2026 Term 3 Week 6 28 Aug 2026

Dear Lindisfarne Parents and Guardians,

It has been another full and rewarding week at Lindisfarne, with opportunities for our students extending from international friendship and leadership to outdoor education, tertiary pathways and, of course, the wonderful celebration of Book Week at the Junior school. Weeks like this are a great reminder of the breadth of experiences available to our young people and the many ways learning takes place across our School.

Last weekend, of course, was extremely rewarding as we gathered for the 2026 Funfest. This was a special event for our whole community, including an opportunity to view the State Significant Development plans for the Lindisfarne Mahers Lane campus and the 2026 HSC Major Works Exhibition. Thank you to the Director of Community Engagement, Simon McKinley and the Parents and Friends Vice President, Kim Brown, who were the joint convenors of the 2026 FunFest.

We also hosted the Regional Tournament of Minds Finals at Lindisfarne on Sunday, and this was a significant event for our School and the many students involved. Thank you to Lucy Jacks and Cara Farmer, who coordinated the event and to all the staff and parents who supported our teams on the day.

Congratulations to our Year 12 students, Kimiyo Tango, Nicolas Leotta and Ben Reeve, who won the National Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) competition, held in Canberra last weekend. This significant achievement reflected their strong preparation, collaboration and capacity to engage thoughtfully with complex international issues. Opportunities such as MUNA enable Lindisfarne students to extend their learning beyond the classroom, develop confidence in public speaking and diplomacy, and deepen their understanding of global affairs.

This week, we said our goodbyes to our visiting students from Aoyama Gakuin Junior High School in Tokyo after their time with us at Lindisfarne. Our relationship with Aoyama Gakuin is one we value enormously, and it has been wonderful to see the friendships and cultural connections formed during their visit. I sincerely thank our host families for opening their homes and making our visitors feel so welcome. Experiences such as these are an important part of developing globally minded young people and creating relationships that reach well beyond our own community.

Our Year 5 students have spent the week at camp at Lake Ainsworth in Lennox Head, embracing the many challenges, adventures and opportunities that come with being away from home. Camp is such an important part of the school experience, encouraging independence, resilience, teamwork and confidence while creating memories and friendships that students will carry with them for many years. My thanks, as always, go to the staff who have spent the week away from their own families to make this experience possible.

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of listening to our 2027 School Captain candidates deliver their speeches at assembly. The standard was exceptional. Each student spoke with confidence, authenticity, and a genuine desire to serve their School, and I was incredibly proud of how they presented themselves. Leadership is not simply about holding a title; it is about character, service, responsibility and the positive influence we have on those around us. Our candidates demonstrated these qualities admirably, and I congratulate every student who had the courage to put themselves forward. We look forward to announcing our 2027 School Captains next term.

Wednesday provided another exciting opportunity when I visited Southern Cross University in Lismore with nine of our students and four staff members to explore the University's new Veterinary Sciences precinct. It was an impressive opportunity for our students to see firsthand the facilities, learning environments, and pathways available in veterinary science and related fields. Experiences such as these allow our young people to connect their classroom learning and personal interests with tangible possibilities for life beyond school, and I greatly valued the opportunity to share the visit with them.

On Wednesday evening, I had the pleasure of attending our HSC Music Showcase, an outstanding evening featuring performances from our talented HSC Music students. The standard of musicianship on display was exceptional and reflected the dedication, creativity and many hours of preparation each student has invested in their studies. It was wonderful to see our students perform with such confidence and passion, supported by their families, teachers and the wider Lindisfarne community. Congratulations to all of our performers, and thank you to our dedicated Music staff for the guidance and encouragement they continue to provide our students.

Today, I was fortunate to attend the Book Week Parade at Sunshine Avenue, always one of my favourite events of the year. The creativity and enthusiasm were once again on full display, with our Junior School students arriving as an extraordinary collection of much-loved characters from the pages of their favourite books. Beyond the costumes and fun, Book Week celebrates something incredibly important: a love of reading. Books open our young people's minds to new worlds, ideas and possibilities, and it was wonderful to see that joy so clearly across the campus this morning. Thank you to our families and staff for the considerable creativity and effort that inevitably go into what happens behind the scenes!

This week, we also say farewell to our Sustainability Assistant Patrick Brabant, who has been part of Lindisfarne for nine years, both as a student and as a staff member. Patrick has made a valued contribution to our School and now turns his attention more fully to conservation work within the wider community, including his work with Hudson Snake Catching.

