Head of Secondary

Term 3 Reflection

As Term 3 draws to a close, we reflect on a vibrant and eventful few months filled with academic achievements, creative expression, and community spirit. Our students had opportunities to build their resilience and develop life-long skills through activities such as camps, athletic carnivals and co-curricular activities. It is exciting to see such a vibrant school community in which students are able to have a wide variety of experiences to help their development as people. We truly believe that God makes each one of our students unique and give them their own strengths and gifts and it is our pleasure as a team of staff at the Secondary School and to help our students continue to grow.

A key highlight for each year level is the Year Level Camps. This term our Year 9s had the opportunity to experience the Northern Territory on a 13-day trip from Uluru to Darwin. Students experienced new and different cultures and saw beautiful natural wonders as they slept in tents and camped along the way. Camps like the Central Australia Camp allows students to challenge themselves—having to be away from home and being in new environments—building resilience and creating shared memories to last a lifetime.

Other activities students were able to participate in outside of the academic curriculum include sport, VEX Robotics, competitions, Music Ensembles and many more. It is a pleasure of mine to be at a school where our students have a diverse range of opportunities to pursue their passions; all in the context of Christian Education where we aim to achieve excellence in all we do in order to give, as the motto of the School is: Glory to God.

Year 7 News

Students of Year 7 have continued to host assemblies this term, lead devotion and worship which has been truly heartwarming. Often, they have volunteered to come in and practise in preparation for assembly.

We are grateful to the Worship team – Ellie Chong on Keyboard, as well as the singers Naomi, Mercy and Evangeline. Chloe presented a devotion on ‘forgiveness’ which was based on the bible, included teacher participation and encouraged us all to practice forgiveness.

Year 7 students have continued to participate in VEX and Music and Visible Wellbeing sessions and activities. They have settled in to for Semester Two although it doesn’t seem like they have only been here for a semester. Our students, Adam Yang and Asher Hwang also received a high distinction in the recent CAT tests with Asher receiving the ‘Best in School’ Award. They were away when these certificates were presented at a Secondary Assembly so they had a special presentation during homeroom time recently.

As a Year 7 pastoral team, we are thankful to parents for their support and partnership. As we come closer to the end of term, we wish you and our students a restful, safe and happy break!

Year 8 News

Worship & Devotions

Right from the start of the year, our Year 8s have been keen worshippers. They enjoy singing, praising and entering God’s presence. They take turns sharing devotions in their homeroom classes. Every Friday morning, we gather all the Year 8s together to end our week worshipping the Lord.

Our Year 8 assemblies are a special times, where we got to celebrate Jesus and hear from The Word. Last month, we heard a devotion from Ben L, Ben C, James and Jeshurun. They took the opportunity to encourage and inspire the cohort by sharing some pivotal scriptures in their lives along with their personal testimonies.

The Year 8 worship team continue to lead us into God’s presence in these year level assemblies. They use their talents of playing piano, guitar, drums and vocals to create an atmosphere of worship. They are enthusiastic in their expression of their love of God.

It is such a pleasure to see our young people glorifying God so openly and freely.

Cohort Social

On Saturday night, 6th August, we held our very first Year 8 Social!

Students created teams of 5 and came in team costumes. We had the Teletubbies, Greco-Roman Conquerors, Men in Black and Sanoreos, among others.

Caitlyn and Yoyo created a trivia quiz with a variety of categories. Megan and Jacqueline hosted magnificently. Our in-house DJ Hilary provided the beats and karaoke. We enjoyed lots of snacks, soft drinks and supper that even included an ice cream cake.

It was a tight competition, with four teams coming within four points of each other! But the winners of the quiz were “Joel’s Minions” who walked away with chocolate and big smiles.

A fun night was had by all, including the teachers!

Year 9 News

Central Australia Camp

Term 3 was marked by two outstanding camp experiences that offered our Year 9 and Year 10 students opportunities for adventure, growth, and reflection.

During Term 3, our Year 9 students embarked on a remarkable 13-day journey from Melbourne to Darwin as part of the Central Australia Camp. This experience offered a rich blend of cultural learning, natural exploration, and personal growth.

