iMAGINE LISTEN RESPECT
Mind Heart Soul Strength GOING GREEN WITH SOLAR
MIND, HEART, SOUL, STRENGTH
Coomera Anglican College is on track to be the most solar powered College on the Gold Coast. P7
We have an holistic approach to education by embedding wellbeing at the core of the curriculum. P9
UNLOCKING THE SECRETS TO DEVELOPING RESILIENT LEARNERS
PAST STUDENT PROFILES
Embedding Dr Judith Locke’s approach to Raising Confident and Capable Children. P12
Our past students are fundamental to our College Community P18
DEVELOPING YOUNG MINDS
in a nurturing, supportive and future-focused learning environment
MEET OUR FOUNDING PRINCIPAL
PAST STUDENT PROFILES
THE POD - FUTURE FOCUSED
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL
CONTENTS 04
Future Focused
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Environmental Ambassadors
Coomera Anglican College goes green with solar power
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Mind Heart Soul Strength
Wellbeing at the core of the curriculum
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Little people doing BIG things
Preparing life long learners
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Resilient Learner
Unlocking the secrets
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Bayley Hall
Current student racing his way to the top
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Alec Pokarier
Past student passionate about the Northern Gold Coast
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Past student pages
What have our past students been up too?
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Go CACaburras
The spirit of the College
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Best debaters on the Gold Coast
Winners are grinners
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High Performance Centre
Delivering a first class Sports Programme
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College Camp fun
Year 4 adventures 2019
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Oliver!
11th College Musical
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The Arts
Senior Students’ Art Show 2019
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Our Community
The Parents and Friend’s Association
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Justice and Mercy
The Pod, Imaginarium, Think Tank and Maker Space
DR MARK SLY
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FOUNDATION PRINCIPAL
elcome to the first edition of the College Community Magazine
Mind, Heart, Soul, Strength. By using the language of Mind, Heart, Soul, and Strength we can focus on delivering an holistic approach to education that will give every student an opportunity to be active contributors to a flourishing global future. We hope you enjoy reading about the College and all the wonderful stories that make us what we are today - a College with a sense of community- so that together, we can dream and grow. Since the opening of the College in 1997, there have been so many valuable people who have contributed to our success. The College is committed to leading a progressive educational environment which is future focused and nuturing while challenging our students to be the best versions of themsleves. Our theme in 2020 is “Building Community”. When parents, teachers, leaders and educators work together to build a strong sense of community, everyone benefits. We can all play a part to encourage a supportive and inclusive College Community.
30 days of Gratitude
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couple of years ago the idea was tabled; how can we as a College and an education provider ensure that the students we are educating are ready for the future? A future which is driven by technology and change, meaning that the content which is taught in Colleges could be obsolete within ten to twenty years - if not earlier.
With ideas at the ready, and the box thrown to the wayside, the idea and concept around ‘The Pod’ and ‘Imaginarium’ was born. Because really - if only we could experience what we could imagine... Fast-forward to the present day and Coomera Anglican College is leading the way with future -focused education through ‘The Pod’.
COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE
__________________________
The Pod Imaginarium Maker Space The Think Tank __________________
This future-focused centre features the latest in immersive and interactive technology, designed to take learning out of the traditional classroom. With robotics, interactive touchscreen displays, 3D printing, writeable walls, a 360-degree climate-controlled
immersive environment, smart glass and an indoor drone flying space, The Pod makes Primary students the architects of their learning. The Imaginarium is the centrepiece of the new learning facility, featuring six laser projectors and cinema-quality surround sound creating a seamless 360-degree sensory experience without the need
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By: Imogen Hanley Coomera Anglican College
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FUTURE FOCUSED How else would you spend your Wednesday’s other than flying to Mars...
for wearable technology. The climate-control technologies can teleport students from the icy cold environments of Antarctica to the sweltering Sahara Desert and even off planet to Mars with the wave of a wand. In a world where the future of education will soon see virtual and augmented reality, robotics, 3D printing, laser cutting and drones as the norm, the College identified the need for a facility that was flexible enough to move
and adapt to change, but also have some key design elements to address some of the current and expected advances in the learning environment. __________________________
Students: Architects of their own future __________________
Students from the College’s Early Learning Centre through to Year 6 will benefit from immersive learning at The Pod. The College is also giving access to Secondary students who will have opportunities to use the facility and help direct a future Secondary facility, with more functionality.
