2023 Term 2 Week 3 12 May 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As Week 3 draws to a close, I am pleased to update you on some of the exciting events and initiatives that have taken place at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School this week.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Patrick Brabant for facilitating a visit from Elanora State High School. Our visitors were impressed with the many sustainability initiatives we have in place at our school, including our recycling hubs, Suppods, environmental dashboards, solar program, energy-saving technologies, community garden, and rainforest. It was a pleasure to share our school with the Elanora community and showcase the wonderful work our staff and students are doing to promote sustainable practices.

Earlier in the week, representatives from our school had the pleasure of attending the regional launch of The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal. The Appeal aims to support the diverse community programs and services that The Salvation Army offer. With a mission to alleviate poverty, provide essential support, and promote social justice, the organisation offers services such as shelter, addiction recovery, financial counselling, and emergency relief. I would ask that you consider supporting this worthwhile cause. You can donate directly via their website at https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/red-shield-appeal/

On Tuesday night, we held our annual Parent and Friends Association (P&F) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the Mahers Lane Library. We discussed important issues relating to our school community, including fundraising events, community engagement, and ongoing support for our students' education. I look forward to highlighting the new committee in the coming weeks as we finalise our plans for the next 12 months of valuable work that the P&F will undertake, in support of our students and our school community. 

As part of our ParentEd program we hosted an Online Guardians Parent Information Evening on Wednesday evening.  As we continue to build our partnership with parents and guardians in educating our children, it is important that opportunities are taken to attend such sessions. Nathan Verrindah, a representative from the eSafety accredited organisation, provided those in attendance with valuable insights into how children are engaging with online platforms. I encourage all parents and guardians to take advantage of the ParentEd opportunities that continued to be offered through this program- here. 

Today Lindisfarne hosted the NCIS Cross Country event, where 970 students from 15 different schools competed. We also hosted the The Fuse Cup, a national esports competition that promotes positive gaming behaviours and digital wellbeing among young people. Our students showcased their dance skills in the popular game, Just Dance, and competed for prizes. My thanks to the staff involved in facilitating these wonderful opportunities for our students. 

We had the privilege of hosting representatives from the Association of Independent Schools New South Wales (AISNSW) this week. The team were on campus working with staff involved in the Teaching Hubs program; an initiative designed to bring training teachers into the school community sooner. The AISNSW team were filming at Mahers Lane on Tuesday. AISNSW are in the process of creating a documentary-style video regarding the program and profiling key members of our staff, involved in the program, as part of this. Thanks to Mr Bradford, Mr Robins, Ms Philips, Mrs Wharton, Mr Prestage and Ms Curtis-Gisele for their continued work in this program. 

As Lindisfarne continues to provide local and national leadership in teaching and learning, we are excited to host the 'AI, ChatGPT and Education Roundtable' on June 1st. This event, hosted for educators, provides an opportunity for teachers to come together to discuss the implications of this new technology in education. Partnering with Southern Cross University, we are proud to host the following speakers who will be presenting at this event:

• Mike Abicena - McCrindle Consulting
• Adrian Tobin - KinLab Consulting
• University Panel - 
  • Professor Donna Pendergast Griffith University
  • Associate Professor Kate Thompson Queensland University of Technology
  • Professor Andrew Rose Southern Cross University
• Geoff Lancaster - Principal St Luke’s Grammar School
• Matt Esterman - Director of Innovation and Partnerships Our Lady of Mercy College

Any teachers/educators from our wider school community are welcome to attend this event. Please contact Mr Bradford directly for more information; kane.bradford@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au 

On Wednesday, the ‘Apple Story School’ project commenced at Sunshine Avenue. This marked another key milestone in our ongoing collaboration with Apple Education. We have been fortunate enough to be selected into the ‘Apple Story School’ project which will run from the Junior school and involve Year 4 in the first instance. This innovative project connects literacy development with Apple technology and a network of schools from across the country. We are excited to see where this work takes us and the learning outcomes it delivers for the students. 

Police from Tweed Byron Police District are holding two community forums this month to educate parents, carers, and young people about the long-term effects of sexting, image-based abuse, and the production, possession and distribution of illicit images and child abuse material.

The forums will discuss ways that police, students, parents, and carers can openly communicate these issues to each other, with hopes of reducing the instances of digital-based offences.

