2022 Term 1, Week 5

As I wrote in my last e-News article, it is because we believe that an education should not be judged on what a student knows, nor even on what a student can do. Rather, we are interested in what type of person the student is becoming. Increasingly, around the world, holistic education is expressed in an emphasis on character development, in schools that have a vision to teach “children to become good people and good students at the same time” (Garber, 2014, p. 162).

Our Character Framework features ten virtues, and the virtue at the top of the list is “Kindness and compassion”. On the poster, and in our conversations with students, we define Kindness and compassion in the following terms –

Caring about the needs and feelings of others; treating others in the way you would like to be treated

You will note a strong implicit link with the “Golden Rule” (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you).

However, experience teaches us that students don’t always get it right. They aren’t always kind and compassionate and, invariably, a teacher or House Leader or I will end up having a conversation about that. The Framework has already anticipated these situations, and alongside each virtue is a list of what we call “Attitudes and Behaviours which are incompatible with this virtue”. In the case of Kindness & Compassion, these “anti-virtues”, or vices, are listed –

Selfishness; bullying; verbal abuse; gossiping

I regularly tell both students and parents that we aren’t really a rules-based school. Rather, we are a character-based school. Rather that simply saying “Don’t do this or that”, we say to them “Strive to become a person of good character. Cultivate these virtues.

Mr Nigel Grant

Executive Director of Faith and Community

The students were challenged to ask closed-ended questions that would help them to narrow down the possible solutions. This was a great way for the students to practice asking meaningful questions and using the responses to inform their direction of inquiry.

Tatsu’s journey at St Paul’s School began when he arrived from Tokyo, Japan and began his High School Preparation Program at St Paul’s International School (SPIS) in 2002.  He was only 13 years old.  All his teachers remember him as an enthusiastic member of his classes with a quirky sense of humour and a positive outlook which made his time at SPIS fun, enjoyable and memorable.  He fitted straight in and was always a willing participant in all SPIS activities, sport and subjects as well as with making friends and building relationships with other international students and local students throughout the School.

Making his mark! Tatsu with Ms Arnold creating hand prints for the SPIS classroom curtains.

He remembers the SPIS staff with affection and recalls specific connections he made with individual teachers such as comments about Mrs Andrews wearing ‘nice shoes everyday’, Mrs Arnold and ‘the lucky sausage’ and ongoing jokes about ‘ironing’ with Mrs Reese.  A particular memory is about Ms Kemish and how she ‘rescued me from a situation where I stupidly ordered an expensive drum kit in some drum shop, Ms Kemish successfully negotiated with the shop to cancel the order. Thank you Ms!’

In Term 3 2003, Tatsu transferred from the International School into the main school into Year 8 and joined Strong House.  His House Leader then was Ms Harris and his tutor was Mr Withers. In the Senior School, Tatsu studied English, Maths A, Economics, Hospitality Studies, PE, Home Economics, Japanese and attended ESL support classes with Ms Bennett.

Economics and Hospitality Studies were his favourite subjects. He particularly recalls having to adapt to the strong English accent of Mr Faulkner in his Economics classes.

Here is Tatsu after a lunch event for Hospitality Studies in the old Kristie’s Restaurant.

Homestay is a crucial part of life in Australia for our international students.  Tatsu has fond memories of the families he lived with in Brisbane.  These were Coldwell Family in Taigum, the McNamara Family in Albany Creek and the Colbert Family in Bald Hills

After graduating from Year 12 in 2006, Tatsu attended The University of Sydney where he completed his Bachelor of Economics degree, majoring in Economics and International Business.

Tatsu returned to Tokyo and began his career with a major Japanese retail corporation, Takashimaya Department Store.   His fluency in English has assisted him in his career especially with his many overseas business trips negotiating on behalf of the company.  He has travelled extensively in Europe and the USA. This solid background has enabled him to venture out into his own business.

He says: “Recently I have set up and now run my own company called TYSENN INC. (www.tysenn.com) specializing in selling European interior decoration arts.”

On the personal front, Tatsu is now married and he and his wife are still based in Tokyo.

Tatsu is still in contact with a number of other past SPIS students, especially with David Kim, Keita and Kana Matsushita and Miki Ohashi.

He says of his time at St Paul’s School, “I fully enjoyed studying in Australia because of a lot of support and love from teachers, host families and beautiful friends.”

His advice to current international students is simple: THINK BIG, START SMALL and MOVE QUICKLY!

“I would love to come back and see you people in SPS again. Congratulations for the 25 years anniversary.”