uzzing drones, humming 3D printers, beeping robots and a 360-degree visual experience has now become our reality at Coomera Anglican College. This is thanks to our brand new building, ‘The POD’. This wondrous facility makes learning fun, highly interactive and inspiring. I am thrilled and grateful to be a student at Coomera Anglican College where I get to use my imagination and creativity every day in the POD. The new learning rooms and latest technology have made going to College every day exciting. The Imaginarium transports us into the environment we are learning about in class, whether that be the heat of the Sahara Desert or humidity of the Daintree Forest. The Think Tank allows us to brainstorm our ideas on writeable surfaces where the glass walls change from clear to frosted as required. It is exciting to watch Drones fly in this room and imagine how this technology will impact our future. The Maker Space room is where we learn how to program Robots and watch our creative ideas come to life with 3D printing. The new reading spaces in the POD are an inviting place to relax at lunchtime and further develop our passion for reading a favourite book. I love going to Coomera Anglican College, and the POD has made every day a new learning adventure.
ENVIRONMENTAL Ambassadors in the Primary Campus
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roundbreakers are a small group of students from Years 1-6 who meet weekly on a Wednesday, to look after and tend to the College gardens. For the last few terms, our focus was to create a Mediterranean style garden that would withstand the full sun at the northern end of the Primary staffroom. We set to work and planted some olive trees, a rosemary hedge and some sage. We designed this garden around a lovely wooden bench seat that the Helensvale Mens’ Shed created for us. If you have time, go and take a look. You’ll see that the plants have thrived under our tender loving care and are very happy in their sunny spot. In Term 2 2019 , Mr Campbell and the maintenance crew, helped us create a new vegetable plot out of recycled car tyres. It has been the perfect time of the year to plant lettuce, tomatoes and Italian herbs, like oregano and basil. Our lemon tree has also grown plenty of fruit. Last week, we took a break from gardening and rewarded ourselves with some homemade lemonade, using juicy
lemons from the tree. We can’t wait to see the rest of our crops grow and use them in some more recipes. As well as maintaining our project gardens, we also like to check that the College grounds are free of weeds – particularly our Primary poppy garden and the beds surrounding the Pod. We are looking forward to another successful term of sunshine, sprouts and fruitful soil!
MRS JACQUELINE PEARSON – GROUNDBREAKERS COORDINATOR
SUSTAI ENER
INABLE RGY
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COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE GOES GREEN WITH
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SOLAR POWER
eading the way for a smarter, cleaner and environmentally focused future, the completion of Stage 3 of the solar installation is the latest addition to the College’s Sustainability Project. The Project is the College’s commitment to reduce our environmental footprint, to provide educational opportunities for students, prepare students to be environmental leaders for the future and reduce the rise in energy costs.
Coomera Anglican College Business Manager, David Dobbie said the College continues to build its reputation as a leader in environmental sustainability. “Our Sustainability Project has a range of environmental, educational and economic
benefits not just to the College, but the broader community,” said Mr Dobbie. “It is important to the College that we lead by example and the solar installation will give students access to the data, providing opportunities for them to apply real time and personally relevant figures in their learning,” he said. “We are confident that we are preparing our students to be environmental leaders of the future.” The College now has 362KW of solar panels harvesting energy every day.
MIND HEART SOUL STRENGTH WELLBEING AT COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE We have an holistic approach to education by embedding wellbeing at the core of the curriculum. Inspiring excellence is a powerful and ambitious statement, which despite its simplicity is multi-dimensional. By: Ben Campbell Head of Student Development Preparatory to Year 6
In
the same way that we can provide the conditions for a plant to flourish, we can provide an environment for our students to flourish. Just as different plants need different conditions, so too do our students. By using the language of Mind, Heart, Soul, and Strength, we can focus on delivering an holistic approach to education that will give every student an opportunity to be active contributors to a flourishing global future. Education systems the world over are recognising the importance of building wellbeing into the curriculum and including opportunities for the development of character, resilience and grit. Being actively engaged in learning, knowing our strengths,
mind, heart, soul and strengths. Data we have collected also suggests healthy food choices is an area most students need to focus on.
