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Issue 14 / 4 September 2015

Junior School Bulletin

Junior School News Student Led Conferences It was wonderful to see so many families attend the Student Led Conferences last week. It was a perfect opportunity for the children to share their learning journey. Having the students take age appropriate responsibility for their learning is an important step in getting the children to become “Life Long Learners”. We know that when students own their learning and can articulate it, they actually become better learners. We would like to say thank you to all of you who had to make adjustments to your busy schedules to come during the school day. Changes to the Tertiary Entrance Ranking System Mrs Warner (Deputy Principal/Head of Secondary) wrote to the families in Year 8 about the changes to tertiary entrance ranking system. Whilst it is a few years before your child is involved with this change, it is still important that you are aware of it. I have included her letter below for your information.

Putting Others First One of our College’s core values is Service – ‘The Spirit of Selflessness’. Service involves selfless giving and making a difference in the lives of others by identifying and responding to their needs, and carrying out that service without expecting recognition or reward. At St Andrews an ethic of service abounds which helps account for the commonplace, selfless, individual and community actions that go to enriching the lives of others. Galatians 5:13 ‘… but through love serve one another’ This has been very evident over the past fortnight where a number of students in the Junior School have approached me about hosting a stall, in order to raise money for a charity and to raise awareness. Polly Frost and Mia MacDonald raised money for the RSPCA by holding a cup cake sale. Hudson Rowe, Lily and Eliza Wilson raised awareness and money for Metabolic Errors through selling popcorn and bracelets. A large group of girls in Years 3 and 4 are hosting stalls to raise awareness and money for Breast Cancer. In a lot of these cases the causes are very personal for them and it is a way that they can honour a loved one who has been impacted.

“Recently, the Education Minister Kate Jones announced that the State Labour Government is going ahead with the tertiary entrance ranking system proposed by the former Liberal National Government which will be introduced in 2018. The new system will include a mix of internal and external exams, starting with students entering Year 11 in 2018. A move to the ATAR system was one of the recommendations of the Australian Council for Educational Research review into the state’s education system, which was carried out under the previous government. Universities have increasingly turned to ATAR as a preferred score for course entrance as it is considered more precise. While OPs scored students between 1 and 25, the ATAR scores between 99.95 and zero - the higher the number, the better the result. In Queensland, the current system, which has been in place since 1992 uses a Core Skills Test - seven hours of exams across several days, which tests a student’s knowledge across a range of subjects and their curriculums, as well as a student’s subject results across Years 11 and 12. Those students, currently in Year 8, will move into the ATAR system and will sit at least one external assessment as well as three internal assessments over the two years of their Year 11/ Year 12 subjects. This move to an ATAR system will bring Queensland in line with the system used in most other states in Australia.

The College has been anticipating this announcement and has already begun to prepare for this transition. Over the coming years the College will continue to work with staff and your children, so that they are well prepared for this change in 2018.â€? Farewell After many years of very dedicated service to the College, Mrs Heather Hayward has decided to retire and spend quality time with her family. Mrs Hayward has predominately worked with students who have needed a boost with their reading. We would like to thank Mrs Hayward for the work she has done at the College and wish her all the best in her retirement.

occurred as a result of the inquiry unit and think about what actions they could take. Taking action is a verb and it is the things students do which highlight their learning. Our action taken in Africa included opportunities to teach classes in two very different village schools, sharing teaching practices with the teachers, setting up a literacy program in the orphanage, providing essential classroom equipment (pencils, exercise books and chalk) and just spending time to engage with the people. Highlights of this experience were the different perspectives I gained from engaging in this culture and an appreciation of the access we have to things like water, electricity and medical assistance. I am so thankful and feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to do what we did!

Fatherâ€™s Day I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the Fathers a very happy day on Sunday. Thank you to the Parents and Friends for providing a stall for the children to buy a special gift for their Dads. Darrin Schumacher Head of Junior School

Tia with the children after helping out with the Friday Feeding Program at one of the village schools.

