The Life Issue #1, 2021

St Philip’s Christian College Newcastle

The Life A Monthly Community Magazine

ISSUE #1 MARCH 2021

2021 “You are the salt of the earth ...

The light of the world” Matthew 5:13-16

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

From the Principal

Dear Readers, Welcome to the 1st edition of our monthly, community, online magazine, “The Life”! We look forward to sharing many wonderful moments of our journey, here at St Philip’s Christian College, Newcastle in this monthly, online magazine.

“The Life” magazine was originally published once each term as a printed magazine for St Philip’s Christian College, Waratah, but later transitioned to being a semesterly magazine to reflect the life of all the schools that comprise the St Philip’s Christian Education Foundation.

Having not been published now for several years, we decided to use the online forum, Issuu, to resurrect “The Life”, this time, publishing the magazine monthly, so that members of our own, as well as the broader community, have the opportunity to share the success of our students, while being made aware of broader educational goals and achievements.

I trust that you really enjoy browsing, and being informed and updated through this publication.

Pam O’Dea Principal “I came so they can have real and eternal LIFE, more and better LIFE than they ever dreamed of.”

(John 10:10 MSG)

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

Foundation News Graeme has been a member of the Hunter Region Independent Schools Association since 1990 and served as the Chair of the Australian Association of Christian Schools for twelve years before handing on the baton in 2020.

Along with four K-12 mainstream schools and six early learning centres, Graeme has also been responsible for the establishment of an alternate learning school, DALE, which caters for students with social and emotional disorders and a young parents school which provides school-aged parents with the opportunity of completing their schooling studies with their children by their side. Both of these initiatives have received national recognition.

We are excited to announce that our Executive Principal, Mr Graeme Irwin, has been appointed a MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA for significant service to education, and to Christian schools’ associations.

Graeme is also recognised for innovation in ICT in Education, the introduction of Middle School into mainstream schooling and the development of in situ tertiary teacher training within the SPCC group of schools.

The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC announced the Australia Day 2021 Honours List which included the recognition of 570 recipients in the General Division.

Graeme has a passion for quality education but above all a passion for God and seeing students receiving a holistic education and excelling in every area of their life. First and foremost, Graeme is a family man. He is married to Sue and they have three sons and a daughter. His relationship with his family has always taken precedence and his children are a testimony to the godly influence of Graeme in their lives.

The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way to recognise achievements and service of exceptional Australians. We are thrilled to have Graeme recognised in this manner.

Graeme Irwin is the founding Principal of St Philip’s Christian College and has been leading the school since its inception in 1982.

Over the 39 years that he has been leading the St Philip’s organisation, Graeme has had an immense influence on the Christian school landscape in NSW and beyond.

We congratulate Graeme for this achievement and for his ongoing commitment to leading our organisation with passion and integrity.

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

Student Success University of Newcastle High Performing Student Program Congratulations to the following Year 9 and 10 students who have been accepted into the 2021 University of Newcastle High Performing Student Program.

Students will undertake a selected first year university course this semester, pursuing their passion and interest with academic rigour.

Lucy Jefferys - Year 10 - Foundations of Health and Disease Eve Ison - Year 10 - Globalisation and International Management Connie Bishop - Year 9 - Globalisation and International Management Charles Dunn - Year 10 - Molecules, Cells and Organisms Hosanna Gray - Year 9 - Molecules, Cells and Organisms Timothy Davies - Year 10 - Molecules, Cells and Organisms Liana Atkins - Year 10 - Molecules, Cells and Organisms Gilbert Jones - Year 9 - Molecules, Cells and Organisms Eliza Durie - Year 10 - Molecules, Cells and Organisms Oscar Wills - Year 9 - Object Orientated Programming

Year 7 Students Finalists in Clickview Competition Clickview recently conducted a nationwide search for the next generation of inventors in their ‘Aussie Inventions that changed the World’ competition. Their panel of experts, led by Australia’s leading innovators, have selected finalists in three categories: Primary, Lower Secondary, Senior Secondary. Two of our Year 7 students, James Douglas and Sam Scott, entered the Primary Division at the end of last year with their silent doorbell and were selected as finalists.

