The service this year reflected on 100 years of ANZAC history and the end of the Great War. The gathering heard Mr Des Crump from the State Library of Queensland share the indigenous story of WWI.
College Captains, Kydra Walden and Alexandra Gerrard laid a wreath on behalf of our community.
On 1 November, Somerset College Junior School Students (Pre-Prep to Year 5) joined in the National celebration of music education, with around 650 000 other students from more than 3500 schools across Australia. Students sung One Song in harmony, promoting unity and creativity through music. This year’s countdown had a special video featuring a few schools who have had a strong involvement in the initiative, including a short segment from Somerset College!
We celebrate this event because Somerset College has a proud tradition of promoting the Arts and quality music education for students. MCUI is a fantastic learning opportunity for students to work together and be part of such a large scale performance, and an enjoyable experience that they will remember. Music really is for everyone. You may remember we performed the 2017 Program Song Shine Together - here’s the video!.
Research shows the impact on the brain, how it helps students engage in school, and the links between music learning and academic skills. Music is unique in its flow-on benefits to students who learn it. Such an event allows students to inquire into why we learn music, discovering how music helps our self-confidence, self-discipline and teamwork. Music helps us learn about the world, releases happy endorphins, improves memory, develops creativity, improves hand/eye coordination, relieves stress, improves literacy skills, let’s us link to and express our emotions, helps us work as a team, helps one find beauty in things, develops a sense of community, improves listening, helps us celebrate, motivates, reduces anxiety, and has many more benefits. For more information about how music affects the brain, Dr Anita Collins has an excellent TED video here.
It is important to note that not all schools offer music education, to stop and appreciate the many opportunities students are given at Somerset to participate in quality music programmes.
A huge congratulations to the winners: Anglican Church Grammar School in the Secondary Open, MacGregor State School in the Primary Open, Brisbane Girls Grammar School in the Secondary Girls and King's Christian College in the Primary Girls. Somerset’s results included third in the Secondary Girls, third in the Primary Girls, equal Fourth in the Secondary Open, and equal second (fifth on countback) in the Primary Open.
Many matches were on a knife edge, and the schedule was gruelling. In the end it was nerves that decided the crucial match-ups. In the Primary Open, Somerset took an early lead with 11.5/12 in the first three rounds, but a 1 to 3 loss to MacGregor SS in Round 4 proved decisive.
Somerset had an excellent showing at the Gold Coast Individual Age Championship, held on Wednesday 31 October at Emmanuel College. Ninety-five Somerset students took on a record-breaking field of 737 students from all over the Gold Coast.thirteenf 13 titles, Somerset won an incredible eight.
**Top Somerset performer
The speakers were adjudicated by talented Year 11 and 12 students while Year 7 students volunteered to be an announcer or timekeeper. This event could not take place without these wonderful volunteers.
As always, the standard was exceptional and it was difficult to pick a winner in each group of 10 students. However, at the end of the evening those awarded First Place received a Book Voucher. As well, everyone went home with a Participation Certificate and a sense of achievement.
Following this competition, 25 students from Years 7 to 12 presented a speech at the A.B. Paterson Public Speaking Competition where they were competing against students from 20 schools on the Gold Coast. Our Somerset students did very well with many making it through to the semi-finals.
These competitions are a wonderful experience for our public speakers to showcase their talent.
On Sunday 4 November Somerset Tennis Team travelled to Hinterland Tennis Club to Compete in Round 4 of Future Stars.
Future Stars is a team event aimed to get students involved in their first Tennis tournament.
The goal of today was to play as a team and show great sportsmanship. The team votes on how kind and helpful the other team was. Sharni Norman was voted as the player who showed great Sportsmanship. What a great achievement!
Overall Somerset placed third which was a great achievement.
The goal of the day was the same as the red ballers. Somerset again showed some great sportsmanship with Justin Kim taking out the award.
Overall Somerset finished first which is a great achievement.
On Thursday 1 November Somerset travelled to Pro-One Runaway Bay to compete in the Year 4 and under Brisbane International Trials.
At the end of the day, the team finished in first place and will now compete in the State Finals in January.
The number of students showing up each session has been very impressive. Quite a few students are coming to more than one session which is great to see and some of our Club based swimmers are joining in the sessions either after their Club sessions finish or to add to their already impressive swimming schedule.
Last Wednesday and next Friday, the group will welcome two special guest coaches, Somerset’s high performance swim coach Ashley Callus as well as our (highly experienced) State Coach Chris Urquhart along to assist the swimmers with both race skills and technique development. These sessions should be extremely valuable to our swimmers and it is fantastic to have the experienced coaches assist our swimmers. It would be great to see a strong turn out for these sessions.
I would also like to add a special thank you to Mr Pitura for organising these sessions as well as Mrs Grigg for her support and assistance in organising and running the programme.
With a view to the Somerset House Swimming carnival in 2019 and the APS Swimming to follow, it would be great to have as many early bird swimmers continue to swim over the school holidays as possible. The Somerset Swimming Academy will continue to have a number of avenues for swimmers to do this including intensive clinics and squad sessions. Please see one of the pool staff or myself for more information on this.
Congratulations to the following students who competed in the Regional Trials for the selection of the 2019 South Coast Aquathlon team at Evandale Parklands, Bundall last Monday.
Jed and Bessie now have the opportunity to compete at the State Titles for this event next year in Hervey Bay.
Please remember hats and water bottles. Your support on this is much appreciated.
This event will take place on Wednesday 14 November at the College Pool from 9.00am to 11.00am. Students will compete in a variety of events on the day and will be expected to arrive to the College in House uniform, with their swimmers on underneath. All parents are most welcome to come along and support.
Tuesday 13 November - No Junior APS Summer Sports Training (Junior School Art Show)
Wednesday 14 November - Lower School Swimming Carnival – Year 1 and Year 2
Thursday 15 November - Round Six – Junior APS Summer Sports v TLC
Thursday 20 November - No Junior APS Summer Sports Training (ELP Christmas Concert)
All information about Junior School Sport can be located on Schoolbox by clicking on the Junior School Sports page.
Friday 9 November:12.00pm - APS Summer Finals Round 6.00pm - Somerset Sports Awards Night
Friday 16 November:12.50pm - Sports Assembly: Summer Season Awards – Part 11.30pm - Staff versus Students Sport (Cricket, Basketball, Netball, Futsal, Volleyball, Tennis)
Friday 23 November:12.50pm - Sports Assembly: Summer Season Awards – Part 2 1.30pm - House Swimming Trials 1/2
Friday 30 November:1.00pm - House Swimming Trials 2/2
APS Sport Photos
Click here to access photos of your sport or your team.
All Season details on Schoolbox Senior School Sports page. (“Winter Sports” tile for all season dates, and training schedules of the APS Season).
Student Injuries: If your son or daughter is injured at school sport, it must be recorded at the time by the school nurse/medical person present if parents wish to apply through the school insurance policy. If delayed signs or symptoms arise over the weekend, students must notify the school nurse on Monday morning.
All sporting details are posted on Schoolbox on the Sports page.
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