Later this year, Patrick will join former Lindisfarne staff member Michael Boag in India as part of the Paper Shoes campaign, an extraordinary undertaking in which Michael will attempt 80 marathons in 80 consecutive days to raise awareness of plastic pollution. Patrick will support the campaign through pollution audits, filming and media work, and engagement with local schools. It is wonderful to see two members of our wider Lindisfarne community taking their skills and passion beyond our gates to pursue such a meaningful environmental cause. We thank Patrick for all he has contributed to Lindisfarne and wish him every success in this next chapter.

As another busy week draws to a close, I am once again grateful for the extraordinary range of opportunities our students are able to experience and for the staff, families and community partners who make them possible.

Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Warm regards,

Stuart Marquardt
Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff and Students,

For most of my articles so far this year we have been focusing on the Six Ideals of Round Square.

In the next few articles I would like to draw your attention to each of the symbols on our School Crest.

I am sure you have all noticed that right in the middle of our School Crest we have an open book.

This of course represents the wide range of learning opportunities available at our school.

However, it also has a deeper meaning as it is actually a reference to the Bible itself (with a special nod to the beautifully illustrated Lindisfarne Gospels of the late 7th and Early 8th century), signifying the centrality of the Word of God in our school’s education.

In fact, ‘Bible’ literally means ‘book’ and it is indeed open to us all to learn from the profound truths that are to be found in its pages.

Not only is the Bible ‘The Book’ but it is actually a collection of books.

The Anglican Church, along with the many Protestant denominations, follows the Septuagint’s (The third century BC Greek translation) ordering of the Old Testament books, but only includes those found in the Hebrew Scriptures, so not the body of writings known as the Apocrypha that the Catholic Church classifies as the Deuterocanonical books.

This means that our Bible contains 66 books – 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

Among these 66 books is a wide variety of genres from poetry to song lyrics (Psalms) to prophetic oracles to historical accounts to apocalyptic literature, just to name a few.

It is also important to point out that around 70% of the Bible is narrative, which means that its primary purpose is to tell us a story, indeed the greatest story ever told.

Biblical scholars commonly call this story ‘Salvation History’ as it communicates God’s rescue plan for humanity and all of creation, which comes into focus with the call of Abraham (Genesis 12) and finds its fulfilment in the person and work of Jesus.

For Christians, this means that the interpretive key to understanding the Bible is Jesus himself (see John 5:39-40).

Or to put it another way, the purpose of the Written Word (the Bible) is to reveal to us the Living Word, which is Christ (see John 1:1-14).

The Protestant Reformer Martin Luther used the analogy of the Bible being like a crib and Jesus being like the baby resting in the crib.

He reasoned that upon hearing of the birth of a baby, no one inspects the crib without adoring the baby.

In a similar way, the Bible presents to us the person of Jesus that we may be enraptured by his saving grace made manifest through his life, death and resurrection.

Finally, whilst all Christians affirm that the 66 books of the Bible were written by human authors (approximately over a 1500-year period), we also believe that these authors were God-inspired to write what they did (see 2 Timothy 3:16 & 2 Peter 1:19-21).

This does not mean that they received a word-for-word dictation from God but that through their own unique literary style, vocab and setting, God directed them to communicate his good will and purpose.

If you would like to know anything further about the Bible or have any questions about its meaning then please feel free to ask either myself or Reverend Constantine as we will be only too happy to assist.

Blessings,

Reverend Lyndon
Chaplain

Booking Links

Junior School

Mahers Lane

BOOK HERE

Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School was proud to once again host the North Coast Regional Finals of Tournament of Minds (TOM) for 2026 on Sunday, 23 August.

The day brought together talented students from across the North Coast to showcase their creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills across four disciplines: Social Sciences, STEM, The Arts, and Language Literature. After six weeks of preparing their Long-Term Challenges, teams also faced the excitement of an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on the day, requiring them to think quickly and work collaboratively under pressure.

Head of Junior School

It has been another fun and engaging week across the Junior School, with the excitement of Book Week bringing lots of joy to Sunshine Avenue. It has been wonderful to see students from Preschool to Year 4 getting involved in the celebrations and sharing their love of reading.

Book Week – A Wonderful Celebration

On Thursday, our Great Book Swap was an outstanding success, raising an incredible $506 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This fantastic result reflects the enthusiasm, generosity and wonderful participation of our Junior School students and families.

A huge shout-out to Miss Krissy Affleck, whose enthusiasm, planning and organisation in the lead-up to and throughout Book Week made it such a special experience for our students. Thank you for the enormous effort behind the scenes and for bringing another fantastic Book Week to life at the Junior School.

We finished the week in true Book Week style with our Book Week Parade today, with students and staff bringing much-loved book characters to life and enjoying a fun-filled morning together. Please see Miss Affleck’s article below for all the highlights!

