Message From the Principal

Welcome to the New Year! Another year that has started with some adjustments and restrictions but we’re not letting that get in our way! We are full steam ahead in so many areas, excited to be moving on and continuing t grow!! Two key focus areas for us as a community are the two Association of Independent Schools (AIS) working groups that we are a part of – firstly the Compass wellbeing review of our College and secondly the Deep Learning. We have just commenced Deep Learning this year and it will look at our current teaching and learning framework to redevelop and strengthen it, and to more deliberately integrate faith and wellbeing into it. This is based on the International network New Pedagogies for Deep Learning developed by Canadian Michael Fullan.

We are much further ahead with our Compass Wellbeing review, and at a really exciting phase!  An enthusiastic “core” team has been working with the AIS to review our current offerings and look at how we can enhance our wellbeing P-12 to make it a more seamless and robust development of our students and staff. We know that a key element of good mental health and wellbeing is not only support structures but the protective aspect of proactive and explicit development and discussion of skills and understandings in our community.

Our starting place, after the analysis and identifying of key areas to address, has been developing a Shellharbour Anglican College definition that takes into account all the research in this area, but applies it to who we are as a unique community, and can be easily understood.

This definition has been workshopped by our core team, led by Jodie Liddiard our Pastoral Care Coordinator in the Senior School and assisted by Matt Low, our Coordinator of Pastoral Care in the Junior School, then taken to our student leaders to get some student voice and feedback and then the broader staff body. We now present it to you, our families and community. Please take a read and let us know what you think –

As a Christian learning community, wellbeing is at the foundation of who we are. Wellbeing is flourishing through:

• Healthy relationships, minds and bodies
• Hope-filled futures of purpose and resilience, and
• Hearts of compassion, justice and mercy

Having a common understanding of what wellbeing is and what it looks like is the first step in building a positive and thriving community where students have a sense of hope and purpose, and can face the challenges before them.

Please let me know your thoughts about our new definition or any comments / questions you might have! We are open to your ideas – email principal@shellharbourac.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Megan Hastie
Principal

Deputy Principal – People and Culture

It has been such a pleasure getting to know so many students, staff and even some parents in my first weeks at Shellharbour Anglican College.  I feel incredibly grateful and honoured to have been so warmly welcomed into the role of Deputy Principal – People and Culture across Prep to Year 12. 

As our College grows and develops, I will actively promote a coherent growth-focused Christian learning culture. Maintaining a strong whole College focus, I will work closely with the Principal, Deputy Principal – Strategy and Innovation, Heads of School and executive to support and provide opportunities to strengthen the sense of whole-College community. I will lead teams supporting staff and student wellbeing and provide oversight of the professional growth of our teaching and ancillary staff. The College’s service learning program, co-curricular opportunities, sports offerings and off-site experiences will be areas I lead. I’ll also be working hard in the background to make sure our policies and procedures, risk management systems and compliance obligations are meeting or exceeding requirements.  

Moving from Sydney’s Northern Beaches really isn’t so difficult when the beautiful green hills and stunning coastline of the south coast awaits. I love a dip in the ocean or a coastal run, so exploring Killalea State Park has been very gratifying! Also, having spent the past 8 years as Head of Junior School at St Luke’s Grammar School in Dee Why, I am pleased to remain within the Anglican Schools Corporation where I have found encouragement and inspiration as a Christian educational leader.  

I’m grateful to God for this opportunity to build new relationships with staff, parents and students and to invest in the lives of the amazing young people of Shellharbour Anglican College. I look forward to meeting you soon. 

Mr Adam Lear
Deputy Principal – People and Culture

Deputy Principal – Strategy and Innovation

As we start a new year it is exciting to imagine what is possible on all of our learning journeys. With a 17 year old daughter studying the HSC, I am looking forward to seeing how she handles herself and seeks to move from compulsory schooling into finding a career. Through this I have been challenged by one of Adam Grant’s actions for impact from his book Think Again. Grant challenges us to stop asking kids what they want to be when they grow up! We need to remember that kids don’t have to define themselves in terms of a career. A single identity can close the door to alternatives. Instead of trying to narrow their options, we should help them to broaden their possibilities. They don’t have to do one thing – they can do many things. Nowadays this is even more pronounced with the Foundation for Young Australians suggesting that the average person is going to move through up to five different careers and 17 jobs over their work life. Locking them into one career from an early age may make them feel like a failure when they have to change in their future.

