2024 Term 1 Week 4 23 Feb 2024

Dear Lindisfarne Parents and Guardians,

This week has been filled with notable achievements, exciting events, and a reminder of the incredible talent within our school community.

On Monday, our rugby teams played at Somerset College, showcasing their skills and team spirit. It's always inspiring to see our students represent the Lindisfarne Lions with such determination and camaraderie on the field.

We celebrated an event that truly resonates with the heart of Lindisfarne- our annual Meet The Music Tutors evening on Wednesday night. This evening not only showcased the world-class talent of our music staff and tutors but also reaffirmed the passion and dedication they bring to nurturing our students' musical journeys. A special thank you to Mr. Todd Hardy and his team for their commitment to providing over 750 private music lessons weekly, enriching both our curriculum and co-curricular offerings.

On Thursday, we hosted the regional finals for the very popular esports competition known as the Fuse Cup.

Thank you to all of our student representatives who represented Lindisfarne with great passion and commitment.

I am also excited to announce the remarkable accomplishments of our students in the Lions Club Youth of the Year competition. Jay Cahill (Year 12), Mia Wilkinson (Year 12), and Ella McCluskey (Year 11) participated in the competition at Kingscliff Bowls Club and made us proud with their exceptional performances. I extend my warm congratulations to Mia Wilkinson for qualifying for the next round of this prestigious competition. The strong performances of Mia, Jay, and Ella in the competition is a testament to the exceptional quality of public speaking that is encouraged at Lindisfarne.

This week, Paris bound Olympian Jeff Dunne has been in the spotlight with a terrific feature on Jeff and his family on A Current Affair. The story highlighted Jeff Dunne’s remarkable journey and achievements in being selected for the Olympics whilst still at School. You can view the story via this link. It’s always a proud moment when our students receive well-deserved recognition on a national platform. If you’d like to support Jeff’s Olympic dream, you can do so via this link.

The excitement is building for our school musical, MAMMA MIA!! I am pleased to announce that tickets will be available to our School community this Sunday, 25 February, at 6.00 pm. Mark your calendars for what promises to be a spectacular show! Ticket Booking Link - Opens Sunday 6.00pm.

Finally, congratulations to our Lindisfarne Lions Primary Swim team, who represented Lindisfarne at the annual NCIS Swimming Championships yesterday with great heart and commitment.

Let's keep supporting and celebrating our students' amazing accomplishments and the many opportunities available to our students as we progress through the term.

I’m hopeful that the beautiful weather we have enjoyed today extends over the weekend and families can enjoy some time outdoors.

Stuart Marquardt
Principal

Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Guardians,

Year 12 Eucharist and Visit of Kenya's ‘Hakuna Matata Children’s Choir’

Last Wednesday our Year 12 students gathered for a time of prayer, reflection and Eucharist to entrust to God the intensive, challenging but rewarding journey of their last year of secondary school education at Lindisfarne. The Service of Eucharist provided a perfect opportunity for us to give thanks for our most Senior Students and to commend their journey to God’s grace, blessing and protection. Let us accompany them with our prayers, support and good wishes: that the Holy Spirit may inspire, guide and guard them, and that they may undertake this journey in good health, and with enthusiasm, courage and love.

Providentially, we had the ‘Hakuna Matata children’s choir’ from Kibera, Kenya, providing spirited and inspiring renditions to uplift our Service. The choir is touring Australia for three months to raise funds for a school for disadvantaged young people in Kibera. I was sorely touched to see some of our Year 10 Service Learning students taking our guests for a tour of the school and exchanging ideas and stories. This is the beauty of universal fraternity and social friendship.

Prayer Requests

We are relational beings who enjoy communicating with others. Simply put, prayer is communication with God who made us, loves us and cares for us. In prayer, we set our troubled hearts at rest and banish our fears. Prayer is the antidote to the restlessness and malaise of our increasingly busy and chaotic lives. It is an anchor in the storm of life and sure defense against anxiety, hopelessness and fear (cf. Philippians 4:4-8).

I have no greater honour as a Chaplain than to bring to God the prayers and needs of our School community and to invoke God’s blessings upon all the members of our community. That is why we have set up a special and confidential prayer request email for those who would like me to pray for them: prayers@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au

Please email me any prayer requests you may have, and also your favourite prayers and I’ll bring these to God in my daily prayer. As Jesus said, “pray always and never lose heart” (Luke 18:1).