Year 3 Camp – Adventure Awaits!

Excitement is building for our Year 3 students as they prepare for their upcoming overnight camp at Camp Goodenough in Week 8.

Camp is an important milestone for our Year 3 students and provides a wonderful opportunity to build independence, confidence and resilience while spending time with friends and teachers outside the usual school environment. Students will be encouraged to try new things, work together and step outside their comfort zones in a safe and supportive setting.

We look forward to seeing our Year 3 students embrace the camp experience, enjoy new challenges, strengthen friendships and return with plenty of stories to share.

Father’s Day Stall – Wednesday

A reminder to families that our Father’s Day Stall will be held at the Junior School next Wednesday, 2 September.

The stall is always an exciting opportunity for our students to independently choose something special for their dads, grandfathers and other important people in their lives ahead of Father’s Day.

We look forward to seeing the thoughtful selections our students make and hope all of the special people in their lives enjoy their surprises!

Vacation Care – September School Holidays

The upcoming school holiday Vacation Care program by Extend is now available and open for bookings, with a range of activities and experiences planned across the holiday period.

Families can view the full Vacation Care program and booking information here:

Vacation Care program link

There is plenty to look forward to as we move into the second half of the term. Wishing all of our Junior School families a wonderful and restful weekend.

Angela Mundy
Head of Junior School

As we celebrated Bullying No Way Week last week, our students were reminded that kindness is not something we focus on for just one week, we need to continue being Kind on Purpose every day.

Across the Junior School, students have been exploring how healthy relationships are built through the small choices we make. Whether it is inviting someone into a game, using respectful words, listening to others, helping a friend or showing courage by being an upstander, every positive action can make a difference.

A wonderful example of this is 3R’s Kindness Tree, which highlights the many ways students can demonstrate kindness and the positive impact these actions have on others.

Through our URSTRONG language, students are also learning how to manage Friendship Fires, express their feelings respectfully and repair relationships when things go wrong. These everyday actions demonstrate our Round Square Hero traits. Compassionate Carlos notices when others need support, Courageous Collette speaks up when something is not right, Diversity Dani respects and values difference, and Teamwork Tama helps everyone feel included.

We encourage our students to keep looking for opportunities to show kindness, respect and compassion each day. When we all play our part, we create a school community where everyone feels safe, valued and connected.

Dana Dowker
Dean of Students - Junior School

What a wonderful week it has been at our Junior School as we celebrated Children’s Book Week 2026 with the theme, “Symphony of Stories”. In the lead up to Book Week our students immersed themselves in a wonderful selection of CBCA titles, exploring stories from the Book of the Year Shortlist. 2026 is also a particularly special year for the CBCA as it marks the 80th year of the Book of the Year Awards, celebrating eight decades of Australian children’s literature.

We kicked off our celebrations with the Great Book Swap which was a wonderful success, raising an impressive $506 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This initiative provided a fantastic opportunity for students to share the joy of reading while supporting an important cause. It was lovely to see so many books finding new homes and students excitedly discovering their next great read.

The week culminated in our Book Character Dress-Up Day and Parade, which was a spectacular celebration of the many characters and stories that have captured our hearts. The school grounds became a colourful symphony of storytelling, with students bringing their favourite book characters to life through creative and imaginative costumes. From magical creatures and adventurous heroes to much-loved characters from contemporary stories and classics, there was an incredible variety on display.

A huge thank you to our Junior School staff, musicians, families and students for helping make Book Week 2026 such a memorable celebration. Here’s to keeping the pages turning to create our own symphony of stories all year long!

Krissy Affleck
Information Services and Digital Pedagogy

NEWSLETTER – WEEK 6, 2026

Term 3 Key Dates – Junior School

Please add the following important Term 3 dates to your calendar:

• 14 September - LAGS Tennis Championships

• 16 September - LAGS 6 v 6 Football Competition

• 23 September - NSWTA - Touch Football Gala Day

Northern Rivers Oztag Gala Day

Our girls represented Lindisfarne with great pride at the Northern Rivers Oztag Gala Day, producing an outstanding performance throughout the competition.

The girls were impressive from the opening game, winning every one of their pool matches and building plenty of confidence as the day progressed. Their teamwork, determination and commitment to one another were evident in every game, with the team showing great skill and sportsmanship.

After finishing the pool stage undefeated, the girls progressed to the knockout stages, where they faced a tough and closely fought opponent. In an incredibly tight contest, the scores were locked at 4–4 at the end of regular time, forcing the game into a dramatic Golden Point shootout.

