Edition 2 | Term One, 2021

At the end of 2020, a range of parents participated in a Communication Survey that provided us with valuable feedback. Overwhelmingly the feedback was positive and especially endorsed new directions in 2020 such as the livestreaming of signature College events and our introduction of the Spartan Stream, our first foray in news on all things sport in a video format. In 2021, we remain committed to continuing to livestream key events and allowing parents and extended family to share in these events.

Spartan Stream was created with the ultimate aim, if successful, of launching Somerset Stream. In 2021, we’ll move to Somerset Stream and Spartan Stream being produced on alternating weeks. Our feedback on the Somerset Times was very positive and Somerset Times will still continue on the alternate week to Somerset Stream, as a valuable source of College news. Moving to a video format allows us to incorporate more of a dialogue about College life, help to put faces to names, whilst also capturing and sharing dynamic content of key events.

Both our Somerset Stream and Spartan Stream are inherently focused on our student voice, with a wide range of roles from hosting, reporting and behind the camera production work. We’re excited about the opportunities for our students and that we will have to share throughout the year from all ages right across the College. We hope that you’ll keep a look out for the Somerset and Spartan Streams on a Friday afternoon.

We also look to use our College Instagram this year in a more targeted way to share the Somerset Experience. Every week, our students are involved in an amazing range of activities, both inside and outside the classroom. Our aim is for different student groups and year levels to have the opportunity to be guest 'hosts' for the week on our Instagram and bring their passions, successes and outreach to the wider community.

Our College life continues to be vibrant at all year levels and in so many ways. We look forward to sharing more of these experiences with you in 2021.

Even if students haven’t participated in an ensemble before, they are welcome to come along and see if it’s for them. Students who participate in ensembles have the benefit of working with children in other grades, meeting new friends and improving their social skills, building confidence through performing, expressing themselves creatively as well as building their brains learning how to play or improve upon an instrument. We love to share music with others through performance as we develop our knowledge and skills of music.

For more information about any of our groups, please email the directors (listed in the table).

Our 2021 Ensembles

• Year 1 – Suzuki Strings, Cool Cats
• Year 2 – Suzuki Strings, Cool Cats
• Year 3 – Suzuki Strings, JSO2, JSO1, Melodic Myna’s
• Year 4 – Suzuki Strings, JSO2, JSO1, Concert Band, Percussion Club, Melodic Myna’s, Recorder Ensemble
• Year 5 – Suzuki Strings, JSO2, JSO1, Concert Band, Percussion Club, Junior Chorale,Recorder Ensemble
• Year 6 – Suzuki Strings, JSO2, JSO1, Concert Band, Percussion Club, Junior Chorale, Recorder Ensemble

However, the global creative community knew the world must have access to art and it allowed us access to its archives, to witness new work and hear artists speak about their lives, process and need to be creative, all via digital platforms. Therefore, our students were lucky enough to see productions that they may otherwise have never had an opportunity to witness. Our hearts were filled, and we will be forever grateful for the generosity of all who shared.

In late 2020, the exciting day came when Queensland Theatre released their 2021 season and tickets for Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning Our Town were announced. We pounced on the opportunity to be there. There is always an element of risk when taking students to a see a play written long ago (1938) that it will not connect with them as an audience and its meaning will be lost. Happily, on this occasion this was not the case. Our Town focuses on the simple things, yet the most complex. It reminds its audience to see the beauty in each moment of our lives, to look forward with hope and treasure the time we have with those we love. The conversations it sparked in the foyer afterward, the bus ride home and in the classroom over the following days affirmed this meaning and highlighted the power theatre has in exploring the human experience.

Many thanks to Miss Melinda Green, Mr Stephen Walther and Mr Stuart Roberts for supporting our students on this excursion.

We met in the Brohier Learning Centre, and the Wordsmiths were firstly introduced to the 2021 Wordsmiths Leadership Team including the Captains Lilliana Swainson and Sofie Smith, Poet Laureate Giulia Provenzano, our Editor Calvin Walther and the Editorial Team Helena Hagan, Anna Hori and Gaelle Nicolau. Students were then introduced to the Wordsmiths staff including Dr Brohier, Mr Walther, Ms Lee and Mr George.

To start the evening, the Wordsmiths creatives were challenged with different imaginative exercises working both individually and in groups. It was great to see students bouncing ideas off each other and taking the opportunity to share their amazing work. We are so proud of the work created already and we look forward to showcasing these original and innovative pieces in the 2021 Wordsmiths book which is organised and assembled by the Editor and the Editorial Team.

We are all so thrilled for the upcoming year with many exciting opportunities including the popular Write a Book in a Day, Wordsmiths Retreat and Storyfest as well as some new opportunities being offered this year including Coffee Shop Sessions and Junior Wordsmiths (for Year 5 to 6 students).

Our next Wordsmiths session is Week 5 on Wednesday 24 February at 6.00pm to 8.00pm in the Brohier Learning Centre. Further information can also be found on the Wordsmiths Schoolbox page.

