Issue 05/ 04 April 2014
Middle & Senior School News The story of Easter is the story of God’s wonderful window of divine surprise. ~Carl Knudsen By the time you receive this Bulletin, Term One will be officially finished and we will all be enjoying the Easter break. The Term seems to have passed by so quickly and yet as I reflect on all that has been accomplished, both in and outside of classrooms, I am truly thankful for the many blessings we have enjoyed this year thus far. I hope that the holiday time ahead brings with it an opportunity for your family to relax and enjoy some quality time together. Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews The Term One Report was posted home today and Parent Teacher interviews will be conducted for Middle School and Senior School students on Tuesday 6 May from 3.30pm to 8.00pm. The report contains an ‘Achievement’ grade and ‘Effort’ grade for each subject and an indication of the way in which your child has approached the important areas of ‘Class Participation’, ‘Class Conduct/Attitude’ and ‘Meeting Work Requirements’ in each of their subjects. The Achievement grades are averaged to generate a Grade Point Average (GPA) out of 15 and the Effort grades are averaged to generate an Effort Point Average (EPA) also out of 15. Where a result is indicated as NA, it is not included in the calculation of the average. Details about booking interviews can be found in your child’s report envelope. The report is intended to give you to a brief overview of how your child has settled into their studies and the interviews with teachers are a great opportunity to explore concerns and areas for further improvement. Students should attend the interviews with their parents. Please discuss this report with your child and help him/her to set goals for the start of Term Two. ANZAC Day March As has been the custom for a number of years, students from St Andrews are invited to march behind the College banner in the Burleigh Heads ANZAC Day March on Friday 25 April. Students who would like to join us are asked to wear their full school uniform (including hat), and meet on the corner of James and West streets by 9.00am, in preparation for the march which begins at 9.30am. We will then sit with other schools for the service at the Cenotaph, which should conclude by 10.30am.
Staffing Updates A few weeks ago, Mrs Terri Myles joined our teaching team to replace Mrs Lynda Galway in her role as Head of Department – Business during Mrs Galway’s absence for the remainder of 2014. An experienced teacher of Business, Accounting, and Social Sciences, Mrs Myles is sure to be a blessing to our community. Next term we welcome back Mr Rob Luxton. Mrs Kulari Harris, a specialist Science teacher who was replacing Mr Luxton in Term One, will look after Mrs Lotz’s classes while she is on Long Service Leave until the middle of Term Two. We also welcome back Mrs Lucy Briggs to our Student Services team, and Mrs Marita Wilson to our LOTE Team this term after maternity leave. Thank you for your ongoing support throughout first term. Have a happy and blessed Easter. Virginia Warner Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School
Senior School News Positive Psychology – Wellbeing and Flourishing through PERMA PERMA is a handy acronym used by Martin Seligman to describe the elements that contribute to wellbeing and includes positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment (2011). Huppert & Johnson (2009) define wellbeing as “the combination of feeling good and functioning well” and to flourish requires a combination of emotional, psychological and social wellbeing (Keyes, 2005). At St Andrews we are shaping our Senior School Pastoral Care Program around the concept of PERMA and the students are participating in activities that aim to develop these elements of wellbeing. This may be using the