Unfortunately, the girls were beaten in the shootout, bringing their gala day campaign to an end. While the result was disappointing, the girls can be extremely proud of their efforts and the way they competed throughout the day.

Congratulations to all of our girls on an outstanding day. Your teamwork, resilience and never-give-up attitude were a credit to Lindisfarne!

Total Football Academy – After School Program

The Total Football Academy after school program is on again in Term 3. The program is a great initiation into the basic skills and small sided games in Football. The program runs every Monday afternoon on the school Oval and will continue until week 9 Monday 14 September.

Information about the program can be found in the Flyer here :

TERM 3

Voyager Tennis Tweed Heads

Voyager Tennis Tweed Heads is excited to offer before-school training sessions to complement its existing after-school tennis program.

These sessions provide students with an additional opportunity to develop their skills, build confidence, and enjoy being active before the school day begins.

For further information, please refer to the attached flyer here:Voyager Tennis - Flyer .pdf

or contact Jareth on mobile: 0485 881 466.

General Information

All information relating to sporting programs, gala days, and competitions at the Junior Campus will be communicated through assemblies and the school newsletter. Relevant details will then be sent home to interested students and families.

Please continue to check the newsletter regularly for updates, events, and sporting opportunities throughout the year.

If you have any questions about Sport at the Sunshine Avenue campus please email Mr Nathan Croft - ncroft@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au

Nathan Croft
Head Of Sport Junior School

The Farm - Byron Bay 

To wrap up our exciting Science unit, Paddock to Plate, 75 very enthusiastic Kindergarten students hopped aboard a bus last Thursday and headed off for a wonderful adventure to Byron Bay to visit The Farm! After learning about where our food comes from in the classroom, it was fantastic for the children to see their learning come to life through a fun filled day of exploring, discovering and getting their hands a bit dirty!

One of the biggest highlights of the day was meeting some of the farm’s friendly animals. The children had the opportunity to hand feed goats, chickens and sheep, which brought plenty of smiles, laughter and excitement. There were certainly some very hungry animals eager to say hello!

We also spent some time exploring the farm’s beautiful vegetable gardens, where the students discovered more about how different plants grow and the important things they need to survive, including sunlight, water, healthy soil and lots of care. We learned about the different fruits, vegetables and plants that are grown on the farm and made connections to how these eventually became foods we see on our plates.

Our kindergarten students had a wonderful time experiencing the farm and they were exhausted on the bus ride home. Some of us even had a little nap on our friend’s shoulder!

A big thank you to the wonderful parents who volunteered and helped keep our little farmers organised throughout the day. We couldn’t have done it without you!

It was a fantastic day filled with hands on learning, curious questions and lots of excitement. What a special way to celebrate and finish our Scient unit!

Sheraz Johnston
Kindergarten Prac Student 

For all photos, please see the gallery below

This week I read an article in the Sydney Morning Herald about the way St Andrew’s Cathedral School responded following the tragic death of a staff member. As part of its ongoing work around respectful relationships, gender-based violence and coercive control, the School has invited students to help shape the conversations and education taking place in classrooms.

One comment particularly stayed with me. A student spoke about the importance of creating education “with young people, not just for them”.

It is such an important idea.

Too often, adults assume it is our role to identify the problem and provide the solution. Yet young people understand their world in ways that we simply cannot. They know the pressures their peers face, the influence of social media, and the kinds of conversations that happen when adults are not in the room. When we genuinely listen to them, they can offer thoughtful and sometimes surprising insights.

This feels especially relevant in the Senior School at the moment.

We are beginning to say farewell to our Year 12 Captains and Prefects, whilst also working through the process of selecting our student leaders for 2027. It is a time when we naturally think about leadership: what it looks like, what we expect from it and the difference one young person can make.

Our Year 12 leaders have been outstanding ambassadors for Lindisfarne. Of course, we have seen them at assemblies, formal occasions and community events. However, much of their influence has been less visible. It has been found in the way they have supported their peers and helped set the tone for our Senior School.

This is often where the most meaningful leadership happens.

Leadership is not only about wearing a badge or speaking from a stage. It can be as simple as noticing that someone has been left out, challenging a comment that does not sit comfortably or choosing to set a better example when others are tempted not to. These small decisions help shape the culture of a school.

As we consider our leaders for 2027, we are not just looking for students who can perform the duties attached to a position. We are looking for young people who understand that leadership is an opportunity to have a positive influence. They will not be expected to have all the answers, but they will need to listen and be prepared to act when it matters.

Our outgoing Captains and Prefects have shown us just how much young people can contribute when they are given genuine responsibility and the support to use their voices well.

