2023 Term 3 Week 9 15 Sept 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

The School has been a hive of activity this week as we move towards the culmination of a successful term of learning and achievement at Lindisfarne. Thank you to the families, students, and staff who attended our annual Sing for R U OK? event at the M/Arts centre in Murwillumbah on Monday evening. Once again, we were joined by Vicki Jacobs from Melbourne, who expertly led us through a community singing of the Coldplay song, Fix You.

Our focus was on raising awareness of mental health and well-being in our school and wider community. One conversation may change a life; one conversation may save a life.

On Wednesday afternoon and evening, we gathered at Osteria to celebrate our 2023 Lindisfarne Lions Netball season. We commenced with a more informal gathering of our younger teams known as our Lindisfarne Lions Cubs. Later that evening, the Senior Lindisfarne Lions gathered for a meal and awards presentation. Thank you to the President of the Lindisfarne Netball support group, Aleisha Weston, and the support group committee for all of the support through the 2023 Netball season. Thank you to our Head Coach Suzanne Evans and Head of Sport and Activities Damien Clucas for their work to further develop and progress the Netball program during 2023 and to Danni Watters for her efforts earlier in the season. The President’s Award was presented to Gracie Lynch and the Gay Maynard Umpire of The Year Award to Sian McGilligan.

Our presentation evenings continue next week, with the Basketball presentation on Monday evening culminating a most successful season for our Lindisfarne Lions, including five teams making the Grand Finals and two Premierships achieved.

Our Rugby program's annual Captain’s Dinner will take place on Thursday evening and is sold out again this year, with over 200 planning to attend. We have had a very successful second year of our Rugby program, and there is much success to celebrate along with the progress made in 2023.

On Thursday evening, I was able to attend the inaugural Year 12 hospitality student’s dinner. The students were expertly guided by Teacher Hayley, McDonald, and Food Services Manager, Lia Mason as they prepared a superb meal shared by senior staff and the parents of the students who have studied the hospitality course at Lindisfarne Anglican  Grammar School. The students have grown in expertise, and they should be proud of the standard achieved and the quality of the food preparation and service. 

This is an important time for our Year 12 students as their final assembly will take place on Wednesday, 20 September. The students will take the long anticipated and important walk up the steps of the centre stairwell at Lindisfarne as a cohort for the last time, and as is the tradition of the School, we will gather along the stairwell to applaud the class of 2023. The months ahead are significant for the class of 2023  as they enter a period of study, revision, and tutorials prior to their HSC exams commencing in October. At the conclusion of the exams, we celebrate the class of 2023 with some important events, including the Graduation Eucharist, where we give thanks to God for our students, our school, and our families; the Formal, where we celebrate our journey together and the closing of one door, and the opening of another. At the Senior School Speech Day, we recognise the individual and collective achievement of the class of 2023 and our School. The year 12 breakfast on Thursday, 14 December, is the final event for year 12, as HSC results are announced earlier that morning. 

Next week, a number of students will depart for a Tour to Japan. It is uplifting for our students and school to once again have the opportunity to develop our learning through travel abroad. Thank you to Louise Godden, who has coordinated the tour, and the staff who will support the students on tour.

I wish the students and staff safe travel as they explore the Japanese Language and Culture. 

Stuart Marquardt 
Principal

Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Guardians,

In this penultimate week of term 3, we look back with gratitude for all we have done and achieved and look forward to finishing the last week strongly and enjoying some rest and relaxation.

It’s been a real joy spending time with Years 1 and 3 students and teachers this term during Godly Play sessions, discovering the face of the invisible God in Jesus Christ, wondering about God’s amazing and unconditional love, and exploring the story of the Good Samaritan and its values of empathy, compassion, acceptance and generosity of spirit.

St Cuthbert’s Day
Thank you to those who joined us to celebrate St Cuthbert’s Day last Sunday, particularly the Senior Choir who sang so beautifully. Your presence and support are very much appreciated. 

Season of Creation
Christian churches and people of different faiths around the world celebrate the Season of Creation when all people of goodwill are encouraged and challenged to be amazed by the beauty of creation, to grieve the ecological crisis and degradation that we face, and to work for climate and ecological justice. 

