St Andrews STAR, Issue 2, July 2013

Semper Fidelis

Volume 7

Issue 2

Celebrating 20 years 2013

July 2013

‘Open Minds, Servant Hearts’ ST ANDREWS LUTHERAN COLLEGE A 175 Tallebudgera Creek Road, Tallebudgera PO Box 2142, Burleigh BC QLD 4220 P (07) 5568 5900 F (07) 5568 5999 E office@salc.qld.edu.au W www.standrewslutheran.qld.edu.au

A co-educational P-12 College owned and operated by The Lutheran Church of Australia

An Authorised IB World School Implementing PYP Program

OPEN MINDS, SERVANT HEARTS STAR FEATURES PRINCIPALS PEN 2 CHAPLAINS CHAT 3 LEST WE FORGET 4 WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME

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SHARING THE PLANET 6 ICAS COMPETITION 7 YEAR 3 SLEEP OVER

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WORTH THE WAIT YEAR 5 CAMP

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SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL

10 - 11

ST ANDREWS FETE

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TEACHERS AS RESEARCHERS

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LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST

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ST ANDREWS GOT TALENT

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NURTURING SPIRITUALITY

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SCHOOL DISCO 17 JUST KEEP RUNNING

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STUDYING HUMAN IMPACT

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FUTURE BIOLOGIST 21 SENIOR DRAMA EVENING

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CAMBODIA BOUND 23

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I have just finished reading Hugh McKay’s latest book ‘The Good Life’. Hugh McKay is a well know Australian social commentator. In his most recent writings, McKay looks at what exactly is ‘the Good Life’. McKay argues that ‘a good life is characterized by goodness, a morally praiseworthy life, a life valuable in its impact on others, a life devoted to the common good. This type of life is marked by a courteous respect for others’ rights, a responsiveness to others’ needs, and a concern for others’ well-being’.

can be, but not just for themselves alone, but to make a difference in the lives of others. To do this students are encouraged to go through life with open minds and a servant heart……minds and hearts that see a need in the community, and take action to make a difference. As you read through the pages of this term’s STAR Magazine I hope the ‘Open Minds, Servant Hearts’ of St Andrews students is evident as they go about their learning in and out of the classroom.

What McKay writes about in his book resonates strongly with what we are on about here at St Andrews. At St Andrews, as we pursue “More than a Good Education…..

An Education for Good” we encourage our children to open their hearts and minds to others and the world around them. A St Andrews education is more than OP Results and NAPLAN Scores. We want our students to be passionate about what they do; to be the best they

Through a St Andrews Education we endeavour to open the hearts and minds of our children and young people so that they may serve and indeed pursue ‘the Good Life’.

Enjoy this edition of STAR. Tim Kotzur Principal

THE MIND IS LIKE A PARACHUTE, IT WORKS BEST WHEN OPEN The Dead Sea is a dead sea not because it does not receive a significant annual input of water but because it has no outlet. It has received an inflow over millennia but is no longer productive, because the salts, that make it 8.6 times saltier than sea water, have also continued to accumulate. It has received so much and given out nothing. Obviously I’m not blaming the Dead Sea, merely using it as an illustration of life – a life that is focused on getting, acquiring and receiving with no outflow of love, compassion and service is a life that in the end is unproductive and leads to death of life sustaining relationships.

Paul Tournier, a Swiss psychiatrist who wrote last century in “The Meaning of Gifts”, explored ideas related to the need for people who receive charity (a gift) to be able to give something in return in order to retain their dignity and a sense of self. Input needs to be balanced with outflow in order to maintain a balanced and healthy education and life. It is this openness to receive the forgiveness, love, peace and reconciliation from God and to respond to it with loving service and commitment to justice, that is at the heart of the Christian faith. We are “blessed to be a blessing”.

There is more in this theme “Open Minds, Serving Hearts” that we should explore. It is often a closed mind and the hasty, subjective and unfair judgments that characterise it, that cut us off from serving even where our hearts are moved to compassion. Christ warns us: “Do not Judge.”

