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College Newsletter Issue 2 / 13 May 2016

From the Principal Junior School Redevelopment Project I am pleased to report that the Junior School Development Project is on track. The final fittings of A Block were completed in the April holidays, with the last of the furnishings for the Junior School Library arriving last week. A special feature of the Junior School Library has been the creation of a Maker Space. It has been fascinating to watch students apply their learning in a 3 Dimensional environment. The area underneath the ELC, which is to become Year 1 classrooms and learning spaces for Junior School Student Services will be ready sometime next month. Locating Student Services in this space was a conscious decision as it will enable many of the learning enhancement opportunities to be centred in the lower Junior School. Construction of the amphitheatre in the Year 7 area is also progressing well, and when complete (also next month) will provide a flexible outdoor learning space for Middle School and upper Junior School students. The redevelopment of the Years 5 and 6 classrooms, and the creation of a purpose built S.T.E.A.M room (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Maths) is scheduled to start work in the month of June. Once complete the contemporary, agile, flexible learning areas for our students will be among the very best anywhere on the coast.

Teaching & Learning Frameworks At St Andrews we have two Teaching and Learning Frameworks - the International Baccalaurete’s Primary Years Program (PYP) in the Junior School and Marzano’s Dimensions of Learning Framework in the Secondary School. Both are considered world class Teaching and Learning Frameworks. Teaching and Learning Frameworks are an important precondition for ongoing improvement in teacher pedagogy and student learning. It ensures that teachers operate with a consistent learning focus. It provides teachers and students with a common language to talk about learning and a defined lens with which to view all activities that occur within the classroom. Both frameworks help to ensure consistency of teacher practice without being so prescriptive that innovation, creativity and individuality cannot be brought to the classroom. These frameworks help to ensure that at St Andrews we are daily striving to get better at what we do and remain focused on our core business of improving student learning. Educating the Whole Child Student learning is not just what happens within the four walls of the classroom. One of the things that St Andrews does well is to educate and develop the whole person. A St Andrews Education goes well beyond the academic learning of the classroom. In addition to the academic development there is a consistent emphasis on developing the social, emotional, physical and spiritual dimension of each student. As I’ve moved around the campus in the first month of this term, this holistic development of each child has been clearly evident. From the spectacular musical involving 150 students, to the teams of senior students doggedly training for Kokoda; to the record number of futsal teams who have qualified for the Champion of Champions Tournament later in the year, through to the erudite arguments of our debaters, and the nearly 200 St Andrews students who marched on ANZAC Day thereby honouring the ANZAC legacy, the array of opportunities for St Andrews students to challenge themselves and to grow in character and deepen their values have been clearly apparent. There is clear evidence that

the lessons learned beyond the classroom positively help to enhance student’s academic learning. Equally as important, the lessons learned beyond the classroom help to shape and mould our students as fine young men and women. J Block Fire Recovery Process - Moving Forward Together In the aftermath of the J Block Fire whilst physically it may not appear that a lot has occurred these past couple of weeks, a huge amount of activity has been occurring behind the scenes. The ‘make safe’ phase of the recovery has begun. Whilst to the naked eye the building may appear to be structurally sound, it needs to be forensically examined before anything else can occur. I am sure you can appreciate that first and foremost safety concerns must be addressed before anything else can proceed.

Once the ‘make safe’ phase is complete, demolition will begin. This will involve the theatre, music, dance and PAT Rooms. Hopefully the slab above the Home Economics Rooms is structurally sound and that section of the building won’t have to be demolished. We won’t know this until the ‘make safe’ phase is complete. We do know that the entire J Block roof will need to be replaced. Fortunately this can occur during the June-July break, meaning minimal disruption. Once demolition is complete, the rebuild will occur. Key staff have already met with our architect and discussed possible changes and enhancements to those spaces that will need to be rebuilt. Once the plans are complete they will be shared more broadly with the community. While all this is occurring we will obviously need portable buildings. These are currently being sourced, their arrival will be 1-2 weeks away. I’m assured that they will be of good quality and conducive to good teaching and learning. Probable locations of the portable buildings include - the cleared site on the edge of the COLA, the grassed area near the Uniform Shop, and the edge of the oval near the current sports shed. Recovery from the J Block Fire will be slow, but we will get there together. The Importance of Persistence Persistence and Resilience will be two of the qualities we as a community will need to demonstrate in the time ahead as we rebuild J Block. The story below carries a message of the importance of persistence and one well worth sharing at this time:

