Middle/Senior School Bulletin Issue 7 / 26 May 2017
From the Principal I am pleased to announce to the St Andrews Lutheran College community that our College Council has recently approved major capital works to be undertaken in a number of Middle/ Senior School facilities. These projects are due to an increase in enrolment trends in these year levels. Specifically, the Science Building (F Block) will be significantly extended with two additional laboratories, lab preparation spaces, staff facilities and student learning lounges to be incorporated in the new design, establishing the St Andrews Lutheran College Centre for Scientific Investigation (CSI). In addition, E Block, home for our Year 7 and Year 8 LAG groups, will be entirely refurbished to cater for a greater range of flexible learning spaces, the design and use of which will be more in line with contemporary learning theory and practice. Finally, we will re-build our Middle School Ablutions Block and add four additional classrooms above, giving us much greater flexibility in our timetabling and Electives Program options.
was a huge success and the culmination of the tremendous efforts of many of our College parents and friends. A special note of thanks to all of the parent conveners who took responsibility for additional jobs and coordinated other volunteers and the P & F Executive team. St Andrews is a truly special community! The weather was kind to us given the forecast and a marvellous time was had by all.
In 2017, we opened a fifth class of Year 7, to accommodate part of the demand for additional places in our Secondary School program. College Council has now determined that we will again offer five Year 7 classes in 2018, in part requiring the Capital Works noted above to occur. Whilst the College has made the decision to operate five core classes in the Middle Years, we are determined to maintain our mandate to stay of such a school size where we maintain our pastoral refrain of St Andrews being the school where the focus is authentically on ‌. Where Everyone is Someone. We remain very excited with what is emerging through the reinvestment in our building stock, ensuring that our facilities match our re-design of curricular elements to help each student in moving towards their individual Personal Best. The Building Program is expected to commence before the end of this school year. David Bliss Principal
Middle & Senior School News Oh What a Fete! A sincere thank you to all parents, teachers and students who supported our College Fete on Saturday 20 May. It
This month we have been focusing on being mindful and reflecting on our mindset in May. Mindfulness, taking a pause and a few deep breaths to simply check in on the present moment and our internal dialogue, is a wonderful technique for handling stress. It also enhances our wellbeing, our brain’s ability to process information, and our relationships. As we
head into the latter part of Term 2 and workloads begin to mount please encourage your son/daughter to practice mindfulness, to eat and sleep well and to seek support when it is needed. Next week is the last full week of classes for Years 11 & 12 before exam block begins on Thursday 8 June.
Year 8 & 9 students studying the ‘Going into Business’ elective held another highly successful ‘My Business Rules’ competition last week. In the lead up to the event, students prepared a business plan, a product and looked at the process of marketing and profitability. Thank you to Mrs Myles and the students for hosting a wonderful event.
Last week, Years 11 & 12 Visual Arts students travelled to GOMA in Brisbane to view the Creative Generation Exhibition and to gain an understanding of what is involved with creating works of excellence. They will use this inspiration as they continue to work on their bodies of work for senior assessment.
Congratulations to our Senior students, Olivia English, Jarred Connolly and Kara Batchelor who represented St Andrews as our Inaugural Bond Schools Competition Mooting team. 76 teams from across Australia competed and our team, through diligent preparation and articulate arguing, progressed to be one of the top 10 teams. The finals will be held on Saturday 3 June.
Last Tuesday week we held our Mufti Day for the term and raised $1,388.45 for Kokoda Youth Foundation. With our 30km race teams competing next weekend, the Kokoda culture of mateship, sacrifice, courage and endurance continues to grow at St Andrews. Best wishes to all competitors.
