Once in a while you come across someone who is simply inspirational – someone who almost unwittingly creates a positive sense of connection, who refuses to give in or give up and continues steadfastly to serve others in their unique way.
I met such a man – Barry Rodgers and his wife Gwenyth - over thirty years ago when I applied for my first ever teaching job as a graduate. He had started this Christian school ten years earlier and then had gone on to found an outdoor adventure camp in the mid 1990s in Queensland. Now in his late 70s, he has set his sights on pioneering an off-grid Christian community camp in outback NSW.
I asked him if he had thoughts of retirement as he turns 80 next year. Both he and his wife (already 81) looked aghast and said, “We have an important work to do – why would we want to stop now??”
You might think that such pioneers might be proud and a bit filled up with their own achievements but they are the exact opposite – living the Flinders values of love, faith, humility and perseverance.
When I was talking to them and they were showing my wife and I around their 2200-acre property, I was reminded of another amazingly humble man – the Apostle Paul who wrote,
“Imitate me as I imitate Jesus Christ’.
We often hear the saying, ‘Be the change you want to see’. This time I want to slightly rewrite it as ‘Be the Inspiration you want to see.’
Reports can be downloaded and saved or printed for posterity.
Please note: Reports are not accessible once you finish at Flinders
Rotunda Cafe
Artificial Intelligence Policy
With the growth of new digital technologies in society, it is important for our community to be informed about the development of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on our students. One of these technologies, which has received extensive coverage in the media, is Chat GPT.
It is a model based on vast amounts of text, which can generate original content and perform a variety of tasks, including translation and summarisation.
As a College we are committed to ensuring that staff, students and families are updated about the ways in which Artificial Intelligence technologies may be utilised. Our College Artificial Intelligence Policy is now located on our website, in the Parent Resources section, alongside our other College policies.
We will continue to monitor students’ safe and responsible use of technology, and update families regarding any changes to our systems or processes. We will be providing some information to assist you, should you have any questions about the role of Artificial Intelligence in education.
Flinders Kinder
2024 Kinder Parent Information Night
Parents of 2024 Kinder Students are invited to our Parent Information Night.
Date: Tuesday 17th October 2023
Time: 7pm – 8:30pm
Location: Kinder Building
Primary School
From the Head of Primary
Welcome to Term 4, Week 1.
I hope you enjoyed the rest and family time together. Term 4 is always a busy one. Please take a look at the important dates listed below.
A reminder about healthy eating in Primary: Each day, fruit snack is eaten at 10 am (no processed or packaged food). Healthy food is encouraged; only water should be found in drink bottles and lunchboxes. High-sugary drinks and confectionery (lollies) should not be placed in children’s lunchboxes. “Excessive consumption of foods containing added sugars can contribute to multiple health problems, including feeling tired when blood sugar drops”. We appreciate your support, which will also assist your child’s learning.
2024 Primary classes. Throughout Term 4, staff deliberate and evaluate many aspects to ensure classes are balanced for the new year. Considerations include academics, boy/girl ratios, friendships, additional needs, ILPs, behaviour and incoming students. Classes are created to be balanced; they are not set for a particular teacher, as teacher placement is not finalised until the final weeks of term. Occasionally parents have additional insight we need to consider.
Please address, in writing, any requests to Adam Swain by Friday 13 October.
Students are required to wear their Summer uniform including the school hat in Term 4.
There is a 2-week changeover at the start of the term where students may wear winter or summer uniform but not a combination of both.
It is recommended to place some sunscreen into your child’s bag for the warmer weather.
Please refer to our website HEREfor our uniform requirements.
Hats
Please ensure that your child brings their hat to school. It should be clearly labeled with your child’s name.
Hats need to be worn during recess and lunch. If your child forgets their hat, they will be required to play in a shaded area.
Icy Pole Fridays are back for Term 4
This Friday and every Friday, and on the last day of school the P&F will again be selling icy poles for $1.00 to Primary Students.
Primary parents are encouraged to pay on the community portal for the term in advance, but weekly orders will still be collected. $10.00 will purchase weekly icy poles for the Term.
Payment can be made via the Flinders Connect App. The portal will open on Tuesday 3 October.
1. Please click on My Account and choose Activities 2. Select the Activity: CD 2023 Primary Icy pole orders Term 4 3. Click on the 'Attending Button' and follow the prompts to pay.
