2021 Term 4, Week 6

Next week we have two significant end-of-year celebrations, and unless something terrible happens between now and then, we will be celebrating in person!

Tuesday evening, 16 November 2021, is the Secondary School Celebration of Achievement. Last year we held the event online.  This year we are back in person in the Walker Centre for a 6.30pm start. We have combined the usually two nights into one night.  Hopefully the program won’t be too long, but a wonderful opportunity for the community to gather and celebrate the achievements of our Secondary School students.

All award winners and performers will need to attend.  The rest of the community is invited to come along.

The Junior School Celebration of Achievement will be held in the Walker Centre on Tuesday 30 November 2021 from 6.15pm.

The Year 12 Valedictory Service and Dinner will be held at the School on Thursday 18 November 2021. This will be a wonderful night to celebrate our graduating class of 2021.

Please be aware that from 12noon on Thursday 18 November the roundabout drop off/pick up area will be closed. No pickups will be allowed in this area in the afternoon. Please make alternate arrangements for pick up with your child. 

ALL parking for the Valedictory evening will be either in the Junior School Carpark in Attunga Street, or on the oval behind the Krebs centre also accessed via Attunga Street.  Carparking attendants will be there to guide you.  Lighting has also been provided for departing later in the evening.  We request that you do not park in the Tooth carparks as access to the Walker Centre is going to be through the Krebs Centre.

Paul Browning

Headmaster

With a PhD in Mathematics, Jenny’s work and research looks at the factors that influence mental health and wellbeing in modern workplaces. In many ways, we are asking the same questions in the context of working with your children at St Paul’s School. How can we help our students (and staff) to flourish? What does it mean to live “the good life”?

As you know, St Paul’s is an Anglican School, and our worldview is holistic. We have adopted the following definition of holistic education, as “… concerned with educating the whole person – body, mind and soul – to develop his or her fullest potential” (Lee, E., 2015).

Ours is vital work, as we recognise that many families no longer have ties with established religion. This means that many of our students find it difficult to articulate the moral and ethical framework from which their values are derived, and that is why our Character Framework plays such an integral role in the day-to-day life of the School. Virtually all of the virtues we have adopted would be familiar to adherents of the Christian faith.

Jenny George put it this way, when describing the development of values in post-Christendom, Australian society –

“I wonder whether our modern, not so church-going society had actually found good replacements for (the things that people used to get from going to church). When thanking God before every meal has gone, have we lost the habit of gratitude? Where looking forward to an eternal future no longer happens every Sunday, have we lost the habit of hope? When donating money and our time sacrificially is no longer expected of us, have we lost the habit of giving? I think this intertwining of mental health and spiritual health might be why there is such good evidence to show that counselling that embraces the whole of a person, including their religious beliefs, leads to the best mental health outcomes for them; working with every person and their unique spiritual beliefs can be incredibly powerful and effective for their mental health.”

The rest of the article is well-worth thinking about too. You can read it here – https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/mathematician-finds-formula-for-flourishing-in-christian-virtues/

Mr Nigel Grant

Executive Director of Faith & Community 

The Summit was a student lead program ran by 3^rd and 4th-year university students studying a STEM course. The four days were jam packed with university styled lectures featuring special guests and ‘STEM tasters’, an introduction to a specific STEM course offered at QUT.

On the first day we had a tour around the beautiful riverside grounds of the university, a short welcoming lecture by a guest speaker, and completed one taster. The other days however were very intense as they went from 8:30am to 5:30pm, but they were very interesting and engaging. The rest of days began with a 1.5-hour lecture, 2 of our chosen tasters, and then we finished with another lecture.

The lectures were mainly focused on the values of; entrepreneurship, leadership, and using STEM values and mindset. The lectures had three different guest speakers, who had a STEM focused background. To start they introduced themselves and their story on how they have used STEM to create new jobs and thrive in the workplace doing what they enjoy. This was then accompanied by a Q&A, which allowed us to ask specific questions regarding their jobs, journey, and advice. Jane Macmaster Chief of Engineers Australia, Australian’s Chief Scientist DR Cathy Foley, and Volker Richter the head of BMW Germany, where just a few of the speakers who were able to share their story and offer advice to us.

