Middle/Senior School Bulletin Issue 14 / 28 October 2016 Middle & Senior School News QCAA Update Last week the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) advised that the new system for senior assessment and tertiary entrance which was previously scheduled to come into effect in 2018 for Year 11 students (our current Year 9 cohort) will now commence in 2019 for Year 11 students (our current Year 8 cohort). This extension is well received news as it provides adequate time for teachers to have sufficient support and to become completely familiar with the new ATAR system. Attached to the end of this bulletin is a guide for parents regarding the new assessment and tertiary entrance systems in Queensland, published by the Department of Education and Training. https://det.qld.gov.au/programsinitiatives/education/ Documents/sate-fact-sheet-parent-guide.pdf Cultural Awards Night Cultural Awards Night was held at the College on Wednesday 19 October and it was a stunning showcase of the talents of our students. With the support of our very dedicated Arts staff, these performers continue to thrive and flourish. The musicality of the vocalists, including the choirs and music ensembles continue to be nothing short of inspired. This year has also seen our Dance program grow significantly with multiple troupes forming. The finale at the end of the evening was a testament to how beautifully our musician, dancers, and vocalists work as one big family in the area of Performing Arts. In Visual Arts, our students continue to showcase their work in a diverse array of exhibitions. Thank you to Miss Scott (Head of Performing Arts) and the Arts team for their ongoing work with our talented young people.
J Block Update At Cultural Awards Night, Mr Kotzur announced that the building works in J block are on track for a handover of the East Wing and the Upper West Wing for the start of next year. The upgrade to these facilities will be an absolute blessing to come out of this unfortunate event. New areas for Business and Entrepreneurial studies and flexible learning spaces for our Senior Students along with the expanded and purpose built dance studio and a state of the art music hub will enhance our programs greatly. Perhaps most significantly, the updated Theatre and performance space will continue to see our students flourish through being able to showcase their talents in a very special performance space. Our architects have created virtual tours of these spaces and while some of the fit outs and furnishings might differ slightly, by following this link you will get a real sense of what is in store for these spaces in 2017. https://roundme.com/@salc/tours The Power of Parent Connections Over the past two weeks I have spoken to a few groups of students about some concerning pushing of boundaries and carelessness in actions and words, inside and outside the physical spaces of the College. Before I go any further, know that I sincerely believe our students are thoughtful, kind and appreciative in full measure but like the rest of us, flawed and sometimes influenced by the pressures of these identity forming years and modern society. Discussing choices and consequences openly at the College and at home helps us to ensure St Andrews continues to be a community that values ‘more than a good education... an education for good,’ and in our daily walk, we continue to be a place where we focus on the development of the whole person. As adults, I believe the most powerful thing we can do is to stay connected. Stay connected with your child by being open to talking through your boundaries and expectations and also their ideas and thoughts around independence, trust and their world in general. As much as possible stay connected to their online world. Stay connected to one another. If your child is wanting to spend time with peers or to sleep over at another family’s house and you are feeling uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the family, call the parents and talk about your boundaries and expectations and their boundaries and expectations. Adolescents often use generalised statements like, ‘everyone is going’, ‘no one else’s parents are calling’ or ‘don’t you trust me’ to push boundaries and to become more independent. The balance of how much freedom/ independence afforded a young person is a difficult juggling act for parents and very dependent on the individual, the family values and context. From personal experience, I know how challenging that balance can be. Finally, please stay connected with staff at the College. We are here to help and while there are limits and complexities to how we might