Some of our students have been working all year to regenerate our rainforest by removing the weeds and litter and planting new natives. We thank Patrick Brabant for his leadership in this endeavour and all our students who have supported us in tending to our beautiful rainforest. Also, you’re warmly invited to join Common Grace online on Wednesday 20 September, 7:30 pm AEST 2023, for a special evening of Prayer and Praise as we celebrate the Season of Creation and join together to pray for 'Justice and Peace to flow’. Click here to register.

For Our Prayers and Healing Thoughts
We send our love and prayers to the people of Libya, Brazil, Morocco and Hawaii and all those experiencing unspeakable loss and grief because of natural disasters. We can be with them in our thoughts, prayers and practical loving actions. If you would like to support these people in their hour of need, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and UNICEF are some of the organisations that are assisting people on the ground.

Finally, may we be encouraged by the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer: “Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift”

I wish you a joyful, restful and relaxing weekend filled with God’s choicest blessings in every way.

The Reverend Constantine Osuchukwu
Chaplain

Key Dates for Term 4

Total Footbal Academy - Monday Afterschool - 16th October through until Monday 4th December. 

Byron Bay 7’s Rugby Union - Thursday 12th October (Week 1) 

Casuarina Cup Rugby Union - Wednesday 15th November (Week 6)

FUN Swimming Carnival - K-2 Friday 24th November (Week 7)

Big Bash Cricket Gala Day - Friday 1st December (Week 8)

Jump Rope For Heart 

Thank you to all the students and staff for making this year’s Jump Rope for Heart program such a fantastic event. 

We were able to raise well over the $5,000 goal, in the end, the students raised an outstanding $12,985. The students also skipped their way to 153 hours of skipping outside of school time, and along the way gained skills and tricks that will stay with them for life. 

Skipping Club

Skipping Club will continue next week and will finish up on Wednesday 20th September. If you are interested come along and join the fun for our last two sessions for the term. It will be running from 7.30 am on the Basketball Court. 

The idea of skipping Club is to get active, have some fun and learn some new skills and tricks while skipping. Skipping Club is open for all students from Kindergarten to year 4 and we also encourage parents and carers to join us. We have had a number of students and parents complete the ‘100 Club’ this is continuous skipping for 100 skips in a row, there is also a ‘50 Backwards’ Challenge, ‘20 Double Under’ Challenge, the ‘200 Club’ challenge, the ‘20 Criss Cross” Challenge and the “MEGA CHAMPION” Challenge to achieve. Challenges can only be completed at skipping club and you can only attempt one challenge per day, so get along to skipping club and have a go. 

Those students who achieve one of the challenges will be awarded a certificate on assembly for their efforts.

Getting active and having FUN with our kids is one of the truly great joys in life. Get up, get active, come along and learn some skills and ticks and have heaps of FUN and let’s get skipping to a heathy heart and body.  

Total Football Academy - After school Program 

The Total Football Acadmey will be running again in Term 4. If you are interested in participating in this program please register via the Parent Lounge. There are a limited number of places available, so please be quick to secure you place in the program. 

Information on the Term 4 program can be found here - AFS Lindisfarne - T4.pdf

Nathan Croft
P-4 PE Specialist

On Monday, 11th September our Year 12 students Zia Mowbray, Naiya Boschma-Wagner and Yasmin Scott led a Body Kind Workshop from the Butterfly Foundation for our Year 6 students.

Body Kind Schools is Australia’s largest annual positive body image movement for young people. Body Kind Schools takes an evidence-informed approach to promoting positive body image and asks young people to find ways to be kind to their own body and to others. Finding ways to like, accept, love or even feel positive about your body can be challenging but we can all try to be a little kinder. Being Body Kind is how we nourish, nurture and move our bodies. It’s about the language we use out loud, online and in our heads – to ourselves and others. Being kind to ourselves and our bodies can help build healthy body image and supports mental health and wellbeing.

If you would like further information about the program go HERE
Butterfly's National Helpline Call 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673)

Mrs Kylie Thompson
Year 6 Coordinator

R U OK? Day 
Throughout the week, Lindisfarne marked R U OK? Day by organising a series of activities, emphasising the significance of addressing individual wellbeing. The week kicked off on Monday evening with our annual "Sing for R U OK? Day" event at the M-Arts precinct. Students, staff, and families came together, guided by Vicky Jacobs from Melbourne's Glee Club, where we delivered our rendition of Coldplay's "Fix You." Beyond the joy and laughter, the night also provided a poignant opportunity to reflect on the essence of this vital initiative.