Congratulations James and Sam!

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

Staff Service Awards Every year, at our Dedication and Commissioning Service, we recognise the service of staff members in our College. As we were unable to hold the event this year, due to COVID restrictions, we recognised staff for their service at a whole staff gathering, prior to the commencement of the school year.

It was an honour to have Mr Graeme Irwin with us, who is the Founding Principal of SPCC Newcastle, as well as the organisation, and who employed the staff members who have served 15 years and beyond, during his principalship. It was disappointing that these wonderful and faithful staff members could not have been recognised in a Collegewide event, and so, to address this, we also recognised many of them in sub-school assemblies.

As a College community, we appreciate the faithful commitment and dedication of 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service by our service award recipients.

We thank each

of them for responding to the call of God to serve the students and families of our College with enthusiastic, whole-hearted, selfless dedication and commitment. They have been a blessing to so many students in so many different ways, but in each of their fields of endeavour, they have done everything they can to personally excel, and to help all those they serve to excel, also.

Pam O’Dea Principal

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

Meet our School Leaders

Junior School Captains

Middle School Captains

Captains: Amana Halyburton & William Binnie

Captains: Isabella Parker & Aryan Maharaj

Vice Captains: Jane Andrews & Jonah Jo

Vice Captains: Hannah Ramsay & Alistair Jaaback

Senior School Captains Captains:

Vice Captains:

Abigail Hasson

Cassandra Fayers

Will Palmer

Caleb Broadbridge

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

Junior School Student Leaders Sibella Cox Lucas Hernandez Angus Mackintosh Oliver Scott Maya Simpson Annika Wellham

Middle School Student Leaders

Adelaide Binnie, Jake Dahl, Amelia Dawes, Ashleigh Farnant, Mason Hammond, Ella Harley, Isabella Hasson, Mia Kamprad, Ruby Kurtz, Maija Koskinen, Nathaniel Mehanathan, Sarabella Pinkowski, Erika Quinn, Alarni Schultz, Annabelle Sergeant, Ava Smith, Rori Steele, Willow Thompson & Luca Welham

Senior School Prefects

Gabriella Christie, Wil Corbett, Rebecca Dumas, Jessica Evans, Bella Fernandes, Joshua Gorton, Grace Gray, Kincaid Ingram, Josiah Jones, Ethan King, Cooper Lee, Olivia McTavish, Jeremey Robards Timothy Studley, Catherine Turner, Zoe Unicomb, Eli Ward, Noah Wooding 9

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

Sports Captains Junior School Sports Leaders

Hunter

Macquarie

Captains Gracie Berger-Mayer & Charlie Baumgartner Vice Captains Sienna Robertson & Xander Crick

Captains Jessica Finlay & Charlie Gleeson Vice Captains India Rayfield & Tyler Stazak

Paterson

Williams

Captains Elissa Noy & Angus Lloyd Vice Captains Ruby Allen & Jacob Burgin

Captains Remy Leaver & Alexander Fenton Vice Captains Laila Michelini & Andrew Geradi

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

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Middle School Sports Leaders

Williams Greta McNichols Jack van Esveld

Paterson Maya Horton Ben Pickford

Macquarie Taylah Morgan Charlie Simpson

Hunter Sophie Leong Nicholas Zhang

Senior School Sports Leaders

Hunter Maggie McCarlie Jensen Garmeister

Williams Ella Ebert & Lily Love Harrison Peters

Macquarie Ashleigh Watts Edward Andrews

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Paterson Jemimah Baker Thomas Farley

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

Swimming Carnivals

The annual St Philip’s Christian College Swimming Carnivals were held on Friday 19 February, Monday 22 February and Tuesday 23 February at two new venues, Mayfield Pool and Lambton Pool. With many records broken and some personal best times, the students had a wonderful day.

Congratulations to all students on their wonderful participation at all 3 carnivals. Congratulations to the following age champions and record breakers.

