2022 Term 2, Week 5

It’s a question worth pondering.  In year’s gone by, the traditional career path was to go to school and either go to university then find a job or go straight into the workforce pursuing a trade (again, working for someone else’s company).

This trend appears to be shifting, and not in a small way.

McCrindle Research regularly conducts “market research” on a good deal of areas, including education. Just this week they released a report titled, “Equipping students to thrive in the new world of work.” By asking more than 1000 secondary and tertiary students for their perspectives they were able to provide some insights on the current context of Australian education.

For those interested, you can download the infographic of the highlights here: Education Future – Research and trends for the education sector

There were many highlights from the data. The standout data for me related to young people’s career aspirations and their passion for social issues.

When thinking about careers, 11% of young people want to be an entrepreneur, 27% mainly an entrepreneur but also working as an employee, and 48% mainly an employee but working in something they have started on the side. This means that 86% of young people anticipate working in something they have started, either solely or as a side hustle. Young people want to be an entrepreneur, either full time or part time.

This being the case, why is it that young people become entrepreneurs in spite of their education and not because of it?

Schools (and governments) urgently need to rethink how young people are educated because the system is not meeting their needs.

All of this reemphasises that key question which keeps us up at night: What is the purpose of education?

Or, in the words we often use at St Paul’s School, what is an education worth having?

An education is one of the most valuable gifts a person can receive. Most young people in Australia, and indeed much of the western world, are incredibly privileged. There are so many young people in the world who would love to have access to an education, but sadly are unable.

We believe at St Paul’s School that an education worth having is a holistic one; one that prepares resilient global citizens, who are innovative thinkers, with a heart for servant leadership. We believe that an education worth having sets up a person to live a life of purpose, a life of thriving; an education that sets them up to make a positive difference to the communities where they will eventually live and work.

Thankfully, St Paul’s School is committed to ensuring young people have the skills and dispositions to think like an entrepreneur, or even be an entrepreneur with our Realms of Thinking and programs run through the Centre for Innovators and Entrepreneurs..

I was particularly encouraged to read that the current generation of young people, “are not just a digitally savvy generation, but a generation that cares about social good, more so than their older counterparts”; that is, they have a heart for servant leadership. Young people are passionate about ending racism, reducing climate change, social equality and alleviating poverty, far more so than my generation, or generations before me.

Equipped with an education worth having, one that prepares a young person with the strength of character, the skills and dispositions to think like an entrepreneur, and the heart to make a difference, I have tremendous hope for the future.

Paul Browning

Headmaster

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As you know, we talk about character a lot at St Paul’s. Character, as we understand it, is the type of person that you are becoming. It’s different from your image, and it’s different from your reputation. It’s who you really are (or, at least, the person the student is becoming as they grow up). It’s about the “habits of the heart” that they are developing. We also call these habits “virtues”.

Similarly, we also talk about virtues a lot. There is a St Paul’s School Character Framework poster in every class room (and a copy in every student diary). This framework defines the virtues and helps students to understand how these concepts translate into practical actions, such as the way in which we speak to and treat one another.

In addition to character, which mostly refers individual traits, we can also consider culture; specifically, the culture of St Paul’s School. The word ‘culture’ can have a few meanings but, in this context, the dictionary definition of culture is “the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society.” We – the students and staff (and parents) of St Paul’s School – are a “particular people or society”. We are a community, and so we have a culture. You could call it “the St Paul’s way of doing things”. Let’s think about what that might look like…

Obviously, if we are all striving to live out the virtues, that will have a significant effect on the culture of the school. We will be a community in which everyone treats each other with kindness and respect. We will be a community in which our individual efforts are characterised by honesty, diligence, humility and courage.

But there’s more. I believe the culture of St Paul’s School, “the way we do things around here” will be seen in the following –

We will be an inclusive community, not one in which people are marginalised or picked on because they are different in some way;

We will be a willing community, in which everyone strives to do their best and to become their best; a community in which excellence is celebrated.

We will be a generous community, in which we share what we have and give credit where it is due. We will also generously forgive one another, when we make mistakes or fall short.

Let’s face it; we all want to be part of a community like that, don’t we?

St Paul wrote to the first Christian community in Rome, and he described the church as a body; made up of different parts, but in which each part plays a vital role. I think it’s a good analogy for our school community too. St Paul wrote –

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour….

¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

Now, as you may have realised, I was prompted to think these thoughts because of several specific behaviours that I have observed or heard about in the past couple of months.

In some year groups and friendship groups, I have been disappointed to hear about a lack of love, a lack of kindness and a lack of respect for one another. There has been some gossiping, and exclusion; there has been bullying and even some fighting; there has been offensive and even abusive language – face-to-face, and also online. I stressed, in talking to the students on Monday, that this is not the St Paul’s way.

There has been a lack of respect shown by a small number, expressed as graffiti and vandalism. Specifically, a few have thought it was okay to leave their tags around the school – creating extra work and expense for our cleaning staff. Similarly (apparently associated with a TikTok challenge) a few students apparently thought it was okay to cut into the back of some of the chairs in the Science labs, using the strings of their face masks. Again: that is not the St Paul’s way. Those responsible, when they are identified, will be paying for the repairs to the chairs they have damaged.

In closing, may I stress that I do understand that our students (indeed, all of us) are still works in progress. They are still working out who they want to be and where they fit in the world. TikTok might seem really cool (aside: it seems to me that most of the challenges posted there are dangerous, or stupid, or illegal, or all of the above). On the other hand, trying to develop the virtues in their lives can seem like hard work and not much fun. But – and here is the secret – it is the best way. It is the most rewarding way. This is the way to make their parents and teachers proud. This is the St Paul’s way.

Mr Nigel Grant

Executive Director of Faith & Community

Photo by Ugne Vasyliute on Unsplash

Our aims are as follows –
– Provide an opportunity for Christians from all denominations, who happen to be affiliated with St Paul’s School, to come together regularly for fellowship and celebration;
– Be a safe space for others who are interested in finding out more about Christianity, as well as those who have walked away from the Church, to discuss faith in an informal context;
– Sharing of life’s joys and sorrows;
– Praying for one another and for the ministry of the School.

We meet monthly (last Sunday of the month) from 5.00-6.00 pm, in the Tooth Lounge. BYO drinks and nibbles. All welcome.
If interested, you can find out more here.

Students dressed the part and were great ambassadors representing the Patricians and the Plebians. The students were very perceptive to the differences in the rights and responsibilities of the two groups.

Both students will be competing in the State Finals of the Brain Bee Competition held by the Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS) at UQ in the coming weeks. They’ll need to know all about the structure and function of the brain, nerves and senses in order to participate in the spelling bee style competition.

Well done students, and good luck in Round 2!

The aim of the club is to nurture students creative thinking through sessions where feedback is provided in an environment in which they can improve their skills. Each term, all the members vote on a theme that we can focus on, such as Water, Long Exposure, Plants, etc. The students then have that term to go out and start taking photos, during which we also have meeting that can improve the student’s photography skills. Once the term is up, students submit their photos to the captain via email, and a booklet is created with all the photos collated from that term, which is then handed out to all members.

Our theme for this term is pattern, so students have been tasked with finding patterns in everyday objects that people might not notice on first glance. Once everything is submitted, we will create a booklet that shows people our pattern photos. This is a great way to let students experiment with different techniques and find something that suits their style of photography in the future.

Harrison Carter
2022 Photography Club Captain

If you’re interested in learning more about Photography Club, please contact Harrison or Mr Burrows.

Students are exploring Night and Day and the patterns created by the rotation of the earth, sun and moon in class this term. Their excursion encouraged them to be open to experience and engage in some hands-on learning!

Pink Day is held each year, usually on the first home game of Term 2, and has quite a carnival atmosphere, with all Firsts teams (netball and hockey for girls; rugby and tennis for boys) playing in special pink jerseys etc. raising funds for Breast Cancer Research. We hope to see you all there!

We spend the week in the lead-up to Pink Day, hosting a variety of pink-themed activities including a Pink Free dress day, pink colour run, teachers vs students matches and more!

Pictured are today’s Pink Day Sponge Toss victims!

Come along tomorrow to support our TAS teams or even join in on the Pink Colour Run from 9.00am near the Walker Centre.