The momentum continued into Tuesday evening with an insightful ParentEd session titled "Taking Your Teens' Psychological Temperature." Our dedicated Lindisfarne team, consisting of school psychologists and the school counsellor, discussed crucial indicators of anxiety and depression. They also provided guidance on supporting teens in distress and navigating available external resources.

This session served as a testament to the combined strength of home and school in forming a robust support framework for our students.

On Thursday, as our students entered the school, they were warmly welcomed by our school leaders and younger students who donned yellow. "R U OK?" banners and streamers festooned the entrance, setting the tone for the day. During Homeroom and as the day unfolded, students delved into a plethora of discussions and activities centred on wellbeing. 

The Importance of Reading - Millionaires’ Morning Tea 
Reading allows us to be transported from our own world to another. Between the pages of a book, we can become immersed in the lives of fictional characters and learn about a culture entirely different from our own. We can also learn new words and phrases, experience a range of emotions, and acquire skills and knowledge.

Because of the learning potential, the effects of reading on child development are vast and multiple studies have highlighted its benefits. As such, teachers and parents are in a great position to ensure reading is a key part of children’s daily routine

The importance of reading for children cannot be underestimated. Reading for pleasure can benefit a child’s education, social and cognitive development, their wellbeing, and their mental health.

I implore all families to engage in shared reading and encourage reading for pleasure, whenever possible.  With this in mind, it is once again that time of the term when we are able to celebrate the students who have achieved some outstanding benchmarks in their reading journey. The following students are to be congratulated for reaching the milestone of 1,000,000 words:

Leo Mills
Noah Canning
Isabelle Daniel
Adam Blinco
Thomas Stone
Ashton Schneider
Sophie Lollback
Roy Jowett
Sunny Wilcox
Akira Palma
Sebastian Bailey
Willow Howell
Lawson Bown
Coby Ellison
Jackson Bold
Isabella Hazelman

While the following students have reached a dizzying 2,000,000 words:

Zoe Fox
Cole Kelly
Brandon Prass
Benji Braga Castro
Freya Seller
Charlie Cairncross
Nicholas Klein 

Congratulations to all.

Netball Presentation
It was a genuine pleasure for me to attend the Lindisfarne Lion’s Netball presentation evening, hosted at the beautiful Osteria in Casuarina, on Wednesday evening.

The venue was exceptional, and joining in the festivities to honour our young netballers' accomplishments was tremendous. Concluding a season by recognising and expressing our gratitude for the unwavering commitment and efforts of teams, coaches, managers, umpires, and organisers is an integral tradition that beautifully caps off the year. Thank you to all of our families who were able to attend and mark this special occasion. 

Cathy Cox
Head of Middle School

See below for more images

Community Singing
Following last year’s hugely successful RU OK? Day community singing event, we gathered at M-Arts again this year for an opportunity to sing our hearts out to Coldplay’s “Fix You”. This musical offering was a powerful tribute to the importance of mental health and the importance of asking important questions. The atmosphere was electric, filled with a sense of unity and compassion that only music can bring.

See below for more images

ParentEd
The "Taking Your Teen’s Psychological Temperature" event was an overwhelming success. Parents, guardians and staff walked away with a deeper understanding of how to identify and address Anxiety and Depression in their teenage children. The session struck a perfect balance between theoretical knowledge and actionable strategies, empowering parents to initiate open dialogue about mental health with their teens. Overall, the event not only educated but also built a community committed to fostering better mental health management among teens. This year’s ParentEd series has been tremendously successful, and I encourage parents and guardians to consider attending further workshops in Term 4.

Hospitality Dinner
The Year 12 Hospitality Dinner at the Trade Skills Centre on Thursday night was a triumph, demonstrating the talent and hard work of our senior students. The evening served as a platform for students to demonstrate their culinary and hospitality skills, crafting a beautiful meal that delighted parents and key staff alike. The atmosphere was charged with pride and accomplishment as students navigated through kitchen and service roles seamlessly. This event not only celebrated their academic journey in hospitality but also underscored the invaluable life skills they've acquired. It was a tribute to their dedication and a promising glimpse into their future potential.

