Talented Year 10 students wowed the community with their incredible Personal Projects on display in the Great Hall.
This year's Personal Project showcase was nothing short of extraordinary. After a year-long journey of self-directed inquiry, the Year 10s revealed the fruits of their hard work to the school community.
The Personal Project, the crowning achievement of the Middle Years Programme, challenges students to explore a topic they are passionate about. Over 12 months, they research, problem-solve, and create products that demonstrate their learning and creativity.
This year, students shone by applying their Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, which included research, critical thinking, social, communication, and self-management. From published novels and restored motorbikes to stunning photography, artwork, and websites, the diverse talent on display was remarkable.
The projects highlighted not only the academic growth of the students but also their capacity for innovation and real-world problem-solving—an exciting glimpse into the future potential of these young minds.
The pinnacle event to complete Year 5 has opened the term, with the cohort sharing their work at this year's PYP Exhibition.
Students tackled the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, creating visuals and interactive projects to share with the community.
The young learners navigated their way through each activity using Approaches to Learning skills of researching, thinking, social, communication and self management. They also embraced their Learner Profile attributes as Thinkers, Communicators, Risk Takers and Carers as they inquired into clean energy, clean water, good health, peace and justice.
Year 11 student Ayla has received a Merit Award in the prestigious Global Essay Competition for John Locke Institute.
Ayla recently returned from an incredible experience in London, where she participated in the Essay Competition, one of the most prestigious events of its kind. Competing against more than 34,000 entrants from across the world, Ayla received a Merit Award for her thought-provoking philosophy essay titled, Beliefs are the Seeds of Action, which explored the question, "Should We Be Held Responsible for What We Believe?"
Ayla's achievement was recognised during a grand Gala evening, where her essay stood out for its insightful approach to the complex topic.
In addition to the award ceremony, Ayla had the opportunity to attend an academic conference featuring lectures in philosophy, economics, theology, and psychology, all led by professors from Oxford and Cambridge.
Reflecting on the experience, Ayla said, "The lectures were absolutely fascinating, offering new perspectives and deepening my understanding of these fields."
Her remarkable accomplishment and exposure to such world-class education are a testament to her intellectual curiosity and dedication.
During the holidays, a group of Somerset rowers took part in the 2024 Queensland Schools’ Championship Regatta, held at the stunning Wyaralong Dam, a potential venue for the 2032 Olympic rowing events.
The dam provided a breathtaking backdrop for the competition, and our athletes rose to the occasion, competing against over 850 athletes from nearly 50 schools across the state.
Our rowers faced some of the toughest competition in Queensland, delivering impressive results. A standout performance came from Ethan Hu (Year 8), who secured a bronze medal in the Year 8 boys’ single scull. Ethan's dedication and extra training truly paid off. He also teamed up with Hugo Derksema to qualify for the final in the Boys’ Year 9 double scull.
Maddi McLaughlin once again showcased her talent, making the final in her single scull for the second year in a row, finishing 7th in the state—an incredible achievement. The Year 10 boys' and girls' fours crews also put on strong performances, finishing 9th and 6th in their respective finals.
The Year 9 girls' quad—consisting of Esther Fink, Beth Curry, Tamar Chester-Haviv, Jess Lester, and Zoe Benson—had an outstanding race, battling through tough competition to make it to the final. Another highlight of the weekend was Jasmine Teng, a Year 7 student, who impressively made it to the semifinal in the Year 8 girls’ single scull. It’s exciting to think about what she’ll achieve in the years to come.
Overall, it was a weekend filled with exceptional performances. A huge thank you to all the athletes, parents, and supporters who came out, as well as to our dedicated coaches, Peer Richards and Georgina Vote, who guided our rowers throughout the competition.
Amazing results recently for Somerset Triathlon at the Queensland Club Championships.
Perfect conditions at Moreton Bay during the State Club Championships held Sunday October 7. Divided into large, medium and small clubs the annual championship is an opportunity to set the pace for the 2024-25 season. Our Spartans performed brilliantly, and we came home with third place for Small Clubs.
This year, we went to Moreton with 60% of the Squad and still had an amazing Club result due to outstanding individual performances from students, club athletes and parents. Many of our Spartans had podium results in their age groups taking home well-deserved medals.
Our Spartan triathletes will have the final preparations to defend the All Schools Triathlon Champions title next week at Kawana.
The Somerset Spartans Football Club wrapped up a successful 2024 season with its annual Presentation Day.
This year, the club had 140 students across 14 teams, playing a total of 18 matches in the Football Queensland South Coast Miniroos Competition. Preps and Year 1s played 4v4, Years 2 and three played 7v7, and Years 4, 5, and 6 played 9v9. A new in-house match format for the Prep students was introduced, which proved to be a success and will continue next year.
The club is excited to see Senior School students continue playing, and hopes this year's Year 6s will join the Junior competition (Under 13 to Under 18) next season.
Presentation Day was held at the GOALS facility, starting with the youngest Spartans and ending with the oldest. Each player received a team photo, keyring, sticker, and medal. The day ended with 5-a-side football and a raffle, with thanks to sponsors like Mai Plant Co, Deja Vu Wine Co, and more.
We would also like to thank our pitch sponsors: Marketing Together, Xvend Vending Solutions, and OCC Apparel, as well as the students, parents, referees, volunteers, supporters, and coaches. We look forward to seeing you all next season!
For inquiries about Football and Futsal, please contact our Head of Football and Futsal, Maarten de Kruijf.
Our Year 3 Football students were thrilled to be invited by Football Federation Australia to attend the first match of Round Three in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifying campaign. As part of the event, they participated in the Little Legends Lap at Robina Stadium, Gold Coast. This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to experience the excitement firsthand, see their football heroes up close, and celebrate grassroots football in front of a large audience.
After waiting outside the stadium for an hour, the students were called in to begin their lap. They passed by the dugouts where substitutions take place, stopping a few times for photos. Once the lap was complete, they were just a few yards away from the Socceroos as they warmed up, especially close to the goalkeeper.
The Socceroos match, held on Thursday 5 September, ended in a frustrating 1-nil defeat to Bahrain. A late deflection off a Socceroos defender in the 89th minute gave Bahrain the win, despite limited chances for both sides throughout the game.
Despite the result, our students had an unforgettable evening, soaking in the atmosphere with 24,640 fans in attendance.
For any inquiries about Football and Futsal at Somerset College, please contact our Head of Football and Futsal, Maarten de Kruijf, at mdekruijf@somerset.qld.edu.au.
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