Christ challenges us: “Take the log from your own eye before dealing with the splinter in someone else’s eye.”

So our closed mind and judgments can have us blame the poor for their poverty, the refugee for their homelessness, and the victim of our human systems (economic, social, racial and political) for their victimization.

Education has a responsibility to challenge entrenched stereotypes, and narrow judgments; to encourage open minds so that students can be authentic, productive and serving human beings.

Pastor Terry Unger

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LEST WE FORGET On April 25th well over 200 students across Prep to Year 12, marched in the Anzac Day parade and joined in the Commemorative Service at Burleigh Heads. Students participated with great pride at the Service. They were excellent ambassadors for our College. Thank you to the parents who also attended and encouraged their children to take part.

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WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE IN TIME Jingi!!! (hello) This term, our Prep students have been inquiring into where we are in place in time, with a focus on appreciating cultural diversity and examining traditional aspects of Indigenous Culture. National Reconciliation Week was held from 27th May until 3rd June 2013.

Reconciliation is about understanding and looking at things from different points of view.

As part of the inquiry process, the students participated in an incursion hosted by Koori Kids. Aunty Di provided the children with an exciting, informative and interactive performance.

During the incursion, the jarjams (children) learned some Indigenous words, danced some traditional dances, listened to an Indigenous story about why the crow is black, had their faces painted with ochre and asked LOTS of questions.

Jesse “I really liked playing the didgeridoo.”

Caleb “I had my face painted as a turtle with ochre.”

Jasmine “I enjoyed playing the clap sticks.”

Ella “I had my face painted as a rainbow bird with ochre.”

Grace “I enjoyed having my face painted as a kangaroo.”

Phoebe “I enjoyed listening to the story.”

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SHARING THE PLANET During the past weeks the Year 1 students have been participating in a Unit of Inquiry relating to “Sharing the Planet” which has seen them investigating the central idea of how “humans have a responsibility to share the Earth’s resources with other living things.” As part of this inquiry process we had an informative excursion to David Fleay Wildlife Park where we were able to research many types of animals, their needs and environments.

The children then used this knowledge to write and present an information report. As a follow on to our excursion and a culminating activity to this Unit of Inquiry we were fortunate to have an RSPCA Education incursion.

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The education officer, Laura Cator, discussed with the children such topics as what to do if you find injured wildlife, how rubbish effects living things, the impact of feeding animals human food, how cats pose a threat to our ecosystem and why our wildlife is such a precious resource.

She was also able to bring a little friend with her for the children to meet. “Sandy,” the Bearded Dragon was the perfect guest and showed lovely manners whilst the children all stroked him gently.

The RSPCA aims to provide education which “develops kindness, respect and empathy for animals, people and the environment.” To assist the RSPCA to continue their vital

work the Year 1 students chose to take action by making donations of pet food and blankets. This was presented to Laura on the day along with a $100 monetary donation to the RSPCA from the College in appreciation of her visit.

The children did a wonderful job and Laura was overwhelmed with the generosity and support shown by the Year 1 students!

ICAS COMPETITION Again this year our students were invited to participate in the 2013 Australasian Schools Competitions for Science, Writing, Spelling, English, Mathematics and Computer Skills. The Competitions take place each year in schools throughout Australia and the South Pacific Region. They provide an opportunity for all students to gain a measure of their own achievement in an external assessment situation.

All students who are involved will receive a certificate and an individual results letter indicating which questions they answered correctly, as well as the average mark for their state.

Certificates are awarded to each Year level (Years 4 -12) as follows: High Distinction: to the top 1% of entrants in the state; Distinction: to the next 10% of entrants in the state; Credit: to the next 20% of entrants in the state; Achievement: to the students who are placed in the top 20% of their Year Level at their school, but do not qualify for one of the above State Certificates; Participation: to all students who do not qualify for one of the above certificates.

We will be expecting some outstanding results from our students as they sit the papers throughout Term 2 and 3!