The adventure began at Ayers Rock, where students set up tents and witnessed the breathtaking Uluru sunset. Scenic walks around Uluru and Kata Tjuta provided opportunities to appreciate the region’s beauty, complemented by cultural insights gained at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. At the Lilla Aboriginal Community, students participated in traditional dot painting and sampled kangaroo meat, deepening their understanding of Indigenous customs.

A climb to the rim of Kings Canyon revealed stunning views of the ‘Garden of Eden,’ inspiring spontaneous praise and reflection. In Alice Springs, students visited the Desert Park, observing birds of prey in flight and exploring the Nocturnal House, which featured rare and endangered species. The journey continued through the Western MacDonnell Ranges, with a stop at Standley Chasm, known for its glowing red rock walls and unique vegetation.

Students enjoyed restorative moments at the Mataranka Thermal Pool and Katherine Hot Springs, followed by the Nitmiluk Gorge Cultural Cruise, which offered insights into the heritage of the Jawoyn people. Further exploration at Edith Falls and Kakadu National Park included the Yellow Waters Cruise and a sunset at Ubirr Rock.

In Darwin, students toured the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and the RFDS Tourist Facility before concluding their journey at East Point and the vibrant Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. The camp was a memorable experience that fostered resilience, cultural appreciation, and spiritual reflection.

Year 10 News

Mill Valley Ranch Camp

Meanwhile, Year 10 students enjoyed a rewarding week at Mill Valley Ranch. The camp was a rewarding experience for students, with horse riding emerging as the central highlight. Across several days, students engaged in horse care, riding lessons, and trust-building activities with the horses, developing confidence, communication, and empathy. For many, riding for the first time was a memorable milestone, supported by skilled instructors and the serene natural setting. The horse stables also hosted a demonstration on building trust with horses, offering a powerful metaphor for nurturing a faithful relationship with God.

Complementing the equestrian focus were other outdoor activities such as archery, canoeing, mountain biking, crate climbing, and low ropes challenges. These experiences fostered teamwork, resilience, and personal growth. The Cowboy Chapel and wellbeing sessions provided spiritual and emotional support, encouraging students to reflect on their camp journey and God’s presence in their lives. The camp concluded with “St Andrews Got Talent,” a joyful celebration of students’ creativity and gifts in a supportive environment. Throughout the camp, students embraced new challenges, built meaningful connections, and deepened their faith journey.

Both camps stand as a testament to the profound value of experiential learning, faith, and community - opportunities that are made possible only through God’s gracious provision and blessings.

Year 11 News

Year 11 Business Market Days

Part of our Year 11 Business Management course is a practical business project. These students went through an ideation, research and planning process to choose what they would sell across 3 lunchtimes at school. This year we had a choice of loaded waffles, strawberries with chocolate sauce, fairy floss, nachos, churros, paradise pop, ice cream and candy cups. The students worked hard and made many sales, with 30% of all profits going to the MSL fund.

Year 12 News

Year 12 Future Ready

Senior university students often act as mentors for high school students, offering support, sharing experiences and helping with motivation. On Friday, 15 August 2025, The University of Melbourne students met with our Year 12 students to share insights about effective study techniques, time management, how to cope with challenges and develop the resilience needed for academic and personal success. It was amazing to see our Year 12 students engaged, attentive and interested in learning from university students about developing essential skills, post-school options and future pathways. The key takeaway from the session was seeing challenges as opportunities for growth, importance of balancing studies with interests and activities and learning about academic skills and university clubs and societies.

The event was a wonderful way for our Year 12 students to transition to the next activity for the day, Year 12 VTAC Applications. Students created their VTAC profiles, researched courses and submitted their tertiary course preferences.

A different way to enter university is to secure an early offer. We are thrilled to share that several Year 12 students received a conditional offer to their chosen course at Swinburne University, AIE (The Academy of Interactive Entertainment) and ANU (The Australian National University, Canberra). Congratulations on your incredible success!