I’d like to encourage all adults to instead ask kids what they want to learn in the future. Challenge them to wonder how they will learn it. What skills they might need to learn in that way? Ask them what interests them and challenge them to use their learning muscles to delve deeper into it. With knowledge and content at their fingertips they will need strong learning muscles to help them navigate their way through so many changes. It is while they are young and malleable that they will learn to use these muscles and strengthen them. That is what we are trying to do in class. That is what parents should be trying to do at home. Challenge your young people to open up new doors and expand their options through learning as they pursue tomorrow.

See you out the back.

Liam Bailey
Deputy Principal – Strategy and Innovation

Head of Junior School

There’s nothing quite like a large bus stuck in the school entrance to test our problem solving skills and patience. Last Tuesday was our moment, right at afternoon collection time. No doubt it was not intentional nor malicious…it’s ‘life’ as they say. I am very thankful for the quick response from our staff to guide traffic on Piper Drive and through the school and assist where needed. Most obvious, and so encouraging, was the patience and cooperation of our own parents and the general public who had to collect a child, pick up uniform orders or get to the train station.

And ‘life’ at the moment has many of these interruptions. We are adaptable, creative and resilient when the need arises, and we want these attitudes for our children. Too many interruptions can be exhausting, so kindness and grace are needed for each other and ourselves. I see these attributes in our students and our community every day and want these as distinctives of the College. But no more buses stuck in the entrance for a while, please!

Congratulations to all who had a go at the Junior School swimming carnival. It was a wonderful day of participation and joy, with great weather a real bonus. We missed our cheerful parents and grandparents, though.

Information regarding Parent Teacher Zoom meetings in Week 5 has been emailed home. Please take advantage of this opportunity to connect with our dedicated and caring staff

Mr Andrew McPhail
Head of Junior School

Acting Head of Senior School

Starting Well

It is already Week 4; can you believe that? I would like to thank all students and parents for the smooth start we have had to 2022. We are dealing with a range of disruptions, both with access to buildings and covid related, but you are all handling this well and with patience.

As we begin the year, I would like to raise three matters with you (parents) as you look to support our students, your children.

Students as activators of their own learning

Mrs. Hastie recently spoke to students about the importance of them being proactive with their learning. We want to see the students at our college who develop, work will with others, are aspirational and exhibit a positive attitude. To become this kind of learner it is important they set goals. In Tutor Group recently students were asked to set academic and cocurricular based goals. I urge you to discuss these goals with your child (written in their Day Book) as a way of spurring them on.

Getting involved in the life of the College

Many of our sports and cocurricular activities will kick off in the coming weeks. These programs complement our academic programs and provide our students with excellent opportunities to develop as whole people. Our 2021 HSC cohort did extremely well and a common theme for our top achievers was consistent participation in programs outside the classroom. Please speak to your child about what they might involve themselves in this year. Updated sport and cocurricular brochures for 2022 will be available shortly.

The importance of routines

To work to their potential, we believe whole–heartedly that students should attend school well groomed, wearing the uniform in its entirety and equipped to succeed in class. Upholding these basic standards and routines is well within the circle of influence for our students and parents. The American leadership author John Maxwell says it well: You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.

Lastly, I would like to leave you with a bible verse. My hope is that this encourages you wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

Mr Stephen Irvine
Acting Head of Senior School

Chaplain

I woke on New Year’s Day to be greeted by a sink full of last year’s dishes. It was as though my own kitchen was mocking me; reminding me that whatever grand and optimistic ideas I might have about resolutions, changes and fresh starts I might have, I can’t escape last year that easily. It’s true that a new year brings a sense of hope and excitement – and for many of us, presents an opportunity to begin fresh. And yet, I’m hindered by the reality that my dishes are still in the sink; my habits die hard, and last year’s challenges and problems won’t go quietly. So what does the Bible have to offer when it comes to fresh starts and dirty dishes? 

The book of Ezekiel in the Bible contains messages originally written for a group of people who had lost all hope; their nation had been conquered and its inhabitants taken captive. They needed more than a New Year’s resolution. Ezekiel contains the message that despite what the people were experiencing, God is in the business of restoring and healing the broken. Here is what God had to say to them: 

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. (Ezekiel 36:25-26). 