We would like to also thank our Dr Brohier for his dedication and support of Wordsmiths.

We look forward to sharing with you the amazing creative work by the Wordsmiths Committee in 2021!

Both athletes are part of the Spartan Triathlon Performance Squad. Aspen joined the school last term and has brought incredible positive attitude to the group that has reflected into more dedication and commitment of the whole team. Tim, a well-known face in hockey has given triathlon a go over the last months and has demonstrated amazing adaptability to the new sport.

Aspen who has been successful in the past years at the U12 category thought she could challenge herself this year at the OPEN category.

"On the day I was definitely nervous, but when the gun went, I had a great start positioning myself in a good pack in the water. I came out in sixth place and saw what I had to chase down. It came down to 20 minute 22 second just 16 second behind the winner Jaz Hedgeland and I was so surprised and elated to achieve this result at my age against such great athletes."

Tim raced U16 and won (19:38) with an impressive performance, a confidence boost for the upcoming All Schools State Championships at Hervey Bay mid-February. It was his first participation, "The conditions were very good and waves were pumping which lead to a good chance to getting a wave from the buoy to shore. The run was difficult as the high tide pushed the athletes to run on soft sand. A completely different and enjoyable experience."

Our triathlon program caters for all levels of experience including parents as Age Group athletes. It will be a great pleasure to see more and more of our Spartans trailing the path of our most talented triathletes.

Under 11

Somerset Spartans U11 boys versed Central Strikers at Carrara on Wednesday night in the final Futsal game for the season. It was a high energy game from the start, keeping all spectators on the edge of their seats.

Plenty of shots on target from Somerset in the first half but the team just couldn’t find the back of the net. As always amazing goal-keeping by Dash. He always puts his body on the line and never gives up. Dash saved a lot of extra goals.

Central Strikers were in the lead at half time 8-nil.Somerset started the second half strong with some early goals by Jacob M, Nash and Caspar.

Great teamwork was shown by all the boys. They never stopped trying until the final buzzer. Full time Score was 10 to 3 to Central Strikers.

Well done boys, you tried so hard this season and should be very proud of your efforts as we are proud of you all.

Thanks Coach Maarten for looking after the U11 boys this futsal season.

Under 10

After a week’s break our U10 Somerset futsal team were matched against our Somerset U9s for a thrilling Spartan showdown that came to the final wire. With our last match ending in a 4-all draw it was anyone’s game to win.

The U9s gained a slight advantage in the first half, as we got off to a slow start, ending the half 4 to 2. However, this half was complemented by a couple stunning goals from Jacob, along with some amazing saves from our goalie, Dylan, to keep the U9s within reach.

The second half was an extremely exciting display, with an amazing uplift from everyone on the team. Miranda and Farri both proved they’re more than a talented outfield player, taking over for Dylan in goals and doing a remarkable job. Some other notable mentions where Ashton controlling our defence aided by Zac in the midfield who did not stop running and Eli who scored goal from within our own half! Unfortunately, it was not enough to overcome the U9s who defended our comeback to 8 to 8, scoring their winning goal in the final minutes to claim victory 8 to 9.

Under 9

The third match between the two sides delivered a closely fought match with the 9 side holding on for a single goal margin. The Under 9s shot out of the blocks quickly establishing a 3-goal margin. But like Arnie in the Terminator series, the 10s refused to lie down and fought back on two occasions eventually drawing level with five minutes to go at 8-all.

A remark from a parent spectator would come back to haunt him. At 8 to 4 to the Under 9s delivered the last rites to the 10s with 10 minutes to go. He soon began to rue his words when Jacob, Zac and Eli from the 10s mounted a concerted fightback with four goals on the trot.

A special mention to a cracking right top corner strike from Eli. However just as a fairytale beckoned, the 10 seconds were shattered with a final strike by Paxton who completed his hattrick. A truly gripping match, as the clock ran down the last 60 seconds the Under 10s were pushing hard and almost equalised (again!) only to be denied by the clock.

For the 9s, Paxton hit a hattrick with doubles to Liam and Oliver. Jacob hit five goals for the Under 10s with Eli contributing a double. A worthy final match for these two close teams to complete the round robin.

Under 8 Black vs Under 8 Blue

This was the first game back for the Team in 2021 and they tried their hardest. Unfortunately, no goals were scored, however a number of near misses and lots of enthusiasm in the first half.

Will and Joshua did exceptionally well, protecting our goal with Will getting a nasty ball to the face. The Somerset Blue team were hard opponents and played extremely well with a score of 12-nil.

Great work to both teams.

Somerset Spartans Football Club Updates

The Somerset Spartans Football Club has started this week with training.

All Students were very excited to be back on the pitch. Besides seeing all students from last year, we also welcomed new Football club students.

All students have two sessions per week and from Term Two all students will play Football matches in the Football Gold Coast Competitions.