Representatives from a range of stakeholders will present at the event, including NSW Police, NSW Health, Tweed Valley Sexual Assault Service, Tweed Heads Community Mental Health, Headspace and The Family Centre. The second of the two forums will be held on Monday, 15 May, at the Tweed Civic and Cultural Centre Auditorium (Brett Street, Tweed Heads) from 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

As we turn our attention to Mother's Day, I would like to thank Nicole Thomas for her organisation of the Parents and Friends Mother's Day Stall and also Tracy Foyster for her work in growing and coordinating the sale of the Mother's Day flowers. Their efforts are sure to bring about many smiles on Sunday morning.

I want to personally extend my heartfelt wishes for a joyous and love-filled Mother's Day on Sunday. May this day be a celebration of all the love, sacrifices, and selflessness that you bring into our lives every day. For those who are missing their mothers on this day, may you find some peace in honouring their memory and the love they brought into your life.

Stuart Marquardt
Principal

Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Guardians,

Gratitude

Thank you to all those who joined us last Sunday for the “Spiritual Gym- Family Eucharist”, particularly The Reverend Lyndon Mullholland and Mrs Anna Mullholland who led the Service so beautifully. Apart from the opportunity for soul care and spiritual renewal, Spiritual Gym offers us the space for fellowship, connection, intergenerational encounter and presence. Our next Spiritual Gym Service is on Sunday, 4 June, 2023 at 4.30pm in the Mahers Lane Chapel. All are welcome.

The Culture of Kindness and the Language of Charity

Anglican and Christian Schools have a strong focus on the holistic development of our young people which means that we educate our students to integrate the processes of thinking, feeling and doing. Our School takes seriously the education and development of the whole child -body, mind and spirit.

The Chapel Services at Lindisfarne offers our staff and students the opportunity to pause in the busyness and rush of the school's hectic schedule to pray, connect, be silent, and reflect. This term, our Chapel Services will be based on cultivating “Heroic Habits” and on building the culture of kindness and the language of charity. As Charlie McKesy wrote, “Nothing beats kindness,' said the horse. 'It sits quietly beyond all things.” Let us continue to encourage and model this culture of kindness and the language of charity.

Gold Coast Titans Indigenous Round Jersey

Our very own Narelle Urquhart, First Nations Cultural Engagement Coordinator, had the privilege of designing and painting this year's Gold Coast Titans Indigenous Round jersey. The artwork depicts our First Nations Peoples’ strong culture; beautiful beaches; the Tweed River; Gold Coast hinterland and the legacy of Preston Cambpell and Titans’ past 5 Indigenous captains. 

Narelle said she felt very honoured to be able to do their jersey; she loves the club and has been engaged with them as a community member since the club was established. Her four children have also been involved for many years with her son Malachi being a ballboy alongside Jayden Cambell when they were younger. The jersey will be worn this coming weekend against the Canterbury Bulldogs. Congratulations to Narelle!

A Prayer for All Mothers

We give thanks for all our mothers and mother-figures of our community;

We pray for God’s blessings on each and everyone of you as we celebrate Mother’s day;

We ask for God’s comfort upon those whose mums are no longer with them;

And those estranged from their mothers;

We pray for mums unable to bear children and those who have to give others their children to raise;

We pray that we may have the courage and grace to continue to provide nurturing, love and care to all in our community;

For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

I wish you a restful and relaxing weekend.

The Reverend Constantine Osuchukwu

Chaplain 

Get your tickets now for the P&F Golf Day.

Promote your business by being a hole sponsor for only $250.

Thanks to our Major Sponsor JGB Interiors.

Bookings via https://www.trybooking.com/CIHVU

Ramesh Sivabalan
President
Lindisfarne P&F

Eating Disorder Awareness
In a world in which we are flooded with nutrition and "healthy eating" misinformation, what does it really mean to have a healthy, comfortable relationship with food? How can we support our children develop healthy body image attitudes in a culture obsessed with weight and achieving a particular body ideal?

As part of our ParentEd Program, we would like to welcome Monique Jephcote to speak on 

Eating Disorder Awareness on Wednesday, 17 May at 6:30pm in the Chapel.
At this engaging information evening for parents, Monique, an alumna of Lindisfarne, an Accredited Practising Dietitian, and the founder & director of the ‘Centre For Intuitive Eating’ (CFIE), will explore the power of Diet Culture and how it perpetuates disordered eating. She will discuss ways to recognise eating disorders, help understand referral pathways, and talk on how to get your child help if there are any red flags.