celebrating accomplishments by focusing on effort and using the language of ‘yet’ to address challenges are all positive strategies that we use here at the College. Simple yet effective ways to help children flourish are drawn from research such as Harvard University’s ‘Project Zero’ which highlights an overwhelmingly simple and effective intervention... the family dinner! It turns out that sitting down for a regular family meal is great for the
Research also indicates that dinner time conversation grows a child’s vocabulary even more than parents reading aloud to their children. Children who have a large vocabulary read earlier and more easily. Older children also benefit from family dinners with regular family meals being attached to better academic performance. Being equipped to make healthy choices for life is certainly a priority for our students. Being connected to one another and finding meaning and purpose through service opportunities
Teaching our kids to say “thank you” is important, but truly instilling a sense of gratitude in them is another matter entirely.
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Examples of our Mind, Heart, Soul, Strength framework in practice include working towards a Growth Mindset to help students bounce back from setbacks and to promote continuous learning. Growth mindsets also contribute to students’ sense of accomplishment. 30 days of gratitude is a College wide focus on gratitude. The entire College community is encouraged to participate and share what we are grateful for. Students are encouraged to be active in the process by writing gratitude postcards and creating a gratitude wall. Preparatory to Year 3 students are encouraged to be Bucket Fillers.
“Bucket Fillers� are those of us who help without being asked, give thanks and compliments, and generally spread their love and good feelings to others. Showing kindness helps students build connections and positive relationships. Year 6 students complete activities exploring the language of character strengths. This information is then used to provide opportunities for them to engage in activities that utilise these strengths. Through studies in leadership the students can apply their strengths in visible ways. Mindfulness is used across all classes in the Primary Campus to promote reflection, and create an inner sense of calm within our students. When students
can increase their ability to be present in the moment, they improve their ability to be actively engaged in learning. These are just some of the many examples of ways flourishing Mind, Heart, Soul and Strength is applied to promote wellbeing at Coomera Anglican College.
Examples of our Mind, Heart, Soul, Strength framework in practice include working towards a Growth Mindset to help students bounce back from setbacks and to promote continuous learning.
FLOURISHING
are central to flourishing here at Coomera Anglican College.
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C LITTLE PEOPLE DOING
oomera Anglican College Early Learning Centre is filled with many little people full of hope and imagination. They are optimistic and positive, looking at the world for what it could be. Like the Apollo Space programme fifty years ago, that put astronauts on the moon; they believe that there is nothing stopping them and that their dreams will come true too.
__________________________
Preparing life-long learners
__________________ Centre. For our young people the signs of physical growth and developmental milestones are easily identified, shared and celebrated.
BIG As a community, we share and celebrate the growth of each child in the Early Learning
THINGS
Each day someone bounds into the Centre announcing that they are another year older, can count to ten, have mastered the art of riding a bike with only two wheels, can reach the button to buzz the Centre door and can write their name. All of which, in a child’s eyes, are very significant accomplishments. What is more exciting to watch is the growth of character strengths and learning dispositions persistence, resilience, independence, confidence and self-belief.
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Through active engagement in a variety of learning experiences, the children have discovered that mistakes are all part of learning and that success is something everyone can achieve. Our Pre-Preparatory Programme provides opportunities for meaningful activities that support integrated learning of concepts and skills. The children invent play scenarios at the dirt patch that has been transformed into a mud patch filled with archaeologists and palaeontologists on a dig
looking for dinosaur bones and rare crystals. They expand their creativity on the art verandah, investigate the life cycle of a seed in the garden and research bridges from around the world using technology as they problem solve through construction in block corner.
Centre, we celebrate our faith at Worship with the children from Preparatory and Year One. With the support of qualified Early Childhood teachers, our PrePreparatory children embrace a programme where play has a purpose and opportunities abound.
These life-long learners, they experiment with rhyming sounds and words in early literacy through Jolly Phonics and engage with number, patterning and sequencing in early numeracy. As a Christian
Coomera Anglican College Early Learning Centre proudly strives to support future College Captains, dramatic performers, soloists, musicians, teachers, scientists, marine biologists, palaeontologists, doctors,
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veterinarians, mechanics, builders, digital technology wizards, construction workers and engineers, all ready to confidently dream a dream and transition through to the College to start making their dream a reality.
