2023 Term 1 Week 4 24 Feb 2023

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

2022 Floods 

On Tuesday, it will have been one year since extensive flooding caused so much devastation across the Northern Rivers region and other parts of New South Wales and Queensland. Many in our school and surrounding communities were significantly impacted by the floods, with many still affected by the loss of property and belongings. The recovery program is expected to take many years, and the trauma for some community members continues. The Red Cross and Tweed Shire Council are hosting events to aid healing, and I have shared the details in the Community News section of our newsletter this week.

I want to also offer support to any members of our School community who may find the anniversary of the floods and the next week challenging. I encourage you to reach out to the people below so that we may assist you during this difficult time.

Emmalene Wells - School Psychologist emmalene.wells@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au
Sarah Oakley - School Counsellor sarah.oakley@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au
Susi Meyers - School Psychologist susi.meyers@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au
Julie Henry - School Psychologist julie.henry@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au
Constantine Osuchukwu - Chaplain constantine.osuchukwu@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au

Ash Wednesday 

Our school recognised Ash Wednesday across both campuses this week. In those Services, Reverend Constantine asked us to consider how we may add some “tenderness, kindness, and silence" to our lives during Lent.

Students were marked with a cross from ashes that were blessed at the Palm Sunday Service held at St Cuthbert’s Parish in 2022, with those crosses being burnt the evening before Ash Wednesday. As an Anglican School, it is important we take time to observe the special dates in the Christian calendar, and we will conclude Lent as a school when we host our Easter Services at the end of the term. I want to thank students for the positive way they engaged in these Services. 

Shrove Tuesday Pancake day 

Preceding Ash Wednesday, many will know that Shrove Tuesday is an important day on the Christian calendar. It is the last day before Lent, a time when many people fast or give up something that they love. It is a reminder of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and his withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

Many will also know that Shrove Tuesday is also referred to as Pancake Day, and I want to thank our Prefects for using this day as a fundraiser to help those affected by recent disasters. Lucinda Joyce (Chaplaincy), Ruby Stante (Community) and Zoe Williams, and Will Carmichael (Service) organised, with the support of Reverend Constantine, Mrs Hayley McDonald, and Hospitality Students, to cook and serve over 1200 pancakes. This is a true example of compassion in action.

Bill Chaffey Ride for Cancer Research Fundraiser 

Lindisfarne parent and former world champion para triathlete Bill Chaffey will ride the Tour de Cure this year. This event will see Bill become the first-hand cyclist to participate in the 8-day cycling event that will see him ride from Coffs Harbour to Noosa, completing 1020km. 

Bill is undertaking this event in support of some friends who are currently battling cancer and also in memory of our much-loved colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend Matt Fydler. Each rider must raise $12,000 towards an overall fundraising goal each year of $2,000,000.

You can support Bill directly via the link below to his fundraising page or by attending a charity event Bill is hosting at Rainbow Bay SLSC from 2.00 pm Saturday, 4 March. See the flyer below. 

Fundraising page link:  tourdecure.grassrootz.com/signature-tour-2023/bill-chaffey

Lions Youth of the Year Public Speaking

Following on from the wonderful efforts of Zia Mowbray (Year 12) and Mia Wilkinson (Year 11) in the Kingscliff Lions Club Youth of the Year competition, Trishul Sivabalan (Year 12) and Mia Harris (Year 11) competed in the Tweed Coolangatta Lions Club judging this week. Both students were selected to move to the next level of competition - the regional judging, joining Mia Wilkinson (Year 11) in the next round to be held in Ballina next Saturday.

Meet The Music Tutors Evening 

On Wednesday evening, I was reminded of the world-class standard of our Music staff and Music Tutors when we held our annual Meet the Music Tutors night. This event is one of my favourites on the school calendar, as parents and students get to see and hear from the exceptional staff who support our students and share their passion for music. I thank Mr Todd Hardy and his team for their ongoing dedication to providing more than 670 weekly private music lessons each week in the school, as well as the ongoing curriculum and co-curricular opportunities afforded to these students. We talk at Lindisfarne about ‘using our gifts for the good of others,’ and this event holds true to that adage, as our exceptionally talented staff and students shared their musical talents and gifts with us all.

