Issuu

Issue 12 / 7 August 2015

Middle/Senior School Bulletin

Middle & Senior School News Appreciative in August This month as part of our ongoing focus on Positive Psychology and wellbeing we will be highlighting the power and positive impact of showing appreciation. Building on the 3 Good Things exercise students are asked to complete weekly in their diaries, our College Captain, Mel Maessen is setting a weekly challenge for students to encourage positive community and across Years 7-12 students are encouraged to keep focusing on ‘an attitude of gratitude’ and passing on messages of thanks at home, school and in the wider community. Welcome Higashino High School This week we hosted students from Higashino High School. There is no understating the importance of these cultural exchanges. Thank you to all of the school ‘buddies’, host families and to Mrs Hill for making these opportunities to broaden our thinking and to make connections beyond our shores a reality. It is simply so much more than a language exchange program.

External Testing and Competitions NAPLAN results for students in Years 7 & 9 are due to arrive at the College early in August and will be posted home as soon as possible once received. This year St Andrews has been randomly selected to take part in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) testing which gathers data and reports on education standards and trends around the globe. Students within certain age bands are randomly selected and this month there will be approximately twenty students from St Andrews completing the tests. Last week some students took part in the ICAS English and the Australian Mathematics competitions and we look forward to celebrating the results of these opportunities later this term. Futsal Championships Eight Futsal teams competed last week and I would like to congratulate all of the students who played on their sportsmanship and athleticism. I’d also like to thank Mr Hibbs, Mr Tanguy, Mr Schache and Mr McGilveray for their work with these teams. 16 Boys were runners-up (Silver Medalists). Our College can be very proud of the depth of teams. We are one of a few schools to have so many teams compete at this level. Our growing futsal program continues to provide great opportunities for students to extend their skills as players, and to develop teamwork and grit.

Literacy Our Readers Cup team head to Brisbane for the State competition on Wednesday 2 September and a group of Years 8 & 9 students have started a Book Club on Tuesday lunchtimes with Ms Dockstader’s support. They are reading Paper Towns by John Green. It is never too late for your child to join this co-curricular group.

Senior School and Middle School Expo Nights Thank you to all Year 9 & 10 families who attended the Senior School Expo night last week. A reminder that your electronic subject preference forms are due to be completed by Friday 7 August. If you have any questions or feedback on the Expo event please contact Mrs Wrigley (Head of Learning and Teaching) christina@salc.qld.edu.au or Mrs La Porta juliel@salc.qld.edu.au A reminder to all current Middle School and Year 5 & 6 families that the Middle School Expo will be held on Monday 10 August from 5.00-7.00pm. Classes for students in Years 7-9 will finish at 12.40pm on Monday so that students and staff can set up for the evening showcase of life in the Middle School. Students are free to go home for the afternoon or to remain at the College supervised and working to assist with the set up. The Arts August also marks the start of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod season. Best wishes to all of the students involved. We are also competing in this year’s Gold Coast Secondary Schools’ Junior Drama Festival. This is an annual event where schools from all over the Gold Coast come together to present plays in a festival format. It was a pleasure to watch our students in rehearsal this week. It was also simply wonderful to watch so many of our Secondary students involved in Junior School Arts Week. Thank you to Ms Scott, Ms Harman, Mr OG and the rest of the Arts department for making these special opportunities for our budding artisans possible.

Mufti Day Next Tuesday is our Mufti Day for Term 3. The theme is Red and Blue and we will be raising much needed funds for Cambodia. Guidelines for appropriate free dress clothing can be found in the Student Diary. Year 12 QCS Preparation It was great to see so many of our Year 12 students making the most of the opportunity for QCS test coaching last Wednesday after school. Under the guidance of Mrs Wrigley the students continue to prepare well for the testing in September and I was most impressed that the students themselves requested an additional after school Numeracy session. They clearly understand the importance of working collaboratively to ensure that as a cohort they make the most of every opportunity to reach their best possible results. Virginia Warner Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School

Middle School News Middle School Expo Next Monday 10 August will be our annual Middle School Expo from 5pm in the Worship Centre. Just a reminder that there are no scheduled classes for the Middle School from lunchtime on this day. Any student unable to be collected from the College at lunchtime will be supervised and assist in preparations for the evening. I hope that families from the College enjoy this opportunity to wander the campus and view many of the activities our students undertake on a daily basis. NAPLAN Data Individual NAPLAN results should be mailed home from the College over the coming fortnight. These results afford parents an opportunity to look at how their child sits in relation to students in the same grade throughout the country. It is worth noting that the data represents a ‘point in time’ snapshot of each student and may not be representative of your child’s learning throughout the year. Should you have any questions about the data or wish to see me to help interpret it then I am more than happy to assist. Please contact me through Middle School Administration.