BY: JENNY REES EARLY LEARNING CENTRE DIRECTOR
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UNLOCKING THE SECRETS TO DEVELOPING
RESILIENT LEARNERS
Over the past decade there has been a growing body of research supporting the view that parenting styles have a significant impact on the social emotional development of children. A leading voice in the conversation on modern parenting belongs to that of nationally renowned researcher and psychologist Dr Judith Locke, author of the bestselling book ‘The Bonsai Child.’ Coomera Anglican College recently hosted workshops for parents of Primary and Junior Secondary students in which Dr Locke discussed how societal changes have impacted upon modern approaches to parenting. Where it was once the goal of the average parents to raise children who were able to contribute to society, it is now often the objective of parents to make children happy at all costs. Dr Locke readily acknowledges that although this is being done with the best of intentions, always making children successful gives them an unrealistic and inaccurate worldview. This ultimately reduces resilience, self-regulation and makes children more heavily reliant on the assistance of others for tasks that they are capable of completing independently. Throughout the session, Dr Locke established that it is the experience of disappointment that teaches children the value of persistence and sustained effort in self-actualisation. In an endeavour to nurture, comfort
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RESILIENT LEARNERS
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Coomera Anglican College
Our purpose is to: “Inspire excellence in teaching, learning, service and faith”.
and make children happy, parents can inadvertently deprive them of opportunities to develop coping mechanisms while this behaviour can actively stifle those skills which are essential to thrive in life. Extreme levels of parental responsiveness when coupled with low expectations are counterproductive and limit the development of resilience and independence in children. At Coomera Anglican College, we have considered the implication of Dr Locke’s research on classroom practice and pedagogy. As educators, we are constantly questioning how to have a significant impact on shaping students to become successful global citizens, but do we sometimes limit this through the same mechanisms as those who ‘over-parent’? In an educational context teachers can, on occasion, become too responsive to student needs by making routines extremely predictable and by stepping in too early when students are grappling with difficult conceptual understandings or when trying to solve complex problems. That is not to say that teachers should be under-responsive in
relation to providing necessary differentiation, adjustments or support. The role of a teacher is to assist students of all ability levels to engage in deep learning, but we must ensure that assistance is not provided before a child has rigorously attempted a task first. If the teacher is making success too easy and accepting minimal effort from the student, even when the work is of an appropriate difficult level, it is likely that they are venturing into over-teaching mode.
Inquiry learning comes from a constructivist paradigm and is designed to encourage intrinsic motivation, allowing students to make meaning of the world around them. This approach features student agency as a key characteristic, aiming to increase learner responsibility and is often self-initiated with appropriate guidance and facilitation from the teacher. While there are many benefits to utilising an inquiry approach, it supports the Dr Locke message of development of robust, resilient and resourceful learners who acknowledge that it requires sustained effort and some degree of cognitive struggle to achieve success.
Through the ongoing partnership between the College and Dr Locke we will continue to prioritise holistic development and evidence-based approaches to student learning. While we deeply embed resilience as a key idea in both teaching and learning programmes and wellbeing initiatives, it will be with the understanding that to remove appropriate challenge from the lives of learners would be to deprive them of the opportunity to experience true growth.
In an endeavour to embed Dr Locke’s research into practice and prevent this over responsiveness when it is not developmentally appropriate or academically necessary, we must consider pedagogies that support Dr Locke’s five essential skills of respect, resourcefulness, self-regulation, responsibility and resilience. One way this is being achieved at Coomera Anglican College is through the blending of an inquiry approach with existing quality teaching and learning programmes. BY: LISA GLASS HEAD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING PREPARATORY TO YEAR 6
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COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE
16 YEAR OLD CURRENT STUDENT
GOLD COAST 600 V8 SUPER CARS YOUNGEST DRIVER
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BAYLEY HALL “It has been the greatest thing for me so far in my career — it is unbelievable to think that I got to race at Bathurst at this age,” Hall said.
Bayley Hall, Year 11 student at Coomera Anglican College, is inspiring excellence and racing his way to the top of a promising career in motorsports.
Bayley is a mature, passionate and enthusiastic young driver who has a lot of respect for racing and big dreams for his future.