The Carpark Carpark congestion is a challenge for all schools, and we certainly experience congestion for a relatively short period of time each afternoon (3.10pm – 3.25pm). All members of the community are asked to be vigilant, patient and focused on the safety of the students while driving in and around the College grounds. (Stay focused, observe general traffic rules and don’t respond to messages or calls on mobiles.) Students should be collected from outside the Worship Centre and beyond the crossing. I strongly recommend a delayed pickup for our Middle and Senior School students. The afternoon bell goes at 3.10pm and, in general, it takes about 5 minutes for students to travel to the Worship Centre. All secondary students are also welcome to use the library (CRC) for purposeful study after school until 5.00pm daily. Afternoon tutorials and study assistance is available. Can I also ask parents to be cautious and considerate, by obeying the traffic rules around the College and in particular on Tallebudgera Creek Road. We are blessed to be nested into a residential area and our neighbours have expressed concerns about cars parking too close to driveways, and illegal right-hand turns and U-turns performed while exiting the grounds. Whilst I appreciate that we are all busy, maintaining a sense of cheerfulness and patience when congestion occurs is best for all involved. Ensuring the safety of our children is our collective responsibility. Please contact me if I can offer any assistance to you or your child(ren) virginiaw@salc.qld.edu.au Virginia Warner Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School
Chaplains Chat Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. – Matthew 16:24 (The Message) This last week in both Junior School and Middle/Senior chapels, I have been exploring the Christian notion of Jesus being in the driver’s seat of our life. The concept or notion could be summarised by saying that letting Jesus drive our life is about relinquishing control of all things to His agenda, His ways and His leading/prompting. As I discussed with the senior students, there are some weaknesses to this idea, but there is also a great strength. The strength of this idea lies in the fact that very often we believe that we know the best way forward. We become overconfident in our ability to navigate the busy streets of life. Our assertion that we know best leads us into conflict with others because we do not value their opinions or ideas and it leads us into trouble in general because contrary to what we may think, we don’t always know what is best. God, however, does know what is best for life and for living. He has written a whole book about it. He patiently and graciously waits for us to listen and learn from Him and His ways. When we trust in God’s wisdom and depend upon His ideas, things tend to go smoother, easier and better for us, though perhaps not in the way that you might think. Letting Jesus drive our life does not mean that we encounter less problems or roadblocks than before but it does mean that He is able to help us steer around the worst of it and He is able to take control when we don’t have any strength or energy left. Travelling through life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns. We cannot be prepared for all of them, but there is someone who knows the track – someone who has been there before. He has more driving experience than you or me. So, let him drive for a while. Let Him take the wheel and see what happens. Nathan Glover College Pastor
group of Year 7 students participated in the first combined JS/MS STEM Day participating in a range of activities from robotics to construction under the guidance of both College staff and past students. It was an absolute delight to see such active learning across such a wide field of disciplines. Year 9 Service-Learning For the past eight years the College has sent Year 9 students out into the community as part of The Edge program’s service-learning element. These placements have provided a valuable source of service for many volunteer organisations but also an opportunity for our students to reflect upon how they may use their gifts to assist beyond the boundaries of St Andrews. Over the last couple of years it has become evident that many of our partner organisations can no longer take students. This inevitably has led to a decrease in the breadth of opportunities that we can provide for our students. Accordingly, for 2017 we are looking at other models for the provision of our service-learning component of Year 9. These options will be discussed further at our Googa Information Evening early in third term. As always, please contact me should you wish to discuss anything further. Tom Casey Head of Middle School
Flourishing in the Senior School Positive Schools Conference Last week I had the pleasure of attending a Positive Education and Wellbeing in Schools Conference and it was heartening to hear that much of what was recommended to promote wellbeing and flourishing in our staff and students is what we already do at St Andrews. For example, focus on strengths, explore values, promote mindfulness and build an understanding of concepts like growth mindset, grit and resilience. Of course, there are things we could always do better or differently and new things to consider to enhance or support the development of our young people. Two things that stood out on the day: •
Middle School News Opportunities for Learning The past week was a joy to wander around and see the diverse range of learning opportunities for students in the Middle School. Our ‘Going Into Business’ class staged their My Business Rules Competition during morning tea on Thursday and the MS Amphitheatre turned briefly into a hive of economic activity. On Wednesday afternoon a group of Year 7s had an introduction to philosophy with College parent Dr Gideon Baker seeking to answer such fundamental questions as ‘What is happiness?’. On Thursday, another
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The concept of a benefit mindset where altruism and giving to benefit others is also considered an essential part of wellbeing (think our service learning and community service approaches). This obviously sits nicely with our PERMA model of meaning, positive emotion and engagement. The importance of controlled rites of passage for our young people as they transition from one stage of learning to the next.
