Middle/Senior School Bulletin Issue 16 / 24 November 2017
Middle & Senior School News Congratulations to the Graduating class of 2017. You are an amazing group of young people and we thank you for your individual and collective contributions over your time here at St Andrews.
Year 12 Graduates, may God bless you and keep you safe through the journey of this life and may you remain confident in God’s love and plan for you. Above all else, seek joy, be hopeful and continue to share your light with the world!
I’d like to especially thank our outgoing student leaders; Captains Olivia English and Jarred Connolly and Vice-Captains Emily Burnell and Alexander Blackborough. They have been exemplary in all aspects of their leadership through this year. I’d also like to offer a special congratulations to the incoming captains, Lilli MacDonald and Harrison Craig-Ward and ViceCaptains, Abbey Schumacher and Hudson Matthews. As we head into the final week of classes for 2017 and we finalize the students’ reports, I would like to also offer a word of thanks to the students, one and all, for their exceptional approach to College life throughout the year. Their vibrancy is truly the heartbeat of our College. I would also like to thank our College parents for their unwavering support and partnership. We appreciate the relationships we hold with you and your children. Finally, I want to acknowledge the dedication and commitment shown by our Teaching Staff, for their work towards coaxing, coaching and inspiring our students to strive to achieve to their true potential. The work they do in and out of classes is what keeps our students learning, growing and developing as learners and as well-rounded individuals. Non-teaching Staff, Teacher Aides, Groundsmen, Administration, Library, Tuckshop, and Uniform Shop also go above and beyond to ensure this is a College of flourishing and so to them we are most grateful. As we prepare for the long summer break, I’d like to
encourage parents and families to stay connected. I believe the most powerful thing we can do is to stay connected. Stay connected with your child by being open to talking through your boundaries and expectations and also their ideas and thoughts around independence, trust and their world in general. Stay connected to one another. If your child is wanting to spend time with peers or to sleep over at another family’s house and you are feeling uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the family, call the parents and talk about your boundaries and expectations and their boundaries and expectations. Adolescents often use generalised statements like, ‘everyone is going’, ‘no one else’s parents are calling’ or ‘don’t you trust me’ to push boundaries and to become more independent. The balance of how much freedom/ independence afforded a young person is a difficult juggling act for parents and very dependent on the individual, the family values and context. From personal experience, I know how challenging that balance can be. Finally, please stay connected with staff at the College. We are here to help. Further Recognition of Excellence This Monday 27 November is the Middle School Presentation Night which will be held at the Arts Centre Gold Coast (Doors open 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start). This is a compulsory evening for all students in Years 7 – 9 and will be a wonderful showcase of our Middle School. Students in Years 7 and 9 as well as the award recipients and performers will be involved in rehearsals at the Arts Centre on Monday and are asked to wear Sports Uniform. Students are to wear Formal School Uniform on the night and to sign in on arrival. Before the end of the year we will also acknowledge student excellence at the Year 10, Year 11 and Middle School Award Assemblies. Top of Subject, Merit, Citizenship and Service Awards will be presented at these Assemblies. All parents are welcome to come along and join these celebrations of excellence. Years 10 - 11 Awards Assembly (Tuesday 28 November) at 1.30pm in the Ruth Butler Theatre. Middle School Awards Assembly (Friday 1 December) at 1.30pm in the Ruth Butler Theatre. Early in Term 1 2018, our Academic Excellence, Academic Endeavour and Academic Improvement Awards will be presented for each year level based on students’ overall Semester Two results. Semester Two Reports and the Start of 2018 Reports will be available on Parent Lounge for parents in the first week of the holidays. Please use the feedback contained in the reports as a means of affirming your child’s effort and progress throughout the final semester, and also as a basis for setting new learning goals for 2018. We are working towards notification of class lists through Parent Lounge in late January. All Middle and Senior School classes resume on Tuesday 23 January. Our Year 7 students (2018) will attend an Orientation Day on Monday 22 January from 8.30am – 3.00pm and new students in Years 8 – 12 will attend an afternoon session (1.30pm – 3.00pm). This is compulsory