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YEAR 3 SLEEP OVER

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Lilah: “Playing games after dinner was lots of fun, but knots was my favourite!”

Blaise: “The BBQ was yummy and the movie was a great way to finish the night.”

Talia: “The sleepover was great fun!”

Seth: “It was cool to try new games, new food, and mix with kids from other classes.”

Cooper: “I enjoyed watching the movie in the staffroom.

The couches were comfy! I loved getting my ugg boots dirty!!”

Eliza: “We had revenge on the teachers for giving us NAPLAN tests!!!!”

Lily: “A lot of us faced our fears, like sleeping without our parents.”

Ava: “Thanks to the parents and teachers that supervised us on the night.”

Chloe: “I really enjoyed the scavenger hunt. I liked working with my group to figure out the clues.”

Mady: “We got to vote on the movie we watched.”

Tim: “ We got to do new things and help each other.”

WORTH THE WAIT After a false start earlier in the year the Year 5 cohort finally embarked for Luther Heights Youth Camp on Wednesday 5th June. A key emphasis of the three day camp was faith, courage and teamwork. A sense of fun and enthusiasm was evident in the physical activities the students participated in as they worked together as a team, identifying their own personal strengths and forging new friendships.

The students conducted themselves with pride and enthusiasm embracing all activities and opportunities that camp offered them.

A hug thank you to the friendly staff at Luther Heights and parent helpers who were supportive of all the students efforts, encouraging them to go one step beyond the goals they had set for each activity.

Some of the activities students participated in were Michelle Atkins surfing, team challenges, nature walks, orienteering, bush Year 5 Teacher dancing and an extreme flying fox experience.

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SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL “I’m glad we had the times together just to laugh and sing a song, seems like we just got started and then before you know it, the times we had together were gone.”

- Dr. Seuss.

This year’s musical was a huge success. The children were the stars and really brought this show to life. They sung beautifully, acted their parts convincingly and put on a show that everyone will remember. While they will remember the feeling they had on stage when the audience clapped and cheered, I suspect they will remember the times that they spent together in rehearsals learning their lines, practicing their cues and getting to know each other.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped back stage to make this musical a huge success and I suspect they will equally remember this time for the rest of their lives.

Darrin Schumacher Deputy Principal / Head of Junior School

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SCHOOL FETE The biennial College Fete is always a highlight in the College Calendar, and what an event it turned out to be.

The weather overnight in the lead up to the day resulted in a few nervous and sleepless moments for some, but thankfully we awoke to a great Winter’s day on the Gold Coast. From start to finish the College was abuzz with excitement.

People hunted for bargains amongst plants and preloved clothing and toys. The Food Stalls did a roaring trade, so much so that some sold out for the first time in history.

Fete goers enjoyed each others’ company over a German Sausage, or perhaps a Devonshire Tea. Kids cued for rides to be thrilled by them or to be scarred by the House of Horrors. The Raffle and Cent Auction with their fabulous

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prizes were a hit. The Dunking Tank with an array of illustrious teachers as hapless victims braving the cold was a hit also. We were all entertained throughout the day by some very talented members of our community.

It was wonderful to see parents, students and staff working side by side together in a common cause.

Whilst final figures are not known at the time of writing it will be in the vicinity of $40 000.

Thank you to everyone involved, especially the Fete Committee. It was a wonderful event, and the sense of community that St Andrews is renowned for was real and palpable. Bring on 2015!

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Direct Quotes from the Teachers participating in the research project exploring professional learning community when asked what does the Teachers as Researchers Project mean to them.

Tamara Shead Prep Teacher “‘Teachers as Researchers’ is a brilliant initiative that enabled me to work collaboratively to ensure the best possible outcomes for my students. The opportunity to work with professionals allowed me to create a unique and valuable program for specific students. I am now able to view my students with a more extensive knowledge base. My practice is better informed and as a direct result I can see the incredible and rewarding progress that my students are now making.”

TEACHERS AS RESEARCHERS St Andrews has been successful in being awarded a grant from Independent Schools Queensland to conduct a research project within the College for 2013.