Young people have an amazing capacity to effect change. Sometimes we just need to make room for them, listen carefully and trust what they might achieve.

Kate Cornell
Head of Senior School

Year 11 Business Pitch Event

Business Studies continues to be one of the most popular HSC courses at Lindisfarne, and students love the opportunity to apply theory to real world case studies and scenarios. As part of their recent Business Planning task, students were required to construct a small business from scratch, contemplating and planning all aspects in order to ensure successful operations. The culmination of this assessment allowed each class to vote for their favourite business, to be pitched to our esteemed panel members Mr Marquardt, Mrs Cornell and Mrs Blinco. After each presentation, students were questioned on aspects of Human Resources, Marketing, Operations and Finance, before the judges were asked to divide their ‘investments’ between their favourite business ideas.

Congratulations to the winner, Ashton Cardillo, whose business AeroVault provided a solution for motorbike riders and snowsports enthusiasts to deep clean their helmets after each use. Cooper Mackie planned to deploy drones to assist emergency services reach regional locations faster, Indie Trewhitt created plans for a drop in centre to assist with teen and youth mental health, while Jake McKiernan put together a proposal to expand his burgeoning tennis coaching business. The students are to be congratulated on the high quality of the business plans, with each report now being submitted to the 2026 Plan Your Own Enterprise competition.

Nathan Alterator
Head of St. Margaret House

This weekend just passed, Nicolas, Kimiyo and myself had the privilege of attending the national round of Rotary’s Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) competition in Canberra. MUNA is, as it sounds, an event in which several teams come together to simulate the diplomacy of the United Nations’ General Assembly, speaking on a variety of issues and empowering the voices of young people. This competition prioritises a team’s authentic, passionate and moving speeches, incorporating a balance of proper etiquette, debating prowess, worldly understanding and, most importantly, people skills

Going to the nationals was an awesome opportunity and privilege for us following our win in the regional competition, enabling us to challenge ourselves and meet people from across the country. Representing India on the global stage, we were handed 6 resolutions discussing the state of the world:

1. State of Global Food Security

2. The role and importance of a policy of neutrality in maintaining and strengthening international peace, security and sustainable development

3. Strengthening the role of the UN in the promotion of democratization and enhancing periodic and genuine elections

4. Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech

5. Education for democracy

6. Support for lasting peace in Ukraine

After 2 days of debating and diplomacy in the historic landmark of the Old Parliament House, meeting inspiring young people such as Janice Rodrigues and making friends from across the states, we were honoured to have won. The three of us, together, worked tirelessly over those days and indeed in the preceding week to ensure that we demonstrated everything we had to offer.

I speak on behalf of all of us when I say that its events such as these, events where young people who have something to say get together and say it, that really make a difference. Its events like these that forge the leaders of the future and this experience truly was invigorating.

Without the help of the wonderful staff of Lindisfarne, Mrs Elissa Periott and Lauren Ward, as well as our favourite Rotarian Ross Smith, we wouldn’t have been able to make the planes, let alone get ourselves all the way to Canberra. So, for that and all the work they put in, we are deeply grateful.

As I mentioned earlier, these competitions are invaluable and, whether it's MUNA or something else, young people, such as us, finding our voices is truly the foremost goal of today. So thank you to everyone who was involved, and a special thank you to my two remarkable teammates,

Ben Reeve
Prefect - Communication 

The group of Year 9 students who will shortly be embarking on their much-anticipated trip to India in Week 10 are highly motivated to raise funds for a local charity they will be spending some time with while in India.

These funds will go towards furnishing a room for the Gilgal Charity, which is a Nursing home and Orphanage near Kottayam in Kerala, India, where our students will spend a day and also provide lunch to the 450 residents and staff.

This will be a great opportunity for our students to be actively involved in an environment where they can see first-hand where the funds raised will be given.

Please see the flyer advertising our fundraiser, which is going to be a delicious dish of butter chicken, rice and a poppadom.

Please support our students and this amazing cause.

HSC Examinations next week

HSC Drama Performance Examination is on Tuesday, 1 September

HSC Italian Beginners Oral Examination is on Tuesday, 2 September,

HSC Japanese Beginners Oral Examinations are on Thursday, 3 September

Good luck to all our HSC students next week.

Major Work hand in

Next week, Visual Arts will be handed in on Monday, 31 August

Industrial Technology markers will be on site next week to mark the HSC Major Projects in Timber on Wednesday, 2 September

ICAS 2026 - Week 5

ICAS competition in Mathematics will take place for Year 5 next week.

Parent Teacher Nights for Stage 4 and 5

Just a reminder that Parent Teacher interviews take place on Tuesday, 1 September and Tuesday, 8 September. Bookings can be made via SEQTA Engage.

