From the CEO

THE REVEREND PETER LAURENCE OAM

Dear Colleagues LAW REFORM AND ASC SCHOOLS

Over the past couple of years, the ASC has both met with and made submissions to those charged with responsibility for law reform in both WA and Victoria. For both states, this involved consultation on the proposed reform of the respective Equal Opportunity Acts. The need for law reform is necessary because, quite frankly, the legislation is unnecessarily discriminatory. The important change in both WA and Victoria for religious schools, will be strengthening equal opportunity protections for LGBTIQA+ staff and students. The proposed changes will not impact a school’s ability to convey their religious beliefs to students; and, where appropriate, hire staff on the basis of the person’s religious beliefs where these are critical to their work. There are also most important reforms to better protect students. The ASC commends the WA and Victorian Governments in these reforms and welcomes equal opportunity and anti-discrimination protections for both students

Contents

From the CEO 2 Peter Carnley Anglican Community School 4 John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School 6 John Wollaston Anglican Community School 8 Cathedral College Wangaratta 9 Teaching & Learning 10 Cobram Anglican Grammar School 11 Swan Valley Anglican Community School 12 Staff Spotlight 13 Trinity Anglican College 14 Georgiana Molloy Anglican School 15 ASC Language School 16 Esperance Anglican Community School 17 Frederick Irwin Anglican School 18 Anglican Identity 19 Across the ASC - ASC Piano Competition 20 Peter Moyes Anglican Community School 22

Cover Image: Swan Valley Anglican Community School students during Naidoc Week. and staff in our schools. The new Acts will bring both WA and Victoria into line with other jurisdictions and ensure that these states have modern, fair and effective anti-discrimination laws.

We have stated in writing our position on these matters clearly to staff, students and families in our schools many times over recent years. Every ASC school is to be an open, inclusive community, welcoming for people of all ages, abilities, nationalities, cultures, sexual identities, family relationships and religious beliefs. In many ways, a matter such as this is a point of differentiation for Anglican schools to some other religious-based schools. This is a proud differentiation. Greater clarity in this space enables parents and carers, as well as our staff, to be clear about what we stand for; thereby better informing the important decisions they make, including those of enrolment and employment. ASC schools offer that quiet, yet generous, comprehensive Christian witness every day, not only by what is said but by how we treat one another. By acting this way, we are inviting those in our communities to consider the Gospel truths for themselves.

WELCOMES AND COMMISSIONINGS

We welcome a number of people into senior positions across our schools and in Head Office in Term 3.

Dr Adrian Johnson as Principal of Trinity Anglican College, Albury-Wodonga. Adrian is a highly experienced educator and leader, having occupied senior positions in schools in Australia and the UK. His most recent position was the Deputy Principal and Head of Secondary School at Radford College in Canberra. You can read more about Adrian on page 14.

Mr Jordan Smith as Principal of Esperance Anglican Community School.

Jordan will commence in Term 4, working with Executive Principal Jason Bartell. He joins EACS from John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School where he is

currently Associate Principal – Middle School. Prior to that he served in senior roles at both Serpentine Jarrahdale Grammar School (now Court Grammar School), and Ellenbrook Christian College. Mr Todd Flanagan as Director of ASC International

Todd is currently Principal at Yiyili Community School in the Kimberley region of WA. Prior to that time, he served as Principal or Director of International Schools in both China and Azerbaijan and in Catholic schools in Perth. I thank Ms Kate Simeon, who has served as Acting Director of ASC International and now moves to the new position of Deputy Director, recognising her accomplished leadership in this space.

The Reverend Justine Coverdale as Chaplain of John Wollaston Anglican Community School. Having joined the School in 2021, Justine was formally commissioned as Chaplain at John Wollaston Anglican Community School on 3rd August.

The Revered Dr Gift Makwasha as Chaplain of St George’s Anglican Grammar School.

Father Gift Makwasha was officially commissioned as the Chaplain of St George’s Anglican Grammar School at St George’s Cathedral on 29th August.

A FUTURE SCHOOL

A key part of the ASC’s mission and strategy is to open new schools across growing areas in Western Australia, Regional Victoria and the NSW/Victoria border region. In recent years we have secured land in Bunbury and Shepparton to establish future schools, the latter opening in 2024. We also secured a high-rise building in the Perth CBD, to be the future home of St George’s Anglican Grammar School, ASC International and the ASC Head Office.

I am pleased to announce that last month the Board exercised an option to purchase land at Yanchep in Perth’s far northern suburbs. This magnificent site in the future Yanchep township development will provide for full primary and secondary schooling. The securing of the block of land a short walk from the new Yanchep Train Station, and between the Mitchell Freeway and Marmion Avenue, will ensure the ASC can continue to provide for the ever-growing population of Perth for decades to come.

FINALLY, not all readers will be aware that the ASC Head Office is the national home of Anglican Schools Australia (ASA), the peak body for Anglican schools. All Anglican schools are members of ASA. Its core purpose is “To serve, support and connect Anglican schools in living their Anglican identity.” Principals and chaplains, governors and senior staff from every state and the ACT came together midAugust for the Annual Conference. It was a virtual conference, with most delegates gathered in ‘hubs’ in their capital city. The theme ‘Lifted in Spirit’ was chosen in 2019, before the pandemic. We could not have foreseen then the disruption and turmoil that would face the world in 2020 through to today. However, it was the perfect theme to lift everyone’s spirits and, coming together in the unity of the Holy Spirit, connected our schools across the nation.

One matter I wish to highlight is that our two leading keynote addresses were delivered by two Archbishops…The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York; and The Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO, Archbishop of Perth. Both Archbishops spoke from their experiences in and with Anglican schools, as well as their leadership positions within the Anglican Communion. They expressed the central role that our schools play in the Church’s life and mission. Far from being sector ministries as others have sometimes described us, Anglican schools sit “right smack dab” in the middle of the lives of some 160,000 students across Australia. The two Archbishops reminded delegates that, first and foremost, our schools are Anglican communities of faith, learning, worship, care and service. Every Blessing…