From the College Principal

Newsletter 10 2024

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

As we move into the last weeks of Term 2 I hope you are all keeping safe and well. The community has been hit hard with all sorts of illness of late and I hope we are seeing the worst of it now and you are able to enjoy the upcoming break. There have been numerous opportunities happening at the College of late and I am so pleased with the uptake from students and the support from staff. As we move into our selection of student leaders for 2025 I also commend the many students who have put up their hand to be a leader. We have had the most applications we have ever received which demonstrates an increased confidence in self and a willingness to get involved. Thank you to staff for the invitation to visit classes that have finished projects. I have enjoyed the discussions with Year 9 Design & Technology class last week regarding the sustainability projects. So much thought went into their research and presentation. Well done.

It’s All About Learning

Gospel Reflection: Mark 4:35-41

In the gospel, the scene is dramatic and vivid. The disciples are sailing in a boat. Jesus too is with them. It is hit by heavy storms. The boat is on the verge of sinking. They stand at the door of perishing. They get panicky. They look for Jesus. He is “peacefully” sleeping on a cushion. The natural human feelings rise up. They get all the more annoyed. They feel bad at this apparent indifference toward their desperate fate. They give vent to their displeasure and frustration. They wake him up and confront him, saying, “do you not care that we are perishing?”

Their situation very much represents our own life situation as well. Life is a boat in a constant sea-sail, surmounted by storms. The sail gets harder and harder. The storms will threaten to sink the boat and perish life as well. What is interesting and subject to questioning is, the Lord himself asks them, “Let us go across to the other side”. It is he who proposes the sail and initiates them. But what is more worrisome is that the Lord himself seems unbothered and unconcerned about it.

Fear grips and faith wavers. The boat of life is hit hard. Problems and afflictions enter violently into the boat. They are frightened to drown. We feel lost and gone. In such situations, we even forget the truth that as long as the Lord is with us, nothing can harm us and destroy us. Like the disciples, we too get annoyed that he is resting peacefully while we are restless in tension. We may also confront and question him many times that he is not bothered about us.

In such frightening and losing moments, what to do and how to counter such a situation? Be focused on the Lord. Deep within, remember that the Lord is present with us in the same boat, and as long as he is with us, no harm can betide us, no storm can drown us. Be confident that he will never allow us to sink and perish. We may come under pressure. We may feel that God is not attentive toward our gripping situations, that he does not understand the gravity of them. But listen to him and what he tells the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” The Lord repeats the same words to us as well in our stormy times: “Why are you afraid? Am I not with you? Will I leave you to your fate? Will I allow you to struggle helplessly? Will I deliver you to misery? Have faith in me. I will deliver you. I will sustain your journey. I will calm the storms, I will restore peace and serenity. I will remove your fears”

Therefore, let us not entertain wishful thinking that there should be no storms, no struggles, and adversities in life. Let us not be unrealistic that life should always be smooth sailing. Rather, what is needed is to sail ahead through all the possible and expected inclement and unfavourable situations. This is possible only when we have a strong rudder and weapon and a clear beacon of faith. In the words of Paul in the second reading from 2 Cor 5. 14-17, this means to “become a new creation in Christ, where the old has passed away and the new has come”.

There is also another notable factor in the whole episode. As soon as the disciples awoke the Lord expressing their annoyance, Jesus does not get into argument. He does not begin to admonish them about their lack of faith. There is no discourse. Instantly and immediately, he attends to their needs. He rebukes the sea and calms the storm. He commands and controls, “Peace! Be still!” And only then, he does the corrections. This is also a useful lesson for all of us, especially when we have the sacred duty of correcting and guiding others. Before giving them big moral instructions, let us understand their problem and situation. Let us cater to their needs. Let us instil confidence and calm in them. There is no use in moralising the whole issue without understanding and resolving the issue. It will only demoralise those concerned.

We can also draw another profitable lesson for us from the beginning statement of Jesus. Jesus initiates and encourages the disciples, “Let us go across to the other side”. Let us not comment that if they did not go across to the other side, then there would be no storm and no problem. Rather, let us note a significant directive for our life. Many times, we prefer to play it safe, we do not want to sail to the other side. We do not want to face possible risks. We want to remain on one side only, settled and in comfort zones. But let us remember that unless we sail to the other side, we will not experience the power of Jesus that controls everything, and thus experience the calm and serenity that he alone can restore.

Vinnies Winter Sleepout:

Thank you to Ms Tan, Mr Hoare, Mrs Anthony and Mr Finnerty for developing and supporting an excellent program for the seventy senior students surrounding this great cause. To empathise with the homeless in a small way in the community and educate our young people in this area is so important.

Year 8 Reflection Day:

Thank you to Mr Hoare, Mrs Anthony, Ms Tan, Mr Carlos and the Year 8 Team for a wonderful day of reflection, formation and engagement. It is very much appreciated. It is most important to stop and provide opportunities for staff and students to reflect on their relationship with God and others.

Debating Finals:

We have had a very successful season with growth being witnessed in all teams. Their ability to refute and sustain an argument is certainly improving. As a result we had four teams reach the finals. At the moment of publishing this Newsletter we have three teams left in the competition with our Year 11A team being eliminated last week in a fiercely contested debate v Parramatta Marist Brothers and our Year 10B team going up against La Salle College Bankstown tonight after defeating Christian Brothers Lewisham last Wednesday. We wish them all the best this evening. We also have our Year 9A and Year 10A teams who will be competing in the coming weeks after being undefeated through the preliminary rounds of the competition. Congratulations to all our Debating teams on a successful season. Thank you to Ms Douglas for all her efforts and support in coordinating the debating at the College this year. Her organisation, experience and ability to develop our students is such a blessing and we appreciate her and the team of adjudicators and assistants.

Unity Day Rehearsals:

Thank you to the many staff and students who have been busy preparing for Unity Day in the upcoming weeks. We really appreciate the hard work and coordination efforts that go into ensuring the day is a success.

History and Society and Culture Trip 2025:

Thank you to Mr Camilleri for all the work he has put into planning the trip. We had our information evening on Wednesday Evening and some 70 parents and students attended. With over 20 families already committing to the trip we are getting prepared to travel to Italy and Germany in 2025.

Athletics Carnival:

The bad weather held off and we were able to have a wonderful community day last Friday. We had many students who were competing at the highest level as well as many who just wanted to represent their House with pride and enjoy the day. That is how we structure the day. My highlight was seeing the level of participation as well as the dancing throughout the day from staff and students. Congratulations to Ms Nikotivic and the team for planning the day and all the staff and students who assisted in some way. Congratulations to the students who will be progressing through to the PDSSSC Carnival.

‘It’s All About Learning’

Fidem in Christo

Dr Stephen Kennaugh
Principal