Netball Season Launch

Congratulations to Strategic Director of Netball Danielle Watters and Support Group President Aleisha Weston on the highly successful Netball Launch last Saturday. Thank you to the Executive Contact for Sport Mr Jeremy Godden, for representing me at this important event. We were grateful to have Queensland Firebird Mia Stower as our special guest at our season launch.

This week saw former Australian Diamond Gretal Bueta (Tippett) spend time at Lindisfarne on Thursday. It is inspiring to have outstanding role models like Mia Stower and Gretel Bueta sharing with our students. 

Stuart Marquardt
Principal

Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Guardians,

Pancake Day Fundraiser in Aid of Syria and Turkey

I would like to sincerely thank all our students, staff and families for supporting our Pancake Day fundraiser to support the children and young people of Syria impacted by the devastating earthquakes. All the proceeds will go to UNICEF, visit here to see how our donations can help. Thank you so much.

Ash Wednesday, Lent and Easter

Thank you for your support of our Ash Wednesday Services this week. The ashes we received on our foreheads during the services this week came from the palm crosses blessed during last year’s Palm Sunday service -the annual commemoration of Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where he suffered and died for the salvation of the world.

With Ash Wednesday, we begin the season of Lent in the Christian calendar, a 40 day journey to Easter when we remember the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Lent we are invited to live authentically, to deepen our relationship with others and with God. We can do this by being tender-hearted and kind with each other, and by embracing stillness.

Lent calls us to a conversion of heart; to prayer, fasting and works of charity. It is a season of grace when we are invited to attend to our spiritual life and to care deeply for one another, for our common home -the earth, and for those who experience hardship, poverty and homelessness.

The questions being asked of us this Lent are: what are you going to do to make a positive difference in your life, your home, our school and our society? What vices (bad habits) are we going to give up, and what virtues (good habits) are we going to take up?

Spiritual Gym on Sunday 5th March 2023

All are invited to our monthly Spiritual Gym on Sunday, 5th March, beginning with fellowship and refreshments at 4.30pm and then a Eucharist (Thanksgiving) Service at 5pm. During ‘Spiritual Gyms’ we nourish our spirits through prayer, uplifting music and hymns, fellowship, quiet time, and Bible reflection. Please come and be healed in mind, body and spirit. 

For our communal prayers or positive thoughts/good vibes this week, let’s think of:

• All those impacted by the devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey
• All those suffering the aftermath of the cyclone in New Zealand
• All those who are new to our School community -that they may find friendship and kindness
• All those who are sick or experiencing grief and loss
• The flourishing of each and every young person in our care

A Blessing

I make mine the words of John O’Donohue:

May the nourishment of the earth be yours, may the clarity of light be yours, may the fluency of the ocean be yours, may the protection of the ancestors be yours.

I wish you a restful and relaxing weekend.

The Reverend Constantine Osuchukwu
Chaplain

Gather the crew and get ready for a night of fun and games! The P&F Trivia Night is the ultimate trivia test, where knowledge meets laughter and competition takes centre stage. Whether you’re a trivia master or just along for the good times, the P&F have a night full of challenges and surprises in store for you. So grab a seat and get ready to put your brain to the test!

TICKET BOOKING LINK

The Lindisfarne Business Network is proud to welcome Michael Kasprowicz as the next Business Breakfast speaker.

To book your ticket or a table click on this link.

Wednesday, 22 March in Ngahriyah, Mahers Lane campus.

Michael has uniquely established himself as a leading business professional specialising in the business of sport and the parallels with the sport of business.

For more than 30 years, Michael has been involved at the highest levels of the national sport of cricket. Firstly as a professional cricketer for 19 years and then as a director on the Board of Cricket Australia and highly active in the governance of the national body for nearly 9 years.

Following an extensive career as a professional cricketer, Michael completed his MBA at the University of Queensland and developed Venture India, a consulting company specialising in business with India. Through this time, Michael spent 5 years on the DFAT appointed Board of the Australia India Council.

