pm, followed by an alternative schedule of activities for the rest of the afternoon. All students and staff will also be given a birthday sweet treat (donut) as part of the celebrations.

All students are expected to be in attendance for this whole school event, presenting in full Winter Uniform for the day. Blazers are to be worn to Mass for all students. The Canteen will be open as usual, with slightly altered timings.

We look forward to a fantastic celebration as a whole school community.

Walking the Final Mile

Well done to the 90-plus CBC students and staff from our Junior and Senior Campuses who took part in Friday morning’s Hutt Street Centre Walk a Mile in My Boots event.

Thank you also to those who cheered us on or contributed generously to support people doing it tough in South Australia. Together, we doubled our fundraising goal, raising over $2,000 to help the Hutt Street Centre continue their vital work. It was a fantastic morning to walk in solidarity, alongside thousands of people from around the state.

As Mary T Lathrap reminds us in her poem Walk a Mile in His Moccasins:

'Remember to walk a mile in his moccasins
And remember the lessons of humanity taught to you by your elders.
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave
In other people’s lives, our kindnesses and generosity.
Take the time to walk a mile in his moccasins.'

Weekly Community Masses

Held each Wednesday in the Senior Campus Chapel, and on the first Friday of each month in the Junior Campus Chapel. All CBC students, families and staff are warmly welcome to attend any or all of these.

Mr Anthony Callisto
Director of Identity and Mission

 
Intercol – Chess and Debating

Congratulations to all senior chess players and debaters involved in this week’s Intercol competition, based here at CBC.

The chess team came back from 0-2 down to take the trophy 3-2. This is the first Intercol victory since our resident chess supremo Mr Sebastian Stenchlik won as chess captain in Year 12. Congratulations to Alexander Horlin-Smith, Jas Stewart, Sze-Yong Koh-Buckland, Mohamed Zaghwan and Maher Kenaan on their triumph.

Our Senior Debating team – Will Burke, Angus Costello and Elias Cleland, ably assisted by Chairman Zack Zerella, prepared a brilliant case and spoke spectacularly. Ultimately, and unfortunately, they were unsuccessful, but the nearly packed out wave of purple in Walsh were all justifiably proud of them.

Music

• Week 4: ABODA Band Festival – Concert Band Wednesday; Big Band 1 Friday
  Feast of the Assumption Mass – Vocal Project, Friday
• Week 6: Voices of Adelaide Workshop – Vocal Ensemble, Thursday

Limited Tickets Selling Fast!  Don't Miss out!

https://events.humanitix.com/cbc-presents-journeys-end

Sneak peek showing and dress rehearsal
CBC Theatre – 3pm, Sunday 10 August

As always, questions can be sent through to me at any time.

Ms Alexandra Khafagi
Director of Performing Arts