Issue 13 / 21 August 2015
Middle/Senior School Bulletin
Middle & Senior School News
Year 11 Camp Year 11 students attended leadership camp last week and are now in the process of nominating for elected leadership positions in 2016. The camp experience is physically intense, mentally challenging and an incredible bonding experience for the whole cohort.
On Friday our Year 12 students had their final QCS preparation day, and I hold every confidence in them and their preparedness for the testing which will be held on the 1st and 2nd of September. We continue to hold each of them in our thoughts and prayers as they enter what can be a highly stressful time.
For all year levels, Week 7 onwards tends to be a busy assessment time of term, so I encourage families to sit together and to review their child’s goals and progress on achieving those goals over the coming week. Having clear goals is the first key to success. The second key to success is purposeful time spent working towards achieving those goals; completing homework, establishing good work habits, asking for assistance, extending your understanding through teaching others about what you are learning and time management are important parts of becoming an independent learner. If your child is struggling with homework and/or you as a parent feel it is a constant battle to get your child to do their homework, please feel free to contact me or other staff at the College for advice or tips to try in your home. You might also be interested in coming along to the next Partnerships for Learning session being run by Mr Casey on Wednesday 26 August at 7pm in the CRC on the topic of ‘Talking with Teenagers – a How To Guide’. Mardi Frost, one of our College Counsellors will co-present and facilitate discussions.
Debating On Wednesday night the Year 10 debate team won the B Division Grand Finals at Bond University. Our students spoke with eloquence when arguing the affirmative case: ‘We should speak our minds’. They were simply superb and as well as acknowledging them as talented speakers, I’d like to thank Mr Ivett their coach for his support of this team.
MLTAQ Language Competition Last weekend a number of students took part in the MLTAQ Griffith University Speech Contest. Congratulations to all involved for their courage and work in preparing a long speech, delivered with no palm cards and then responding to questions in a second language. To compete in itself is a real achievement and to follow are some of our top achievers: Year 11: Paris McKay-Holley - 1st place (Japanese) Year 10: Charlotte Trebilcock - Highly Commended (Japanese) Olivia English - Highly Commended (German) Year 9: Abbey Schumacher - Highly Commended (Japanese) Year 8: Caitlin Gabriel - Highly Commended (Japanese) Laura Hayman - Highly Commended (German) Year 7: Alexandra Bugeja - 1st place (Japanese) Freya Sambain - 2nd place (Japanese) Stephanie Clark - Highly Commended (German)
Middle School News Middle School Expo and 2016 Subject Selection Last Monday 10 August was our annual Middle School Expo. I hope that many families were able to wander around the campus and interact with the many displays of learning on view throughout the evening. Of course a significant part of the evening was dedicated to allowing students for 2016 the opportunity to learn more about elective choices before choosing subjects for next year. Online forms have been made available for these selections to occur and were sent via email. Please contact Middle School Administration if you haven’t received the email or should this present a difficulty to complete.
