2022 Term 1 Week 5 4 Mar 2022

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

The past week has been a timely reminder of how quickly things can change in our lives. Our local community, including school families and staff members, have been severely impacted by the recent rain and floods, with so many suffering damage and loss.

I know many in our community will be using this weekend to assist in any way possible. In Reverend Constantine's article below, he details ways in which our community can offer that support. I urge all members of our community to support in any way that they can. Every little bit helps, especially assisting in your local community with clean up efforts.

Thank you to the staff who worked tremendously hard all week to keep our school safe, repair damage, get the campuses cleaned and ready for learning on Thursday, we had a good two days of learning to finish the week. It was important that we resumed school as soon as it was safe to do so and I thank our families for being so supportive, particularly with limited transport options available, poor wifi, internet and phone reception across the whole region.

Surfside buses have not yet advised us of a confirmed return to their normal school bus routes for Monday. We know that some routes may be affected and we hope to be able to confirm some of these details before Monday morning. All Lindisfarne buses will continue running as they have over the past two days.

In difficult times, comfort can be found by coming together as a community. On Sunday I invite all families to attend our combined Welcome Service in the Mahers Lane Chapel. Afternoon tea will be served from 4.00pm with the Service commencing at 5.00pm. All are welcome. 

I remind all families that the School will be offering emergency financial bursary assistance to any families who have suffered significant damage or financial loss as a result of the floods. Please contact the Business Manager Mr Brett Dinsdale, bdinsdale@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au.

For families who need urgent access to school uniforms please contact Director of Community Engagement Mr Simon McKinley on smckinley@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au.

Thank you again for all of your support through what has been a challenging week for so many.

Stuart Marquardt
Principal

Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Guardians,

I trust everyone is managing to keep safe and well as we come to terms with the devastating floods in our community. We carry in our thoughts, hearts and prayers all those adversely impacted by the recent floods, and those caring for them.

Perhaps you are asking: who needs me, and whom do I need right now?

I find Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg's words timely as it invites us to do what we can in this time of great need and suffering in our community:

"We need all hands on deck and there’s a lot of deck.
Find your place on deck.
If you have a talent, use it.
If you have money, donate it.
If you have connections, leverage them.
If you have time, offer it.
If you have a platform, share the mic."

These are some of the ways we can assist the needs of our community and world at this trying time:

• Bring cleaning products (gum boots, buckets, mops, detergents, etc) to help the cleaners;  tin foods and non-perishables to School to support the relief efforts of the team in Murwillumbah and those in need in our wider community.
• Support the Anglicare North Coast Flood Appeal (see poster below)
• Find out what’s needed in your neighbourhood, and volunteer somewhere with cleaning and removal of mud and rubbish; students please make sure you obtain parental permission and only go and help if it’s safe to do so..
• You can also check out this link about how to help Ukrianians in their hour of need: https://www.rescue.org/article/how-can-i-help-ukraine
• Join us in prayer on Sunday at 5pm for the Spiritual Gym -Family Service at Mahers Lane Chapel to pray for those affected by the floods and the victims and survivors of war in Ukraine and other places around the world. There’ll be refreshments at 4pm in the Chapel foyer. All are welcome!

When I feel overwhelmed and anxious, I draw strength and peace from prayer. This prayer from St. Francis of Assisi might help you get through these tough days:

A Prayer for help Through the Day 

Lord,
Help me to live this day
Quietly, easily.
Help me to lean upon Thy
Great strength
Trustfully, restfully,
To wait for the unfolding
Of thy will
Patiently, serenely,
To meet others
Peacefully, joyously,
To face tomorrow
Confidently, courageously. Amen.

Please let us continue to care for one another and to reach out to those in need and ask for help if we are struggling. May no one be left to suffer on their own.

In moments of need, the power of community shines through, and I thank you for who you are and for all you’re doing at this time to support others. It's very much appreciated.