God offers them more than a new start – He offers a new heart. And if your resolve is flagging and the excitement of the new year has begun to sink among your dirty dishes, the offer still stands. Hundreds of years later, Jesus stood in a crowd and cried out the invitation that if anyone is thirsty – deep, soul thirst – then they should come to him to find ‘living’ waters. May this year be a year in which you find hope, joy and the new start and quenching water that Jesus offers.  

Mr Dan Odell
College Chaplain

Prep News

Prep students have enjoyed meeting new friends and learning new things in their first week of school. They have borrowed books to take home in library and learned about pitch in music. Prep staff have really loved talking to the students and learning about their families and pets. 

Mrs Lundberg, Mrs Hardie and Mrs Ballard
Prep Teachers

Junior School News

Kindergarten had an awesome start to the year, although at times a little soggy. Our students are settling in well to school routines and are really enjoying getting to know their classmates and their teachers. We have already done lots of wonderful activities, especially thinking about how we can have a growth mindset. We are stretching our brains to learn new things every day and encouraging the students to move passed saying “I can’t…” and to say “I can’t yet”. They are learning even mistakes are an opportunity to learn and grow.

Kindergarten teachers

Collaborative STEM learning in 12B

During Week 2 12B embarked on their first collaborative learning task – build a bridge using paddle pop stick, masking tape and project paper, with the challenge being how many marbles could it hold. 

What followed during the task was what we call excellent learning at our college. Problem solving, reflection, testing, designing, engagement, risk taking, curiosity, questioning. 

The final product saw two teams build bridges that held 200+ marbles. It was amazing! We definitely have some future architects and engineers in Stage One!

Mr Mark Brown
Junior School Chaplain and Stage One teacher

Swimming Carnival

After a soggy few weeks we were blessed with a gloriously warm day for the Junior School Swimming Carnival! As a staff we felt immensely proud of the way our students conducted themselves throughout the carnival displaying resilience and determination to perform at their best. Well done to all students who participated on the day and tried their best. For many this was their first carnival and we are so proud of the courage they showed to compete in front of their peers. Even the staff at the pool commented on their wonderful behaviour and enthusiasm. Congratulations to Chiswell house who won the most points on the day. A particular mention to our age champions: Essie Norden, Hudson Critoph, Annabel Schooley, Chase Corbeski, Lani Graham and Rafael Murray. Congratulations on your amazing results. The SASSA Carnival will be held on Tuesday 8 March at Nowra. Finally, I would also like to thank our amazing staff who work so hard to make the event such a memorable one for our students. We appreciate all they contribute to make the day a success. Hopefully next year we are able to have parents back cheering from the sidelines.

Mrs Shannon Peters
Junior School PE teacher

Junior School ICAS English and Mathematics results 2021

Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding achievements in last year’s ICAS English and Mathematics assessments.

English

Logan Corbeski MERIT

Isla Veitch CREDIT

Emma Denley DISTINCTION

Kieran Mahar DISTINCTION

Melissa Denley HIGH DISTINCTION

Harper Mackey HIGH DISTINCTION

Mathematics

Chase Corbeski MERIT

Logan Corbeski MERIT

Isla Veitch MERIT

Mark Farah CREDIT

Harper Mackey CREDIT

Kieran MAHAR CREDIT

Ashton Blanchett DISTINCTION

Emma Denley DISTINCTION

Melissa Denley DISTINCTION

John Farah DISTINCTION

Mr Barry Luke
Stage Three Coordinator

Senior School News

Duke of Edinburgh Update

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is up and running again in 2022. Our Bronze and Silver groups have been undertaking training on Tuesday afternoons, in preparation for their Adventurous Journeys. Our Year 12 Gold group are eagerly awaiting their makeup hikes from 2021, with an action-packed program set for the Blue Mountains and Snowy Mountains at the end of Term 1. Our Year 11 Gold students have begun preparations for their Residential Project to Gilgandra, where they will be serving the local community by completing a variety of jobs such as painting, oval maintenance and gardening. Students are encouraged to return their paperwork to their group leaders as soon as possible before service, skill and physical recreation activities can commence. 

