Our students, staff and parents have successfully navigated Somerset@Home and learnt much about ourselves and each other and have learnt and exhibited so many fantastic 21st Century skills during this time.
In this week’s Somerset Times I would normally report on the success of Founders’ Day which was scheduled for Friday 17 July and due to COVID-19 was postponed. While COVID-19 has dictated the cancellation of many of our treasured events, there were some that refused to be corona affected! In true Somerset style we will find a way to celebrate some of those events as best we can:
We are excited to welcome Triathlon Australia’s High-Performance Unit to Somerset. The College has partnered with Triathlon Australia to become its new home and training venue. We look forward to watching the Olympic hopefuls train alongside our Spartans here, a wonderful opportunity for our students at Somerset.
Imagine all the creative and useful things that could be done with that time, consider the moments of joy with your loved ones that is stolen by the worry.
My dad lived with Parkinson’s disease for over 15 years, he didn’t die from it, but it cruelly affected his capacity to live life as he always had and thought he should. He taught me many things, but the greatest was this: never allow what you cannot control to ruin what you can.
Dad was an active, outdoorsy, man who loved to work as a carpenter, and when he played it was in the ocean fishing or snorkelling. He was a quiet but social man with all the charm of a genuine English gentleman, ladies and men alike loved Ray.
Over time, though, everything he loved to do became a struggle, so much so it would have stopped a lesser man. Not dad, he still made things in his workshop, they were not perfect like his earlier works – let’s be honest, they were often ugly - but they functioned and spoke of his love. He still fished, but could take 30 minutes or more to tie a hook on a line. When he got snacks at night he would sit on a stool in front the open fridge and eat them there as when he tried to walk while carrying things he was prone to drop them, he didn’t want to cause a mess for my mum.
He and mum sought cures everywhere: medicine, natural therapies and healing churches. While they never stopped praying and hoping there came a time when they realised that the pressure of pursuing a cure was causing a price to daily life that simply was not worth it. They began to live by the philosophy “In acceptance lieth peace”. (Mum said it was a quote from the Bible, which I think was meant to give it authority. It is actually the title of a poem by Amy Carmichael, a Christian missionary to India).
From that day on the burdens lifted, even though the frustrations persisted. The lifting of the burdens allowed flowers of joy to grow, which in turn made the frustrations matter less. I dread to think what my dad’s final years would have been like had he been obsessed by the unfairness and cruelty of his fate. Instead, when I think of him in those years I see only his smile on his now palsied face, and laugh again at his silly jokes even though told through his weakened voice.
By 1997 dad’s voice was just a whisper and to walk and stay balanced was slow and laborious, yet he found peace in acceptance and was insistent in refusing to allow that which he could not control ruin what he could. He walked and fished and snorkelled, until his heart said: “it’s time”. Truly he died doing what he loved, and I believe his life is a parable worth applying for all of us. I know it is for me.
Last Wednesday marked the start of the competition with Intermediate and Senior Round 1. Despite the lack of an audience to perform to, two of our Year 8 Debating teams attained remarkable wins, and thus deserve particular congratulations for their strong re-entry to the debating world.
We entered these two teams of Year 8 students, listed below, in the competition’s Intermediate Division, despite such usually being recommended for Year 9 and 10 students. The aim was to extend these incredibly talented and enthusiastic young debaters by exposing them to the standard they will face in next year’s Intermediate A Division competition. But, exceeding our already-high expectations, both teams came out on top of Year 10 teams from the Queensland Academy and Trinity Lutheran respectively.
The topic was of an incredibly complex nature for Intermediate debaters, let alone those younger than most in the division, seeing the students argue over whether ‘We have an obligation to prioritise employment over the environment’.
We are all very much looking forward to watching these students’ very promising debating careers develop over the rest of the season and beyond.
Year 8 Intermediate Division Debaters:
Anna Thomas Penelope Deacon Hayeon Byun Elliot Bartley Emmeline Anthony Patrick Liu (absent from photo)
During this recent workshop we learnt an enormous amount of valuable information which is very significant to our assignment. Currently my Year 10 Business class is working on creating start-up businesses and learning the processes in doing so. Thomas targeted this area particularly.
In the workshop he talked to us about the importance in doing market research and the benefits it provides. Thomas introduced us to an amazing product called the value proposition canvas which many big businesses such as Uber use. This canvas gave us ways to reflect on our business ideas and have ways of fixing issues that may occur during the initial set up process.
Overall, the workshop was an overwhelming success and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this session gave us multiple skills that will definitely help not only in this assignment but throughout our life.
Camp at Mt Tamborine was so much fun and we gained many life skills such as resilience, risk taking and problem solving which were excellent attributes we drew upon in Term Two during Somerset at home on Zoom.
This term, we have continued many of the units we began last term. In IAS, we have studied Mungo Man and Mungo Lady and how the indigenous people and scientists had rivalries and disagreements, due to a lack of communication and their two different perspectives. In groups we created news reports and documentaries regarding the two different perspectives.
In Maths, we are continuing to learn more about algebra and what like terms, pronumerals, terms and expressions are. In Science, this term we started a new unit about solids, liquids and gases. In the lab, we created slime and recorded observations and data about the characteristics of each form of matter.
In English, we continued to read our novels including The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, My War Diary and Surviving Hitler. In class, we have been practising writing for our essay in which we will explain how the characters in the book experienced challenges such as discomfort, splitting up of family and friends while some also displayed initiative and ignorance.
We are now getting ourselves ready to try our best for the last athletics events of the term and are looking forward to going back in time to ancient Egypt in the very near future.