This is a must-see event for anyone interested in learning about an evidence-based framework which will help you move your child toward a more positive relationship with food, movement, their body, and themselves.

Pictured above: Monique Jephcote
CFIE Founder + Accredited Practising Dietitian + Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor + Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician + HAES Registered Provider + Sports Dietitian + Personal Trainer

The Uniform Shop can get extremely busy with students shopping independently, especially at the beginning of each term and the change of season. Whilst we are happy to assist students with this, sending the students into the store with instructions to call parents for payment on the phone will no longer be an option. We ask for your support by utilising the following alternatives: 

1. Ordering online - https://www.lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au/uniform-shop/ - We will check sizing with students if they attend to pick up the pre-paid item.
2. Providing your child with an eftpos card to use if possible or ensuring they have sufficient funds on their own card/phone
3. Filling in a Credit Card form to be kept on file in the Uniform Shop (link here) to use for the purchase of uniform. Return this to the Shop or email a copy to midford@lindisfarne.com.au
4. IMPORTANT – WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH

We appreciate your support as work to support our students with their uniform needs.

Manager
Lindisfarne Uniform Shop.

School photos are coming up very soon.

Tuesday, 30 May - Mahers Lane.

Wednesday, 7 June - Sunshine Avenue.

Thursday, 15 June - Absentees from both campuses.

If all siblings attend the same campus then those sibling photos will be taken on their relevant campus date.

For siblings who attend different campuses, these will be taken at the Sunshine Avenue campus on Wednesday, 7 June. Further information regarding transport will be sent closer to the day of photos.

School Photo envelopes have been sent home with students. We are only accepting online orders, so these envelopes do not need to be returned to the School. Use the details provided on the envelopes to go online and order your photos. If your student didn't provide you with a photo go to:

www.advancedlife.com.au

Use school code: 29R JHB 5LV

Simon McKinley
Director of Community Engagement

Tweed Byron Police District Family Community Forum
Date: Monday, 15 May 2023
Time: 6:00 PM 
Location: Tweed Civic and Cultural Centre Auditorium, Brett Street, Tweed Heads
Format: Face-to-face

This forum, in collaboration with various stakeholders, aims to educate attendees on the long-term effects of sexting, image-based abuse, and illicit images, and to promote open communication between police, parents, and carers. Presentations will be delivered by representatives from organisations such as NSW Police, NSW Health, Tweed Valley Sexual Assault Service, Tweed Heads Community Mental Health, Headspace, and The Family Centre.

We encourage you to participate in this informative event to better navigate digital safety challenges and create a safer environment for our students. 

For more information in relation to the Community Forum, please contact Senior Constable Brad Foster at Tweed Heads Police Station on 07 5506 9443.

We look forward to your attendance and collaboration in creating a safer digital environment for our community.

ParentEd - Eating Disorders Awareness Information Evening
This information evening will be hosted by Ms Monique Jephcote, for parents wishing to explore the power of Diet Culture and how it perpetuates disordered eating. 

Monique Jephcote is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor, Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician, Health At Every Size (HAES) Registered Provider, Sports Dietitian & Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor.

Monique Jephcote is the founder & director of the ‘Centre For Intuitive Eating’.

On Wednesday evening, the discussion will explore ways to recognise signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders, as well as body changes that may accompany adolescence. Guidance will be provided on sources of help and support that are available to families affected by eating disorders.

Date: Wednesday, 17 May at 6:30pm
Venue: Mahers Lane, Ngahriyah

BOOKING LINK

Term 2 Offerings  Please see the linked timetable schedules below for academic, co curricular and lunch time activity offerings that are available each week throughout Term 2.

Camp Reminder
Camp Week is fast approaching in Week 5. Please be reminded that attending camp is compulsory as it formulates part of the students educational outcomes. 

Some students are incredibly excited about this outdoor educational experience while other students may be feeling somewhat nervous about the unknown. This range of emotional responses is completely normal. As teachers, we are always supportive and caring about how our students are feeling. Camp is a terrific opportunity to further develop social skills and cultivate independence by separating in a healthy way from parents. 

