Matthew 28:19-20 New International Version

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

These are the last words Jesus shared with his disciples before He physically left the earth 2000 years ago. The impact of what he shared with them is still being felt today. Celebrating the Gospel is the first tenet of our College mission statement and it encapsulates what is called the ‘Great Commission’ that Jesus gave his first followers – Go and make disciples of all nations. Tell the whole world about me!

St Andrews is committed to continuing this ‘Commission’ or task of making disciples. A disciple is someone who follows something or someone and we believe that the best thing or person to be following is Jesus. Being a follower of Jesus is what Christianity is all about. It involves connecting with Him through reading the Bible, sharing our joys and challenges with Him in prayer and worshiping Him with others in all sorts of settings. This may seem onerous and demanding but the gifts we receive from Jesus are the very things that make life worth living. As we follow Jesus, we receive forgiveness, we receive love, we receive freedom, we receive encouragement, we receive correction and direction, and we receive strength of spirit. ‘Making Disciples’ actually involves sharing these gifts with everyone around us. It is why St Andrews is such a healthy, positive place to be because all the gifts God blesses us with are given to us by Him to share with others!  Unfortunately, none of us follow Jesus perfectly and so there are still constant hiccups in our lives but as we follow Him, He continues to work things for good. Our lives are an adventure of connecting with Him, receiving from Him again and again, and sharing the spiritual and material gifts He provides with others. This is the life worth living – a life of giving and receiving! 

MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY MINUTE

Every minute counts and we have certainly been making the most of every minute in the first two weeks of Term 4. For our Year 12 students, the term ahead will continue to unfold as perhaps one of their most memorable and challenging at St Andrews. Their pursuit of their own personal bests as they have hit the major pre-external exam revision time has been nothing short of impressive. As our seniors transition into life after secondary schooling this term, the focus will remain on 'good living and good leaving'. 

Today we held the Prep to Year 12 Journey Breakfast for our Foundation students and families who have been at the College since Prep. It is always a lovely occasion of reflection as we gather to share stories and photos of their journey. Thank you to Ms Bonita Jay for overseeing the occasion. 

Inside and outside of scheduled classes, our students continue to be an inspiration and it is a privilege to support them as they seek ways to make a difference in our College and the wider community. The College continues to see God's blessings and His gifts in abundance daily.

Our Year 11 students participated in a diverse range of ‘out of classroom’ learning last week with the Year 11 Authentic Art Experience - a two-day excursion held at the Q1 Observation Deck, HOTA Gallery and parklands, Jellurgal Cultural Centre, Burleigh Headland and Talley Beach North where they created and were inspired by nature for their body of work. 

At St Andrews, we celebrate World Staff Day on Friday, 29 October. As parents, I’d like to also encourage you to consider sending an email or a card to share gratitude with any of the members of staff you would like to acknowledge. Gratitude is a focus for us at St Andrews and a simple gesture like a smile, card or word of appreciation always helps to lift spirits. On that note, thank you to you for your ongoing support and for sharing your child/ren with us at St Andrews. They are the heartbeat of this College!

STAFFING 2022

As we head towards the end of the school year and begin to look forward to 2022, I am pleased to announce that Ms Tania Stewart has accepted an internal position as Director of Studies and Academic Operations.  In light of this change, Mrs Dani Goucher has been appointed as the Head of Senior School for 2022. 

We look forward to working with both Ms Stewart and Mrs Goucher in their new roles next year.  Any other staff changes will be communicated later this year.

A FEW IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Celebration Events

• Year 12 Valedictory and Celebration Thursday, 18 November at 6:00pm, Ruth Butler Theatre with supper in the forecourt (for Year 12 students and parents only). Students are asked to wear their Formal School Uniform on this occasion.

• Year 10 & 11 Celebration and Awards Assembly Friday, 26 November 1:30pm to be held in the Multi-Purpose Hall (ticketed event).

• Middle School Celebration and Awards Assembly Monday, 29 November 11:00am to be held in the Multi-Purpose Hall (ticketed event). 

• Year 9 Gala Night Monday, 29 November at 6:00pm to be held at St Andrews in the COLA (for Year 9 students only). 

END OF TERM DATES

Year 12 Last Day

Our Year 12 students finish school on Friday, 19 November with a farewell Chapel starting at 9:00am in the Multi-Purpose Hall (ticketed event). 

Students in Years 10 and 11 will be finishing the school year on Friday, 26 November. Students in Years 7-9 will finish on Wednesday, 1 December.

As you can see, we have a very busy term ahead and we look forward to continuing to celebrate your child/ren and their learning over these very important events.

Adele Ramsay
Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School

Year 11 Visual Art students headed off to a two day experience, along with the LORDS art students, to experience a wide variety of workshops, experiences and exhibitions to support their artmaking during Year 12.