At the end of 2019 Bayley made his category debut and raced alongside Australia’s best drivers at the Bathhurst 1000. He also competed in the Gold Coast 600 and Newcastle 500.
Bayley has been a motor sport fan since before he could even finish his first sentence as a two year old, while most of his friends were watching cartoons he was watching the V8 Supercars on replay.
Bayley who is about to head into Year 11 studies at Coomera Anglican College, began his career racing karts when he was aged six and moved into cars seven years later. The Bayley Hall Racing team first hit the racing track at Archerfield raceway way back in April 2010 when Bayley was only 6 years old. After eight years in karting Bayley had many trophy wins and placings but most importantly he got years of experience under his belt
His biggest idols being Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Fabian Coulthard, Scott McLaughlin and James Courtney.
has definitely been “ beaIthuge opportunity to able to drive around
three of Australia’s greatest tracks, I was so excited,” Hall told Supercars.com.
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COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE
ALEC POKARIER
CLASS OF 2013
A past student and passionate advocate for our northern community, Alec Pokarier is running for the Gold Coast City Council to fight for our fair share in the north.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR TIME AS A STUDENT HERE AT COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE? Being a ‘Navy brat’ meant our family followed Dad all over Australia in my baby years until my parents decided to permanently settle on the northern Gold Coast. Thankfully, this meant my Coomera Anglican College journey began in Year 1 back in 2002.
My Mum loves telling the story of my enrolment interview with former Head of Primary Mr Kirkpatrick (crazy socks Mr K as I would soon learn). Mum was very nervous so I was told to be on my best behaviour as we entered Mr K’s office and I was asked plenty of questions to which I replied short and sharp while staring at a College photo on Mr K’s desk.
As the meeting finished I finally turned to Mr K and proudly shouted “435 students!”. Mum sank back into her chair as she realised I’d been busy counting students in the photo for the entire interview. But I always rebut that it obviously worked because my enrolment was approved and as they say the rest is history!
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PAST STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
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WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS IN LIFE?
WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT STUDYING AT COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE? It was pretty special starting my education in the early years when we shared the College grounds with a Cattle farm and we got to develop alongside the College as it turned into what is now a state-of-the-art campus. It was a real journey together and it was only made possible by some incredible educators passionate about our future. I was privileged to have so many influential teachers across my journey and some incredible peers who challenged and tested me along the way all spearheaded by a fantastic value system and a real culture of respect and personal responsibility.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN UP TO SINCE LEAVING THE COLLEGE? Since graduating from Coomera Anglican College, I began working in corporate events for some of Queensland’s largest tourism employers right here on the Gold Coast. Businesses like Warner Village Theme Parks, Dreamworld and The Star Gold Coast. In 2015, I transitioned into Government working as a Community Engagement Officer at State and Federal levels. My roots are firmly on the northern Gold Coast and after knocking back job offers to move to Brisbane or interstate, I remain a passionate advocate for our community here in the north. I’m now looking forward to fighting for our fair share as a candidate in the upcoming Gold Coast City Council elections.
I’ve always had a passion for planes, I try to get up in a Cessna 172 once every month to clear my head and think, I find it a lot easier thousands of feet in the air. As mentioned, I have a passion for serving our community and trying to make it an even better place to live. I’ve held several leadership roles in our community and beyond, including Treasurer of the Gold Coast Junior Chamber of Commerce, 2014 Youth Member for Coomera, State and District Judge of the Lions Youth of the Year competition, the Gold Coast District Neighbourhood Watch and member of the Gold Coast Northern Chamber of Commerce. During weekends I’m a sporting tragic, so you’ll find me at the Coomera Crushers Rugby Union Club and on the sidelines watching the Ormeau Shearers Rugby League teams or courtside at the Ormeau Pimpama Royals Netball games.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MOMENTS OF LIFEDEFINING CHANGE THAT SHAPED YOU INTO THE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY? I’ve had plenty of low and high points in my life that have helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m by no stretch of the imagination a perfect person and I fight tooth and nail against such an ideal. In the new age of social media we have such a concerning attitude in our young people to alter ourselves to suit a false sense of perfection. It’s something that I try my hardest to fight against and I always try to show my faults and flaws as well as my success. I never want to be the type of person that pretends to be perfect and with the growing issue of youth mental health I want to try and be a positive role/real model for our future generations.