Camp activities can assist children to build confidence by demonstrating mastery of new skills that stretch their learning experiences. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Homeroom teacher.

Students have been discussing the Student Code of Conduct throughout the semester and this was again shared with parents during the online Camp meetings and again with the students during our Middle School assembly, this week.  Please take some time to review the Code of Conduct with your child, with a particular focus on the DOs list, highlighted with the green heading.

Academic Assistance, Clubs & Activities and Co Curricular Offerings
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the range of opportunities available to them. Should your child require extra support at a time not offered, they are encouraged to speak to their teacher to find a mutually agreeable time.

• Term 2 Academic Assistance
• Term 2 Break Times, Clubs & Activities 
• Term 2 Co Curricular Activity Offerings

Cathy Cox
Head of Middle School

This week our Year 5 and 6 students were lucky enough to be entertained and inspired by the visiting theatre group called Brainstorm Productions with their performance, ‘Sticks and Stones’.

Brainstorm Productions is an educational group bringing about positive social change through theatre; empowering students with practical strategies to enhance their mental health, resilience and wellbeing. The performance was followed by a Q&A designed to support our school’s existing wellbeing, cyber safety and pastoral care programs. It was a fabulous opportunity for our Stage 3 students to explore topics that help them to develop and analyse practical skills such as self-awareness, self-management and help-seeking; particularly in regards to social interactions that may make them feel heightened.

 “Take a breath, count to ten, put your hands in your pockets, just walk away, it takes more power to walk away!”

Brainstorm Productions unpacked and presented stories of hope and resilience, inspiring our students to draw on their strengths and values to face life’s challenges.

The students were thoroughly engaged, and actively involved and it was a fantastic learning experience for all. 

Amber Jarvis
Year 5 Coordinator

Click below to see more images

ParentEd - Online Guardians

Wednesday night’s ParentEd information session was a resounding success, and we believe it provided immense value to our parent community. Nathan Verinder, from Online Guardians, gave an insightful and enlightening presentation about the inherent risks and rewards of online engagement for our children. As a former NSW Police Officer and an expert in social media and adolescent development, his knowledge and experience provided a unique and critical perspective on navigating the digital world safely and responsibly. This session was designed to empower parents with the necessary knowledge and tools to guide their children towards safer digital experiences. Nathan's delivery of the content was both engaging and thought-provoking, eliciting positive responses and fostering productive discussions among the attendees. He covered a broad range of topics, provided realistic strategies, and laid the foundation for addressing difficult conversations around online safety and responsible digital behaviour. 

Nathan kindly shared some resources on Screentime Guidelines as well as an excellent template for Family Technology Agreements. 

We believe that this ParentEd opportunity has been a valuable resource, not only in equipping parents with the knowledge to better support their children's online interactions but also in strengthening the partnership between parents and the School. It has created a platform for ongoing communication and collaboration, which is critical in our shared mission to provide a supportive and enriching educational environment for all Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School students. We are grateful for the active participation of parents in this program and look forward to hosting more such informative and engaging sessions in the future.

Kate Cornell
Head of Senior School

On Tuesday, 23 May at 6.00pm, I will be running a Parent Webinar covering year-end dates for HSC and ATAR results, University applications, early entry programs and requirements, and key dates for upcoming University open days. The webinar can be accessed through this link. 

Lauren Ward
Director of Careers and Vocational Education and Training

In Week 5 Year 12 students will have Activities Week, which gives them the opportunity to pause their usual academic schedule and focus on preparation for the final part of their HSC year and life beyond Lindisfarne. The week will include the opportunity to attend University campus tours to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast, a Trades tour to Southport Marina to experience one of the growing employment industries in our area and see a multitude of trade and employment opportunities, a national Careers and Employment Expo in Brisbane and a financial literacy and future planning session by Moneyvest. There will also be opportunities to attend subject specific study sessions as well as seminars on applying for University, Early Entry, Scholarships and considerations for moving out of home. Students are encouraged to make the most of the activities offered during the week and explore all options to gather as much information as possible about their future options. The experiences are designed to broaden students horizons to look beyond what they might already know. Students will sign up for sessions during Week 4 and will be required to attend for the full week.