The ‘make safe’ phase is likely to last 2 more weeks - slow but necessary. Part of this ‘make safe’ process will be the recovery of personal items from lockers and rooms which has begun. More details of how this will occur will be communicated to students when it occurs. Another part of the ‘make safe’ process involves forensically cleaning the Change Rooms, J1-3 and J10-15. J Block Toilets and Change Rooms came online at the end of this week. J1 through J3 is likely to be available from Week 8. Use of J10-15 will depend on what the forensic cleaning reveals.

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old donkey. The donkey fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the donkey “braying” – or whatever donkeys do when they fall into a well. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the donkey, but decided that neither the donkey nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbours together and told them what had happened and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old donkey in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially, the old donkey was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbours continued shovelling and the dirt hit the donkey’s back, a thought struck the donkey. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back: he should shake it off and step up! This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up …shake it off and step up … shake it off and step up!” he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed, the old donkey fought ‘panic’ and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up! Guess What? It wasn’t long before the old donkey, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him - all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. The old donkey succeeded because he persisted. Tim Kotzur Principal

Middle & Senior School News At this time of year, I have the great pleasure of interviewing new students who are hopeful of coming to St Andrews in 2017. It is a part of my job that is a real blessing. The interviews are a time to connect deeply with young people and their families and to share the story of our great community. There are basically three key messages shared. As a College of the Lutheran Church we are an authentic Christian community that is driven by the lived expression of Godâ€™s love. St Andrews is a community where there is a strong sense of belonging and shared values; where everyone is someone. While we unashamedly pursue academic excellence, a St Andrews education is about so much more. We want our students to discover and grow their strengths, gifts and talents in all areas of their being and doing, but not for themselves alone. To that end, we are about more than a good education; an education for good. And finally, individually and collectively, from our youngest students in the ELC to our College Principal, we are about embracing a growth mindset and getting better all the time. We are highly aspirational and strive for personal bests and excellence, embracing challenges with grit, hope and optimism. To follow are a collection of reflections on this term related to these key messages. The outpouring of support since the loss of our J block classrooms, from within and beyond our community, has been both humbling and inspiring. It reminds us all that it is the people not the facilities that make this an exceptional College.

Amongst all of the offers of support, a visit from Jack Coles, a Year 11 student who is currently on extended health leave and who has bravely faced considerable challenges over the past two years, embodies for me our aspirations for growing other-centredness in our students. Jack, accompanied by his mum Jan, called in last week to donate his electric guitar and amplifier to the music department as he is not yet well enough to play it himself. We look forward to Jackâ€™s return to classes next semester and sincerely appreciate the visit and gift.

Our senior students who have been displaced from their normal classrooms have been exemplary examples to others by remaining focused on their studies and supporting one another in community. From amazing sporting and musical performances, to special pizza and movie nights, and full cohort afternoon study sessions, the students embody grit and getting on with normal routines. It has been wonderful to see them embracing our Head of Senior School, Ms Stewartâ€™s advice to remain mindful in May and to pursue their goals by embracing multiple pathways to success and being hopeful.

Thank you to one and all for your ongoing prayers. Planning is underway for the rebuilding of that area and once completed these spaces will enhance and add to our community. Part of the focus of the next P & F Meeting on Wednesday 8 June 7.00pm in the CRC will be how the Parent Body and the P&F might be able to assist the College going forward. Next Tuesday is our Mufti Day for the term and we will be raising money for East Timorese communities still impacted by the independence movement of last century. In particular, we will be raising funds to construct houses in Bahareduk. A