National Science Week This week is National Science Week and the theme is making waves – the science of light. On Monday, our Head of Science, Jenny Lotz led our chapel service and reminded students not only about the history of our scientific discoveries around our understanding of light but also to celebrate the light of God which is found in all things. Students were encouraged to reflect on God’s calling for us to share our light with others and to be appreciative of the awesomeness of God’s creation. On Tuesday, eight teams of students competed in the Science Trivia Challenge. I’d like to congratulate all of our participants and in particular the Middle School team who won the competition. A full report can be found later in the bulletin. Service Learning As an extension to their Service in Action projects some of the Year 11 students are volunteering at Rosies on a Friday night with the support of Ms Dockstader and Mr Schache. Last weekend, twelve of our Leos, across Years 7-12, took part in the Relay for Life for cancer research with the support of Ms Stewart and walked through the night at the event. A number of our students also took part in the 40 Hour Famine last weekend. On Tuesday our P-12 Mufti-Day raised $1281.90 for the Australian Lutheran World Service’s work in Cambodia. Our students’ other-centredness and appreciation for service continues to impress and inspire me. The Little Mermaid Jr Also a reminder that next week the auditions for the Whole School Musical, The Little Mermaid Jr, commence. Details can be found at the end of the bulletin or via the College website. Please feel free to contact me at the College should I be able to offer any assistance. Virginia Warner Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School
Bond University Health Education Link The Centre for Research in Evidence-Based Practice at Bond University and the College are working on a collaborative project examining the development of health literacies in youth. As part of the project a number of students from Years 7-9 will be interviewed about the growing online world of health education. We look forward to working with Bond over the coming year in order to assist in the development of a best practice model for health education for our youth in a changing world. Partnerships for Learning Next Wednesday from 7-8pm our next Partnerships for Learning will focus upon ‘Talking with Teenagers – a How To Guide’. Ms Mardi Frost and I will discuss possible strategies relating to the sorts of conversations with teenagers that can easily become heated. As usual it will be held in the CRC. Tom Casey Head of Middle School
Senior School News Flourishing in the Senior School In August we are celebrating Appreciation and Awesomeness. Over the weekend 12 St Andrews students showed just how “awesome” they are when they took part in the Relay for Life event, raising money for cancer research. This has been a focus for our Leos club this term and on Saturday afternoon we met at the Ashmore Community Oval and walked through the night to honor those who have fought cancer. We are on track to reach our target of $1500 raising over $1000 so far. I appreciate the efforts these young people went to on the weekend and would like to thank them for their commitment to Leos and serving the community.
prepare for his Kokoda Youth training. Ty leaves for Papua New Guinea next month and will be part of a group of young Gold Coast people who will walk the Kokoda Track. Good luck Ty, we appreciate all of your hard work for the College and for the community. Wellness for Young Girls Next month an awesome workshop for young girls is being held for girls aged 14-16 years at Miami Beach SLSC on 22 September at a cost of $150. If you would like details please contact me or the organisers on 0431 397 760. Wellbeing for our Year 12’s As a really busy and important time of term approaches it is important for our Seniors to take good care of their health (physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially). At the moment they may be making sacrifices to get all their work done and meet the commitments of a busy term. Safe sacrifices may include cutting back on work hours, reducing social time with friends or turning off social media. Unsafe sacrifices are doing all nighters, not eating well or cutting back on exercise time. While we are keen to see our Seniors enjoy the milestones of their final year of secondary schooling, it is also advisable to hold-off on celebrations such as large-scale birthday parties if they fall around important exam times. There is less than a month left of this term and we hope that our students see that some sensible choices now go along way to ensuring they go smoothly as they keep their eyes on what is important – finishing Year 12 with their personal best results. With the end of year in mind parents might like to attend a Safer Schoolies Information Session for Parents on Tuesday 25 August 7-8pm at Upper Coomera Community Centre or on Thursday 3 September at Varsity Lakes Community Centre 7-8pm. Bookings can be made on the Safer Schoolies 2015 website and Facebook pages.
Congratulations to: All our students who were involved in the 40 Hour Famine and raised over $2467 for East Timor and Bangladesh. You are awesome and we appreciate your sacrifices. We are still short of our $5000 goal so if you would like help us and under-privileged children please donate to our cause and take a stand to stop youth hunger go to www.40hourfamine. com.au and search the St Andrews Lutheran College team. Pictured are Hayden Verschuure, Jon-Ross Gordon, Ben Beggs, Khali Robins, Maddison Good, Shurikh MuraliZabusky and Chloe Harvie and after not very much sleep Jasmine Sheers, George Pullen who did 150 laps (60km), Zoe Cheesman, Ms Stewart and Jaimee McEwan. Ty Sheers was also with us for much of the Relay but had to leave to
If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me on tanias@salc.qld.edu.au Tania Stewart Head of Senior School
Science News
Chaplains Chat
Year 9 Students Take Out Griffith University Science Trivia Challenge 2015 As part of National Science week, 16 students (4 teams of 4) from the Middle School attended the Griffith University Science Trivia Challenge Night which was held at the Queensland Academy of Health Sciences.
Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” – John 6:28-29 (ESV)
The night involved students answering 5 rounds of questions covering all dimensions of Science. The questions were a range of multiple choice and short response answers with a number of special guest video questions from scientists residing in Antarctica, Geneva Switzerland (Hadron Collider Control Centre) Townsville Reef HQ and Sydney. Over 140 students from schools throughout the greater Gold Coast region competed for the 2015 title and we would like to congratulate all students who proudly represented St Andrews Lutheran College. One team of students led the competition from start to finish, taking the title by the slightest margin of a single point (one question). Congratulations goes to Ben Allan, Harrison Craig-Ward, Tahlya Slatyer and William Dower for the wonderful demonstration of their knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts.
To Believe or not to Believe Last week I had the privilege of attending and helping out at the College’s Year 11 camp. Each year this particular camp is designed to build leadership capability and engender in students the desire to take on challenges, assume responsibility and overcome fears. As usual, students were asked to do a number of physical and mentally challenging tasks like scaling vertical walls, carrying a person on a stretcher through mud to safety and crawling through underground tunnels. One thing I observed on camp was that there was a difference between those students who believed they could achieve a certain task and those who believed they couldn’t. Students who believed they couldn’t complete a challenge set before them generally didn’t complete the challenge. Students who believed they could complete a challenge set before them generally did complete the challenge. The power of what one believes seems eminently important. I would say the same is true with the Christian faith and the central message it proclaims – the wonderful merciful grace of God as given in Jesus Christ through the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. To this central message are so many permutations of belief and just like the Year 11 camp, what you believe about it generally determines the outcome. For example, if you believe that the Christian faith is good for children but doesn’t properly fit with adult explanations of the world then the Christian faith will only have importance as a child. Or, alternatively, if you believe that the Christian faith is meaningful for both children and adults then the Christian faith will have importance for both children and adults in your life. Obviously, through what we believe about the Christian faith, we don’t change or alter the message but we do change or alter our receptiveness of it.
It was a tremendous effort by all teams on the night. We look forward to returning next year to defend the shield. Brendan Smith Middle School Science Teacher
It is God’s desire, of course, that we come to receive as much of the good news about Jesus as possible – and this starts with what we believe. On camp the greatest joy was seeing students change their beliefs about what they were capable of, often in the face of fears or insecurities. The result was exactly as they believed, they completed challenges and overcame fears and for such students, there could be no greater joy. May God grant us the greater joy found in the Christian message as a result of what we believe. Nathan Glover Chaplain
Performing Arts News Gold Coast Eisteddfod Well done to the following groups, what fantastic results! Middle/Senior School Choir - Very Highly Commended Combined Dance Troupe Sweet Dreams - Very Highly Commended Red Queen - Highly Commended
St Andrews Musical Auditions Audition Week Details Our Whole College Musical for 2016 is The Little Mermaid Jr and will be performed at the Gold Coast Arts Centre Term 2, 2016. Rehearsals in Term 4 will be Rec Sport (Years 7-12) and Monday from 3-5pm (Junior School only). In 2016 Term 1 Rehearsals will be combined on a Monday after school - 6pm. Auditions are as follows: NB: Only those auditioning for leads are required to prepare anything. Monday 24 August 1st Break 11am: RBT Year 6 (please eat before you arrive) Lunch: RBT MS/SS Dancers After School - 4pm: RBT Leads (Year 7+) Students are to prepare a verse and chorus from a Disney or Music Theatre song that best demostrates their range. Tuesday 25 August 1st Break 11am: RBT Year 5 (please eat before you arrive) Lunch: RBT MS/SS Ensemble Wednesday 26 August Lunch: RBT Acting only auditions Years 7-12 only Thursday 3 September 1st Break 11am: RBT Year 4 (please eat before you arrive) 2nd Break 1pm: MPH Year 3 Quite often parents are unsure about the process or upset if their child isn’t selected. Following are a few responses to typical questions.