‘Spiritual Gym’ on Sunday, 3 March 2024

You’re warmly invited to join our School community in the Mahers Lane Chapel on Sunday, 3 March for a ‘Spiritual Gym’ Service. Refreshments will begin at 4.30pm, followed by a Service of Eucharist (hymns, songs, Bible readings, prayers, silence and spiritual nourishment) at 5.00pm, concluding at about 6.00pm. Please come along as we pray for God’s blessings, guidance and protection for our students, staff and families. All are welcome.

May we continue to be grateful for who we are and for all we have.

The Reverend Constantine Osuchukwu
Chaplain

BOOKING LINK

BOOKING LINK

Step into a world where the music never dies, and let your heart sing along to the timeless tunes of ABBA in the sensational musical, MAMMA MIA! 

Get ready to say "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" to a night of spectacular entertainment that will have you dancing in the aisles. With a ticket in hand, you're the "Dancing Queen" (or King), young and sweet, diving into a story of love, laughter, and friendship. 

Don't go wasting your chance; this is where you'll find your "S.O.S" to a regular evening. It's your "Waterloo" moment—where you'll meet your destiny as Ngahriyah is filled with the magic of ABBA's greatest hits. So, take a chance on MAMMA MIA!—after all, "The Winner Takes It All"!

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM 6.00PM SUNDAY, 25 FEBRUARY

TICKET BOOKINGS VIA https://www.trybooking.com/COSXZ

The recent Bugs Ed incursion turned Year 1 into an absolute bug bonanza! Davina, an expert entomologist, introduced each class to the fascinating world of bugs, showcasing their diverse shapes, sizes and colours.  From the delicate wings of butterflies to the intricate patterns on beetles, she brought both preserved and live specimens that captivated the attention of the wide-eyed Year 1 students. Davina patiently answered each question, many linked to our Term 1 Science unit External Features of Living Things, fostering a true sense of curiosity and discovery among our young learners.

Kathryn Leary, Linda Terry, Jodie Arnold
Year 1 teachers

URSTRONG Day of Friendship at the Junior School

Today we were privileged to have Dana Kerford, the Founder and ‘Chief Friendship Ninja’ of URSTRONG present to our Kindy to Year 4 students. Dana is visiting Australia from her home in Canada presenting to a number of URSTRONG schools. URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy has improved the social climate in schools around the world, connecting over a million kids, parents, and teachers with a common language of friendship. We are proud to be a URSTRONG School.

Our Day of Friendship included three workshops, Lil’ Friendship Ninjas (Kindy), Fuzzies & Friends (Years 1&2), and the Heart of Friendship (Year 3&4). Our students had some fun role-playing how to put out friendship fires and keep their friends in the green zone. They learnt about the friend-o-cycle, how to talk-it-out when friendships are in the red zone, the difference between Friendship Fires and Mean on Purpose behaviours and the 4 Friendship Facts.

They also really enjoyed pretending to be Ninja’s of course.

Please take advantage of our URSTRONG School membership which allows all Lindisfarne families access to all of the Language of Friendship resources free of charge. www.urstrong.com

Julie Henry
Junior School Psychologist

As we conclude Week 4, our Preschool to Year 4 students have beautifully wrapped up their exploration of our first Hero of Discovery, Responsible Rami. Throughout classrooms, students have engaged in thoughtful discussions about demonstrating responsibility at home, school, and within the community. Below, you'll find some exceptional examples shared by our Kindy to Year 4 students.

This coming Monday, we're excited to conduct our very first 'Hero Draw' during the Junior School Assembly! Our dedicated teachers have been on the lookout for acts of responsibility that embody the admirable traits of Responsible Rami, both during lessons and playtime.

Continue reading for a selection of insightful observations and accolades from our Junior School staff this week!

1. I take part in trying to make the world a safe and happy place 

• Helping another student carry their lunch order when they had their hands full (Year 2)
• When feeling annoyed during a group game at playtime the student chose to take deep breaths, reset and find another game to play, rather than continue playing while frustrated (Year 1)

2. I help myself, and others, to decide between right and wrong

• Tapping another child on the shoulder politely to tell them it was time to be quiet! (Year 2)
• A student quietly whispered to another child to 'stop rolling around and sit up and listen' during the teaching time on the mat. (Kindergarten)

3. I own my mistakes and achievements

• A student did not bring in their home learning. They spoke to the teacher with clarity and maturity, owning their mistake. They then took it upon themselves to complete it on their own, in their own time. (Year 4)
• A student apologised for not bringing in their diary, acknowledging that it was their responsibility (no mum or dads!) - huge maturity! (Year 3)

Finally, with the expertise of our tech extraordinaire Miss Affleck, using the powers of AI and the voice of our Year 4 leader, Navada, we have brought Responsible Rami to life.