Congratulations to our 2021 Alumni, Emma Werfel, Belle Thorpe and Oscar McNeill who have been approved to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. This is an incredible achievement!

Mr Nathan Alterator
Coordinator of Duke of Edinburgh 

Library News

Junior School Library

Prep

Prep enjoyed their very first library lesson in the Prep classroom. Students enjoyed reading books about puppies and monsters. They made crafts, played and borrowed wonderful picture books. Mrs Luke enjoyed teaching Prep some funny songs.

Prep students have also enjoyed listening to pirate stories. Students thought the story ‘Pirates Love Underpants’ was very, very funny. They then made their own pirate hats and found some sparkly treasure to decorate them. Prep are really enjoying discovering and borrowing new stories.

Stage One 

Stage One read ‘The Incredible Book Eating Boy’ by Oliver Jeffers. Students loved looking carefully at the illustrations and finding out about what happens to Henry the boy who ate books. Students talked together about the books we love to read and then created their own tiny book eating portraits. Mrs Luke was impressed with the persistence students showed in attempting such a tricky drawing.

Stage Three

Stage Three have been engaged in creating dream jars inspired by Roald Dahl’s BFG on their favourite picture and chapter books. Students created their own blurbs as the label for the jars and then designed and coloured an illustration to reflect the story. We are looking forward to seeing their finished work in an amazing display in the library.

Mrs Helen Luke
Junior School Teacher Librarian

Senior School Library 

“The book led him to an extraordinary building where many books apparently “nested”. Morris slowly walked inside and discovered the most mysterious and inviting room he had ever seen. It was filled with the fluttering of countless pages, and Morris could hear the faint chatter of a thousand different stories, as if each book was whispering an invitation to adventure.” (From: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce.

The Senior School Library Team hopes that this year, our Senior Library will (continue to) be a mysterious, yet inviting room, that promises reading adventures and discoveries as the students continue their journeys as readers. Our aim is to match readers with books, helping our students to find books that will kindle and nurture a love for lifelong reading. More importantly, we want to give them the skills and desire to ultimately do this independently. We pursue this through inquiries into reader identity, book talks, author inquiries, literature circles, personalised book recommendations, time for browsing and checking out books. We want our students to experience the magic that happens when we read, how it helps us to understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

We see it as our responsibility to provide a library space and resources – both physical and virtual – that promote diversity and inclusion; that bring about a sense of community among readers and learners.

Recently the Year 7 Science Classes spent time in the library exploring science related non-fiction texts. The students engaged in a discussion focusing on features of non-fiction texts and listened in earnest to a read aloud “On a beam of Light”: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne. This simple yet beautiful story of Einstein’s life ignited a spark of curiosity and wonder from both the students and staff.

Mrs Virginia Hand
Senior School Teacher Librarian

Careers Update

It has been great to welcome students back to the new school year! There is a wide range of Careers-related activities planned for 2022. In this edition of the newsletter I will focus on just two, with more to come in the future!

The Shellharbour Anglican College Careers website is found at shellharbouraccareers.com and it is where you will find information on topics such as the HSC, ROSA, University Admission, apprenticeships and traineeships, work experience, and job and career information. For parents of teenage children, I would particularly like to draw your attention to the section on “Helping your teen with Career Planning”. This will help you to support your child to work out who they are and what is important to them; work out where they want to go; work out how they will get there; and put their plan into action!

Is your child creative and do they have lots of ideas? If yes, then they may be interested in signing up for the new cocurricular program on offer for 2022: Entrepreneurship. The Entrepreneurship Cocurricular Program allows students to plan and design initiatives to develop a possible product or service. Students will go through the testing process to bring their ideas to life whilst learning the basic concepts of a start-up business. The program will provide a variety of activities that incorporate the foundations of problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and public speaking, which are all valuable skills. Students will have the option of entering a competition held in October by the Zig Zag Hub to pitch their idea to a panel of local business professionals with prizes to be given for best ideas and pitches. The program will run over 15 weeks during Terms 2 and 3 on Tuesday afternoons from 3.45-4.45pm with an entrepreneur coach. The program is also supported by mentors in programming and business expertise. It will initially be open to Senior School students, with the possibility of this expanding to Junior School students in the future. More information about the Entrepreneurship Cocurricular Program will be available in coming weeks. Let me know if you have any questions – I am happy to help!