Year 12 - Final Days
As we approach the final days for our Year 12 students, the atmosphere is brimming with a unique blend of excitement, nostalgia, and anticipation for the future. These are landmark moments in their educational journey, ones that will be commemorated through cherished traditions like the House Farewells and the Leavers Breakfast and Assembly. These events aren't just a celebration of achievements and friendships, but also a rite of passage as they close one chapter and embark on another. We encourage all students to participate fully in the festivities and to make the most of these last moments. However, it is crucial to remember that while we celebrate, we must uphold the values and standards that make Lindisfarne exceptional. This is a time for happy farewells, but let's ensure they are memorable for all the right reasons.

Mrs Kate Cornell
Head of Senior School

On Wednesday night I had the pleasure of attending Keira Farmer’s Queen Scout Ceremony. Keira has been a scout for eight years and has spent the last four years working towards her Queen Scout title, the highest award in Scouts for people under 18. 

To earn this award Keira had to complete three milestones by assisting and leading activities, progress 12 stages in outdoor adventure skills since achieving her Australian Scout Medallion, and complete six projects in at least three special interest areas. Keira also planned and led an adventurous journey of four days duration with no adult contact. Keira also attended a week-long leadership course and completed a character interview.

Keira’s projects were in: Creating a Better World, Arts and Literature, Environment, Stem and Innovation, Growth and Development and Adventure and Sport. She also specialised in outdoor adventure skills, core skills of camping, scoutcraft and bushwalking as well as electives of abseiling, life-saving and cycling. 

On Wednesday night Keira was awarded her Queen Scouts badge by the Region Commissioner of Scouts QLD, Steve Marshall and she was given her title of Queen Scout and certificate by the Governor of QLD, Jeanette Young.

Governor of Queensland,  Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM

Regional Commissioner of Scouts Queensland, Steve Marshall

It was a privilege to be invited to Keira’s Queen Scout ceremony. She simply shines in this environment and I was incredibly proud of her and her achievements. Keira is soon to graduate from Lindisfarne and has said that she would like to have a career in Outdoor Education. After seeing Keira with her peers and the younger children at Scouts it is easy to envision her being in this role. She is an incredible role model and an inspiration to all of us. Keira had a dream, created a goal and worked hard to achieve it.

Mrs Myers
Head of House - St Stephen

On Wednesday, our Year 9 and 10 students had a valuable opportunity to engage with the non-profit mental health organisation, LIVIN. Established in 2013, LIVIN has been tirelessly committed to eradicating the stigma surrounding mental health and fostering positive well-being within school communities. This visit signifies a crucial step in educating and empowering our students, emphasising the importance of open communication about mental health.

LIVIN's presence not only helps break down the barriers associated with mental health but also equips our students with essential tools to support themselves and their peers during challenging times. We strongly encourage parents to discuss these proactive events with their children, urging them to embrace the messages shared throughout the week that emphasise self-care and looking out for one another. These conversations at home will complement the important work being done within our school.

Ms Jodie Duggan
Acting Head of House St Cuthbert

RUOK Day has been recognised on campus with a week of activities. Students have been taking part in activities to foster conversations with Homeroom and House Tutor Teachers each morning.

On Thursday, Year 12 students started the day by greeting the school community with positive messages and yellow ribbons to recognise the day and encourage conversations. At lunchtime, students were invited to take part in a mural building activity. They had a polaroid photo taken with a friend, and thought of meaningful conversation starters they might be able to use to check in with, and follow up on the wellbeing of their friends. These were added to a mural that is now hanging in Student Admin.

When young people are struggling, they are most likely to reach out to friends and family. Learning how to have difficult conversations, to listen, encourage action and follow up with friends are skills for life. It was wonderful to see our students' thoughtful contributions.

Thank you to our Student Wellbeing Team for supporting RUOK initiatives!

Heads of House Staff

See below for more images

This week external Performance examinations and Language Orals have concluded for the Class of 2023. The HSC written examinations commence on Wednesday, 11 October. Students are reminded to check their timetable and ensure they have the correct equipment for each examination. The full timetable can be accessed via the link below.

2023 HSC Written Exam Timetable

During the term break the library will be open every day from 8.00amam to 3.00pm for students to come in and study and there will be HSC revision sessions taking place at school the schedule can be accessed here. 