Click the link below to watch the magic happen and hear all about Responsible Rami from her very own mouth.

Responsible Rami

Angela Mundy
Dean of Students - Junior School

We are thrilled to announce the Year 4 House Captains for Term 1, who will be leading our Junior School with enthusiasm, responsibility and school spirit.

Our House Captains for Term 1

St Andrew:

• Alin Jeejo
• Harlow Smith

St Barnabas

• Daisy Howland
• Hugo Lush

St Cuthbert

• Mia Donkin
• Arden Blum

St Hilda

• Lachlan Withers
• Jasmine Pointon

St Margaret

• Lachlan Milner
• Halle Flood

St Stephen

• Shanti Pettit
• Roman Roche

The students were selected to represent their houses as captains due to their leadership skills, kindness and dedication to our school community. They will not only be leading by example but will be the driving force behind the You Can Sit With Me Program, as well as running our Assemblies and Chapels each week.

We have full confidence that they will lead with our school values of compassion, wisdom and respect and we look forward to seeing their leadership skills further develop throughout the term.

Congratulations to you all!

Laura Gallagher
Assistant Head of Junior School

This week the Green Team met to discuss the sustainability focus for 2024 at the Junior School.

At the end of 2023 the Year 4 students decorated some large logs that will be installed throughout the Junior School campus to provide homes for wildlife. The process of installing the logs is quite expensive so we will be running a Green Market on Tuesday, 12 March at 7.30am. All funds raised from the Green Market will go towards installing the wildlife boxes.

We are asking for donations of homemade treats and home baking, sustainable goods and handmade items. For non- perishable donations – please drop off to the Preschool foyer asap. If you would like to donate some baking we would love this to be delivered to Year 4T on Monday 11 March so that we can price and have ready for an early morning start on Tuesday 12 March.

We would also love some help with setting up and selling items. Please email Jo Hetherington if you can help out jhetherington@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au.

If you would like to be part of the Green Team and future events and sustainable activities please email Jo Hetherington.

Jo Hetherington
Director of Early Learning

ParentED - Demystifying Adolescence

Demystifying Adolescents, led by Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg, offers an invaluable opportunity for parents and carers to gain insights into the complex world of adolescent development. Dr. Carr-Gregg, one of Australia's most recognised psychologists, has an extensive background in adolescent psychology, family dynamics, and digital wellbeing. His contributions to the field include founding CanTeen, a support organisation for teenage cancer patients, and authoring numerous bestselling books on parenting adolescents, such as "Surviving Adolescents," "The Princess Bitchface Syndrome 2.0," and "Beyond Cyberbullying"​​.

Dr. Carr-Gregg is a celebrated speaker, broadcaster, and advocate for mental health, having been involved in significant initiatives like the establishment of Australia's first-ever Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Welfare and the development of national training programs for general practitioners on youth communication​​. His pioneering efforts in using technology to enhance adolescent mental health, along with his role in various national campaigns against bullying and cyber safety, highlight his commitment to improving the wellbeing of young people​​​​.

This session promises to be more than just a lecture; it is a chance to benefit from Dr. Carr-Gregg's wealth of experience, his humorous and engaging delivery, and his profound understanding of the challenges and joys of raising adolescents. Attendees will learn effective communication strategies, gain insights into adolescent mental health, and discover practical tips for nurturing happy, resilient young people.

Date: Wednesday, 28 February, 2024

Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm (NSW time)

Venue: Mahers Lane

Welcome Aoyama Gakuin Students to Lindisfarne

From 4 March, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School is excited to host students from our Japanese Sister School, Aoyama Gakuin, for a four-week cultural exchange. This visit will offer numerous opportunities for our students to engage with their Aoyama counterparts, enriching our school community with cultural diversity and language learning.

Our students will have the chance to practice their Japanese language skills in real-life scenarios, fostering not only linguistic growth but also cross-cultural understanding. The Aoyama students' visit will include a variety of interactive activities, both academic and social, allowing for meaningful exchanges and friendships to blossom.

Stay tuned for more updates on the activities planned for the Aoyama students' visit. Let's make the most of this wonderful opportunity to extend our hospitality and deepen our knowledge of Japanese culture.

