THE
PHOENIX RISING
Term 4 2023 18 DECEMBER 2023
All Souls St Gabriels School
CHARTERS TOWERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
From the Headmaster...........................................................................................................3 Captains’ Corner.....................................................................................................................4 Passing the Baton...................................................................................................................5 Orientation Program..............................................................................................................6 Remembrance Day.................................................................................................................7 Mixed Touch Football............................................................................................................8 Inter-School Girls’ Rugby League 9s..................................................................................9 Inter-School 3v3 Basketball...............................................................................................10 Inter-School Volleyball.........................................................................................................11 Partying in our PJs................................................................................................................12 Junior School Christmas Concert......................................................................................13 Junior School Inter-House Swimming..............................................................................14 Junior School Inter-School Swimming.............................................................................15 Surf Lifesaving & Bravehearts Ditto Show......................................................................16 Year 6 Graduation Luncheon............................................................................................17 Preliminary Prize Giving......................................................................................................18 Awards Day............................................................................................................................19 All Souls Day & Green Dinner............................................................................................20 Year 7 Business Expo..........................................................................................................21 Vocational Education & Training................................................................................ 22-23 Youth Council........................................................................................................................23 St Gabriel’s Old Girls Association Luncheon..................................................................24 Boarding.................................................................................................................................25 Mass of God Speed..............................................................................................................26 Valedictory..............................................................................................................................27 Finding Nemo Jr....................................................................................................................28
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FROM THE HEADMASTER MR SHANNON LEE The conclusion of Term 4 provides a great opportunity to stop, reflect and celebrate the many successes seen throughout the year. Our end of year rituals showcased the many and varied achievements of our students. It was inspiring to see so many students recognised for their hard work and dedication to their pursuits in academics, sporting, rural and the arts.
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Further highlights of the year have included the launch of our new School App, introduction of camps for Years 9 and 11, return of the NZ Ski Tour, becoming a Gateway to Industry School for Agribusiness, facility upgrades in Junior School Undercover Area, Halse Hall, Chapel and Residences, and of course the announcement of the construction of our new 25m 8 lane state of the art swimming pool. The construction of our new Pool is on track to be swimming early in 2024. None of these achievements would be possible without the ongoing support and commitment of our staff, students, parents and Associations. We are fortunate to enjoy such dedication from all of these groups. Preparations for 2024 are well and truly underway. The baton of leadership in the Senior School has now been handed over, our Year 6 & 12 students have graduated, and we welcomed new families to our community through the Orientation Program. We have thanked and farewelled our departing staff and we look forward to welcoming our new team members into our community. 2024 is shaping up to be a great year. We wish you all a happy and safe festive season, may you find time to rest and recharge and connect with family and friends. We look forward to seeing you again in 2024 as we continue to strive to achieve our vision – Shaping students who have the skills knowledge and desire to contribute, lead, and serve.
Merry Christmas
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SETH GULDBRANSEN
CAPTAINS’ CORNER
EXCERPT FROM 2023 AWARDS DAY SPEECH
You commonly hear people say this place is more than just a school and for good reason. A school is a place students go to seek education and either go to work or continue their education after they finish school. All Souls St Gabriels School is different, you are never really done. It’s like you signed a wager where you are now permanently a part of this new family. All your mates are like your new brothers and sisters and you will forever cherish the memories you had at this place. Even after you leave, there will forever still be that “Souls and Gabe’s Spirit” that stays with you. I guess everything good comes to an end eventually. It’s sad to look back and realise my time here is up. My message to all the students here today would just be to enjoy your time here, enjoy the memories, the friendships and the opportunities that come with being part of the Souls and Gabe’s family. It’s the students like you who make this place what it is, all of you have the opportunity to write your own chapters and make the most of your time here at school.
ERIN BLENNERHASSETT
EXCERPT FROM 2023 AWARDS DAY SPEECH
This school brings people together, and allows us to make friends that become family. Standing here today I now realise why everyone tells you not to wish your time at school away. Because looking back, I can’t believe that in 2018 I walked into the Alban dorm as a scared but excited Grade 7 that balled her eyes out on the phone to her dad after a couple nights being there. Fast forward 6 years and I’m now standing in front of you all, saying my final goodbye as your 2023 School Captain and friend. So to all my fellow students, look after your mates, and always be open to making new ones. A simple smile or quick hello as you walk by someone can go a lot further than what you realise. Don’t forget to laugh with one another, and do things a little out of your comfort zone from time to time. Make the most of every minute you have together because someday they won’t be just a couple bays down, and your favourite teacher won’t just be a few classrooms away.