Getting used to life in Australia as well as study in Year 10 was like a whirlwind for Alvin: getting used to different teachers and teaching styles, getting to know some of his peers and, of course, trying to keep up with the demands of learning through English.  The climate was also particularly disorientating for him.  He recalls, “Although Brisbane’s climate is pretty similar to Hong Kong’s, as soon as I firstly arrived in Australia in October 2003, I found myself having Hay Fever, which made it very difficult for me to concentrate in class, revise well at night, or even just feel comfortable and part of ‘life’.  I must have spent so much on buying tissues!  He was well out of his comfort zone!

However, one constant support during this transitional stage was his Homestay family.  Alvin always speaks fondly of Dot and Len Timperley and they still remain close today, after all this time.  Homestay families are so much more than accommodation providers.  They support, guide and care for our international students and really do carry out the many important roles of parents.  Alvin got married in 2015 and Dot and Len Timperley continue to be an important part of Alvin’s extended family which now includes his toddler son, Austin.

From a young age, Alvin had a passion for photography and it was this interest that helped him to integrate more fully into life at SPS.  He explains,” One day I expressed this interest to my Chinese Teacher, Mr. Samuel Leong. I told him that I would like to be a School Event/Sports Photographer, just to practice and gain more skills in my leisure time.  Mr Leong then introduced me to the Head of School Activities, Mr. Des Broom.”

And the rest is history, as they say!

Alvin’s photographic skills, general outlook and comfort level just took off as he became more and more involved in capturing the diversity of events happening around him at St Paul’s School.  He explains, “During Years 11 and12, I covered uncountable major and minor school events, including TAS Sport every weekend, School Open Day, Celebration pf Achievement Night, World School Tour and many more.”

Alvin continues, “Surprisingly, I received an award at the COA for the Most Contribution to the School Year Book 2006. I was so amazed!

At the end of Year 12, “Because of my involvement with the school, I was invited to give a speech on behalf of international students during the Valedictory Dinner at South Bank Convention Centre.” This was certainly a great honour for me.

Also, along the way, other doors opened for Alvin, too.  He became Captain of the Badminton Club and was voted Vice House Captain for Strong House.

His participation in the life of the school was full of fun and enjoyment for him.

After graduation, Alvin went to Queensland University of Technology where he completed a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting (with a Professional Accounting Extension).

Today, Alvin is successful in two professional business enterprises, using both his academic qualifications as well as his creativity.  He operates two businesses: Alvin Au Bookkeeping Services (www.facebook.com/AlvinAuBookkeeping) as well as APhoto Studio 2 (www.facebook.com/APhotoStudio.au) which is his own award-winning Wedding Photography Business.

In his spare time, Alvin is a judo player and is an Accredited Judo Coach for the Shin Gi Tai Judo Club.

What is Alvin’s advice for our current and future International Students?  Well, he suggests, “Just jump out of your comfort zone and try to join in! Embrace both the wider community, and be more involved with the school activities. Even just making time to chat with your homestay family more is important.  Try not to just hang out with your classmates who speak the same language. If you do that, you will miss out on so much.”

His final comment: “For me, being a student at both SPIS and SPS was a beautiful time and those memories are priceless and unforgettable!”

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.

Prep student James was inspired by a recent episode of Lego Masters. He built this amazing creation in just 15 minutes in the Junior Library one morning this week. Nice work!!

The Junior Library is open to students and families before school from 8am to 8:20 and after school until 3:30pm each day.

Each year, our Opens Rugby team shave their heads in the lead up to Pink Day to raise awareness and support those affected by breast cancer in our community. This year, they smashed their goal and have raised over $6,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation which is a fantastic effort!

Thank you to everyone who donated and thank you to the Rugby Supporters Group for your hard work.
It’s not too late if you would still like to donate! You can do so here: https://fundraise.nbcf.org.au/…/StPaulsRugbyPinkWeekShave

Aviation Australia is opening its doors to those looking to pursue a career in Aviation.

Join us for a free guided tour of our Brisbane campus, Saturday 18 June to see what Aviation Australia can offer.

Our expert team will guide you through our engineering hangars, cabin crew, and flight crew facilities. Come and experience a drone racing demonstration, see our planes and so much more! Learn about all our course offerings for 2022 – 2023 and the career opportunities that each will open for you.