Cathy Cox
Head of Middle School

OzHarvest Practical Lessons

Year 6 students have embarked on an exciting culinary journey that extends beyond cooking – it's a journey into sustainability and innovation. In an exciting educational experience, students are immersing themselves in their Integrated lessons, gaining hands-on experience in cooking healthy and nutritious meals. So far, they’ve had the opportunity to create delicious fruit kebabs and yummy vegetable fritters.

As part of their Integrated unit, ‘FEAST’, students delve into the importance of producing and preparing healthy and wholesome foods. They're looking into strategies to mitigate food waste and understanding its ramifications not only in Australia but also globally.

Exploring inventive methods of utilising food that would otherwise go to waste has been a highlight for the students. They're discovering ways to select ingredients from diverse food groups to create and design recipes. Their OzHarvest lessons have been a highlight of their weeks as they learn practical ways to eat healthy and prevent food waste.

Kristina Diaz 
Year 6 Coordinator 

This week, we were privileged to witness and participate in events that not only demonstrated the talents of our students and staff but also emphasised the values we hold dear in our educational journey.

Wednesday night was a showcase of musical talent and passion. Our Meet the Music Tutor event in the Chapel became a meeting ground for the School's peripatetic teachers and our Mahers Lane music students. Witnessing our teachers and students playing alongside each other was testimony to the collaborative spirit and love for music that thrives within our school. The performances were not only a display of skill but also of the deep mentorship and mutual respect between our students and their tutors. It was a terrific evening that underscored the importance of music in bringing our community together.

The calibre of public speaking displayed at Thursday evening’s Lions Youth of the Year competition at the Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club was outstanding. Our Senior School students Mia Wilkinson, Jay Cahill, and Ella McCluskey represented us with distinction, demonstrating not only their exceptional oratory skills but also their deep engagement with pressing issues and their ability to think critically. Ella (11) was successful in winning the Public Speaking component of the competition, whilst Mia Wilkinson (12) was the overall winner. Congratulations to these students for their outstanding performance and for embodying the ethos of our school.

In this week’s assembly, we were pleased to hear from the Dean of Students, Mr Nathan Alterator, about the rollout of the Wellio program within our House Tutor Groups. This innovative online platform promises to be a vital resource in supporting our students' wellbeing and mental health. We are committed to tracking the success of Wellio and ensuring it meets the needs of our students, offering them the best possible support in their personal and academic development.

Also in assembly, the Assistant Head of Senior School, Mr Dan Robins, provided an insightful discussion on the WHY behind our school uniform. Mr Robins helped reinforce the significance of our dress code in fostering a sense of belonging, equality, and pride among our students. Understanding the rationale behind our uniforms is crucial, and we hope this discussion has helped our students appreciate the value and the unity it brings to our school.

We continue to ask for the unwavering support of our parents as we uphold the standards and values of our school. Your involvement and encouragement play a crucial role in the success of our students and the vibrancy of Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School.

BOOKING LINK

Kate Cornell
Head of Senior School

Duke of Edinburgh

There is a great opportunity in 2024 for students to be a part of the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. This is an excellent program that provides young people with so many pathways beyond school: to travel, to get employed, to get into uni/TAFE courses and to build positive relationships. Best of all - it's a whole load of fun and internationally recognised. Students can take on new challenges or use their existing cocurricular activities. Lindisfarne has been an accredited provider of the Award for a number of years and we are excited to celebrate the achievements of those students who have received Bronze and Silver Awards in past years. This year Year 9 students will have the opportunity to sign up for the Bronze Award as part of the Rite Journey and Year 11 students can sign up to be ‘history makers’ as the first students to be attempting the prestigious Gold Award. We plan on introducing the Silver Award on a wider scale across the school in 2025. If you are interested in signing up… Year 9 (Bronze Award) Information provided via Rite Journey Year 10 (Silver Award) Continuers from Bronze 2023 only Year 11 (Gold Award*) Please register your interest using this form *Must be 16+ to register Please speak to Mr Alterator (new entrants) or Mr Clucas (existing participants) for further information, or you can visit this website.

Nathan Alterator
Dean of Students - Senior School

As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening the Pastoral Care programs at Lindisfarne in 2024, the Pastoral Care team has subscribed to an online platform called Wellio. Wellio aims to increase the cognitive, social and emotional resilience of students, equipping them with the skills required to interact positively with others in the school community and beyond. The lessons are high quality and are designed to be delivered by your child’s tutor in pastoral care sessions, allowing for open and honest communication as well as personal growth.

If you are interested in learning more about what content is covered or have any questions, you can register for any or all of the sessions below. Please note that these are in NSW time.