A fantastic speaker to follow on Twitter or check out his website is Dr Arne Rubinstein. Dr Arne has written a book called the Making of Men: Bringing out the Best in Teenage Boys and specialises in helping schools map these rites of passage. He also runs camps for boys and their fathers or significant male and daughters and fathers. There are a few camps coming up soon – attached is the link to his site. http://themakingofmen.com/about/
If you donate blood please record your donation as part of the St Andrews team. Recently Lili took four Andrians to donate – they were Emily Burnell, Abbie Hawkins, Patrick Silveira and Amber Rytenskild.
Congratulations to: • Emily Burnell who was selected as one of the Kokoda Kids. Emily is in training to complete the 96km Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast. In September, she will travel to Papua New Guinea to complete the 96km Kokoda Track where so many of our brave Australian soldiers lost their lives defending our country in World War II. Emily is one of 17 young people selected to represent the Tweed area.
Expectations for uniform and safety The cooler weather has ensured we are seeing the blazer worn more consistently but can I remind parents and students about the requirements for skirt length (just above the knee), make up and school socks. •
Kara Batchelor, Jarred Connolly and Olivia English who competed at the Bond University Mooting Competition. St Andrews was one of 76 schools to participate and I am thrilled to say they have placed in the top 10 and now into the next stage. Thank you to Mr Hennessy, our senior Legal Studies teacher, who worked so hard alongside the students to support them and develop their skills.
It is also essential that our students follow a few basic procedures and policies as part of workplace health and safety: • • •
Bags are to be locked in lockers and not left in walkways or on the floor of classrooms where they become a trip hazard. This is a nut-free school. Spray deodorant cans are banned due to the risk to those students with allergies and the flammable nature of spray cans. Roll on deodorants are acceptable at school only. Students found with spray on deodorants will have them confiscated and stored in SS Admin where the student can collect at the end of the week to take home.
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 •
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The Year 12 students who volunteered to be scary at the House of Horrors at the recent College Fete. What a great bunch of young people who gave up several hours to either set up, be scary or handle the money. Many of them then went off to sing, dance or support after doing double shifts. Pictured are Alex, Kara, Emily, Abbie, Gavan, Rhyley, Lili and Keely.
Our Red 25 Ambassadors, Lili Mikami, Rory McLynskey and Danielle Hoskins, for organising the first of our student blood donations at the Robina Red Cross Centre.
Visual Art News Over the past couple of weeks, the Visual Arts department has been humming along nicely with a couple of artists in residence working with Year 10 and Year 11 preparing for our new venture at the Fete. After spending some time in the Science labs photographing cell slides through the microscope, Year 10 students spent the day working with the very talented Christina D’Assonville on their ceramic objects. Playing with texture, colour, shape and size, students have created a wonderful array of objects that are now on display in the glass cases outside the artroom, in other areas, and some of our mums received some beautiful gifts for Mother’s Day. Year 11 students had a day with Barry Voevodin. Barry is a highly experienced Visual Art teacher with close to forty years’ experience on the Gold Coast, and an accomplished artist in his own right. He took the students on a journey
through media, technique and processes to assist with the development of their spiritual realities folio. It is always a treat to share the Visual Art space with other practitioners to get new ideas and perspectives. Barry also shared samples of his students’ work which was inspirational.
lous drawings. Middle School Electives are working on finalising their folios for submission. All Mixed Up have been exploring ceramics and have produced a variety of objects from planes to vases to animals, while Artist Studio have been hard at work drawing in pastel and exploring tone.
Finally, the focus of this term has been our new venture - the SALC Arts Collective. After a few years of discussion and dreaming, Hannah Barclay, our wonderful Visual Arts Technician with selected students, took the lead and organised an opportunity to showcase our students’ creations. Gavan Smith, Liliana Mikami (Year 12), Lyle Duncan, Joanna Loudon and Luke Workman (Year 11) have spent months putting the finishing touches on a variety of work, from earrings and pendants, to handmade cards and postcard images. To have an opportunity to share their talents with others has been a confidence boosting exercise for these students. Thank you to Hannah for this fabulous leadership! In Term 3, there will be another opportunity for our Community to come together under the SALC Arts Collective banner with a Sunday afternoon booked for some mini workshops in the SS Art rooms. Save the date (Sunday 30 July) for an Arts experience.
