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SECONDARY SCHOOL EXPO: Thursday 23rd May 2024, 6-9pm
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In my message for the April newsletter, I kicked off our series unpacking our Pillars of Purpose, which are a distillation of our mission statement at St Andrews Christian College. In our April edition, we commenced by looking at the first pillar – Well Skilled. In this edition, we will spend time focussing on our second pillar – Biblical Truth.
The foundations of this school were built upon its identity being an overtly Christian school, in which students are provided with an education that is based on biblical truth and is unapologetically Christ-centred. There are many schools that, despite similar intentions in their formative years, sadly drift away from their Christian roots, gospel focus and outward expression of faith. We can be proud as a College knowing that 40 years in, God is still well and truly at the centre of all that we do and we have no intention of changing that in the next 40 years. However, the political landscape we currently face is increasingly challenging our ability to maintain a truly Christian distinctive, particularly in the area of our ability to employ Christian staff whom share our Christian beliefs and the tenets of our faith.
In November 2022, the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) were appointed to consult, consider and provide recommendations to the Federal Government on potential reforms to the anti-discrimination laws. In reading and unpacking the consultation paper, it becomes evident that proposals to change the Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws would pose a serious threat to Christian schools, particularly in the area of maintaining the right to employ Christian staff. If proposed changes were to be adopted into legislation, this would potentially compromise our school living and outworking our pillar of Biblical Truth, and compromise Christian schools providing what many Christian parents desire for their families; a distinctly Christian school with Christian staff.
In a recent submission to the ALRC, The Presbyterian Church of Australia have expressed significant concern about the ramifications of changes to anti-discrimination laws and how they apply to faith-based educational institutions.
The pillar of biblical truth cannot exist in our school, nor any other Christian school if we do not have the ability to employ Christian staff whom share and live the biblical tenets of our faith. Paul’s letter in Ephesians calls the people to unite through the gospel, and encourages us to speak His truth for the sake of growing and maturing together in Christ (Ephesians 4:15). Our ability to ensure that biblical truth remains a pillar of our purpose, and more broadly speaking allow us to remain an authentic and distinctly Christian school relies on our ability to employ Christian staff who live in accordance with the Christian faith. In order to have this, we rely upon the religious freedoms we have contained within current anti-discrimination legislation. At St Andrews Christian College, we stand united in knowing the biblical truth that there is “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6). It is during a time such as this that we are called to uphold and support our need for biblical truth to remain a genuine foundation of our school and Christian schooling as a whole. I encourage all families to support the advocacy efforts by Christian Schools Australia and Australian Association of Christian Schools by sharing your voice as parents of children who attend Christian schools. To further understand how you can share your voice and support the continuation of our ability to be authentic Christian schools, I encourage parents to read my following information piece and follow the instructions outlined.
God bless,
Christian schools are different. It’s this difference that is the reason why you choose to send your children to St Andrews Christian College.
Christian schools also make a difference. According to the Cardus Education Survey, graduates of Christian schools:
This difference isn’t an accident. The gospel shapes our lives with an eternal purpose, transforms our relationships and compels us to love our neighbours (and even our enemies).
At the heart of this difference is the authentic faith of our teachers and staff. But some don’t value this difference. They want to take away the ability of schools like ours to be able to hire teachers and staff who not only believe but also live these life-changing values.
In December, the Australian Law Reform Commission will be making some recommendations to the Australian Government that could have big changes to the future of our school.
My Christian School is a new grassroots movement of Australians who believe in the difference Christian schools make. St Andrews Christian College is a part of this movement and your help is needed to pass on this difference for future generations.
Please visit the My Christian School website and sign-up to show your support. Together, we can preserve the precious difference of Christian schools.
Come along on Wednesday June 21st to view a variety of incredible artworks created by students from Prep through to Year 12.
Get here early to grab a drink from Taste & See and then make your way into the Secondary Library space for the exhibition.
The Art Show will be open from 3:30pm to 7:00pm, with Taste & See open 3:30pm to 4:30pm. See you there!
There was much disbelief from the local community that NEPAL PROMISE BILINGUAL SCHOOL would be ready to commence on April 23rd, but to their amazement, the school began operating on time, as scheduled, with 40 students.