• Thursday 14th March 6:30pm - Managing Anxiety

• Tuesday 14th May 6:30pm - Phones & Social Media

• Thursday 29th August 6:30pm - Building Healthy Relationships

• Thursday 31st October 6:30pm - Resilience & Setbacks

Parents can register to attend any or all of these sessions here.

Nathan Alterator
Dean of Students - Senior School

Proudly Supported By

Somerset College Interschool

Our squads had their first inter school matches against Somerset College on Monday 19 February. Somerset are traditionally one of the strongest schools we will play against, outside of major tournaments like the Ballymore Cup, and although this was the first game for all our squads, there were a number of encouraging performances from the boys.

1st XV 0-36

Link to Game Footage HERE

This was a very physical game for our 1st XV and despite periods of excellent defence, especially in the first half, we ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard. One major take-away from this trial was the need to improve our territorial awareness, attack structures and set piece / maul defence with a number of Somerset tries being scored from this aspect of play. Despite this, there were a number of promising signs for the 1st XV for this upcoming season with our U16 players all standing up and making themselves counted in the trial. Alongside this, Will Sullivan, Taj Krasna, Charlie Gately and Flynn McCullough were amongst the best from either side on the field.

2nd XV / U16 22-10

Link to Game Footage HERE

In a thrilling under-16s rugby match, Lindisfarne Lions emerged victorious over Somerset College, battling not only their opponents but also the wet weather. The scoreboard reflected the Lions' resilience and skill, finishing the game with a commendable score of 22-10. A standout performance came from Charlie Sutton, whose powerful ball carrying provided the Lions with crucial momentum and helped create scoring opportunities. Sutton's contributions were pivotal in breaking through Somerset College's defensive line, setting the stage for a well-deserved victory.

Eden Humphries showcased exceptional leadership on the field, providing calm and strategic direction to the Lindisfarne Lions. Humphries' ability to steer the team through the challenging weather conditions and maintain composure played a significant role in their success. The outside backs demonstrated precision in their finishing, with tries credited to Koen Hodge, Timana Andrews (scoring twice), Lukas Laing, and Humphries himself. The combined efforts of strong ball carrying, strategic guidance, and precise finishing solidified our Lions' dominance on the field, leaving a lasting impression on their victory over Somerset College and providing an exciting glimpse into the future of 1st XV rugby.

U13

In their first match of the season on Monday, the U13 rugby team secured a resounding 5 tries to 2 victory against Somerset. The match was marked by exceptional teamwork and skill, with the team demonstrating their dedication and hard work in training. From the start, the team displayed great determination, dominating possession and territory. Their efforts were rewarded with several well-executed tries, showcasing their attacking prowess and strategic play.

The defence was equally impressive, with the team showing great discipline and resilience, thwarting Somerset's attempts to break through. The match ended with a convincing win for the U13 team, highlighting their promising start to the season. This victory will surely boost the team's confidence as they look ahead to future matches, building on this strong performance.

KEY DATES

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

Boy’s

OTHER ITEMS

The Ballymore Cup - U13, U15 and 1st XV Boys

The Ballymore Cup is Queensland's largest schoolboy rugby competition which has been running since 2003 and our U13, U15 and 1st XV are again playing in this competition this year. It is a state-wide competition for all schools that presents non-traditional rugby schools and schools from regional areas with the opportunity to compete at a higher level. Here is a short video of the highlights from the 2021 Ballymore Cup: https://youtu.be/v5Z3e6YnXUs

As a brief overview of The Ballymore Cup, it will include:

• Five games of rugby from the 12th - 14th April pending draw

• Two nights’ accommodation for all players

• Food for duration of tournament (i.e., all meals/snacks from breakfast on Friday 12th April - lunch on 14th April)

• Transport to and from the school on Friday 12th April and Sunday 14th April

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE FIRST WEEKEND OF THE NSW TERM 1 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS SO PLEASE KEEP THESE DATES FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS IN THE SENIOR BOYS (Y7-12) PROGRAM.

Unfortunately, we can only carry 25 players in each squad (23 active players for each game and 2 non-playing reserves) and these selections will be confirmed in the week after our interschool against Sunshine Coast Grammar on 22nd March. More information will be provided ASAP.

The Armidale School Rugby Carnival - U12 Boys

For the second year running, we have 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 12th April - Sunday 14th April this year. 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 include:

• 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

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE FIRST WEEKEND OF THE NSW TERM 1 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS SO PLEASE KEEP THESE DATES FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS IN THE JUNIOR BOYS (Y5-6) PROGRAM.