All Primary students that wish to purchase an icy pole and have not had their icy poles pre purchased on the portal are required to bring their money in a named envelope or bag on a Friday with the amount enclosed written on it. This will be collected from the classroom in the morning.
A Flinders connect notice with payment options will be sent out via the App this week. Please consider pre-purchasing the icy poles for the term in advance.
Aladdin
The Aladdin Production will be held on Thursday 23 November at 5.30 pm in the Carrum Downs gymnasium.
On this special day, children will stay at school until Production time. Students will have a short playtime after school and an afternoon snack. Students will change into costumes and will be involved in final rehearsals until production time. Classroom teachers will supervise them.
We anticipate the production will conclude around 6.30 pm. Tickets for Aladdin will be available in the coming weeks.
Prep Nativity
Prep Nativity. Our Prep nativity will be held in the school gymnasium from 1.15 pm on Wednesday 29 November.
All are welcome to attend and view this fun performance.
More information to follow.
Primary Flinders Values Awards
Congratulations to Elsie and Madeleine for receiving a Flinders Values award during this week’s Primary Chapel Service.
Elsie received her award for displaying Humility by being respectful, working hard, showing kindness, and always looking for good in those around her.
Madeleine exemplified the value of Integrity by being a hard worker, honest, reliable, trustworthy, thoughtful, and always gives her best effort.
Spring Robotics Program
Secondary School
Term 4 at a Glance
Welcome back to all Secondary families as we commence the final phase of the 2023 school year. There has been so much to celebrate in the first three terms this year and I expect that this will continue into these last 10 weeks.
We have continued to focus on building a positive House culture/community this year and will continue to do so. We will also seek to hold students to account whilst maintaining positive relationship at the same time. This can sometimes be a tricky and challenging balancing act as we aim to ‘seek justice and love mercy’ (Micah 6:8).
Term 4 is a unique blend of sequential finishing up and starting up as we ready ourselves for 2024. A lot goes on ‘behind the scenes’ in terms of timetabling, budgeting and staffing as well as the more obvious events like revision, exams and Kickstart.
As such it is timely to summarise much of what Term 4 will look like so that students and parents alike will be prepared for what is coming up between now and the last day of the school year, Friday December 8th.
2024 Year 7 Events Three key events are planned for Term 4 to help prepare the current Grade 6 Flinders students and the new Year 7 students currently at other school for this important change from Primary to Secondary. Although there will be more formal correspondence going out about these events, here is a snapshot:
1. Thursday 19 October: Parent Information Evening – 7pm in E Block in the building downhill, adjacent to the first car park. 2. Wednesday 8 November: Orientation Afternoon from 1.45pm – 3.00pm 3. Monday 4 December: Orientation Day from 8.40am – 3.20pm
Final Year 12 events There is a lot going on in the lives of our Year 12's as they head towards the end of the VCE/VCAL year. We shall continue to pray for these students and families as the pace quickens towards exams for many of these students.
House Engineering Competition Ms Lauren Zuidema, our Head of Science, has done a phenomenal job of creating our inaugural House Engineering Competition where Year 7-11 students with be working in teams to complete one of the following challenges:
1. Spaghetti and Marshmallow architecture - Using just spaghetti and marshmallows, create the tallest tower possible.
2. Dominos - Groups of 5 students create a domino effect.
3. Newspaper bridges - Build the strongest bridge with a 75cm span.
4. Rube Goldberg - Groups of 5 students create an RG Construction.
This week saw the rules of the competition explained; students were then given opportunity to create their teams.
Week 3: Planning phase
Week 4: Construction and judging phase
Feedback from the initial session on Tuesday this week was encouraging – students were keen to find out about the competition and there was a positive ‘vibe’ in each House.
Student Leadership interviews and appointments We are currently interviewing for 2024 College Captains and House Captains. Mr. Watts, the Heads of House and I have been very impressed with the quality of the applicants so far. We are hoping to finish off this round of interviews at the end of next week so that we can go into the next phase of College Captain selection – a speech from the short-listed applicants to the Year 7-11 students followed by a survey to be sent to all of these students as well as staff to get feedback about the preferred candidates.
Uniform reminders As always there is a need for some reminders re uniform expectations at the start of term – particularly Term 4 as the summer uniforms come out of the closet.
