ASA NEWS | DECEMBER 2019

ASA NEWS

December 2019

President’s Message

Telling the Jesus Story in our schools.

As we are in Advent, one of the most treasured seasons in the Christian calendar, we are reminded on many levels of the story of the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem.

Feature Articles The Christmas Star 5 Let’s try something new 7 Students journey in God’s creation 10 A life dedicated to God and Education 14 Leading the way in environmental sustainability 16

President’s Message As we are in Advent, one of the most treasured seasons in the Christian calendar, we are reminded on many levels of the story of the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. Indeed, the word Advent comes from the Latin ‘Adventus’, meaning coming or arrival, and this season marks a period of reflection and preparation for Christians across the world.

Many of our schools will celebrate with a Kinder Nativity, complete with live donkey, and this youthful re-enactment of the nativity is clearly one of the more visible ways we can witness Jesus in our Schools. But how do we see and feel his presence on a more daily basis in the lives of the young ones we teach?

For many Anglican Schools, the presence of Jesus is regularly felt through Anglican worship services, however the story of Jesus really is also felt more broadly in the actions of our staff and students on a daily basis.

School leaders adopt the notion of servant leadership to enrich the lives of others and build just and caring communities. They lead with a strong sense of care and responsibility for the wellbeing of their staff, and they build a culture committed to making a positive impact to their community and more broadly to society.

It is easy to witness our staff reflecting the story of Jesus through their empathic giving of themselves to support students requiring additional help, or colleagues who are in need of additional support at particular times in their lives.

Our student leaders reflect the story of Jesus by putting the needs of others less fortunate before themselves,

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in lived out service-learning experiences. In my own school, St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, I was heartened to learn that one of my Senior School girls asked her friends to donate to the Cambodian Children’s Fund for her birthday in lieu of excessive and unnecessary gifts. And when the Class of 2019 collected funds for their annual gift to the School, they decided to donate the $2,600 they had collected to charity, as the School “already had a lot of lovely things…”. As a Principal, I am immensely proud of these girls and their generosity of spirit in supporting those with a greater need.

We will all recall similar stories in our individual schools, and for me, on personal reflection, perhaps the most uplifting sign of Jesus’ presence in my community occurs when my Junior School girls heartily join in the singing of hymns in their weekly Chapel Service. At the conclusion of Chapel, when they process out with wide smiles, they unfailingly burst into spontaneous song and sing along with the processional hymn being played to escort them out. It doesn’t get more magical than that!

Christmas Blessings and good wishes to you all.

Mrs Judith Tudball President, Anglican Schools Australia Principal, St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School

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CEO’s Column Telling the Jesus Story As the President has written, we are immersed in the season of Advent, the time when we are invited to wait expectantly and prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. Nativity Plays and Christmas Carols have been a regular occurrence across our school. As she suggests, what more joyful activities could you experience than these occasions? None, I suggest. While people living in the Middle Ages devoted themselves to prayer and fasting during Advent, today our lives more reflect busy-ness and feasting, with Christmas-present shopping thrown in.

It seems to me that the Christ born in the humble setting of a stable in Bethlehem, was born into a world very different to 21st century Australia. Quite frankly, first century Middle East bore little resemblance to our society, and in many ways 21st century Middle East is a radically contrasting society and culture to ours in Australia. Yet people are still people, with all our human wonders and all the blemishes of humanity too.

position to tell the Jesus story. December provides us with many opportunities to do so through nativity plays, carols and readings. As Mrs Tudball has written, throughout the year there are many more opportunities in any and every school to do the same. “We have a gospel to proclaim…”.

The society from which the scriptures arose was so different to 21st century Australia, so interpretation (applying reason to scripture) is rational. Our mission as governors, principals, chaplains and teachers in Anglican schools is to bring the love of the same Jesus born in a manger in a stable in the Middle East two thousand years ago to the young people in our care today; to bring the message ‘freshly interpreted’ yet grounded in a truth that is timeless and unchanging. Anglicans value scripture, tradition and reason.

You have often read in ASA News of our Travel Partners – Orbit World Travel, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines. Did you know that, while our partnership with them is primarily to provide Anglican schools with significant reductions in travel costs for both corporate and group travel, there is one other huge benefit?

Jesus welcomed all people, and so do we in Anglican schools. “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). We welcome all, so that we can tell the good news of the Jesus story to all.

No matter what time of the year it is, we welcome into our school communities young people and old, of all faiths and none, all expressions of family and relationship, all races and cultures. Why? Because that’s what the Jesus of 1st century Middle East would want of God’s people living in 21st century Australia…and it’s the good and right thing to do. Some would call it simply a fair dinkum Aussie value.

Today, in a society which is largely disconnected with the Gospel, Anglican schools are in such a privileged

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

Holidays

Thanks to Virgin Australia, the special pricing offered to ASA member schools has been extended to include Anglican school staff, students and their families. Staff and families can access these discounted airfares for holiday travel through Orbit World Travel by emailing holidays@orbitworldtravel.com.au.

It is another real benefit that ASA has negotiated on behalf of our member schools.

As the year concludes, on behalf of the Management Committee scattered around Australia, together with the ASA office staff, I wish you an Advent of great hope and expectation, and a Christmas filled with the joy that comes with the re-telling of the Jesus story.

Every blessing.

The Reverend Peter Laurence OAM CEO, Anglican Schools Australia

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EDITOR’S NOTE Anglican Schools Australia invites principals, chaplains and teachers, as well as chairs, governors and friends of Anglican Schools to submit articles for publication in ASA NEWS. We are particularly interested in publishing articles about school Religious Studies, Service Learning and Indigenous programs. We welcome submissions of feature articles of approximately 750-1000 words and news articles of 350 words, together with a selection of high quality digital images of 300 dpi. Please email submissions to adann@asc.wa.edu.au. Submissions are published at the discretion of the Editor.

School News SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS PRINCIPALS Mr Cameron Bacholer, Pulteney Grammar School, SA (effective January 2020)

CHAPLAINS Mrs Emma Pfahlert | Danbank Anglican School for Girls, NSW The Reverend Linda Pilton | Perth College, WA (effective January 2020) The Reverend Jenny Willsher | Canberra Girls Grammar School, ACT (effective January 2020)

DEPARTURES PRINCIPALS Mr David Baker, Gippsland Grammar, VIC (effective April 2020) Dr Stuart Quarmby, Wollondilly Anglican College , NSW (effective July 2020)

CHAPLAINS The Reverend Lisa Ahuja, Perth College, WA Miss Sarah Browne, Danebank Anglican School for Girls, NSW The Reverend Suz Gorham, Roseville College, NSW Ms Hilda Lee (Assistant Chaplain), Canberra Girls Grammar School, ACT The Reverend Canon Sarah Leiseman, Canon Hill Anglican College, QLD The Reverend Erin Tiuneau, Radford College, ACT 4

The Christmas star Brighton Grammar School, VIC

The close of the school year would not be complete for families and students without the eagerly awaited Early Learning Centre’s Christmas Pageant held at Brighton Grammar School. Through the traditional nativity play, scripted by ELC Director Amelia Barrow, 84 three and four-year-old boys come together to perform The Christmas Star.

The Pageant follows Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem as they prepare for the birth of Jesus.

The performance opens with the School’s Chaplain, Father Chester Lord leading a Christmas prayer ‘celebrating the birth of our Lord and all the things that God does in our lives. It is the time of festivity and peace’.

In preparation for the Christmas celebrations, the youngest students of Brighton Grammar learn about the story of Jesus through picture storybooks, Religious Education and Music programs and whole class discussions. They visit St Andrew’s Church, where the School community worships, and talk with Fr Lord about the Jesus story.

Under the direction of Amelia Barrow, teachers educate boys about the key elements within the nativity pageant and the significance of their character. The shepherds (played by the four-year-old boys) follow the shining star to find Mary and Joseph.

There is a celebration of all animals in the stable including five ‘cheeky woolly sheep’ and a donkey, three wise men, a drummer boy and 40 three-year-old angels, the youngest members of the ELC, dressed with tinsel halos and feathered wings which are always a crowd pleaser.

Boys recite their lines from memory and perform 12 songs with accompanying actions in front of their audience with great aplomb. Their humour, energy and love of music shine through and lights the stage for this 30-minute performance.

While the Christmas Pageant is a time of celebration to mark the end of the school year, the boys grasp a strong understanding and connection between the birth of Jesus and this special Christian event.

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SPREADING KINDNESS: Year 6 student Chloe Chan in the Chapel at St Hilda’s School.

How Our School shares the story of Jesus

By Chloe Chan, Year 6 | St Hilda’s School, Gold Coast, QLD

The story of Jesus has inspired people for thousands of years. Our school looks up to Jesus and has retold his story over the last 106 years. We learn about Jesus’ life during our Religious Education lessons and Chapel services. We admire his traits and learn through our school values—love, compassion, hope, forgiveness and grace.

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At St Hilda’s School we try to follow the teachings of Jesus in how we live. There are countless activities that we do at our school to follow these teachings. As we know, Christmas is one of the main Christian festivals. We are proud to share that we participated in the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Child program as our small step towards sharing with those in need.

meaningful Christmas activities beside the Samaritan’s Purse program, such as the Giving Tree. This is where we provide non-perishable food items for people in need on the Gold Coast. The St Hilda’s community strongly believes that it is important to care for others as our school motto is Non Nobis Solum, meaning Not for Ourselves Alone.

At Christmas, children may take presents for granted, but what about those in difficult situations? The Samaritan’s Purse charity has considered this as an issue and has taken action. Every Christmas, volunteers travel overseas to deliver “the shoeboxes filled with love” to the poor children all around the world. Who knew a small gift would fill children’s hearts with joy?