NCIS Boys Under 16 and Under 18 Representative Trials

The NCIS trial is the first step in the NSW schoolboy rugby representative pathway for students at our school.

Some important notes:

• If you are interested in trialling for the U16 or U18 NCIS team, please complete the Permission to Trial form HERE before 10am on 5th March

• Please note these deadlines are STRICT and if these forms are not completed by the dates above, students will not be able to trial

• If selected in either team, you must be available for the AICES trial on the 28th May in Sydney, which costs $495 excluding travel and meals.

• Please talk to your respective coaches if you are not sure if you would like to participate in these trials.

• If you are interested in the schoolboy rugby representative pathways in NSW, please look at this link HERE

We encourage all students interested to trial for these NCIS teams. Last year, we had seven Lindisfarne students selected across the AICES U16 and U18 teams, which is the next step in NSW schoolboy rugby representative pathway after selection for NCIS (similar to CIS teams in other school sports). It would be a great achievement to match or better that number of selections this year.

Any questions, please let Dr Coyne or Mr Dick know.

Age Grade Dispensations

This is a quick note on age grade dispensations for our school rugby program and more information on this age grade dispensation process from Rugby Australia can be found HERE.

There are two reasons for age grade dispensation within our school program:

• Playing up an age grade.

  • This will apply to all our U16 players who are in our 1st XV and 2nd XV squads. If you or your child were 15 years old on the 1st January 2023, we need you to complete a Rugby AU age grade dispensation form (link HERE) to continue playing for our 1st or 2nd XV.

• Playing down an age grade.

  • This will apply to any students who have moved up an age grade and whose stature would be better suited to remaining in a younger age grade. For example, a player who turned 13 in December 2022 but is very small for their age could continue to play in the U13 grade in 2023 with dispensation.

We will have the assessing coach from NSW Rugby coming back to the school on Wednesday 6th March from 1000 to determine our students suitability to play up or down an age grade.

If you would like to play up or down an age grade and parents/guardians are agreeable to this, please sign and return the form in this link HERE ASAP so we can flag this with the NSW Rugby assessing coach.

If you have any questions about the process or suitability of age grade dispensation, please let us know as we are more than happy to chat through this process and make sure all our students have positive experiences in this great game.

Car-Pooling and Volunteer Work

With a number of students living some distance from Lindisfarne and given the nature of the program (e.g., Monday after school training in 2024, evening pick-ups after games), we would like to make getting the students to and from training/games as efficient as possible for you all.

With a school like ours, one of the best options for this is car-pooling with families from nearby suburbs. So if you are interested in car-pooling with other families for rugby training/games, can you please fill out this form HERE.

Another item that we need assistance with as we grow our program is some light volunteer work (e.g., supervising a BBQ) at home games. If you are able to assist in any way at home games, can you please fill out the same form HERE.

We will share the contact details of other parents/students that have registered for car-pooling late next week so please complete this form ASAP if interested.

Monday After School Training

In 2024, our main training session outside of school time is on Monday after school from 1530-1645. Although we had great numbers to our first training sessions, rugby union is a team sport and we still need as many of our players to be in attendance week in and week out to grow the Lindisfarne rugby program. Hopefully, the car-pooling details will help this and if we can be of assistance in any way, please let us know.

Also, please note we will NOT be sending reminders for these training sessions (all players and families should assume our Monday afternoon training will ALWAYS BE ON), however we will let you all know in ample time if we need to cancel a session due to weather or other factors.

Training Attire

Students should also be in proper training attire (NOT school sports uniform) with mouthguard, boots and any other equipment they play with for every training session, including school sport. This requirement also includes integrated school sport on Thursday i.e., students should wear our rugby training top or similar and not the school sport polo at this time. Alongside this, students should have a towel and spare school uniform to change into in case there is wet weather.

Stack Team APP

The Stack Team app will be our Rugby Union program’s main form of communication for all our squads, with exception of U12 boys.

As a reminder, 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 Lindisfarne Rugby Program in the app.

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.

More Information

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

Dr Joseph Coyne 
Director of High Performance Athlete and Sports Development 

Swimming

NCIS Primary Swimming was held at Alstonville yesterday, in very hot and humid weather. There were lots of Lindisfarne students collecting ribbons throughout the day, and a record or two notched as well. If anecdotal evidence is a guide, the bold navy and gold caps were constantly finishing in the placegetters, and I am going out on a limb suggesting I would be very surprised if Lindisfarne didn’t win by some margin.

