The winning House of the Bassingthwaighte Cup was… Andrews!
Shout out to the Heads of House/House Convenors for their work in ensuring our Spartans were ready to partake.
We thank the parents/caregivers for all that you do for our Spartans and in coming out to support this 'Specators Welcome' event.
We wish all of our Spartans progressing to the APS Athletics Championships at Runaway Bay all the best.
Aroo!
Throughout Weeks 5 to 7 of Term Two, 30 plays were performed across three venues. The performances showcased the high calibre of acting and directing skills possessed by young artists from all over the Gold Coast who were proudly representing their schools. The most important aspect of the annual festival (now in its 49th year) is allowing students the opportunity to work through the process of interpreting a play text or devising a new work, collaborating to bring a directorial vision to life on stage for an audience.
The Junior Section (Years 7 and 8) launched the festival season, hosted by Somerset College.
The Lost Property Rules by Matthew Ryan was directed by Year 11 students, Anastasia Kouts and Brigette Newing, under the staff mentorship of Mrs Sarah Hossy and Ms Rebekah Ward. Our junior cast delighted the audience with their strong sense of ensemble and unique characterisation.
The Junior play was fortunate to receive the following awards during adjudication:
Week 2 of the festival saw the Intermediate Section take to the stage, hosted by Trinity Lutheran College. The Fledglings by Maxine Mellor was directed by Year 11 students, Louis Ladbrook and Nico Verin, under the staff mentorship of Mrs Anna D’Arcy and technical expertise of Mr Sam Cash. Our intermediate cast engaged the audience with their innovative use of technical elements and strong ensemble work.
The Intermediate play was fortunate to receive the following awards during adjudication:
The final week of the festival was the Senior Section, hosted by Saint Stephen's College. Chasing the Whale by Matthew Ryan was directed by Ms Josephine Flynn, assisted with technical design by Mr Sam Cash. Our amazing Senior cast of Eva Wingrove, Calvin Walther, Soumia Lamont, Daniel Harvey and Jess Kirk found the rhythm of the work and were commended on their precision of timing and sophisticated design elements.
The Senior play was fortunate to receive the following awards during adjudication:
Congratulations to the GCSSDF team for 2021!
Many thanks to all participants, parents/guardians, and staff for their commitment to the extensive rehearsal process. To our actors and directors, we are so incredibly proud of the work you created. We look forward to doing it all again in 2022.
Year 5 and Year 6 Team
Imagine flying on a dragon’s back or finding a million dollars in your backyard? It was certainly an adventure reading the five books selected for us, and many other students around the state, by the Queensland Branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia. The Council organises the Readers Cup competition on an annual basis.
We enjoyed getting lost in each page and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to read different books from various genres, working together as a team and, of course, having a lot of fun coming up with potential trivia questions about each book!
We spent months preparing by gathering for weekly meetings by quizzing each other on the books in readiness for the competition against 25 other schools on the Gold Coast. Our goal was to be in the top 10 and our hard work paid off, as we placed in ninth overall. The entire team is very grateful for this opportunity!
Kaitenan Weintrop, 6S
Year 7 and Year 8 Team
Readers Cup was a fantastic experience for our team. We prepared with weekly meetings on a Tuesday at lunchtime and we also used the Social Stream on our dedicated Readers Cup Schoolbox page to quiz each other when face-to-face meetings were not possible. We thoroughly enjoyed reading the selected books and we all had our personal favourites; mine were Pirate Boy of Sydney Town and Lenny’s Book of Everything.
When the competition evening rolled around, we felt very nervous yet excited. The suspense between questions and each round added to the experience and we managed to secure fourth place in the end. We were only a half point from third place, but we were very proud of our efforts.
Readers Cup is a fantastic way to improve our literacy and collaboration skills and we hope that Somerset will come out on top next year!
Sash Kumar, Year 7
Throughout this Project, I have developed skills such as patience, knowledge, communication, and determination. I have patience waiting for my board getting sent in, whilst also other equipment. Another way is learning how to shape, then after watching being able to produce the same affect. I had to listen and inquiry into the manufacturing of my board, so I understood when the professional was talking about such as, ‘how to increase speed throughout shape’ or ‘flicking the spray to create an evenness’.