Record Breakers Cassandra Fayers

Girls 18y 100m Freestyle Girls 17-18y 200m Individual Medley Girls 18y 50m Freestyle

Savannah Angelozzi Girls 17y 50m Butterfly Isabella Campbell

Girls 16y 50m Breaststroke

Zavier Ryan

Boys 13y 100m Freestyle

Indi Rayfield

Girls 10y 50m Backstroke

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Female Age Champions Age 8 9

Gold Medalist Daisy Scott Anya East

Silver Medalist Beatrice Paramor Chloe Adams

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Indi Rayfield

Kimberley Neilson

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Sophie Streeter

Bianca Miteff

12P

Tilda Pola Angel Gray

N/A

12S

Lyla Wilkinson

Maggie Black

Alexandra Adams Jessie Thompson Noelle Bowen

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Isabella Hasson

Isabella Walsh

Lilli Wright

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Greta McNicol Ava Hendra

Taylah Morgan Abbey Green

Charlotte Mahony

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Gem Crittenden

Hosannah Gray

Niamh Hamilton

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Isabella Campbell

Chloe Cook

Charlotte Collings

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Savannah Angelozzi

Amy Harrower

Bella Fernandes

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Cassandra Fayers

Grace Gray

Rebecca Dumas

Male Age Champions Age 8 9 10 11

Gold Medalist Max Main Jack Adams Jonah Jo Heath Williams

Silver Medalist Benjamin Miles Ben Streeter Ryan Boustead Levi Ryan

12P

Aaron Duong

Lewis Cox

12S

Tyler Bright

Samuel Scott

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Zavier Ryan

Jack Christie

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Charlie Simpson Oscar Wallbridge

Jack Van Esveld Euan McClintock

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Gilbert Jones

Angus Jewell

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Bayden Smith

Edward Andrews

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Flynn Hamilton

Cooper Lee

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Jeremy Robards

Thomas Farley

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Bronze Medalist Lucy Doherty Indi Horton Alexandra Healey Maya Simpson Xanthe Barton Emily Green

Bronze Medalist Thomas Nicol Senna Harper Jack Cameron Ryan Gupta Jack Schuler Samuel Ford Lucius Crick Lincoln Doherty Archie Pola Reece Campbell Aidan Christie Walker Flavell Benjamin Dare Will Palmer

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

3-6 Swimming Carnival

House Totals Paterson / 427 Macquarie / 356 Williams / 228 Hunter / 219 Allegra cheers on her team

7-8 Swimming Carnival House Totals Macquarie / 218 Williams / 214 Hunter / 193 Paterson / 171 14

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9-12 Swimming Carnival

House Totals Williams / 292 Paterson / 276 Macquarie / 262 Hunter / 235 15

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Meet our Head of Senior School

“Holding a growth mindset at the forefront, I believe every young person can succeed and make a positive, significant difference in their sphere of influence.“

We are happy to be welcoming Mr Joshua Whiddon to SPCC as our new Head of Senior School!

“Is it very exciting to be leading the Senior School at St Philip’s Christian College at this time. I am passionate about young people achieving all they can through education.

Holding a growth mindset at the forefront, I believe every young person can succeed and make a positive, significant difference in their sphere of influence.

In 2008, just after graduating from Newcastle

I am married to Leah, and have two sons Noah

University with a double degree in teaching and

and Zachariah, who currently attend Narnia.

science, I emigrated to the United Kingdom and

Beyond my professional responsibilities, I enjoy

held both academic and pastoral, senior and

learning new skills, photography, travelling, and

middle leadership positions across 4 different

both watching, and playing sport.”

educational establishments. Coupled together with vast church leadership experience, I lead

We look forward to getting to know Mr Whiddon

an amazing group of classroom practitioners

more as the year progresses.

who I know go far and beyond for the students in their care.

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Development Update The school year has begun with many changes around the College.

We have included a couple of interesting development updates on this page.