No official results as yet - these will be posted in next week's newsletter. A handful of photos sent through by our parents.

Border School Gala Day

Beach Volleyball

On Tuesday 20th February, 42 of our students competed in the Borders School’s Beach Volleyball Gala Day. The venue for this event was Coolangatta Beach and the weather conditions were perfect. Each of our 10 teams played 5 games over the course of the day against teams from St Hilda’s School and St Andrews Lutheran College.

This was a great opportunity to welcome some new team members to a sport that is gaining popularity across the school at every year level.

Although a friendly competition, it was great to see the level of skill demonstrated and the team connections made during the day. We intend to compete in other Beach Volleyball Competitions throughout the year and this was an excellent opportunity for our students to gain some valuable insights on how to further develop their best game.

Table Tennis

We had our first ever interschool Table Tennis taste at the Border School Gala Day, with the singles and doubles round robin. Of notable highlights were some of our young tennis players - Isaiah Mammen and Rio Proart - who clearly had transferable skills with the table tennis racquets. These lads progressed as far as the finals, only to be rolled by a strong pair from Hillcrest.

Football

Unfortunately, our teams were ready to rock’n’roll for this hitout as a final trial - with bigger more important games looming. But the bucketing of rain over the weekend made Coplicks Park vulnerable, then the heavens opened Monday evening - closing the ground.

Term 2 Integrated Sports Selections

The Term Two integrated sports selections are opening at on Thursday, 7 March at 7.00pm - this is so the Sports Department can organise wider logistics and embed timetables for our students ready to go for Week 1 in Term 2.

Please carefully read the Sport Selection Options linked below to familiarise yourself and discuss with students prior to Thursday 7 March.

Years 5 and 6 options

Years 7 to 12 options

Following the use of Clipboard in term 1, the selection process has been more efficient and streamlined so thank you to parents for embracing the change. This software is widely used by numerous larger schools - and is purportedly very user-friendly, with most parents/students not needing to look into instructions on how to navigate after they have acquired access through Parent Lounge.

Full written instructions are available HERE - please follow these instructions and log on Thursday, 7 March at 7.00pm.

Our integrated sports program is the compulsory sport that will be timetabled into students' academic calendar for Years 5 to 10 - with Years 11 and 12 optional. This sports program is part of the NSW Education and Standards Authority (NESA) and as such contributes to the minimum hours of Physical Activity within the school-mandated curriculum.

Hockey

Finlay Bartell and Eliza Fahy were selected to trial for the Queensland 16s state Hockey team last weekend. Finlay is commended for his exceptional performance against other high quality Goal Keepers. Whilst he was unsuccessful this year we congratulate him on his ongoing dedication for Hockey excellence. We are pleased to announce Eliza Fahy was successful in her trial for selection into the Queensland 16s Hockey Team. Eliza will play in the Hockey Australia U16 Championships in Hobart in April. Congratulations Eliza, we wish her all the best.

Damian Clucas
Head of Sport and Activities 

Equestrian

The first interschool competition for the year has proved most successful for Annabelle Brown (Year 9) and her handy pony Jawarra Havana (Nadia). Run by Stuartholme School, it was the pair’s first competition representing Lindisfarne since October so expectations were fairly low! However, consistently strong results across the weekend meant the pair came home with Reserve Champion in both Dressage and Show Jumping. Annabelle is now qualified for State in Dressage and needs just one more good round to also qualify in Show Jumping.

But that’s not where the story ends. Recently, Annabelle was also awarded Reserve Champion in their class open leaderboard at the Eventing Queensland Annual Awards, that’s out of all Queensland AND she finished highest Young Rider. It's a super boost as the combination moves up levels this year.

Kathryn Leary
Equestrian Coordinator

Empowering Innovation: Introducing the Tech Innovators Forum

In an era where technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping our world, it's more important than ever for students to have a voice in the conversation about how these tools are integrated into our learning environment. With this vision in mind, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Tech Innovators Forum, a pioneering student group dedicated to exploring the frontiers of technology and AI in education.

What is the Tech Innovators Forum?

The Tech Innovators Forum is a student-led initiative designed to bring together curious minds, tech enthusiasts, and future leaders to discuss, debate, and develop insights on the role of technology and AI in our school. Our mission is twofold: to deepen our understanding of these powerful tools and to make informed recommendations that could shape their use in enhancing our educational experience.

Why Join the Tech Innovators Forum?