Mrs Cheryl Brennan
Careers Advisor

Community Notices

Preloved Uniform Shop – Term One Trading 

The Preloved Uniform shop will be open 8:30am to 10:00am Mondays and Fridays. During Term One we will be temporarily located off site in a room upstairs at the Shellharbour City Baptist Church building. The address is 10A Commerce Drive Lake Illawarra. Next door to the Warrigal Blinds showroom.

Consigning clothes with us

If families have uniforms that they want to donate or consign, they can leave these at the Preloved Uniform shop offsite premises ONLY between 8:30 and 10:00am on Mondays and Fridays. At other times/days students may leave the clothes at the table outside the school administration office.

The Preloved shop is always in need of good quality clothing to supply the needs of other families. Families can choose to donate their clothing or consign it. If donating clothing, please mark the bag as a donation. If you would prefer to consign the clothing please ensure all garments are in good condition and are listed individually on a consignment sheet (attached here). If you have not yet supplied your banking details to us you will also need to provide these (see below). At the end of each term, the sales of clothing will be reconciled and any money owing to you will be calculated. You receive 80% of the value of any of your garments sold. The P&F retain 20% as commission. All monies raised by the P&F are donated to the school for the benefit of the students.

We cannot sell items with the following:

• Sweat stains
• Pen or paint marks on front, collar and sleeves. (Minor marks are ok)
• Torn linings inside jackets, split seams on shorts, torn knees on pants.
• Broken zippers on jackets or pants
• Beare and Lay brand tunics, dresses or shirts. (Blazers and jumpers still accepted if in good condition.)
• Midford brand pale grey shorts and trousers, or shirts without the college crest
• Non school branded clothes

Please ensure garments are clean and ironed. If clothes are presented in this condition they will be disposed of at the P&F’s discretion.

Consignee Payments

At the end of each term we reconcile the sales made during the term and determine how much is owed to each of our consignees. Any money owing to you will be transferred directly to your bank account once our accounting processes are complete. If you have not yet provided your banking details, they can be supplied by using (this form) which can be dropped off at the Preloved Uniform Shop or returned via email to Karen Tate  (k_tate@internode.on.net) or Susan Difazio (susandifazio@gmail.com).

Community Business Directory

We want to support the businesses of our College Community. If you would like to be included in our Business Directory, please fill out this form.

7 Eleven Shellharbour – Petrol Station

Anna Interpreting – Interpreting and translating services, 0416137143

Betschwar & Co – A contemporary real estate agency focused on relationships and influenced by a love of community and a passion to connect.

Buena Vista Farm – Goat dairy farm and cheesemakers, offering cooking classes and farm tours.

Clogbusters Plumbing Services – Plumbing, 0401651457

Dance Sensations – Dance, Cheer and Acro Classes in Shellharbour Village.

Dog Gone Mad – The Canine Behavioural Specialists, dealing with all types of doggy dilemmas!

Illawarra Industrial Supplies P/L – Sale of Coatings, Construction, Landscaping and Waterproofing Products

Independent beauty guide at LimeLife by Alcone – A makeup artist and skincare Consultant. Sell professional make up and skincare and offer various services related to the beauty industry.

Rowcliff Consulting – BookKeepeing and BAS agent services for small to medium companies who need help with keeping up to date with their accounts. 0417230478

Shellharbour Accounting and Business Advisers – Chartered Accountants who specialise in helping businesses to become more profitable in a very competitive marketplace. We off full suite of services to businesses from startup, growth of the business, compliance activities (preparation of financial statements and all ATO/ASIC lodgements), business advise and guidance during the business’ lifecycle, exit strategies and pre insolvency advice – when things don’t go so well. 

South Coast Academy – SCA is a private Registered Training Organisation (RTO) offering training in the Business, Beauty and Hair industries. We offer Statement of attainment, Cert II,III,IV & Diploma courses as well SBATS.

Stirling Accounting & Financial Solutions – Accounting & Financial Services providers specialising in Retirement Planning, Accounting & Taxation, SME’s, Self Managed Superannuation, Financial Strategies, Entity Construction, Wealth Creation and Building. 0432901083

Wards Metal Recyclers – Metal recycling. For example, copper brass electric cable all no ferrous metals. 0419494644