I had to communicate in parts of my Project, this includes asking questions about how to hold a spray or what sandpaper I use (there are many types of sandpapers flexible ones, flat, soft padded and many more). I also had to know how to formulate colours, so some primary knowledge of what colours create what. I could then make my rails my favourite colour.
In parts of creating my surfboard I would dread going but once I started, I loved it and was exciting, the feeling of achievement and finishing helped to drive me to get my project done even fast. Having a back hand motive of ‘once it’s done, I have to write my assignment’. I am also excited to ride it after my coats have dried. These few goals have kept me determined throughout the whole process.
The work to plant was hard but all who participated finished the task.
I was proud when all the trees were planted, because I know it is good for the environment completing projects like these. You can also have fun or make new friend along the way.
With changes made this season, the regatta now finishes with the Open Quads with the Girls Open Quad scull of Rowing Captain Sofie Smith, Kate Jordan, Nathalie Brown and Emelia Fink coming Second, while the Boys Open Quad of Rowing Captain Fergus McKeon, Cam Smith, Callum McClure and Nick Tan came third. With five Girls Quads entered for the day it was always going to be close between Brigidine College and Somerset College for the Overall winner, with Somerset College taking the win by just two points. The boys were not able to match St Peters College who had entered eight Boys Quads for the day, with Somerset College only having six.
Helping the Girls Open Quad to win the Girls Overall Andrew Butler trophy was the Year 10 crew of Lillian Tan, Eliza Strong, Georgia Daly and Lauren Taylor Girdler winning the Overall Year 10 points. The Girls Year 9 crew of Maya Pearse, Kinari Patel, Esme Fink and Noa Chester-Haviv came third as well as the Year 8 crew of Brooke Bowden, Livi Budd, Nadia Wu and Leylah Zubair.
Wyaralong Dam, has steadily been developed over the past few years and is well established now as the Queensland State Rowing Centre. With a ten lane 2000m course it is the largest racing venue in the state and will be the venue for some further regattas in Term Three as preparation for the State Championships in Rockhampton from 18 to 20 September. The conditions were far from pleasant as the cold southerly wind made the water challenging to row in. As gates were lifted to accommodate the small waves, there was little that could be done to avoid the splash of water and several boats came back in drenched.
The Year 7 girls Brooke Bowden, Livi Budd, Audrey Cirocco, Isabella Vujanovic, Sarah Nickels and Natalia Zotti did a fantastic job of competing in the Year 8 events, as did the Year 7 boys Benji Strong, Angus Riddle, Xavier Brand, Tony Stephens and Will Hoult. With plenty of other Year 7 rowers involved in the program and competing at several regattas this year it is a great sign for the future.
The Year 9 boys quad of Jake Phillips, Callum Miles, Bowen Mansell, Alex Jordan have had a fantastic season competing with the Kenmore Year 9 Boys Quad. Unfortunately, the crew were not able to catch them in the final regatta and had to settle for second place. It has been great to see both crews display such great racing at such a young age.
Luke Oishi of Year 8 had to step up and fill in for the Year 10 Quad with Lachlan Ray, Matthew Nickels and Joe Boone. They were able to manage a second place behind St Peter's Lutheran College. A great effort considering the last-minute crew change and the additional 500m in course length than they had been used to racing.
It was so good to see the squad of 54 rowers compete over the GCRASRA season. With many highlights at Coomera Lake in Single, Double and Quad sculls, a great breading ground for local development in the sport and certainly a fantastic start for many rowers who have never had any regatta experience. The result at the Trophy Regatta, winning the Girls Overall points and coming second in the Boys Overall points is a great indication of how successful we are locally. Let’s hope we can keep this success going as we now look to the South Queensland and Queensland School State Championships in Term Three.
In what was an amazing day of netball, all players represented the College with attitudes to be proud of and a competitive spirit that was inspiring.
For the first time ever our Academy team (Years 8 to 9) qualified for the state finals; a huge achievement that the girls have worked so hard for. The team finished undefeated in the rounds and lost by one point in what was a brilliant Grand Final against a very experienced King's Christian College side.
