No.8, Term One, 2020

The slogan ‘andrà tutto bene’ has gone viral as Italy deals with Europe’s worst Covid-19 outbreak.

Students in 3R have made posters, shown here.

Thank you so much Signora Danielle Swainson for such a wonderful and meaningful way for the students to connect with other children impacted by current events. Such empathy!

It would be a number of years until the current crop of Spartan athletes were even born, let alone left their mark on the College. As we’ve witnessed the stunning transformation of Somerset sport from a ragtag crew to the menacing and professional Spartan brand, one thing has been lacking. Unparalleled success has been achieved in Netball, Basketball, Rugby, Football and Cricket, among many other sports, but one sport has remained a thorn in our APS dominance. A chink in the Spartan armour. Heading into the 2020 season, the Open Boys Hockey team was determined to finally break the 23-year premiership drought.

On day 1, our new coach summoned us for our first team meeting. The message was simple. A steely eyed Mr Andrew Michael laid down the 2020 season goal – to win the premiership. For years, the team had started the season as powerhouses, ready to set the competition alight, but had devolved into a smouldering ember in the clutch moments of the big games. Dominant performances in the 3rd VS 4th playoff had prefaced echoes of, “oh what could have been” and “next year will be our year”. Under our new coach, new training programme and overhaul of the attitudes, values and structures within the team, we are finally ready to break the drought. Resembling an ancient Spartan army fiercely chanting ‘Aroo’, 11 to 1 and 12 nil victories over King's Christian College and Emmanuel College have been a testament to the focus, dedication and will of the boy. Despite our home ground more closely resembling a World War I trench than a hockey pitch, we have made no excuses. The pride in the Open Hockey uniform is building by the day. Each cog in the team is starting to churn. And we’re just getting started.

To the students, staff, parents and everyone involved with the school, I hope our trophy cabinet has some space. The Open Boys Hockey premiership trophy is coming home for the first time in 23 years. Aroo!

We have learnt that we all have the capacity to take steps to enhance our happiness and what we do to build wellbeing will be different for everyone. While some people turn to meditation or mindful colouring-in, others enjoy physical challenges such as rock climbing or boxing. Cooking and taking care of our nutritional needs provides some people with an outlet, for others it might be drama and role play. Playing board games, drawing and origami are some other examples of activities that can bring positive emotions.

Our Wellness Activity provided us with the opportunity to explore some of these different activities which are a little outside the normal Schoolbox. In selecting our activity we were encouraged to choose something that we really would enjoy, and avoid picking something just because our friends chose it. Apart from being able to participate in an activity we personally loved, we were in groups of people who shared our interests and were able to form new connections. We were encouraged to reflect on our feelings and emotions before the activity and compare it to our sense of wellness after the activity. All students noticed a change and we all walked away from our activities with a positive sense of self and some ideas for managing our wellbeing in the future.

Luckily for us, these sessions will continue throughout the year, with one per term, so we can try out our different passions. We are looking forward to our next Wellness Activity as we found them to be effective and fun! Thank you to our Wellbeing teachers and additional staff volunteers for organising these activities.

For our friends in the ELP, we encourage parents to access Storybox Library. If you are not already familiar with this website, it is a beautiful collection of local authors’ and illustrators’ stories being read aloud mainly by storytellers from Australia and New Zealand. To access the College’s Storybox Library account, visit the Storybox website. Password details for log in can be found here from the Information Services tile on Schoolbox.

Another fantastic resource for younger children, although very much enjoyed by older kids and adults alike, is Vooks. You may visit the website as well as download the app to enjoy a safe, ad-free streaming library of read-aloud animated storybooks. Vooks is currently offering one month free to all families. We cannot recommend this engaging and educational tool enough!

When reading with your child, we encourage you to ask questions at various points throughout the book as this helps to promote critical thinking skills, creativity and connection with the characters which ultimately builds empathy and kindness towards others. Click HERE for the link that offers some questions that you can ask your child when reading together.

For our more mature readers, please remember to visit the Information Services page on Schoolbox to access our wide range of audiobooks and eBooks. You will need to download ‘ePlatform’ by Wheelers Books on your device. Instructions on Schoolbox are quick and easy to follow. Students from Years 1 to 12 will use their normal College username and password to access.

Our Gold Coast City Council Libraries have a wealth of online resources for children including Ziptales and Overdrive Kids. Membership is free and there is no minimum age to join. For older children and adults, we recommend the Libby app.

We hope that you find the abovementioned links and apps useful now and well into the school year.

Happy reading!

In this uncertain age of the Coronavirus this short column intends to serve up some 'spiritual chicken soup' as a counter to the anxiety and confusion you may be experiencing.

The main ingredient in today’s bowl is where we live.

Take advantage of the wonderful time that is autumn on the Gold Coast. The days are warm, the nights are cool, the sky is clear blue, the wind is soft; and when rain falls it comes in showers not torrents.

Whenever possible open your windows and take in the delightful fresh air.

Spend time outside in the sunlight, it will lift your spirits and your vitamin D levels.

Before you get home (or soon afterwards) walk on the beach, in the park, or by the lake near you, to get some quiet space between school or work and home.

Look into the blue sky or the starry night and listen to the calls of the birds or the night creatures, it will soothe your soul and calm your mind.

And every day take time to give thanks to whomever you believe made all this possible for you. A heart full of gratitude is a marvellous antidote to anxiety and frustration.

My father took me on-board the HMAS Vampire at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney in 2012. I was fascinated by the ship, its history and service. We had a lot of fun that day, and it left a lasting impression.

I chose to build the HMAS Vampire in Lego as my Personal Project, which would integrate history, global politics, media arts, engineering design skills. It was designed and built 'on the go' (i.e. no plans or instructions) and the model was completed 10 February 2020.

My references were photos we took in 2012 and what I could gather from the internet. There is no gluing or cutting of the Lego parts. The model is held together naturally by Lego connections. Using Lego Power Functions, the gun turrets are motorised and can be remotely controlled. We posted photos of the model on Facebook Lego Groups in Australia and garnered over 1000+ likes.

More recently, the Australian National Maritime Museum has expressed interest in adding the model to their collection. Some statistics of the model: Length: 2.976m, Beam 32cm, Max height 83cm, Estimated 30,000 pieces of Lego used.

See YouTube link to videos, The Ship and Remote Controlled Turrets showcasing the ship.

Whether they lie down or stand, go solo or with a volunteer, it always strikes me how enthusiastic and energetic all the participants are.

Volunteering with the DSA has been one of the most fun and fulfilling experiences I have had and I hope to continue.