Principal's Message

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear Friends,

It has been an extraordinary term and one of the most difficult ones for many people. It commenced with the fires and our College assisting a school affected in the fire zone.

It has ended in ways we would have never imagined and now we are undertaking learning and teaching in a new way and doing continuous learning online.

I want to thank you all, but especially our staff, who have gone above and beyond to be positive, proactive and deliver the best education we can for all our students.

Everyone is being creative in the delivery of devotions, lessons and varying ways of connecting with their students. I am sure you join me in congratulating and thanking our dedicated staff.

We appreciate that it is possible that families will experience financial hardship due to the widening impact of COVID-19. If you experience any financial difficulties over this time, please contact the College’s Business Manager, Darren Waterworth, to confidentially discuss your situation. We certainly want to work together to ensure that there is no additional stress or anxiety for you all at this time.

We will be processing credits to families in their College Fee Accounts for cancelled camps and the Junior School Swimming Program. Please don’t hesitate to contact Darren Waterworth – dwaterworth@standrews.vic.edu.au – if you have any concerns.

Please know families, we want to support you, pray with you and for you during this difficult time. Please contact our Chaplain, Warwick Grant – wgrant@standrews.vic.edu.au, our Deputy Principal, Tim Farmilo – tfarmilo@standrews.vic.edu.au or myself – cwansbrough@standrews.vic.edu.au for prayer or support in any way we can help.

Please keep checking the College website – www.standrews.vic.edu.au or The Hub for updates.

PEACE in the turmoil

(Brief summary of a podcast by Rev. Timothy Keller – Redeemer Presbyterian Church)

Psalm 91 is all about how we can get peace in times of trouble.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” V1-2

God is our shield and protector!

But in the middle of the Psalm it basically says if you trust God, you won’t experience violence, disease, harm, disaster. You won’t even stub your toe!

Timothy Keller states that we desperately want to read it like that, but that we need to read those verses in context of the whole Bible. Job’s friends read it that way and told Job he must be doing something wrong before God because of all the bad things that were happening to him. If we read Psalm 91 like that we are like Job’s friends.

The forces of darkness want us to read Psalm 91 in the wrong way. Even Satan tries to derail Jesus and quotes Psalm 91:11-12 to Jesus. God didn’t create a world with sickness and evil, it is the sin described in Genesis 3 as well as our own sin that has made the world like it is. But, even the terrible things CAN work for good. Every bad thing, all evil intentions will be defeated in the end.

Think of the decades of suffering that Joseph in Genesis endured. If those bad things hadn’t happened, Joseph would never have become the great man he became. Joseph was protected from his own arrogance, brothers and the famine in Egypt. God was in control.

And we know that in all things God works for good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose - Romans 8:28.

In Luke 21:16-18 Jesus says that bad things will happen.

You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death……but not a hair of your head will perish.

By standing firm you will gain life.

It all comes down to whether we trust God. Keller continues to say in his podcast that we must trust God in trouble to be able to handle trouble. 

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

God says I will protect you through trouble – not from trouble.

The length that God went to, to be with us in trouble is evident in the gospels and points to Jesus. The invulnerable God became vulnerable in Jesus.

Jesus Christ took what we deserve on the cross and was the only human being who truly trusted God. He suffered and died for us so that we may live eternally with God if we trust in Him.

When bad things happen, we need to look to Jesus and what he went through for each of us; and, ask God for the strength, patience, grace, peace and love to get through any suffering we go through.

God will help us through. God is in control!

Dear friends, may you know Jesus by name and may He be Lord and Saviour of your life. He does care and He is there to help us in times of trouble.

Every blessing,

Catriona Wansbrough

Principal

OTHER NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

NEW CLASSROOMS & LANDSCAPING

The fit out of four new classrooms on the ground floor of the Middle School and Science building has been completed. After the delivery of new furniture, these classrooms will be ready for Year 9 and 10 students when they return to the College in Term 2. The work has been completed in a timely and efficient manner – on time and on budget!

We have also commenced the landscaping along Tyner Road. Staff onsite this week have ‘enjoyed’ the strong smell of fertiliser with the new soil being spread around the area being developed. Exciting plans are being finalised for the creation of a plaza entry to the new building to be developed during the second half of the year and the start of 2021.

