Dear Parents, Staff and Students
Year 12 Formal
It was great to see so many people at Hope Island on Friday evening to witness the arrival of our Year 12 students for their Formal. They all looked wonderful and arrived in style in some very impressive modes of transport. Congratulations to all involved in the organisation of this event and to all students for their wonderful participation. It was clear that all students and those staff in attendance really enjoyed the evening. This is an important milestone event in the life of Year 12 students and it is good to have it so early in the year, so students can now focus on their studies and achieving their best possible results. Thank you to all who supported our students.
Teacher meetings
I am in the process of meeting with all of the teaching staff individually. While this is a big task, I am enjoying the opportunity to hear about each teacher’s professional goals and priorities for the year. We are blessed to have so many excellent teachers who have the best interest of their students at heart in the way they approach their teaching each day. It is nice to hear details about how the teachers are focused on being the best professionals they can. Many are taking on extra study or professional development opportunities to ensure that they are best prepared to challenge their students to achieve their best results. I am delighted with the level of commitment of our teachers, and know that our students are in excellent hands. At a time when there is a teacher shortage in many areas, and many are leaving the profession early in their careers, we are very fortunate to have such a strong teaching team. The survey results from last year indicate that “Coomera Anglican College consistently strives to improve its educational offer to students” received an excellent rating from parents, as did “I have confidence in the teaching staff at Coomera Anglican College”. I take great pleasure in reassuring parents that the process I am undertaking by meeting with, and hearing from, each teacher one on one, is confirming my knowledge of them as excellent practitioners and extremely caring educators. We can be proud of those working so passionately to educate our students.
2020 Enrolments
I am currently interviewing students to enter Year 7 in 2020. There is strong interest from families who are keen to join our College community, and places are filling quickly, which is very pleasing for our College. If current families have students wanting to enter Year 7 in 2020 or beyond, please make sure that you register them quickly while places are still available. We have a Principal’s Tour planned for next Thursday 7 March and they always generate additional interest in the College. I would hate to think that current families simply assumed they would gain entry and have not yet completed application forms. At times we have not been able to accommodate siblings of current students because parents did not complete application forms prior to all places being filled.
Rev Richard Browning
I am delighted to inform parents that our first Chaplain, Rev Richard Browning, is returning to Queensland to take up the role of Director of Mission at the Anglican Schools Commission in Brisbane. Some of our early families will remember Richard as a very enthusiastic and creative character. Richard was responsible for developing a lot of our early cultural elements including Gilgan, The Telling and iLR. We invited Richard back to the College during Festival of Gifts week in 2016 to celebrate our 20th year of operation. Richard replaces another former Coomera Anglican College Chaplain, Stephen Harrison, as Director of Mission, and will work with all Anglican Schools across the Diocese. I look forward to welcoming Richard back to the College in the coming months.
Photos
Don’t forget the College photographs are being taken next week. Make sure you have your uniforms in excellent condition students.
Finally, the scholarship exams for 2020 are being held on Saturday morning at the College. Those sitting have already registered, and will no doubt be keen to do well. Please be at the Ivan Gibbs Centre by 8am to sign in for an 8.30am start.
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Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Mark Sly
PRINCIPAL
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APS Swimming Carnival
Students in our Primary Swimming Team enjoyed a day of team work and collegiality last Thursday as they travelled to Somerset College for the annual APS Primary Swimming carnival. Our swimmers conducted themselves admirably, with impeccable behaviour and exemplary support for each other. They were living examples of the values that we celebrate and hold in esteem at the College and I was incredibly proud of them all. Special mention must go to Jay D Collins who was successful in gaining first place in all of his events. Jay D’s success saw him achieve first place and age champion in the 9 year old boys’ age group. Congratulations Jay D!