As part of this week, on Tuesday the 23rd of May at 6pm, Lauren Ward will run a Parent Webinar which will cover year end dates for HSC and ATAR results, University applications, early entry programs and requirements and key dates for upcoming University open days. The webinar can be accessed through this link. 

Futsal

We have had some wonderful days at the Regional Futsal Championships at Coomera. This tournament is a mega-tournament - run over six full days, with buses rolling out at 6.00am each morning with different age groups heading up to the centre.

As you would expect, there are some super slick teams showcasing their wares. Our teams are up to the challenge though, with some very good results eventuating. Highlights thus far include:

U14 Girls - CHAMPIONS

U13 Girls - Runners Up

U16 Boys - Semi Finalists

U19 Boys - Semi Finalists

There are two more days next Monday and Tuesday, good luck to these teams.

Hockey

Beginning on Monday mornings from 7.00am to 8.00am after camp week, Monday  29 May to Monday 19 June, Intermediate and Advanced Hockey skills and drills will be beginning with our Head Coach - Matt Bartell.

Morning training sessions for the rest of Term 2, $10 per session for 4 weeks. Depending on numbers, we may potentially look to roll this initiative out into Term 3. This is open to any student across Years 9 to 12 at Mahers Lane.

If your child is interested please log on to SEQTA engage/parent lounge under Events and Payments to sign your child up for these sessions.

We have a tournament that LAGS is running early in Term 3, and this is a way of preparing for this outing.

In other Hockey news, Lucas was selected in the Primary Boys CIS Hockey Team on the weekend from his trial at Pennant Hills. He will be playing the tournament at Tamworth from 29th May - 2nd June. Congratulations to Lucas!

Cricket

Our Open Boys Cricket team won their first piece of silverware in some time when they were crowned Gold Coast Champions in the  Streetsmarts Secondary Schools T20 Challenge on Wednesday. This followed on from some close performances in the Douglas shield during Term 1.

On the day Lindisfarne were undefeated, beating Trinity Lutheran College in the final. Every player made a contribution on the day, but the most notable was our skipper, Brodie Mcdowell, who scored 138 in the last pool game against Commera Anglican College. This was an excellent hitout for many of the team who will be travelling to the United Kingdom during the next holidays for our inaugural cricket tour.

Congratulations boys. 

Football

Bill Turner Cup (Boys) 

Our U15 boys overcame a slow start and proved to be the better team. We were missing a few players but you wouldn't have noticed! With no weakness, this team keeps rolling on. Goalscorers: Fletcher Bisgrove (2), Curtis Moore

Lindisfarne - 3
Mt St Patrick College -  1

Bill Turner Trophy (Girls)

Our girls drew a bye in their first Bill Turner match, we then drew an away fixture against Mount St Patricks. A very dominant performance from our girls, with some smart football being played throughout. To be honest, apart from a clearance kick or two, the opposition really struggled to get the ball out of their own half. Onwards and upwards for the U15 girls.

Lindisfarne - 13
Mt St Patrick College - 0

In other football news, our Open Girls head to Central Coast Sports High School next week for Round 3 of the CIS knockout. Wishing our girls the best of luck - this will be a very tough match, but our girls will be up for it!

Athletics

We are launching our Athletics Carnival 2023 next week, sign ups will be necessary for field events. Please look out for communications and sign up if you are interested.

Damien Clucas
Director of Sport

Congratulations to our Senior Girls AFL team who won their division at the recent AFLQ Schools Cup in Byron Bay.

The girls played three matches and conceded only 2 [points for the whole day. Our score lines could have been even bigger but we had some accuracy issues. The girls have progressed through to the second round which will be played in July at the Ormeau AFL complex. 

Special mention to Tobi Chapman of Year 12 who was awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the senior girls division. 

Matt Bedford
Director of the Matt Fydler Sports Academy

Fundraiser
The Lindisfarne Lions Netball Club fundraising day is on Saturday 20th May at Arkinsall Park. This coincides with the Tweed Netball Association Indigenous round. If you are in the vicinity of Arkinstall Park on this day, please come on down to enjoy:

• Sweet treats
• Lolly bags
• Sausage sizzle + bacon and eggs rolls
• An amazing raffle kindly facilitated by Narelle Urquardt (First Nations Cultural Engagement Coordinator)
• Indigenous hair scrunchies created by Year 5 student, Navaya Tango and
• Indigenous hair ties AND
• The Lindisfarne Lion will be there for photo opportunities!