group of our senior students, accompanied by Mr Schache and Ms Faulkner will travel to East Timor during the term break on a special Service Learning Tour. Please encourage your child/children to bring in a gold coin and to take part in the East Timor ‘Amazing Race’ fundraising event later this term. It would be great to be able to celebrate building two houses in this community. It is one small way we can take action to help others. In and out of classrooms, teachers continue to encourage students to embrace the notion of ‘hard-fun’. The invigorating pursuit of goals that push the boundaries of one’s comfort zone and lead to personal growth; academic and otherwise. The many hours spent training in the lead up to the Kokoda Challenge is but one example of setting long term goals and working on specific actions, training regularly, in order to perform and achieve meaningful success with that internal dialogue that says, ‘I did it and I did it well.’ At our last assembly, our College Captains encouraged their peers to view this as being more like chewing gum than a rubber band. A rubber band only stretches so far and then it breaks and can’t be stretched again while chewing gum stretches, and stretches, and if it does break (fails to meet a goal) it reconnects, comes together and then is able to stretch again. What a great analogy for a growth mindset, grit and persistence towards desired outcomes.

ing Skills. These are the skills that allow the students to be adaptable to different situations. The flexible learning environment that we are creating in the Junior School classrooms are set up in such a way to encourage collaboration and working together. It allows for students to share ideas, creatively look at tasks and develop complex answers to challenging problems. Technology is a tool that can be used to help answer these questions and can be used to help students present their work in creative ways. The library is no longer a place where its primary purpose is to house and loan out books. While this is still a very important function, there is so much more to a modern day library. It is now a place where students embark on an inquiry or create engaging presentations to demonstrate their solutions. There are places for students to do some coding, solve problems, interact with technology and to demonstrate their thinking through Maker Spaces.

Virginia Warner Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School

Junior School News The children who are currently in our Prep classes will be graduating in 2028. There is a good chance that once they leave school they will be working in jobs that haven’t been created yet. We are also preparing students for technologies that haven’t been invented in order to solve problems that we don’t know are even problems yet. This can be quite a daunting proposition for a school. The question could be asked “What do we teach our students?” One of the most important things that we can teach our children is the fundamentals in reading, writing and numeracy. In the early years of schooling there is a heavy emphasis on learning to read. As the students get older there is stronger emphasis on reading to learn. All things that we do at school and in life, requires students to be fluent in the fundamentals and this forms the basis of a good education. In a PYP school a balance is sought between the acquisition of essential knowledge and skills, development of conceptual understanding, demonstration of attitudes and taking action. Through these 5 key elements of the program the students are exposed to a learning environment that is stimulating, challenging and gets the children to really think deeply about what they are studying. It provokes them into posing really challenging questions and solving real life problems. This leads to the development of Higher Order Think-

As we prepare the students for jobs that don’t yet exist and to solve problems that we don’t know are problems we can feel confident that St Andrews students can creatively solve problems and show initiative to take action. We need the students to be confident, adaptable users of technology. They will have a growth mindset and be willing to “have a go” to solve problems. This will prepare them for any job that they wish to pursue, even the ones that don’t exist today. Darrin Schumacher Head of Junior School

Sport News “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

tounding 24 teams and the Northern Rivers Titles where we entered 13. In either or both of these competitions 9 teams have finished in the top 2 in their draw, providing a pathway to the Australasian Titles based on future success in the Champion of Champions. During this time 8 students were selected in the Queensland State team, a great achievement and recognition of the countless hours of training spent by both staff and students.