The Somerset U6 team had another fantastic game at Palm Beach! There was an excellent defensive effort with a few great saves to keep us in the lead until half time. The other team tied it up in the second half, but Edie managed to score in the final minutes to give us a 3 to 2 win! Player of the week is Edie for her consistent effort on the field and her winning goal. Well done Ada, Alan, Annie, Edie, Eloise, Sean and Thomas, great game!
Unfortunately, we lost but it was a great game.
This week Under 7 Greens played Palm Beach, with the final score Palm Beach 6 verse Somerset 3!
The boys came up against a good defensive Palm Beach team, but were still able to show some calculated passes and pulled together to play a great game. They have started to work as a closer team.
Knox earned Player of the Match and impressed all with a goal from his half, making everyone cheer with excitement. It was a tough game but the Under 7 Greens did a great job.
Under 7 White won the game against Robina Gold with a good score of 8 nil. Sion scored four goals, Louise scored two goals, Harrison and Franklin scored one goal each.
Ruben and Ethan also played well, assisting many times in the goals and with lots of key defences, which kept the team from conceding any goals.
The Under 7 Orange team showed great determination and staying power against Nerang.
We had four players - they had seven - but, despite being outnumbered, our boys fought hard and enjoyed themselves in the process.
We had a strong first half and the final score of 12 to 4 to Nerang doesn't reflect how hard our team worked.
Hunter and Sam scored a goal each. Ruben scored two and was also deservingly named Player of the Match. Well done everyone.
We kicked off our second game in the beautiful Talley Valley. It was a chilly start to the morning but that did not stop our Spartans going for goal. Abi was especially impressive, on a roll she scored two goals for our team before half time.
James scored the third goal and with a collective team effort, we sealed our second win of the season scoring 3 to 2 against Talley Valley Green.
Abi was our Player of the Match.
Well done team and thank you Coach Ryan.
The U8 Green Team had a win against TSS on Saturday, finishing with a score of 5 to 1.
Their level of improvement since last week was commendable, both in their teamwork and also field play. Oliver scored an amazing three goals, Thomas and Vaughn scoring one goal each.
A special mention must go to Sehaj for his persistence near the opposition's goal. Well done Sehaj.
Coach Maarten gave Player of the Match to Thomas. A great effort Thomas and to all the players this week, your enthusiasm was fantastic.
Our U8 Blues were all very eager to get out on the field for their first game for the season after having a bye last week, and they won 2 nil. They came out strong and dominated the first half of the game against Tweed United Red.
Parents were on the edge of their seats with many near misses. Then 15 minutes in Harper Loon scored the first goal. They celebrated as football players do, some with dance moves that they could only get from their dads.
The second half of the match was equally as intense, although they started to tire a little. Then, Benedict Thompson scores their second goal. Much to Paxton Stewart’s disappointment. He may have been promised a certain fast food chain to treat if he scored a goal.
The whole team played so well, Coach Sean found it difficult to choose just one player for the Player of Match award. In the end the award went to Hugo Hasselle for playing an all-round great game. He showed he can play both attack and defence. Well done boys.
What a fantastic start to the season! The Under 10 Spartans scored an amazing 15 nil against Pacific Pines in their away game.
The team showed great sportsmanship teamwork and determination.
Miranda and Harry won well deserved, Players of the Match.
Thanks to our awesome coaches Danny and Keita.
If any questions about Football at Somerset College? Please contact our Head Coach - Football and Futsal, Maarten de Kruijf: mdekruijf@somerset.qld.edu.au
First up we saw our seven year old friends, proudly wearing the Spartans Shirts with pride as they ran around the grass courts under the watchful eye of their coach April McMullen (Class of 2019).
Other early starters were our team, who are now veterans of the game having started their Netball journey last year, in the Under 7s'. Their proud coach Rylee Burns (Class of 2019) was pleasantly surprised at their skills and we even scored a few goals, which pleased the crowd.
These students in Years 3 and 4 were under the watchful eye of coach Andrea Harris who took to the courts with a few nerves. With the weather putting on its best show, the side came away pink cheeked and full of smiles.
Our Year 4s were next up and April swiftly moved from court to court to ensure they were fully prepared. It will be a tough year for these girls as they play full rules and full post heights against teams who have been together for a few years, it will be a huge learning curve and we know they are ready to step up.
team are another group of keen newcomers to the sport and we are not sure who was more excited, the girls or their parents, coach Rylee leading the way once more.
We also had some of our friends in Prep and Year 1 take part in the ‘net’ beginners sessions run by the association with Assistant coaches Lili Bannerman and Isabella Seymour volunteering with the skill sessions.
And then the ‘serious’ comp starts…. The Junior League.
The girls in Year 5 are under coach Lola who was a bit nervous as to how we would go in Division 2. The teams were neck and neck for the first three quarters and then pipped at the post in the last quarter. We saw loads of positives and a few things to work on!
Year 6, 7 and 8 girls coached by Rylee who was looking at this team to work out her best combinations. She produced a winning formula to get the first win of the season under her belt.
Years 7, 8 and 9 coached by Sheryl Burns who has done a lot of work with this squad and the work is paying off. They pulled off a massive win, setting their sights early on the grand final.
These girls (in Years 7 and 8, coached Andrea Richards) had to dig deep. They did not have any reserves and were playing in the heat of the midday sun. They started strong and kept their cool, showing superior fitness. They have also shown they are serious contenders for their grand final.
And the last game for the day ...
The team of Years 6 and 7 girls were short of players but thankfully two Year 6 girls Daisy and Noku were able to play (and have now joined the team). We started off with an early lead and despite the heat and a slight lack of match fitness, pulled off a win.
A massive thanks to all our coaches, umpires and team managers who contributed to the success of Saturday.
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