Many of us revere St Hilda as she recognised people’s talents and encouraged them to develop these gifts to the glory of God, which we would summarise as kindness.

She led by example and is remembered for the value of peace, charity and chastity. Hilda was praised not only by those in the Whitby Abbey, but also by the ordinary people beyond the Abbey walls.

This program teaches us to be kind like Jesus taught us to be. At St Hilda’s School there are plenty of other

Our goal is to spread kindness as far as possible and continue to follow Jesus’ teaching.

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Let’s try something new

By The Reverend Andrew Stewart, Chaplain | Mentone Grammar, VIC

I fear that a common theme for those of us who have been working in our schools for more than five years or so is to lament a cutback or two to our role. Talking with chaplains, we are often easily able to bring to mind something that was a regular part of the spiritual life of our school that had to be cut back or dropped for various reasons.

Our Anglican schools are very busy places and when more time is needed it seems that often it is RE or Chapel that takes the hit. This is typically not done as a malicious act but rather as the unfortunate consequence of a very busy calendar and very crowded timetable.

The constant fear of having time taken off us has led some chaplains to find themselves constantly operating out of a defensive posture, being fiercely protective of their diminishing turf. I have even heard of some chaplains postponing their retirement fearing that when they eventually finish at their school that they are unlikely to be replaced. As well as reflecting the reality of a busy school calendar, the diminishing role of the chaplain is also a reflection of which way the wind is blowing in our society. The role of the chaplain, which has been a given in Anglican schools, is now being questioned like never before, from both beyond and from within our schools. As society becomes more and more critical of the church, DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

chaplains as representatives of the church in our schools, find ourselves increasingly in the firing line.

Rather than seeing ourselves like the people of Kiribati, knowing that water levels will inevitably keep rising until their island goes under, I want to advocate for us to try to get on the front foot and do something positive. How can chaplains move to a more positive footing in their schools and try to claim some time back? Perhaps it is time to try something new.

We in the Anglican Church are not generally big fans of the ‘new’, tending to treat the ‘new’ with suspicion and doing our best to avoid it. As a denomination we tend to prefer the ‘old’, as the ‘new’ has a tendency to cause all sorts of problems.

The ‘new’ in schools can also be challenging to introduce having to work through numerous logistical hurdles and 7

obstacles. People have to be won over to your idea, routines can be disrupted and scarce time will need to be found. It is often a whole lot easier in our schools to just go with the flow and leave the ‘new’ to a younger and more enthusiastic member of staff.

How then do you go about trying something new? Is the new simply the domain of the naively aspirational, the foolhardy or the inexperienced?

The first step is to try and identify an existing need in your community. This can be triggered by hearing about something that is working well at another school and feeling that this could also work well in your context. I am a big fan of opportunities for chaplains to network, as sharing ideas becomes a wellspring of potential new initiatives for your own school. Changing schools can also be helpful as you know what has worked well in your old context and can see with fresh eyes what you might be able to introduce in your new school.

In a previous school, regular weekly gatherings with staff for a communion service had been one of the great joys of my ministry as chaplain. The school that I moved to had run communion services in the past but in more recent years, for various reasons, they had stopped taking place.

After a period of settling in, I suggested holding a regular

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communion service to my Principal and he was very supportive of the idea.

The fun of the ‘new’ is that your idea can finish up morphing into something grander than your initial vision. When I made the suggestion to my Principal, I was envisaging starting a weekly communion service with staff that would be open to students (realistically not expecting many students to attend). My Principal suggested that we begin and end each Term with a communion service and wanted to see if we could fill the local church (that we use as our chapel) with students. I was somewhat embarrassed that my Principal was the one with greater vision and faith than the chaplain. My Principal is not a fan of seeing new ventures fail, and so he backed the service strongly.

Four years on we have a voluntary communion service on a Wednesday morning at the beginning and end of Terms One to Three that is now a regular part of the rhythm of school life. These services are strongly attended by students and by staff.

When it came to Term Four it was a bit difficult to work out where to place the service. We felt, given the busyness of Term 4 that we would just have the one service, the challenge was when to hold it. The beginning of the term was focused around Year 12 farewells while the end of the

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term was focused on end of year and Christmas activities.

Given this we decided to hold the service in the middle of the term.

The date was determined at the start of the year and when it got closer, we realised that it coincided with the start of the Year 12 written exams. So, we decided to focus the prayers at this service on our Year 12 students as their exams got underway and invited students and staff to come forward during the service to light tapers.

Four years on and this service packs out the church to the point where we had an unprecedented Anglican problem this year when we ran out of Prayer Books for the congregation. There is a wonderful atmosphere at the service as students from all year levels, led by our Preps, light tapers as a symbol of their thoughts and prayers for our Year 12 students.

Another new thing that I tried this year was a pet service. I have been a chaplain for nearly twenty years, and having started at a primary campus, holding a service for primary students where they could bring along their pets was something that I had always wanted to try.

There is every reason not to do a pet service in this day and age. Logistical challenges abound – what to do with the students who don’t have a pet or whose pet has recently died, or the students allergic to cats, or the student who has a pet snake or spider. Stories of schools where a pet service has gone awry and a pet has bitten another pet, or a student, or even the Principal have taken on folkloric proportions in chaplaincy circles. As have stories where sacred spaces have been rendered much less sacred in the aftermath of a pet service that got untidy. So, while I had dreamed of holding a pet service I have to confess I lacked the courage to take the plunge and try to make it a reality in my school.

The value of networking was again affirmed to me when, at a recent chaplains meeting here in Melbourne, one of the chaplains at another school shared how she has run a successful pet service at her school. I was really impressed with the way she has worked through the various logistical issues and she happily shared her order of service with us (special thanks to Rev Emily Fraser, Chaplain at Lowther Hall). I realised that it was time to take the dog by the lead so to speak and to give running a pet service a go.

Over the coming weeks and months, I worked my way through the considerable logistical challenges the service presented, including a memorable meeting with our risk management person brainstorming all the things that could potentially go awry.

Adapting the model from another school to our own context, we were able to run a really successful pet service at the end of Term 3. Given it was the first time this service was run, making it successful was a priority.

We limited it to two pets per class with other students invited to bring along a picture of their pet or a pet they would like to have. It worked because I had the support on the ground of one of our primary teachers who helped ensure that the other staff were on board. The students, as you can well imagine, loved it.

Trying something new is really good for the soul. In an age where we are often fearful in our ministry context that things might get taken away from us, adding something new into the mix that is well received by your school community is a really affirming and encouraging experience. So what are you waiting for? Time to give that idea that has been in the back of your mind a go.

Reverend Andrew Stewart has nineteen years’ experience as a school chaplain and works as a chaplain at Mentone Grammar in Melbourne. Andrew is also the chair of the Chaplains in Anglican Schools network in Victoria.

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Students journey in God’s creation and the Gospel of Luke

By Anthony Segaert | St Andrew’s Cathedral School, NSW

Spending 20 days in the wilderness presents many opportunities to be challenged physically and mentally. And for Year 10 students at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Sydney, participating in a 20-day expedition from Mount Kosciusko to the NSW/Victoria coast presents another opportunity, the chance to think deeply about the message of Christ.

Travelling more than 281km over 20 days on foot and by kayak, students are afforded the time and space to think about God’s creation and the impact of the Gospel on their lives. Along their journey, campers read a chapter of the Gospel of Luke every day, and the group has the chance to discuss and question the impact of Jesus’ life on the world and themselves.

“It’s sort of the first time in their schooling experience that students will read an entire book of the Bible over one period of time,” Outdoor Education Supervisor Josh Singleton says.

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“But when you read the story as a group together, it’s really powerful. As students progress in their journey, the journey of the story progresses too.”

At first, he admits, students can be a bit stand-offish about the whole exercise.

“They ask why we’re doing it, especially as we go through Jesus’ genealogy in Luke 3! But they become invested in it and start asking all these questions. It’s really cool seeing them engage with the Gospel story as a whole,” he said.

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Mr Singleton remembers one camp, in particular, that reminded him of how good it was: on a beautiful evening towards the end of the journey, the group decided to lie down on their kayaks and look up at the stars. One of the leaders read aloud three chapters of Luke.

“We were just looking up in silence. Then one of the students asked a question. And another! In that silence, you could tell they were really thinking deeply about the Gospel message,” he said.

Several students, who have since committed their lives to Jesus, cite that time as a key moment in their coming to faith.

Why are students more receptive to the story of Jesus on camp than in the classroom? Aside from the extra time to contemplate, Mr Singleton believes there are two more reasons.

Firstly, camps are far more relational. On camp, barriers between the adult leaders and students are reduced as students are given the agency to lead their peers. But he says camps are also “in God’s glorious creation”.

The evidence for God’s presence surrounds them. “You don’t always need to add anything to the majesty of the mountains; God made them,” he said.

Image credit: Stuart Montgomery

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LOUNGE ACCESS

The Reverend Susan Crothers-Robertson (second from right) is welcomed by (from left) St Margaret’s Principal Ros Curtis, Sister Gillian, Bishop Jeremy Greaves and Sister Eunice.

New Chaplain welcomed New Principal for Pulteney Pulteney Grammar School, SA Highly-credentialled educator Cameron Bacholer has been appointed the new Principal of Pulteney Grammar School for 2020.

Chair of Pulteney Grammar School Board of Governors Allen Candy said Mr Bacholer was selected from an outstanding field of local, interstate and overseas candidates.