In 2016, Michael served as the interim Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Cricket before returning to the Cricket Australia Board. Michael has also successfully completed a residential Australian Institute of Company Directors course and recently worked with a number of well-known advisory firms in developing their sports advisory practices. 

Michael combines his experiences as an athlete, director and administrator of one of Australia’s largest sports to bring a truly unique perspective to the challenges of both sporting and non-sporting organisations.

Dates for Term 1

Please find below Term 1 - Junior School key dates to add to your calendar.: 

• Friday 24 March (week 8) - FUN Cross Country Carnival
• Friday 7 April - Year 3-12 Cross Country 

Total Football Academy - After-school Program 

The Total Football Academy after-school program has started, the program will continue until week 10 Monday 3 April. 

We still have a few vacancies at this stage. If you are interested you can sign up via parent lounge Events and Payments. All other information can be found here.  AFS Lindisfarne T1.pdf. 

Mr Croft will meet all participants on the Basketball Court after school to mark the roll. Students will have the opportunity to eat a snack and change into some training gear if they would like before the session starts.

Runners Club

Another fantastic turnout for the Runners Club this week. Again we are steadily growing and had big numbers each day, with lots of parents joining in the fun as well. 

Runners Club Training days will be Monday and Wednesday mornings for students in Years 1 to 4. The training sessions will begin at 7.30am sharp and will conclude by 8.30am. Runners should meet Mr Croft at the Arkinstall Park back gate by 7.25am. 

Students will be required to bring along their school uniform 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. 

We would love to see more parents and carers come along and join in the fun, Win the morning win the day with a little exercise and spending time with your kids. 

 Hockey After School Program 

Casuarina Hockey will be running an after-school program for year 3 and 4 students at the Junior School starting in Week 6 Tuesday 7 March. It will be run on the Junior School Basketball Courts and back oval from 3.15pm.

The program will cost $50 for the five-week program. Registration and payment can be made via Parent Lounge Events & Payments. 

Who: Year 3 and 4 students 
Cost: $50 payable via Parent Lounge Events and Payments 
Where: Junior School Back oval
When: Dates 7, 14, 21, 28 March and 4 April.
What to wear: any training gear, with joggers or runners

Gold Coast Inter-School Tennis Challenge

Last Sunday we had a number of students participate in the Gold Coast Inter-School Tennis Challenge. William Middleton, teamed up with Ayva Immisch to take on teams from schools all over the coast. 

They began their day well winning their first match and being very close to winning 2 others. This was Williams first time playing in a doubles tournament. 

They both had a great day and played some outstanding Tennis. 

Well done Ayva and Will!

Nathan Croft
PE Specialist P-4

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you well. As we approach the end of February, I wanted to touch on a few important topics related to our school community.

Firstly, I kindly remind you about the parking situation on Sullivan Street. It has been brought to our attention that there have been some issues with parents and guardians parking on Sullivan Street during pick-up and drop-off times. As has been previously communicated, parking in Sullivan is not permitted under council approval regulations. We respectfully request that you adhere to the no-parking restrictions on Sullivan Street, and consider alternative parking arrangements if necessary. The walking school bus, parking at Arkinstall Park and the Turning Circle remain the most efficient, effective and safe approaches to pick-up and drop-off times. 

On a similar note, the bus turning area at the end of Sunshine Avenue is a “No Stopping” zone. There have been many parents parking in this clearly signed area. There are significant safety concerns that arise from cars parking in this area as buses have to perform multi-point turns to get out. This puts children and parents in danger. I thank you for your support in providing a safe environment for our school community.

In the spirit of inclusivity and support for a worthy cause, we would like to invite all students to wear a rainbow accessory with their uniform on February 28th, which is Rare Diseases Day. We believe that this will be a great opportunity for students to demonstrate their compassion and kindness towards others, and to raise awareness and funds for this important cause. We kindly request a gold coin donation, which will go towards research and support for individuals and families affected by rare diseases.

