Dear Parents, Students and Friends of the St Andrew’s College Community,
Welcome back to the final term of the 2016 academic year. It is amazing how time flies by so quickly! As I pointed out to the students and staff earlier this week at our meetings and assemblies, this coming term (Term 4) is a ‘sprint’ – nine weeks in length, and for many of our year groups, far less! Our Year 12 students conclude their year on Friday 18 November (a seven-week term); Years 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 conclude their term on Friday 25 November (an eight-week term); and our Prep to Year 6 students conclude their term on Friday 2 December. In light of these finishing dates, we have so much to achieve as a College community and I ask for your support in ensuring your son/daughter is present at the College for the maximum amount of days possible (every day) with any holidays planned for after these published finishing dates. As you are aware, we have twelve weeks of school holidays a year – please refrain from using our valuable school terms to take holidays. There is sufficient time in the twelve weeks for holidays.
It was wonderful to witness the enthusiasm of the staff and students as they returned for Term 4. As I moved around the classrooms during the first few days of Term 4 I witnessed great energy and engagement in the classrooms and wonderful collegiality and friendship in the playgrounds and the staff areas. We are blessed to have an extraordinary College and the contributions of all involved in making it like this can never be understated. Of course, we have students who struggle with the demands of schooling and what we offer at St Andrew’s. To these students, I ask them to give themselves a chance at succeeding and to allow the school to set parameters which they are able to accept without dispute.
As we commenced the term, I reiterated to staff and students about the need for persistence and commitment. One thing I have learned over many years is that if something is worth having, it generally doesn't come easily. When we want something out of the ordinary or something that we've never experienced before, then we are obviously going to have to grow as a person to achieve that, because we must challenge ourselves by taking different actions. Not everything goes to plan and people don't always support us. We quite possibly will experience some disappointments along the way. We will make mistakes and do things that don't work out as planned.
But, the thing is we learn from that and the mistake we made is often a blessing because it helps us find other opportunities to help us achieve what we want. We learn about ourselves and develop ourselves and with a great mindset, we emerge wiser and more determined than ever. Through all this, I have found that persistence and flexibility is the key. If plan A doesn't work then go to plan B or plan C. Do everything you possibly can to achieve what you want! Always be curious and flexible in your approach and ask yourself questions that will give you the answers to move you forward: - What else is possible? What else can I do? What is it that I'm not seeing yet?
Learn to manage your emotions, because when you do that you are able to keep that motivation and persistence even when the going gets tough! And remember, that wherever you are and wherever you want to be there is always a way to get there! Never give up on your dream!
At student assemblies over the coming weeks I will be speaking to the students about their ‘persistence’, their ‘respect for learning’ and their ‘responsibility for learning’. These are such important issues and three of the key foundations of building a school of excellence.
Persistence is the ‘key to success’ and so important to our achievements in life. As our students embark at the start of this term, persistence and dedication will be the key to their success. Unfortunately, there isn't any magic button students can push for immediate success, this is something we need to continually instil in our students!
There isn't any substitute for being persistent. It can't be replaced by any other quality! We need to remember this, and it will provide us with the strength to carry on, in the beginning, when the heading may seem tough and slow. Our students who have cultivated the behaviour of persistence seem to enjoy insurance coverage against failure. No matter how many occasions they are defeated, they get up and keep going.
As a society we benefit from recognising that some things are worth waiting for: They require our patience, persistence and hard work to fully actualize. Great results, complex ideas and change are typically not accomplished overnight. In fact, the waiting can have a positive effect on a person by increasing one's humility that we can't control everything. It also feels good to know that one’s hard work paid off. Toiling in the right areas creates grit and gritty people often enjoy the satisfaction that they've earned the rewards from sweating over a project.
Respect for learning comes from within each student – it is intrinsic and is further developed in students by a range of external forces such as the development of quality listening skills, the development of emotional intelligence, and the setting of learning targets / goals. It is easy for students to drift through school without understating the reasons for learning. We all have to ‘learn how to learn’ and this is such a powerful revelation once the ‘penny drops.’ My conversations with students last week centred on this point – we must stop, listen and be willing and ready to learn each day. It is easy to construct barriers against learning – in the long run, these barriers are detrimental to our capacity to take on new challenges and function in an ever-changing world.
On Friday 28 October, the College will join schools from all over Australia to celebrate World Teachers’ Day. The last Friday of October has been selected by Australian education authorities to celebrate this international day of saying thank you to the teachers in our schools who inspire students to develop lifelong knowledge, skills and learning attitudes. The College Parent and Friends’ Association will provide morning tea for the staff on the day, and our staff members who have served at the College for 10 or more years will be named and honoured.