He will join Pulteney in January from The Knox School in Melbourne where he has been Vice Principal since 2016. At The Knox, Mr Bacholer was responsible for the day-to-day leadership in a period that recorded a 20 per cent increase in enrolments, a median ATAR increase of 11 points and high parent satisfaction ratings.

This year, Mr Bacholer was named by Educator Australia magazine in its ‘Hot List’ top 50 educators. Educator Australia described him as: “…at the vanguard of the next generation of school leaders”.

A feature of his approach to education is his commitment to develop colleagues and students through ‘student agency and personalised learning’. This approach enables learning through activities meaningful and relevant to the learner, driven by their interests and often initiated by them with appropriate guidance from their teacher. It gives students a voice and choice in how they learn.

Mr Bacholer holds a Master of Business (Strategy and Organisational Culture) from the Melbourne Business School along with a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Teaching, all from The University of Melbourne.

He takes over from Anne Dunstan who leaves Pulteney to become Principal of Guildford Grammar School in Perth.

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St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, QLD St Margaret’s is pleased to have welcomed The Reverend Susan Crothers-Robertson to the role of School Chaplain.

Ordained as Deacon in 1997 and Priest in 1998, Reverend Susan will bring with her a depth of experience in the Anglican ministry from her diverse roles, which have included Assistant Curate (Parish of Maryborough), Priest in Charge (Freshwater Parish, Deception Bay), Canon Pastor and Mission Chaplain at St John’s Cathedral, and Director of Ministry Formation at the Mission Education Commission in Brisbane. Most recently, Reverend Susan spent five years as College Chaplain at St John’s Anglican College in Forest Lake.

When she first felt the calling to be a priest, Reverend Susan spent time in the retreat house run by the Sisters of the Society of Sacred Advent, exploring her call to ordination. In that time, she became a company member.

“For me, there is a deep sense of connection. I feel like I am coming ‘back’ to the place where it all began; yet, there is newness. I am very aware that a lot has changed in that time,” Reverend Susan said. “I believe school chaplaincy is a vital ministry in the life of the church. I came from a non-Christian home and attended the local Catholic Church school. Here I was educated mainly by nuns. It was while at this school that I felt called by God and was able to explore my faith. My experience reveals that school ministry is fundamental to the life of the Church.”

Reverend Susan says school chaplaincy has brought her great joy.

“Prayer Spaces in schools are my passion and last year I started my Doctor of Education investigating some of the areas that support Prayer Spaces,” she said.

Reverend Susan acknowledges the ministry and the many years her colleague The Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge served at St Margaret’s and looks forward to building upon Nicki’s legacy.

Reverend Susan was commissioned as St Margaret’s Chaplain in a special service with the St Margaret’s community and Bishop Jeremy Greaves officiating.

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Brother Robin and Alf Shand

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Brother Robin with Mitchell Rox and his grandfather and former St Barnabas student Major Elgey

Brother Robin with The Right Rev Dr Keith Joseph

Ethan & Bryce Cowan with School Chapel Prefect Casey

FORMER STUDENTS: L-R, Major Elgey, Brother Robin Warsop, Guido Paggioli, and Alistair Farquhar

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A Life dedicated to God and Education All Souls St Gabriels School, QLD

The last surviving Brother of the Brotherhood of St Barnabas has celebrated 70 years of service to the Brotherhood. Brother Robin Warsop celebrated the Platinum anniversary milestone recently at the All Souls Chapel at All Souls St Gabriels School.

The Brotherhood was started by Aneirun Vaughan Williams and Joseph Braybarton in 1902 in the tin-mining town of Herberton.

They initially called their small organisation the Community of St Barnabas, but it was referred to as the ‘North Queensland Bush Brotherhood’ until 1926. At that time, it was decided to formally call it the Brotherhood of St Barnabas.

The spirit of adventure which the brotherhoods symbolised, attracted men from England and the southern states of Australia to North Queensland to ensure that the Church of England stayed strong in the Australian bush.

Brother Robin, aged 19, first became aware of the Brotherhood after reading a newspaper advertisement on a train in Melbourne in 1948.

Brother Robin Warsop has dedication his life, talents and love to students in Christian Education in North Queensland and started out his career at St Barnabas School in Ravenshoe. He still has a strong connection with the students from the school and spent many a Christmas with Alistair Farquhar (Founding Boy of St Barnabas) and his family.

Brother Robin who turned 90 on the 27th September, has been associated with All Souls St Gabriels School for more than 60 years as a teacher, Head of Junior School, Feetham House Master and Chaplain.

Twice a week Brother Robin visits the school to attend Friday’s Chapel Service and Headmaster’s Assembly on a Tuesday, where he gives his history lesson on the School’s foundations. Brother Robin now lives in retirement in Charters Towers.

The School was proud to honor Brother Robin, with the Bishop of North Queensland -The Right Rev Dr Keith Joseph, Bishop Bill Ray, and special guests witnessing his profession to the Brotherhood once again.

The ceremony was followed by a formal luncheon at Halse Hall where he was once again honored with speeches from Alistair Farquhar, his lifelong friend Donald Crombie, John Honeycombe, who was a student from Brother Robin’s first class, Christopher Allingham from the School Board of Governors, and Head of Feetham House Dennis Riddle.

Chapel servers

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NEW IDEAS: St Mary’s Year 10 Marine Science students have come up with a number of environmentally sustainable inventions.

Leading the way in environmental sustainability St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, WA

St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School’s innovative environmental sustainability programs have caught the attention of local and federal governments.

The Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans, Federal Member for Stirling, Vince Connelly and City of Stirling Mayor, Mark Irwin, took time out of their busy schedules in early November to meet with students, teachers and St Mary’s Principal, Mrs Judith Tudball, to look at the groundbreaking programs and ideas developed by the School and students themselves.

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The visit was hosted by Year 10 students, Lucy Lönnqvist and Poppy Briggs, who developed the award-winning app Bin It Right.

City of Stirling Mayor, Mark Irwin, took the opportunity to award the girls with the Stirling Star Award, in recognition of their dynamic idea, which aims to solve the problem of improper waste disposal.

Poppy explained to the visitors that the Bin It Right app uses a unique photo recognition feature, which allows users to simply take a photo of the item when they are unsure of the bin it belongs in.

“The app scans the image and indicates whether the item belongs in the green waste, waste or recycling bin,” Poppy said.

The girls pitched their app to five Waste Management ‘Sharks’, during the Waste and Recycle Conference at Crown Towers in late September, using skills they learnt through the Year 10 i3 STEM program, and won $4000 to

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MINISTERIAL VISIT: L-R, Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans, Federal Member for Stirling Vince Connelly, Year 10 students Lucy Lönnqvist and Poppy Briggs, St Mary’s Principal Mrs Judith Tudball and City of Stirling Mayor, Mark Irwin.

invest in their app and bring it to the market. Once the app has been made available to download, the City of Stirling has promised to lend their support to the app.

The tour also showcased St Mary’s sustainable garden, which was developed last year. The waterwise garden not only produces fresh vegetables but also recycles a huge amount of food scraps from the canteen. Six worm farms churn through the waste, which produces an organic fertiliser and soil that are re-used in the garden or sold on to the St Mary’s community. The money is reinvested to purchase new seedlings and mulch.

The Minister also met with Year 10 students studying Marine Science, who have come up with a number of environmentally sustainable inventions such as a drinking straw made from sea lettuce, an ‘Obot’, which could be a potential solution to marine biofouling and decommissioning WA’s oil and gas rigs and allowing them to naturally form a reef.

The girls have also researched key areas such as the harmful effects of chemicals like oxybenzone, contained in sunscreens, on the growth of sea lettuce, and ultimately, our marine system.

The visit finished with a passionate presentation from Year 1 student, Isolde, who charmed the visitors, teachers and students alike with her PowerPoint presentation about A Plastic Ocean and the changes needed to protect marine life.

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Sisters crafty idea St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School, QLD

Two St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School sisters have crafted a fundraising idea motivated by a desire to help others in need.

The siblings, Valletta aged 10 and Nina aged 9, have learnt the age-old art of macramé and are putting their skills to good use making and selling plant hangers to raise money for charity.

Macramé, or knotting, is one of many crafts that has seen a resurgence recently and the St Margaret’s sisters became hooked on the craft at a school holiday workshop.

The girls are planning to donate proceeds from their craft project to the sick children and their families at Hummingbird House.

Valletta said: “Our mum inspired us because she will spend five days trekking the Great Wall of China next year to raise money for Hummingbird House.

“We wanted to help out too and so we thought it would be a great idea to make and sell our macramé plant hangers and donate the money to Hummingbird House.”

The girls are using materials donated by their mum and dad for the project and plan on spending the next several months busily crafting their macramé hangers ready for sale at a local market and to family and friends.

The girls’ crafty idea has also become a school project as part of St Margaret’s service learning program which aims to inspire students to develop a life-long commitment to giving and involves community service as part of the greater education curriculum in both the primary and secondary schools.

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The Letter ‘J’ is for Jesus

By The Reverend Andrew Mintern, Chaplain | St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School, SA

When reflecting on how we tell the story of Jesus at St Peter’s Woodlands, it’s natural to recall our annual, much-loved Nativity play. Every year a group of enthusiastic, fresh-faced Reception children don costumes and smiles to delight us with a beaming recount of the birth of Jesus. The St Margaret’s Chapel overflows as students, staff and families join together for this much anticipated event.

But then what? Does Jesus’ story end there? Here at St Peter’s Woodlands we look for opportunities to embed His story into many aspects of school life.