We hope to see you there!

Jane Daniel
Fundraising Coordinator - Netball Support Group

NCIS 
On Friday, 5 May, the CIS Primary Girls Netball Championships were held at Netball Central, Olympic Park, Sydney. Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School was represented by Ayva Immisch, Evelyn Thompson, Hunter Gaffney, Isabella Daniel and Sari Heta who had all been selected in the North Coast Independent Schools team. Manager was Suzanne Evans from (LAGS) and coach Nicole Wagland from (EAC) Emmanuel Anglican College.

The girls played 9 rounds of highly competitive netball with a win against HICS (9-8), close losses against RAS (6-11) and NASSA (6-17) and some tough match ups against IPSHA (24-27), SASSA 1-17), CSSA (0-25), ASISSA (1-14) and HRIS (3-17). The competition was strong and the girls lifted to another level being competitive to the last whistle. This was a fantastic experience for the Lindisfarne players and will give them great insight into Netball Pathways and shape future progression of both skill and competition.

Suzanne Evans
Coaching Director - Lindisfarne Netball

Saturday Netball Team of the Week - The Zuri Lions
The Zuri Lions continue to shine as they develop their netball. Showing nerves of steel they held off a close fightback from the “Seagulls Chicks” with strong passing and quality shooting. 

The unofficial score of 11-8 was representative of the whole team effort and is a credit to the work of coaches- Natasha King and Luisa Duffy.

In a lovely sign of sportsmanship, their opposition, the Tweed Seagulls team identifies a player they see as an MVP in the team they play against and presents them with a voucher from one of their sponsors. Eadie O’Sullivan received the voucher this week.

Lindisfarne Netball would like to reciprocate this gesture of sportsmanship and we would like to put out a call to any business that may be interested in sponsoring this over the 14 week season.

The end of the competition is closing in fast, only two weeks remain. It’s tight at the top with some broad overall losses on the market proving a leveller for all involved. Well done to Ziggy Davison (Y7) who holds top spot and Tom Hirst (Y9) who has emerged from nowhere to hold second place narrowly from Ziggy. This is going to be a close finish.

Kane Bradford
Head - Professional Practice, Innovation and Partnerships

We are excited to announce that Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School is participating in Apple's Story School program, an innovative initiative designed to boost students' writing skills across all genres. The program is being driven from our Sunshine Avenue Campus by Miss Lauran Turnball and her Year 4 class.

Story School uses technology and creative teaching methods to inspire students and improve their writing. Despite not currently focusing on narrative writing, we have seen reports from other participating schools highlighting improvements in all forms of writing. Our students will be engaged in a series of activities and online sessions as part of this program, offering them an enriching and interactive learning experience.

As part of our involvement in this program, we have also been granted two licences for the Tristan Bancks online Masterclass program, "Young Writer's Story School." This resource will further enhance our students' literary skills.

A range of sessions are in place for Term 2. These sessions will provide our students with a unique learning opportunity, equipping them with the creative and critical thinking skills necessary in today's world. We are eagerly anticipating the positive impact this program will have on our students' learning journey and we will keep you updated on our progress. Thank you to Mr Godden, Ms Mundy, Ms Affleck and Miss Turnball for their leadership in this project. 

Kane Bradford
Head - Professional Practice, Innovation and Partnerships 

A chance for young people to passionately express themselves… and win!

Poetry in Action’s Poetry Writing Competition is looking for Australian poets and they want your poems. Their monthly poetry challenge opens on the 1st and concludes on the final day of each month. The winner for the year will be chosen from all the monthly finalists and announced towards the end of the year. The overall winner will have their poem filmed and performed by one of their troupes. Additionally, you will receive a $500 cash prize. To enter you must be aged 18 years and under and submit a poem that is NOT more than 30 lines long. Whilst you can write about anything you want, it must be your own work. Artificial Intelligence must not be used.  More information can be found at: https://poetryinaction.com.au/poetry-comp/

Suellen Walker
English Coordinator

Last term, our Year 10 English students looked at the concept of identity and how notions of identity are conveyed. They explored multicultural and indigenous poetry, making connections, understanding what was being said about identity and crafting analytical responses. They were also introduced to creative writing using the concept of identity as a stimulus.