Rev Constantine Osuchukwu
Chaplain

The Parents and Friends Association will hold an Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 26 April at the Mahers Lane Library at 6.30pm. Anyone interested in joining and finding out more can enquire via pandf@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au.

Kim Brown
P&F Secretary

On Saturday, 12 March the Lindisfarne P&F will once again hold a Trivia Night in Ngahriyah. Tables of eight ($200)

BYO food and drinks, prizes and raffles and of course a best-dressed (or worst) prize for one table.

TICKET BOOKING LINK

Care Required in Car Park

From the beginning of this school year, due to a large expansion of the School, the staff/ student car park has become noticeably more populated. To ensure the safety of staff, students and parents when we are entering or leaving the car park can we all make a conscious effort to go at a pace suitable for younger pedestrians getting into cars, or students/staff exiting.

Thank you for your support.

Daniel Green and Abby Pirotta
School Captains

Featuring more than 20 hit Queen songs, WE WILL ROCK YOU School Edition follows two revolutionaries as they try to save Rock in a post apocalyptic world. Featuring the songs “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “We Will Rock You,” “Somebody To Love,” “We Are The Champions,” “Don’t Stop Me Now” and many more. 

After a victorious 12 year reign and having rocked over 7,376,485 people in a record-breaking 12 years at the London Dominion Theatre, We Will Rock You played its final London performance on May 31 2014. With 4,659 performances played, 

We Will Rock You achieved the distinction of becoming the longest running show ever at London’s Dominion by a margin of nine years and took its rightful place in London West End history, sitting proudly in the Top 10 longest running musicals of all time. By this time We Will Rock You had been performed in 28 countries around the globe and seen by more than 16 million people. 

Get Your Tickets via www.trybooking.com/BXJGS. Tickets over 80% sold. Don't wait.

Showtimes

• Wednesday, 30 March 6.30pm
• Thursday, 31 March 6.30pm
• Friday, 1 April 6.30pm
• Saturday, 2 April 2.00pm
• Saturday, 2 April 6.30pm

Corporate Partnerships

Lindisfarne is also seeking partners and supporters, for more information download the Corporate Partners Booklet.

Dates for Term 1

Please find below some Junior School key dates to add to your calendar: 

• Friday, 25 March (week 8) - FUN Cross Country Carnival
• Thursday, 7 April (week 10) - 3-12 Cross Country 

Total Football Academy - After school Program 

The Total Football Academy after school program will resume on Monday for the rest of Term 1 until Week 9 Monday, 28 March. 

Students in this program will meet Mr Croft on the Basketball Courts after school at 3.00pm. A roll will be taken and the students will then proceed to the Total Football Academy coaches. 

Runners Club

Runners Club was obviously washed out last week, however, we will be back up and running next week. Despite the very wet weather we still had some students turn up and were willing to run in the rain, that is great commitment.

We will always be on as we have some alternate routes and the ability to take the runners club undercover to get some exercise in. 

The purpose of the Runners club is to assist in the running development of our school students. Last year the Runners Club was a great success with students and parents joining in to improve their running, fitness or just to spend time with each other doing a physical activity. Students in Years 1 to 4 are welcome to attend. 

Runners Club will continue on Monday and Wednesday mornings for the rest of Term 1. The training sessions will begin at 7.30am sharp and will conclude by 8.30am. 

Students will be required to bring along their school uniforms to change into after the completion of the session. Students will be given time to change and have something to eat before the first bell at 8.45am. Parents and carers are more than welcome to come along and join in. 

Hockey - Year 3 and 4 After School Program 

The Casuarina Hockey Club will be running an after school Hockey Program for five weeks. This program will be open to students in Years 3 and 4. There will be a limited number of places available details for registration are below:

Dates: March 3rd, 10th,17th 24th 31st

Time: 3.15 pm – 4.15 pm

Cost: $50 payment made at end of first session.

