The Life Issue #3, 2021

St Philip’s Christian College Newcastle

The Life A Community Magazine

ISSUE #3 JUNE 2021

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Hunter & Combined Schools Commemo On Wednesday 21 April, Year 12 Students

sacrifices of many Australian service personnel,

Abigail Elliott and Kincaid Ingram, were part of

particularly with no ANZAC services being held in

the 65th Annual Hunter and Combined Schools

2020, and restrictions still in place for 2021.

Commemorative

ANZAC

Services

held

at

Newcastle’s Civic Theatre.

For the last 22 years, this service has been principally organised by a Student Organising Committee made up of representatives from Independent, Catholic and Government High schools, with support from the Event Artistic Director, Michelle Gosper. Our College has been involved annually on this committee since 2017, as the representatives of Independent Schools from across the Hunter Region.

Across the 10am and 1pm services, 1100 primary school students and 300 + VIPs were privileged to hear the story of WW2 veteran from the Hunter Region, Alfred Clive Carpenter OAM. What made these services particularly special was that Alf was present for both services, and came up on stage at the end of the drama section of the service to be honoured by the audience. Following the dramatized section of the service, was the more traditional ANZAC commemoration rituals and protocols, with the student committee members explaining these familiar elements of ANZAC services, so that the primary school audience could develop a deeper understanding of the ANZAC traditions.

During the 10am service, there was not a dry eye in the auditorium when Alf came up on stage for a standing ovation, whilst the hymn “O Valiant Hearts” was performed. To match that in the second service, Lord Mayor Cr. Nuatali Nelmes and an auditorium full of primary school students, sang Happy Birthday to Alf, who turned 104 on Thursday 22nd April – the day after these services.

These special moments aside, these events were an incredibly poignant time to remember the 2

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orative ANZAC Services Abigail and Kincaid are to be highly commended for their involvement in this community initiative. Their commitment began back in December 2019 when they were in Year 10. Returning in Term 1 (2020), the Student Committee meet every Wednesday afternoon with Michelle from 3-5pm to develop the drama’s script and to rehearse. With the onset of COVID-19 during Term 1 however, the 2020 event was cancelled three weeks before it was scheduled to take place.

Yet, moved by their involvement in the committee, and their deep engagement with Alf’s story, when approached later in the year, Abigail and Kincaid agreed to continue their commitment through to this years’ service, even though they would now be in Year 12 – meeting again on Wednesday afternoons to rehearse. Throughout this whole process, Abigail and Kincaid showed incredible leadership, resilience and commitment, and were outstanding ambassadors for our College.

We will remember them. Lest we forget.

Matt Schultz, Lead Educator (HSIE)

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SPCC 2021 ANZAC Service hour away from here, were part of the Australian forces on the western front in Europe. William, George and Theo Seabrook joined the Army together. On the 20th of September 1917 William, the oldest, was struck by an enemy shell that killed or wounded everyone in his section. In Williams pocket was a photo of his mum. The photo was pieced by the fragment that killed him. Later that same morning both George and Theo were killed by the same shell.One family.

Three brothers. One day. All dead.

This type of sacrifice is why we wake up early on Anzac Day for dawn service and why we sing the national anthem with pride.

On Monday 26th April, our College community, from Narnia to Year 12, gathered for our College ANZAC Day Service to commemorate the lives of men and women who have both served in defending our country, and died while serving. Lest we forget!

It was the first time the whole school had gathered together since February 2020. The presence of the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Nuatali Nelmes and Australian Defence Force servicemen and women, who laid a wreath and tributes during the service, added special significance. The choir, who sang “Hallelujah!”, a song composed by our Director of Music, Mrs Lindy Connett, honoured God, and the occasion, with their worshipful singing. Another highlight of the service included the address by Group Captain Nathan Christie, who encouraged us all to hold to the values of our College, so that we can positively impact all those around us, as did those who served to defend and protect our country at such significant personal cost.