This has allowed a group of 10 Junior School Teachers to embark on a journey together to explore how creating a professional learning community can enhance the outcomes for diverse learners within the College.

The project launched with a professional development workshop day that focused on classroom strategies for diverse learners. Throughout the day the teachers reflected on their own practice and shared best practice strategies with each other.

The teachers meet regularly to share the progress of strategy implementation and are always very enthusiastic to trial new strategies.

I always walk away from the professional learning community meetings feeling inspired by the teachers’ ongoing commitment to implement best teaching practice for the individual students in their class. They certainly bring to the forefront part of the College’s mission statement ‘nurturing the individual’ to everyday life at St Andrews.

Belinda Holmes Student Services Coordinator Junior School

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Terese Sheers Year 3 Teacher “An opportunity to learn new strategies, discuss ideas with colleagues and other professionals, and to implement them with my students.”

Stephen Dalby Year 3 Teacher Edward Lorenz “small changes in initial conditions produced large changes in the long-term outcome.”

LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST This initiative began in 2010 and the tradition of gathering a group of aspiring leaders from Year 11 together has continued in 2013 with St Andrews hosting over 40 students from 6 of the AGCC schools. The students were led through a series of activities by the Lutheran Youth Queensland facilitator, Juliette Warnes to discern what their view of leadership was and how they could start to contribute as leaders in their College. In asking the St Andrews students to reflect on one key message they took away from the morning led me to believe our schools are in good hands with these young people. Some of their reflections:

consideration everyone else’s. And genuinely listening!

It’s one thing to hear what someone says, but to actually listen is another” “I wasn’t sure that I could make changes in the school community, however I now realise that I can”

“I learnt that I really need to take care of myself before I can take care of others” “Leading isn’t just by standing in front of a group of people and giving orders, it’s about getting in there with people and seeing what it is that they want and need” “In order to be a successful leader to others you have to first lead yourself. I think that it is really true and something that I will try to implement”

ST ANDREWS LEO CLUB St Andrews Leo Club goes from strength to strength. They have successfully raised funds for a variety of charities and organisations including K’s for Kids, Sight for Australian and MS Research, Cancer Research, St Jude’s School in Tanzania and COPE through weekly Saturday BBQ’s at Officeworks on Kortum Drive, Burleigh.

Recently John Hamstra (Year 11) was named Zone Leo Chairman for the Gold Coast Region which includes St Andrews Leo Club as well as four other Leo Clubs from the area. John is an active member of the St Andrews Leo Club and has formed a strong connection with other Leo Clubs participating in joint fundraising activities with Palm Beach Currumbin Leos to raise money for Relay for Life.

“Communication is key and a good leader needs to be able to put forward their ideas but also take into

ST ANDREWS GOT TALENT Recently, the Student Council organised the St Andrew’s Got Talent Quest for the Fete. They had over a dozen acts from Junior to Senior. We are lucky that so many of our talented students are willing to perform as part of the celebrations at the College Fete.

Pictured are Mitchell Winter and Tegan Mills from the Middle School performing in the Talent Quest.

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NURTURING SPIRITUALITY Year level visits to St Andrews Congregation church services are an integral part of the educative process for our students. The visits are a blessing to the congregation as members are able to interact with the students and extend hospitality to their families. One of the purposes for the visits is to expose the students to a worshipping community that is multi-generational. All St Andrews students experience regular worship events at College but it has a different flavor when part of Congregational life.

This term the Year 5s and Preps visited. Year 5 students enhanced the time of worship through sharing images of what Grace looks like to them! This was a beautiful testimony to the learning that occurs in our College and a wonderful encouragement to College families and Congregation members alike. Prep visits are always special times as they share the message of God’s love for us during the service. The Congregation is very grateful for the opportunity to share time with College families and extends an invitation to families to return sometime soon and continue to experience God’s love and goodness through worship times.