The Barracks Kiosk replacing the Canteen

Founders Walk

ready to build the Active Learning Centre

The Barracks Cafe

expanded to cater for extra students

Outdoor Space for Senior School

Front Carpark

beside the Administration Building

resurfaced

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

20 Years of Middle School This year, Middle School at St Philip’s Christian College will celebrate 20 years of providing students with a distinct and dynamic learning environment in Years 5 to 8. After a number of years of careful exploration, Middle School commenced in 2001 with just 10 classes, with the aim of creating a sub-school that would give intentional focus to the distinct needs of students aged 10-14 years. Today, Middle School has grown to 18 Homeroom classes, and has been able to support over 7500 students navigate the middle years, with middle schooling being

integral to the fabric of St Philip’s Christian College.

The Middle School years are an exciting time in a young adolescent’s development, as they are in the midst of profound personal change and identity development.

Middle School commenced in 2001 with just 10 classes, with the aim of creating a sub-school that would give intentional focus to the distinct needs of students aged 10-14 years.

In 2019, we celebrated the Middle School building being open for 10 years.

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They are growing physically, intellectually, morally, psychologically, and socioemotionally (Bishop & Harrison, 2020). Every day, students develop as they engage with the world around them. They socialise with peers, consume media, express themselves creatively, and as they develop, they construct values and attitudes that will form who they become as adults. The support of middle school homeroom teachers has become integral to the success of our Middle School model, as the teachers’ relationship with students has a profound

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

impact on young adolescents’ sense of belonging in school. Middle School students’ sense of belonging is linked to many important outcomes, including increased engagement, motivation, academic achievement, and positive attitudes toward school.

Our homeroom teachers enjoy being with young adolescents, think positively about them, and appreciate the dynamics of the world they engage with every day.

Middle School students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, to be reflective, critical and creative thinkers. Our desire is that the St Philip’s Christian College Middle School program will develop godly, confident and resilient young people who enjoy life’s journey, and learn within a context which embraces the uniqueness of each individual, is suitably challenging, is purposeful, creates joy, is relevant to the present and their future lives, and promotes life-long learning. It is also our desire that students are increasingly aware that they are an individual who can become an integral member of a wider community and are alive in hope as they discover their God given purpose.

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Since the very beginning, the theme that has underpinned our Middle School program is ‘Enjoying the Journey’.

This is reflected in the many opportunities our students are afforded within their time in Middle School. We recognise that this journey is not always easy for young adolescents to navigate, and at times this journey can be ‘messy’. As we continue to guide students with the same passion and purpose that we commenced Middle School with over 20 years ago, we believe that the Middle School program continues to be the best way to prepare students for the future.

Alyce van der Velde Head of Middle School

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

HSC Results 2020

The students of Year 12 2020 have achieved some outstanding overall results, with the College ranked 85th in the state and 100 Band 6’s being awarded across the year.

84.6% of all results were in the top three bands; a testament to the hard work and resilience of every student. Additionally, we are delighted that 94% of applicants received early round offers to university.

Congratulations to Year 12 2020 students on outstanding HSC results.

2020 was certainly a time of significant challenge, especially for those completing their HSC. We are incredibly proud of the way in which every SPCC student has shown courage during 2020 and risen to face the challenges that this year has brought.

Seven SPCC students have been named as All Rounders, receiving Band 6 results in at least 10 units of courses studied. This is an exceptional achievement, and with two successful nominations for ArtExpress and Call Back, it is wonderful to see so many students performing highly in a range of specialisations.

On behalf of the St Philip’s Christian College Waratah community, I want to thank Year 12 students, staff and parents for the effort and commitment that has contributed to producing these results. Year 12 2020 is a wonderful group of young men and women, many of whom have completed their entire 13 years of schooling at St Philip’s Christian College. Whether they began their SPCC journey in Kindergarten or at other times since, each student has contributed something unique and valuable, for which we are grateful. It has been an absolute privilege to know them and be a part of their schooling journey.

Congratulations Year 12 2020 on your HSC achievements, and thank you for all you have contributed to the SPCC community. We wish you all the very best for the future, and look forward to hearing of your continued success beyond school.