On March 1st, we will be celebrating Grandparents Day at our school. We recognise the importance of grandparents and special family members in the lives of our students, and we warmly invite them to join us for morning tea and some quality time with their grandchildren in the classroom. Multi-generational connections play a crucial role in the lives of young people. These connections provide a sense of belonging, identity, and perspective that cannot be found in other relationships. Grandparents, older relatives, and family friends offer a wealth of experience, wisdom, and knowledge that can help young people develop a sense of history and cultural heritage.

Overall, multi-generational connections have immense benefits for young people, and it is important that we nurture and value these connections in our families and communities. By doing so, we can create a more vibrant and connected society, where young people feel supported and empowered to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in these matters. Together, we will continue to make our school a safe and welcoming environment for all students and families.

Multi-generational connections play a crucial role in the lives of young people. These connections provide a sense of belonging, identity, and perspective that cannot be found in other relationships. 

Grandparents, older relatives, and family friends offer a wealth of experience, wisdom, and knowledge that can help young people develop a sense of history and cultural heritage.

Overall, multi-generational connections have immense benefits for young people, and it is important that we nurture and value these connections in our families and communities. By doing so, we can create a more vibrant and connected society, where young people feel supported and empowered to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

Moreover, multi-generational connections offer a unique opportunity for young people to learn from the past, and to gain insight into how society has evolved over time. Young people can benefit from hearing stories of triumph, struggle, and resilience from older generations, and can use this knowledge to make informed decisions about their own lives.

In addition to this, multi-generational connections can help young people develop social and emotional skills such as empathy, respect, and communication. Through interactions with older generations, young people can learn how to navigate different perspectives and develop a sense of compassion for others.

Jeremy Godden
Head of Junior School

It was Insect Central in Year One! The highlight last week was definitely the visit of Miss Davina from Bugs Ed. Lead-in activities and tasks ensured the children had a myriad of insect-related wonderings and questions for her to field. They were absolutely fascinated by the preserved AND the very much alive specimens. Seeing them connecting to our Science unit ‘External Features of Living Things’ was super.

Melissa O’Reilly, Kathryn Leary & Linda Terry
Year 1 Teachers 

On Tuesday, Year 2 was so excited to dive into the rapidly changing world of butterflies. Jo from the Butterfly House at Carrara came to speak to us about butterflies' life stages and cycles, and we were astounded by the amazing things we discovered. We are currently learning to write Information Reports and investigate how living things grow and change; the incursion could not have come at a better time. Students saw the life cycle up close with eggs on citrus leaves, caterpillars/pupa on host plants, and the various stages of a chrysalis and witnessed some fully developed butterflies taking flight.

Some fascinating facts we learnt about these cold-blooded invertebrate insects were: 

• Butterflies are 30 million years old, and Australia has around 427 species. 
• More colourful butterflies are generally males (to attract the ladies), and female butterflies are generally bigger but not as colourful as a protective measure so that they blend in with trees and leaves.
• Butterflies don’t “eat” after they change into a butterfly; they drink nectar with their proboscis (like a straw). They do, however, eat lots in their caterpillar stage.
• A mother butterfly will lay hundreds of eggs on a host plant that all the eggs can eat (such as citrus or milkweed) when they hatch out of their eggs. The pupa also eats the egg they were born in, which is very nutritious!

Iysha Blenkinsop
Teacher 

Leadership has been the topic for our pastoral care lessons recently, and so far we have covered areas such as lollipop moments (small moments in our lives where someone made our hearts a little fuller), inspirational and powerful leaders from the last century (including Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, and Franklin D Roosevelt), and the qualities that help to shape a leader (such as selflessness, resilience, determination, passion, humility, loyalty, and confidence). 

The first area we covered in class, lollipop moments, is significant to everyone's lives as it proves that even small actions can create a massive change in someone's overall health and wellbeing, whether it be lasting or momentary. For some, a lollipop moment could be the defining moment that changed their mindset, got them out of a tough mental state, or even just put a smile on their face, the only smile that they would feel all day. These moments can be something as simple as giving a genuine compliment to somebody, asking if someone is alright if they seem to be downcast and trying to help them if possible, or something as simple as a smile or a wave reminding the person that they aren't alone. 