This is an inspirational quote by one of the greatest ever basketball players of all time - Michael Jordan. The message I take from this is twofold, firstly tremendous effort, time, persistence and practice is a requirement for success – it doesn’t happen immediately or overnight. Secondly it is okay to fail and recognise your weakness in the pursuit of excellence. As a matter of fact, reflection on sporting disappointments is a prerequisite for personal success. Sport provides a wonderful opportunity for students to discover more about themselves, offering a platform of personal maturity through both physical and mental development. St Andrews offers an array of sporting contexts for individual growth to occur. Each Thursday our Middle and Senior School students engage in AGCC our interschool sports competition. Semester 1 sport has seen girls engage in their choice of either Netball, Futsal, Tennis or Oz tag. The boys have played either AFL, Volleyball, Touch, Soccer or Basketball. Moving toward the finals there are teams who have had great success and will challenge for a premiership, and other teams who have struggled each week. Despite their final placings all students and teams will have challenged themselves physically and coordinated in teams to produce their best. The AGCC competition provides lessons learnt playing sports about discipline, teamwork and plain old having fun with your friends! I look forward to reporting on those teams who can measure their success with a title, but also recognise the efforts of all students despite their position on the final ladder. St Andrews students are blessed to have so many extracurricular sporting opportunities, and it is pleasing to see so many boys and girls making the most of what is offered. Apart from AGCC, students at this moment in time can engage in Gym programs, Running Club, Touch, Basketball, Futsal, Zuu fitness, Kokoda and Netball. This is all enabled by an amazing team of committed staff who have given up countless hours of time in both training sessions and tournaments. Another famous sports quote is “The five S’s of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit.” I have certainly witnessed the spirit of St Andrews as both teachers and students come together on numerous mornings and afternoons to train in our signature sports which I would like to profile now. Futsal St Andrews would have to be considered one of the best Futsal Schools in South East Queensland with 9 teams making the Champion of Champions Titles. These teams have qualified through their engagement in two tournaments; the South East Queensland Titles where we entered an as-

Netball Netball is the most participated sport for females in Australia making it highly competitive at a school based level. This year St Andrews will be represented at a state level competition called QISSN. QISSN is an annual netball carnival held mid-year attracting many of Queensland’s finest independent secondary school netball teams. Each year the carnival is hosted by a different school and held in a different location. The carnival is a great way for netball teams to develop stronger skills, meet new people and have fun playing the sport they love. This year the tournament is being held in Rockhampton. Our girls have been training twice a week since the start of the year, focused on development and improvement. They are a young team looking to gain experience and cultivate vital skills necessary to compete at this level.

Grown out of the QISSN team is a netball development squad available for Years 7 and 8 girls keen to represent the College in the future. Training alongside the QISSN team bonds the younger students with the senior girls as well as enhancing their skills and strategic understanding of the game. Touch The Touch season is just around the corner with the All Hallows tournament being held mid-May. Our under 13 and 15 girl’s teams have been training on Tuesday mornings in preparation for this event. However, this is only the start of the touch season. In August both boys and girls will represent the College at the SQBD championships at Mallawa sports fields in Palm Beach. However, the big event teams will be training towards is the All Schools State Secondary Titles in October. In this tournament St Andrews will be represented by 6 teams, an outstanding effort in itself. Training for the boys commences very soon, so please keep an eye out for details of where and when this will be.

P&F News The General Meeting for Term 2 is Wednesday 8 June at 7.00pm in the CRC. We welcome all parents and friends to come and find out what is happening within the College. Part of the focus will be how as a Parent Body the P & F might be able to assist the College going forward. P & F meetings are a great way to meet other parents from all age groups throughout the College and find out what direction the College and students are going. The Principal’s report gives an overall summary of the College’s performance in all activities from education, from the arts through to sport. You are able to voice your ideas on what you feel the College may need or require to make St Andrews Lutheran College a better place. This year’s Picnic in the Playground was a huge success raising over $700 for the East Timor Service Learning Tour that will go toward helping to build houses in the village they are visiting. Thanks for everyone’s support of the BBQ and the photo booth. As well the lineup of school musical talent was exceptional keeping all those who attended entertained until the final song.

Basketball This sports provides another fantastic opportunity for both boys and girls at St Andrews. As a developing sport, Thursday afternoon training from 3:30pm is an opportunity for all students despite their experience to come along and learn how to play this wonderful sport. On the other end of the scale trials for Champion School’s state wide competition commences at the end of the term for boys wishing to represent the school in this tournament. Extra training for this event will be determined at the end of term two with intensive sessions in Term 3 leading into the tournament.