At the end of the term, one class was given the following image and told that they could use it anyway they like to compose a response that explores some aspect of identity. They had the last two lessons of the term to generate their text. The response of one of these students, Charli Cameron, is attached for you to peruse.

TRAPPED
Every day I see them, 
Confining themselves to their cage 
Their little glass prisons of predictability 
I watch those bottle in the sand, 
Where they chose to be 
The waves growing ever closer
Great tides of blue and green foam 

“Come and join us,” they like to call
Be one in the crowd
They tell me I need to be like them
Maybe I should. 

“Ok, just once,” I tell them
Climbing down inside.
The sun soaked shells and sand has warmed the bottom
It's nice inside, cosy and quaint
I know what will happen as I’ve seen it from afar
I spend my day curled up and warming
Watching the tides through the glass

I see them all resting in their bottles, 
And can't help feeling bored
There is unease swirling in my stomach
I am not myself 

No one seems to share this sense
They all ignore my calls
The sky is darkening 
Bruised clouds curling in
The tide has began to rage
Foaming at the mouth like a rabid animal
It thrashes ever forward

I call out, “we have to go”
No one listens to me
They don't want to be different
Or leave their little cage
They want to be the same as everyone else

I try to climb, the glass is hot, 
My panic makes sticky hands and fumbling feet
If I don’t escape before the tide comes in I will drown
Die in the little glass prison I so carelessly climbed into

The sky opens and torrents of rain begin to fall
They run down the bottles sides and I slip
Crashing to the ground as water starts to puddle
The bottom of the glass is full
I may die even quicker than I thought

Someone has seen me panicking
They begin to fret themselves
They call out and the others follow
Trying to climb the slick sides of their bottles
Screaming when they fall

Hopeless 
No one tried anything different
They all follow my lead
Climbing, falling, crying
No one will succeed

I sit down in despair
My heart beating out of my chest
I will die here in the bottle
The same as all the rest

The water puddles around me
Reaching for my thighs 
The wind whistles over the top
Carrying their cries

Determination
The waves creep ever nearer, their salty fingers reaching 
Once they reach the bottles neck I will surely drown
The cries of my companions are drowned out by the waves
Ferocious crashing, to match the storm

I sit in my puddle as rain fills up the bottle
And wonder if my body will be carried to the top

I leap up excited
Maybe if I swim
When the waves fill my prison
I can simply float to the top

I call out
To tell them we can be saved
But they do not listen
Their minds are all the same
Muddled by their terror they never stop to think
They only followed and now they cannot help themselves

Fingertips frozen and body shaking I wait
The waves are close as ever
Foam trickling down the side into my bottle
A crash and a swoosh and water pours inside
I pray my idea may work
And I will live to see another day

Another crash a surge of water 
And my bottle begins to fill
My body drenched, water lapping at my chest
The waters rising
It’s at my neck
Rising to my head
My body is weightless rising

I kick off the bottom and tread the water as more begins to fall
Dumping on my head I sink and resurface
Over 

And over
And over
In my terror, the airless lungs I hold and the determination to live
I look out at the rest of my peers
They are bodies now
Floating
Lifeless. 

Tears are falling
                   falling 
                        falling 
They mix with the salty water and help bring on my doom

I’m almost to the top
To get through will be a squeeze
I take a look at the sky. 
Maybe my last.
Deep breath
As much oxygen as my lungs can bear
The water rises and I am submerged
Adrenaline pumping I wiggle about
Trying to break free
My chest is burning
I need air
I want to take a breath

Black swarms at my vision as I climb the bottle’s neck
I kick my legs and pull myself up

Air 
I take deep lungfuls 
It tastes of salt and rage
Another waves crashes upon my and I am knocked from my bottle’s ledge
The foamy tide carries my up
Towards the sandy beach
Leaving me, wet, sandy, dishevelled and alive
I stand, legs wobbling, tears running and scream, “I am alive.”
Alive not stuck inside a bottle prison, having died in fear

In the months afterward, I will take time for myself. I will do only what I wish to do. I will not adhere to my peers. I will tell them I cannot be like them. They will ask why and I will remember those moments filled with terror. I will tell them it almost killed me. Because I tried to be like them. Because I did what they wanted me too. Because I gave in. And it will never happen again. 