There were 14 tasters offered from a range of subjects in the science, technology, math, and engineering areas, and each student was able to select 6. My interest areas are math and science, so I selected pharmaceutical science, biomedical science, mechanical engineering, clinical science, data science and biological science. I spent most of my time in the QUT labs which were insane. Each taster started with a short introduction to the courses offered, what you could except to study and in what form that would take (construction, research, experiments…ect) then we were able to partake in an interactive activity or experiment to learn and investigate a certain goal.

The tasters which I enjoyed the most were the pharmaceutical, biomedical, clinical, and biological sciences, as they applied science to real life problems.

In the biological taster, we researched ‘enzyme activity in fungi’. We used high tech equipment to separate, test, measure, and compare different mushroom samples to understand how environmental conditions impact the fungi. In the clinical science ‘cancer pathology and pharmacology’ we made and learnt about Intravenous (IV) drips and experimented with creams by dissolving drugs in different basses. Pharmaceutical science ‘zombie busters’, focused on preparing vaccinations and a prescribing personal tablets to a patient, we also tested the quality of tablets, and the effect of disease on water fleas. Clinical science focused on ‘COVID-19 Contract tracing’ were we used different chemical solutions to determine if a group of people had covid based on the enzymes and antibodies in their body fluid.

During my time at the university, I worked in the labs with university professors, doctors and peers who shared an equal fascination with STEM and particularly the science subjects. I found the experience eye-opening to the ways in which I can apply myself and my knowledge in the future at university and in the real world. I also really enjoyed learning and working with other students who shared similar interests and the desire to learn. We were a very diverse group of young minds, but we shared the interest in learning, and it made the experience wonderful. I met many people during the experiments, lectures and sitting at lunch. I made a few really good friends, and we would head off into the city together after the day was complete to socialise and chat, I enjoyed it thoroughly and have maintained contact since. Overall, the experience was incredible, and I would highly recommend it to any student interested or keen, I have definitely learned a lot about university and what to expect in the future.

By Marina Delabbio

We are excited to announce that Year 12 student, Harry Baldwin has signed to attend Sterling College in Kansas USA on a basketball scholarship next year. Harry will join the team in January 2022.

Well done, Harry!

These ten groups work an individual program comprised of hiking, canoeing and mountain biking. For the first two days of the camp each group camps out as an individual unit; they then all traverse back to a central camp site at Stirling’s Crossing, where all groups spend the final night of the camp. This final evening sees the entire year level come together to share their experiences and the challenges of their individual programs as they enjoy a BBQ meal together. All groups then take part in a Rite of Passage ceremony, which is the culmination of their four-day experience.

The Rite of Passage Ceremony is led by Reverend Mark Leam, Dr Browning and Mr Grant. It features the symbols of rocks and fire; rocks to signify the burdens the students are currently carrying in terms of negative attitudes, relationships or mindsets, and fire to symbolize cleansing. The students discard their rocks and burn a letter in a central fire pit. This letter they have written to themselves that afternoon. It articulates the negative elements that the student currently sees are holding them back. Dr Browning and Mr Grant weave these ceremonial elements into a strong narrative which challenges the students to move forward from the camp with renewed focus and a clear understanding of what the St Paul’s Character Framework means for them. Essentially, they are encouraged to leave childish behaviours and attitudes behind and begin to approach the challenges and responsibilities within their lives in a more adult-like fashion.

Students spend the final morning of camp in quiet, individual reflection where they write a second letter to themselves, which this time, formulates a guide to take them forward into their final two years at St Paul’s. The camp finishes each year with a group challenge which features each group performing a team war cry, that they construct across the four days of the camp and then each team complete a range of camp skills set into a relay event where the winning team claims bragging rights as the strongest camp group.

The program was challenging and rewarding for all who took part. It is the culmination of the camping program at St Paul’s. Following the Foundation Day service last Friday, the Year 10 students were returned the rocks they had carried across the course of their camp, their symbolic burden, and they were able to place these around a sculpture that comprises the area for reflection that adjoins the Walker Centre. This has been happening for the past four years that this camp has been running, and so the pile of rocks is gradually growing. This year was the first time the actual students have had the chance to place their rocks in situ. Each individual rock, therefore, becomes a reminder of each student’s journey and the commitment they have made to themselves through the course of their year 10 camp experience.

Normally, the working bee would take place in the last week of term, however, given the significance of Foundation Day as the celebration of our School’s founding, planting trees within our grounds is the ideal way to celebrate this milestone. The site for the planting was not the Koala Corridor, but the riparian restoration zone that follows the course of the river bordering our campus. This area is undergoing weed eradication and the planting of species native to the local wetlands.