“This is my picture of grace. I drew my picture of Jesus on the cross, because this was the ultimate act of love and sacrifice for us. He died for everyone because he loves us.” Rory Schaefer

“This is my picture of grace. I drew a picture of a puzzle and Jesus is the one who is putting the pieces of it back together. I can now experience His unending love for me every day as He makes my life complete.” Lani Caruana

“This is my picture of grace. I drew a picture of rain coming down in front of a window. To me, the rain represents God washing away our sins and giving us a fresh start. His grace is like rain that makes us clean again.” Xavier Cairns-Betts

“This is my picture of grace. To me, grace represents life. He loves me and blesses me with a great life. We can live our lives every day knowing that he will always love us no matter what.” Abigail Pullen

Graeme Schache Chaplain and Congregation Member

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SCHOOL DISCO On Friday 10th May the Ruth Butler Theatre was transformed into an eardrum menacing, floor thumping discothèque for Years 7-12. Several hundred students donned costumes for the evening and displayed a variety of dance techniques from the perennial pogo to more modern knee-dislocating moves.

To cater for those students needing a break from the frivolities a slushie machine and refreshment sales in the COLA offered some light relief from the hectic dance pace inside. ‘Come As Your Favourite Character’ was the theme for the evening and everything from bloodthirsty zombies to Kung Fu Panda was represented with students going to spectacular efforts to reproduce some memorable characters.

Enormous thanks must go to Ms Stewart and the Student Representative Council for their organisation of the evening. All fundraising from the evening will be distributed according to the charitable plans of the Student Representative Council for 2013.

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JUST KEEP RUNNING Cross Country It has once again been a very successful year for our Cross Country runners and teams. JUBI were dominant this year winning both of the House Carnivals at the end of Term 1.

GOWANDI did very well to finish 2nd in both carnivals.

Years 8-12 Inter Lutheran Cross Country St Andrews did remarkably well after being promoted to A Division at the recent Years 8-12 Inter Lutheran Cross Country Carnival. We came 3rd overall which is an outstanding achievement considering the populations of other schools that we competed against. Particular congratulations to our Captains Tia Faulkner and Brady Bastin on the way they competed and led the team.

Our 16 Year Boys Team achieved 1st Place overall in the teams event. This group consisted of Lachlan Irvine, Connor Dougherty, Django Waddington and Lachlan Richards. Lachlan actually competed up an age group as we needed an extra runner to complete the team of four.

Our best individual results were; Brady Bastin – 1st Open Boys Lachlan Irvine – 1st 16 year Boys Connor Dougherty – 2nd 16 year Boys Tia Faulkner – 2nd Open Girls Chelsea Blockey – 3rd 15 years Girls Abbie Hawkins – 4th 13 year Girls Kira Mobberley – 5th Open Girls SLAPS Years 4-7 Cross Country Our best Years 4-7 cross country runners went to Rivermount College in May to compete at the Junior Lutheran Schools Carnival. This was a new venue for this competition and our team did a fantastic job finishing 3rd Charlotte Chant finished 4th and Saoirse Harding and overall.

Emily Braid finished 5th in their races.

In teams events our Boys and Girls 12/13 teams and our District And Regional Cross Country Boys 10 years teams finished 2nd. Girls 10 years and Boys This year we had again had very talented teams compete and Girls 11 years teams finished 3rd. at both the Independent District School Sport (13 – 18 Our best individuals included Team Captains Kieran Croker year olds) and Gold Coast South District School Sport (1012 year olds) Cross Country Carnivals. Kieran Croker, Kye and Ella Atkinson who both finished second, and Darby Wylde, Connor Dougherty, Brady Bastin, Abbie Hawkins, Scott and Mitchell Blackborough who also finished 2nd.

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Jessica Palfreyman and Chelsea Blockey all qualified for the Regional Championships and Will Atkinson, Lachlan Irvine and Tia Faulkner performed exceptionally well at the Regionals to be then selected in the South Coast team to compete at the State Championships in Bundaberg in July.