I have asked the Secondary staff to follow up on:
1. Nose piercings are NOT OK , please ask students to see me if they need a clear filler.
2. Summer dresses may well need to be adjusted , some are too short. I would ask that a female member of staff in each House address this with the girls.
Careers Issues Year 9's will be completing their Morrisby testing Wednesday next week in P1&2. The purpose of these Morrisby tests is to provide some guidance to students about possible career pathways based on their strengths and interests.
Every year we do Career Action Plans with Year 7-11 students. Those Career Action Plans written by students will stay with the student their entire schooling journey, and students can refer to it as the years go on & use it as a guide to achieve their career goals.
Every year level has an “assignment” on Moodle associated with their graduating year and it’s locked so only they can do the assignment. It will be digitally ‘attached’ to the student as they grow. Some students do have a few saved to their page already throughout the years.
The Career Action Plan downloads as a Word Document. Once completed, they upload it. Career Action Plans may be started in the House Period but could be finished in Mentor Groups. It will reasonably take 1 period, and a follow up in some Mentor Group sessions.
P1 on Tuesday 10 October has been proposed with a follow up at the Year Level Assemblies on Thursday 12 October.
Regards
Geoff Grace Head of Secondary
Important Dates
Music News
Musical Update
Welcome Back Everyone!
Term 4 is always a busy time with activities, excursions, presentation evenings and CONCERTS. The Carrum Downs & Tyabb Campuses have combined this year to bring you all The Battle of the Band’s Music Showcase. This event will be held at the Flinders CCC Tyabb Campus in their Chapel building and gives all our secondary music ensemble students the chance to be recognised and share what they have been learning throughout the year.
You are all invited to attend on Thursday 9 November, with the show starting at 4:30pm and concluding at 8:00pm. Tickets for this event are available for purchase through Flinders Connect from Monday 2nd October or at the door on the evening. A sausage sizzle and drinks will be available for purchase on the night.
All event proceeds will go towards the upcoming 2024 Music Camp.
Tickets prices:
$10.00 - Adults
$8.00 - Non-performing students
$30.00 - Families.
We would love to see you all there.
The Music department would also like to wish Sammer Zielak & Amelia Goh the best of luck in their upcoming Unit 4 Performance Exams. Both Sammer and Amelia have been working hard throughout the year and we are confident that they will do well.
For any general enquiries or questions about our music programs, please feel free to contact Mrs Linda Harris at musiccarrumdowns@flinders.vic.edu.au
Aladdin Kids Our primary school production will take place in the gym on Thursday 23 November. Our Cast are doing an amazing job and will spend the next two weeks learning their choreography with Mrs Mendolia.
Mini Popstars Primary School Holiday Workshop Our school holiday workshop for students from Prep to Grade 6 took place during the recent holidays. A great time was had by all with the students receiving a memory stick loaded with their performance to share with their friends and family.
2024 Dance Classes at School Next year we will be offering Dance classes on an individual basis in the genres of Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. Classes will be taught by our Performing Arts Teacher Mrs Mendolia, a graduate of Performing Arts and qualified and experienced Dance Teacher and Choreographer. Expressions of interest can now be sent to diane.ohare@flinders.vic.edu.au.
Our new Dance Floor will be installed over the school holidays, and we are so excited to launch our Dance program in 2024.
Performing Arts Students Congratulations to all our Performing Arts students who have been undertaking Speech and Drama and Musical Theatre lessons with Mrs Mendolia and myself. We have received lots of enquiries from families enquiring for places in our programme which is accredited by Theatrical Awards, a global organisation. We are now taking expressions of interest for our 2024 classes, please email Diane.ohare@flinders.vic.edu.auto register your place. Spaces fill up very quickly and we normally work with a waiting list in place. We also hope to add screen acting lessons in 2024.
2024 Secondary School Production I am delighted to inform you that our 2024 Secondary School Production will take place in June next year at the prestigious Frankston Arts Centre. This will be an amazing opportunity for our students to shine on stage. Students will find out what the production will be on Friday this week.
Performer in the spotlight Congratulations to our Performing Arts student Ella Chapman who was cast in BATS Theatre Company’s production of Zombie Prom during the recent school holidays. Ella has weekly Musical Theatre lessons with Mrs O’Hare. Our Performing Arts students have a 100% success rate in gaining roles in local theatre productions.