Caroline Jefferies
Dean of Studies

Fitzpatrick Shield - Year 5/6 Hockey

Last Friday, our talented Year 5 and 6 students embarked on an exciting journey to Murwillumbah to participate in the highly anticipated Hockey Fitzpatrick Shield Gala Day. Our young athletes displayed remarkable dedication and sportsmanship throughout the day. The focus was not only on competition but also on fostering a love for physical activity and having fun. It was heartening to witness the enthusiasm and determination radiating from each player. In a thrilling display of skill and teamwork, our Division 1 team blazed through the early rounds, showcasing their prowess on the hockey field. With unbeaten performances, they advanced to the final match where they faced a formidable opponent, Cudgen Public School. The final was an intense battle, with both teams displaying incredible talent and determination. In the end, Cudgen Public School emerged as the victors. We want to extend our congratulations to all our students who participated in the Hockey Fitzpatrick Shield Gala Day. You represented our school admirably. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. A big thank you goes out to our student helpers who supported our young athletes throughout the day. Your guidance and encouragement were invaluable in making this day a success.

Nathan Gilliland and Kylie Thompson

NFL Flag

Last Friday, on the 8th of September, our school's 5/6 NFL Flag Football team participated in the Northern NSW tournament. This was a significant event for the 12 selected students who had been training hard in the lead-up to the competition. For many of them, this was a completely new sport, which added an extra layer of challenge.

The tournament kicked off with an initial round-robin phase, where teams faced off against each other. Our students showed remarkable determination and skill, going unbeaten through this stage.

As the tournament progressed and we reached the grand final, our students were lifted by some special visitors from the junior school to cheer on our crew. Their presence boosted the team's energy to a new level, and it proved a game-changer. In the end, our students played exceptionally well, securing the victory and earning the title of state champions.

The journey doesn't stop here. Our team will now return to the training track, eager to hone their skills even further, with their eyes set on the national finals, which will take place on the Gold Coast in early November. Stay tuned for more updates.

Inaugural Lindisfarne 6v6 Football Tournament

After a few years of planning our own Years 3 to 6 Football tournament - including last year where we didn’t get enough registrations to run the tournament, this week we launched the concept. In offering a 6v6 Primary outdoor competition for both girls and boys, it is something that hopefully grows to be unique offering for schools moving forward. 

Next year we will hopefully have the same 6-a-side tournament all on the  one day - with the Year 5 and 6 students competing on a larger field.

Year 5 and 6 report

Four Year 5 and 6 teams participated in the Inaugural Lindisfarne 6v6 Football Tournament alongside teams from St Andrew’s College and Varsity College. The tournament consisted of a round robin round followed by finals.

Lindisfarne Gold Girls won their Grand Final with a comprehensive 4-2 scoreline against Varsity College. Goals were scored by Farrah Melville (3) and Tully Harper (1). 

Lindisfarne Navy Boys won their final on extra time penalties with goals scored by Jack Bowes, Flynn Cairncross and Frederico Zanol Tavares. Goalkeeper Noah Tucker also played his part with a spectacular penalty save.

A great day of fun, football and friendship was had by all and we hope to do it again next year.

Rob Seguin

Year 3 and 4 report

Four Year 3 and 4 teams participated in the inaugural Lindisfarne 6v6 Football Tournament. The tournament was well supported with teams coming from Varsity and St Andrews to fill the draw. The tournament format was a round robin of games with a final series to decide the winner of the day. 

Lindisfarne Navy Girls won through the the final playing against St Andrews. The game ended in a draw with the game eventually decided by a penalty shoot out with St Andrews taking home the win. The girls were brilliant all day, and showed great team spirit and fight in the final. Thank you to Marike Ross who coached the girls and did a fantastic job. 

Lindisfarne Navy was unfortunate to be relegated to the 3rd v 4th play off after finishing their pool on equal points with 2nd place, this was after defeating eventual winners Varsity in their pool match. The boys stood up and won the game in style taking out 3rd place overall, which was a fantastic effort in our first year. Thank you to Laura Krebs who was the boys coach for the day, and did an outstanding job. 

Insert photo x 2 6-a-side Football Yr3/4

Basketball

The Secondary Basketball squads travelled south to Coffs Harbour for their NCIS Secondary Basketball competition. We had 3 teams entered, with all teams representing us well.