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COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE
PAST STUDENTS PAGE KIMBERLY BIRRELL
CLASS OF 2015
Coomera Anglican College’s own Kimberly Birrell is taking the court by storm as she played in the 2019 Australian Open. Graduating in 2015 and an active participant in the College’s Athlete Development Programme (ADP), Kim went professional in 2014 and is now representing Australia in the Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles categories at the first stop of four Grand Slam tennis events. Kim was successful in the first round against Spain’s Paula Badosa Gibert on 14 January, making her first ever Grand Slam main-draw win. This marked her best singles world ranking at number 240. She won her match against Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the second round on 16 January. Her sporting talents have seen her start 2019 with her first top 10 win over Daria Kasatkina as a wild card in the Brisbane International. Kim has also enjoyed various successes in her career to date including two ITF Women’s Circuit singles and one doubles title.
letcher FDonohue CLASS OF 2013 Coomera Anglican College past student Fletcher Donohue is captivating audiences with his nerves of steel, elite athleticism and theatrical pizzazz in the worldwide production of Cirque du Soleil. Fletcher spends most of his days hanging upside down with partner in crime, Nathan Dennis. The southeast Queensland boys ran away after College to join the circus and are travelling around the world entertaining crowds with their amazing talent. Fletcher performs up to 10 shows a week and is pushing his body to the limit everyday.
Inspiring excellence in others and leading the way to her own destiny, Coomera Anglican College is certainly very proud of Kim’s success.
JOIN OUR PAST STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION At Coomera Anglican College we trust that our past students are enjoying and meeting the challenges of study, work and life beyond Year 12. Our past students still remain a vital part of our College community. Our aim is to stay in touch and connect with them on different levels through alumni events, reunions, guest speaking opportunities and so much more. If you are a past student of Coomera Anglican College: Register the College on your linked In page Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/CACPSA/ Update your details with the College.
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AYLOR SMITH CLASS OF 2017
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I am currently studying a Bachelor of Education at Griffith university. I am also playing AFL for bond University in the AFLW. I played for the QLD State team at the 18s Nationals AFLW championships and for the Gold Coast Suns in the QW winter series and was nominated to attend the 2019 NAB AFLW National Combine in Melbourne as 1 of 45 invited from all over Australia. I am an athletics coach at Coomera Anglican College and for work I do a bit of tutoring and work for AFLQ. There were so many amazing things that I enjoyed about Coomera Anglican College. Having been there from Prep to Year 12, I was lucky enough to develop some amazing life long friendships and some really great relationships with the amazing teachers. The College provided me with so many opportunities through academics and sports. I also loved being part of the College musicals and that’s definitely something I miss!”
CHANTELLE GREYLING (nee Beattie)
CLASS OF 2007
“
S ince graduating Coomera Anglican College I have completed a Bachelor of Business (Marketing and tourism) and have worked for some amazing tourism companies in Australia and overseas – Village Roadshow Theme Parks, Experience Oz and Sail Croatia. I returned to study in 2013 to pursue my passion for health, fitness and nutrition and completed my Masters of Human Nutrition online whilst working and living abroad in London. My husband and I lived and worked in London for two years and followed our dreams of living and travelling Europe. Since returning to Australia I have completed my studies and have worked for a leading allergy specialist and am now working for ATP Science utilising my nutritional knowledge to help others and support the marketing team. I was a foundation student of Coomera Anglican College starting in Year 2 in 1997. I loved the small College community environment and how happy and caring the staff always were. I always had wonderful teachers that paved the way to help me succeed in life after school. I also met my closest friends at school who I still see and talk to regularly. The College really is like a second family. “
L
EAH CHRISTIAN
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(nee Walters)
CLASS OF 2003
I am Paediatric Dental nurse, working in the Coast’s private hospitals. Working alongside Australia’s leading Paediatric dentists. I am also the practice manager of the Paediatric Dental Practice in Benowa. I married my high school sweetheart, Ben Christian and we have two beautiful children. We also have our road transport business. Life is super busy and crazy, but amazing!”
