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From the Principal

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

After six weeks of Term 4 has concluded it is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of what has been a very different year. Although the year has presented many challenges for all of us, it has also been enlightening in many ways as it has allowed us to demonstrate how well we come together in times of challenge. It has highlighted how resilient we can be. As we move into the Year 10 Orientation to Senior School, St Andrews Day, Year 7 2021 Orientation, and our final Liturgy and Awards Ceremony, we focus on the many successes we have had throughout the year, and contemplate what we have achieved as a community.

‘It’s All About Learning’

Gospel Reflection:

NAIDOC WEEK

Is Christianity Compatible With Indigenous Spirituality (8th - 15th November 2020)

Communities all over Australia celebrated and remembered NAIDOC Week last week, and gathered in some way within the COVID restrictions to share culture, stories, and learn together. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People share with us an ancient spirituality and through the stories, I have heard this week. I began to consider the connection between my Catholic belief and practice, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island practice and belief that I was a witness to during this week.

The ritual of remembering, which Catholic's practice significantly in the month of November is intertwined this week with Remembrance Day, on the 11th day in the 11th month at the 11th hour and NAIDOC, which was moved this year, because of COVID from its original date in July. The age-old question of "Who am I?" is posed by Evelyn Enid Parkin, a Quandamooka Woman and Christian Theologian, when she shares her journey of faith and the significance of her ancient culture and contemplation of the Gospel as a Christian and theologian. The seemingly conflicting understanding between Christianity and Indigenous Spirituality brought her to her starting point in asking herself "Who am I?"

To answer this question she had to return to her country of origin and from there she shares in only 6 minutes, that the example is given to us by Jesus of placing the scriptures into the very soil of the people, their culture and way of thinking in order for it to be “renewed and reborn in our own Australian soil,” is how we will come to understand that there is “One Spirit, separated by language..” Remembrance includes forgiveness, not forgetting, as Evelyn Parkin shares, but by learning “to forgive by working with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.”

https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/rn/podcast/2017/07/gfd_20170702_0615.mp3

In this month of Remembrance for the Holy Souls, 11/11 and NAIDOC, may the ancient wisdom of the traditional custodians of this land and our personal understanding and question to ourselves of “Who am I?”, be answered through our contemplation of the Gospels and openness to the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught the people of his time, acknowledging their understanding, culture, and belief, may we too be open to acknowledging the Spiritual in all people.

I thank all the staff and students for the initiatives that were undertaken to raise awareness of our indigenous heritage through wellbeing and class activities. It is important to retain this focus as we move forward as a nation.

Awaiting our HSC Results now:

After the UAC School Recommendation Scheme has been closed for 2020 we have the following offers:

Macquarie University - 16

Western Sydney University - 13

Australian Catholic University - 1

University of Canberra - 1

Other information regarding the Schools Recommendation Scheme:

The UNSW does not use this scheme, while UTS and The University of Sydney only consider students who are able to submit an EAS application meeting the financial disadvantage. The University of Sydney also has another criteria which is associated with the ATAR and therefore unconditional offers can not be made at this time.

Thank you Ms May for all the work you are doing supporting our students at school as well as in future career paths. You are amazing.

Year 12 Retreat:

Congratulations to Year 12 who participated in the Retreat on Thursday and Friday of this week. The were challenged to contemplate their faith journey as well as hearing testimonies from staff about their own faith experiences. Our hope is that this ‘Retreat’ experience will serve as a time to reassess, a time to grow, and a time to consolidate.

Year 10 Camp and Orientation to Senior Schooling:

Congratulations to our Year 10 group and staff on a wonderful three days celebrating friendship and teamwork as they enjoyed the sensational weather on the Central Coast. Ms Pett and the staff were glowing in their praise of the students participation in all the activities offered. Some activities were challenging to the students and placed them outside of their comfort zone, but they persisted and were proud of themselves when they completed the activity. For some students it is the first time they had ever surfed. Well done.

They now move into three weeks of orientation to Year 11 and we will welcome many students coming from other schools into our community.

Enrolment for Year 7 2022 NOW OPEN

If you have a friend or family member looking to enrol for Year 7 2022 (students currently in Year 5) please contact the Office ASAP for an enrolment pack to avoid disappointment. We have a substantial waiting list already for Year 7 2021.

Fidem in Christo

Stephen Kennaugh
Principal