Libby Wood Secondary School Sports Coordinator

The P & F has helped fund a number of programs around the College. Artificial turf has been installed under the stairs leading to the Multi-Purpose Hall. Some funding has been allocated to help the College with the construction of the new Middle School outdoor learning area as well outside the Junior School Library where there will be an activities playground keeping the children amused and entertained while outside. We look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday 8 June at the P & F General Meeting at 7.00pm.

Dates to Remember Sunday 15 Years 7-12 All Hallows Touch Carnival Monday 16 Years 11 & 12 Students Visual Arts Excursion Year 10 Japanese Excursion Tuesday 17 Mufti Day - East Timor JS Walk for Timor ICAS Computer/Digital Technologies Wednesday 18 Year 5 Camp to Luther Heights 18-20 May Hinterland Cross Country Carnival Friday 20 Year 10 Science & Engineering Challenge Saturday 21 East Timor Service Learning Training (selected students) WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE P & F General Meeting - CRC 7.00pm

get clicking!

Prizes to be won, and selected entries will be entered into the QiEU art awards in Brisbane in July.

See Oliver Waddingham (Cultural Captain year 12), or mrs harman for further information.

Entries due: Friday 20th may at 12pm Send your entries to: ngaireh@salc.qld.edu.au Digital Exhibition: Friday 27th May - Venue to be confirmed

theme: â€œIn the Gardenâ€? interpreted any way you like, our garden here at school, yours at home, the Botanic gardens, the surrounding landscape. Let your imagination run wild!

Open to all St andrews students from ELC to year 12

SCOPE PhOtOgraPhy COmPEtitiOn

SCOPE

INSIGHTS Building parent-school partnerships WORDS Michael Grose

How to move your child from

worrier to warrior

As a parent of a worrier, and also a natural

morning and won’t return home can seem

Your Child from Anxiety, and Washington

born worrier myself, I’m a collector of ideas

irrational to all-knowing adults but make

Post columnist Suzanne Nelson I learned

and strategies to better manage anxieties

perfect sense to them.

these ideas:

and worries. Fortunately, as a child my young worrier didn’t allow her anxieties to prevent her from participating in sporting,

If you are a Type A worrier yourself then you probably fully comprehend your child’s

Give the worry a name Somehow giving a worry a name makes it

anxieties and worries. You know that being

feel less scary and more manageable. My

told not to overthink things or to stop

favourite picture storybook for toddlers

worrying just won’t cut it. If you are the ‘It’ll

She did, however, spend a lot of time

There’s a Hippopotamus on our Roof by

be right. Don’t overthink it’ type then you

worrying about how little everyday things

Hazel Edwards personifies fear of the dark

may be scratching your head wondering

as a friendly hippo. Much more friendly and

what all the fuss is about. There’s no

easier to boss around if you’re a child.

learning, social or leisure activities inside or outside school.

would pan out, almost to the point of being sick at times. She was a micromanager who always made sure she had every angle covered in an unfamiliar or new situation. For instance, if she was to be picked up from a friend’s birthday party she’d always have a back-up plan in case a parent wouldn’t arrive in time

doubt that worriers need careful, sensitive handling by families and teachers alike. Your concern and understanding is one thing but they also need some practical tools and ideas to help them cope now and build strength so they can minimise the impact of worries in the future.

to take her home! ‘Being prepared for

Put your worries in a jar Wouldn’t it be great to put all your worries into a safe and throw away the key? As an adult you may do this when you take time out to watch your favourite TV show; or lose yourself browsing for hours online. Children need something a little more

every contingency’ was one of her main

Here’s a collection of great ideas that

strategies to help alleviate her worries.

may help you transition a young worrier to

some paper and lock them away in a jar by

being a social and learning warrior, or at

the side of the bed at the end of the day.

least get the worry bug under control.

It’s good to know that their worries can’t

From writers such as Jeanene Ecob

get out because they are locked up tight.

Many children worry about seemingly little things that they have no control over. Whether it’s worrying about the house catching on fire; monsters or spiders

author of Everyday Jitters, Mary Sheedy

lurking under their beds; or even worrying

Kurcinka author of Raising Your Spirited

that their parents will go to work in the

Child, Tamar Chanksy author of Freeing

practical. They can write their worries on