From the College Principal

Newsletter 19 2023

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

Congratulations to all students on concluding the formal assessment stage of the year. Although we are in the process of developing classes for 2024, sending out Letters of Offer for our Acceleration Classes for 2024, organising our End of Year Awards for Years 7-11, and developing our Semester Two Reports assessment will continue to happen in all classes. We are in the process of organising St Andrews Day which promises to be another fun day celebrating our College and the culture we have developed here. We look forward to CAN and our Advent Liturgy which will conclude our year and we are busily collecting items for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. We also look forward to the Visual Arts Showcase coming up soon. Lots happening as we move into the final stages of our 2023 school year and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s All About Learning

Gospel  Reflection: Themes for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

The readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A are a call to do the work of the Kingdom of God with the gifts we have been given. The first reading sings the praises of the worthy wife who uses her talents to labour for good. The psalm tells us that those who follow the Lord are blessed. The second reading reminds us that we are children of light and goodness. And in the gospel Jesus tells the parable of the talents and praises the servants who used their resources wisely.

• Stewardship: The passage emphasises the importance of wisely managing resources or gifts given by God.
• Accountability: Each servant in the parable is held accountable for how they use their talents, highlighting the theme of personal responsibility.
• Risk and Growth: The servants who invest their talents are taking a risk, suggesting that spiritual growth often involves stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
• Work Ethic: The servants who double their talents work hard, suggesting the value of effort and diligence in spiritual life.
• Divine Judgement: The passage suggests that there will be a time of reckoning where each individual will be judged based on their actions.
• Inequality: The talents are distributed unevenly at the start, which may prompt considerations about the spiritual implications of inequality.

Year 9 Catechist Training:

Thank you to Ms Tan for organising the Year 9 students who wish to volunteer for the program. Sharing faith is such a gift and we are blessed to have so many wonderful young people who are happy to witness to their faith.

HSC Major Works Nominations:

Congratulations to Manav Preet (Industrial Technology) who has been shortlisted for consideration in Shape, for exhibition in 2024. 

SHAPE is a selection of outstanding projects from HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students and will be held at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct in March 2024. 

Manav’s nomination follows nominations in Music and Art. This is a significant acknowledgement of the hard work and quality output from our students in Year 12 supported by their teachers and families.

Art Body of Work Night:

Thank you to Ms Kemal for organising Johnny Romeo (Professional Artist and former Art Teacher at our College) to come in and review progress on the HSC Works by our Year 11 students for next year. This process challenges our students to gain multiple perspectives on their ideas and intended works as well as includes their parents and family members. Thank you to Ms Rivera, Mr Kolak, Mr Finnerty for their presence and support as well.

We Remember:

Thank you to Ms Molonzo and Mr Camilleri who organised our Remembrance Day Service as well as the students who participated in the ceremony. It is always a reminder of those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom as well as the impact war has on many people.

St Andrews Diving Team:

Thank you to Mrs Weaver for the many hours she is putting into coaching a very successful diving team. Many of these hours are on weekends and outside of school hours. We are so blessed to have Mrs Weaver. Our student divers are improving considerably as a result and further information on their progress is found later in the Newsletter. Congratulations.

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:

The Junior Campus Hall renovations have been complete and it is now ready to be used for Sport, Assemblies, St Andrews Day and our Year 7-11 Awards. 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