Year 11 and Year 12 classes made the trek to QAGOMA to see Creative Generation and Making Modernism (O’Keeffe, Cossington-Smith and Preston). These exhibitions are designed to assist students with their own artmaking. O’Keeffe particularly made work that dealt with her spirituality and the students were keen to explore her ideas and see how they can use her techniques and processes in their own work. Creative Generation gave the students a chance to see the best of Year 12 work from across the state from 2016. This gives students insight into ways they can explore their own concepts and focuses in their work to a high standard. I would like to thank Mr Rob Wecker and Mr Darryl McAlister for their wisdom and assistance finalising Year 12 bodies of work. When we run into a problem, we collaborate with the Design Tech department to overcome and invent a way forward. Our Click Photography Crew has been busy photographing College events, from Futsal to Christian Studies, carnivals and lunchtime activities, they document the myriad of events that happen at the College. I would like to thank Mr Mark Sutton and Pastor Nathan for their assistance with the Click Crew this year. Their enthusiasm and guidance has been invaluable. I look forward to the second half of the year and the fantastic art yet to be made! Ngaire Harman Head of Visual Arts
Student Development Previous articles in our Bulletins have discussed some of the actions our students take to serve and influence their community. It’s great that service and action to help others are part of the culture here. Primary School students look at the inquiry process of learning through the lens of taking action and often seek a meaningful outcome from their inquiry units. Senior School students are given the opportunity to serve within their cohort, across the College and into the wider community as part of structured programs or simply because they recognise the value of this within themselves.
Year 12 have handed in their first body of work based on the theme of power. Look for their works over the coming months on our new picture hanging system around the College. Year 7 Core Art rotations changed this week and I would like to congratulate our newest Art students on their fabu-
Chapels this term have continued to focus on the VIA strengths of Humanity (one-to-one interpersonal strengths like love, compassion and forgiveness) and Justice (broadly social strengths such as teamwork, fairness and service). These Chapels have esteemed role models who have acted with integrity in line with these strengths, such that our students develop understandings of these positive role models. As the adolescent brain is wired to seek out experience driven learning, ensuring there is opportunity for action is critical to their development of character, sense of meaning. In exploring community needs and acting as part of the solution young people are given opportunity for innovation as they explore the world and people’s needs they start see-
ing themselves and the services they can offer as part of the solution. James Nelson Student Development Christian Studies
Performing Arts News Fete Performance Stages Many thanks to all of our singers, dancers and musicians who shared their gifts with us at the College Fete - it was a wonderful showcase of talent across the College. Special thanks to the wonderful Arts Staff for their work with our students and their coordination of the stages and of course for the many many hours of rehearsal which culminate in these moments of celebration.
Swing on This All great musicians require continued development to question their practice and improve their performance abilities. Recently our Jazz Band and Choir hosted John Morrison (brother of brass expert James Morrison) and his wife Jacki Cooper for two Jazz oriented workshops, for the development of our budding musicians. Our Senior School choir looked at the development of improvisation skills with a focus on scatting. All students improvised in response to our leader Jacki, and some developed scat conversations with each-other. We worked on a jazz inspired version of Blue Sky’s noting the harmonic inflections and blends that this style requires to extend its jazz sensibilities.
The Jazz Band worked on a number of songs reinvigorating our approach to the music. John looked at how we continue to tell stories within our music, creating shape with our playing and inviting the audience to be an active listener. John inspired students to look past the simplistic techniques of time and tuning instead asking us to carefully consider the opportunities our instruments provide in developing unique sounds and blends within the ensemble. He asked us to consider our place within the team, with every performer having an important roll to play.