and ensures a smooth start for our new students. Also, please remember that traffic congestion is likely on the first day, so please exercise extra care and patience. Staffing Updates This year we farewell Ms Tara Bible (German) who has worked with our German language students with enthusiasm, dedication and love for children and teaching language skills for the past five years. Ms Colleen Dockstader will be on extended leave for the entirety of 2018. I would like to thank each of them for their service to our community. Next year we will welcome, Ms Deb Wamsley (Middle School Specialist), Ms Kelly Gervanosi (Mathematics and IT) and Ms Tia Scott (Mathematics and Visual Art) as well as Mr Jochen Schiach (German). The College is delighted to welcome our new staff. This is our last bulletin for 2017. May the coming Christmas season be a timely reminder of God’s blessings and the joy of knowing that Christ gave us the ultimate gift in sending His son to save us all. Parents are warmly invited to attend the ELC to Year 9 Christmas Service at 9.15am (seated by 9.00am) in the Multi-Purpose Hall next Thursday 30 November to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Virginia Warner Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School
Chaplains Chat As our College year draws to a close we celebrate the completion of a chapter in the lives of the young people who are the focus of all that happens within the walls of St Andrews. This celebration extends all the way from ELC students ‘graduating’ into Prep for 2018 through to our Year 12s graduating from 13 years of formal schooling to move onto the next chapter of their lives. Throughout all of the ‘graduations’ we celebrate at this time, there is a sense of change and progress. Students make their way through St Andrews with their eye on the next chapter that awaits them. The new challenges ahead. Generally, our students look forward to the year beyond where they are presently with a certain reassurance that it will be a positive and exciting time ahead. They are able to look forward in such a manner because they know they will be safe within the confines of our College. They know that they will be safe because their teachers have ensured their well-being and the staff do this through their commitment to our mission statement of Celebrating the Gospel, Nurturing the Individual and Empowering life-long learning. The foundation of all the ‘good stuff’ within our College the sense of safety and security, of purpose, the living out of community - is Christ and His great love for us. He is the one
who brings an inexhaustible supply of love into our midst. He is the one who brings joy to our hearts as we rejoice in the triumphs of those about us. He is the one who gives us peace when all we want to do is rip into someone who has offended us either intentionally or unintentionally. He is the one who works patience in our midst as we deal yet again with the same problem with hope that there will be a change for the better. As we race towards another Christmas it is this Christ, God’s son whose birth we celebrate with family gatherings, presents and all manner of merry making. We at St Andrews are so fortunate to have His direct involvement within our College all year long. He is the cornerstone, the solid rock of our community. I pray there is opportunity for you to celebrate with your family over the Christmas season that He is the Prince of Peace and King of Kings - God with us - Immanuel. Graeme Schache College Chaplain
Flourishing in the Senior School There are two very important messages that I always include in the final week of our Year 12 celebrations. One is a quote by Marianne Williamson and made famous by the late Nelson Mandela says: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, Our deepest fear is that we are powerful, beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves , who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?” My missive to our Year 12’s – go out and be your amazing selves, stay true to your values, nurture your strengths, be prepared for the challenges and mistakes that are bound to occur and finally, what I have been saying all year and I think they may have even listened, give love.
Middle School News Finishing 2017 The last couple of weeks of a school year are always a wonderfully hectic time. Staff and students frantically work toward deadlines and there is an air of excitement as students look toward the glowing horizon of their schooling in the coming year. I currently have a significant pile of leadership applications on my desk for Year 8 students wishing to contribute in some way toward leading the Middle School in 2018. I admire these students enormously for their confidence and belief that they should play an active role in guiding the College through the next year. I look forward to working with a range of those applicants in the coming year.