College Musical 2016 The Little Mermaid Jr Auditions The College Musical is an exciting event in the calendar, and with this being our first combined, off campus show, it is sure to be a wonderful experience. Auditions will take place in Week 7 in the schedule outlined here:
Musical Q & A Why can’t all the children who want to be in the musical be included? Whilst it would be lovely to say yes to all students who would like to be involved there are logistical reasons why this isn’t possible. We work to a limit based on two factors. The first, and most important is supervision – we need to have enough staff to student ratio to ensure appropriate supervision during outside of school rehearsals. Secondly, there is little to be gained by filling a stage full of children to the point where no-one can move or be seen.
How do you select who is in the musical? When looking at Junior School casting and Ensemble casting, we teach the students a small section of song (for Junior School Miss Washington will teach some of the song in class) as well as some simple movement. In groups, students then perform it back. We are looking at: • • • • •
Behaviour and focus (more important than talent at this level) How they interact with other auditionees Pitch Confidence and expression Ability to pick up choreography
Several teachers have the list of names and we make our individual selections, we then cross check and from there a final casting list is determined. The more specialist casting i.e. Dance Troupe and leads, the process is more individual and in-depth and may involve callbacks. Can I come to the audition? Auditions are closed. This is so we get the true sense of your child’s behaviour when they are in this environment, without their parent in the room, as that is what rehearsals will be like. Can my child go on a waitlist? With a cast this size we don’t have a wait list. We tend to overcast by 10 or so to allow for dropouts. My child would like to be Ariel but she is in Year 4 – Why can’t she audition? The vocal range for Ariel is quite challenging and the maturity required for the role is suited to an older student – so apart from a handful of Year 6 students nominated by our PAT vocal tutors (based on their range and vocal maturity), only those in Middle/Senior School can audition for Ariel or any of the leads. What is the commitment to the musical? For Junior School students, rehearsals will be Monday after school. For Middle/Senior School students - Term 4 rehearsals will be held during Rec Sport and then in 2016 on Monday after school. There will be some weekend or holiday rehearsals towards the end of the process. These will be advised with lots of notice so arrangements can be made. Cultural Awards 2015 In Term 4 we have our annual Cultural Awards Evening on Friday 23 October (Term 4 Week 3), where we celebrate the year in the Arts and recognise individual student achievement. Below is the criteria for our Cultural Awards from Years 4-12. Essential Criteria for all Levels: Active Participation in School Cultural Activities
Bronze Award This is awarded to students who: • Have been involved in several (3-4) cultural groups/ activities throughout the year OR • Passed Grade 5 or above in Music, Dance or Speech & Drama Exams OR • Are nominated for outstanding contribution to a College ensemble/activity Silver Award • Grade 5 or above in Music or Speech & Drama Exam + involvement in cultural groups/activities throughout the year OR • Major Award at Regional level (GC Drama Festival/ Eisteddfod Championships etc) Gold Award • Representation at State level or equivalent in chosen discipline OR • Major Award (eg. Top of State in Speech & Drama Exam) We gather our information using two separate processes. Junior School We track student involvement based on our rolls. NB: If your child is involved in any activity outside of school, please email Cilla Scott priscillas@salc.qld.edu.au before the end of Week 9 (Friday 11 September) for that information to be considered. Middle/Senior School Students are to complete a Cultural Awards survey (Available on Parent Lounge) and ensure Cilla Scott receives it before the end of Week 9 (Friday 11 September). Any questions about this process can be emailed to priscillas@salc.qld.edu.au Cilla Scott Head of Arts
Chess News Both our Senior and Middle (Junior) School teams have won the AGCCC Chess tournament at Aquinas College on Friday 7 August. Half time score saw St Andrews in the lead and by the end, we maintained our lead. Most of our playersboth Junior and Senior – ended up playing on Boards 1,2,3,4 implying that St Andrews dominated the tournament. We are now Chess champions for 2015 in AGCCC. Certificates were handed out during assembly. AGCCC will contact us and invite our students to be officially awarded at the annual AGCCC awards ceremony.
