From the CEO

THE REVEREND PETER LAURENCE OAM

Dear Colleagues

BETTER TOGETHER I cannot recall a busier school term for ASC-wide activities. Only twelve months ago we spent much of Term Two in home learning. Even when students returned to school, most activities beyond normal classes were cancelled.

With snap lockdowns and border uncertainty carrying over to the early months of 2021, some of our usual activities were postponed. Fast forward to this term, and staff from across our schools have come together on one or more occasions. These have included Christian Purposes Days (for our WA schools on April 19 and our eastern states schools on May 21); the Induction Day for Teachers new to ASC schools in Victoria/NSW on May 10; and our WA Principals and Senior Staff Retreat on May 14-15 (with the eastern states retreat planned for Term 3).

Through such system-wide initiatives, our teachers and leaders come together to spend time in professional learning, personal growth and spiritual reflection.

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From the CEO CEO’s Lambeth Award 2

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Cobram Anglican Grammar School

5 St George’s Anglican Grammar School 6 John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School 8 St James’ Anglican School 10 Cathedral College Wangaratta 11 John Wollaston Anglican Community School 12 Peter Carnley Anglican Community School 13 St Mark’s Anglican Community School 14 Georgiana Molloy Anglican School 15 Trinity Anglican College 16 Frederick Irwin Anglican School 17 Peter Moyes Anglican Community School 18 Staff Spotlight 19 ASC Piano Competition 20 Esperance Anglican Community School 22 Anglican Identity 23 While any independent school may run elements of these activities for their staff, there is a difference with what took place many times this past term. On every occasion, staff from many ASC schools came together to learn, reflect, network and pray. On these occasions, our teachers and leaders gather ‘as one’.

When I reflect on one of the special features of life within the ASC family, it is just that…we are better together than apart. Each school is stronger by being part of a system of schools connected to one another through a common mission and purpose. Our schools are not ‘independent’ but rather ‘system’ schools in the independent sector. There is a tangible sense of ‘interdependence’. Each ASC school is very different, with its own local governing council and good leadership through a Principal and senior leadership team. Each school shines in its local community, wellresourced to serve its students and families, yet also supported by colleagues across the ASC numbering some 2,050 teachers and support staff.

We came together on a number of occasions this term to engage on matters that better equip our teachers and leaders to serve the young people entrusted to their care. While there was much to learn through formal sessions, part of the benefit was the personal gain coming from spending time with one other. So much of what occurred could only happen because we took time to be with colleagues across the ASC. For me, that is one of the very best aspects of being a ‘system’ of schools. In so many ways, we are better together.

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Images 1. Christian Purposes Day (NSW/VIC) L-R Mr Justin Beckett (Principal, Trinity Anglican College ) Mr Nick Jones (Principal, Cathedral College Wangaratta) Mr James Laussen (Keynote speaker), The Reverend Peter Laurence OAM and Mr Keith Willett (Principal, Cobram Anglican Grammar School) 2. Christian Purposes Day (WA) Presentation by Dr Craig Challen 3. Christian Purposes Day (WA) L-R Archbishop of Perth, The Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO, Dr Craig Challen SC OAM and The Reverend Peter Laurence OAM 4. Christian Purposes Day (WA) Presentation by The Reverend Becca Stevens

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CELEBRATION OF SERVICE The ASC was formed in 1985. Our first school, St Mark’s Anglican Community School, opened in 1986. Some 36 years later, almost 15,000 students are educated in an ASC school. Each year I am honoured to present to truly outstanding teachers, leaders and support staff ‘Service Certificates and Badges’ to celebrate their vocational commitment to our students. For the first time this year, 35-year service awards were added to the previous 20, 25 and 30 year awards. Congratulations to Mrs Shirley McKibbin and Mrs Peta Sinclair from St Mark’s Anglican Community School, who received 35 year service recognition. What an extraordinary commitment demonstrated by these members of our staff, who have chosen to serve our communities this way. In an era when it is said that people are more interested in committing to themselves and their own careers, often chopping and changing jobs dozens of times in their working life, how refreshing and affirming it is to have dedicated women and men who have chosen to commit to serve in one or more ASC schools for significant periods of their working lives.

Most of our Service Awards will be presented to these dedicated staff members as I visit your school during this year. However, it was a special joy to present the first Service Award to Tricia Seccull of Cobram Anglican Grammar School in May, as the first recipient to reach such a goal in one of our eastern states schools. Congratulations Tricia for 20 years of service at Cobram.

ASC CONNECT Recently we announced the launch of the ASC’s online learning program, ASC Connect. From the beginning of the 2022 school year, we will be offering Year 11 ATAR subjects using some of the distance learning tools our teachers ‘sharpened’ through the pandemic.

THE REVEREND PETER LAURENCE OAM cont’d

in the senior secondary years. It is also a way to provide career enhancing opportunities for teaching staff wishing to broaden their skill base beyond traditional face to face teaching in the classroom.

ASC Connect will sit alongside programs currently offered through ASC International, which include courses such as English as an Additional Language and/or Dialect (EALD) for Years 10-12, along with English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities for students in Years 7 to 10 who are unable to enter Australia due to border closures.

The 2022 pilot program for ASC Connect is likely to include the following ATAR courses delivered by ASC schools: Year 11 courses in Business Management and Enterprise, Economics, Mathematics Specialist and Religion and Life. Mathematics Methods will be delivered for offshore Year 11 students only. English as an Additional Language and/or Dialect will be available to both Years 11 and 12 students.

COMMISSIONING OF NEW PRINCIPAL

In March we welcomed Mrs Tina Campbell as Principal of St George’s Anglican Grammar School. It was a joy to celebrate Mrs Campbell’s Commissioning by The Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO, Archbishop of Perth on May 17 before a full Cathedral of students, staff, family, colleagues and supporters.

Special occasions in our life are marked by ceremony and ritual. The commissioning of a new principal is one such occasion, as the community celebrates her arrival and we ask God to bless her ministry of leadership and care among us. There could have been no finer place to hold such a liturgy as Perth’s magnificent St George’s Cathedral. It was truly a ‘Campbell affair’, as children Ben and Gemma delivered one of the Bible readings, with husband Stuart looking on with pride.

A commissioning reminds us that the vocation of leaders and teachers is one of service. When we place the wellbeing of students at the centre of our work each day, our school communities and ourselves will be the richer.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING Three teachers from our WA schools were recognised as top educators by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) in its annual awards for excellence in teaching. ACEL is Australia’s leading independent body for educational leadership. From left, Mrs Tracey Toovey from St Mark’s Anglican Community School was awarded the 2021 ACEL WA Teacher Leader Award for Excellence, Mrs Nicole Brown from Peter Moyes Anglican Community School was awarded the 2021 ACEL WA Fellowship, and Dr Deborah Netolicky from St Mark’s Anglican Community School was awarded the 2021 ACEL WA Certificate of Excellence in Educational Leadership. Congratulations on your outstanding achievements.

FINALLY, we have reached the mid-year break in a year of slow vaccine rollouts, sporadic Covid-19 outbreaks, snap lockdowns and continued border uncertainty. It has been tiring for everyone. For those taking a break, may you take ‘time out’ with family and friends, and most especially some time for yourself to refresh and renew.

Every blessing.

L-R: The Reverend Sarah Stapleton (Chaplain), Mr Tom Carmody (Chair of Student Council), Archbishop of Perth, The Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO, Mrs Tina Campbell (Principal), Mr Scott Harrnnah (Band Officer of WA Police Pipe Band), Mrs Lynne Thomson (Chair of the Board) and The Reverend Peter Laurence OAM