Through pastoral care, as well as my personal experiences of what being a leader entails, I believe that you don't have to come from privileged beginnings to be one, instead you have to carry the aforementioned qualities I listed, and care about what you are doing and who you are doing it for. Being a leader means nothing if you do not respect what you are advocating for. How are people meant to entrust in you and deeply connect to your claims if you don't have any care for the words and actions you are using to influence them? 

In order to be a leader, you must put the needs of others before your own, all the while making sure you are strong enough to lead, as your role isn't a selfish one, but rather one of care and support for everyone included. Because although you are leading, your followers should see you as an equal, rather than some obscure being they feel the need to serve and worship. In a group, your role is to keep everyone united under one cause, one goal, one determination, not to watch as everyone carries out your wishes for you. 

I hope all of you reading this have a great day and I hope you took something from my writing! 

Alicia Brown
8D 

Spiritual Care Session

Please be reminded that as part of Lindisfarne’s ParentEd Program; this afternoon at 5:00 pm, The Reverend Constantine will be holding a Spiritual Care Session. This session will explore the practice of silence, prayer, meditation, contemplation and solitude. All families are welcome.

Ash Wednesday Service

It was wonderful to share our Middle School Ash Wednesday Service with some of our parents this week. This important service marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is an important period of reflection, growth, and new beginnings in the Chrisitian calendar. It begins on Ash Wednesday, the day after Shrove Tuesday, and continues for six weeks, in the lead up to Easter. Lent ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Lent is 40 days long, as Sundays are not counted

Goal Setting

As we approach the halfway point of Term 1, assessment due dates will begin to roll in. This is a timely point for our students to revisit the goals they made at the beginning of the year. 

Goals are useful for students of all ages. It is important to discuss with your child what is going well and what needs to develop further. These conversations provide students with direction and purpose. 

Aoyama Gakuen Visit

From Friday next week, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School is fortunate to have our Japanese Sister School, Aoyama Gakuen students, arriving for a 4-week visit. The visit will see the Aoyama students interacting with Lindisfarne students in various ways. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to practise their Japanese speaking skills. More information about the Aoyama students schedule will be provided throughout their visit.

Cathy Cox
Head of Middle School

Lions Youth of the Year

Congratulations to Trishul Sivabalan (Year 12) and Mia Harris (Year 11) who competed in the Tweed Coolangatta Lions Club judging this week. Both students were selected to move to the next level of competition - the regional judging. Here they will meet fellow Year 11 student Mia Wilkinson (Year 11) who was successful in winning the Kingscliff Lions Club judging earlier this term. The Lions Youth of the Year contest is aimed at all young people who seek to improve their skills before entering the workforce or other endeavours. We are certainly very proud of these Lindisfarne students who are representing the School and themselves so ably.

Ash Wednesday Service

Many thanks to The Reverend Constantine Osuchukwu for leading the Senior School in its Ash Wednesday Service this week. He shared his thoughts about the importance of tenderness, kindness and silence as we enter the season of Lent. Our senior leaders made a significant contribution to the Service as well. I have been so impressed by this year’s Captains and Prefects who always look for opportunities to serve the School.

Meet the Music Tutors Evening

The annual Meet the Tutors Evening took place at the Mahers Lane campus on Wednesday night. This is one of my favourite events of the year where we can see our students perform alongside their teachers. Each year I am reminded of the incredible talent in the Music faculty. What a privilege it was to hear so many talented musicians play. Thank you to the wonderful leadership of Mr Todd Hardy, the Director of Performing Arts for giving our students these rich opportunities. 

Upcoming Police Visit

I was pleased to inform all Senior School students that I have organised a visit from NSW Police in March. A team of officers will speak to students in Years 9 to 12, about some of the issues facing young people, schools and the broader community. They will focus on reducing youth crime, violence and anti-social behaviour. However, I have asked them to discuss additional issues regarding consent, sexting and sexual assault too. School Liason Police are responsible for forging and maintaining links with all high schools throughout NSW. These officers develop and present programs in conjunction with teaching staff and act as a central point of contact on police, community and school issues. They provide information, support and guidance on security, intervention strategies and child protection matters relating to the school as well as other issues relating to safety and community responsibility. Needless to say, a school’s relationship with School Liason Police is a very important one. We look forward to their visit in March.