NAPLAN 2020

Education Ministers met on the 20th March to discuss the evolving COVID-19 situation and the implications for schools. Together they decided that NAPLAN testing will not proceed for 2020. 

SUPPORT FOR PARENTS

A reminder for all parents/carers during this time of continuous learning is the resources available at ISV's Parents website. https://www.theparentswebsite.com.au/

ISV's Parents Website is a free and professionally curated source of excellent information and advice for parents and families. The impact of COVID-19 is highlighting what a valuable resource this is. 

The latest post on the site offers an invaluable virtual safety kit from the esafety Commissioner. Her Team reminds us that if you and your family have to stay home because of COVID-19, it's easier than ever to stay connected. But it's important for everyone to stay safe and mentally healthy. 

RETIREMENT OF WENDY BERRY

We are sad to inform you of Wendy Berry’s retirement from her teaching position at St Andrews Christian College. Wendy has been part of the staff for over 12 years as a primary teacher. We will miss her smile and sense of fun and wish her all the best in her retirement.

St Andrews Christian College

CHANGE OF STRUCTURE FOR 2021

We have just completed our consultation period, where staff and parents were able to comment on and contribute to the proposed change of structure for 2021 into a PRIMARY/SECONDARY model rather than the Junior/Middle/Senior school model we currently operate in.

During the two-week consultation period the only feedback that was received were general questions of an operational nature. There were no negative comments or alternative suggestions received on changing the structure to a Primary/Secondary model.

We have therefore decided to proceed with this proposal and will continue to inform you of this process as we continue with the timeline presented to the community.

SCHOOL SATISFACTION REPORT 2019 – VIVIDUS SURVEY

Vividus Marketing have just released their findings into the performance of St Andrews Christian College for the 2019 school year. A comprehensive study was undertaken across all facets of the College's activities and a number of findings emerged in regard to the College’s overall performance and satisfaction levels.

Our College’s satisfaction research included three online surveys administered during September and October 2019.

Overall attitudes to the College remain very strong and positive, with most results equivalent or slightly better than results in 2018. This is an exciting result!

Importantly, 93% of parents and 96% of staff feel that the College’s Vision and Mission are clearly stated and integrated into College life.

There was a significant increase, from 84% to 92% of parents stating that they are happy with the College’s Christian ethos, values and morals.

Interestingly, there was a drop from 49% to 39% in the parent response of actively supporting the PFA and related projects. This correlates to a decrease in parent involvement in the College. Parents are extremely positive about the College but not as active as they have been in past years.

Bullying amongst students was reported as an issue by a total of five parents. Although this result is extraordinarily low in relation to like schools, we continue to aim to be a BULLY FREE ZONE school where every student feels safe. All parents are encouraged to read and understand our College procedures in relation to bullying and know how to respond and help their child.

Our Chaplaincy services (funded by the College) are clearly supported by the community who desire this service to continue in the school.

The satisfaction results surrounding community spirit, leadership and administration, communication, student development and care, staff development and care are outstanding.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Except for the continuing dissatisfaction of our pick up/drop area and parking issues, there were no significant areas of dissatisfaction.

We are continually looking at and seeking outside advice in how the pick-up zone outside the multi-purpose hall can operate more smoothly, but the fact remains that traffic and congestion at pick-up time is busy and stressful. This is the case for all metropolitan schools.

For convenience, many parents continue to drive their child to and from school. To relieve the congestion, we continue to encourage parents to park a few blocks from St Andrews Christian College and walk to school; catch public transport; ride a bike to school; participate in car-pooling; collect their child at a designated spot over at Knox (older students).

The only other area of dissatisfaction of 18% or over, was the consistently effective marketing and promotion to the wider community. This was an interesting response, because the College has very much improved in this area over the last few years. For 2020, we now have two people (part-time) working in our Communications/Marketing department to continually promote the College and produce marketing material.

Other areas to improve/promote in 2020 include our choice of subjects and extension programs.

As indicated in our latest Strategic Plan, we continue to build a school of excellence that models Christ, a school environment where all our students can blossom and grow in their strengths and be encouraged to follow Jesus.

A strategic focus on student wellbeing and on all areas of learning and teaching will continue to be significant areas of growth in 2020 and 2021.

A more detailed breakdown of results can be viewed in the following link.

Catriona Wansbrough

Principal