The Open Boys were a young squad, with no year 12’s - and 3 boys that could have played in the star studded U15’s side. They won a few and lost a few, taking a lot away from the competition - especially being such a young team.

The U15 Boys were dominant all day - sailing through undefeated. They are a very well drilled unit, and were always going to be hard to beat. Congratulations gentlemen. 

The U15 Girls, like the Open Boys, won a couple and lost a couple - and took some good lessons home with them. Bishop Druitt in the girl's divisions especially have a long-established program that they can select from. To our girl's credit, we are slowly making inroads in the girl's divisions, with the grassroots of good things to come with our GCJBL teams slowly but surely developing.

Damien Clucas
Head of Sport

On Thursday 31 August and 7 September, over 80 writers and illustrators from Years 5-9 joined forces to take part in the ‘Write a Book in a Day Competition’. This competition, driven by the Kid’s Cancer Project, draws participation from thousands of students across Australia annually. Lindisfarne proudly entered 16 teams this year comprising of students from Years 5 to 9. These teams dedicated themselves tirelessly over a span of 12 hours, resulting in the creation of some truly remarkable finished pieces that will be read by children in hospitals throughout Australia. Witnessing the exceptional teamwork and boundless enthusiasm displayed by our students during this event was truly heartwarming. This year’s collection of books will soon be displayed in the library for all to enjoy.

Ms Jodie Duggan
Acting Head of House St Cuthbert

Recently, a creative writing retreat was used to add value to Module C creative pieces in English Standard. We enjoyed the sensory comforts of our Lindisfarne ‘outdoor classroom’, using our beautiful, natural setting to strengthen narrative voice.

Sensory imagery is the heartbeat of creative writing, breathing life into words and inviting readers to step into a character’s mind and experience their world on a visceral level. The aim was to unlock a deeper connection between their characters and their impending HSC marker. Plot, ironically, is not central to a piece of writing. What captivates the reader and creates a truly transformative experience is the powerful application of synaesthesia (multi-sensory imagery)

John Cadman
Teacher

The transition from mathematical concepts that can be seen and touched to the more abstract such as algebraic techniques can be quite difficult for many of our students.

One such topic is the expansion of binomial products using the distributive law which is a vital skill for the study of Quadratic equations and graphs in later years.

One way of allowing students to interact with an abstract concept is through the use of puzzles, and one of the year 9 classes was tasked with a Tarsia puzzle, which consisted of factorised and expanded expressions that needed to be put together to form a large hexagon.

Puzzles of any kind promote group work and discussion and provide an alternative to doing questions out of a textbook. The students had some lively discussions whilst completing this task, and some quite difficult concepts were discussed throughout.

Mrs Karen West
Mathematics Coordinator (Acting)

This week a handful of our talented vocal students had the opportunity to record at Evan McHugh's Recording Studio in Burleigh Heads. 

Under the direction of our Vocal Tutor Mrs Hardy, these students had an opportunity to experience the magic of recording a song in this recording studio. Leo Lush, Ivy McKinley, Sarah Bibin, Oscar Rynderman, Willow Duggan, Grace Reid, Aurora Vatcher-Anin, Taylor Forster and Bodhi Foster, recorded a wide variety of works from Taylor Swift to Elvis.

Coincidentally, this recording studio was where a lot of the music and vocals were recorded for Baz Luhrmann's smash hit Elvis - The Movie. It was such a great day and experience for all involved, congratulations to all of the students!

Todd Hardy
Director of Performing Arts

See below for more images

In addition to regular classes, Lindisfarne has specialist teachers who offer private tuition in Speech and Drama, Piano/Keyboard, Strings, Brass, Woodwind, Percussion, Vocal and Songwriting/Music Production.

For students continuing with private tuition, it is assumed that lessons are continuing from term to term, for the year unless written notification is submitted to the Performing Arts Administration by the close of business on Monday of the last week of term otherwise the following term’s fees will be charged.

For those interested in enrolling for private studio lessons for Term 4, please contact Performing Arts or complete the application forms on 'SEQTA Engage - Parent Lounge - Documents and Links'. 