P&F News
Tuckshop News
Father’s Day The P&F will again be operating a stall in the Bus Shelter on Wednesday 2 September and Thursday 3 September. Students in Junior School will have an opportunity visit the stall during an allotted time over the 2 days to purchase Gifts and raffle tickets.
As the warmer weather approaches, we (as parents) need to reconsider the way we pack and also what we pack into our children’s lunch boxes.
Gifts and tickets will also be available before school in the bus shelter and all week at the ELC. • •
All gifts will be $5.00. Raffle Tickets $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00 (Drawn Friday 4 September in time for Father’s Day).
VOLUNTEERS – If you have some time on either the 2nd or 3rd September, between 7.30am-12.00pm OR beforehand to help wrap please contact Nicole Ainger, P&F Secretary on 0410 649 820. Any offer of help will be gratefully accepted. AGM (Annual General Meeting) This year’s AGM is on Wednesday 25 November 7.00pm in the CRC (Cecile Ryan Centre) At the meeting all current office bearers will resign and a vote will be taken for the positions from the nominations received. All nominations must be submitted 30 days before the AGM to the President. A nomination form will be available shortly on the College website under the P & F section. The office bearer positions are as follows: President Currently Daniel Renneberg (daniel@austplan.com.au) Vice President Currently Julieanne Andrews (julieanne6@optusnet.com.au) Treasurer Currently Michelle Brown (michelle@brownslawyers.com.au) Secretary Currently Nicole Ainger (bidwill16@bigpond.com) Grants Officer Currently Kim Allan Fundraising Officer (Currently Vacant) Most of the current office bearers are unable to commit to a further year on the P & F due to full time employment and family commitments so won’t be re-nominating. Please consider taking on a role on the P & F. It is a very rewarding position to hold, allowing you to be involved in a meaningful way in your child/ren’s school. If you would like further obligation – free information on the duties of any position please feel free to contact us at pandf@salc.qld.edu.au or any of the current office bearers directly at their own email addresses. P & F general meetings are held once a term and everyone is always welcome.
Food spoilage can be one of the reasons why many people suffer from illness associated with eating contaminated food and may put children more at risk. Tuckshop is unable to reheat any foods bought in from home as we are unsure as to how the food was prepared, stored and the quality of the food when brought to us. Our concern is to keep your child free from food related illnesses. Below is some information relating to “Lunch Box Safety”. Please click the link below to read more about food safety. Keep it Cool! The most important thing to remember in keeping food safe during storage is to keep potentially hazardous food out of the ‘temperature danger zone’ of 5 degrees C to 6 degrees C. As schools generally do not provide students with access to heating devices, any potentially hazardous food in a school lunch box needs to be kept at a safe temperature of below 5 degrees C. Keeping in mind that school lunches usually sit for a few hours before being eaten, below are some simple tips to help ensure food is kept at a safe temperature until the time it will be consumed: • • • • •
Use insulated lunch boxes or cooler bags Keep a frozen drink or freezer brick(s) inside the lunch box If preparing lunches the night before, keep it in the fridge until leaving for school Encourage children to keep the lunch box in their schoolbag and to store it out of direct sunlight. Pack items that don’t spoil quickly
Any perishable food such as meat, poultry or egg sandwiches, should be thrown out if not eaten that day. www.health.qld.au/foodsafety Flexischools Did you know that if you have a child in Years 7-12 you can link their Student ID to their Flexischool account? If not, simply have them associate their Student ID card to the photocopier then login to Flexischool and add the student ID number. If you have having trouble, please contact us at Tuckshop and we will be more than happy to assist you. Trina van der Kamp Tuckshop Manager
Dates to Remember August/September AUGUST Sunday 23 Year 9 Going Into Business, Coolangatta Markets 8am-2pm Monday 24 The Little Mermaid Jr Musical Auditions RSPCA Cupcake Fundraiser All Schools State Touch Titles It’s In The Bag Excursion Tuesday 25 Year 9 German Scavenger Hunt The Little Mermaid Jr Musical Auditions Years 8 & 9 Book Club Years 11 & 12 Dance Excursion Wednesday 26 The Little Mermaid Jr Musical Auditions Years 8-10 Netball Competition Partnerships for Learning, CRC 7pm Friday 28 Gold Coast Show Day Holiday Monday 31 Year 11 Visual Art Excursion SEPTEMBER Tuesday 1 Year 12 QCS Testing 2015 Year 10 Excursion - City Xp Years 8 & 9 Book Club Wednesday 2 Year 12 QCS Testing 2015 Year 10’s City Experience Excursion Readers Cup Finals Years 8-10 Netball Competition Friday 4 Mens and Womens Assembly
5nthly
Mo zes Pri
It’s back!