It was a grand team effort from everyone, with the lower level of the school building ready for students and staff. Despite no windows or electricity, 4 classrooms, a meeting room, 2 offices and separate toilet blocks for girls and boys were functional for the big day.
The presence of joy filled the air as we all rejoiced and thanked God. We thanked Him for His provision through so many people in Nepal and from Australia.
Transform the Nations has been able to build PROMISE BILINGUAL SCHOOL because of the generous financial and practical support from various schools and faithful supporters. Thank you everyone!
Term 2 is whizzing by! And it certainly has been a jam-packed term filled with many exciting learning opportunities. Most recently our Year 2s took a step back in time with a visit to Mont Delancey. This historic site taught students what life in early Australia was like with an old schoolhouse simulation and black smith demonstration.
The highlight for the past couple of weeks has been the Primary Swimming Program conducted at Aquanation. This specialised program has a focus on water safety whilst challenging students at their swimming levels. We are thankful for this program, and it has been a joy to observe students develop their confidence and skills. We are also thankful for the parent support with the younger students. It certainly has been a team effort.
In the second last week of term, the Year 5 students went to Phillip Island for their camp at the CYC Adventure Resort. This was a great opportunity to learn more about coastal habitats as well as develop outdoor skills through various activities like archery and the giant swing. These opportunities are pivotal in developing and strengthening friendships as well as personal independence and resiliency.
Primary staff have been busy preparing Semester 1 reports for the students, and these will be emailed home on the last day of term. These reports provide parents with feedback against achievement standards set in the Australian Curriculum and results from assessment tasks. There is also a Homeroom Report, including a rating on a five-point scale relating to the child’s Social Skills and Approaches to Learning. Much time and thought goes into preparing these reports by your child’s teachers. Please take the time to read through the comments and details of the reports. An opportunity to discuss the reports and any other questions you might have will be in Week 4 of Term 3 when we will be conducting parent/teacher interviews. More detail regarding these interviews will be made available to parents at the start of Term 3.
As we approach the final week of Term 2, may I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a restful midterm break filled with refreshment and time spent with family. Matthew 11:28 is a great reminder of where we can find a true source of rest.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
May you experience the rest that only God our heavenly Father can provide.
Many blessings,
On May 12th, our school took part in the Speech and Language competition organised by the Chinese Language Teachers Association in Victoria (CLTAV). Hilary Chen (6S) won the third prize in the Speech competition, and the group of students who performed the story of the Chinese New Year received the creative award. The students involved in the performance were Sophia Li, Thierry Wisurya, Ellie Chong, Joyce Zhao, Sophia Feng, Raquel Thor, Bernard Chen, and Aaron Chen. Congratulations to everyone on a job well done!
Along with 2,199,785 other students, our Year 1’s participated in this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime. We tuned into a live reading of the book ‘Speedy Sloth’ all the way from Sydney Zoo. What a fun way to listen to a story!
This story is about a slow sloth called ‘Spike’ who wanted to go to the race. When she ran the race she was last. If it was a sloth race, she would have won, but because it was an animal race, she didn’t win.
During week 4 of this term, the Unit 1/2 chemistry students were given the opportunity to visit VSSEC (Victorian Space and Science Education Centre) located in Strathmore High School. We have been learning about the quantifying aspects of chemistry, and this excursion allowed us to work with advanced machinery [Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy] which further enhanced our understanding of this area of study.
It gave us a better insight into how the analytical techniques work, the kind of data they provide and how we can apply this data in scientific investigations. This was a great opportunity for us, as chemistry students, who are pioneering into the science world to further expand our knowledge on spectrometry and the interrelation between biology and chemistry!
Special thanks to Mr. Fernandes, Mr. Willig and Mrs. Yap for organising and taking us there.