The Open team competed with so much heart in every game with our defensive end plagued with injury. Bayley d'Hotman de Villiers couldn’t play due to a knee injury, Georgia Wilson was just out of a moonboot for an ankle injury, and Ellie Muir was having her first game back after an eight month break for a shoulder reconstruction. The girls looked like they had never been injured as they put their bodies on the line and competed strongly.
The team were also undefeated in round play but went on to lose the Grand Final to Southport by one point.
Vicki Wilson Cup and Shield State Finals will be held on 5 and 6 August at Nissan Arena, Brisbane.
A massive congratulations to our Netball students who proudly represented the College in the highest manner.
Jemma Clements, Bayley d'Hotman de Villiers, Atlanta Horan, Ellie Muir, Lucy Millar, Charli Pearse, Shemeah Poloai, Marika Ransfield Elsa Sandholt, Amaris Toia, Trinity Toia, Georgia Wilson
Cienna Bailey, Giovanna Basile, Roxy Brown, Marley Burns, Rio Burns, Amelia Cotton, Maddie Jones, Ruby Partridge, Kinari Patel, Ariana Ransfield, Daisy Webber
Without the services of star defender and Queensland 17 Under squad member Bayley d'Hotman de Villiers it was going to be a challenge, but the trio of Trinity Toia, Georgia Wilson and Ellie Muir were relentless in the fight to disrupt and gain possession.
Jemma Clements had her best game of the season leading the midcourt in attack and defence with her patience, calmness and skill on display. Atlanta Horan kept the defence busy with her fast, sharp moves, and the introduction of Shemeah Poloai to the game was just what the team needed to open the court and create well needed space.
Our dynamic shooting trio of captain Amaris Toia, Elsa Sandholt and youngster Charli Pearce were outstanding in their performances, adjusting positively to the use of rolling subs and changing the game in the shooting circle.
After a very close tightly contested first half, it was Somerset that started to pull away. Both teams were outstanding in their display of skill and continued pressure, but it was Somerset who finished the second half stronger, taking out their fifth consecutive APS Premiership. The final score, 50 to 35.
APS 1st XV Rugby Premierships: (1991, 1996, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021)
It all started in way back in Term Four of 2020. Our first trainings, in preparation for season 2021. These trainings were often filled with fine tuning our basic skills and lots and lots of running with Pula, our strength and conditioning coach who would attempt to lighten the mood as our lungs felt as they were about to burst. Then during the summer holidays the Rugby squad accompanied by our Head coach Mr Spence Attoe and Pula trekked down to the high-performance centre in Kingscliff, where indeed we would ‘find our happy place’ through 4.30 am starts and five intense trainings over two days.
Fast forward to our first game of the year (a different game to what we were expecting) this came in the form of an internal trial between Somerset Green and Somerset Blue, in which green team came out superior. Looking back this was a crucial game in helping us prepare for the upcoming season, by running our shape and moves against some opposition. Then came a pre-season fixture against All Saints Anglican School, our archrivals from across the M1. Played over three thirds in the heat, we started slowly and at the first break it was nil-all after receiving a ‘rev-up’, we went out for the rest of the game confident and the score-line represented that, a good start to the season with a 28 to 5 away win. Then came convincing wins over Saint Stephen's College, Coomera Anglican College, A.B. Paterson and Emmanuel College but we still knew we had more in us in regards to the standard we can play at. A new challenge now lay ahead of us, the Hickey-Fradgely Cup, our in-season clash against All Saints Anglican School.
At the end of the Easter holidays the 2021 Rugby XV became the first Somerset team to ever play in the Ballymore Cup, a tournament consisting of the best teams in Queensland. St Laurence’s College, Downlands, Rockhampton Grammar School and Iona College, to name a few. Arriving in our school uniform, we glanced over at these teams, seeing players twice the size, years older than us. While the idea of tackling these giants was daunting, the coaching staff of Coach Spence, Pula and Rico were confident we would be able to compete. Something we didn’t understand then but do now was the importance of that tournament in our physical and mental development. This was Tuesday team toughness on steroids. Five tough and relentless games in two-and-a-half days, all closer than Michael Hooper’s eyes. After the first couple games we were injured and bruised. But the constant support from the coaching staff got us through one game at a time. Half after half. Scrum after scrum. Lineout after lineout. Tackle after tackle. We soon realised rugby was about winning these moments and this was something that stuck with us throughout the season. Never would I have thought losing all five games by such close margins would be such a learning experience for us all. In the end it was the difference between glory and disappointment.