Kate Cornell
Head of Senior School

Recent Games

U15 v Kings College (Gold Coast Emerging Schools Cup)

The 2023 Gold Coast Emerging Schools Cup kicked off this week on Wednesday afternoon. The U15s began their season in drizzly conditions at Nerang Rugby Club. Before the game the team spoke about setting their standards for the season to come and the team certainly set a great marker on Wednesday afternoon. The final score was 29-5 but a strong second half allowed this final score after a 5-5 deadlock at Half Time. Koen Hodge demonstrated his range of abilities with a switch to fullback paying dividends with a four-try performance leading the way. Eden Humphreys led the team around the park as an Under 14 play maker and strong carries from Keahi Avery-Numa and Harry Thompson-Mills provided good front foot ball. 

The team now prepares for our trial on Tuesday before returning to the Gold Coast Emerging Schools Cup next Wednesday evening looking to carry the momentum from game 1 into both of these fixtures. 

U13 v Somerset

Twenty three enthusiastic u13s players travelled to Somerset College on Wednesday afternoon to begin their 2023 rugby season against a strong opponent who we lost to in the dying minutes of the corresponding fixture last year and again later in the season.  Spirits were high as we were given a tour of Somerset’s ‘Rugby House’ and saw the traditions and history of a program that is 36 years old.

Once the game started, it was clear there would be no repeat of last year’s heartbreak.  The team started with some magnificent carries up front by Adam Price, Tom Mison and Teo Martin to get some important go forward with the backs being directed around the field by captain Max Esgate and finding plenty of space.  The halftime score was a relatively respectable lead of 25-5 with some fantastic individual skill by Koby Mundy a highlight.  After halftime, the team increased their intensity and aggression with some massive carries and offloads by Sully Groves and some solid defense in the backline keeping the pressure on Somerset.  The flood gates opened and the pressure inevitably lead to points with the final (unofficial) score being 90-5.

We hope to carry this enthusiasm into next week’s games against Sunshine Coast Grammar and Somerset again, who will be significantly bolstered.

Unfortunately the Emerging Schools Competition was cancelled by Gold Coast Rugby for the U13s division, however we have managed to organise a number of games v Somerset and Sunshine Coast Grammar for this squad in upcoming weeks.

2023 Key Dates

Please see upcoming key dates for our boys’ and girls’ program below. You can find the full list of key dates HERE.

Boys 

Girls

Scots PGC Trial 28 February

We will be hosting a trial v Scots PGC for all three squads (U13, U15 and 1st XV) next week on Tuesday on our top oval.  The kick-off times are as follows:

• U13 1200
• U15 1250
• 1st XV 1340

Please note all squads will still be training on Tuesday at 0700 before this fixture.

Parents and students are more than welcome to attend if they have the time and we would love to have as many people as possible on the hill in support. Also if there are any parents who are available to assist in a post match BBQ on the day, please let Dr. Coyne know asap (jcoyne@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au).

2022 Team Photos (1st XV, U15, U13 boy and Open Girls’ 7s)

We have ordered our photos of the 2022 rugby union squads based on the responses we have had. The fee for the photos is $13 and will be billed through Parent Lounge when they have arrived.

The Armidale School Rugby Carnival 2023 - U12 boys

NOTE: Due to numbers, we have opened this registration up to U12 students (i.e., 11 years old on 1st January 2023) in Y7. If you are a U12 Y7 student and would like to play in the TASRC, please complete the registration through this link HERE by Friday 3rd March. Note, payment will be arranged through Parent Lounge once registered and we can only take 4 more players to the carnival so if you are interested, please read more below and register asap. 

We have recently been accepted into The Armidale School Rugby Carnival (TASRC), which is the biggest primary (U12) school rugby carnival in Australia. The carnival runs from Friday 21st April - Sunday 23rd April this year (NOTE: this is the weekend before term 2 begins). For a draft itinerary of the weekend at the TASRC, please click HERE. To confirm our attendance as a school, we are in the process of finalising our player registrations and will be providing more information ASAP. 