Term Two 
The focus in Term 2 is a study of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’. This follows our successful excursion to view a live performance of this revenge tragedy at the end of last term. Through a close study of this play, students will explore the context of the play, plot, thematic concerns, characters and dramatic techniques. 

Kylie Wharton
Director of English

In Week 2, 5B had a special visit from Year 11 French student James. 
He shared with the students what it's like to continue studying languages into Senior School and he taught them some pronunciation for their assessment task.

5B was very curious and asked many questions. It was a great example of students connecting with each other to share their learning experiences.

Madame Weterkamp
French Teacher

During the week selected Yr 10 elective music students were invited to be part of a groundbreaking workshop in audio production at SAE College in Byron Bay,

Award-winning and renowned audio engineer, Marcos Micozzi, walked students through the process of field recording and sampling, and groundbreaking virtual reality sound engineering experiments.

Students were highly engaged and walked away excited to be a part of the future of sound engineering. 

Dale Norton
Music Teacher

Registrations for the Australian Science Olympiad Exams are now open!

The Australian Science Olympiads is one of Australia's most prestigious science programs and the perfect way to forward your student's passion in science. The first step is to take part in the exams. While the ultimate goal of the Australian Science Olympiads is to select a team to represent Australia at the International Science Olympiads, students also have a chance to be selected for various extension programs that will challenge and extend their science knowledge. 

Junior Science Olympiad Exam
Suitable for: students in Year 7 - 10. Cost: $15 + GST. Registrations close: Friday 9 June.
This year, the Junior Science Olympiad Exam will be held on the following days:
Years 9 & 10: 14 June 2023. Years 7 & 8: 16 June 2023.

Australian Science Olympiad Exams
Registrations close: 24 July 2023.
Cost: $15 + GST.

Registrations are now open for the discipline-specific Australian Science Olympiad Exams.

This year, we are thrilled to offer free registrations for the Earth and Environmental Exam. 

We only accept registrations via schools. 

 Students who achieve an exemplary result the Australian Science Olympiad Exams may be offered a place at our beloved Australian Science Olympiad Summer School in January 2024.

Exam dates:
Physics – Monday 31 July 2023
Biology – Tuesday 1 August 2023
Earth and Environmental Science – Wednesday 2 August 2023
Chemistry – Thursday 3 August 2023.

How to register: 
Please contact your science teacher or Caitriona McCann at caitriona.mccann@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au to register your interest.

Register now for the December RSIS Project to Thailand

Round Square traditionally runs service projects at the end of each year. These had been put on hold for the last few years, but with borders now pretty much open across the globe, opportunities are returning.

A Round Square International Service (RSIS) Project is organised and run through Head Office in Windsor Those intrepid students who are keen to take part in projects for the betterment of others can apply directly using the link found below:

Round Square is excited to share details of our December 2023 Round Square International Service (RSIS) Project to Thailand.The RSIS Project is open to students aged 16 and over from any Round Square school across the world, who participate on an individual basis. Students are invited to apply directly to Round Square before the 1st of June 2023 on the student website here using the password ExploreMore.The Project will take place between 5 and 18 December 2023, in Thailand's Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. The aim is to turbo-charge an ongoing sustainable project with a temporary increase in manpower to accelerate some much-needed builds. The Project will tackle issues relating to human-elephant coexistence in the Tenasserim Hills. Students will be part of a team constructing a community research centre, park ranger huts, lookout towers, hornbill nest boxes, and beehive fences. They will also be helping to plant lemongrass and citrus plants, and other crops disliked by elephants. These plants will support the ongoing Tom Yum Project, which is dedicated to providing sustainable food security for rural communities in Thailand.Not only will participants be contributing to an ongoing, sustainable project that is tackling a critical local issue, but they will also have the chance along the way to learn about Thai culture and history, elephant behaviour, demographics, and migration routes, as well as local fauna and flora. During the course of the project they will also be learning about the Sustainable Development Goals, and how this project contributes.The participation fee is £1,355 per person (please note the currency), excluding flights (which students will need to book and pay for separately once they have been confirmed onto the project and details provided about arrival and departure locations and times).A limited number of bursaries are available. More information can be found HERE.The project is filled on first-come, first-served basis, aiming to maintain a balance of nationalities and genders on each team, and we’ve already received 20 applications. So if you are interested in applying, please do so now.

Mike Lush
Round Square Coordinator