Recently I visited the 4-year-old children in our Early Learning Centre. The literacy focus for the week was the letter ‘J’ and the educators thought this would be the perfect time to talk about Jesus.

I was invited to share with our children my love for Jesus.

When the children were asked who had heard of Jesus, many hands shot up and a couple of children cried out, “Baby Jesus.” They were looking forward to Christmas already!

Of course with Christmas fast approaching we talked together about the story of Jesus’ birth. But I was also able to continue the conversation about what Jesus did when he grew up. We looked at a storybook about Jesus and his friends. It turns out that some of his friends had names starting with J as well! We discovered two different people named James, two Judas’ and a John! The time together was rounded out by singing ‘Jump for Joy’ 18

together. It was a great way to bring the Jesus story into an ordinary part of the school day.

When a child begins Reception at St Peter’s Woodlands, they receive a picture book called ‘Jesus and the Children.’ When they graduate, they receive a full bible, in recent years the NIV Manga Bible. In between these two gifts we look to reinforce a connection to the many different aspects of His life in weekly Chapel services, in assembly prayers, in classroom prayers, in RAVE lessons and in visits to our local parish church.

If we leave the story in the manger where Jesus was born two thousand years ago, it may be beautiful but it might not be relevant. By bringing the example and teaching of Jesus to different situations, we exemplify how the Christian faith can be a living faith that sustains, challenges and inspires us throughout the whole of life.

Yes, the Reception Nativity play is an eagerly awaited highlight to end the year. But really, it’s just the beginning.

ASA NEWS

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ASA NEWS

An Enduring Legacy

By The Reverend Brad Galvin, Senior Chaplain | John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, WA

At John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) we are committed to helping our students and their families engage with the Christian faith and in particular, grow in their understanding of the work and person of Jesus.

Every year our committed and talented primary school staff work tirelessly teaching our students the Christmas story told from a new or different perspective, learning new songs, creating stage props, or helping students learn their lines while refining their choreography and dance moves. All of this hard work comes together perfectly for a celebration of Christmas joy and festivity; as JSRACS littlest students perform the Christmas story.

One of our wonderful traditions at JSRACS is the Junior Primary School (K-Year 2) Nativity Play, which in the face of an ever-increasing secular culture has kept the birth of our Lord Jesus on the agenda at JSRACS for over 20 years.

The format of the Nativity Play is shaped around the students’ year groups – Kindergarten students absorb the whole experience while singing along; whereas our Pre-primary to Year 2 students form a choir of angels singing with selected Pre Primary dancers with Year 1 Actors and Year 2 Narrators capably retelling the story of the Nativity. Over the course of four years participating in this wonderful event, each child in Junior Primary will have had the opportunity to take on one of these important roles.

For many of our students this is the first time they have had an opportunity to participate in a mini production and we hope that this experience creates many wonderful memories for them as they learn the true meaning of Christmas.

Current School Vice-Captain Tait McIntosh remembers her pivotal role in the Nativity Play with mixed emotions.

“I was a sheep! The Nativity Play was so much fun even though I didn’t get the leading role of Mary. It was something that we looked forward to every year,” she said.

We hope the Nativity Play continues to be a helpful educational experience for our students as it integrates the learning areas of Drama, Art, Music and Dance with the amazing message that Jesus the King really is the saviour of the world.

Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah [King], the Lord. Luke 2:11

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

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Follow that star St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, QLD

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2) The Star of Bethlehem or Christmas Star appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew where, shining brightly in the heavens above, it guided the wise men to the manger where Jesus was born.

For St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School’s youngest learners, the star has formed a powerful biblical symbol helping the Pre-Prep children come to know the story of Jesus.

St Margaret’s Chaplain, The Reverend Susan CrothersRobertson, in collaboration with Pre-Prep teacher Mrs Katie Bryant, use many methods of storytelling around the theme ‘Follow that Star’ to share the Jesus story with the four and five-year-olds.

“Young children learn and make meaning through story and this has been factored into the way in which we bring the story of Jesus to life in their developing minds,” Mrs Bryant said.

In class time, the children have read several books about stars including Draw Me A Star by Eric Carle, How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers, Star in the Jar by Sam Hay, The First Christmas illustrated by Jess Racklyeft, The Tiny Star by Mem Fox and My Pet Star by Corrinne Averiss.

The students have also gathered with Reverend Susan on a weekly basis, to help familiarise them with the Chapel and provide them with an introduction to the story of Jesus in preparation for their End of Year Pre-Prep service, also their 22

first school chapel service, at the end of the term. Reverend Susan said she used a variety of methods to tell the Christmas story in a different way each week.

“Sometimes books are used and other times visual materials, all of which help the children to picture the story in the mind,” she said.

“One week I brought out my Christmas stole for them to see and touch and we discussed some of the rituals around being in the Chapel. At every opportunity, I encourage questioning and invite the children to elicit their own thoughts and ideas about the story.”

On one occasion, a fun and bright felt Christmas tree was used and, while Reverend Susan shared the story of Jesus’ birth, the students each held a visual of key figures which, when prompted, they would hang on the tree.

The Pre-Preps have even started to role play the Jesus story having created their own manger and simple fabric costumes to represent key figures in the story. As they begin to make connections, they have engaged in a lot of discussion about Mary and Joseph and who is the father of the baby Jesus.

They have also been practicing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, which they will sing in three languages during their End of Year service, recognising the cultural diversity within the group.

Throughout the year, St Margaret’s students in Prep to Year 12 have shared in the story of Jesus through their Religious Values and Education classroom curriculum and will come together for a combined end of year Chapel service at the end of term.

As a final way of bringing the Jesus story into everyday reality, the students and staff are invited to do as the wise men did all those many thousands of years ago, to bring gifts. Staff and students generously give toys and food to those who may find it hard to make ends meet at Christmas time.

ASA NEWS

STORYTELLING: Year 1 students work together to write the script and then perform the Nativity Play.

A focus on giving at St Michael’s St Michael’s Grammar School, VIC

During the festive period at St Michael’s Grammar School we reflect on the Christmas Story and focus on giving to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

“The focus on giving at Christmas rather than receiving emulates the gifts that the Wise Men brought to the baby Jesus,” said Mr Murray Phyland, St Michael’s Head of Community Service (K-12).

“In the lead up to Christmas, St Michael’s supports the Anglicare toy appeal and raises much needed funds and donations of food and clothing for Sacred Heart Mission.”

Reflecting on the Christmas Story is also an important part of our Christmas celebrations at St Michael’s. Our Year 1 students have the important role of telling the story of the birth of Jesus through the Nativity Play which is presented at the Family Christmas Service.

“The script for the Nativity Play is written by the Year 1 students as part of their Transdisciplinary Learning Program,” said Fr Kenyon McKie, St Michael’s Senior Chaplain.

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“This involves reading, researching and wondering about the Christmas Story and then writing the story in their own words while still being faithful to the gospel, well almost!”

The masks and props used during the play are all made by the students during a special Grow Zone Day held early in Term 4. The Year 1 students also compose the music that is played during the nativity and create the illustrations that are used in the Order of Service.

The Nativity Play is a wonderful opportunity for our Year 1 students to share their understanding of the Christmas Story.

St Michael’s is delighted to support local charitable organisations during the festive period and to encourage the gift of giving at this joyful time of year.

ASA NEWS

Loving others at Christmas as Jesus loves us

By Fiona Wright, Head of Ridley House | Penrith Anglican College, NSW

At the end of each year, Penrith Anglican College staff and students live the Jesus story by loving others as we have been loved.

For over 17 years the College community has contributed to Anglicare’s Toys ‘n’ Tucker Appeal. Our Year 12 students lead the initiative, and the entire College is invited to contribute. Students pack the donations into boxes and help load the truck when it arrives. Each and every year the generosity of the College community is overwhelming and humbling.

In addition to Toys ‘n’ Tucker, in Term 4 each year the staff of the College unite to live the Jesus story. In 2017, we did this by supporting Australian troops overseas. The College values its many links with military families and ex-students, and staff were delighted to create exciting, useful and thoughtful gift boxes to send to Australian personnel serving overseas. Over 80 boxes of Christmas cheer were packed and sent off.

In 2018, College staff focussed on living the Jesus story to two particular communities experiencing drought. The College runs a Dusty Boots program which for the last five years has travelled to Cootamundra. Dusty Boots teams have made wonderful links with the community there and have seen first-hand some of the impacts of drought on rural communities. The College had also heard from Kate, a student at Macquarie Anglican Grammar about the toll the drought was taking on students and their families and had raised money earlier in this year to support these families.

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

In Term 4, 2018, College staff packed Christmas parcels for families in both communities who had been impacted by the drought and delivered them to both communities.

The thoughtfulness and generosity evidenced by the staff was incredible. Hampers were made containing ingredients for Christmas cakes for those who loved to cook, packs were designed for creative kids, for sporty kids, for families to enjoy movie nights together and for couples to enjoy a romantic evening.

In all of these things, the College lives the Jesus story, showing others that “we love because he first loved us.”

1 John 4:19 25

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AGED CARE SINGALONG: Preparatory students Phoebe, Georgina, Maggie and Xenia sang Christmas carols at Residency by Dillons in Mount Lawley.

Finding Joy in Giving Perth College, WA

The Christmas generosity of Perth College staff and students will last beyond the festive season. The Junior School has chosen to give to Operation Sunshine WA, supporting not only its annual Christmas appeal but another two initiatives which help women and children year-round.

PARKERVILLE: Year 7 students Charlotte, Taya and Scarlett load shoeboxes filled with gifts for delivery to Parkerville

Operation Sunshine assists children entering out-of-home and crisis care as well as women escaping domestic violence.