Caroline Jeffries
Dean of Studies

On 15 August, Ben and I were privileged to be able to perform at the Poets Out Loud Youth Slam, as part of the Byron Writers’ Festival. Ben read his poem, titled “April Nights”, and I read my piece, “The Medicine For Forgetfulness.” There were ten other talented poets between the ages of 12 and 18 who performed alongside us, and we were able to hear poetry from Sarah Temporal, our mentor, as well as Arantza Garcia Ferrand, the winner of the 2025 Australian Slam Poetry Competition.

I was lucky enough to be able to win first prize, and I went on to perform my poem a second time that night at the Beyond the Lines performance in the theater in Byron Bay. I I am incredibly grateful to Sarah for her mentoring, and to my friends and fellow poets who shared their gifts with me and the audience so vulnerably.

I have to admit, I never intended to be on stage that morning. It was a last minute decision to read my poem aloud, and having been convinced and encouraged by the other amazing poets at the competition, in the end I did give it a go. Although I was nervous, being on stage turned out to be a thrilling experience. 

Mitsuki Burgener
Student

National Science Week’s theme this year was ‘Seeds of Science’, but last week was a celebration of all things science-related! The week kicked off on Monday, with the annual Science Fair. It showcased our students’ most recent projects, involving the Year 7 & 8 models, Year 9 Agriculture posters, Depth Studies from Year 11 Investigating Science, Biology and Earth & Environmental and the Lady Elliot Island trip, alongside Year 12 Physics, Engineering and Science Extension projects.

Our Extension History students recently had the chance to present the findings from their Major Works at an afternoon tea attended by their peers, family and mentors. The Extension History program continues to grow at Lindisfarne, with our largest cohort to date attempting the HSC in 2026. Designed for Year 12 students with a passion for Ancient and/or Modern History, an important component of the course allows students to explore historiography based on a topic of their choice, thinking critically and exploring a range of divergent opinions. The audience were impressed by the diversity of topics, and students spoke passionately about their findings and opinions. A huge thank you to our mentors from the HSIE and English departments, your willingness to work alongside our young people was greatly appreciated. All students were presented with a bound copy of their writing, to be kept for years to come and hopefully the first of many published pieces. 

Mr Nathan Alterator
Extension History Teacher

Week 7 Key Dates

• Monday, 31 August: Netball National All Schools Challenge
• Wednesday, 2 September: Term 4 Integrated Sports Selections Open
• Thursday, 3 & Friday 4 September: Rugby Queensland All Schools 7s Rugby Queensland All Schools 7s

Australian Athletics - Nationals Cross Country Championships

Some extreme wet weather and a muddy course were the scene for some of our elite runners last Saturday in Ballarat, who were competing against the best in the land at this Athletics Australia event (not to be confused with the looming School Sport Australia - Cross Country Championships).

Elle Down (Yr 5) continued her freakish string of 1st place results. This consecutive run of first placings is out of this world, and we are running out of adjectives to celebrate Elle’s achievements.

Our little warrior Andie Buchan (Yr 7) has had a horrendous year with injuries, the latest being a broken foot. She is underdone with fitness, and is in the midst of her rehabilitation exercises, and arguably shouldn’t have raced - but was keen to - and ran into 26th place.

Isabelle Daniel (Yr 9) competed as well, and hung tough in the soggy/slippery conditions. Isabelle wasn’t completely happy with her run, but that’s all part of the sport.

Harper Kelly (Yr 5) ran super, wearing her 12ml spikes for the first time - and came 20th. Superb effort from young Harper.

The photos well and truly capture the dire conditions.

NCIS Secondary Volleyball

Our NCIS Volleyballers all came home with medals.

U15 Boys - 2nd

U15 Girls - 2nd

Open Boys - 1st

Open Girls - 1st

NCIS 15&U Secondary Football

Boys

U15 boys went down to Coffs for NCIS Football with a clear mission - to be champions for 2026. With one draw and 5 wins (including a revenge victory against Emmanuel, who knocked us out of the Bill Turner Cup) across our six games, we did indeed find ourselves grinning with the best record.

It was hard for them to cash in on their usual classy possession football as the short games meant goals needed to happen fast! In a longer game, they wear down their opponents. But they found a way!

Goals to skipper Flynn Cairncross (4), Marlow Brown (2), Sam Wiegard (2), Lochlan Williams, Marley Holman, Oliver People and Jack Kane helped secure the medals. Well done to the boys. NCIS U15 Football Champs for 2026.
Coach Cadman

Girls

After coming off the gruelling two-day Bill Turner finals trip the week before, some of our girls were rested for this tournament - allowing for some of our extended training squad to come and have a good hit out.