Where: Lindisfarne Junior School

Plastic sticks provided

To Register please contact: Matt via email at info@casuarinahockey.com 

This program will be limited to 16 players, so get in early so you don’t miss out. 

A wild and wet week for many of our families this week! I wanted to write very briefly this week to thank everyone for their support and understanding as we have worked through these challenging days. Thank you also to the 20+ helpers who worked tirelessly throughout the day on Wednesday to make sure the campus was ready for students on Thursday. Special mention must go to our amazing groundsman, Justin, who braved the elements to get a head start on the cleanup on Tuesday. Those efforts made it possible for the team to get in, safely, and start the cleanup in earnest on Wednesday. I also express my gratitude to the many parents who wrote to the school offering support and assistance. A true testament to the wonderfully caring and supportive community that is Lindisfarne.

It has been a challenging week. I am extremely proud of how our students have adapted to the ongoing changes and hiccups that 2022 has already thrown at us, including not being able to use our grassed areas (the high tides have still been keeping us away) for the last couple of days. I hope you are able to have a restful (and dry) weekend and I look forward to a more settled Week 6.

Jeremy Godden
Head of Junior School

Desirable Difficulties

I have recently been reading about the importance of ‘Desirable Difficulties’. All too often we often seek to eliminate difficulties in learning, to our own detriment. 

Learners, of course, are gratified when they feel that they are processing information easily.  Teachers understandably want learning to come quickly for students and may choose the method that produces immediate results.  However, when we facilitate learning by making it easier, it may increase short-term performance, but it may decrease long-term retention. By requiring our students to organise new information and to work harder in the initial learning period, can lead to greater and deeper learning.  Although this struggle, dubbed a desirable difficulty, may at first be frustrating to learners and teachers alike, ultimately it improves long-term retention of information. A helpful analogy is placing Learn A and Learner B in the position of Weight Lifter A and Weightlifter  B - Weight Lifter A never increases the weight he uses to bench press. Weight Lifter B adds a little more weight to the bar every two weeks. Who will get stronger faster? Why?

The key is to make the learning process difficult but desirable at the same time. The way to do this is to push your limits to the edge of your capabilities, immediately outside your comfort zone. If things are too easy you won’t improve, but if things are too hard then you could get discouraged and lack the motivation to persevere. Making difficulties “desirable” means that the process of learning is arduous and difficult, but desirable because you are making enough progress to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Included below is a link to an article by Elizabeth Ligon Bjork who is a research professor in the department of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She writes about the importance of Desirable Difficulties (2 minute read).

Cathy Cox
Head of Middle School

Monday Night Netball

Round 5 was yet another washout! I think we may be all having 2 matches per Monday but as far as I know these are the matches for this coming week

Round 6 is on March 7:

Please be at the courts in time to warm-up and sign on.

Go Lions!

Club Netball

 The Tweed Netball Association’s Saturday competition starts on March 26 at Arkinstall Park, Cunningham Street. Registrations are still OPEN. They will close on Tuesday 8 March at Midnight. Please see the Saturday Registration Guide linked by clicking - HERE

I will sort the teams and send them out to you all as soon as the registrations have closed.

Please note: You are not able to use your Active Kids Vouchers through the School. You will not be able to register if you attempt to use your Voucher through Netball Connect.

The Active Kids Voucher can be refunded at a later date directly through Tweed Netball Association. Please expect a 6-week turnaround.

We had to cancel the Netball Captain’s workshop again this week due to the weather, but plan on repeating the experience for the younger Lions each Thursday for the next few weeks.

All coaches will need to register as a coach also. This will cost approx $45 but will be refunded to you by the Lindisfarne Lions Club.

Netball Centre of Excellence 

Wednesday and Thursday training were cancelled again this week. The only practice was for the shooters this morning. Next week’s program is as normal, finger’s crossed! 

 The Induction Evening for all Centre of Excellence players has also been postponed. The new date is to be confirmed.

