From the CEO

THE REVEREND PETER LAURENCE OAM

Dear Colleagues

THE BENEFITS OF A SYSTEM In 2022 the Anglican Schools Commission will negotiate new enterprise agreements for all staff across the three states in which our schools are located. A most unusual ‘convergence of rivers’ when the following occurs:

• both the WA Teachers and Support Staff

Agreements are negotiated, with a desired outcome of rolling them into one agreement for all; • our Victorian Agreement (covering both teachers and support staff) was put on hold in 2021 due to the severe impact of COVID-19 in Victoria; and • negotiations for a new ASC-specific

Agreement covering Trinity Anglican College and any future schools in NSW.

Contents

From the CEO 2

Wedjemup On Country Experience 5

Cobram Anglican Grammar School

6 Frederick Irwin Anglican School 8 Swan Valley Anglican Community School 10 Georgiana Molloy Anglican School 12 Cathedral College Wangaratta 13 John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School 14 St James’ Anglican School 15 Peter Moyes Anglican Community School 16 Esperance Anglican Community School 17 ASC Language School 18 Staff Spotlight 19 St Mark’s Anglican Community School 20 Trinity Anglican College 21 Anglican Identity 22

Cover Image: Peter Carnley Anglican Community School Early Learning Centre Nativity. Enterprise Agreements are governed under the Fair Work Act 2009. All Australian employees benefit from this national industrial regime, providing assurances to all. The ASC looks forward to productive negotiations with the respective independent education unions in WA, Victoria and NSW next year, leading to securing Agreements to benefit our staff, students, families and the system as a whole.

One of the tangible benefits of working in a ‘system’ of schools is that all staff entitlements are fully transferable. This is because no matter which school it is in which you work, your employer remains the same – the ASC. As such, entitlements such as long service leave, personal leave and annual leave are ‘portable’, meaning that they move with you between any ASC school.

For the ASC’s first couple of decades, there was minimal movement of staff between our schools. Today, with more than 2000 staff, the movement is significant. Not only do staff move between our WA schools, or between our three eastern states schools (all located within 90 minutes of one another), but on a number of occasions in recent years teachers and senior leadership have moved from west to east, or east to west. This is a real sign of the maturity of our system, providing career advancement or lifestyle change to those who choose to make their working home within the ASC family.

We celebrate all that it means to be a system of schools within the independent sector and I look forward to appropriate opportunities to grow such benefits for all our staff.

VACCINATIONS State Government Directions have been issued in all three states which require those working on school sites to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This came into effect recently for Victoria and NSW and will come into effect in WA at the beginning of next year. Governments have listed a limited number of reasons for medical exemptions.

Getting vaccinated remains a matter of choice for all people. The ASC is required under the law of all three states to enforce Government Directions. Without providing evidence of a double-dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccination, or an approved medical exemption, staff will not be permitted onto an ASC school campus until further notice. The health, safety and well-being of our staff, students and their families remain our highest priority at all times, most especially during this global pandemic.

FAREWELLS When Ms Kerry Robertson (picture above) retires at the end of this year after 10 years of true dedication to Frederick Irwin Anglican School as Principal, we will be losing a fine educator and hard-working professional. You can read about Kerry’s wonderful career on page 8.

Mr Justin Beckett

At the end of this term we say goodbye to Mr Justin Beckett, Principal of Trinity Anglican College AlburyWodonga, who leaves the ASC after 5 years to take on the role of Principal at Arden Anglican College in Sydney. The final months of his leadership have been particularly challenging, managing the College through a major outbreak of COVID-19 in the Albury-Wodonga region.

Justin has overseen many significant initiatives at Trinity, including working with the ASC to acquire land adjacent to the College on which to establish a brand new Junior School in a few years’ time. Together with his colleagues, I extend appreciation for his leadership. We wish Justin, Zoe, Josh, Sam, Jesse and Johnny God’s richest blessing for 2022. Foundation staff member of Georgiana Molloy Anglican School Ms Jo Burns (pictured above) retires at the end of this year after 19 years of exceptional service. Commencing in 2003 as Junior School Co-ordinator (and then Head of Junior School), later Jo was appointed the School’s Deputy Principal. You can read about Jo’s wonderful career on page 14.

WELCOME Mr Anthony Sheumack

We welcome Mr Tony Sheumack as the Interim Principal of Trinity Anglican College from the beginning of next year for an expected 6-month term. This will allow us time to appoint a new Principal from midyear. Mr Sheumack is a highly accomplished principal who is retiring from full time commitments at the end of 2021. He is currently the Principal of Beaconhills College in Melbourne’s outer Eastern suburbs, a role he has held for the past 24 years. I look forward to introducing Tony to the ASC community in 2022.

A BLENDED ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS Schools run on a different timetable to the rest of society. They’re not ‘open’ when the major Christian festivals fall… notably Christmas and Easter. Indeed, they often miss most of Advent and Holy Week also.

THE REVEREND PETER LAURENCE OAM cont’d

In schools, Christmas is celebrated in Advent. I’ve coined the term ADMAS to describe the seasonal and liturgical ‘blending’ that we in schools do, to ensure the Biblical story of Christmas is retold annually during term time.

This year Advent Sunday fell on 28 November. We haven’t even celebrated the Second Sunday of Advent, and schools are in the early days of this season of preparation for the retelling of the Christmas story. However, schools started preparation months ago, with six-year-olds busy rehearsing for their end-of-year Nativity Plays, which are being performed in schools as you read this article. Chaplains are conducting Advent or Christmas Carols Services for students, staff and families… some were held even before Advent Sunday. The moveable feast of ADMAS!

It’s so important that our schools take time to ‘tell the Christian story’, no matter what the season. Religious Studies classes complement occasions of worship, with parents, grandparents, carers and former students often joining in these significant liturgical occasions with students and teachers. The children make the best storytellers!

Isn’t it amazing that the truth of the Gospel can be told so simply to we adults, from the lips of our young? Then again Jesus did say, as it is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (18:3) and “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (19:14). 2021 has been full of challenges, living in a global pandemic. As we come to the end of the year, it’s time to thank the Principals and senior staff, School Councillors, Chaplains, teachers and support staff, parent volunteers and all involved in ASC schools, for your absolute commitment to the young people in your care. The many and varied contributions you make to our mission ensures the quality, culture, diversity and inclusion of our communities. Thank you.

The ASC is governed by a Board of dedicated people led by our Chair Mrs Lynne Thomson. While you may not see our Board Directors on a regular basis, they take the high level decisions which set our strategic direction many years into the future. From land acquisition for a new school to policy approval, the Board governs the ASC. Thanks to each of them for their tireless dedication to our mission.

ADMAS is a time to prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to again receive the good news of Jesus Christ being born into our world and our lives. At the heart of the mission of an ASC school is the daily preparation of young (and not-so-young) lives to receive the Christchild, the Christ crucified and the Christ raised in glory.

The coming months will continue to be challenging, as borders across Australia open and we reconnect with the world. Amidst the uncertainty, may it be a time of hope, bringing new beginnings and opportunities.

FINALLY, thank you to the ASC Communications team who so capably produce ASC News (and many other publications) each term. I acknowledge Ms Aila Dann (Director of Communications), Ms Sandra Herd (Marketing and Communications Officer) and Mr Grant Hicks (Digital Communications Officer).

A special ‘shout-out’ to Archbishop Kay, Bishop Ian and Bishop Clarence for their thoughtful Christmas Messages to us on the final page of ASC News.

Merry ADMAS to you! Enjoy this final 2021 edition of ASC News.

Every blessing.