Registration will cost $275 and includes:

• TASRC carnival cap
• Five games of rugby at the carnival
• Two nights’ accommodation for players and support staff
• Dinner on Friday and Saturday night
• Full breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning at the boarding school
• Lunch on two days provided by TAS at the carnival
• Team photograph for each participant
• Transport to and from the school on Friday 21st and Sunday 23rd

Stack Team APP

The Lindisfarne Rugby Union program’s main form of communication for our Boy’s U13, U15, 1st XVs and 7’s and Girl’s 7s will be the Stack Team app with email being used as minimally as possible. The Stack Team app will host news and updates to schedules, live scores, player availability, important documents and links to our sponsors. 

Note, both parents and Boy’s U13, U15, 1st XVs and 7’s and Girl’s 7s students who have parental permission for smartphones will need to download the app and join the relevant squad in the app (e.g., 1st XV, U15 XV, U13 XV, Girls 7s).

To download the Stack team app, use the following links:

● iOS: https://www.teamapp.com/ios-ap...

● Android: https://www.teamapp.com/androi...

Once downloaded, please search for 'Lindisfarne Rugby Program' and request to join. We will be approving the requests from students and parents in the coming weeks as we roll out the app in more depth.

More Information

If you have any questions about the above, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Coyne (jcoyne@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au).

Annabelle Brown (year 8) had a super weekend flying the Lindisfarne flag (saddle blanket) at the recent Stuartholme School Dressage and Show Jumping Interschool Queensland Qualifying Event at Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Grounds.

Classes were at capacity and of a high standard, with students from schools throughout South East Queensland competing in the first IQ event for the year. Annabelle entered both Dressage and Show Jumping with her two horses. Saving their best results for the jumping, Breeze came home as the overall 70-80cm Champion, while Nadia finished with a well-deserved 4th in another massive class.

Congratulations, Annabelle and team!

Kathryn Leary 
Equestrian Coordinator

The English faculty has introduced ‘Quick Write Journals’ across all senior and middle school English classrooms. For the first seven minutes of each lesson, students will hand-write an entry, responding to a visual, verbal, or written stimulus. This training encourages ‘stream of consciousness’ action and fine-tunes skills required for on-the-spot analysis and written response in the class and exam room. 

Remembering that texts are not just ‘lines of letters’, each student crafted a cover for their journal from repurposed old books, creating a personal bricolage of fabulous images and words. These journals will remain in the classroom and move up through the years with each student as they journey on their literary adventures.

Katy Otto
English Teacher

As we approach mid-term, the English classrooms are buzzing with busyness. Much content is being covered across the ages, and assessment task distribution is pending!

A familiar face and a brand new face are being introduced this week! Mrs. Cathy Myers has been a friendly face at Lindisfarne for over a decade and is well known for her role as Head of St Stephen house. Mrs. Myers has worked across all year levels and offers a wealth of knowledge. Mrs. Rikki Hunter has joined us this year and works mainly in the Senior School, but she also loves developing the skills of Middle School students.

Kylie Wharton
Director of English

On Saturday, 18 February, 36 of our debaters traveled to Bond University for a training day on debating skills. The Summer School focused on the following:

• the structural requirements of a debate,
• the stylistic features of a debate,
• the different types of debates, and
• the quality of arguments and rebuttals. 

The Summer School catered to emerging debaters with limited debating experience and established debaters who needed to hone their debating skills. Some of our students are captured below, waiting for their sessions to begin.

Aziah Phoenix-Coy, Niamh Glasson, Xavier Galle, and Lillia Abbey. 

Eliza Evesson, Tessa Ford, Ben Reeve, Nicolas Leotta, Lachlan Clarke, and Jay Cahill, with Olivia Danesi in the background.

Each school must also provide trained adjudicators to enter teams in the Gold Coast Debating Competition. Therefore, special thanks are extended to Miss Curtis - Geselle, Mrs. Otto, and Miss Miranda Rhodes, a former Lindisfarne student and debater who completed the debating adjudicator training course.