The aviation industry is experiencing a severe shortage of skills. As we continue to open back up and increase our domestic and international flights the industry desperately needs a passionate and well trained aviation workforce to support aircraft maintenance and flight safety.

Speak to our instructors about what it’s like to study and work in an exciting, challenging and cutting edge industry.

We have three session times available, each session will be 1 hour long.

•    Session 1: 8:30am – 9:30am
•    Session 2: 9:30am – 10:30am
•    Session 3: 10:30am – 11:30am

To Register click here

Upcoming Events – TAS End of Season Awards Party, next Supporters’ Group Meeting, Family & Friends Day

TAS End of Season Awards Party – Saturday 11 June

All girls and boys TAS tennis players, parents/carers and siblings are invited to join us for some bowling fun and an awards presentation:

When:  Saturday 11 June, 6.30 – 9.00pm
Where:  Aspley 10 Pin Bowling, 149 Albany Creek Rd, Aspley
Cost:  $15 for 2 games (includes shoe hire).  Food and drinks available for purchase.
RSVP:  via this registration form

Next TSG Meeting – Tuesday 26 July, 7.30pm (online)

Join us for this online meeting to plan for our “Family & Friends Day”, the Junior TAS season and sponsorship opportunities for 2023.  Email [email protected] to receive the meeting link.

Family & Friends Day – Sunday 21 August, 9.00 – 11.00am

Mark your diaries for our annual “Family and Friends Day” on Sunday 21 August, 9 to 11am.  This is a fun morning of social tennis for students, parents, siblings, cousins, friends etc. More details to come closer to the time.

TSG Facebook Page

Don’t forget to follow our TSG Facebook page for photos and videos from match days and training sessions and information on upcoming events.

For any further information please contact Sarah via [email protected]

Music website

The St Paul’s Music websiteis a great place to check out the upcoming performances over the next term.
A comprehensive list of all known performance dates for the year can be viewed by going to the Events and Performances tab on the left side of the home page.

Diary Dates for Term 2:

Music in the Dark

The most important one to put in your diaries is Music in the Dark on Saturday May 28 from 3pm to 8pm. There will be more information, including a performance schedule for the day, emailed out to families in the next few weeks. This event will be held on the grassed area outside the Walker Centre (away from the very big tree in the middle obstructing the view!). Please bring your own picnic chairs (no rugs this year due to space restrictions) and some money to buy delicious food from the Music Supporters’ Group stalls.  There will be an array of BBQ items, cheese platters, alcohol and non alcoholic drinks, cakes and sweets, face painting, glow in the dark items etc.  as this will go towards fundraising for a new grand piano for the Walker Centre hooray!

• – movie gift cards
• – music accessories
• – pampering items (hand soap/hand cream/body lotion etc)
• – craft items
• – chocolates (boxed)
• – gourmet foods (crackers/pate/cheese/pickled onions/quince paste etc etc)

Parents who wish to help the Music Supporters Group at the Music in the Dark event please sign up here on the volunteers app.  The event program will be available soon if you wish to wait to sign up when you find out when your child/ren will be performing.

Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn’t work) to go to the signup sheet here: https://volunteersignup.org/P9LW9.

To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.

Thank you for volunteering!

MORE INFORMATION on HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Bake Sale:

• – please bring your donations in on the day of the event to the Walker
  Centre.
• – NO NUTS PLEASE
• – For ease of sale – (excluding cupcakes) please put your baking into a
  disposable container or cardboard box with plastic sleeve
• – Please list your ingredients and date made and tape it onto the
  container
• – We will price the baked goods on the day

What we’d love to sell:

• -cupcakes
• -pop cakes
• -slices of all varieties
• -Gluten free/dairy free/vegan options
• -cookies – but not too many
• -lolly bags (with a variety of lollies inside a snack size snaplock bag

RAFFLE:

we’d love some donations for the raffle

• -wine – good brand (we only 3 bottles)
• -pamper items (NOT in packs) including hand cream, eye mask, winter
  socks, books, mug etc
• – fragrance sticks and fragrance (self contained bottles best)
• -Movie vouchers
• -Kids stuff for all ages – musically themed if possible

Please bring your raffle items to the music admin desk and pop in the white box, any time from now until Friday 27th May

Solo Competition: Walker Centre Friday June 17 from 6:30pm