Sports News
Girls Only Weights Session @ lunchtime on Tuesday
All secondary female students are invited to use the weights room during Tuesday lunchtimes in term 4 where students will be supervised to use the equipment to improve their strength or work on their mobility with rolling, stretches, or yoga.
Some students may elect to do some just dance to get the heart pumping. Ensure appropriate clothing and footwear is worn.
SIS Golf Championship
On Friday 3 November selected students participating in our Golf Academy will represent Flinders at the SIS Golf Championships playing Ambrose format at Mt Martha Public Golf Course.
Junior and Intermediate Boys Netball State Champions and Senior Boys Runner’s Up - 3 Podium finishers!
Flinders made history last term with all 4 out 5 Netball teams progressing to the State Finals (Junior Girls and All Boys teams).
All three boys teams made the grand final, a first for Flinders. Our Senior Team won the State Championship when they were Juniors in 2019 and so to finish runner up in the State as Seniors was an amazing achievement.
Furthermore, both our Junior and Intermediate teams won the grand final to be crowned State Netball Champions, meaning Flinders has held the Junior Boys Netball State Title for three years in a row. Congratulations to all players.
Senior Boys: Max J, Balin D, Andrew W, Oscar W, Damien S, Noah M, Jesse MD, Daniel W, Ryan L, Joshua C, William W, Joseph Martino, Cullen H, Brodie C.
Intermediate Boys: Marcus C, Riley H, Bailey M, Denver W, Andrew W, Joshua L, Benjamin I, Max K, Declan M, Hayden M.
Junior Boys: Spencer M, Harvey R, Ethan P, Chris S, Talan W, Tom W, Tresten W, Seanan P, Tayton F, Michael F, Tom W, Toby M, Reid A.
Junior Girls: Emmerson A, Georgia B, Ivy W, Milla N, Nyachoop M, Olive M, Paeton G, Poppy L, Ruby K, Ryva H, Zara O.
After School Netball
We are currently taking expressions of interest for the summer (T4) after school netball season. After school matches are held weekly in T4 every Friday night @ Jubilee park in Frankston.
Please find below details for our optional Swim Squad Program that runs annually in Terms 1 and 4 coached by elite swimmers. The purpose of the Flinders Swim Squad is to improve each student's competitive swimming performance at the Term 1 House Swimming Carnival in 2024 and to adequately prepare students for racing. Please note that this optional opportunity is not a learn to swim program, as students are expected to be able to swim competently for multiple laps of a 50m pool. The sessions will focus on preparing students for future competitions. There is a small cost of $50 for the sessions that is subsidised by the College.
Please RSVP your students interest in this program via the Flinders Connect App.
Where: Pines Forest Aquatic Centre, Forest Drive, Frankston North
Transport: Families drop students off at the pool at 7:20am, College bus transports students to their respective campus.
Cost: $50.00 for the sessions.
Eligibility: Flinders Years 6-12 Students need to be capable of participating in a swim squad session (age appropriate). This is not designed for beginners, rather students to further improve their competitive swimming technique.
We are currently taking expressions of interest for our Golf Academy program for Term 4.All participants in this program must submit the Golf Academy paperwork to Mr Andrew Bylart and commit to paying the relevant fees for this program.
Students will be transported to Sandhurst Golf Club via the College mini bus or parent transport and will be under the supervision and guidance of our Flinders Golf Academy coaches for the duration of the session.
Parents will be responsible for picking their child up from the venue at the conclusion of the session at 6:00pm.
The Basketball Domestic Winter Season 2023 ended with Grand Finals games being played in the week of the 11 – 16 September 2023. With some games decided in overtime and games decided by 5 points or less, the stadiums were abuzz with excitement!
The Flinders Basketball Club teams did extremely well this season:
80 teams entered competitions and played weekly games in Terms 2 and Terms 3, across 5 Basketball Associations 43 teams qualified and played semi-final games 20 teams qualified and played grand final games and 5 u8 teams played participation finals games 11 teams crowned Grand Final Winners
Overall, it was an exciting season for the Flinders Basketball Club, with 11 teams finishing at the top of their division with Grand Final victories and other teams gaining valuable experience for future seasons. Congratulations and thanks to all players, team managers and coaches for their hard work and dedication throughout the season! A huge thanks must also go to the parents and guardians who taxi their players to various stadiums and cheer on our teams!