By joining the Tech Innovators Forum, you'll be part of a forward-thinking community that is passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, improve learning outcomes, and prepare for the future of work and society. This is your chance to:

• Engage in Thought-Provoking Discussions: Explore the latest trends, ethical considerations, and potential applications of technology and AI in an educational setting.

• Influence School Policy: Contribute your ideas and insights to recommendations that will be considered by school administrators, potentially impacting how technology is used in our classrooms and beyond.

• Network and Collaborate: Meet like-minded peers, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects that put your ideas into action.

• Develop Your Skills: Enhance your understanding of technology, improve your research and presentation skills, and gain experience in leadership and teamwork.

Students, Join Us for Our First Meeting

Mark your calendars! The Tech Innovators Forum will hold its inaugural meeting on February 26. Whether you're already a tech aficionado or just curious about the potential of AI and technology in our lives, we invite you to join us. No prior experience or knowledge is required – just bring your curiosity, ideas, and enthusiasm.

Meeting Details:

• Date: March 26th

• Time: Lunchtime

• Location: S11

Kane Bradford
Head - Professional Practice, Innovation and Partnerships

The PDHPE staff are excited about the new Lindisfarne bucket hats available for Mahers Lane students. These hats, available in the School Uniform Shop, are lightweight, reversible and a necessity in our hot climate. The PE staff are embracing the opportunity to wear our hats and strongly encourage all students to have one on for their PDHPE PE lessons. We hope to get to a point where all students are wearing these and we can use them for teams in our PE games eg blue hats vs coloured hats.

Did you know that Australia has the highest number of melanoma cases than any other country? It's a harsh reality, but as much as we love our Australian climate, our sun is quite brutal. Skin awareness and protection from the sun starts at a young age as Melanoma is no longer an aged adult's concern. In 2022. Melanoma was the highest cancer diagnosis in 15-29 year olds (AIHW 2022). This is a staggering statistic when it is mostly preventable with good skin protection.

We encourage your child to apply sunscreen every morning before leaving home and wear their bucket hat while at school. They can be labelled for ease of return if misplaced and we are setting up habits that will protect them for life.

Julie McDowell 
Director of PDHPE 

We are in search of enthusiastic General Hands to join the Facilities team on a casual basis, with an immediate requirement for two weeks. The General Hand works under the direction of the Grounds Supervisor in providing assistance with all facilities-related duties as follows:

Duties and Requirements

Grounds and gardening duties, for the purpose of ensuring safe and attractive grounds, including:

• Lawn mowing of 30+ acres using commercial lawn mowing equipment

• Brush cutting, edging, weeding and other grass / grounds maintenance

• Trimming of trees, shrubs and hedges using equipment such as chainsaw, pole pruner etc.

• Landscaping duties including spreading rock, mulch etc.

• Experience with zero turn lawn mowers is preferable

General maintenance and labouring tasks including:

• Tasks involving moving furniture, setup and breakdown of events

• Rubbish collection and waste management

• Minor repairs and maintenance of grounds and facilities

• Maintenance of job related tools and equipment

Applicants must also have:

• The ability to work independently, with initiative and to work proactively in a busy environment.

• An understanding of and commitment to the Anglican Christian ethos of the School.

For full details please visit the Lindisfarne website.

Successful applicants will be required to provide the School with a current Working with Children Check number.

Year 10 Vaccinations - 28 February 2024

The NSW Health will be attending Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School on Wednesday 28 February. Consent for each vaccine must be provided by parents/guardians for students to
receive this free vaccination at school.

The vaccination offered to Year 10 students is Nimenrix (Meningococcal ACWY). It is a single dose.
Parents/guardians can provide consent online for their child’s routine school vaccinations on the online consent portal.  Select login with Service NSW Account.

To provide online consent you will need:
● your Service NSW log-in details
● Medicare card details for you and your child.

Alternatively, paper consent forms are available for collection at student administration and the main reception at Mahers Lane if preferred.
If you do not want your child to participate in this program, simply do not complete the consent form.

For more information about this program please contact our school nurse Bianca Foster at
nurse@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au or use this link to the NSW School Vaccination Program website.

Episode link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2E8GRC5vpU

Hi everyone,

Exciting news! The newest episode of Lindisfarne TV is out now, featuring highlights from the action-packed 2024 Swimming Carnival. Produced, filmed, and edited entirely by the talented LTV film club, this episode captures all the thrilling moments of the senior school swimming carnival. Don't miss out—watch the latest episode and stay connected with Lindisfarne TV on Instagram for more updates @lindisfarne_tv.

Warm Regards,
Ryan Murphy