Suellen Walker
English Coordinator 

On Tuesday, 21 February, Mia Harris and Trishul Sivabalan competed in the Lions Youth of the Year Competition organised by the Lions Club of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.  Both Mia and Trishul were immaculately groomed and ably represented the Lindisfarne. Their spontaneous impromptus were fluent and thoughtful, and their prepared speeches reflected their level of preparation. Of note was the positive feedback that the students received from audience members on their presentations and the comments from the judges about their panel interviews.

Mia and Trishul have been selected to proceed to the Regional Final, which will be held at Ballina on Saturday, 4 March. Additionally, Mia was awarded the Public Speaking prize. Mia Harris and Trishul will be joined by Mia Wilkinson (representing the Kingscliff Lions Club) at the Regional Final. It is a testament to their hard work that we have three students selected to compete at the next level of this competition. We wish them all the best on 4 March.

Suellen Walker
English Coordinator

Over 300 people filled the Chapel on Wednesday evening for our annual Meet The Music Tutors concert. The evening started with a rousing Big Band rendition of the Jaco Pastorious Gospel work “The Chicken”, featuring smoking solos from Luke Stapleton on Guitar. Other highlights of the evening included Piano performances from tutors Louise Dylan and Margaret Curtis, a groovy Brazillian medley from Nicky Parrott, the Staff String duet from Mr Warr and Mr He,  a headbanging version of Lonely Boy from our staff Rock Band and a mass collaboration of our tutors performing the Stevie Wonder classic Signed Sealed, Delivered.

Our Middle and Senior Choir and Middle and Senior Stage Bands supported the evening with polished performances of a broad range of recently prepared repertoire.

The event was a wonderful showcase of our talented teaching staff and was presented with the kind support of our Friends of the Arts group.

Todd Hardy
Director of Performing Arts

Students have been exploring a wide range of topics in Science this term and have had the opportunity to engage in many practical experiences. There are numerous opportunities for students to further their love for science - both in the classroom and outside. One of these upcoming opportunities is for our Years 7-9 girls who are interested in exploring a future in Engineering. Queensland’s University of Technology (QUT) have invited us to visit their Garden Point Campus for a tour of their Engineering facilities as well as a local industry site on Friday 10th March. There are limited spaces for this tour and the first people to complete the excursion form which will go live on Parent Lounge on Monday will be selected to attend. 

For our Years 10-12 Students, applications are now open for the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) Forensics Work Experience Program. This is held for a week in May and September in Canberra. Applications are open until 10th March at https://jobs.afp.gov.au/forensicsworkex. 

I encourage all students to embrace these opportunities to extend their love for science beyond the classroom.

Ms Jo Mendoza
Director of Science

Students have been exploring a wide range of topics in Science this term and have had the opportunity to engage in many practical experiences. There are many opportunities for students to further their love for science - both in the classroom and outside. One of these upcoming opportunities is for our Years 7-9 girls interested in exploring a future in Engineering. Queensland’s University of Technology (QUT) have invited us to visit their Garden Point Campus for a tour of their Engineering facilities as well as a site visit

Fountain Valley School invites up to 6 students from Years 10,11 or 12 for a Round Square Zoom Postcard on March 8th with the theme “Safe Spaces: Where we all belong”.

This 90-minute call will examine how our campus physical spaces can create emotional and mental safety to instill a sense of belonging in our communities around the world.

Mike Lush
Round Square Coordinator

Clean Up Australia Day is fast approaching. Over the last 30 years more than 20 million Australians have participated in Clean Up Australia Day making it the nations biggest community led environment event. 

Every year at the Junior School we get in the spirit of Clean Up Australia Day and conduct a clean-up on campus. This allows our students to see the impact of litter in our community first-hand and helps to inspire them to take actions to reduce their waste footprint.

Clean Up Australia Day will be happening nationally on Sunday the 5th of March next week. There are countless clean-ups that will be taking place through the Tweed and Byron Shires as well as the Gold Coast so there will be one near you. To get involved and find a clean-up near you click on this link: www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/join-a-clean-up

Patrick Brabant
School Assistant - Sustainability