I hope you enjoyed the Suncorp Super Netball’s pre-season competition on TV! Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing live netball this weekend.

This was received from Ticketek today re: the Inaugural Spirit Cup: 

As a result of South-East Queensland’s severe weather event, the Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning have chosen to postpone the inaugural Suncorp Spirit Cup. The Clubs, in alignment with Suncorp, acknowledge that community and personal safety must be at the forefront of these decisions. Due to be held at the Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday 5 March, both the venue and travel options have been impacted for teams and supporters alike.

Lightning CEO Danielle Smith said that community safety must take priority at this time and acknowledged the incredible misfortune that so many fellow Queenslanders are currently enduring.

“We recognise the severe impact that this weather event and subsequent flooding has had on South-East Queensland and the welfare of our community is paramount,” Smith said.

 “In this current environment the absolute priority must be community safety and I’d like to thank Suncorp and the Gold Coast City Council for their understanding and shared approach to postpone this event.”

Netball Queensland and Queensland Firebirds CEO, Kate Davies, said whilst she shares the netball community’s disappointment that the first Suncorp Spirit Cup is unable to be played, she remains excited about what the event will achieve in future years.

Whilst the event has been postponed indefinitely, we won’t be able to confirm a new date when the event will take place. Therefore, all ticket holders who had purchased for this event will receive a full refund via Ticketek. This process will take place over the coming weeks so we anticipated that funds will all be returned in the next 20 business days.

We are sorry that this fantastic event won’t take place this Saturday, but safety is always paramount. The Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning both hope you, your family and friends are all keeping safe in these challenging times.

Thank you and stay safe!

Regards,

Ticketek Team

We will work on another Bonding Event - don’t worry!

NCIS Primary Trials

Lindisfarne are hosting the NCIS Primary Netball Trials on March 10. Good Luck to the girls who have nominated

Umpiring

Well done to all of the girls who attended the Umpiring Course this last weekend and Good Luck to those of you attending this. You must have passed your on-line exam with 70% or more BEFORE you attend. All Saturday Umpires need to register as an Umpire on NetballConnect. This includes anyone that has already registered as a Player, Coach or any other role on NetballConnect. The Umpire registration is supposed to be free. However - there is a glitch on Netball Connect, charging already registered playing members $7.50 to register as an Umpire. Please pay for this and Tahu will send a $7.50 discount code to you to have the money reimbursed.

If you have any questions re: netball, please do not hesitate to email me.

“I’m here if you need!”

Gay Maynard 
Teacher in Charge of Netball

The Sports Department wishes our whole community our best wishes in dealing with the fallout from the recent rain events. 

Apologies for the brief newsletter. Like much of the wider region, the Sports Department has been spinning our wheels throughout most of the week with intermittent internet and phones.  

• Rugby Union trials - 7 March POSTPONED (Date TBA)
• Touch Football Championships - 8 March POSTPONED (Date TBA)
• Primary Netball trials for NSWCIS - 10 March PROCEEDING AT THIS STAGE

In addition to this, our Primary Boys and Girls football squads were due to head to the NCIS Football in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday 1 March which was a washout. The new date is Tuesday, 15 March. 

Swimming

Some amazing results were witnessed at the Primary NCIS Swimming Carnival last week. This included Lindisfarne being the winning school, our students breaking records, amazing times clocked. Well done to all our super youngster athletes in what is one of the most arduous and toughest of all sports to prepare for.

The following generalised results from NCIS Primary swimming:

1. Congratulations to all of our Age Champions.    HERE
2. Records Broken -  HERE
3. Full Meet Results -    HERE
4. CIS Individual Advancers - top 3 in each event -   HERE
5. CIS Relay Advancers - top 2 in each relay -  HERE

Also, please see the following Lindisfarne specific attachments from this carnival:

1. School Meet Summary NCIS Primary Swimming 2022 -  HERE
2. School CIS Advancers Primary Swimming 2022 -   HERE
3. CIS Relay Advancers -  HERE 

NSWCIS Primary swimming is at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on 24, March.