We are excited to share the news of the recent excursion undertaken by a group of Year 8 students to Woolworths, a local supermarket. The aim of the excursion was to complete a real-life maths assignment focused on understanding information on price tags, unit costs, and preparing a reasonable budget for a hypothetical sausage-sizzle fundraising event. As their teachers, we were thrilled to see the high level of engagement demonstrated by the students during the excursion. They worked collaboratively, displaying their mathematical and decision-making skills as they compared prices and made informed choices. We were delighted to see the many constructive conversations taking place, which demonstrated the students' ability to apply their learning to real-world situations. Many students rewarded themselves at the end of the excursion by purchasing snacks from Woolworths and had a little “picnic” with their snacks afterwards! As their teachers, we are proud of their efforts and enthusiasm, and we look forward to providing more opportunities for them to apply their learning to real-world situations. Well done to all involved!
The Secondary EXPO was a wonderful opportunity to connect with parents and students. It was fantastic to see some of them gain a greater understanding of different conditions as they engaged with simulations of what it may be like to have autism, ADHD or dyslexia. The fiddle toys were popular with many students, and some even recognised that it would be helpful for their learning! Our aim is to develop a self-awareness in students of how they learn best and the resources they need to flourish. Teaching, enabling and equipping students to advocate for themselves is vital for their own well-being and key to developing independence.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Learning Support teachers. We are always willing to chat about how we can best support your child to reach their potential.
Shirley Gillie – Head of Learning Support
sgillie@standrews.vic.edu.au
Josie Mayer – Learning Support Teacher – Primary
jmayer@standrews.vic.edu.au
Kerryn Terrington – Learning Support Teacher – Secondary
kterrington@standrews.vic.edu.au
We are delighted to have had such a wonderful turn-out for the first of this year’s Instrumental Music Concerts.
Hosted by our music tutor, Mr Joel Dawson, this concert featured solo and duet performances from students of all ages and levels of ability that are currently learning to play Clarinet or Saxophone at St Andrews.
We are so proud of the hard work and dedication that these students have put into their music tuition, and this was a wonderful opportunity for them to shine.
Andre Chen is a bass player based in Melbourne. Before studying Jazz performance in Monash University, Andre had a long history of playing different instruments (guitar, ukulele, and bass), and played in bands with different styles (Rock and metal, Neo soul, Big band jazz and worship bands).
Coming from a self-taught background, Andre learned from many great bassists locally and internationally, such as Craig Strain, Ariane Cap, Jonathan Maron, Moto Fukushima, and Leanda Smith. Andre understands the frustration when learning the bass, and he can help the student from all the methods he learned during the years.
As a music teacher, Andre can teach double/electric bass, guitar, and Ukulele. He's also capable of supervising band rehearsals and youth ukulele groups.
He’s a current Bachelor of Music student in Monash (major in Double/Electric Bass). Also, he is an active participant in the worship team of the Crossway Cantonese Ministry (as the bass player, and sometimes as the band leader or the sound engineer).
As part of their VCE Theatre Studies, the VCE Theatre classes went to see Hearth Theatre’s production of Arthur Miller’s classic play, “Death of a Salesman”. The production was expertly performed, and provided many examples of how theatre can explore stories that are “timeless and timely”. We also had an opportunity to discuss the rehearsal process and aspects of how a touring show is put together with one of the cast afterwards.
Our Junior & Intermediate Ensembles performed a selection of pieces that they have been working on so far this year, and it was wonderful to see musical growth and dedication of these students.
Congratulations to Junior Percussion, Mini Vox, Pizzicato Strings, Maxi Vox, Percussion Ensemble, Primary Worship Band, and Intermediate Band, on your wonderful performance!
Many thanks to those that came along to support these students. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the parents, teachers, and staff who have nurtured and encouraged our young musicians throughout their musical journey.
On Monday, May 15th, St Andrews Christian College hosted its inaugural ensembles concert for 2023, showcasing the talent of our senior ensembles.
The evening was filled with captivating performances by eight of our distinguished senior ensembles, spanning an array of musical styles from the elegant strains of the String Ensembles, the harmonious melodies of our Vocal Ensembles, the rhythm-filled beats of the Jazz Band, to the dynamic sounds of the Concert and Worship Bands. These groups presented pieces that they had been diligently practicing and perfecting throughout the year.