Year 11 Camp Year 11 students will attend a leadership camp at Emu Gully next Monday - Wednesday. The camp aims to build leadership and teamwork skills across the cohort. Following that experience, the process of nominating for elected leadership positions in 2016 will commence. The camp experience is physically intense, mentally challenging and an incredible bonding experience for the whole cohort. Enjoy your time at camp Year 11!

Partnerships for Learning Our next Partnerships for Learning will focus upon ‘Talking with Teenagers – a How To Guide’. Sometimes discussions with teenagers can be illogical, highly emotive or unexpected. As parents we often reflect back on these conversations and wish we had used a different script. Mrs Mardi Frost will copresent this session and we will discuss the sorts of strategies that are useful to have in mind when talking with teenage children. It will be August 26 at 7pm in the CRC. As usual Tim Tams will be provided. Tom Casey Head of Middle School tomc@salc.qld.edu.au

Links to the two community service projects in the Senior School if you are interested in joining us: RELAY FOR LIFE Team Name: St Andrews Lutheran College Leos Division: Schools

Senior School News Flourishing in the Senior School Meaning and Purpose Establishing one’s purpose and meaning is an important part of wellbeing and an important focus in the Senior School. Meaning is about pursuing those things that are bigger than we are and from doing that finding more meaning and ultimately being happier. This term we are asking our Senior School students to attach themselves to the higher purpose of helping those in need through participation in the 40 Hr Famine or raising money to fund important cancer research through the Relay for Life. We have hosted a picnic-in-thedome to raise money for these charities as well as welcoming our Japanese visitors from sister school, Higashino. Thank you to all those students who ran activities, baked yummy treats to sell and sold goods on the day. A great team effort.

40 Hour Famine Team name: St Andrews Lutheran College

Congratulations to: • The Leos and our 40 Hour Famine Ambassadors who ran a cake stall this week as part of fundraising for Relay for Life and the 40 Hour Famine. • Khali Robins, Tia Lightbody and Jessica Bramley who are talking with Year 6 students about their involvement in community service projects. Khali is a Leo and has pitched in with the 40 Hour Famine organisation, Tia is one of our Club Red Ambassadors and participated in the recent sleepout and Jessica is a volunteer at Riding for the Disabled.

Last week our Junior Council representatives also found meaning through helping to support Homeless Connect. Homeless Connect brings together community groups and volunteers, government, and local businesses to host a “one-stop” shop of free services for people of all ages. Our young people, Junior Councillors Ty Sheers, Maddison Good, Rory McLynskey and Nicole Richards, joined by Mayor Tom Tate, prepared support packs for Homeless Connect. Our Junior Councillors also had the opportunity “speed date” a Councillor and ask questions about the role and get to know the leaders of our Gold Coast City Council. The virtue of Temperance is a focus this term in Senior School pastoral care time (LAG) and through our Chapels. One of the strengths related to Temperance is the ability to forgive. So often I see our young people stuck in a web of blame, judgement and holding on to a sense of injustice. While we all want the world to be fair or just, it is not equal and often it is hard to recognise the difference. However, if we remember the words from the Gospel, particularly, Daniel 9:9 “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him” and find the space in our hearts to be forgiving and merciful it will help us to move on from a wrong and soften our hearts.

•

Our Year 11 students, Mr Schache, Miss Bible and Mr Smith who slept out for 2 nights on the school oval, lived on very little and wore the same clothes for 3 days – what a great initiative.