In other swimming related news, Flynn Southam has recently been announced as a recipient of the Queensland Games Foundation (QGF) grant for young sporting stars to assist his development in the lead up to Birmingham 2022 and Paris 2024! With this huge opportunity, responsibilities are included, such as community actions aligned with the values of the Commonwealth Games. These values are humanity, equality and destiny. We know Flynn will showcase these values in his teachings to the students of Lindisfarne.

Flynn has offered to provide insight to our young swimmers and their families into the world of elite training and competition coupled with a training session highlighting some of the skills and training routines that have served him so well to date. Flynn is also keen to provide his own insights into the pressures and challenges for parents of high performing swimmers. This is taking place with some of our more elite swimmers next Monday and Tuesday. 

Flynn missed our Lindisfarne swimming carnival with a Swimming Australia week long camp. He was interviewed in an ‘Off The Blocks’ swimming podcast for those of you that would like to listen, please find attached - here. 

Spotlight on Isabella Tate

Isabella participated in the Country Championships for Surf  Life Saving on  Sunday 30 January, she performed extremely well and walked away with several medals.

• GOLD for Board, Swim and Iron (Triple Crown)
• GOLD for 2km beach run
• BRONZE for Flags and Sprints 

Isabella also medalled in team events walking away with 13 Medals in total. She has been training extremely hard with up to 6 to 7 days per week and her hard work and dedication has paid off.

From her performance at the Country Championships she was interviewed for a write up for the State Championships which she is attending this weekend in Sydney – link here. 

Spotlight on Hamish Procter

Hamish Procter managed to do the Kingscliff Triathlon just over three weeks ago and came second in the Tempta for his age group (13 yr old boys) and third over all of the age groups (12yr-14yr olds) in the Tempta race. 

He has been dealing with injury setbacks of late which has mainly been impacting his running, and this has forced him into missing  the NSW All Schools Triathlon in Sydney next month. It comes as such a blow as he qualified for Nationals last year, but they were cancelled due to Covid.

Since he is currently not allowed to train for running, he has picked up more swimming and qualified for the QLD State Sprint Swimming championships at Brisbane Aquatic Centre (Chandler)  - which happened 2 weeks ago. He has been showing improvements in his racing with Personal Best's in numerous events. 

Spotlight on Isabella Arghyros

On 24 and 25 February 2022, Isabella Arghyros competed at the NSW State Surf Lifesaving Championships held at Queenscliff and Manly beaches. She won a bronze medal in the under 12 females individual board event, silver in the under 12’s 1km beach run, and for the third consecutive year, was part of the team that won gold in the under 12 female board relay event!

This event followed her success at the NSW Country Championships held at Forster on 28 to 30 January 2022 where she won 4 gold medals in the under 12’s female 1km beach run, individual board, board rescue, and all age board relay; 2 silver medals in the iron (individual event comprising board, swim and run legs), and in the mixed beach relay. 

Congratulations Isabella - this was a fantastic outcome and thoroughly deserved based on your commitment to training.

Damien Clucas
Head of Sport and Activities

Year 9 has been studying 'Conflict in Texts', with our core focus on how composers choose to represent the diverse motivations, causes, and consequences of interpersonal and global conflicts. 9G has been particularly engaged in our discussion around inner conflict when faced with tragic circumstances. As such, we have organised a debate on the topic 'History has taught us that war is never justified'. With Wilfred Owen's bitter depiction of life in the trenches fresh in their minds, the students have passionately formed their opinions and broadened their philosophical understandings. They have collaborated, communicated and taught each other about different historical events. Pictured here, the affirmative team carefully lining up their arguments, creatively using the space in one of the new O block rooms. 