From the Deputy Head of Junior School & PYP Coordinator As I write this article, I am still adjusting to our culture back here in Australia after taking three months Long Service Leave to volunteer in Zambia, Africa. It has been wonderful returning to our very special community here at St Andrews as students and staff have warmly greeted and welcomed me back! I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr Phillip Buddee for taking on the Acting Deputy Head/PYP Coordinator role during my absence. He has done a magnificent job stepping into this position! My daughter (Tia) and I had a phenomenal experience in Africa as we worked in two village schools, an orphanage and visited people sick in hospital every week. As I reflect on our incredible trip, it occurred to me that this adventure could be viewed as one of the five essential elements that underpin the Primary Years Program â€“ Taking Action! We embarked on this journey to try to make a small difference in the lives of some African children by offering our skills and abilities in a practical way. At St Andrews, teachers are often discussing the taking action component with their students. Students are encouraged to reflect on the learning that has

Conferencing with a student at Chankosa Village School in the Year 3/4 classroom.

Chaplains Chat

Teaching at another village school which had very limited resources. One way we took action was to source blackboard paint to repaint the blackboard so the children could actually see what was on the board.

‘As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord’. Joshua announces this to the Israelites as he nears the end of his time here on earth. He has spent all his life living as God’s servant, faithfully following the Lord’s leading as the Israelites took possession of the Promised Land. Now, as his leadership of the nation draws to a close he issues a challenge to God’s people. “I will continue in God’s will, remain deeply connected with him – What will you do?” The people respond in the affirmative. Of course they will move forward, loving and serving God. But what is the reality that unfolds in the years ahead? The Israelites move into a cycle of enjoying God’s love and care and then succumbing to temptation and pursuing other more ‘charming’ ways of living that involved idolatry and pleasure seeking. They would then realise the error of their ways as life for them disintegrated and turn back to God again and enjoy living within his will for a period of time. Why weren’t they able to stay true to their intention? Why couldn’t they remain faithful? We may ask the same question – Why am I unable to stick with my commitment to always respond with love towards others? Why do I allow small things to irritate me? Surely, I am better than that?

We were also delighted to embrace the opportunity to get up close and personal with the ‘other’ locals! (Actually, if I am honest, walking with the cheetahs initially terrified me!! I felt like I had to demonstrate the learner profile of being courageous so I could verify with the students upon my return that I was indeed courageous!) What magnificent creatures designed and created by the Creator. My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do. 1 John 3:18 Jacqueline Faulkner Deputy Head of Junior School & PYP Coordinator

The Old Testament Biblical narrative is full of individuals and the nation of Israel believing they will be able to do it! But ultimately making a mess of life. Why does this occur time after time? Because they, just like us put our trust in ourselves. We believe that we are strong enough in our own strength to be a worthwhile person – and yet all the evidence of history and what happens around us is contrary to this. Thankfully, God does not leave us languishing in the mess that we create. He comes to us and heals us through his offer of love through His son Jesus. Trusting in God’s promises and constantly sharing our life with Him brings renewed hope and love into our lives. We are blessed with strength that can only come from God. Strength we are unable to muster in our own efforts. May each of us be able to say, ‘As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord’ but more importantly may we be able to connect authentically day in day out with our God so that we live in His strength – not our own. Graeme Schache Chaplain

Japanese News Scarecrow Design Competition Recently Fuzoku Elementary School held a scarecrow design competition. They asked us to participate as well. Year 4 students then designed a scarecrow during Arts Week. The teachers and students in Japan chose Mia Cuffe in 4B as the winner. The teachers in Japan are now in the process of making Mia’s Scarecrow to place in a Japanese rice field. Congratulations Mia!

MS Dance Troupe - 2nd Combined Troupe - Contemporary - VHC Combined Troupe - Jazz - HC Semitone Choir - 3rd Golden Clef Choir - 3rd Senior Choir - VHC Percussion Ensemble - VHC Jazz Band - HC Cultural Awards 2015 In Term 4 we have our annual Cultural Awards Evening on Friday 23 October (Term 4 Week 3), where we celebrate the year in the Arts and recognise individual student achievement. Below is the criteria for our Cultural Awards from Years 4-12. Essential Criteria for all Levels: Active Participation in School Cultural Activities Bronze Award This is awarded to students who: • Have been involved in several (3-4) cultural groups/ activities throughout the year OR • Passed Grade 5 or above in Music, Dance or Speech & Drama Exams OR • Are nominated for outstanding contribution to a College ensemble/activity Silver Award • Grade 5 or above in Music or Speech & Drama Exam and involvement in cultural groups/activities throughout the year OR • Major Award at Regional level (GC Drama Festival/ Eisteddfod Championships etc)

Sharon Taki Junior School Japanese Coordinator

Gold Award • Representation at State level or equivalent in chosen discipline OR • Major Award (eg. Top of State in Speech & Drama Exam) We gather our information using two separate processes. Junior School We track student involvement based on our rolls.