Andrew Manion Head of Sport

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STUDYING HUMAN IMPACT This term the senior geographers carried out extensive field work on the Nerang River as part of their study unit called Managing Catchments. They tracked the river from Hinze Dam all the way to the seaway. The journey downstream began at the new visitor centre at the Hinze Dam where a most informative lecture was provided by an Education Officer for SEQWATER. The expedition continued downstream to make three more stops to collect data and survey the biological, chemical and physical features of the river and its valley. Students gathered first hand information about the increasing

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impact of human activity on the long profile of the river.

Water samples were collected and analysed back at school

by Mr Hampshire. Lunch was taken under the double catenary arch of the well known Scottish restaurant. A huge amount of data was collected and has provided valuable information for students to produce their field report assessment item.

FUTURE BIOLOGISTS On the May 13th, 30 eager Year 12 Biology students set off from St Andrews and travelled into Northern NSW to Hasting’s Point, where they completed an intensive 2 day field study on the importance and interconnectedness of the rocky shore, sand dune and mangrove ecosystems.

realize that a knowledge and understanding of our shores is vital to sustaining and maintaining our existence along Australia’s coast. And, with students undertaking programs such as this, we can be assured that the future of our shores is in well-informed hands.

On day one, the Biology students took to the rock platform Katie Castles with purpose and curiosity, completing an in-depth Senior Biology Teacher study into the type, amount and interdependence of the organisms which exist there. The rocky shore at Hasting’s Point is home to an abundance of marine creatures. The students learned about the role and function of each in sustaining the ecosystem, and discovered several species for themselves; including the Red Waratah anemone, sea cucumbers, sea hares and reef sharks to name a few.

“Biology camp allowed us to get up close and personal with the vast sea life we have in our rocky shore. My highlight was being able to hold a Sea Hare and feel it sucking my hand as if it were a rock. All in all, everyone seemed to enjoy the camp and had lots of fun exploring the rocky shore of Hastings Point.”

Beau Pett, Year 12 The students also had the privilege of being led by a dedicated and passionate education team of marine teachers who have developed an in-depth program, centred around conservation awareness. The students participated in several lectures held in the education museum, as well as practical field exercises such as quadrat studies and kayaking.

The two day educational camp was an invaluable chance for students to put their classroom knowledge into practice and get first-hand experience in working as field biologists.

With many of the students striving for a career in the biological sciences, this was a fantastic way to get an insight into the roles and practices of such an important profession.

We need only look at the current state of our beaches to

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SENIOR DRAMA EVENING

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CAMBODIA BOUND Suosday, Sok sabai chea tay? The Student Christian Service and Learning Tour 2013 Cambodia held the first of three full day training activities at our College on Saturday 11th May. It was the first time all team members from St Andrews and Grace Lutheran College came together to gain valuable information and understanding of Cambodia’s situation after many years of war and poverty.

Susan Seng from ALWS conducted the activities ensuring the team was exposed to aspects of the rural integrated development and empowerment programs facilitated by ALWS in Cambodia. Training ensured the team was aware

of the importance of empowering remote villages to become self- managed and independent through building infrastructure and projects for lasting health benefits and employment. From the information and cultural understanding gained on the training day, the team was able to develop a plan of action both leading up to the tour and what services could be delivered by the team once in Cambodia.

is required in this specific activity, but enthusiasm and engagement is high amongst the team in order to make the trip a huge success. There are still challenges for the team, but already support has been received from STAPLES, and our College bag supplier, for which we are very grateful as support ensures success of the tour.

A highlight of the training for the team was to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” ensuring that the animal sounds were sung in a Cambodian accent. More training

Bob Grehan Cambodian ALWS Team 2013.

Akun jann

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Semper Fidelis

Celebrating 20 years 2013

Celebrating 20 years

OF ST ANDREWS LUTHERAN COLLEGE

A Celebration Weekend of the 20th Anniversary of St Andrews Lutheran College Gala Concert Saturday 3rd August 2013 at 7pm, Ruth Butler Theatre A Special Thanksgiving Service Sunday 4th August 2013 at 9am, Worship Centre Seating available, bookings via the College website from 15th July 2013

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