“Our girls learn about giving back from a young age, demonstrating all of the Perth College values – being capable, courageous and caring,” she said.

While Perth College students from Kindergarten to Year 3 are donating a new toy for the organisation to distribute at Christmas for children in foster and residential care, classes from Years 4 to 6 are creating Sunshine Packs – backpacks filled with new hygiene products, clothing, toys and stationery as well as a surprise ‘bonus’ item. The backpacks will be delivered to young people in out-ofhome care organisations and crisis centres across WA.

“The range of organisations they are supporting, particularly at Christmas, by giving their time, resources or donations is heartwarming.”

In a similar vein, Junior School staff are putting together Courage Kits containing new clothing, hygiene products and books for Operation Sunshine to deliver to women’s shelters, creating comfort and distraction during a vulnerable and uncertain time.

Principal Helen Aguiar said Perth College had always encouraged its students to give back to the community and make a difference, in the tradition of its founders, the Community of the Sisters of the Church.

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

The Year 7 cohort has decorated and filled shoeboxes with gifts for Parkerville Children and Youth Care to distribute this Christmas as well as for birthdays. Perth College has a long-standing relationship with Parkerville, which was also established by the Sisters of the Church.

Girls across the Senior School have donated stationery for Anglicare WA’s Christmas Appeal, ensuring a happy and smooth start to the 2020 school year for hundreds of children whose families are struggling.

Additionally, Kindergarten and Preparatory students have delivered some festive cheer to the residents at aged care facility Residency by Dillons in Mount Lawley, singing carols and giving handmade cards and drawings.

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BARROWFUL OF FUN: Students and staff from Cathedral College raised $3000 for a Nepalese school as part of their service learning project.

Wheeling to the top for Nepal

By The Reverend David Jones and Ms Mary Laughton | Cathedral College Wangaratta, VIC

When you take a group of individuals, add in two-day journey of 88km, a mountain, a wheelbarrow and some sponsorship; what do you end up with?

In our case you end up with $3000 for our service-learning project at the village school in Ghat in Nepal, a tightly knit team of 11 students and two staff, a whole lot of blisters, and a group who know that they can work hard, look out for each other and achieve together as a team.

The Barrowthon is a community event in which teams push a wheelbarrow from Beechworth to the top of Mount Buffalo over the weekend of October 19-20. The students and staff who are heading to Nepal at the end of this year, along with some family members, entered a team in this event.

After an early start on the Saturday morning it was a long and steady 66 kilometres on the rail trail to Porepunkah.

Our strategy was to speed walk, jog and sometimes run (especially when we were trying to catch another team).

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No, it wasn’t a race, but there was some good spirited competition among the teams which were comprised of other school groups and community members who were raising money for their chosen charities.

Our team split into smaller groups of three or four who took it in turns to do approximately five-kilometre sections while the other students rode in the mini-bus. We would then swap over, allowing a rested group to keep the wheelbarrow moving on. There was one simple rule between us, the wheelbarrow didn’t stop moving. This led to some pretty interesting handovers, as we discovered it was not quite as easy as passing a relay batten! We were surprised at how quickly we got through the kilometres, with everyone enjoying the challenge, even though there were some aching muscles and very sore feet.

ASA NEWS

Help at Christmas FUNDRAISER: Students held a ‘fill the barrow’ gold coin donation day to raise money for a school in Nepal as part of their service learning program.

By The Reverend Paula Bullock | Trinity College, SA In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Luke 2: 1; 3-4

HELPING HAND: Students also raised funds selling friendship bracelets at the school.

The second day was another early start traveling from Porepunkah up the mountain to the Chalet on Mt Buffalo.

Our strategy changed to much shorter stints pushing the wheelbarrow. We finished this massive challenge as one group, with our lead students waiting until we were all together as a bunch to cross the finish line. The students organised this themselves, exemplifying the strong team the students became over the course of the weekend.

Special thanks to our parents who participated or supported students. We are very proud of our students and thankful to our wider community for helping us to raise the funds that will go directly to the school in Nepal that our Service-Learning group will visit in January.

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

At Trinity College South School we use the familiar words of Luke’s Gospel to tell the Christmas story in our Chapel Services. The whole story is about a bunch of insignificant outsiders with no identity except to be counted for the purpose of tax collection. Using this story we are able to help students understand that there are many people in South Australia who have been robbed of their identity and been rendered invisible, or as an insignificant outsider, by the giving of unhelpful labels like; “just some homeless bloke”; or “just some old person”; or “just a drunk”.

But of course the Christmas tale is the beginning of an amazing story of a man called Jesus, who Christians believe was God in human skin, who said everyone counts.

Especially those who are made to feel like insignificant outsiders. So we use the telling of this story as a launch pad for our Christmas Hamper Appeal.

Trinity College South School partners with AnglicareSA, an organisation that is part of the Anglican Community in South Australia. This organisation supports nearly 65,000 vulnerable people each year, many of whom are unnoticed, ignored or forgotten.

In supplying food for hampers the school partners with AnglicareSA in expressing God’s love for individuals and families in need, who would otherwise be facing a bleak and desperate holiday season. In doing this we continue to be part of the story of Jesus; the story that said everyone counts.

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WINNERS: Successful team members from left (back row) Meg Cooper, Zoe Caris, Zoe Lecher, Liam Coulthard, Anna Sterling, William Blackwood, Isabella Sowerby and (front row) Braeden van de Beek, Kaelan Lowe, Anoushka Kerhalkar, Stephanie Walker, Cassandra Matthews, Thomas Arnold and Stephanie McCracken.

Double championship a first St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, VIC

Two teams from St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School came home as the international champions of the 2019 Tournament of Minds (TOM) International Finals held at Hobart recently. Teams from the regional school won the Primary STEM and the Language St Paul’s is the first Victorian school ever to win two primary school divisions at the TOM finals and the first Victorian school since 1994 to win the primary Language Literature division.

TOM is a problem-solving program for primary and secondary students that develops diverse skills through open-ended challenges across STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Language Literature, Social Sciences and the Arts disciplines.

Schools from Hong Kong, China, South Africa, Uganda, New Zealand, Thailand, India and the UAE participate in this international competition. The 2019 competition began with the regional competitions in which around 14,000 students participated from Australia and overseas.

The STEM and Language Literature teams from St Paul’s represented Victoria at the international finals after attaining the Primary Victorian State Titles at the State final held at La Trobe University.

The students from both teams attend St Paul’s Warragul Junior School which runs TOM as part of their co-curricular program where students train during lunchtimes and after school (whereas many other schools train for TOM as part

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

of their curriculum).

TOM actively encourages teamwork as teams participate in a six-week Long Term Challenge to produce a creative and original presentation for a solution to a problem that is unique to their challenge field. Each presentation is required to be presented in under ten minutes to a panel of judges and follows complex challenge criteria.

Teams also complete a short Spontaneous Challenge on Tournament Day that requires the group to work together and think creatively and quickly on the spot.

The challenges in Language Literature involved indepth analysis and research of texts from a variety of areas, whereas STEM challenges provide an integrated approach using creative and critical thinking skills to solve authentic context challenges.

During the final, students from both St Paul’s teams were able to deliver skills that employers look for – reading and understanding a problem and then offering a solution to the problem.

This is the third consecutive year that St Paul’s has had a team compete in the TOM International Finals.

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Christmas At Lowther Hall

By The Reverend Emily Fraser, School Chaplain | Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School, VIC

The story of Jesus has long been told through songs and carols, which combine text and tune in ways which are beautiful as well as inspiring and thought-provoking. At Lowther Hall, we use our Christmas services to tell the story of Jesus to the girls from Kindergarten to Year 12 in three age-appropriate services held throughout December.

The Blinkbonnie House Christmas Service is attended by our girls from Kindergarten to Year 1. Each year level sing Christmas Carols while every girl in Year 1 has a part in telling the Christmas Story. The service is followed by a family picnic, which allows the school community to spend time together, sharing food and hospitality.

In our Raymond House Christmas Service (for Years 2 to 6), our Years 2 and 3 girls lead the carols, readings and prayers. A shortened service of lessons and carols, it tells the Christmas story with an invitation to listen and learn, and to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Girls in Years 4 to 12 attend the Cathedral Carol Service.

This is a highlight of the school calendar, and an opportunity to gather in St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne’s CBD for a formal service of Lessons and Carols. The 2019 service is themed around prophecy and prophets, and their role in sharing the Good News of Jesus’ birth. Students, staff, parents, old grammarians and school council crowd into

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

the Cathedral to participate in the service. The choirs sing carefully prepared pieces which help tell the Christmas story and tell the importance of Jesus’ birth, and the congregation responds with hymns and carols. As a symbol of our diversity, the Lord’s Prayer is said together in multiple languages, reflecting the cultural backgrounds of the school community.

We are an Anglican School, but understand and respect that not all our students are Christians. Our aim is to offer services in which the girls actively participate, and create services in which girls can comfortably contribute regardless of their personal beliefs. We hope they see the beauty of gathering together as a community to celebrate and share music, understand that the infant Jesus brings a message of peace and goodwill to humanity, and that Jesus’ teachings of compassion and kindness remain valuable, whatever religious perspective they might hold.

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A Tribute to Faith

By Hannah Stanton, Year 11 Student | Fraser Coast Anglican College, QLD

‘Rebirth and Reminders’ was created as a tribute to my faith. I painted the piece using oil paints, this enhanced the deep vibrancy of the piece, breathing life into the symbols throughout ‘Rebirth and Reminders’. Creating the artwork drew me closer to my faith that I believe was weakened over time.