If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me on tanias@salc.qld.edu.au Tania Stewart Head of Senior School

Chaplains Chat

Student Development

Our God is Faithful – Always We began this term with the theme of ‘Faith’ as a focus for worship times across our College. It has been an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness to us as his children. It does not take much self-reflection to see how each of us are regularly unfaithful in our words and actions. We let others, ourselves and God down through our inability to be true to our word and to be consistently honouring of others and God. Thankfully, God is not like this. He is completely dependable. He is always faithful to us and eager to maintain his relationship with us. This fact is seen throughout the events of the Bible as God regularly maintains a positive relationship with his people despite their unfaithfulness towards him. Paul writes of this fact when he shares these words with Timothy –

Healthy Relationships Across the Curriculum In Health & PE over the next couple weeks and Christian Studies through the term, Year 10s deal with a range of issues relating to personal morality, values and decision making. As they contend with ‘what is right’ as well as ‘why pursue what is right’, then look at Healthy Relationships and Drug Education. In Christian Studies, the emphasis is not on rules or duty, but values that enable critique of popular culture and ignorant assumptions about popular behaviours, strengthening personal dignity and decision making processes. In Health & PE information is also presented to help challenge misinformation and to make informed decisions regarding personal and social health. St Andrews aims to ensure students have quality information from a range of presenters, at appropriate age levels, to maximise their ability to make positive decisions.

2 Timothy 2:13 – (NLT) if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

Statistics presented by La Trobe University in their annual survey show significant numbers of young people are dissatisfied with the level of education they receive from school and home relating to healthy relationships and healthy sexuality. From the study young people say a lack of education about respect, values, decision making and consent have a detrimental effect on healthy choices. These topics are explored in Year Level meetings and subject areas across Years 7-12. If you’d like to discuss these matters please contact me. James Nelson Director of Student Development jamesn@salc.qld.edu.au

Performing Arts News Bruce Nolan ‘aka’ Jim Carey portrayed a fun, vibrant example of this fact in the film ‘Bruce Almighty’. Bruce’s attitude and conduct towards God was deplorable but despite this, God maintained a positive relationship with him. The movie is a little crass in parts but it conveys wonderful truths regarding how our loving God interacts with us. He does not take it upon himself to force us into loving him – because it would no longer be love – but he is always there calling out to us – if we would but open our hearts and minds and receive the offer of love and acceptance that He extends to each of us through His son Christ. Bruce is miraculously transformed through his relationship with God. God works this same miracle in our lives too as we spend time with him through his Word, the Bible. As we move through the second half of the year it is our prayer as a College that each of us grow in our relationship with God so that we may experience the beauty of life lived in his presence. Graeme Schache Chaplain

Gold Coast Eisteddfod A reminder about dates and times for eisteddfods in the coming weeks. This is a busy time in the Arts calendar and I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our dedicated Arts staff who are working above and beyond to support and prepare students for these performance experiences. NB: All sessions are at The Arts Centre Gold Coast. MS/SS Choir

Thursday 13 August 2pm

Combined Dance Troupe

Friday 14 August 8am/1pm/6pm Sessions

Concert Band

Thursday 20 August 11am

Percussion Ensemble

Thursday 20 August 7pm

Jazz Band

Friday 21 August 8.30am

Creative Collaboration Across the College Last week was Junior School Arts Week, where the spotlight was shone on our Junior School Arts programs. Students participated in a variety of Arts based workshops, performances and learning opportunities. A very special part of this week are the workshops with Senior School Classes in Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Arts. All students benefit from these experiences and a special thanks to those senior students who assisted in the facilitating of these activities.

Our Artist In Residence, Kerry Spence, fresh from her Archibald Prize entry, created workshops for the students that were a reflection of their current Units of Inquiry. We had students creating collages of helpful people around the College, Wandjina inspired figures, outback landscapes, iPad photography and manipulation, leaf printing just to name a few. Some students made the trek up the hill to the Senior School art rooms to create their work, and were particularly impressed by the Senior Students artwork, particularly Year 12 student Ebony Shield’s dress created entirely of lollies. Students were engaged, learnt new skills and techniques and best of all, had fun while exploring the art world. Thankyou to Kerry Spence, Visual Art Technician Hannah Barclay, parent Kathryn Parry, ex student James Mackay and senior students Kimberley Stokes, Mel Maessen and Claire Duncan who ably assisted with the workshops during the week. And thank you to all the Junior School staff who embraced us with open arms.