Earn 1 sticker for every $10 you spend.
Starting now, when anyone from our College community - staff, parents, friends shop at Woolworths, they can collect stickers to place on sticker sheets. Completed sticker sheets can be placed in the collection box at Junior School Administration or handed into Senior School Administration. This means our College can choose resources based on its specific needs, across all learning areas, including Maths, English, Science, Art and Craft, Outdoor and Active, Music & more.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Peta T Our monthly prize winner for August
INSIGHTS Building parent-school partnerships
Build up Frequent Father points
WORDS Michael Grose
Michael Grose looks at the importance of topping up Frequent Father points, and the benefits for both dads and for kids. A good friend enthusiastically told me how he was looking forward to spending a few days away on his own with his two kids, aged 10 and 13. He was feeling quite chuffed. He was having some ‘dad time’ with his kids. Good on him! He was doing some memory building & relationship building, as well as having some fun. He told me that he was aware that his kids were getting older and he knew such opportunities were diminishing. Gone are the days when the only relationship many men had with their kids was through their wife. She would explain him to the kids (‘Your dad’s very busy but he would love to see you play sport but he can’t make it.’) As well, she’d keep him up-to-date with the children’s lives. Blokes, it seems, are valuing the time they spend with their kids on their own. Or at least the dads I mix with are. Spending time alone with kids is a great way to build confidence in dads. And the kids usually just love it.
Mothers can play a role here by not getting in the way if their husband or partner wants a little time alone with kids. (Most mums I meet welcome this!) Children usually associate their fathers with activity. When I ask children to tell me about their dads they usually talk about the things that they like to do together with their dads. Playing, walking, fishing, wrestling....the list goes on. It’s through shared activity and involvement in kids’ lives that dads build up frequent father points. It’s hard to build good connections with kids when you are not there!
Don’t wait until adolescence These relationships are best built in childhood, when kids just love their dads to bits and want to be around him. It gets trickier in adolescence, but having shared interests developed in childhood gives you a connection point during these sometimes-turbulent times. Dads also benefit from spending time with their kids. Most health scales state a healthy relationship with their children is
a predictor of good health and longevity for men. I’m not sure where the health benefits come from, but I suspect there is something relaxing and de-stressing about getting into a child’s space. There is a big kid inside most men just busting to get out. These days we take parenting pretty seriously and it’s easy to forget that one of the fundamentals of raising kids well is to spend some time in your child’s space, doing stuff, or not doing stuff, whatever the case maybe. So how are your (or your partner’s) Frequent Father points going? If they need some topping up then you can start by doing something together that the kids enjoy. Having a bit of fun together is the best place to start. Author’s note: Sole mums can take these ideas on-board to have a NO RULES weekend with your kids, where you have a change of routine and activity that can give kids the chance to see you in a different way.
Michael Grose
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