Mrs Julia Treacy
English Teacher

Industrial Technology Multimedia students benefit from learning the secrets of the Disney Empire. Students in their final year of schooling have the task of producing a written Industry Study report on a business and were very fortunate to hear first-hand about how the Walt Disney Company operates. They were able to talk directly with former high-level Senior Managers within Disney to learn about the strategies in place that make them one of the most recognisable brands in the world.

Guest speaker, John Formica, provided insights into Disney’s strategies for exploiting new technologies, automation and digital marketing. He highlighted that Disney leads the way when it comes to environmental sustainability and workplace culture.

The feedback from the students was extremely positive, and they appreciated the chance to personally liaise with a Former Senior Manager of the world’s leading multimedia company. This is an amazing opportunity that the TAS department offers to our Industrial Technology Multimedia students. By talking with industry leaders, our students are getting inspired with their future careers. Who knows, we might have the next media mogul amongst us.

Greg Dwyer

Aubenas in Ardèche

Bonjour!

Exciting news for our Year 8 French students. As a way of encouraging students to engage with language learning in an authentic way, we are excited to introduce a new pen pal program!

The students we will communicate with live in Aubenas in the Ardèche department, population 12,253, which dates back to the Middle Ages. The town is rich in history and culture and students will have the opportunity to explore the region via the internet to compare lifestyles.

The benefits of the program will enable students to:

use French for an authentic purpose; 

compare lifestyles, experiences and youth culture in a global context; 

see themselves and Australia from a different perspective; 

consolidate previous learning and

gain deeper knowledge of a particular region and culture.

Most of all our students will enjoy making new friends on the other side of the world!

A bientôt,

Sam Weterkamp
French Teacher

Frank Malone
Director of Maths

Remember: Sport and Exercise is also important for the other dimensions of health:

Spiritual: Gives us purpose and direction

Physical: Obvious health and fitness benefits

Cognitive: Helps us think clearly and find solutions to problems

Social: Gives us an opportunity to make new friends but to also build and maintain relationships.

The PDHPE Faculty

Engineering Studies News

This week saw the annual Balsa Bridge Testing for the Year 12 Engineering Studies students. As part of their studies they were required to design and construct a balsa wood bridge that spans 570mm, made of only the supplied materials of balsa wood and araldite. The final bridges were tested with a testing rig for structural integrity and strength. 

The winning bridge held 27 kgs and weighed just 76.2 grams. 

Allison Sands
Teacher of Science

“We are thrilled to be able to bring the Round Square Community together again for the RSIC2022 in the UK. Delegates will spend three days at Oxford University, attending keynotes at the theatre and taking part in baraza breakouts. On day four, the conference will split out to four UK schools for Adventure and Service activities. Our hosts are Latymer Upper School, Ryde School with Upper Chine, AKS Lytham  and Felsted School.”

This is a very exciting opportunity open to students in years 11 and 12. At this stage I am looking for expressions of interest only and more details will follow in the next two weeks. 

Please email your interest to Mr Lush at mlush@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au

Mike Lush
Round Square Coordinator

Olivia Sweetnam & Olivia Grosser
International Prefects

Patrick Brabant
School Assistant - Sustainability 

Clean Up Australia Day is Australia’s leading environmental event. Since its inception millions of pieces of rubbish have been removed from the environment as a result of community clean up efforts from the event. This years Clean Up Australia Day is on this Sunday (the 6th of March). I encourage everyone to get involved in this great event and help make our community cleaner. There are thousands of clean up sites across Australia. Click here to find out what clean ups will be happening around your area. Please note that some clean up sites have moved their clean up date to later in the month because of the predicted weather.

Patrick Brabant
School Assistant - Sustainability

Congratulations to our winners:

Beatrice Broad 5B and Sofia Hawkins 5B – joint first place winners for Year 5

James Dowker 6C – first place winner for Year 6.

So many wonderful entries made judging a difficult task, so well done to all those who entered. 

Gail Dessmann
Librarian