Gold Coast Drama Festival This Saturday 8 August, our cast of Children of the Black Skirt will compete in the Gold Coast Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival Junior Section, held at Somerset College from 5pm. I am already very proud of this group of students who have worked so hard to produce a very impressive performance and wish them a big “chookas” for Saturday night. Cilla Scott Head of Arts

Visual Arts News Junior School Arts Week - Visual Arts Workshops Well Week 3 was a massive week here in the Visual Arts department with a lot happening right across all the Arts areas. A Visual Arts workshop for every student in the Junior School from Prep to Year 6 was squeezed into this week of celebration.

Throughout the first few weeks of this term, we had the Scope competition running for the Junior School. The theme was ‘together’ and it was pleasing to have so many high quality entries. This competition was judged by a Year 11 studenthimself an award winning photographer several times overOliver Waddingham. The awards were announced on Friday night at the Gala, with quite detailed feedback from Oliver. Highly Commended Being Together Makes Us Stronger and More Beautiful, Anais Zabusky Highly Commended Together Forever, Sasha Kuzmanov Third Place One with the Ocean, Heath Wilson Second Place Hands in Hope, Kealie Daley First Place Growing Together, Marley Mavroidaki Congratulations to all our entrants and our winners. Yours in Art! Ngaire Harman Visual Art Coordinator

We would also like to thank First National Real Estate for running the sausage sizzle and McGrath Real Estate for the Hydration Station. P & F Commitee

P&F News The next P & F Meeting is on Wednesday 12 August at 7pm in the CRC. There will be discussions regarding all the positions available on the P & F which will all be up for nomination at the AGM in fourth term.

Dates to Remember - August

Saturday 8 Junior Drama Festival Nomination forms will be attached to the next bulletin. Monday 10 Address: PO Box 8175, Orange East, NSW, 2800 sales@BudgetRaffleTickets.com.au August If anyone is interested in one of the positions and cannot Year 11 Leadership Camp 10-12 Email: Web: www.BudgetRaffleTickets.com.au Middle School Expo, Worship Centre 5.00pm make the meeting, please contact one of the committee Phone: 1300 034 775 members. Tuesday 11 Fax: (02) 9012 0251 ABN: 57 211 070 011 Mufti Day - Cambodia (Red & Blue) The P & F would like to again thank the following businesses Years 8 & 9 Book Club for their support of the College and contribution to the Fete. Wednesday 12 Years 7-12 SQBD Touch Carnival The following businesses were supportive of our Cent ICAS Competition Maths Auction and Fete and without them, we would not Years 8-10 Netball Competition Layout (cover): have been able to run this stall. PISA Testing (selected students) Thursday 13 Air Factory – Burleigh COLLEGE- PARENTS GC Eisteddfod MS/SS Choir & FRIENDS Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary ST ANDREWS LUTHERAN Gold Coast Titans Friday 14 Currumbin RSL GC Eisteddfod - Combined Dance Troupe Gold Coast Suns ICAS Comp Maths Year 8A Konica Minolta Sunday 16 Aranyani Bison Park Junior Touch Carnival Golf at Hope Island Proudly supported by MLTAQ Griffith University Speech Contest Golf at Coplicks Caltex West Monday 17 Burleigh – Mark & Angela Dovell Billabong National Science Week 17-21 August Wax Hands Face Painting ICAS Comp Maths Year 8B, –8D & Year 10 Cruiseabout Q Super Centre Ruth Hayes Beauty Bar Burleigh Gary Gannon 0407 994 041 Tuesday 18 Scott Keatley 0408 387 330 Printed by www.BudgetRaffleTickets.com.au Chevron Yoga ICAS Comp Maths Year 8C & Year 11 Gisler Group Year 10 Ceramics Surfaces Incursion Positive Change Purses Years 8 & 9 Book Club Holiway Skateboard Wednesday 19 Thermomix ICAS Comp Maths Year 10 Tupperware Years 8-10 Netball Competition Miami Stainless Layout (ticket): Eco Oasis Thursday 20 Caltex GC Eisteddfod - Concert Band 2 B Kids GC Eisteddfod - Percussion ST ANDREWS LUTHERAN COLLEGE PARENTS & FRIENDS ST ANDREWS LUTHERAN COLLEGEEnsemble PARENTS & FRIENDS $2 per Avon FETE RAFFLE 2015 ticket Friday 21 Goldsteins QCS Prep Workshop with Mighty Minds Bounce Ticket No 9999 Name GC Eisteddfod - Jazz Band Plantation House Café

