Mrs Kylie Cochran

Welcome

I would like to thank staff, students and the community for the warm welcome I have received during the past two weeks as I stepped into the role as Acting College Principal at Bentley Park College. Throughout my teaching career, I have worked across Queensland in Primary, Secondary and P-12 schools and I am looking forward to once again working in a College environment that offers both continuity of learning and positive pathways from Prep to Year 12.

In just the first two weeks, I am in awe of the depth of knowledge, expertise and innovation across the College, and as the term progresses, I am excited about visiting classes, chatting with students and learning more about the incredible work that takes place at Bentley Park College.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum with students completing assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The questions assess content linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Maths and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards in these areas.

This year, NAPLAN testing will take place from Wednesday 12 March through to Monday 24 March. Across the College, staff have worked in preparing students in NAPLAN readiness – understanding the type of questions, how to use the technology platform to complete the test along with time management skills associated with the tasks. I wish our students all the best as they enter into NAPLAN 2025 next week.

College Leaders' and Year 12 Induction

College Captains Jemma, Harrison, Able and Kyan hosted their first event last week – the College Leaders’ and Year 12 Induction. Primary Captains Ella and Lily, Junior Secondary Captains Emma-Jean, Lily, Heidi and Ongai also took the leaders’ pledge, along with other student leaders from Year 6 to 12.

Year 12 Coordinator, Mr Leon Wilcox, also inducted our Year 12 cohort as Seniors 2025. Following the ceremony, the traditional Year 12 group photo was captured, and this year a Year 6 cohort photo was also taken. Year 12s can order these will their school photos, which were also taken last week. Year 6s will be able to order these group photos with their school photos, which will be taken on Thursday 5 June. 

Our Secondary Concert Band, led by Ms Alannah Bowen, performed the national anthem and also Egyptique, composed by William Owens. 

Thank you to our parents, carers and family members for attending the Induction, as well as our special guests Mr Terry James, State Member for Mulgrave, local councillors Cr Matthew Tickner, Cr Cathy Zeiger, and  P&C Operations Manager Mrs Andrea Barnard; and from our local police, Senior Sergeant Glen De Lai. Thank you also to Woree State High School Principal, Mr Maurice Andrejic, and school captains for attending. 

We congratulate all our student leaders, and also the Year 12 cohort for reaching their final year of school, and look forward to a great 2025!

College Leaders' and Year 12 Induction

2024 College Dux

Congratulations to our 2024 College Dux, Hayley Storey. Hayley and her loved ones were guests of honour at our College Leaders’ and Year 12 Induction ceremony last week, where Hayley was presented with her hard-earned prize by Lion Peter Taifalos.

2024 College Captain Hayley Storey’s academic and leadership record is outstanding.

She achieved Gold Academic Awards throughout Secondary, as well as Citizenship Gold awards and numerous Top of Subject awards.

Hayley’s Senior academic program consisted of five General Subjects; English, Mathematical Methods, Chemistry, Biology and Physical Education, achieving an A in all five and placing top of subject in Chemistry and Physical Education.

Hayley was also awarded the JCU Shield in Years 10, 11 and 12 for achieving the highest results in her year, so it is no surprise she is here with us today.

She is the first Bentley Park College student to achieve the double – earning the Primary Dux Award in 2018, and now the ultimate award of College Dux in 2024.

We thank the Lions Club of Edmonton for the generous Dux prize of $400, and thank Lion Taifalos for attending the ceremony to present Hayley with her award.

We are incredibly proud of Hayley’s achievements, which has led her to study a Bachelor of Nursing at James Cook University from this year.

Hayley gave an inspirational address when accepting her award, and was kind enough to share the transcript with us:

2024 College Dux Address

Hayley Storey

Good afternoon students, parents, teachers and special guests. As previously stated, I have been awarded the 2024 College Dux, which I am immensely grateful for, and proud of achieving, so thank you for everyone’s support, and the donation from the Lions Club Edmonton. Now I have the opportunity to share some words.

The past couple of years, I listened to the College Dux’s speeches, and I always wished that they would talk about the study techniques and the guide on how they got there, because I genuinely felt that I struggled with everything to do with studying. Now I’m not going to bore you all with that sort of stuff, because google and ChatGPT is free, but instead, I’d like to touch on a little bit of a cringey subject; obstacles and opportunities.

Why do I say cringey? Well let’s be honest, we’ve all been taught from a young age to be resilient, hence the GEM project, and that we should always rebound from our setbacks. We’re all sick of hearing how one closed door leads to another door opening. But I sincerely believe that obstacles more often than not, can lead to opportunities.

I could list hundreds of examples, but I’ll mention one. In Grade 6 and 9 I really wanted to be a school captain, and for those of you who are busy in your own school life, I did not get in. That was my opportunity. Not to withdraw from any future commitments, but rather spend my time elsewhere. For those, that would look different. Focussing on working as a school leader, your part-time job, school work, sports, hobbies or family.

So what’s the point of me telling all of you this? I want you all to understand that just because your school life, or your family, or your job is giving you a hard time, doesn’t mean your life will fall apart. Just because Year 11 sets you up for Year 12, doesn’t mean you’ll have a smooth sail. Just because Year 12 weighs heavily in determining your uni course, it still doesn’t mean there aren’t other pathways. And just because you didn’t get the highest ATAR out of your friend group, your school or your siblings, doesn’t mean you’re not going to succeed in other areas of your life. I believe that everyone will always face a difficulty, however what makes you excel compared to others, is how you tackle those situations.

I invite each of you to seek opportunities, particularly when you’re struggling. Now I am asking of you for a lot, but I wouldn’t ask you to do anything, that I myself wouldn’t do.

Thank you all for listening, and have a great day!

Osaka Seikei University Professional Visit

Pre-service teachers from Osaka Seikei University in Japan, as well as a professor, associate professor and two tour guides, visited Bentley Park College on Wednesday 5 March for the College’s first ever official professional visit. These are structured similarly to our Japanese school student visits, but involve classroom visits and teacher interaction, rather than student buddies.

 There were 13 Prep, three Primary and six Secondary pre-service teachers, and they visited classrooms across the College to gain knowledge to assist them with their future careers. They also toured all the College facilities and experienced a VR session. The group enjoyed a delicious lunch and afternoon tea catered and served by Year 12 Hospitality students and their teachers.

 At the Q&A at the end of the day, students asked how we teach all the students all the time and support them so well. They noticed great things about our routines and procedures, transitions around school and technology in the early years.

 It was a really special experience for the visitors – they were very engaged, taking notes and observing the learning and interactions between students and teachers, which transcend the language barrier. Their feedback on the day was excellent and they seemed very appreciative. We thank all the staff involved on making the visit such a great success.

 The College is excited to host more Japanese student visits this year in Secondary, with two groups due later this term. There has already been an overwhelming response for ‘Bentley Buddies’, and we are very proud of the warm way our students welcome visitors to our school.

Osaka Seikei University students

New Flags

Thank you to the Electorate Office of Hon Bob Katter MP, Federal Member for Kennedy, for supplying the College with new flags recently. They fly proudly each day, weather permitting, outside our College Administration Office.