Performing Arts News Gold Coast Eisteddfod Wrap Up Well done to all students who represented the College at the recent Eisteddfod. Whilst it is always wonderful to walk away with a trophy or place, for us as a department what is most impressive and most valued is how wonderfully the students performed on stage and how well they represented the College on and off stage. Well done all and special thanks to our amazing arts staff who supported the students through this experience. Results: Grade 4 Animi - 1st MS Contemporary Troupe - 2nd

NB: If your child is involved in any activity outside of school, please email Cilla Scott priscillas@salc.qld.edu.au before the end of Week 9 (Friday 11 September) for that information to be considered. Middle/Senior School Students are to complete a Cultural Awards survey (Available on Parent Lounge) and ensure Cilla Scott receives it before the end of Week 9 (Friday 11 September). Any questions about this process can be emailed to priscillas@salc.qld.edu.au Cilla Scott Head of Arts

ELC News

Tuckshop News

Car Park Safety! Families please ensure that you drive slowly in the carpark. Over the past few weeks we have had several close calls with cars speeding in the carpark. Reminder: The Speed Limit is 10km per hour on campus. If you do not have a child in Prep and the ELC then you should be collecting your child from the pick-up zone. Please drive safely and slowly in the carparks.

As the warmer weather approaches, we (as parents) need to reconsider the way we pack and also what we pack into our children’s lunch boxes.

Bronwyn Waters ELC Director

Food spoilage can be one of the reasons why many people suffer from illness associated with eating contaminated food and may put children more at risk. Tuckshop is unable to reheat any foods bought in from home as we are unsure as to how the food was prepared, stored and the quality of the food when brought to us. Our concern is to keep your child free from food related illnesses. Below is some information relating to “Lunch Box Safety”. Please click the link below to read more about food safety.

Sport News Student Achievements Track and Field St Andrews had 19 students qualify for the Regional Track and Field Championships to be held at the GCCC Track at Griffith University on 8th, 9th September. We look forward to hearing of their results. Pool Rescue Championships Saoirse Harding won three gold medals in the 4 x 50m obstacle relay, the 4 x 25 brick carry and the 4 x 50 medley relay last month at the Queensland State Surf Lifesaving Pool Rescue Titles.

Keep it Cool! The most important thing to remember in keeping food safe during storage is to keep potentially hazardous food out of the ‘temperature danger zone’ of 5 degrees C to 6 degrees C. As schools generally do not provide students with access to heating devices, any potentially hazardous food in a school lunch box needs to be kept at a safe temperature of below 5 degrees C. Keeping in mind that school lunches usually sit for a few hours before being eaten, below are some simple tips to help ensure food is kept at a safe temperature until the time it will be consumed: • • • • •

Use insulated lunch boxes or cooler bags Keep a frozen drink or freezer brick(s) inside the lunch box If preparing lunches the night before, keep it in the fridge until leaving for school Encourage children to keep the lunch box in their schoolbag and to store it out of direct sunlight. Pack items that don’t spoil quickly

Any perishable food such as meat, poultry or egg sandwiches, should be thrown out if not eaten that day. www.health.qld.gov.au/foodsafety Trina van der Kamp Tuckshop Manager

Touch Our Girls’ Touch teams performed very well recently at the All Hallows Touch Championships. One of our teams coached by ex-student Jamie Stanton, made it into the Shield Final. Both teams displayed outstanding application and effort on the day. Andrew Manion Head of Sport

Continuing Enrolment Forms for 2016 are now due. Please return your form to the College asap.

P&F News

Dates to Remember - September

AGM (Annual General Meeting) This year’s AGM is on Wednesday 25 November 7.00pm in the CRC (Cecile Ryan Centre). At the meeting all current office bearers will resign and a vote will be taken for the positions from the nominations received. All nominations must be submitted 30 days before the AGM to the President. A nomination form will be available shortly on the College website under the P & F section. The office bearer positions are as follows: President Currently Daniel Renneberg (daniel@austplan.com.au) Vice President Currently Julieanne Andrews (julieanne6@optusnet.com.au) Treasurer Currently Michelle Brown (michelle@brownslawyers.com.au) Secretary Currently Nicole Ainger (bidwill16@bigpond.com) Grants Officer Currently Kim Allan Fundraising Officer (Currently Vacant)