Speech delivered by Group Captain Nathan Christie Lord Mayor, Mrs O’Dea, fellow Defence Force members, teachers and staff, parents and friends and of course the wonderful students here at St Philip’s.

Firstly let me start by saying thank you very much for your very kind invitation to come and speak to you today.

Anzac Day is a significant day in the Australian calendar and it is a particularly significant day for those of us in the Australian Defence Force. As such it is a true honour for me to be standing here and commemorating Anzac Day with you.

Yesterday millions of Australians across the country and indeed the world, gathered to remember all those who have served to defend Australia and our way of life. We do this on the 25th of April because it is the anniversary of the day when Australian soldiers landed on the beach at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915.

Since that absolutely horrific battle, where more than 11,000 Australians and New Zealanders were killed, the 25th of April has been known as Anzac Day. 11,000. That is about 7 times the number of people sitting here now.

The Anzac legend was born at Gallipoli however, there are so many more stories to tell. In 1917 three brothers from northern Sydney, a little over an

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Of course war does not just happen in countries far from us. In February 1942 242 Japanese war planes attacked the city of Darwin and its harbour. 236 Australian women and men were killed during those raids. In fact you can still see bullet holes in some of the buildings up there.

During the years of 1942 and 43 there were more than 100 air attacks on townships in the north of Australia.

These are just some of the stories from only two of the wars that Australians have served in. There are equally tragic, heroic and heart wrenching stories about other battles in wars like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and I strongly encourage you to take some time to read about those women and men and their sacrifice.

A significant part of the reason we commemorate Anzac Day each year is to honour the values that were invested in the original Anzacs – loyalty, selflessness, courage.

Over the years later generations have come to measure their own achievements against those of the soldiers who fought at Gallipoli. Of course these values are not just found in our serving members.

They are throughout Australian society.

Here at St Philip’s your values closely reflect why the Anzacs did what they did. Your school values of Christ first, Serve one another, Strive for excellence, Do what is right and Build community are outstanding foundational values.

They are values that speak to the heart of what it is to be an Australian, what it is to be Christian and what it is to be a

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respectful, courageous and caring human being. When you sing our national anthem, and I hope that you all do sing it knowing how lucky you are to be Australian. Think of the very first line. Australians all let us rejoice for we are one and free. To be one nation and a free country is what hundreds of thousands of Australians have laid down their lives for. They did that to give you the life you enjoy now.

A century later they ask of every Australian, whether Australian by birth or by choice, are we prepared to make sacrifices for others and for a better world. The sacrifice of those Aussies is truly and deeply felt by the women and men who live in Ypres. Every night at 8 pm for 100 years buglers in the town have played the Last Post. One of the Buglers has been playing the Last post for 60 years. The people in Ypres are thousands of kilometres away from Australia and speak a different language to us. But they actively remember and commemorate Australian sacrifice every single day. I have been in the Australian Military for 30 years and I have often been asked ‘how do we honour those that have given their lives so that we may be free?’

Belgium is a small country in Europe. It is about the size of Tasmania. Belgium was all but destroyed by World War One. On a monument called the Menin gate in a small town in Belgium called Ypres are the names of nearly 55,000 men who were killed and whose bodies were never found. More than 6,000 of those names are Australians. They sacrificed their lives for the love of friends and a better world.

My answer to that question is always the same. We honour them best by the way we live our lives and the way we shape our nation. That means we do what is right even when the right thing is hard to do. It means that we protect our mates.

It means that we give of our time to build a better, safer and fairer society and community. It means that we think of others and not just of ourselves.

on the 25th April every year. I am sure that some of you are even wondering why you are spending time here now rather than being in class or even missing PE. The simple reason is that we need to remember, we need to understand what happened, we need to take time as a nation to reflect on what it is to be called an Australian and we need to commemorate so that their sacrifice means something. If we don’t remember them, then their sacrifice was in vain.

For you as students of St Philip’s, you can honour those who have served our nation by living by the values of your school.

They are important values. They are virtuous and just values.