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

The Dux of the College this year is awarded to Claire Andrews who demonstrated exceptional achievement across all courses of study, including 1st place in school-based assessment, including : Highest • Chemistry ATAR • English Advanced • Physics Claire has been recognised on the NESA Merit List as an HSC All Rounder, receiving Band 6 results in each course she studied. Claire was also the recipient of the University of Newcastle Medal for 2020 and the College Medal for Academic Excellence in 2020. Claire is planning to study Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University and has received a significant scholarship which will contribute towards her studies.

99.4

HSC ALL ROUNDER

ACHIEVEMENT

EMILY BAKER 97.85

MICHAEL BECKHOUSE 98.70

ESAN HASAN 99.10

ISABELLE IMIG 98.8

JONAH MURPHY 96.45

KHUSHI PATEL 98.35

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HSC Results 2020 CHRISTOPHER ADAMS Engineering Studies FRANK AGBOLA Business Studies English Advanced CLAIRE ANDREWS Chemistry English Advanced English Extension 1 Mathematics Extension 1 Mathematics Advanced Physics EMILY BAKER Biology English Advanced English Extension 1 Mathematics Advanced PDHPE Studies of Religion 1 BENJAMIN BARNETT Entertainment Industry FINLAY BARNETT Mathematics Extension 1 Mathematics Extension 2 JOSHUA BARTLETT Biology Mathematics Advanced Physics MICHAEL BECKHOUSE Ancient History English Advanced Mathematics Advanced Modern History

ZAIRA CARTLEDGE Legal Studies Mathematics Standard 2 ELLEN DARBY English Extension 1 Mathematics Standard 2 PDHPE ANABELLA DIAMANDIS - NIKOLETATOS English Advanced Legal Studies SOPHIE FRITH Business Studies ELLA GUINEY Mathematics Advanced ALEXANDRA HARRISON English Advanced English Extension 1 PDHPE Studies of Religion 2 Visual Arts ESAN HASAN Chemistry English Advanced Mathematics Extension 1 Mathematics Extension 2 Physics KATE HASSETT Design & Technology Hospitality SARAH HOFFMAN English Advanced English Extension 1 Legal Studies

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ISABELLE IMIG Biology Design & Technology English Advanced Mathematics Standard 2 Visual Arts OLIVIA LEONG English Advanced Legal Studies PDHPE KAYLA MALLICK English Advanced Mathematics Advanced Music 1 PDHPE JORDAN MANNING Legal Studies JONAH MURPHY Biology Business Studies English Advanced Mathematics Advanced PDHPE JONATHAN OSWALD Software Design & Development KHUSHI PATEL Biology Chemistry English Advanced Mathematics Advanced Visual Arts SOFIA PAULEY Ancient History Legal Studies

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #1

HIRUDILI PERERA Biology Design & Technology English Advanced Visual Arts

SARA RODRIGUES Community & Family Studies Mathematics Advanced INDIANA RYAN Visual Arts

GRACE REES Design & Technology Society & Culture

TARA SALEM English Advanced English Extension 1

BREANNA ROBARDS Biology English Advanced Mathematics Advanced PDHPE Studies of Religion 1

GEORGIA SILIC Design & Technology Mathematics Standard 2 Visual Arts

ART EXPRESS - Visual Arts Indiana Ryan Helena Walkom

Maridyula. Yango - Successful Homeland - Successful

CALLBACK - Dance Ella Brennan Ella Brennan Ella Ebert Ella Ebert Tyla Hardy Tyla Hardy Lily Love

Core Composition Core Performance Core Performance Major Study Performance Core Performance - Successful Major Study Performance Major Study Performance

SHAPE - Design & Technology Isabelle Imig Georgia Silic

Courage Kits MYKEY

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REUBEN TAPPOURAS Construction THOMAS TILDSLEY Ancient History ISABELLA VAN DE MORTEL English Advanced HELENA WALKOM Visual Arts SOPHIE WRIGHT English Advanced PDHPE

Evel intio cum re quia quidese perferu ptaspit eseque qui.

St Philip’s Christian College, Newcastle 57 High Street WARATAH NSW 2298 Ph: +61 2 4960 6600 Fax: +61 2 4960 6690 Email: newcastle@spcc.nsw.edu.au

Leaders in Whole of Life Education