Family Zone
All parents have now had the opportunity to hear about Family Zone at the Parent Information Sessions over the past three weeks. Family Zone is a programme that enables us to monitor and control student internet use while they are at the College, and allows parents to do the same at home and when their children are out with friends. You can download Family Zone on up to six devices in your home including mobile phones, iPads, tablets, laptops and desktops. If you have not yet activated your account please do so. There are videos and clear instructions about how to do this on the Family Zone website and our College website. There is even a recorded webinar to assist you. If you require any assistance, please contact the College.
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Introducing our Primary Leaders
Nea Fernandes is one of our Primary Captains for 2019. Nea has been a student at Coomera Anglican College since she began in Prep back in 2013. Nea reflects on her time as Primary Captain and says…
‘As your female Primary Captain for 2019, I look forward to embracing with you our new College theme: Growing faith, hope and love. It is important for us to have faith and confidence in ourselves so that we can reach our goals and faith in our wonderful College that helps us to achieve our dreams.
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The word ‘hope’ is so powerful it ignites imagination. When we come to the College every day we need to believe in ourselves. As students it is important to be kind to one another, help others in our College community and to show love for learning and for our teachers who put in so much effort to mentor us.
I would like to conclude with a quote. “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” Let’s make 2019 a great year!’
The Primary Campus is in great hands with Nea as a Year 6 Leader and Primary Captain. I look forward to introducing Rio Reynolds, our male Captain to you in the coming weeks.
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 Lisa Kraft - HEAD OF PRIMARY
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FLOURISHING MINDS
- Are actively engaged in learning.
- Have a sense of accomplishment, setting, working toward and achieving goals.
- Use a growth mindset to overcome challenges and build resilience.
FLOURISHING HEARTS
- Enjoy positive relationships.
- Savour and build upon positive emotions.
- Demonstrate gratitude for their God-given gifts and talents and respond in loving service.
FLOURISHING SOULS
- Find meaning in God, and purpose in giving and receiving God's love through service.
FLOURISHING STRENGTHS
- Honouring our bodies with healthy choices, exercise, good sleep and recreation.
Congratulations to this week's recipients of the Flourishing Award for displaying those attributes:
| PA |
Stevie Barnett |
| PH |
Owen Davies |
| PM |
Nina Puettmann |
| PS |
Beau Subichin |
| 1B |
Lachlan Jensen |
| 1J |
John Warren |
| 1K |
Aleksandr Stepanoff |
| 1R |
Ellie Gotlieb |
| 2B |
Sienna Baker |
| 2D |
Thomas Bartlett |
| 2P |
Mia Jones |
| 2W |
Cailin Searle |
| 3B |
Ava Campbell |
| 3H |
Leo Clark |
| 3P |
Mason Cornish |
| 3T |
Isla MacNab |
| 4B |
Izaac Baet |
| 4F |
Abigail Chippendale |
| 4P |
Jai Moore |
| 4S |
William Hall |
| 5D |
George Delavinias |
| 5E |
Jerry Xue |
| 5H |
Ollie Simpson |
| 5P |
Chloe Maudsley |
| 6C |
Jett Ryan |
| 6D |
Jack Rogers |
| 6N |
Zara Courtney |
| 6R |
Coby Bull |
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Welcoming Reverend Richard Browning back to QLD
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Photo circa 2002
Reverend Richard Browning as the first Coomera Anglican College Chaplain, opening The Early Learning Centre with the Bishop.
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Yesterday, Ms Sherril Molloy, Executive Director or the Anglican Schools Commission in our Diocese announced that Reverend Richard Browning has agreed to take up the position of Director of Mission at the Anglican Schools Commission in Brisbane. This is the role previously held by Dr Stephen Harrison.
Richard was the first chaplain of Coomera Anglican College, and played a large part in the ‘cultural architecture’ of our College life. He has been Chaplain at Radford College in Canberra for the last 15 years and will return to Brisbane with his family in due course.
Sherril says,
Richard has a unique skill set with particular expertise around story-telling, pastoral care, liturgy, school identity and Christian ethos development, service learning and a shared culture of engagement in the common good.