Your values are those treasured by Australians and they make us more compassionate, more unified and more selfless. They bind us all together. I think that is how we honour them. I think that is what it means to be an Australian. I am sure that for some of you it is hard to understand why you get up very early

And so I will leave you with this final thought. Anzac Day is about commemorating sacrifice. It is about reflecting on the price those that have gone before us have paid to ensure our freedom and future. But is also about hope. It is about doing something every day that makes your school better, your community better and our country better. Lest we forget.

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Year 12 Engineering Conference Two of our Year 12 Engineering students were invited to present at a major Defence conference at the Crown Plaza Resort on the 22nd of April.

The students, Jack Fraser and Max Daniels, had participated in the STEM Defence and Innovation Program, run jointly by RDA-Hunter (Regional Development Australia – Hunter) and the Newcastle Business Centre.

Last year’s program involved four Year 11 students, with exemplary Major Works from their Year 10 STEM course, undertaking a commercialisation course at the Newcastle Business Centre. This course taught them how their project could be converted into a future business. That program culminated in a “Pitch Night”, where they communicated about their product at the Newcastle Business Centre. This year, RDAHunter asked two of these students to present their “pitches” at a high-level Defence Conference, to serve as examples of how the STEM Defence and Innovation Program is successfully teaching students the entrepreneurial skills necessary to commercialise their innovative products.

Jack Fraser (Year 12 Engineering) presented his product, the AutoIron, an automated domestic ironing machine. Jack is currently further developing this product as part of his HSC. Our other presenter, Max Daniels (a former SPCC Engineering student,

After their presentations, Jack and Max were

currently undertaking an electrical apprenticeship)

approached by several members from the business

presented on his product, the PowerPlay Box, a

community, defence and government, with words

portable power storage device designed to make

of encouragement about their products, and

use of discarded solar panels to charge a number

advice as to future career opportunities here in

of lithium batteries that can be used to provide

the Hunter.

power to remote communities.

As their teacher, it is gratifying to see how these

Both students presented confidently and were

two hard-working and dedicated young men are

well-received by the distinguished members of the

such a credit to our school community, the Hunter,

audience.

and the Nation.

Mr Dave Bonzo - Lead Educator (STEM 9-12) 6

The SPCC SENIOR SCHOOL SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

production of

24-26 june 2021

civic theatre newcastle

Based on a Disney Channel Original Movie Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia).

All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia

Tickets $19-32*

/spccmusicals

civictheatrenewcastle.com.au *Fees and charges may apply

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@spccmusicals

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Year 7 Camp

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Year 8 Camp

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Athletics Carnivals

The College Athletics Carnivals were held on Monday 17th May for Years 7-8 and Tuesday 18th May for Years 9-12. The days were absolutely glorious with amazing sunshine and even better team spirit. Congratulations to all students who not only attended but participated with enthusiasm and enjoyment.There were a number of records broken across the days leading to a tight competition for age champion. Congratulations to those students listed below who were record breakers and also to our Age Champions.

Record Breakers Noelle Bowen

12 Girls Javelin

Ava Hendra

Abigail Hicks

12y Girls 400m

Jack Deguara 16y Boys 400m

Siena McCallum

13y Girls Long Jump

Year 7/8 Williams Boys Relay Team

Eleanor Barnett

17y Girls 800m

Cassandra Fayers 18y Girls 800m

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14y Girls Javelin

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Female Age Champions 7-12 Age 12 13

Gold Medalist Lyla Wilkinson Natasha Mills

Silver Medalist Noelle Bowen Isabella Walshe

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Lucy Phillips Monique Conus

Dior O’Davis Hayley Andrews Ava Hendra

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Keziah Price Anika Morrison

N/A

Hunter Rowntree

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London Ashcroft

Marnie Robinson

Charlotte Collings

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Eleanor Barnett

Savannah Angelozzi

Zara Clark

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Ella Ebert

Jessica Evans

Tyla Hardy

Male Age Champions 7-12 Age 12

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Gold Medalist Lucius Crick Tyler Bright Zavier Ryan