Life gets busy and you begin to forget what’s truly important; And so, I have reconnected with what I had lost. With this in mind, the artwork was named ‘Rebirth and Reminders’ to represent my personal links to my faith and how it has changed me spiritually.

Symbols of the Anglican faith are found wherever the eye meets, doves and dominating olive leaves; church windows, rosary beads, and coins can be observed. The coins represent the story in Luke 21:1-4 where a widow donated what she could despite her own shortcomings.

To me the coins represent resilience and doing what one can even when the odds are against you. However, as I’ve placed the coins in a dark aspect of the piece, a sense of failure and consumption is felt. This symbolises the 36

monopoly of charity; something I have struggled with in the past. Therefore, I want to learn how to give without expecting applause or gratification.

These stories have been told to me as a child, sticking with me throughout my life. As a consequence, the subject is looking at the symbols with intent, she looks to them to remind herself of the values of God. A representation of how I have felt in my life, especially, when life can be congested with misplaced priorities. Therefore, I must remind myself of the words of God to become a better version of myself.

The blue rosary beads are a constant reminder of my faith. With so many distractions in life it’s hard to keep ASA NEWS

CLEAN UP: L-R, students Matt Newberry, Chloe Braun and Imogen Lamont join Prosper Coffs Harbour Fundraising Manager Melissa Nunn and Principal Nick Johnstone raise funds for a seabin in the fight against plastics.

Taking a stand Bishop Druitt College, NSW

Prosper Coffs Harbour’s Protection of the Environment Trust is taking a stand against ocean plastics. Together, with the support of Bishop Druitt College, the trust will aim to raise enough money to bring a Seabin to Coffs Harbour.

Prosper Coffs Harbour Fundraising Manager Melissa Nunn said action needed to be taken on pollution now.

“By fundraising to purchase a Seabin, we can all make a difference to reduce our plastic pollution impact on the ocean and maintain a clean Waterway,” she said. focus on what’s right, especially, when you get caught up in the whims of yourself and others. The rosary beads sit proudly on my bedside table serving as a reminder to myself. Every time I close my eyes to go to sleep and every time I open them, I see the beads which remind me to reflect on my day, how I acted and what can I change to grow into the person who can confidently stand in God’s grace.

It’s hard in this day and age to believe in God, the world is now consumed with questions. You hear comparisons between God and the Loch Ness monster, and I’m shameful to admit that it wavers my belief. But then I remember who I turn to when I can’t turn anymore, who guides me through the desert. I truly want to believe that there’s a higher power that gives meaning to this world, that makes the unjust… just. I want to believe that the world isn’t an empty space of coincidences. And so, every day I work towards lifting my beliefs and getting better at doing good for the sake of doing good. Without expecting applause or gratification for my actions. Creating this artwork strengthened my connection with my Anglican faith.

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

“We are very excited to have the support of Bishop Druitt College to assist in the fundraising efforts for the Seabin over the coming months.”

The Seabin is a cleaning device that will operate 24/7 collecting floating debris in the water, reducing litter escaping into the estuary and the wider ocean environment.

The Seabin can collect up to 1.5kgs of floating debris per day. This includes large plastic bags, bottles, plastic straws, coffee cups, food wrappers, surface oils and micros plastics down to 2mm small.

Once the funds have been raised for the Seabin it will be donated to the Jetty Marina where it will be maintained and continue to clean the waterway so there is no litter escaping into the wider ocean environment.

Bishop Druitt College Principal Nick Johnstone said the School was very pleased to be working with Prosper Coffs Harbour to bring a seabin to the Jetty.

“We need to support organisations doing great things in our community and the Seabin project is one of them,” he said.

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GIFT OF GIVING: Students donate to the Christmas Hamper Appeal.

Christmas spirit alive and well Peter Moyes Anglican Community School, WA

Personal excellence with compassion for others. These were the words of Mr Peter Moyes at the 2002 opening of Stage Three of the School named in his honour - Peter Moyes Anglican Community School (PMACS).

He said that his wish for students attending the School named in his honour was that they would exhibit “Personal excellence with compassion for others”. As an Anglican School and in the spirit of these words, we are called to love and care for those around us, particularly those who are less fortunate than we are.

who need support at this pressured time of the year. The recipients are always immensely grateful for the generosity of the PMACS community. This is done in conjunction with our local parish; the parish of Quinns-Butler. The parish now share our new Chapel, St Gregory’s, as their place of worship.

In the run-up to Christmas, we set up large nativity scenes at each of the four reception desks around the School, as well as in the auditorium. These scenes portray the wonderful message of the Good News of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Continuing the Christmas spirit in the PMACS community, we have an annual Christmas Carols and picnic event. The evening is opened with prayer by our School Chaplain, The Reverend Dave Deeny.

Each of these nativity scenes is also a collection point for our Christmas Hamper Appeal. In response to this appeal, our School community comes together in an amazing way and provides an abundance of items for the hampers.

Our Kindy to Year 2 students then lead this wonderful celebration in which the story of Christmas is told through narrative, costumes and the beautiful singing of our students. As with all the other nativity celebrations that will be held throughout the ASA community, the event is graced by plenty of ‘angels, shepherds and kings’, as we relish the joy and hope of the Christmas season.

The Chaplaincy team then have the privilege of delivering approximately 35 large Christmas hampers to families

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ASA NEWS

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How to purchase your lounge membership 1. Anglican Schools Australia employees must join Virgin Australia’s frequent flyer loyalty program Velocity. Velocity is free to join at www.velocityfrequentflyer.com 2. Email your name and Velocity membership number to Asher Dukic at asaaccounts@asc.wa.edu.au 3. Your LMS Coordinator will submit your lounge membership nomination.

4. You will receive an email directly from Velocity with a link that you can click on to make payment. Payment needs to be made within 30 days.

Standard Lounge Terms and Conditions apply and are available at www.virginaustralia.com au en information domestic and short haul international lounge terms and conditions *Available at Virgin Australia Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Canberra lounges only. tMeeting rooms available in the Melbourne, Canberra, Cairns and Darwin lounges only. #Eligibility for lounge access varies according to class of travel, Velocity membership status and travel destination.

Empowering students

By Duncan Reid, Head of Religious Education | Camberwell Girls Grammar School, VIC

Speaking to the Australian Association for Religious Education at the end of 2017, Professor David Tacey spoke about the purpose of Religious Education. This purpose was to prompt young people to outgrow the childhood stage of faith, in which everything is understood literally, and then in turn to outgrow the naive rationalism that tends to take its place. Too often anything not literally true is simply dismissed as being untrue: we have lost the symbolic consciousness of the world in which the gospels were written.

The aim of Religious Education then is to empower students to enter a new stage of ‘second innocence’ which looks for meaning, and also echoes Jesus’ own advice that we should receive the kingdom ‘as a little child’.

How do we attempt this at Camberwell Girls? We tell the biblical stories, especially at Year 7 and 8 levels; we talk about the nature of religion and its various ‘aspects’ or ‘dimensions’, especially at Year 8 and 9 levels, and we talk about symbolic interpretations of texts, especially at Year 10 level where students are introduced to the techniques of exegesis. But none of this really takes us beyond the left-brain thinking that predominates in classroom teaching. How do we approach the more affective, rightbrain consciousness that Tacey calls for? In addition to the formal Religious Education classes, CGGS offers Religious Education excursions; indigenous perspectives; and the labyrinth.

Excursions may not seem particularly innovative, but they do have the potential in Religious Education to give students face-to-face interaction with school students from other religious traditions. We visit a Jewish school in Year 8, a Buddhist temple in Year 9 and an Islamic school in Year 10.

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The Indigenous perspective is highlighted by regular visits from an Aboriginal elder with whom the school has formed a relationship, by welcoming Aboriginal students, and by incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the Religious Education program as well as in other subjects.

The school labyrinth is the third element in this mix that aims to take our students beyond the limits of both the purely cerebral and merely conventional faith, and moves us, in Tacey’s words, ‘beyond supernaturalism to mysticism and self-exploration’. A labyrinth is an ancient device for meditation while moving on a journey, a smallscale pilgrimage, found in various religious traditions.

The most famous Christian example is the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral, in which the destination is designated as Jerusalem.

The labyrinth at Camberwell Girls was constructed during 2017 using, with permission, Indigenous designs significant to the Wurundjeri people on whose traditional land the school stands. Blessed by our regional Bishop, The Right Reverend Genieve Blackwell, it is a favourite place in the school for students and a silent reminder of the life of the Spirit.

ASA NEWS

LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Interact Club members from left, Caitlin Brims, Aimee Stevens, Ruby Sprott, and Madison Sawtell

Sleep Out for Homeless Awareness Coomera Anglican College, QLD

Coomera Anglican College students have felt what it’s like to sleep rough, as the College hosted a sleepout last week to provide students with a real insight into homelessness.

The College initiative was aimed at raising funds for the Anglicare Southern Queensland Homeless Youth Appeal.

The idea stemmed from students in Coomera Anglican College’s Interact Club who decided to focus their servicelearning project on homelessness this semester.

Interact Club President and Year 10 student Caitlin Brims said the student-led group found it confronting that more than 40 per cent of Queensland’s homeless were under the age of 25.

“The Interact Club have been raising awareness of this issue within the College and inviting our peers to join us for ‘A Night in the College’, with participating students each contributing $25 towards our fundraising goal of $1,000,” she said.

Anglicare support a variety of initiatives to combat youth homelessness and help people to build happier and healthier lives off the streets.

