From the College Principal

Newsletter 18 2023

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Year 12 cohort, their teachers and their families as we move toward the conclusion of the Higher School Certificate Examinations. At this stage of the Term most of our Formal Assessment Tasks are now completed with Formative Assessment still occurring as always. We are in the process of sending out Letters of Offer to join the Acceleration Program in Year 9 2024 to our current Year 8 students based on a combination of data sets we have collected to indicate that they are operating above the A Grade in their learning. We are also building up to St Andrews Day in the coming weeks. 2023 marks the 25th Year since Holy Family and John Paul II merged to form St Andrews College. With all of the past Principals and Assistant Principals being invited back for our Mass it should be a great day of celebration.

The Year 7 2024 Orientation Day and Information Sessions were a good indicator of the quality young men and women we will be inheriting from our Primary Schools. Mr Leaves ran an excellent day that was well supported by our teaching, diversity and administration staff.

It’s All About Learning

Gospel  Reflection Matthew 23:1-12: 

The Gospel reading above is a reprimand or rebuke against people, most especially leaders, with excessive self-importance. These kind of people based their worth on their title or position in society. They find happiness in the recognition and salutation that others give them. They have a constant need for attention and they feel good when they dominate others. To some extent, they become angry and even murderous when they are dominated. It means they always want to be above others in everything. Moreover, they can’t learn from others because their attitude is “Don’t dare to teach me. I’ve been there; I’ve done that.” The Pharisees and other religious leaders exhibited some or all of these behaviours so Jesus has harsh words for them. He strongly scolded them several times by saying “woe to you Pharisees and scribes…” (Matthew 23:13-39).

PAT Testing in the Junior Years::

Thank you to Mr Dewar, staff and students for all the work that has gone into our PAT testing this year. It provides the College with valuable data to add to the formative and summative data we already have related to student learning and growth.

 We use this information to help us identify areas for future growth and targeting student need.

CAN is back:

I have been delighted to see the enthusiasm around auditions for CAN 2023. The energy from the staff and students is life giving and I look forward to seeing the fruits of this on the night. Thank you to all the staff who are assisting with the event which will also double as our Christmas Carols Night as well. Only current students and their families are permitted to attend. 

Junior Campus Hall and Multipurpose Court Renovations:

We have about a week to go on the internal renovations of the Hall on the Junior Campus  and look forward to seeing it when we join together for St Andrews Day Mass. The renovation and repainting of all basketball/multipurpose courts will commence in the near future. I know how much the students love playing on the courts.

‘It’s All About Learning’

Fidem in Christo

Dr Stephen Kennaugh
Principal