Bronze Medalist Abigail Hicks Lily Oliver Charlotte Baker Georgia Cameron

Silver Medalist N/A

Bronze Medalist Gus Geddes

Taj Samways Keanu Jaliens

N/A

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Joseph Roberti Zenon Carney

Sebastian Smallcombe Euan McClintock

Mason Hammond Reece Campbell

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Giles Harrison

Jacob Contempree

Hudson Boocker

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Edward Andrews

Jack Deguara

Harry Freeman

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Eli Garmeister

Flynn Hamilton

Thomas O’Connor

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Luke Hemler

Jeremy Robards Timothy Studley

N/A

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Year 7-8 Athletics Carnival

House Totals Williams / 979 Paterson / 548 Macquarie / 981 Hunter / 746

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Year 9-12 Athletics Carnival

House Totals Williams / 866 Paterson / 923 Macquarie / 941 Hunter / 1170

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

High School Musical Launch

With a long tradition of award-winning musicals, St Philip’s Christian College Senior School is bringing the magic of Disney’s High School Musical to the Civic Theatre stage, with no effort being spared to give the audience the time of their life!

It’s the first day back after their Winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skaters find their cliques, recount their vacations and look forward to the new year. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. They cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical that Ms Darbus is directing.

Although many students resent the threat posed to the “status quo,” Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well. Student Tim Davies, who plays Troy Bolton in the production, says, “playing the role has been a challenge as I have needed to learn new skills and adapt my acting to portray a role that’s different to my natural personality.

However, this reflects the overall message of the show, which encourages people to be true to themselves, whilst accepting others for who they are.”

Songs such as Getcha Head in the Game, Start of Something New and We’re All in this Together have been anthems sung by schools and theatre groups alike since Disney released the musical movie in 2006 where it became the most commercially successful Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced.

High School Musical generated 7.7 million viewers in its premiere broadcast in the USA, which is one of the highest the network has generated. Internationally, the film has also seen considerable success; as of 2019, over 225 million viewers have watched High School Musical.

The film’s soundtrack was also successful as it peaked at number one in the USA, with Breaking Free reaching number four on the music charts. The most recent Senior School Musicals, Strictly Ballroom (2019) and Mary Poppins (2017), attracted over 6400 patrons each and have continued to cement St 14

SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Philip’s reputation as one of the Hunter’s leading performing arts organisations.

Producer Michael Cooper says that “after the year we’ve had, we chose a show that will bring a really positive message and a great sense of joy to the community.” High School Musical will be the tenth musical SPCC has staged at the Civic Theatre since deciding to move their main-stage shows to Newcastle’s most exquisite theatre venue in 2007.

“We love the Civic Theatre because it enhances the learning of both our performers and technicians, whilst providing access for school groups and families to come and see a big show in a big theatre at an affordable price,” says Michael.

“High School Musical already has over 5000 people booked, including school groups from a range of sectors who have filled the weekday matinees.” Though theatre was all-but-cancelled in 2020, St Philip’s were able to stage three musicals with Seussical Kids at their own school theatre, Aladdin Jr at the Civic Theatre and a special Junior School musical which was filmed on stage and screened at the VMAX Cinema at Kotara.

In 2021, St Philip’s are staging High School Musical, the onstage version at the Civic Theatre this month and have just announced their production of High School Musical 2 Jr through their theatre training arm, High Street Productions scheduled for October at the SPCC Theatre.

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SPCC Newcastle Community Magazine Issue #3

Politican’s Visit On Thursday, 29th May, St Philip’s Christian College and Alphacrucis College will be welcoming a cross-section of Federal and State politicians to discover more of the reformative ‘Hub model’ of educational delivery around tertiary teacher training, VET partnerships and alternate HSC pathways all delivered on-site through St Phillip’s Christian College.