Tatsuro AWANO (2022)

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.

We asked Tahlia some questions about what she loves to read and what she is looking forward to this year in her role as Library Captain.

What are you reading at the moment?
At the moment, I am reading Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo (the third and final instalment in the Shadow and Bone series), but I can’t wait to finish it and start reading Sarah J. Maas’ series, Throne of Glass.

What is your favourite genre?
I would have to say my favourite genre is fantasy. The worldbuilding, the characters, the creativity, all of it! I find that a good fantasy book is always the perfect way to melt out of real life and into the pages.

Do you have a favourite book, series, or author? Or can you list some of your favourite?
I can easily say that my favourite series of all time is the All Fall Down series by Ally Carter (severely underrated by the way!); I lose track of how many times I’ve read and reread the trilogy. But I have to say that Sarah J. Maas is my favourite author. I love her work and how I can so easily become entranced in her stories and really have that sense of empathy for the characters.

Do you have a terrible book habit and if so, what is it?
I am very proud to say that I am not one to dog-ear the pages, but I do have a bad habit of hyper fixating when I find a really good book and my sleep schedule and homework sometimes get a little bit lost in the process. Also, I think a lot of readers are also guilty of this, but my TBR is getting wayyy too long and I’m struggling to catch up.

What is a book or story from your childhood that you loved?
When I was little, Dad would read me Disney’s Lilo and Stitch (a fairly wordy picture book) until I got to the stage where I could read it back to him. As one of my first and favourite storybooks, it holds a very special place in my heart.

What’s your favourite food?
This might be a little bit controversial, but my favourite food is easily black liquorice (especially dark chocolate bullets!).

If you could live anywhere (fictional worlds included) where would you live?
Although I’d love to see some of my favourite fictional worlds brought to life and be able to immerse myself in them, I can’t forget how dangerous most of them are and I can’t imagine that I would fare very well when faced with murderous faerie princes or ancient, malevolent beings.

What do you love about the St Paul’s Library?
I love that the St Paul’s Library is such a lively environment. The library has something for everyone and there’s always people in there who’ve found their place and they’re just enjoying themselves (and sitting in the air-con because it’s so hot outside). Additionally, I am a massive fan of the selection of books that the library has available, but it isn’t helping me shorten my already extensive reading list!

If you could meet a character from a book, who would it be?
There are so many fictional characters who I admire and absolutely adore, I can’t pick just one to want to meet! My shortlist would definitely include Grace Blakely and Alexei Volkov – All Fall Down, Ally Carter; Rhysand – A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J. Maas; Cardan Greenbriar – The Cruel Prince, Holly Black; and Aerin Kelly – The Amateurs, Sara Shepard. (There are so many more, but that would be a very long list).

Do you like dressing up for Book Week? If so, what’s your favourite character outfit? Or who would you most love to dress up as?
I am always excited for an opportunity to have a bit of fun and dress up, especially when it’s for a special occasion! Since the pandemic has prevented us from being able to hold Book Week parades for the last couple years, I have so many ideas and I have no idea how I’m going to decide.

What’s your favourite subject at school?
Even since primary school, math has always been a favourite of mine, but if there’s a short story fiction unit in English then there might be a little bit of competition!

What would you like to achieve in your year as Library Captain?
In my year as Library Captain, I would like to keep up and improve upon all the awesome work that’s already been done. I’m hoping for heaps of fun activities to get everyone involved and appeal to a broader variety of students. The library really is such a positive and diverse environment; I truly believe that everyone can find something to appeal to them.

Email [email protected] for more details.

It is hoped that the Music Supporters Group AGM can be held on campus at the Music Department on Monday 7 March 6:30pm.
This will be confirmed via email on Friday 4 March and if we are unable to attend in person please use the below link to attend the meeting via zoom. The AGM will go ahead either way.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85832681706?pwd=VnpUWEE1M2phZy9WaDB5MERDblRLdz09
Meeting ID: 858 3268 1706
Passcode: 163960

The MSG would like to welcome any new families to the committee.
Also anyone wishing to look at taking up a position please complete the attached committee position forms.

For any further information, please contact Kathy Wright via email: [email protected]

Save the dates

Training shirts

Our training shirts are made of material that contains on average 22 recycled plastic bottles per garment.

Water Bottles

Thanks to our water bottle sponsor, Heathro Interior Linings each player will receive a free water bottle.

When 20/02/2022 to 27/02/2022 from 9.00am to 11.00am

For more information call Jeremy on 0407 626 007

For more information please contact [email protected] or contact Scott on 0417 836 650