Fresh off their performances at the Generations in Jazz festival just a few weeks prior, this was a fantastic opportunity for our musicians to once again take the stage and share their talent with the supportive St Andrews school community.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated instrumental teachers, who not only prepared the ensembles for the night's performance but also played a significant role in the success evening. Their hard work behind the scenes was instrumental in making this event a huge success.
Pictures cannot convey the goofy fun we had. Everyone from here at St. Andrews, and the other schools we competed with, had so much talent and comedy flowing through their veins. The senior team had lots of fun expressing their comedic timing and lack of social awareness, but it’s the two junior teams who really shone! They got loads of points and made it into the final round!
We can’t wait for next year, and we understand if no one at school really understands what the joke is when we explain the funny bits to them!
The year 3 students have been working on a script called "Where are we?" for the last few weeks. The script is set in a dark, scary forest, and the students have learned about how to use technical elements of theatre to help create a place. They acted under the theatre lights, and took turns operating our classroom fog machine and sound effects. We had a great time!
St Andrews are very proud of the outstanding efforts of our Year 9/10 Netball, Soccer, AFL & Volleyball teams who all competed in their CSEN Grand Finals week. Well done to all our star students for their ongoing development and amazing results throughout the semester of competition & their championship matches.
Our mission as a College is to educate our students so that they are well skilled, understand life on the basis of biblical truth, and are motivated to walk with God and serve Him in their lives, so that they will be a positive Christian influence in the world. Part of fulfilling this mission is the outworking of our Mission Service Learning program, which our staff and students alike, participate in.
A few weeks ago, as part of the MSL program, our staff shared a Biggest Morning Tea to raise funds for cancer research, support for families affected and skin cancer prevention through the SunSmart Schools education program. We are pleased to announce that $395 was raised.
As we celebrated National Volunteer Week on 15-21 May 2023, it is fitting that we take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact that volunteers have on our communities. Everywhere you look, there are groups of dedicated individuals sacrificing their time, skills, and resources to make the world a better place. At the heart of these selfless individuals are the volunteers at the Parents and Friends Association who give their time to the Secondhand Uniform Shop and Icy Pole Fridays.
The Parents and Friends Association is a vital part of the St Andrews Christian College school community. We provide support, raise funds and organise events to enhance the educational experience of students. However, it is the volunteers who truly make a difference in the lives of those they serve. Whether it’s organising events, fundraising or working in the uniform shop, these incredible volunteers embody the spirit of compassion and generosity that Volunteer Week celebrates.
The Secondhand Uniform Shop is an essential part of our school community. It is the hub for all uniform needs, from purchasing new house sports shirts to ensuring that your child has everything they need for their next term. The volunteers who work in the uniform shop are a vital part of the school community. They greet parents and students and are always happy to assist in any way possible. They are the face of the school community, and their willingness to help goes a long way towards fostering the truly unique community vibe in our school.
Icy pole Fridays are a fun part of school life that students always look forward to. The volunteers who manage and run this sweet treat fundraiser raise funds that go towards enhancing the education of the students. They are always cheerful, patient and provide excellent customer service to the students and parents who eagerly line up for their icy poles. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the cause is an integral part of our school community, and we are incredibly grateful for all their efforts.
Volunteering goes beyond just giving back to the community. It provides an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and make lasting friendships. Volunteers in the Parents and Friends Association not only contribute to the school community, but they also enjoy the fulfilment that comes from giving of themselves. They are an inspiration to us all and remind us that small acts of kindness have a far-reaching impact.
The Parents and Friends Association volunteers play an integral role in the life of our school community. They have a profound impact on the wellbeing, happiness and growth of our students, not just by what they do, but by the example they set. They are an essential part of our community and make a difference every day.
On behalf of the PFA Committee, I would It is fitting that we take a moment to recognise and thank all those who volunteer their time. We commend and express our gratitude to all the Parents and Friends Association volunteers who give so generously to our school community. Your contributions are priceless, and we appreciate all the time and effort you put towards making our school a better place.
God bless,
The Senior Library is open to students in Years 4-12 for before school study or book loans from 8.30am. It is also open at recess, lunch and after school until 3.45pm (for Primary students).
Students in Years 7-12 are able to study in the Senior Library until 4.30pm.
Enquiries : Please email library staff at library@standrews.vic.edu.au
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