From the Headmaster

Welcome back! I trust you have all had a restful and refreshing break and are ready for the demands of Term Two. I’m sure you will join me in welcoming the new students who commenced at the College this term.

While Term One was action packed from the very beginning, I have no doubt that Term Two will be very similar. We commence the term with College Tours, the Inter-House Cross Country Carnival, Debating, Wordsmiths, the P&F Pop-Up Shop, Senior School Musical Camp, the Inter-House Rowing Regatta and the Cross Country Camp.

Of course this is just the beginning. We take time to remember the fallen with ANZAC Day Chapels and attendance at the various ANZAC Day services around the Coast. We’ll then have Senior School Parent Teacher Evenings; NAPLAN Testing, Excursions, Debating, Mother’s Day. All this before we head into the challenge of Exams after which students will receive their results and continue with life their busy lives at Somerset College.

All this while continuing with our academic, cultural, co-curricular, service and sporting activities and pursuits that we work consistently and tirelessly to shape our students’ futures by learning to critique, collaborate, create and communicate!

Staff

With regret I have accepted the resignation of Mrs Melanie Lamb. Mrs Lamb will leave us at the end of Term Two to relocate to New South Wales to embark on new adventures for all the family. We wish her every success in the future and thank her for her dedication and contribution to Somerset.

This term, we welcome back Mrs Anne Rowe and Miss Lisa Connell from leave.

I am delighted to announce that: 

• Ms Nonita Saint, M Sp Ed, B Ed, Dip Ed, Dip TESOL joined the Learning Enhancement team teaching across both the Junior and Senior Schools. Mrs Saint has held various roles in Learning Support including, most recently, Co-ordinator of Learning Enhancement at AB Paterson College and Learning Support Teacher and Head of Learning Enrichment at Saint Stephens’ College.
• Mr Royce Smith, Grad Dip Ed, M I T, B Com joined the Design Department in the Senior School. Mr Smith joins us having taught Information Processing Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Media at Varsity College, Computer Studies at Saint Stephen’s College and most recently at Southport State High School where he was the Head of Curriculum – Learning Management Systems and Student Learning, teaching Information Processing Technology and Information Communication Technology.
• Mrs Mandy Tolladay has become the Administrative Officer – Operations. Mrs Tolladay’s new role will include providing administrative assistance to the Admissions and Learning Enhancement areas of the College.
• Miss Stephanie Talbot has accepted the position of Receptionist. Stephanie joins the team having relocated from Brisbane where she worked as an Administration Officer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
• Miss Patricia Voussem, B Sci, joins the Science Department as the Science Laboratory Technician having worked previously at bioMerieux Australia. I am sure you will make them welcome.

2018 Commonwealth Games

Our involvement with the 2018 Commonwealth Games sadly finished this past week. Our students have had so many opportunities to be part of this great city-wide event. The presence of the Canadian, Northern Ireland, and PNG teams here at various stages gave our students the opportunity to embrace the spirit but also see up close the commitment and skill required to compete on such a global stage.

Many of our staff, students and Alumni were involved directly in Games events from volunteering to participating in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. A special mention to Max Deffenti (Year 7 Starkey) as the voice of the Closing Ceremony, what a confident young man to so seamlessly carry this role.

We have heard many times about the legacy of these Games and it is clear to see that in the infrastructure of the Gold Coast and particularly in the infrastructure here at Somerset. But in the hearts and minds of our students the legacy is really felt, their pride in the College, their City and their own unbounded potential.

I want to especially thank, Mr Damian Flint, our Facilities Manager, who co-ordinated so much of the access to the Games for our students. It was a journey of two years but it will leave a lifetime legacy.