Starting the day at Q1, students photographed, sketched and considered the Gold Coast from a bird’s eye perspective. Walking over to HOTA, students considered the way that Surfers Paradise has changed over time, as well as investigating how the spaces are used in the CBD of Surfers.

Upon arrival at HOTA, students were divided into groups with one group heading off with Claudia De Salvo to get their hands dirty making creations out of clay. The other group headed off to Gallery 1 to see the William Robinson exhibition Lyrical Landscapes and then the Energies exhibition which features two students from St Andrews in the show - Benjamin L and Bianca T. After some morning tea in the outdoor stage, the groups swapped. Many artists commented on the high calibre of student work in Energies, and now have a great understanding of Excellence in Visual Art and have been given something to strive for next year.

On day 2, the artists started with a performance, talk and guided tour of Jellurgal and Burleigh Headland. Learning about the ways the First Nations people used the landscape and ocean traditionally. In the afternoon, students were led in a workshop by Ms Harman and then constructed and deconstructed their objects using materials from the scape to explore the elements and principles of art, shadow, composition and media. Also, how to site their works for display was explored by the students.

A wonderful experience that has provided a fabulous starting point for our artists for their Art as Knowledge unit. Many thanks to the staff of LORDS, our own Mrs Tia Bennett, Mrs Jo Brierley and our Visual Art Pre-service teacher Ms Garcia for their support on the day. 

OUR JOB AS PARENTS

Our job as parents is not to teach children everything that we know but encourage them to discover things for themselves. If we can instil in them a mindset that learning is fun and valued, they will grow up to be a lifelong learner who thrives when things become challenging. As with a lot of things in life, role modelling these things are much better than simply telling students. Some things that parents can do are: 

1. Show your children that you are a lifelong learner.
2. Do things together.
3. Get involved with what is happening at school.
4. Display a growth mindset and encourage your children to have one too.
5. Support the home learning.
6. Encourage your children to show you how to do things.
7. Allow your children to play.
8. When your child makes a mistake, try to handle the situation positively by helping them understand what went wrong. This way, they will know what to do when a similar situation arises.

By putting in place structures and the right environment you will allow your children to experiment, make mistakes, learn from these and to flourish. 

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The Christmas Carols will be held on Saturday 27 November at 5:00pm in the MPH. It will be a wonderful night where we can celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Many students will be involved in the event. 

FATHER/FATHER FIGURE GROUP

We should never underestimate the importance that fathers/father figures play in the raising of our children. However, there is no manual that comes with our children when they are born. We would like to invite all fathers/father figures to a fun night where we will put together the lights for the Light Up Vanuatu campaign. We will start the night with a sausage sizzle at 5:15pm.

Details 

When – Monday 18 October at 5:15pm 

Who – Fathers/Father figures and their children

How Much – Nothing

For catering purposes, please complete this form by clicking on this link https://forms.office.com/r/BMNeuSJt1m

Park Safe Licence Plate Recognition - GCCC
Advice for parents, carers, guardians and drivers 

The City of Gold Coast (City) wants to ensure that motorists comply with school zone road rules at and around schools to achieve a safer environment for children and the broader school community. These rules also help to optimise traffic movement and safety. 

Please take extra care and obey the signed parking rules when parking on the roads and streets around the school. 

Park Safe Vehicles - Licence Plate Recognition (LPR)

As part of the City Parking Plan 2015 to improve parking behaviour on the Gold Coast, City Parking Officers will soon patrol the city (including key school zones) using vehicles, clearly badged as “Park Safe” vehicles.  These vehicles use Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) which is camera technology fitted to Park Safe vehicles to ensure motorists are parking safely. 

Park Safe will operate on school days at student drop-off and pick-up times focusing on pedestrian areas around schools. If a vehicle is found to be parked illegally the City will issue an infringement notice to the registered vehicle owner by post.

Offences to be aware of: 

• stopping 20 metres before or 10 metres after a sign posted crossing
• stopping 20 metres before or 10 metres after a bus stop
• stopping within 10 metres of an intersection or corner
• stopping within a bus zone (bayed area)
• stopping on a footpath or nature strip within a built-up area
• stopping in a way that restricts access to a driveway
• stopping on a yellow painted line
• stopping in a loading zone
• double parking for any period of time.

Park safely and legally to avoid a fine.