KONNOR LAFFIN & LILAH PLANT
JUNIOR SCHOOL CAPTAINS
As Year 6 School Captains, we have been thrilled to embark on our final term in this leadership role. It’s been a time filled with anticipation and excitement, as we celebrated the accomplishments and achievements of our peers in academics, sport and cultural achievements throughout the year. One of the most memorable moments of this term was our participation in the Awards Day Ceremony. It was an honour to stand before our School community and publicly acknowledge the remarkable accomplishments of our fellow students and the dedication of our staff. We were truly proud to represent our School on that special day. Reflecting on the past, we can’t help but smile as we think back to our incredible Year 6 class trip to Canberra last term. It was an experience that will stay with us for a lifetime. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the opportunity to meet Mr. Milton Dick, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had such a unique and inspiring experience. As the year draws to a close, we saw Junior School come together for some fantastic events. The disco was a highlight, the highly anticipated Inter-House swimming carnival delivered some great spirit and efforts, and the beloved end-of-year Christmas concert was enjoyed by all. These events have been a joyful way for our school to conclude the year. Thank you for being a part of our School community and for making this year one to remember.
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PASSING ON THE BATON In Week 2 this term we held a special Senior School Student Leaders Handover Assembly where we celebrated our outgoing 2023 Student Leaders, and announced our incoming 2024 Student Leaders. The Senior School and Year 6 watched on as the current leaders ‘handed over’ a token representation of their role & responsibilities to their respective incoming leaders. We thank the Student Leadership Team of 2023, and applaud them on a fantastic year at the forefront of our School. In turn, we congratulate our Leaders of 2024, and look forward to the year ahead.
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WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY
ORIENTATION PROGRAM
MRS JANE DICKSON YEAR 7/8 CO ORDINATOR
Our hugely successful Orientation program was kicked off with the marketplace information session followed by our informal Meet and Greet BBQ. The extra-curricular school community of Boarding Recreational Activities, The Arts, Sporting and Rural Activities had amazing displays to showcase the wonderful opportunities available for incoming students. Important connection between the Clinic, Inclusive Education team, the Pastoral Care team and the Finance team were developed with our new and returning families. The Year 11s were fantastic hosts throughout the program escorting students to activities and engaging in physical activities during morning tea and lunch with their buddies.
An excited group of 56 students across Years 7 -10 were involved in taster classes across the school. They learnt how to bake pizzas, craft sculptures with clay, mould acrylic keyrings, fly drones, observe and learn about the cattle and horse clubs, participate in football and netball clinics, experiment with density, investigate pH and create slime. Students who will come into the boarding in 2024 enjoyed learning about the boarding community during their stay. The Orientation program was well supported, and staff went above and beyond to make the experience memorable for all who participated. We look forward to renewing acquaintances in Term 1 2024.
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REMEMBRANCE DAY Our incoming 2024 School Captains spent the morning of the 11th November, alongside members of the Charters Towers Community, at the Cenotaph honouring members of the armed forces who have passed in the line of duty.
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TERM 4 SPORT
M IXED TOUCH FOOTBALL
This year, ASSG fielded 5 teams in the local Charters Towers Touch Football competition. This competition allowed students to further their skills that they had gained from the season in the first half of the year and really excel themselves on the touch field. Our 5 teams competed in the following divisions: ASSG1 – A Grade, ASSG2 – B Grade, ASSG3, ASSG4 & ASSG5 – C Grade. Congratulations to ASSG 2 and ASSG 5 who made it to the Grand Finals, however they were narrowly beaten. Congratulations also to Rory Barr and Lauchlan Butler who were awarded joint Best and Fairest males of A division. A big thank you to all of coaches; Derek Musk, Breanne Peace, Renee Musk, Peter Turner and Jess Twine.
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INTER SCHOOL GIRLS’ RUGBY LEAGUE 9S
On Friday 27th October the Inter-School Rugby League 9s competition was held at Columba Catholic College. This was a competition for the girls and ASSG had an Under 15s and an Under 17s team. The Under 15s girls played games against CTSHS, BTC and CCC. They played some excellent football and even had some players playing their first ever games of rugby league, but unfortunately had some narrow losses. The Under 17s also had some tough games against BTC and CCC, although some great skills were displayed, they lost to both teams. A big thank you to the coaches Mrs Jo Butler and Mr Dougan for giving up their time preparing these teams for the competition. A big thank you also to Meg Brassington for refereeing a number of games throughout the afternoon.
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INTER SCHOOL 3V3 BASKETBALL 10
On Friday 3rd November, 11 ASSG teams took the court in the annual Inter-School 3v3 Basketball Gala. The Junior girls, many of them experiencing basketball for the first time, consisted of 2 ASSG teams. Both came away with a win each and had fun learning the rules. The junior boys had 2 teams which placed 1st and 7th overall. The Intermediate boys age group showed skill as they came away with a 2nd place, after only losing 1 game. Senior and Intermediate girls age groups were combined this year and had 3 teams. These teams snagged a 2nd, 4th and 5th place position at the end of the night. The Senior boys also had 3 teams placing in the top 5. There was lots of tough competition between the schools and the games proved to be a lot of fun. It was great to see everyone get involved in a sport they don’t usually get to play. Congratulations to all players, it was a successful night for all teams. A big thank you to all staff and students who came to watch and support, all the scorers, referees, the Leos club for providing snacks for us and to Mrs Roberts for organising a fun night of basketball.