These ensembles are a fantastic showcase for our College and it is wonderful to be able to provide these extension op-
portunities that encourage not only our players as individuals but to see ourselves as key members of an ensemble. Thank you Jacki and John for sharing their gifts with us. Thank you to all of our performers for sharing their talent. Priscilla Scott Head of Performing Arts
P & F News The College Fete was another huge success for all. After the torrential rain on the Friday the skies opened and the sun shone on the day. With record numbers of chocolate, prizes, wine and cakes donated by the community, the P & F would like to thank everyone for their support. People turned out in their droves to support the St Andrews College Fete. The P & F committee would like to thank all the volunteer’s, helpers and committee members who made this such a successful event. St Andrews students were fabulous with their help on the stalls, performances on stages and excellent musical performances which gave us ambient music for a wonderful ly successful day. The Fete raffle winners are: 1st - Katherine Eller 2nd - Cathie Hanson 3rd - Phil Collis Cent Auction winners are: SPECIAL DRAW: Paul Ainger Lot 1 - Greg Clayfield-Hoskin Lot 2 - Toni Gisinger Lot 3 - Jeremy Inglis Lot 4 - Ross Gonano & Justine Lot 5 - Kate Dalby Lot 6 - Matt Janetzki Lot 7 - Carly Taylor Lot 8 - Darren Redwood & Maxine Lot 9 - Brian Gardiner Lot 10 - Kim Gayle Lot 11 - Melissa Lot 12 - Robin Vindolac & Tanya Jennings Lot 13 - Toni Taylor & Kate Jorgensen Lot 14 - Tania Jennings Lot 15 - Kiza Lot 16 - Kylie Andrews Lot 17 - Margaret Gardiner & Niamh Lot 18 - Hillary Floate Lot 19 - Ruth Porter, Rebecca Newing & Steve Day Lot 20 - Mardi Frost Lot 21 - Kate Jorgensen Lot 22 - Jodie Lopez Lot 23 - Sandy McEwen, Ruth Porter & Venessa Lot 24 - Robyn Fuller Lot 25 - Keith Stephens
Lot 26 - Heidi Luxton Lot 27 - Sophie Gibson Lot 28 - Angela Baldwin Lot 29 - Carolyn Rogers Lot 30 - Susan Lot 31 - Vademeyer Ria Lot 32 - Darren Redwood Lot 33 - Paulina Horan, Liz & Paul Ainger Lot 34 - Dianne & Kate Jorgensen Lot 35 - Jeff Gehrke Lot 36 - Julia Ackland Lot 37 - Vademeyer Ria Lot 38 - Lauren Glover Lot 39 - Marisa Mansfield Lot 40 - Chelsea Boeren Lot 41 - Steve Day & Nikki Beaver Lot 42 - Sarah Buddee Lot 43 - Amanda McDonald Lot 44 - Gemma Davies Lot 45 - Rosemary Avakian, Trish Munro & Gregory Katterns Lot 46 - Heather Milburn Lot 47 - Roslyn Campbell Lot 48 - Dianne Stokes & Kellie Lot 49 - Catherine Scott Lot 50 - Tammy Buckingham Lot 51 - Peta Hall Lot 52 - Nicole Miller Lot 53 - Janice Hayward Gray Lot 54 - Daniel Craig Lot 55 - Tania Sparks Lot 56 - Geoff Yates Lot 57 - Sarah Ashley Lot 58 - Karen Laming Lot 59 - Kirstie Bowlag Lot 60 - Jodie Lopez Lot 61 - Heather Milburn Lot 62 - Melissa McGuiness Lot 63 - Jamie Crowe Lot 64 - Fiona Scott Lot 65 - Kat Owens Lot 66 - Nick Caruana Lot 67 - Geoff Yates Lot 68 - Ailsa Day Lot 69 - Jodie Lopez & Kate O’Rourke Lot 70 - Keith Stephens Lot 71 - Darren Redwood Lot 72 - Ruth Porter Lot 73 - Wendy Lot 74 - Amy Priestner Lot 75 - Amanda Ellis Lot 76 - Team Fenton Lot 77 - Paul Ainger Lot 78 - Kizzie Lot 79 - Geoff Yates Lot 80 - Trudi Karos Lot 81 - Jayde Lot 82 - Carol Makintosh Lot 83 - Jodi Watkins Lot 84 - Stu Monk Lot 85 - Jack Baczyk Lot 86 - Liza Lot 87 - Peta Hall Lot 88 - Liz Clarke Lot 89 - Tony Conforti Lot 90 - Maxine Lot 91 - Clare Atkinson