Sunday 6 Father’s Day Monday 7 National eSmart Week 7-11 September Tuesday 8 Running Club Breakfast Chapel, Worship Centre, 1.40pm Thursday 10 Year 6 Parents Coffee Morning, Plantation House, 8.30am P-3 Mini Olympics, Lower Oval, 11.30am Friday 11 Year 3 Sleep over, 5pm Sunday 13 Year 2 Family Service, Worship Centre, 9am Tuesday 15 Assembly, MPH, 1.40pm Thursday 17 Year 1 Kids Who Know Incursion Friday 18 End of Term 3

Most of the current office bearers are unable to commit to a further year on the P & F due to full time employment and family commitments and are unable to re-nominate. Please consider taking on a role on the P & F. It is a very rewarding position to hold, allowing you to be involved in a meaningful way in your child/ren’s school. If you would like further information on the duties of any position please feel free to contact us at pandf@salc.qld.edu.au P & F general meetings are held once a term and everyone is always welcome. Father’s Day Raffle A big thankyou to all the Volunteers who helped out with the Fathers Day stall. The kids love choosing their presents and as always there was a great variety.

It’s back!

Earn 1 sticker for every $10 you spend.

Completed sticker sheets can be placed in the collection box at Junior School Administration.

Also, would like to thank Currumbin RSL for donating the hamper for the raffle. The winners are: 1st prize – Sonny Nichols – 2B 2nd prize – Gwilyn Corfield - 3B 3rd prize – Mila Berg - ELC P & F Committee

CE HAN E C T LAS E IN TH E TO B R PRIZ O J A M W DRA

Purchase your Entertainent BookTM Membership before 8 September for a chance to win 2 x Nights Accomodation & Buffet Breakfast Package

CLOSING SOON!

INSIGHTS Building parent-school partnerships

WORDS Michael Grose

Exploring the New Frontier in Parenting So what is this new frontier of parenting? Emotions are now recognised as an important part of the parenting landscape. Here are five ideas to help you explore the alien landscape of kids’ emotions. This is not to say that we ignore children’s

It’s official! Emotions are now part of the parenting and educational mainstream!

poor behaviour, neglect to set limits or

For some time they’ve been relegated as a sideshow to the main events of discipline, confidence building, character building, and lately, resilience.

experienced hardship at school. Accepting

not ask anything of them when they’ve and recognising emotions is an added layer in our interactions with kids, which may well be the missing link in building cooperation, connection and resilience.

Not now. The recently released movie Inside Out gives life to emotions in a fun, accessible way. It’s a wonderful demonstration of why we must put emotional intelligence front and centre in our parenting and teaching. The quickest pathway to happiness and success is the acceptance and recognition of feelings.

Emotions are messy. They can be loud. They can be hidden. They so often interrupt our well-organised schedules. “What do you mean you’re sad? We’re off to watch a movie. It’s a happy time!” Emotions are hard to control and difficult to see. Like slippery eels swimming in a dam, you know that they are down there somewhere but it’s hard to

This is not a new idea. Over 2,000 years ago Socrates reminded his Greek compatriots, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”

figure out just what they are doing.

Current day muse Dr. Marc Brackett, Director of the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence is more expansive. He says, “Emotions matter as they drive learning, decision-making, creativity, relationships, and health.”

your three-year old throws a tantrum in

It’s a wonder parents haven’t smartened up to emotions earlier because ‘good parenting’ is hard emotional labour. When a supermarket and all you can do is grin and bear it (rather than throwing your own tantrum or doing what you really feel like which is disowning your own child!) you’re doing hard emotional labour.

When you console and contain the hurt of a primary school aged child who throws himself at your feet howling that everyone hates him, you are doing emotional labour. Staring down a teenager who looks you straight in the eye while spitting out “I hate you!” because you’ve denied their request to go out is hard emotional labour. Parents do emotional labour all the time. That’s one of the reasons its so draining. Accepting kids’ emotions mean we need to listen to them. We need to be mindful of their feelings as well as their behaviours and thoughts, which is what most parents and teachers are conditioned to do. We’ve built a broad vocabulary around behaviour management featuring terms such as consequences, limits and boundaries, and time-out to name a few. And the perennial ‘To smack or not to smack’ question shows we are very willing to have debates about behaviour management methods, but discussions about emotional management are few and far between.