“This is a unique experience for students to not only develop their social awareness on homelessness but also to participate in Worship, take part in activities relating to the impacts of homelessness and raise money for this worthy cause.”

Their services focus on early intervention for those at the risk of homelessness, crisis accommodation and support and long-term positive housing outcomes. Students slept on mats and cardboard, bringing only a sleeping bag and warm clothes.

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NATIVITY: Guildford Grammar students enjoy the nativity scene in the foyer.

The Season of Advent

By The Reverend Barry Moss, Director of Service Learning | Guildford Grammar School, WA

I find the season of Advent the most exciting as it stimulates all the senses and provides opportunity to play with the themes of expectation in a myriad of ways. Each year we look forward to the many opportunities that this season provides as we count down to the school holidays and the expectation of Christmas.

While it might seem strange, that we have pretty much ‘done’ Advent by the time the liturgical calendar starts, I think it does set the scene for expectation and preparation for the holidays.

The Preparatory School this year marked Advent in worship using the themes of hope, peace, love and joy.

Our weekly worship begins as students bring to the Altar the characters that create the nativity scene; animals, shepherds, Magi, Mary and Joseph. In this manner, we follow in the tradition that St Francis created in the 1200’s.

It gives the opportunity to tell the story with figurines and in song. We then move to our Advent Candles, building a ring of light slowly, week by week.

Our worship time over the term concludes with a Christingle as we celebrate the Christ Child being a light to the world.

Aside from our worship we also have a large nativity in the entry foyer. As more of the characters are positioned the students play around it. As parents and staff walk past 42

it some will look and comment, demonstrating that Christ comes to us wherever we are in our life.

In the Senior School, during our weekly chapels we used the themes of watchfulness, the Proclamation of John the Baptist, Jesus’ praise of John the Baptist and the Birth of Jesus.

Our worship begins with the lighting of the Advent Candles with prayers associated with the themes. Our community chapels on Sunday include two special services, with our choirs singing carols with the readings of selected texts.

The first being our Advent Service of Readings and Carols and the second the Service of Readings and Carols by Candlelight for Christmas.

This service concludes with, a slightly modified, John Bell’s Carol; “Christmas is coming. The candles in the ring remind us that our Saviour will light up everything”.

ASA NEWS

Telling the story of Jesus with awe and wonder The Reverend Mark Holland, Chaplain | The Hutchins School, TAS

Our goal as we teach Junior School children in chapel and Religious Education (RE) lessons at Hutchins is to inspire them with the awe and wonder of God’s word - especially with the wonder of the incarnation and salvation work of Jesus.

We work with children who are screen-saturated. Quality videos that tell the story well can be inspiring, but B-grade videos won’t be. So, while we still use videos when they are Biblically accurate and good quality, we try to teach with enthusiasm and creativity in other ways.

In a recent RE class in Year 2, part way through telling the story of Mary and Martha, we paused and asked the children to suggest who they thought Jesus would have been happy with. The surprise was deep and widespread when they were told it was actually Mary - talking with and listening to Jesus, rather than the busy Martha.

Another method to have the children engaged with what is going on in narrative parts of the story of Jesus, is through acting out the Bible story. Children always love acting.

For grasping non-narrative concepts on the impact of Jesus we try to find ‘wow- factor’ illustrations, games or stories or modern-day real-life people living out responses to God’s word.

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

Below is a good example for showing how Jesus deals with our sin: You will need: • Sodium Thiosulphate (Chlorine neutraliser -

available from pool shops); • iodine (such as Betadine - from a chemist); • water in a clear jug; and • a mixing spoon.

Into your water throw in some iodine (‘sin’). Chat with the children if there is any way to clean the water. Then put in a tablespoon of Sodium Thiosulphate (this is your ‘Jesus’).

This will gradually make the water completely clear again.

Children are always very engaged when hearing reallife modern-day stories of people living out their faith in Jesus. For games that illustrate the story of Jesus there are plenty of books or websites that have indexes of engaging games for Bible passages.

So, let’s get creative and inspire the children in our schools as we teach them about Jesus.

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SPIRIT OF GIVING: St Mary’s students assist with the Anglicare Christmas Appeal and Christmas Hamper appeal to support families experiencing disadvantage

The Gift of Giving

By The Reverend Richard Pengelley, Chaplain | St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, WA

St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School is engaged in telling the story of Jesus every day through religious studies, weekly chapel services, staff and school eucharists and many special services throughout the year. As excellent as this daily routine is, the letter to James 2:26 reminds us, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.” As an Anglican school ‘the body’ of our work is academic variety and rigour, but ‘the spirit’ is the extraordinary co-curricular program, where both body and spirit are given meaning, direction and hope by the Christian offerings.

One of the ways in which this is grounded is in our extensive charitable and service work. In the spirit of Matthew 25:45, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me,” we offer a myriad of opportunities for students, staff and parents to give and serve. From collections to quiz nights, service trips, concerts, fairs, Indigenous scarves and chocolate sales, we support many organisations locally, nationally and internationally.

Currently we are aiding the Cambodian Children’s Fund, with whom we send a group of Year 11 students to work every December. We are also assisting with the Anglicare Christmas Appeal in the Senior School, coordinated by the year 10 Anglicare Ambassadors, as well as a Christmas Hamper appeal in the Junior School, to support local Anglican parishes with the food they distribute to needy families in our suburbs.

This year’s Anglicare Christmas Appeal has a special focus on back to school items. Through daily morning Link groups, collection tubs have been set up to receive

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ASA NEWS

NEW FRIENDS: From left, Dr Harry Kanasa, Warren McMahon, Mark Heaney, Coomera Principal Dr Mark Sly, Abdulaziz Alharbi , Nasser Alkhlaiwi, Mohammed Alotaibi, Tadgh Treanor and Dr Donna Pendergast.

Learning together Coomera Anglican College, QLD

brand new backpacks, textas, lunch boxes, drink bottles, books, pens, rulers, scissors, highlighters, gift vouchers and more. For many families experiencing disadvantage, the challenge of having to buy Christmas presents and basic back to school items is financially crippling. What may seem like run of the mill stationary to us, brings delight to children who often have to borrow things or put up with second-hand equipment.

It is also hard to believe that some people living around us in suburbs like Karrinyup, Scarborough, Trigg, Innaloo and North Beach are doing it so tough that they go to their local Anglican church and ask for food on a regular basis. Consequently, the Junior School has arranged for different classes to collect items such as Christmas cakes and puddings, tinned fruit and ham, shortbread and other biscuits, lollies and bonbons to share a little Christmas spirit.

Once the collections are finished, they will be brought to the Chapel to be blessed and to remind us of the example of Jesus who was always concerned for the poor, neglected and marginalised. In these ways we hope and pray that we are telling the story of Jesus every day and embodying or incarnating it in positive, loving, Christlike action.

DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE

As a joint initiative with the Saudi Arabian Ministry for Education and Griffith University, Coomera Anglican College has been hosting three visiting teachers. The teachers have been attending the College to learn new skills and pass on this knowledge to teachers and administrators at home.

The three teachers spent their time immersing themselves in the community and culture of Coomera Anglican College. During their time, they observed a range of classes, subjects and teaching styles across our Primary and Secondary campuses.

In collaboration with their mentors, the visiting teachers planned and taught lessons in Primary and Junior Secondary.

Coomera’s eLearning Specialist Warren McMahon said hosting the teachers had been a valuable experience for both the students and the teachers.

“The experience was a fantastic opportunity for our students, who learned about a different culture and country. The experience was equally as enlightening for our Saudi friends, who welcomed the challenge of learning and adapting to new teaching styles and pedagogy,” Mr McMahon said.

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SPECTACULAR SETTING: Anna Maggs at a school chapel service in St George’s Cathedral

Spiritual home a blessing St George’s Anglican Grammar School, WA

For St George’s Anglican Grammar School’s students and staff, attending a chapel service each week is a unique experience, thanks to their spectacular spiritual home. The city-based school is fortunate to use St George’s Cathedral in Perth for their weekly services.

It is a blessing to be invited to share this lofty building, which, in the words of the previous Dean, The Reverend Richard Pengelley, is “steeped in the prayers of thousands”.

The sunlight pours through the many leadlight windows, shining on the students, creating a kaleidoscope of colour linking to part of the school crest which shows the Rose Window above the entrance to the Cathedral.

In this hallowed atmosphere, they tell and sing the Jesus story supported by the Chapel Band and School Choir.

Students from each Pastoral Care Group share the duties of reading the lesson and leading the School in prayer.

To bring the Jesus story to the School before the summer holiday, St George’s advances the season of Advent so they can share in the celebration of His birth and the Good News He brings. Carol practice has commenced and this term Chaplains from The Anglican Schools Commission 46

and Amana Living are helping us to enter this season.

For the Christmas Eucharist, Assistant Bishop Kate Wilmott officiates to tell the Jesus story on the school’s equivalent of the Fourth Sunday of Advent, held on the first Monday of December.

At the final Chapel service this year there will be the first ever Nativity play performed by the Year 7 students. The script has been especially written for the school by Mrs Lesley Coull from Durban Girls’ College in South Africa.

The community draws on the kindness of fellow Christian brothers and sisters from within the Cathedral, across the city and overseas.

The end of the school year will conclude with singing carols in the Cathedral. The Light that is the Jesus story, reminds us that He came to be our Saviour.

ASA NEWS

How we tell the Jesus story Whitsunday Anglican School, QLD

The Jesus story is always present - and this is never more evident in the Whitsunday Anglican School community than at this time of the year.

For the past 16 years our students, staff and families have been supporting Anglicare through the collection and donation of our Christmas hampers and though the Junior School’s Giving Tree.

