Mission & Values
CELEBRATING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
At St Andrews we celebrate and share the “Good News” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We see each student as a unique creation of God, as a person whom he loves and with whom he desires a relationship. Through regular worship and our P-12 Christian Studies program we aim to provide students with a thorough understanding of Biblical Christianity and trust that the Holy Spirit will work faith in their lives. Christian teaching at the College is based on the doctrines of the Lutheran Church of Australia, although students from a variety of church and non-church backgrounds are welcomed into the community.
NURTURING THE INDIVIDUAL
St Andrews is known as a community where people matter. No-one is lost in the crowd at St Andrews. Most of our enrolments come about through word of mouth: we are recommended by parents and students who, quite simply, love the College. Each staff member makes a special effort to know and care for the individual students in their charge. Staff do not follow a “one size fits all” approach but strive to develop individual pathways for students according to their particular interests and talents, especially in secondary school.
EMPOWERING LIFELONG LEARNERS
Because we believe that all useful knowledge and learning is a wonderful gift of God for our growth as human beings, we value academic excellence. We also recognise that each child has different but special gifts that need to be identified and developed to the fullest. Thus we provide a wide range of curricular and co-curricular activities at all levels and empower students to strive towards their own personal best in their chosen fields. In our classes, learning how to learn is emphasised so that young people have the skills to become lifelong and life-wide learners.
We are Committed to and Value:
Faith and Grace ‘The Spirit of Hope’
We acknowledge God’s Word as the authority and guide for the community. In it Christ is revealed, providing the centre of all we do under God’s grace. Faith enables us to look forward with expectation and confidence, placing our trust in God’s provision.
Learning - ‘The Spirit of Inquiry’
Seeking knowledge, reason, wisdom and truth is core to a St Andrews Education. We believe the joy and challenge of ongoing learning is fundamental to life, and encourage inquiry and curiosity. Each member of our community is charged with the responsibility to learn to their fullest potential, and is called to be a lifelong learner.
Personal Bests – ‘The Spirit of Excellence’
The quest for personal bests in an education which is authentic, life-related and future-orientated. It encourages us each to strive for excellence, not just for ourselves alone, but to make a difference in the world. Achievement and continuous improvement are actively encouraged, supported, recognised and celebrated.
Growth – The Spirit of Character’
A St Andrews Education focuses on developing the whole child. At St Andrews we strive to intentionally develop young men and women who are caring, compassionate, ethical, moral, resilient, courageous, disciplined and respectful.
Integrity – ‘The Spirit of Honour’
Integrity is at the core of how others see us and as such, we seek to be hold fast to what is good, by being honest, fair, trustworthy, respectful and ethical in everything we do. Integrity means we do the right thing and make the right choices, even when no one is watching.
Community – ‘The Spirit of Belonging and Care’
St Andrews is a community with a shared sense of belonging, identity and connectedness. Living in and building community means that we treat people with love, respect and concern. We value the whole person, and show that each person really matters to us and our community.
Service – ‘The Spirit of Selflessness’
We believe that we are to serve one another and the community. Selfless giving and making a difference in the lives of others by identifying and responding to their needs typifies the ‘Andrian’ spirit.
More than a Good Education….An Education for Good.
At St Andrews we learn, not for ourselves alone, but for the good of others and the world. We also strive to develop skills and attitudes that will help to create a more peaceful and sustainable world.
The Four Tenets of a St Andrews Education
At St Andrews we focus on developing the whole child, and educating their hearts, minds and hands. This is reflected in the four central tenets of a St Andrews Education:
Academic Growth & Achievement
Spiritual Awareness
Personal Development
Community & Service
College Motto
Semper Fidelis means ‘always faithful’. As Christ is always faithful to us, so we desire to be faithful to Him, to His Word in the Bible and each other as members in the St Andrews community.
Students are encouraged to demonstrate commitment, act with integrity and serve and help others. In doing so they are being 'always faithful'.