Todd Hardy
Director of Performing Arts

Congratulations to Mila Dumaresq, Year 5, who was awarded a plethora of prizes for Speech and Drama at the recent Lismore Eisteddfod held on Saturday 2 September. Mila received First Place for Prose Reading, Third Place for Verse Speaking, Highly Commended for Humorous/Light Verse Speaking, and Highly Commended for Dramatic Performance in Costume. To further add to her success, Mila was awarded Third Place in the 12 Years and Under Junior Championship along with the Axten's Award for Student of Any Age Showing Potential. These are outstanding achievements by Mila, with this being her very first year studying Speech and Drama, as well as her first Eisteddfod experience as a solo performer. Well done!

Over the last two weeks, 25 students from years 1-8 participated in the Speech and Drama sections of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod. 
Our students performed at an incredibly high standard amongst students from all over the Gold Coast, with most taking home medals in various drama and poetry sections. 
Congratulations to all the participants, and a heartfelt thank you to the parents for their unwavering support in making this performance opportunity possible. 

Mrs Amber Phillip
Year 8 Coordinator

See below for more images

As we approach the end of term 3 we are starting to notice a slide in students arriving and leaving school in sports uniforms. This is a reminder that all students should be changing into sports uniforms for PDPE practical lessons and changing back into formal uniforms after the lesson. Many students are staying in sports uniforms for the remainder of the day. The process is attached below and we appreciate parental support in reminding your children of the process.

We are also seeing an increase in notes explaining why students are in sports. We strongly encourage students to be independent and involved in the process of ensuring they have a sports uniform clean and ready to go when required. All PE students are aware of their practical lessons and if unsure, they can seek a reminder from their PDHPE teacher.

Thank you for your support in ensuring students adhere to the school's policy.

Julie McDowell
PDHPE Director

Key Note Speaker 
We were lucky enough to have Kopal, a local parent and Byron Bay designer come and speak with our Year 11 and 12 students. We discussed her fashion brand’s ethos; which honours a slow, sustainable and ethical distribution channel. Her business model and moral compass inspired both the teachers and the students. The Q & A segment gave the students a chance to discuss career pathways from an industry professional and much of the topics fed directly into their revision notes for the upcoming HSC and Prelim exams. We loved seeing some of the designs up close and we thank Kopal for her time. 

HSC Major Works 
This term Year 12 submitted their Major Works. These were a labour of love, working towards their completion for the past year. We saw some phenomenal designs from all the students, with a variety of inspirations helping to shape their concepts. We hope you were able to make it to the HSC Art & Design showcase to see the images showcasing months of hard work.

Years 9 to 11
Year 9 have constructed some outstanding Tops and Waistcoats. This project really pushes the students' technical sewing skills to produce an item of clothing that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Students sourced their own fabric, so they gain a greater understanding of how different weaves are to work with. Excellent work from a hard-working class. 

Year 10 were busy designing their own camisoles. They altered an existing pattern and incorporated some of their own laser-cut lace designs. This project was challenging and creative and resulted in some sophisticated garments that the students intend to wear. 

Year 11 has completed a self-directed project producing a textiles item that can not be worn. The focus was on experimenting with different textile techniques in the process; and from this, we saw examples of eco-dying, embroidery, felting, crochet, macrame and quilting. The final products were exceptional and included children's toys, blankets, furnishings and bags. 

Well done to all our Textiles students and good luck with your exams. 

Bye for now and happy holiday sewing from the atelier... (PE11) 

Caelie Drayson and Prue Smurthwaite 

Yes, we were busy this term making our own book week costumes… The kids can’t have all the fun! 

There will be no Homework Club in Week 10 of Term 3. Homework Club will resume in Week 2 of Term 4. Enjoy the holidays!

The Library will be open during the holidays for senior study each day from 8 am until 3 pm with the exception of the 2nd October which is a public holiday. No distractions and a conducive environment for study right here @ your Library.

Participants who complete the Safer Drivers Course for Learners will receive a bonus of 20 hours of credit recorded in their learner driver log book reducing the total logbook requirement from 120 to 100 hrs. The Course is a combination of theoretical and practical training for under 25 year-old learner drivers who have completed 50 hours of log book driving hours.

Monday 16th October  - 4 to 7pm
Byron Youth Activity Centre (The YAC)
1 Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay

Cost: $140
CONCESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE for young people on Health Care or Centrelink benefits.
To book: HERE
Contact BYS on 66857777 or email
info@bys.org.au for more information.