Students and their families donate food items, financial support and gifts to those in need. These wonderful initiatives are designed to allow our students to appreciate the value of community service and support, and aim to spread the Spirit of Christmas beyond the School.

During this period, our senior students (who are involved in School Service Clubs) visit hospitals to bring some cheer to the patients. Each of our Sub-Schools (Junior, Middle and Senior) will hold a Christmas Service towards the end of the school term.

At Whitsunday Anglican School, we are proud to ‘tell the Jesus’ story and share community spirt in many ways, every day.

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Jesus as our compass Peter Carnley Anglican Community School, WA

At Peter Carnley Anglican Community School, we celebrate the Anglican ethos modelled on the teachings of Jesus. We capture His teachings of justice, truth, acceptance, compassion and we model them through Service Learning, Chapel services, staff worship and how we live our lives.

Chapel service teachings incorporate our School values as they align with the Gospel messages. Gospels are thematic in approach and capture the imagination of the students who can then understand when they can be used in their everyday lives.

Service Learning is focussed on giving to others through selfless acts and through action. Students serve others in our community and have a genuine desire to serve to see change in our world. Our aim is for the students to experience God through our service opportunities and to help transform their hearts, challenge their minds and put their ideas into positive action.

We participate in a number of initiatives to help serve others.

YMAD (Youth Making A Difference) students (from Years 5 to 12) discuss issues in their community that they want to see change. They help to organise fundraising days and focus on raising awareness, including a visit to the Anglicare WA Op Shop Warehouse and Animal Protection Society of WA.

relationships, encounter God, understand how communities around the world are driven by their faith, and challenge the students’ character.

Aegis Aged Care Visits – Year 5 classes regularly visit residents at Aegis Aged Care Banksia Park. They play board games, share stories and get to know their residents.

Soup Kitchen – A group of Junior School students, with the help of Senior students from YMAD, made a variety of soups and dinners and donated more than 100 frozen meals to The C.R.E.W. in Rockingham.

Service Learning in the Compass Programme – During pastoral care time, Year 7s sewed felt hearts as part of the 1000 Hearts Kindness Project, Year 8s completed a unit that taught them about advocacy and charity work, Year 10s completed a Salvation Army programme on youth homelessness and the Year 11s looked at a documentary ‘Living on One Dollar’.

Crazy Hair Day – Inspired by two Year 12 students after the death of their grandparents to leukaemia, the day raised both awareness and more than $2000 for the Leukaemia Foundation. The students were recognised at the World’s Greatest Shave Awards Night for their inspiring efforts.

Early Learning Gratitude Assembly – Service Learning at the Calista Early Learning Campus (Kindergarten to Year 1) focuses on understanding gratitude and who helps and serves them. With this in mind, the Year 1s presented a ‘Thank You Assembly’ for the School’s maintenance team. They sang a song, drew pictures, made gifts and served them morning tea.

Walkabout Cambodia and ASC Samoa Service Learning Tour – Students broaden their view of the world, engage with children from other cultures, develop meaningful

At PCACS we follow the teachings of Jesus as our compass, and this instills a desire and dedication in our students to live a fuller and richer Christian life.

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ASA NEWS

Telling a story through Bible and song

Changing hearts at home and beyond

Thomas Bassett, Chaplain | St Peter’s Girls’ School, SA

By Mr Wayne Conoulty, Chaplain and Head of Christian Education | Rouse Hill Anglican College, NSW

At St Peter’s Girls’ School in Adelaide, we celebrate and tell the Jesus story in many different ways, but one of the most significant is during our Chapel Services which culminate in our annual Carols in the Cathedral service.

The heart of the core values at Rouse Hill Anglican College is Luke 10:27 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”

This year, we have had a focus on the season of Advent as we prepare ourselves for Christmas. It has been a great opportunity to focus on the various parts of the Jesus story and to explore how they impact us still today. Using the Advent Wreath to guide our Chapel Services, we have been able to reflect on the hope that is captured in Isaiah’s writing as he looked forward to the birth of Jesus. We then reflected on the journey of Joseph and Mary, and then on the shepherds and the angels.

At the heart of the story of Jesus at Christmas is Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Verse 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

At our College, this powerful message of Jesus goes beyond December and it is at the heart of the message throughout the year.

The story of Jesus has come to life as we have put ourselves in the shoes of the different characters of the Christmas story. We have also reflected on the Advent themes of hope, faith, joy and peace in the Jesus story, and on how Jesus offers each of these in our lives now.

In August each year our College community motivated by our core values, begins the process of collecting donations for Samaritan’s Purse ‘Operation Christmas Child’ shoebox appeal. Students are taught about children overseas who are less fortunate and may not know what it is like to receive gifts for Christmas.

Our annual Carols service is held in Adelaide’s glorious St Peter’s Cathedral. This celebration is a coming together of the wider School community to celebrate and thank God for sending his Son, Jesus, into this world. It is a fusion between the traditional Nine Lessons and Carols and our students displaying their many talents as they lead us by performing carols and songs.

They are asked to pack shoeboxes that contain something for school, to wear, play with, love and something for personal hygiene. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to not only think about what to put in the boxes but the reason why we are donating the boxes. This year we collected around 600 boxes.

Telling the Jesus story through Bible and song allows the School community to engage in a meaningful and relevant way. We are able to reflect and look back with thanks for what God has done by sending His Son. At the same time, we are able to celebrate what the birth of Jesus brings for us today: hope, faith, joy and peace, all encompassed with his everlasting love for all people.

In November, our year 10 students have the privilege of spending a day at the Samaritan’s Purse warehouse, sorting through boxes, adding extra goodies where needed, ensuring the toys are safe and then packing them into containers ready to be labelled for shipment.

In July, a team of 27 students travelled to Cambodia and worked alongside Samaritan’s Purse. Our students shared with the children the message that God loves them so much that he sent Jesus to save them from their sin and that through Jesus, God is with us.

Students handed out ‘Operation Christmas Child’ boxes to every child. Some of our students were moved to tears as they saw the joy on the children’s faces as they opened their gifts. Our students then spent time playing with the children.

Hearts were changed not only in the Cambodian children but also in our students as they experienced the love of God.

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Worship Celebration

By The Reverend Chad Rynehart, School Chaplain Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, NSW Worship is an important forum through which a community gives expression to the things that matter. As an Anglican School, we gather regularly to celebrate our common life, and are invited to remember and embrace the truth that we are all grounded in God’s love.

When we use terms like worship or religion, or having faith, those terms tend to come with some preconceived ideas which might not be helpful or accurate. The word ‘worship’ is derived from an old English word – Worthscipe, which simply refers to the idea of giving worth to something or someone, or acknowledging the worth of something or someone.

Traditionally, then, the word worship has been used in an institutional religious context to focus attention on giving worth to God. However, there is a wider context to consider, which does not exclude God, but broadens the perspective and purpose of worship.

Along with acknowledging the worth of God, there is a healthy place for acknowledging the worth of self, others, and all of creation, and this more holistic approach to worship is where I am trying to guide our students and staff.

This term, Mahers Lane students and staff participated in another new initiative within the Faith Formation framework; a combined worship celebration. There have been a number of different models used for worship, ritual and ceremony during the school’s evolution, including fortnightly House based gatherings, year level gatherings and stage-based gatherings. I have always been a firm believer in the power and potential of gathering everyone together periodically to celebrate and be inspired.

Our first combined worship celebration at Mahers Lane looked and felt a little different to anything that students have experienced before, and that was deliberate.

I am hoping to disrupt the preconceived ideas about worship, religion and faith, so that our community view these terms as pointers toward an inclusive and invitational process of celebration as we give worth to self, to others, to community, to creation, and to God.

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GIVING TREE: L-R, Alice Astier, Dylan Boscaini, Katherine Ren, Riley Kopfstein, Marcello Bugeja and Billy Baldock give to those in need at Christmas.

Community service the focus at Christmas The Reverend Tracey Gracey, Chaplain Pulteney Grammar School, SA This year Pulteney Grammar, an inner-city Adelaide school, decided to live the Jesus story by implementing a Christmas community service program so that our students could have firsthand experiences of assisting people in need.

Our Prep School raised funds by holding an Advent and Christmas Market. Students were then given the funds and asked to purchase items. These items were taken to the Mary Magdalene Centre, where students unpacked, sorted and shelved their donations.

Year 11 students were also given a budget and had to purchase items for Christmas hampers, a gift for someone in need and lollies. Some students spent a day at the Mary Magdalene’s centre cooking meals, decorating the centre, working in the Op shop pricing items that were donated by students and packing hampers. Other students choose to stay at school to work with younger students collecting more items and packing hampers.

A highlight for some Year 11s was taking our Year 2 students to Mary Magdalene’s, where they had an opportunity to have a tour of the centre and place donations of cereal in the supermarket. One morning was spent making lolly bags that were then hand-delivered to the Salvation Army and the Hutt Centre so that they could be given out to those who visited the centres.

We also set-up a Giving Tree in our Junior School and many families brought in gifts for children who would not receive a gift this Christmas. Our Christmas community service program for Year 11 students began and ended with a worship service.

Guest speakers were able to share heartfelt stories and the practical needs that could help make a person or family’s Christmas special.

At our closing service, students had the opportunity to share their experiences and offer prayers for those they had served. They were very committed to this new program and found that serving others in our community was a rewarding and meaningful way to finish their school year.

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Anglican Schools Australia PHONE 08 9286 0290 EMAIL asa@asc.wa.edu.au WEB www.anglicanschoolsaustralia.edu.au