You may see Richard on campus along with chaplains from schools in our diocese when they meet at the College for the Chaplain Professional Development day next Friday.
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Artist in Residence - Sarah Sculley
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Year 9 Art students have been working with Artist in Residence, Sarah Sculley, as part of their digital design and printmaking units of work. They have been learning how to convert portrait photography into a multi-layer stencil design using Photoshop and then cut and print the stencils by hand. It is a really interesting process for our students to explore and the Art Department looks forward to seeing the end results after our final session in two weeks.
Zoe Franks - Secondary Art Teacher
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Come on down, to Boogie Town
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Excitement is building, the stage is set and DJ Electra has her tunes ready to spin!
It is not too late to book your place at the first Primary Disco for 2019.
Book via the link below, in Tours and Excursions.
There will be a great family sausage sizzle, coffee van for parents to meet and chat and a canteen packed with all the favourite goodies.
So get out the flares, the glitter, your biggest smile and razzle dazzle the afternoon away!
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Our future generations - Growing faith, hope and love.
It is wonderful to see our Alumni maintaining a connection with the College, especially so when they return to meet with enrolments staff and discuss admission for their own children. This week Daniel Tyzzer, 2005 graduate and his wife Whitney, met with Enrolments Officer, Rachel Castles, to discuss enrolment for little Emilio. Emilio will not commence Preparatory until 2023, but will join Junior Kindy in the Early Learning Centre next year.
We welcome all Alumni and their families to place an application for enrolment for their children and we offer priority on their applications.
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The Importance of Message Bank enabled
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When our College staff make a call to our families they will always try to leave a message. That is only possible if you have message bank capabilities on your device. The number that will display on your device is the main College switchboard number (5585 9900) regardless of the extension/person from which the call originated, so calling straight back will not help.
We ask that you please check the message left before returning the call. This way reception staff can swiftly transfer you straight to the appropriate person.
If you do not have message bank we will do our best to assist you, and in extremely urgent situations, staff will notify reception they have tried to call. However, sometimes this can create unnecessary stress to staff and the family concerned.
Please consider enabling message bank, it can prove extremely important if an urgent situation arises.
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Primary School Banking Program
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Get involved in the School Banking program.
Coomera Anglican College is excited to offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking programme to all our Primary students again this year.
School Banking is a fun, interactive and engaging way for young Australians to learn about money and develop good savings habits. Children who deposit money into their Youthsaver account through School Banking earn Dollarmites tokens, which they can save up and redeem for exciting rewards.
The rewards available during 2019 are:
- Scented Stackable Highlighters
- Snowy Origami Set
- Icicle Slapband Ruler
- Yeti Fluffly Notepad
- Arctic Owl Fluffy Keyring
- Scratch Art Cards
- Water Skimming Bounce Ball
- Polar Pencils & Pencil Toppers
School Banking is also a great fundraiser for our College, as we receive a Regular Savers Contribution of $5 for every 10 deposits processed per student as well as an Annual Contribution which is based on the number of students who made at least one School Banking deposit in the prior year.
Getting involved in School Banking is easy!
We will be holding a School Banking Information Session in the Primary Campus.
Time: 7.45am
Date: Friday 1 March
Location: Primary Undercover Area
Please join us and find out more about the School Banking program and how your child can get involved.
If you are interested in opening a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account for your child you can visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link to open a Youthsaver account. A School Banking representative will be available at the Information Session to show you how you can do this. In order to verify yourself and your child, you will need your driver’s licence and your child’s birth certificate, but if you don’t have these with you on the day, you can complete verification online at home.
Alternatively, you can also open an account by:
1. Online
Visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link to open a Youthsaver account.
2. In branch
Visit a Commonwealth Bank branch with identification for yourself and your child, like a driver’s licence and birth certificate.