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COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE
GO CACABURRAS
THE SPIRIT OF THE COLLEGE The CACABURRA mascot, unlike the mascot of many Colleges which limit the use of their mascot to sporting pursuits, is an all inclusive brand that covers all representative pursuits in the College. If a student represents the College in any activity they do so proudly as a CACABURA.
All representative activities, and the efforts of our students in their chosen activity, are seen as equally important, and valued. This includes but is not limited to APS activities, music, sport, debating, public speaking, drama, chess, and academic competitions.
Coomera Anglican College has had an impressive history in sport. We have achieved much success at local, regional, State and National levels. As part of our continuing commitment towards inspiring excellence, the College is proud to offer students the opportunity to participate in our Football (including Futsal), Netball and Basketball Academy Programmes.
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BEST DEBATERS ON THE GOLD COAST WINNERS OF THE 2019 GOLD COAST SECONDARY SCHOOLS DEBATING COMPETITION
PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT - MISS MEGAN BEDDOWS (DEBATING COORDINATOR), ANDRE URECH, JADA MELHEM, ELI BECKTON, SHAYE BARDSLEY AND MS CATHY HALLEWELL ( DEBATING COACH)
Coomera Anglican College are extremely proud of the Intermediate A Debating CACaburra team who won the Grand Final at Bond University in August 2019. The students were very excited to be crowned champions in this prestigious event. Coomera Anglican College was also presented with the ‘Most Successful School’ Award based on the finishing positions of all of our teams.
Awakening the desire to learn
Join us at the next Principal’s Tour at Coomera Anglican College. These tours give you an opportunity to view the College’s outstanding facilities and to learn about our history, ethos and curriculum. If you are interested in finding out more about our beautiful College we strongly recommend you attend. During the event you will hear from our founding Principal, Dr Mark Sly and other key staff. Our Year 9 student leaders will conduct tours around our Campus and escort you through the grounds pointing out specific areas and facilities. Our aim for you is to see it from all sides; what the Principal and Head of Campuses have to say about the College while also hearing what the students most enjoy about being a part of our College community.
REGISTER AT CAC.QLD.EDU.AU
REGISTER NOW for a PRINCIPAL’S TOUR
2020 DATES Thursday 5 March 2020 Thursday 11 June 2020 Thursday 23 July 2020 Thursday 10 September 2020 Thursday 29 October 2020
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HIGH
PERFORMANCE CENTRE
COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE
GOAL DRIVEN
Participation for both competition and enjoyment Maintaining an active lifestyle Building self esteem and camaraderie Promoting College and House spirit Providing personal challenge and extension
The High Performance Centre consists of the Gymnasium and the Cardio Room. This facility is specially designed to deliver our sports programmes focused on the core elements of Flexibility, Strength and Agility underpinned by our focus on injury prevention. The Cardio room has the latest cardio equipment including two Matrix S-Drives. The High Performance Centre has world-leading Plae USA training surfaces, as well as high quality resistance training equipment. Students from Years 4-12 have access to these areas at allocated times with expert instruction. These facilities assist our students and coaches in delivering the world class sports programmes. YEAR 3 TO 6 ATHLETICS DAY
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2019 COLLEGE CAMP FUN Our adventurous Year 4 students travelled to Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head for two nights and three action packed days. Their first official College camp has allowed our students to forge new friendships and build the vital skills of resilience and independence. Students started each day with a sunrise beach walk, paddled and sailed across Lake Ainsworth, completed group initiative games and scrambled up the rock climbing wall with youthful enthusiasm.
A wonderful example of Flourishing, Mind, Heart, Soul, Strength.
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COOMERA ANGLICAN COLLEGE
Students Take Centre Stage for Oliver Musical Broadway came to the Gold Coast in May 2019 as Coomera Anglican College students’ took centre stage for their 11th College Musical, Oliver!. With four performances held over three massive days at the College’s Ivan Gibbs Centre, the enthusiastic cast of budding actors and actresses, complimented by the College’s own talented orchestra, breathed new life into the production of the musical classic. Based on Charles Dickens’ beloved novel, the gifted cast from the Secondary Campus took audiences on a wild adventure through Victorian England as young orphan Oliver Twist navigates London’s underworld in the hunt for a home, a family and love. Directed by Mrs Kirsty Terry, the entire Musical cast and staff worked tirelessly for months to ensure the production entertained and left audiences in awe. “Coomera Anglican College’s 2019 production of Oliver certainly impressed and the calibre of our performers, singers and orchestra was outstanding,” said Mrs Terry. “These committed young men and women from Years 7-12 continue to inspire us all with their passion, talent, dedication and enthusiasm and worked so hard to hone their skills and perfect their craft,” she said. “I am sure the Musical staff will agree with me when I say that we felt privileged to share this exciting and momentous experience with such delightful students.” The College community welcomed young and old who enjoyed the fabulous production where they found themselves transported to the historical context of 19th century London. The crowds exoerienced beautiful sets and costumes, while being entertained by a wonderful balance of toe-tapping tunes, beautiful ballads, cheeky humour and dramatic tension the whole family will enjoy.