The day we had been waiting for, 24 May 2021 arrived. The Grand Final versus King's Christian College. In our Junior Rugby years all we had dreamt of was winning an APS Grand Final. Previous years had entered the Bond University arena. Some came up on top, some came in second place. Injuries, wounds, scars, bruises. Almost every game came down to the last 10 minutes. And the winner, no matter the skill or size, was always the team who were willing to put their bodies on the line, the team willing to do anything to protect their teammates beside them.
From the moment I woke up, I was filled with emotions I have never experienced before. Emotions I don’t know how to describe. A mix of excitement, nervousness and desire. A feeling you can only get playing schoolboy rugby. Arriving at school the rugby boys grouped in the corner of the common room, a lot less banter than usual. Many students and teachers approached us about the size of the King's team. Only a select few had confidence in our team. They hadn’t seen the dedication and commitment of the team throughout the preseason. Since the end of Term Three in 2020, every Tuesday morning at 6.15 we trained, every Wednesday afternoon we trained, every Monday and Wednesday we lifted in the gym. While others were relaxing over the summer holidays, we were running on Wyangan, working harder than we ever thought we could. Thanks to the expert training of Coach Spence, Pula, Rico and Ando, we were more prepared for this final than ever.
Sure enough we arrived at Bond University, ready to begin the warm-up. We walked into the change rooms as a team, left the change rooms as a team and warmed up as a team. We were sharp, focused and had a needless desire to win. As I looked over at King's, they were walking out separated, laughing, patting each other on the back and smiling at the large crowd rolling in. In their minds they were going to win. But that moment told us they were ready to lose. Five minutes before the game we huddled together in the change room like a pack of wolves ready to hunt. Not a lot was said. But one thing Coach Spence said over and over was ‘win the moment’.
Running out on the field gave us a nervous sigh of relief. Friends, family and rugby fans all watching from the crowd. Yet all we could hear was the constant sledging from the King's students. Somehow this made the team more excited, knowing that we would be disappointing more of them. The kick-off siren blew, and the game was underway. After poor discipline from the King's players, we received a lineout about seven meters from their try line. The soon to come Somerset maul became the story of the season. In a maul, everyone must know their role. Every individual plays an equally important part and without one of these parts, the maul will not succeed. For this maul, we were bound tight to each other and moved like a single organism. The power of this maul was much greater than the sum of every individual Somerset forward. King's could not contain us. The try was given and in the first three minutes we were up 7 to nil. We didn’t hold this lead for long.
By the end of the first half the score was 7 to 10, King's had scored two tries through their rumbling forwards. We had been in this situation before. The last King's game, two weeks prior the score was very similar at half time, but King's finished the game off. At half time, Coach Spence was confident in our desire and ability to finish the last 30 minutes off. It was the small moments in this half that would determine whether we were victorious or defeated. Kick chases, turnovers, conversions, successful set piece and relentless defense. Somehow with their 800kg forward pack, our 500kg forward pack with arguably the smallest front row in the competition won more scrums than they did. This game was a definitely a case for ‘leaving the best game till last’. After a pick and drive try in the 44th minute and a successful conversion from the sideline, we were up by four points with 15 minutes to go. After a couple of errors, King's found their way into our half with seven minutes to go. But our defense was impenetrable. In this moment, nothing was going to let them through to ‘our house’ as Coach Spence would say. Although the King's team had many more substitutions than us, we were 10 times more energetic and desired than them throughout the game.
After a nerve-racking and anticipated ending, the final siren sounded, and Somerset were crowned 2021 APS premiers. Never in my life had I experienced such elation and relief. I walked around hugging everyone in the team. Many of us had tears running down our faces. It was clear how much this meant to us. The brotherhood and mate ship that has developed since Year 4 Rugby days was shown that day. This wasn't just about winning a premiership, this was about proving to our friends, family and Somerset that desire, effort and passion is worth more than any talented Queensland player.
We may not have fulfilled our goal to be ‘the best Somerset 1st XV ever’ but we sure became ‘the toughest Somerset 1st XV ever’.
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