If your child has an existing Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account they can start banking straight away. They just need to bring their deposit in every week on School Banking day using their Dollarmites deposit wallet.
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Pancake day and Ash Wednesday -
What are they?
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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a 40-day journey in the Christian tradition that provides an opportunity to think about the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – and about love, forgiveness and the fullness of life that Jesus makes possible.
The journey of Lent is the journey towards Easter. As the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and his victory over death, Easter is the pinnacle of the Christian year, since it makes life in all its fullness a possibility for each and every one of us
Where does this journey take us? While Lent is a personal journey for each person, we travel in the company of others. Christianity celebrates life in community – seasons of celebration as well as seasons of reflection and prayer. Lent can be a special time for us to reflect and be renewed by journeying with Jesus as he prepared to lay down his life for his friends. Jesus calls us his friends.
During Lent we are encouraged to live more simply by giving up things that we don’t need like chocolate or social media, and putting aside money or other possessions to help those in greater need.
We put aside some things for things that matter more.
We think about new ways of living with what we have.
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is a day of feasting that precedes the fasting of Lent. Next Tuesday, perhaps you could take time to cook pancakes (or pikelets can be an easy option!) and enjoy them as a family. You might share some ideas about living more simply during Lent so that you have time and space in your heart and mind for reflecting on more life-giving ways to live.
Next week we will celebrate Ash Wednesday in our student Worships. This is part of the communal life in our Anglican College to which we have all chosen to belong.
When we accept ashes on our foreheads, we admit our failings and ask to be renewed. We show Jesus that we want to find new ways to live, and be made whole.
To live as people who are forgiven and beloved; people who can know in their hearts “You belong to God and Jesus is your friend” and so be equipped to live life with courage, hope and peace.
No matter what your beliefs or circumstances, may this season hold some important and helpful moments for you and your family as you do life together.
Reverend Mary-Anne Rulfs - College Chaplain
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We congratulate the following students, who have been selected in representative sporting teams:
Marlie Crummer – Southcoast U/15 Girls AFL Team
Sophie Slinger – Southcoast U/15 Girls AFL Team
Giselle Heck - Southcoast U/15 Girls AFL Team
James Creighton – Southcoast U/15 Boys AFL Team
Lachlan Sheppard – Southcoast U/15 Boys AFL Team
Emile De la Rey – Hinterland U/15 Boys Basketball Team
Sam Davidson - Hinterland Open Boys Basketball Team
Mitchell Lowe - Hinterland Open Boys Basketball Team
Kai Evans - Northern Gold Coast U/12 Basketball Rep Team
Kobe Cross - Northern Gold Coast U/12 Basketball Rep Team
Zac Baker - Northern Gold Coast U/12 Basketball Rep Team
District Swimming
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected in the Hinterland District Swimming team to compete at the Regional Carnival next week:
Primary Team
Emerson Jones
Kade Stasiaskowski
Elizabeth Bemrose
Caitlyn Hayes
Mia Rieck
Daniel Prinsloo
Anthony Hall - Head of Sport
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1 March // Prep Teddy Bears Picnic
4 March // College Photo Day 1
4 March // Jnr Sec Sport Training Commencing
5 March // College Photo Day 2
6 March // Snr Sec Sport Training Commencing
12 March // College Photo Day 3
15 March // National Day of Action against Bullying
15 March Years 1 - 2 Bravehearts Presentation
16 March // PAFA Trivia Night - 'Through the Decades'
19 March // Yr 8 Medieval Knight to Remember
20 March // Primary Debating Competition Commencing
21 March // Primary APS Sport Rd 1
Looking Ahead...
9 May // OLIVER THE MUSICAL - Afternoon Session 4pm
10 May // OLIVER THE MUSICAL - Evening Session 7pm
11 May // OLIVER THE MUSICAL - Matinee Session 1.30pm
11 May // OLIVER THE MUSICAL - Evening Session 7pm
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