PARENT AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION
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COLLEGE COMMUNITY The Parents and Friends’ Association (PAFA) is the collective voice of parents and other carers in our College community, working with one
Trivia Night - March 2019
common interest: the benefit, welfare and education of our children
“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.”
Mother’s Day stall - May 2019
Colour Run - November 2018
Community Fair - May 2018
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The Art Show 2019
‘ARTifical’
(L-R) Ms Liz Hampson - Head of Art Guest Judge - Virginia Leighton-Jackson (Class of 2007)
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Justice, mercy and backpacks.
Coomera Anglican College’s Primary Student Representative Council (SRC) have led the way with the Justice & Mercy Project, collecting items for backpacks that was distributed to St John’s Crisis Care clients in 2019. The Justice & Mercy Project at Coomera Anglican College is embedded into the curriculum at the College. It looks at the concept of justice and mercy, and how it is about being (or identifying) with people to better understand, and to learn from them and how all lives have particular challenges at different times.
Reverend Mary-Anne Rulfs has been driving this project at the College for a number of years and each year is impressed with the impact it has on the wider community and students from within the College. “The Justice & Mercy Porject aims to help our students identify how they can be active participants in the world from the concept of justice and mercy and make a positive difference to others lives through small yet significant acts of kindness”, said Mrs Rulfs “Our students coordinated themselves to collect items for backpacks so that they can be provided to St John’s Crisis Care.” Primary SRC collated a number of different items through donation bins placed around the College, and have been very proactive in ensuring that they are making a difference to the wider community through taking a step outside of themselves and their comfortable lives to appreciate what they have. “The amazing thing is that this kind of generosity transforms us into happier and more whole people”, said Mrs Rulfs. “Our students, the global citizens of the future, are learning this daily, and research tells us this is a significant contributor to their wellbeing. It’s a win-win.”
Attitude of Gratitude at Coomera Anglican College The 30 Days of Gratitude project has been running every year for the past three years. Nicola Evison, a teacher here at the College and the Student Representative Council have been the driving force behind the initiative. Mrs Evison says, “Every language in the world has a way of saying ‘thank you.’ This could be because gratitude is an inherent quality that resides within each human being. Gratitude spans a multitude of boundaries - faith, age, vocation, gender, and nationality. It is difficult to define the idea of gratitude explicitly, but I like to think of it as acknowledging positive things that come our way which we have not actively worked towards, or asked for. Gratitude is both an emotion which arises spontaneously within us, and is also a choice we make – being grateful or ungrateful. It is something we can work on and ‘train’ ourselves to become better at recognising”. The idea of training our brains to become more grateful is something that we are currently undertaking as a
whole College. Each day for 30 days beginning in August, the College will be sharing one thing that someone in our wonderful College Community is grateful for.
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JUSTICE AND MERCY GROW IN FAITH HOPE AND LOVE
Each student at the College in 2016 is represented on the Gumleaf. Their names engraved trhough the gumleaf veins represent ‘Unity and Growth’ .
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“GROWTH” Installed 12 July 2016
In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Coomera Anglican College ARTIST:
Jules Hunt
in conjunction with
Colin James - Southern Cross Metal Liz Hampson - Head of Art Dr Mark Sly - Foundation Principal
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Days Road Upper Coomera QLD 4209 Australia +61 7 5585 9900 cac@cac.qld.edu.au
Awakening the desire to learn.
Days Road Upper Coomera QLD 4209 Australia +61 7 5585 9900 cac@cac.qld.edu.au
www.cac.qld.edu.au