Staff Movements
At the end of Term 3 we farewelled the following staff members – Rose Bachelor (Leave – Term 4, 2016 and Terms 1 – 4, 2017); Janet Noonan (Long Service Leave – Weeks 1-4 - Term 4); Julia Christo (Parental Leave – Term 4, 2016 – Term 3 – 2017); Maree Read (Long Service Leave – Weeks 1-2 - Term 4); Tony Almond (Long Service Leave – Weeks 1-4 - Term 4); Helen Stott (Long Service Leave – Weeks 1-4 - Term 4); Chris Leete (Long Service Leave – Weeks 1-2 - Term 4); and Jane Scott (Contract – Teacher for Year 4 –Term 3). I thank Rose Bachelor for her service to the College over many years. We hope and pray this period of leave will be beneficial and allow quality family time. I also thank Jane Scott for her service to the College during Term 3. I wish our staff members taking leave in Term 4 God’s blessings for their period of leave.
Mrs Kathleen Alder will replace Rose Bachelor in the Visual Art Department during her period of leave. Jess Duffy will take on the responsibilities as Head of Department – Visual Art. Replacement teachers for Term 4 for teachers on leave are as follows: - Andrea Wright (for Janet Noonan and Maree Read); Ms Kerry Carrington (for Tony Almond); Peter Cox / Janelle Newman (for Helen Stott); and Mr Ray Elias (for Chris Leete). We welcome back Tanya Drutschmann to Year 4 after her period of leave in Term 3; we welcome back Katie Quinn to the Music Department after her period of parental leave; and, we welcome back Janelle Newman after her leave in Term 3. We also thank Wendy Tisbury for taking on the Year 9 Coordinator role in Tony Almond’s absence during Weeks 1 – 4 of the term.
Year 10 Work Experience
Week 2 of Term 4 is a great week for our Year 10 cohort as they undertake their Work Experience Week. I thank our Vocational Education Coordinator, Mr Kevin Collins, Ms Tanya Andacic from VPG, Mrs Kate White, Assistant Principal – Administration and Mr Scott Gray, Year 10 Coordinator for their superb organisation and preparation of our Year 10 students for this program. We know how much value this program provides for our students in their growth as young men and women.
Student Free Day
Monday 17 October will be a Student Free day at the College. On this day a number of our Senior Years staff are involved in the Year 12 Verification Process. All other staff will be involved in a staff liturgy and staff professional development activities during the day. No student supervision will be available during the day.
Annual Awards Presentation Evening
Our 2016 Middle and Senior Years Annual Awards Presentation Evening will be held on Monday 7 November at 6.30pm in O Block. It will be a wonderful evening to celebrate the successes and talents of our students for 2016. Please note this date in your calendar.
Year 12 Graduation Week
Year 12 Graduation Week 2016 takes place between Tuesday 15 November and Friday 18 November. Please keep our Year 12 students and their teachers in your prayers and thoughts as they complete their secondary education and begin the next phase of their life. You are all very welcome to join in the celebrations for our Year 12 students at their Final Assembly on Friday 18 November at 8.30am in O Block.
2017 Term Dates
- Staff Professional Development Week – Monday 16 January to Friday 20 January 2017
- Term 1 - 2017 – Monday 23 January to Friday 31 March (
10 week term) - Term 2 – 2017 – Tuesday 18 April to Friday 23 June (
10 week term) - Term 3 – 2017 - Monday 10 July to Friday 15 September (
10 week term) - Term 4 - 2017 - Tuesday 3 October to Friday 1 December (
9 week term)
Note 1: Public Holiday – Thursday 26 January 2017 – Week 1, Term 1
Note 2: Easter Period – Good Friday - 14 April 2017 – Easter Monday – 18 April 2017
Note 3: Pupil Free Day – Thursday 20 July 2017 (CTJ Day + Staff Professional Development Day) – Week 2, Term 3 – To be confirmed by CES
Note 4: Public Holiday (Cairns) - Friday 21 July 2017 (Cairns Show Day) – Week 2, Term 3
Note 5: Pupil Free Day – Monday 16 October 2017 (Verification Day + Staff Professional Development Day) – Week 3, Term 4 – To be confirmed by QCAA
Note 6: Year 12 students conclude classes on Friday 17 November 2017 – Week 7, Term 4
Note 7: Years 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 students conclude classes on Friday 24 November 2017 – Week 8, Term 4
Note 8: Prep to Year 6 students conclude classes on Friday 1 December 2017 – End of Term 4 – Week 9
Note 9: Public Holiday Dates (QLD) in 2017 – Australia Day (Thursday 26 January); Anzac Day (Tuesday 25 April); Labour Day (Monday 1 May); Cairns Show Holiday (Friday 21 July); Queen’s Birthday (Monday 2 October).
Note 10: An additional Pupil Free Day will be scheduled during Terms 1 – 4, 2017. Date to be determined by end of 2016.
Thank you for your ongoing support and friendship and the respect you have for what we try to do here at St Andrew’s. Our work is always in partnership.
Please constantly check the College web calendar and College smartphone App for updated calendar and events details.
I wish you and your family God’s blessings always.
Mr Lee MacMaster
Principal
