From the College Principal

Newsletter 5 2024

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

As we move into the final week of Term 1 2024 I hope that you had a wonderful Easter and had the opportunity to celebrate the true meaning of Easter with family and community. It has been a very busy Term of learning opportunity and activity and the Easter long weekend came at a good time for all. As we power through now until the holiday period I would like to express my thanks to the staff for their dedication and efforts to enhance the learning for the young people in our care as well as the parent body for their support. We are most fortunate as a community.

Have a wonderful holiday next week and I look forward to seeing you all in Term 2 to continue our 2024 learning journey.

It’s All About Learning

GospelReading John 20:19-31: Thomas believes because he sees Jesus.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today’s reading from the Gospel of John is proclaimed on the Second Sunday of Easter in each of the lectionary cycles. This fact alone should alert us to the significance of the encounters with the resurrected Jesus that are described in this reading. This Gospel combines two scenes: Jesus’ appearance to his disciples after his Resurrection and Jesus’ dialogue with Thomas, the disciple who doubted.

Part of the mystery of Jesus’ Resurrection is that he appeared to his disciples not as a spirit, but in bodily form. We do not know, however, exactly what this form looked like. Earlier in John’s Gospel, when Mary of Magdala first encountered the risen Jesus, she did not recognize him until he spoke to her. In Luke’s Gospel, the disciples walking along the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus until he broke bread with them. We know from readings such as today’s that in his resurrected form, Jesus was not bound by matter; he appeared to the disciples inside a home even though the door was locked. Yet the disciples could still touch the marks of his Crucifixion.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace. Jesus then commissions his disciples to continue the work that he has begun; as Jesus was sent by God, so Jesus sends his disciples. He gives his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they will be able to accomplish this task. Jesus’ words to his disciples also highlight the integral connection between the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. With the grace of the Holy Spirit, we can share forgiveness and reconciliation with others.

Thomas, the doubting disciple in today’s reading, represents the reality of the Church that comes after this first community of witnesses to Jesus. All but the first disciples of Jesus must believe without seeing. Like Thomas, we may doubt the news that Jesus, who was crucified and buried, appeared to his disciples. Our human nature seeks hard evidence that the Jesus who appeared to his disciples after his death is indeed the same Jesus who was crucified. Thomas is given the opportunity to be our representative in obtaining this evidence. He gives witness to us that the Jesus who was raised is the same Jesus who died. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are among those who are blessed, for we have not seen and yet believe.

Year 7 2025 Enrolments:

Thank you to the staff who participated in the interviews. We interview all students and their families and then send out Letters of Offer based on the CSPD Enrolment Procedures. We are still receiving late applications and have a substantial waiting list already that is growing by the day.

Year 11 Jazz Performance Night Wednesday 3rd April:

Thank you to the staff and students for their wonderful performances on the night as well as the preparation put into the performances. I really enjoyed the Jazz focus and knew most of the songs as a result. That is probably showing my age. Thank you to the Music staff for all the work that goes into the evening as well as the student helpers.

Year 11/12 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences:

Thank you to the staff for the detailed preparation and engagement with parents and students during the evening. I had many parents come up to me and say how dedicated the staff are at the College and how they go above and beyond. This feedback opportunity can make such a significant improvement to performance and application if used correctly.

Sporting Successes:

Congratulations to the Basketball and Volleyball teams who made it through to the finals of their respective competitions. We have had strong seasons in each of these sports again. 

Congratulations to Mrs Weaver and the Diving Team on excellent performances at the Combined Catholic Colleges Diving Championships with numerous placings across many divisions. A number of students have gained a place at the All Schools Championships  as a result. 

Holiday Building Works:

Over the holiday period we will have renovated the toilet facilities on the Junior Campus to be similar to that on the Senior Campus. Work will start in the last week of the Term. Alternate facilities for students will be made available during this time using the Hall and the Music Block during breaks.

We will also be renovating the F7 Classroom and install new audio into the Hall on the Junior Campus.

‘It’s All About Learning’

Fidem in Christo

Dr Stephen Kennaugh
Principal