I think that I can safely say on behalf of the staff that it has been an honour to have some influence and opportunity to work alongside our Year 12’s of 2017. As a College we are very proud of all they have achieved and look forward to hearing about their successes and journeys in life. My final message to the 12’s and all our Senior School students - in the words of Mark Twain - “20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
The end of the year also signals a time when we say goodbye to some members of our community who are leaving the College on new ventures. Wherever they might be heading we hope that they carry a small light from the St Andrews Community along with them. With regard to more practical matters, any elective changes that I have been able to process will appear in students’ 2018 timetables. Unfortunately some students are trying to change into subjects that are already full and so I have been unable to accommodate those changes. A reminder that I will continue to hold onto those change forms until two weeks into Semester 1 2018 in case spots become available. Additionally, classes for 2018 will be released along with student timetables prior to the start of the school year. I will be supervising the Year 9/10 trip to Germany from Tuesday 28 November and so will be unavailable for the close of the year or for direct communication until the start of 2018. I hope that all of our Middle School families have an opportunity to relish time together over the Christmas break. Thank you for a wonderful 2017. Tom Casey Head of Middle School
If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at tanias@salc.qld.edu.au Tania Stewart Head of Senior School
Performing Arts News PAT 2018 A reminder to all families that unless a cancellation form is received then PAT enrolments will automatically roll over into 2018. The only exception to this is current Year 3 Strings and Mini Musos who need to apply for the general PAT Program through the College website. Any enquiries related to PAT can be directed to performingarts@salc.qld.edu.au End of Year Concerts It has been a wonderful few weeks of End of Year Concerts to celebrate our PAT students. Ranging from our First Break Concert Series through to Evening of Song and Animi Dance Concerts it has been wonderful to see so many young people grace the stage and share their talents. Congratulations to all of our young performers and thank you to our marvellous Arts PAT Staff who dedicate themselves to supporting young people on their creative journey.
Priscilla Scott Head of Arts
LOTE News The Languages Department would like to thank our incredible assistants for 2017, past students Paris McKay-Holley and Ginny Guthrie. This year Paris and Ginny have aided languages staff in classroom activities, sister school visits, excursions, incursions and information evenings. Both ladies established positive relationships with students and their enthusiasm when working with our young people is truly appreciated. Paris is currently studying Linguistics at Griffith University and Ginny recently graduated from Bond University with a Bachelor of Communication and is now undertaking a working holiday in Europe. Danke schĂśn and Arigatou!
Jungle Book This semester we ran a combined MS Performing Arts Elective which involved the casting, auditioning, rehearsal and performance of the musical Jungle Book. The students performed to the Junior School and also to their parents. It is wonderful to have such an authentic performance experience as part of our MS Elective curriculum and we look forward to next year’s production.
Sport News In 2018, the College will be endeavouring to enter teams in local club competitions. At this stage, it will extend this trial to the following three sports: • Futsal • Touch • Netball
• • • • • • • •
Nick Dunn Holly Burnett Morgan Wagner Lucia Conforti Juliet Hackett Torin Ward Luc Turnbull Logan Howarth
This is not a compulsory activity but any interested students in Years 7-12 are strongly encouraged to get involved. It is not only a great way to improve in that particular sport but it also encourages teamwork, a positive attitude and it provides a wonderful social interaction with members of our College community. Training will occur during the allocated sports times on a Thursday afternoon, between 1:10pm3:10pm. Coaching will be provided, to not only train the students, but also to coach them in the weekly competition. If your child is interested in playing in any of these competitions, please complete the survey below by accessing the following link. This must be completed by 25 November to secure a spot in a team. I will follow up with relevant families in the last week of school. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=pf6J2awAUkq8ODMkhRhHLFIC8opI6JhOrlVOYvLpgjJUNjc5 MEtaUDMxTFRTSkNCWkFZVDRDNU9ENy4u Queensland Champion Schools Olympic Weightlifting Last weekend 12 of our students represented the College at the Qld Champion Schools Weightlifting. We had some excellent individual results, with all our male and female competitors producing some fantastic lifts. I am very pleased to
say that both our boys and girls teams placed second in the overall school team competition. Congratulations to the following students: • Nicholas Baden • Kayne Jestrimski
Libby Wood Secondary School Sports Co-ordinator
Dates to Remember
P&F News A big thank you to all those who attended the AGM on Wednesday 8 November - our best ever attended meeting! Your support is very much appreciated and moreover, attending meetings is a great way to meet others from the school community, and to have input and hear about exciting things happening in & around the College. All parents and friends of St Andrews are welcome to attend general meetings which happen once per term. The next general P&F meeting will be held in Term 1, 2018. Date TBC.