Service Learning had a great crew of volunteers assembled and the working bee was a tremendous success with further weed clearing taking place, the replacement of tree guards on previously planted saplings, replacement of plants in areas where saplings had not survived, mulching of new and existing plants and the broadening of the area under planting. Some 37 students from Years 8-10 worked productively across the afternoon to complete the works. The riparian restoration project represents a massive undertaking, however, the near completion of the School’s Koala Corridor is testament to what can be achieved through persistence and hard work. The Corridor is virtually complete at the northern end of the School Campus, and so the river restoration provides the ideal vehicle for environmental stewardship to continue to be a key facet of the Service Learning Charter at St Paul’s.

The students participated in the readings, performed the Kyrie and a beautiful piece after communion. They were wonderful. The congregation loved having the team.

Darcy fought against the two times State Champion in the 48kg School Boys division and won all three rounds to win the fight. Well done, Darcy!

Amaya performed very well in the under 14 years girls division, placing 2nd in the 200m, 3rd in 100m, 4th in Long Jump and 4th in Triple Jump. Amaya has qualified to represent Queensland in the National Championships in Perth in 2022. This will be the second time that she has qualified to represent Queensland.

Well done, Amaya and we wish you the best at the National Championships!

Have you considered becoming a homestay family?

• Families are paid a generous daily rate for hosting
• Long term and short term hosting opportunities 
• A rich cultural experience for both visiting students and host families
• Great opportunity for students studying a language at school
• Ongoing support from the International School Staff
• Homestay Coordinator available 24/7 for emergencies

For more information or to register your interest, please visit our website.

Past student, Hannah Hering (Class of 2018) is in her third year of Medical Raditaion at QUT and has been awarded for achieving the highest results in her cohort. Hannah has just applied for, and been accepted into the research honours program next year where she will be completing research into paediatric radiation of blood cancers and techniques to minimise the impact of whole body radiation.

Annabel Keir (Class of 2017), has recently been awarded the top prize at the annual Queensland CEC student paper presentations for Medical Imaging. Her experimental research project, conducted through QUT’s honours program, won best presentation of the night. Annabel was awarded with a trip to Cairns in 2022 to present at the National Conference for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy in the student research category. Her project is titled, “Together or Separate: What is best practice when imaging bilateral hands for rheumatoid arthritis examinations?” Annabel will graduate with a Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Honours) at the end of the year.

Well done, Hannah and Annabel!

We are incredibly proud to hear that our past students are flourishing in their studies and wish them the best in their medical careers.

Since joining us in January this year, Maddy has revived the St Paul’s School Library Instagram account (@geiselibrary) and is successfully driving higher engagement with our library services across the School.
Maddy is also a prominent figure in the wider Library and information science (LIS) community with her website Madison’s Library, being an active member of the Students Need School Libraries Group, reviewing professionally and presenting at the 2021 National Education Summit.

Thank you, Maddy, for your dedication to improving and engaging our students in our library services.

The cadets have had a successful year, drawing to a close with their annual Dining In Night on Tuesday and March Out Parade to dismiss the senior cadets on Wednesday. Please enjoy the photos!

Join the on and off-court fun!  Sign up for Girls TAS Tennis 2022 Term 1 now.

Pre-season Training starts Tuesday 16 November

Join us at the school courts every Tuesday and Friday morning, 7.00am – 8.15am until the end of term to get a head start on training for next year.

Training Shirts 2022

The Tennis Supporters Gro

up will be providing free training shirts to all TAS players.  Refer to this size chart when selecting your size on the sign up form:

Wishing you well Brett!

Our awesome Head Coach Brett is having some surgery in mid-November and we’d like to wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.  We look forward to seeing him back zipping around the court in the New Year and giving the players a run for their money!

Sponsors 2022

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors who are kindly supporting us in 2022:

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for 2022 including court banner advertising, court naming rights, logo on the training shirt and more.  Refer to Sponsorship Opportunities 2022.

Next Meeting – Tuesday 8 February 2022

Mark your diary!  The first Tennis Supporters’ Group Meeting of 2022 will be held online on Tuesday 8 February at 7.30pm.  We generally hold only 4 to 5 meetings per year, and you’re welcome to join us for all or just one or two – whatever you can manage.  Email [email protected] to receive the meeting invitations/links.

Follow us on Facebook

Like the TSG Facebook page to see photos and videos and keep up to date with tennis activities.

Please see the flyer here.