The girls won virtually all their matches, only having the one 0:1 loss to overall winners Bishop Druitt, in what was a very even match. It was a very enjoyable tournament for us all, with the girls settling for a commendable 2nd place medal.
Coach Clucas

2026 Lindisfarne Tennis Championships

We are cordially inviting ANY Lindisfarne student, from Years 2 to 12 - to compete at our Annual Lindisfarne Tennis Championships on Monday 14, September. ENTRIES CLOSE THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER.

Please see the flyer below; click the link to register.

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Term 4 Integrated Sports Next Week!

Integrated Sport selections for Term 4 will open via Clipboard on Wednesday, 2 September at 7:00pm and close on Wednesday, 9 September at 8:00 am.

ALL students are required to make a selection and payment.

Rugby and Netball are not an option in Term 4, so please make sure to select another sport.

Term 4 Integrated Sport options are available to view on Clipboard.

To log in to Clipboard, please follow the instructions below:

1. Log in to SEQTA Engage or click on the following link HERE
2. Select the SPORT SELECTIONS tile (this will launch the Clipboard portal)
3. Go to ACTIVITY SELECTION (left-hand side of calendar view)
4. Select the correct student at the top right
5. Navigate to Term 4 (Year Group) Integrated Sports 2026

You can also use the following instructions to log in to Clipboard HERE.

Term 4 integrated sports options are also linked below.

Options for Years 5 & 6

Options for Years 7-12

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.

We encourage students to carefully select their sports and, where applicable, to network with their friends in advance of when selections open (including contingency plans if selections fill up). Please note that there are NO sport swaps permitted after the selection process - swapping students across rolls and unravelling finance is not a straightforward process.

Spotlight on Eliza Fahy.

After winning gold with her Queensland team at the U18 Hockey Nationals in Darwin in July, Eliza’s performance has earned her a selection in the U21 Queensland squad, which will trial in February. Congratulations Eliza.

Damien Clucas
Head of Sport

Proudly Supported By

RUGBY CAPTAINS’ DINNER

The 2026 Lindisfarne Rugby Captain's Dinner and Presentation Night will be held on Monday, 21 September from 6.30pm (6.00pm arrival) at Twin Towns, Tweed Heads. This dinner will be for our Years 5 to 12 students and parents who have been involved in the rugby program. There will be a number of awards presented on the night including:

• Boys U12 Player of the Year

• Boys U13 Player of the Year

• Boys U14 Player of the Year

• Boys U15 Player of the Year

• Boys U16 Player of the Year

• Boys 1st XV Player of the Year

• Girls U13 Player of the Year

• Girls U14 Player of the Year

• Girls U15 Player of the Year

• Girls U16 Player of the Year

• Open Girls Player of the Year

• Most Promising

• Most Improved

• Representative Player of the Year

• Lily Dick Spirit of Rugby Award

Tickets are $45 and we will be sending out invitations and booking links asap. All students are required to be in formal school uniform on the night with parents in smart dress. This will be a great evening and a wonderful way to cap off the 2026 school rugby season for both XV-aside and 7-aside programs. If you have any questions, please let Dr Coyne or your respective coach know and we hope to see you all there.

When we first arrived in Moshi, Tanzania, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, we were simply a group of students, teachers and guides from all around the world, meeting one another for the first time. We learnt names, shared meals, fought jet lag, sorted gear and prepared ourselves for what lay ahead. Unbeknown to us then, many of these unfamiliar faces would become lifelong friends.

Over the next 3 weeks, Kilimanjaro taught us far more than how to climb a mountain. We hiked, climbed, learnt about the flora and fauna and acclimatised. We became accustomed to camping, unfamiliar foods, changing weather, lack of showers, the dust, new people and, perhaps less enthusiastically, squat toilets. As the days passed and the altitude increased, life became simpler. Walk. Eat. Drink. Rest. Look after one another. Repeat.

Then came summit night.

We woke at 11 pm and began walking at midnight, bundled in every layer we had. Ahead of us was just 5 kilometers to the peak, yet it would take almost seven hours. That statistic alone perhaps best describes the effect of altitude. Every step required effort. Heavy breathing filled the silence and whenever we looked up, a seemingly endless zigzag of headtorches disappeared into the darkness above us.

At around -100C, it was the coldest these three Aussies had ever experienced. During the first hour, I genuinely wondered whether I would make it. The effects of altitude became increasingly difficult to ignore. Fatigue, headaches and nausea were coming think and fast and even the smallest steps demanded concentration and determination. It was only afterwards that we discovered most of us had been thinking the same thing, but at the time we were either too tired, too scared or perhaps too stubborn to say it aloud.

