From the Principal

How inspired I was this week as I viewed the students at work composing and animating their books as part of the ‘Write a Book in a Day Competition’. They were focused, open to ideas and critique, and committed. They worked from 7.00am until 7.00pm to produce two wonderfully creative and well written books. Thank you to all the students who participated, Mr Dewar, and staff, who made the day such a success. I was walking around the College yesterday and was admiring the engagement in Science Challanges, College Band and Music, Dance, and  Acceleration Mathematics. The main thing to realise is that you must work hard to achieve success. When I see all of these opportunities, and the enthusiasm of students, it makes me very proud to be the Principal of this great College.

‘It’s All About Learning’

Gospel Reflection:

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A (Matthew 4:12-23)-Veronica Lawson RSM

Most of the gospel readings this year will be from the gospel of Matthew. As with any story, it is probably best to read Matthew’s story of Jesus from beginning to end over a few days, entering into the drama and attending to all the elements in the story. Sr. Elaine Wainwright’s ecorhetorical commentary on Matthew’s gospel invites us to read with attention to habitat as well as to the human and the holy. We need to realise that what we bring to the text will inform our reading of the text. What we notice will depend on our own social and cultural contexts and on our capacity to bring our particular interpretive stance into dialogue with the worlds that inhabit the text. While the main character in the story is Jesus, there are other characters and character groups, including other-than-human characters. In the passage selected for today, Matthew’s Jesus hears the news of John the Baptizer’s arrest and “withdraws” to the safety of Capernaum in Galilee. Matthew thus grounds him in a familiar locale. He then symbolically presents him as a great light for a people who have lived in darkness and the shadow of death and oppression. In the context of Roman imperial rule, Jesus offers the hope of an alternative reign. We might focus for a moment on the gift of light. Without an appreciation of natural light, we cannot hope to understand this image. Jesus invites his hearers to expand their horizons, for the allembracing empire or kin-dom “of the heavens” has come near. He then calls four fishermen to follow him, to join him on his mission of proclaiming the empire or reign “of the heavens”. The verb “to follow” is an invitation to live out in their lives/in our lives the pattern of Jesus’ life. They “immediately” leave their boat and their father and follow him. Later in the story we find they still have their boat, an indication that, at some levels, the story is to be read symbolically. At times we need to distance ourselves from family expectations for the sake of the gospel. At times we have to decentre our material possessions even while we affirm the goodness of their materiality and their significance for the work of the mission. One might get the impression that the alternative community that Jesus forms around him is all male. This impression is dispelled a few verses later when we learn that “great crowds followed him” (4:25). In Matthew 18, there is specific mention of children and, towards the end of the gospel, we find that women have “followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him’” (27:55). There is a far more extended group around Jesus than today’s reading might suggest. Women, men, and children, we are all invited to turn our lives around and to live out in our lives the pattern of Jesus’ life.

Catechists Visits to local Primary Schools:
Due to the recent incidents of COVID-19 within some schools our Catechists are not allowed into the local Primary Schools for the immediate future. Although we are disappointed that we cannot share our faith with the Catholic primary school students, we understand that the safety of all is most important during this time of pandemic. We pray that all will be back to normal sooner rather than later. 

New Religious Education Curriculum:
I have really enjoyed teaching Year 10 classes about Eudaimonia and Hedonia and how it relates to the new Religious Education Curriculum. Although they are new terms to most students, they engaged with the content really well. I am looking forward to receiving feedback from staff and students regarding how the new direction is going.

Write a Book in a Day:
What an amazing day I have witnessed on Wednesday 12th August. The mix of students from Years 7-9 were amazing in their imagination, dedication and flair. To write a book in one day is a big achievement and we are very proud of you all. The commitment of our amazing staff (Mr Dewar, Mrs Deschamps, Mrs Flaihan and Ms Kelly) was a pivotal factor in the students success. Starting at 7.00am and finishing at 7.00pm is a big day of learning. Congratulations to all involved.

Debating:
Congratulations to all Debaters, staff, and our wonderful group of helpers. After two rounds of the CSDA Debating Competition we have won eighteen of our twenty debates. Thank you to Ms Pett and staff for the hours dedicated to organising students, adjudicating, and viewing debates in support of our students. The culture of Debating, volunteering, and Public Speaking is a long and distinguished one at St Andrews College. We now have past students coming back to adjudicate  while they are at University. That is a testament to their love of the College and their personal work ethic. It is a privilege to watch our students in the Debating and Public Speaking Competitions demonstrate their passion, dedication, and knowledge each week. Keep up the great work.

Acceleration Program:
We are expanding the Program to Science in the near future. We have such a rich tradition in Science at the College and we will be building on that success. I will relay more information in the next Newsletter. 

Year 7-10 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences:
Thank you to the parents who have logged on and engaged in the process via Zoom. The feedback has been very positive. If there is any further feedback that you woul like to give to the College please contact me via email or phone.

Year 12 2021 Student Leadership Selections:
Unfortunately we were not able to take the group away to Gerringong due to COVID-19 restrictions. Nevertheless we will conduct the Retreat at the College and move forward with our planning for 2021 and beyond. Congratulations to all students who were nominated for leadership positions. We have a very strong and passionate group to take students leadership at the College forward.

Gym Renovations:
Due to the Covid-19 situation some of the new equipment has been delayed. As you can see by the photos below it is looking really good though and we hope to open it up to students (under staff supervision) once all the equipment is installed and staff have all completed the Safety Induction. 

Fidem in Christo

Stephen Kennaugh
Principal