NOVEMBER
At the AGM, a new committee was elected for 2018. Your representatives are:
Year 11 Exams
President - Amanda Ryan Vice President - Jessica Russell Secretary - Nicole Ainger Treasurer - Kyelie Baxter Grants Officer - Jeff Bauman Fete Coordinator - Nikki Beaver Fundraising Officer - Christine Litera
Years 7-9 Presentation Night Arts Centre
Feel free to contact us at any time at pandf@salc.qld.edu.au We invite and very much welcome all ideas and feedback.
Thursday 30
A huge thank you to outgoing President Julieanne Andrews & outgoing Treasurer Julie Dignan for all of their hard work & commitment. Their contributions to the school community are very much appreciated.
DECEMBER
Already the P&F have 2 events planned for week 1 of 2018: 2018 Year 7 Parents - On Monday 22 January 2018, all Year 7 parents are invited to join together for light afternoon refreshments at 2.15pm - 2.30pm outside the Tuckshop.
Saturday 25 13 Boys Australasian Futsal Champs Year 9 Dinner Dance Sunday 26 13 Boys Australasian Futsal Champs Monday 27 Year 10 Exams Tuesday 28 Years 9 & 10 German Study Tour Years 10 & 11 Final Awards Assembly Wednesday 29 Year 7 Annual LABTEN Cup E-9 Christmas Service Friday 1 Year 7 Movie Experience Excursion MS Closing Assembly Last Day for Students Tuesday 19 Main Reception Closed
CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS 2018 Prep Parents - Please join us for “Tea & Tissues” on Main Reception will close Tuesday 19 Thursday 25 January 2018 at 8.30am - 9.30am under the December and Reopen Wednesday 3 January MPH. Morning tea will be provided as we gather together to 8:00am - 4:00pm daily. welcome you to the College community.
The P&F committee would like to wish everyone a safe and wonderful Christmas and New Year. Thank you for your support during our Fete year. We look forward to an exciting 2018 as we celebrate the College’s 25th anniversary.
Lutheran Youth Queensland School Holiday Camps Escape the boredom these school holidays on an LYQ Summer Camp! 6 epic week-long camps across December and January covering Years 3-12. Check out lyq.org.au/summercamps to book your Summer of Fun!
Uniform Shop News If you have more than two new students to fit new uniforms for next year please ring or email the Uniform Shop to make an appointment. 2nd Hand Uniforms – A reminder to get your 2nd hand uniforms in asap if you wish to use the credit against new uniforms. Once we hit our busy period in January you may not get credits done until February. All items must be freshly washed and ironed and free of all stains and pet hair to be considered. Blazers must be freshly drycleaned with tag attached.
UNIFORM SHOP
January Opening Hours …
The Uniform Shop will close at 9.30am on Friday 1st December 2017 and will reopen for Existing Students Only JANUARY 2018 Wednesday 10th to Friday 12th Monday 15th to Friday 19th Monday 22nd January
8 am - 12pm daily 2 pm - 4 pm daily 8am - 12 pm
WEEK 1 OF TERM 1 Tuesday 23rd January Wednesday 24th Thursday 25th Friday 26th
8am – 9.30am 8am - 9.30am & 2.30-3.30pm 8am – 9.30am closed for Australia Day
NEW STUDENTS, families with 3 or more children and families unable to attend during these times are requested to phone or email to book an appointment outside these times.
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Save Time…. Order and Pay Online at www.flexischools.com.au
Your order can be picked up from the Uniform Shop or delivered to your child’s class ____________________________________________________ Second hand clothing must be submitted before the end of term if you wish to use the credit in January. All items must be clean & ironed (not damaged, stained, faded or showing excessive wear). *Blazers will be accepted on consignment only. *Must be Dry Cleaned
_____________________________________________ Phone 5568 5933 Email: uniformshop@salc.qld.edu.au