INTER SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
On Friday 17th November BTC hosted the annual Inter-School Volleyball Gala. This was a night of social, but very competitive volleyball with some very impressive skills on display. ASSG had 7 mixed teams competing in the competition: 3 Junior teams, 2 Intermediate teams and 2 Senior teams. This was an excellent opportunity for students to develop their volleyball skills, especially the junior teams where most players had not played a proper game before. Congratulations to ASSG Junior 2 and ASSG Inter 1 who both came first in their division and congratulations to ASSG Inter 2 who came second in their division. A big thank you to the staff that supervised on the night and a big thank you to BTC for hosting the wonderful event.
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PARTYING IN OUR PJS Z The Junior School Disco was once again a highlight of the year for our Junior School Students, this year themed Party in your PJs! There was lots of funky pjymas, singing, and dancing. A very big thank you to all of our staff who helped make it such a great evening!
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Z Z
Z Z
JUNIOR SCHOOL SHINES AT CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Our Junior School Students had a chance to show off their hard work & skills at our 2023 Junior School Christmas Concert. We had singing (both English & German), dancing, Auslan & acting! A huge thank you goes to our elves (Mrs Heuir & Mrs Reardon) for all of their hard work in putting such fantastic show together for us all to enjoy.
M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S 13
JUNIOR SCHOOL
INTER HOUSE SWIMMING GIRLS
BOYS
AGE
AGE CHAMPIONS
RUNNERS UP
AGE
AGE CHAMPIONS
RUNNERS UP
8 Years
Harper Crane
Phoebe Wallis
8 Years
Rhylan Hourston
Jack Price
9 Years
Sarah Hardy Taylah Maff
Georgia Johnson
9 Years
Archie Kennedy
Rhylan Ahern
10 Years
Ava Crane
Tahleigh Novelli
10 Years
Mason Storey
Nate Musk
11 Years
Lucinda Reardon
Elizabeth Groves
11 Years
Mason Brunello
William Knight
12 Years
Lilah Plant
Laynie Ahern
12 Years
Konnor Laffin
Oliver Nunns
CHAMPION HOUSES
Overall - Feetham & Becket
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JUNIOR SCHOOL
INTER SCHOOL SWIMMING The Junior Inter-School Swimming Carnival saw 24 excited All Souls St Gabriels School students dive into the town pool, for an action-packed day of School spirit and fierce competition. The dedication of each student, who took it upon themselves to train in the lead-up to the event, was impressive, and it sure paid off. As a School, we had three Age Champions and one Runner-up Age Champion, broke six records, and won the Average Shield. The Inter-School Swimming Carnival was the last of our 2023 carnivals, and it’s safe to say we went out with a splash.
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SURF LIFESAVING EXCURSION Our Years 5 and 6 Students were given the opportunity to travel to Townsville and participate in a Surf Lifesaving program. During the program students took part in activities aiming to address: • Proactive teaching of water and surf safety • Tube rescues, patient care and CPR • Wading and dolphin diving • Board paddling and board rescues • Learning about beach flags and water flags • Team building games • Beach obstacles, beach sprints and relays It was a great opportunity for our students to further their skills and knowledge in an activity they wouldn’t usually get to participate in.
BRAVEHEARTS DITTO SHOW Our Prep, Year 1, & Year 2 classes had a visit this term from the Bravehearts Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show! The Bravehearts Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show is a fun, interactive live incursion that teaches young children essential personal safety skills and knowledge using ageappropriate language, song, and dance.
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YEAR 6 GRADUATION LUNCHEON
Our Year 6 Class of 2023 celebrated a fantastic year & the completion of their Primary Schooling at ASSG surrounded by their friends and family at a Graduation Luncheon on the last day of the School Year. Congratulations Year 6, you have led the Junior School with pride & integrity over the last year, we can’t wait to watch what you will achieve in the Senior School!
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CELEBRATING SUCCESS PRELIMINARY PRIZE GIVING
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CELEBRATING SUCCESS AWARDS DAY
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ALL SOULS’ DAY & GREEN DINNER Our annual All Souls’ Day Chapel Service & Green Dinner was held in Week 5, this year hosted by Page House. It is a great opportunity for our school community to continually honor and thank the Green Family for their contributions to the School. We were joined by guest speaker, local business owner and Past Student Sam Knuth, who shared some strong words of advice & great lessons from his time here at ASSG.