For more information visit www.cityofgoldcoast.com.au/parksafe

Darrin Schumacher
Deputy Principal Head of Junior School

QUEENSLAND MENTAL HEALTH WEEK (9 – 17 October)

Everyone has mental health but to be mentally healthy we all need to devote time to our mental health. This week is Queensland Mental Health Week with the theme Take Time – for mental health based on the Wheel of Wellbeing model. Here are some ideas you could use with your family to take time for wellbeing:

Get healthy— being active and eating well is good for your mind as well as your body

• go for a walk, run, ride or swim together
• plan and cook a healthy meal together

Keep learning — learning new things can make you more confident as well as being fun

• try to learn a Tik Tok dance together as a family
• play a board game you haven’t played before

Show kindness — practising small acts of kindness, volunteering time, or simply helping a friend in need can help you feel more satisfied with life

• make some cards or write a letter to a loved one who lives away
• clean out the toy cupboard and donate surplus to a homeless shelter
• invite another family to the park for a picnic and play
• Facetime loved ones or family that live away from you
• breathe together 
• read a story together
• walk barefoot on the beach or grass
• pick some flowers and arrange them in a vase

Connect — spending time with other people is important to everyone’s mental wellbeing

Take notice — paying more attention to the present and the world around you helps relieve stress and enjoy the moment

Embrace nature — connecting with the outdoors and taking care of the planet is the best recipe for world wellbeing

All these little activities can make a big difference to your mental health, why not try some.

Until next time,

Karen Koehler
Deputy Head of Junior School Pastoral

Book Fair will be held in Week 6 from November 8 – 12. There will be a wide range of scholastic books to purchase and a portion of the funds from Book Fair enable the Junior School Library to purchase more resources for the Junior School. 

MILLIONAIRES CLUB

Congratulations to our latest millionaires! The following students have reached a million words in their Literacy Pro reading programme. 

Tilly S 3A

Dustin H 4C

Grace S 5A

Raffa G 5A

Piper J 5B

Nahlah B 5B

Rory O’M 5B

Amelia C 5B

Dexter R 6B

Dinae P 6C

VOLUNTEERS

The Junior School Library is looking for some volunteers to help with the covering of resources in Term 4. If you would like to help, please email: vikkir@salc.qld.edu.au.

Thank you! 

Back by popular demand, the annual P&F Raffle, where you could win school fees for a year has commenced. Ticket books were sent home with your youngest student (Prep to Year 9) on Friday 8 October.

COLLEGE UNIFORMS FOR 2022 

What you need if your child is moving up to the next Year level.

Year 1 Students

The formal uniform is worn 3 days a week and the sports uniform is worn 2 days a week.

Boys Formal Uniform
Formal hat $57
White formal shirt $35
Navy elastic shorts $28
St Andrews knee high socks $10
Formal jumper wool $85/ Polycotton $75
Black leather lace up shoes

Girls Formal Uniform
Formal hat $57
Formal dress $70
St Andrews knee high socks $10
Formal jumper wool $85/ polycotton $75
Black leather lace up shoes

Sports Uniform is the same as there Prep uniform.

• There are no changes to the Year 2 or 3 school uniform.

Year 4 Students

All Year 4 Students will need to buy a navy sports shirt $35
Please note: House Shirts are worn one days a week.

Boys to wear a navy belted short $36 and a leather belt $25.

• There are no changes to the Year 5 or 6 school uniform.

Year 7 Students

Formal uniform is worn 4 days a week.
The sports uniform is to be bought to school and changed into for PE.
ALL STUDENTS have the option of wearing a St Andrews sports cap or wide brimmed sports hat $16
Sports socks change to an anklet from Year 7 to Year 12.

Girls Formal Uniform
Formal blouse $42
Formal skirt/culotte $55
Formal socks $10
Girls pants (Optional in Terms 2 and 3)

Boys Formal Uniform
Boys grey trousers (Optional in Term 2 and 3)

Year 10 Students

Girls
Blazers $205
Senior girls tie $25 (worn daily)
Formal pants $40 (Optional in Term 2 and 3)

• Blazers to be worn for School photos and everyday for Term 2 and 3.

Boys
Blazer $210
Senior white shirt $35
Senior boys tie $25
Grey trousers $50

• Blazer, tie and trousers only worn for school photos and everyday in Term 2 and 3.

There are no changes for Year 8,9,11 and 12 students.

OCTOBER

Saturday 16
Year 12 Study Session 9:00am-3:00pm

Sunday 17
SEQ Touch Tournament

Monday 18
Bi-Annual My Business Rules Event
Fathering Project - 5:15pm

Tuesday 19
Year 4A Bike Safety

Wednesday 20
Year 4B Bike Safety

Thursday 21
ISCA Exams
Year 4C Bike Safety

Friday 22
Year 7 Orientation - 9:30am-2:30pm
IC'21 Pitch Event - 1:25pm

Monday 25
Senior External Exams

Tuesday 26
Senior External Exams

Wednesday 27
Senior External Exams
Teddy Bears Adventure - 4:30pm

Thursday 28
Senior External Exams
Teddy Bears Adventure - 4:30pm
Year 4-12 Sports Award Afternoon Tea

Friday 29
Senior External Exams
World Staff Day
Years 5 and 6 Inter School Sports Games
Ormeau Touch Competition