Slowly, a thin rim of light appeared on the horizon. Sunrise was coming and with it came renewed energy. Reaching Stella Point brought an enormous sense of relief. We huddled together in the cold, waiting for the rest of the group, before continuing slowly towards Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, 5895m above sea level.

And then, somehow, the difficulty of the previous seven hours seemed to disappear.

There were hugs, cheers and a shared joy that is difficult to put into words. We took the obligatory photos beside the iconic Uhuru Peak sign and stood looking across the glaciers and the vast landscape below. For a few moments, there was nowhere else to be and nothing else to achieve. It was simply a chance to stop, look around and appreciate the extraordinary beauty of our world, and how fortunate we were to be standing there.

The mountain was not finished with us, of course. We still had to get down. Yet what had taken seven hours to climb took only 3 hours to descend. With every metre we lost in altitude came a little more oxygen and slowly we began to feel like ourselves again.

And then it was time for Safari.

Tarangire National Park offered a completely different, but equally memorable, Tanzanian experience. We travelled across the park in safari trucks, heads peeking through pop top roofs and cameras rarely leaving our hands. Elephants wandered majestically across the landscape, lions rested on the river bed, we spotted giraffe, zebra, waterbuck and buffalo. We encountered some very cheeky vervet monkeys, determined to steal our lunch. Seeing animals we have grown up watching in documentaries living in their natural habitat was a privilege in itself.

It would be easy to describe this trip by its highlights, 8 days hiking Kilimanjaro, 2-day safari, exploring Moshi. Yet those are only part of the story.

What will remain are the quieter moments. The conversations while hiking. The encouragement when someone was struggling. The laughter around the camp, hearing the roar of cheer from the students when their meals arrived. The local guides who patiently led us one step at a time. The people who began the journey as strangers and finished it as friends.

On a personal level, I could not be prouder of our Lindisfarne students and fellow St Barnabas family, Lucas Greaves and Art Lush. I watched them face genuine physical and mental challenges with courage and resilience, whilst also throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the experience. They embraced new friendships, different cultures, and the inevitable discomfort of mountain life with openness and good humour. Far from home and well outside their comfort zones, they quietly demonstrated values we seek to instil in our students. Looking out for others, encouraging those around them, respecting their environment, embracing inclusion and ensuring everyone felt a sense of belonging. It was a privilege to share this experience with them.

We travelled to Tanzania hoping to climb the highest freestanding mountain in the world and experience a different culture. We came home with a much greater appreciation for the people who shared the journey with us, the country that welcomed us, and the remarkable world we are fortunate enough to explore.

Perhaps that was Kilimanjaro’s greatest lesson. Reaching the summit was extraordinary, but it was the people beside us on the way that made it unforgettable.

Kelly Bedford

Clothing Swap

Fast fashion is an increasing environmental problem, with large amounts of clothing ending up in landfill. The Green Team wants to help address this issue by organising a Clothing Swap, giving pre loved clothes a second life and encouraging students to reuse rather than buy new.

When: Friday, September 4

Time: Lunch

Where: O Commons.

How does it work?

Throughout Week 7, bring in any clean, good quality clothing you no longer need, including shoes and school uniforms. Make sure all items are free from tears and stains and are in a condition you would be happy for someone else to wear.

Donations can be dropped off with Mrs Foyster in the Science Staffroom (S Block). For each clothing donation, you will receive a token, giving you first choice at the Clothes Swap.

What happens to the leftovers?

We want to make sure that as little as possible goes to waste. Any clothing remaining after the Clothes Swap will be donated to Agape through the Year 10 Service Learning program, where it can continue to be useful to others.

So, while you're getting ready for Book Day, take a look through your wardrobe and see if there are any clothes, shoes or uniforms that you no longer wear. Bring them along, swap them for something, and help us make Lindisfarne a more sustainable school!

Lyla Macdonald and Andy Yen
Sustainability Prefects

Do Not Miss Out. Register Now!!

Golf Day Booking Link

Business Breakfast Booking Link

Please use the following link to access the Corporate Benefits Program. LINK

Coastal Orthodontics - A 2026 FunFest Sponsor

It’s time to get ready for another HUGE season at Tweed Banora Colts!

Whether you’ve played for years or you’re ready to pick up a bat for the first time, there’s a place for you at the Colts! Training kicks off mid-September, so get registered and get ready for the season ahead!

REGISTER NOW https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/org/tweed-banora-colts-cricket-club/8ea9e77d/register