Lot 92 - Tanya Lot 93 - Kim Allan Lot 94 - Jill Griffiths Lot 95 - Tammy Buckingham Lot 96 - Julia Mason Lot 97 - Peta LeMarshall Lot 98 - Darren Redwood Lot 99 - Jack Baczyk Lot 100 - Dean & Kelly Cheffers Lot 101 - Nikki Beaver Lot 102 - Ky Brown Lot 103 - Seaton (Ell) Lot 104 - April Rentoule Lot 105 - Olivia Walsh Lot 106 - Alison Dore Lot 107 - Amber & Robbie Nichols Lot 108 - Helen Garwood Lot 109 - Alesha Walsh Lot 110 - Ray Lot 111 - Tania Stewart Lot 112 - Kate Jorgensen Lot 113 - Merley Lot 114 - Amy Priestner Lot 115 - Emily Collis Lot 116 - Kane Lot 117 - Lesley Russell Lot 118 - Nicole Lot 119 - Amber & Robbie Nichols Lot 120 - Lauren Lot 121 - Vicki Butterworth Lot 122 - Teresa Wyatt Lot 123 - Tracey Austin Lot 124 - Ruth Porter & Dean & Kelly Cheffers Lot 125 - Jacqueline Tyrrell Lot 126 - Angela Baldwin Lot 127 - Diane Lot 128 - Jo Levey Lot 129 - Zoey Cheeseman Lot 130 - Blair Schooley Lot 131 - Kim Audsley Lot 132 - Clare Atkinson, Kelsey Caruana & Lani Caruana Theatre Chair Donations J block recovery is progressing well with the project running to time. Completion is expected later this year. The P & F meetings are held in one of the new rooms in upper J Block where the feel and decor are fabulous. Friends of the Theatre chair donation forms for the Ruth Butler Theatre are still available at Main Reception. There are different levels of donation that any present, past or future families can make to go towards the new chairs. Platinum $200 Gold $100 Silver $50 These donations are tax deductable. Donations will be acknowledged in some form with the finer details are yet to be released. Next P & F meeting is 14th June at 7.00pm in the J Block Upper West. We welcome all parents and guardians to attend.
Special Uniform Sizes for 2018 The Uniform Shop carries a wide size range of uniforms but sometimes we run out of stock of less popular sizes. If you know your child needs an extra small size or is already wearing one the largest sizes, can you please contact the Uniform Shop ASAP. We are currently placing our indent orders for delivery at the end of 2017 and early 2018 and if you need less popular sizes now is the time to let us know. Thank you. Sharon McVay Uniform Shop Manager
Second Hand Clothing St Andrews Uniform Shop will purchase from you good quality second hand uniforms subject to stock requirements. We are only interested in clothes that maintain the excellent standard of our uniform. Clothing will not be accepted if the item is:Stained, Damaged or Torn Faded or Discoloured Has buttons missing Or shows excessive wear Sorry, we cannot accept for resale: discontinued lines, swimwear, shoes, socks, hats or caps. Second hand uniforms must be left at the Uniform Shop during shop hours, or no transaction will be carried out. Please confirm with the Uniform Shop that all items submitted have been accepted for resale. Uniform items not accepted, will be held for 1 month awaiting your collection, after which time they will be disposed of. Payment: Continuing students will be offered credit which can be used to purchase uniforms (this may take a few weeks in busy times). Students leaving the school - a cheque will be sent to parents. Management reserves the right to refuse any second hand clothing.
Dates to Remember MAY Monday 29 Year 12 Griffith Uni Guaranteed Entry Tuesday 30 ICAS Comp Science Wednesday 31 Year 12 Hospitality Lunch Year 10 Hospitality Cafe Ex Big Day Out - Griffith Uni GC Year 12 whole cohort Study Session JUNE Friday 2 Years 9-12 Mens/Womens Assembly QCS Workshop Lending a helping hand at ROSIES Wednesday 7 Year 11 whole cohort Study Session Senior Music Twilight Concert Thursday 8 Years 11 & 12 Exams Years 11 & 12 Senior Drama Assessment Friday 9 Years 11 & 12 Exams Years 7-10 Assembly
It’s that time of year to update the interest earned on your LLL account that is credited annually on the 31st of May. Please send your books in by last day of term, the 16th of June. They will be sent to Adelaide for the interest update and will be returned to you during the first week of Term 3.