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YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
AT THE YEAR 7 BUSINESS EXPO
This term our Year 7 Business Class held their Business Expo, which was enjoyed by Junior School students, Senior School students, and staff with lots of treats & fun games on offer! The Business unit was based around Entrepreneurialism, and the students had to come up with their own business idea and model. There were many business variations from lolly stalls, dried fruit, cold cups, raffles, games, and even a manure business, which was a hit with some of our green-thumbed staff!
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VET
MRS GLENDA LYON VET CO ORDINATIOR
As we reflect on the conclusion of another academic term at All Souls St Gabriels, I am pleased to share with you the notable accomplishments and successes achieved by our students. Throughout the term, we witnessed numerous achievements, including: 1. Certification Success with over 65 certifications received. 2. Outstanding Individual Achievements: • Special congratulations to Bailey Cowan, who successfully completed two years of his School-Based Apprenticeship and has now graduated to a full-time apprenticeship with McHardies Weld and Blast, Charters Towers. • Congratulations to Walter Shadforth for being honoured with the TAFE Students of the Year award for ASSG. Walter has also secured employment with Charters Towers Toyota, showcasing his dedication and expertise in the field. 3. University Engagement (Both students have received direct entry to CQU commencing 2024): • Regan Barkworth completed four units in Law, Criminology, & Psychology. • Erin Blennerhassett completed three units in Nursing. 4. Work Experience and Career Exploration: • In Term 4, 15 students engaged in valuable work experience, exploring
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various career pathways. We extend our sincere gratitude to our Host Employers for their support throughout the year. 5. Career Guidance and Support: • The AV room remains open during morning tea, lunchtime, and after school, providing students with a platform to discuss their options and gain insights into work experience, study opportunities, careers, and apprenticeships. As the school year draws to a close, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our entire school community for the collaborative effort in making this year a success. Wishing everyone a Safe and Merry Christmas, and I look forward to welcoming you all back in 2024 for another year of growth and achievement.
LAUREN ATWELL YOUTH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
YOUTH COUNCIL Over the past 12 months, Lauchlan Butler and I have been involved in the Charters Towers Regional Youth Council. Throughout this time, we have experienced various aspects of the runnings of Charters Towers Regional Council, ranging from the multiple council facilities and being involved in council meetings. The group of Youth Council members selected from each school met each term at a different council owned facility for a tour, then gathered at the council meeting room for discussions relating to the council and the community. Our first facility visit took us to the Charters Towers Water Treatment Plant where we were spoken to by many employees who explained the processes behind dealing with the town’s waste water. The second facility visit was to the Dalrymple (HM Clarke) Saleyards, where we were guided through the operations which take place at this facility. Our termly meetings at the Council Meeting Room gave each member a deep insight into the future of our council, and gave us, the youth of Charters Towers the opportunity to express our opinion on the future of our community. This experience has been a valuable opportunity for both Lauchlan and I, and we encourage any future Year 10 students to apply.
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ST GABRIEL’S OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON The St Gabriels Old Girls Association holds a luncheon get together twice a year in Brisbane. Mr Lee, alongside Year 11 Students Emily Maxwell & Dru Mossman, travelled down to Brisbane to attend the luncheon, spending the day swapping stories of the past & present. We would like to thank the Gabe’s Old Girls who have donated $700 to the School with the request that the money be allocated to the Art Department to assist with the 2024 production of Finding Nemo Jr.
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VANESSA HERRING ACTING HEAD OF BOARDING
BOARDING
We’d like to start by saying a massive thank you to everyone who keep the wheels turning in boarding. If it wasn’t for the combined effort of everybody, we wouldn’t have ended the year in such a good place and ready for 2024. It certainly does take a village. On that note, we congratulate all our new Seniors who have stepped up into their leadership roles, readying themselves for 2024. We are in safe hands moving forward and we are excited for what’s to come. Term 4 saw us hit the ground running with our new Boarding Rec Officer. Nat brought fresh ideas to our Rec Program and the boarders seemed to enjoy what we had to offer this term. We particularly enjoyed slow-pitch softball on O’Keeffe, Boarders Edition “Snack and Paint”, Burdekin River trips, Townsville trips to the Strand & Stockland, and plenty of Christmas related activities! As we prepared to farewell our boarders for the end of term we saw our dorms come together to enjoy their first Boarding Christmas Party. With a change to the menu (thanks to our beautiful kitchen staff) Christmas carols, games, a photo booth and a visit from the Grinch, everyone had a fantastic night. Finally, we’d like to wish all our families a very Merry Christmas and we hope you all have a wonderful time with your children over the holiday period. We look forward to welcoming you and our new boarding families back next year and are excited for what 2024 will bring.
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MASS OF GOD SPEED
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VALEDICTORY
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Ph: 07 4787 1433
www.allsouls.qld.edu.au
Email: school@allsouls.qld.edu.au