FETE RAFFLE 2015

Piece Style and Design Address Mrs Red’s Art Room Woodbox Café Madison Jane Mode Voyage Email Tea Therapy Wicked Beans Phone Barbers on Swan Lane No 9999 Kaisercraft Cold Rock Ice Cream John Ahern – Author Edge Gym – Currumbin Wazen – Japanese Restaurant Robina Dental Group

Gary Gannon 0407 994 041 & Scott Keatley 0408 387 330

Digital or Book Memberships Available

First Prize: $1,000 Caltex Fuel Card plus a $2,000 prepaid Visa Debit card Second Prize: $2,000 prepaid Visa Debit card Third Prize: $1,000 Voucher redeemable at Cruiseabout Q Super Centre

Cost is still only $55.00

5nthly

Mo zes Pri

Ticket sales close 16th May 2015. Prizes drawn at 3:30pm on 16th May, 2015 at St Andrews Lutheran College Fete, 175 Tallebudgera Creek Rd Tallebudgera Qld. Winner will be notified by phone and e-mail. Accommodation is subject to availability. All prizes are completely transferable.

www.entbook.com.au/14404l5

INSIGHTS Building parent-school partnerships

Raising a critical generation

WORDS Lakshmi Singh

In a digitally literate world of ‘likes’ and social criticism Lakshmi Singh looks at how parents can foster critical spirit in a constructive, healthy and balanced way. American keynote speaker, author and educator Tim Elmore recently penned an article observing a trend amongst kids dishing out careless criticism of processes, ideas and institutions. From criticising classes to sports programs, the food offered on campus, administration or accommodation in some colleges and universities, students were increasingly displaying what Elmore calls, a ‘critical spirit’. Time magazine also ran a feature discussing the narcissistic tendencies amongst Millenials, contributing to a feeling of entitlement amongst youngsters. So, is there a generational change brewing, where more kids go about criticising anything and everything, becoming self-absorbed in the process? Experts say that a critical spirit has and always will exist in all of us, it is just that the nature of today’s society and the easy accessibility of forums through which criticism can be provided that has given it more opportunity to be heard. While experts say that cultivating a spirit of thinking critically about problems and situations is important, it is also necessary to foster a healthy decision-making process.

The age of entitlement Parents have always wanted the best for

kids, but taking the “you deserve the best, this/he/she is not good enough” mentality a bit too far can also be detrimental, says parenting and education expert Ronit Baras. “The rules of education are very simple, judgmental parents will raise judgmental kids. Why? Because judgment is a coping mechanism to fight inadequacy. Judgmental people have weaknesses [and] judgment is their way of hiding. ‘If I find faults in others, I will be able to hide mine.’ If parents model this mentality, kids will adopt it.” Similarly projecting a “my child is special and they need to know that” vision by over-supplying them with activities, commodities and even praise can lead to an unhealthy sense of entitlement, says Dr. Ash Nayate, clinical neuropsychologist. “Narcissism (i.e. a feeling of entitlement) is a sign of unhealthy self-esteem. Narcissistic people don’t see themselves as equal to others, they see themselves as better than others - and the reason they hold this belief is to cover up their fear of ‘not being good enough’,” she says. Judging people helps alleviate that

fear, she says. To help stop the cycle, she believes parents need to lead by example. “Developing a healthy self-esteem is critical. If as a parent you have low confidence and low self-esteem, your kids are going to pick up on that as well. If you want your kids to be resilient and confident, then you need to work on the confidence and self-esteem within yourself.”

Readily accessible forums to dish out criticism It is no secret that Millenials are more digitally literate than the rest of us. With most having access to their own mobile phone, laptop and social media accounts, the stage through which they can communicate with others is wide and always available. “Social media encourages us to be more vocal about criticism. So instead of just judging people quietly, in our mind, we can do it aloud, behind the safety and anonymity of a computer screen,” says Dr. Nayate.