This event is timely in assisting the understanding of successful alternative models of improving teacher quality and regional education, particularly in light of the Minister for Education, Alan Tudge’s, current review on initial teacher education which meets for the first time this week.

The St Philip’s Teaching School was launched in 2018 in direct response to the long-held knowledge that graduate teachers are not in fact classroom ready. The consensus was that the traditional model of teacher training needed to be ‘flipped’ to provide greater input from industry - in this case, school communities. Therefore, an in-situ bachelor’s degree within the classrooms of the St Philip’s Christian College group of schools was launched. Along with the theory of the degree, which is delivered entirely on site through intensives and online learning through the school’s tertiary partner, Alphacrucis College, students are also embedded 1-2 days a week in a clinical training model, under a mentor teacher, for the entirety of their 4-year degree. Students move around the different school sites, and different classroom levels and stages. They attend parent teacher interviews, sport, co-curricular, staff meetings and are inducted immersively, not only into education, but into a specific set of cultures, for a specific industry outcome.

CEO of St Philip’s Christian Education Foundation, Mr Graeme Irwin AM, believes this model is a uniquely better way to train teachers who are industry ready. ‘Teaching is not just understanding a subject matter and then arriving in a classroom and presenting it. It has to be learnt in a school along with the many other dynamics that go along with the school environment.’ President of Alphacrucis College, Professor Stephen Fogarty, described what he saw as the tremendous opportunity for innovative partnerships between higher education, schools, industry and local community. “COVID provides us with an opportunity once more to focus on raising our educational access and standards, particularly in regional Australia, and the Hub model could change the way we partner in education through the decentralisation of academic capital.” “There are currently no dual-sector (VET and HE) universities in NSW, and this model provides incredible opportunity to transform a sector in need of reform.” Principal of the Teaching School, Mrs Samantha Van de Mortel, indicates how this localised partnership approach develops teachers who are confident not just in the theory of teaching practice, but in all of the rhythms of school life.

‘Our students are in the classroom from day one of their degree, they are immersed in the community of St Philip’s, relating to the teaching staff and parent community, understanding the ebbs and flows of school life.

When they graduate, they are confident and respected teachers who have been in a classroom setting for four years and are passionate and ready to walk into any school environment highly skilled and prepared for school life.’ Along with tertiary teacher training, St Philip’s Christian College has also developed alternate VET pathways to the HSC which is gaining wide recognition.

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The VET programs on offer, HSC SmartTrack and the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES), prepare students to be vocationally ready through industry partnerships that are forged and tertiary qualifications earned alongside their HSC. Head of SPCC VET, Carlie Boyle, claims that this program is already embodying the vision set out in the latest NSW report from Professor Peter Shergold and Mr David Gonski: bringing higher and vocational education together by future-proofing students, and raising the profile, quality and cohesion of VET in schools.

‘Our VET programs, SmartTrack and YES, have a different ethos and approach to mainstream school with an increased focus on practical learning, enterprise skills and work readiness,’ she said.

“Employers want more than qualifications, they want employees with social intelligence, adaptive thinking, transdisciplinary and cross-cultural competence, and our programs provide students opportunity to develop these skills as well as completing their HSC.’ One of the keys to success with the VET programs is through the way that they are communicated with parents and students. ‘Far too often VET is regarded as something to be undertaken only by a student who is perceived to lack academic ability, we have had to work hard to convey to families that these pathways will actually propel you into your chosen industry much faster and often better prepared than the traditional HSC pathway. I believe that this is a message that needs to be more widely presented.’ The visitors to the College had the opportunity to tour the school and see the programs in action, speak with the students, staff and academics who formed the program to better understand the potential of the ‘Hub model’ in the future of Australian Education.

Political Attendees Senator Deborah O’Neill Federal Privileges Committee chair The Hon Scott Farlow Parliamentary Secretary to the NSW Treasurer The Hon Mark Latham Chair of the NSW Education portfolio committee Mr Clayton Barr MP Shadow Minister for the Hunter, Water, Innovation and Science, and Tertiary Education

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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