Dear Flinders Families,

In a world filled with conflicts, divisions, and broken relationships, the concept of reconciliation holds profound significance not only now but for our future. Reconciliation is not merely an abstract idea but a central theme deeply rooted in our faith and teachings. It is an invitation to embrace healing, forgiveness, and restoration in our relationships with God and one another.

At the heart of Christianity lies the message of redemption and reconciliation. Christians believe that God, in His immeasurable love and grace, took the initiative to reconcile humanity to Himself through Jesus Christ. The Bible describes this divine act of reconciliation as an expression of God's desire to restore the broken relationship between Him and humanity mended through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.

This divine act of reconciliation sets the foundation for the Christian approach to reconciling with others. As followers of Christ, Christians are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation in their interactions with fellow human beings. The Apostle Paul eloquently captures this in his second letter to the Corinthians, where he writes, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18).

In practising reconciliation, Christians are guided by core principles rooted in their faith. First and foremost is the call to forgive. Jesus taught His disciples to forgive not just once or twice but to extend forgiveness unconditionally and infinitely. Christians understand that forgiveness is not condoning or forgetting the wrongdoing; instead, it is a conscious choice to release the burden of anger, resentment, and bitterness. Through forgiveness, we strive to restore relationships, promote healing, apply justice and seek genuine reconciliation.

Furthermore, Christians are urged to cultivate humility, compassion, and empathy. Humility, one of our College values, enables us to acknowledge our flaws and shortcomings, fostering an environment of understanding and empathy for others. By adopting a compassionate stance, Christians are motivated to approach conflict and brokenness with a desire to understand, heal, and uplift those involved. This compassionate approach emphasizes seeing the inherent worth and dignity in every individual, regardless of their past actions, colour or beliefs.

Crucially, reconciliation within the Christian framework requires active participation from all parties involved. It is not a one-sided endeavor but a joint commitment to engage in dialogue, listen attentively, and seek common ground. It demands genuine repentance, accountability, and a willingness to change one's attitudes and behaviours. Through open and honest communication, Christians strive to bridge gaps, heal wounds, and foster a spirit of unity in the pursuit of true reconciliation.

As Christians embrace the path of reconciliation, they recognize that it is a continuous journey rather than a one-time destination. It requires ongoing effort, patience, and a steadfast commitment to love, even when faced with adversity. While reconciliation may not always lead to the complete restoration of the previous relationship, it allows for healing, growth, and the possibility of new beginnings.

As our country engages in National Reconciliation Week let us be reminded and encouraged that Christian approach to reconciliation offers a transformative model. By embodying forgiveness, humility, compassion, and active engagement, Christians strive to be agents of healing and reconciliation. Our pursuit of reconciliation mirrors the divine love and grace extended to them, inspiring others to embrace the transformative power of forgiveness and restoration.

Let us all be encouraged to embark on this journey of reconciliation, seeking opportunities to mend broken relationships, build bridges, and foster a world where forgiveness and understanding prevail. Together, we can make a difference and be bearers of God's reconciling love.

Andrew Watts
Head of Campus

We are entering the final month of Semester 1!

As the weather gets colder, and the days a little shorter, we all get to practice perseverance, determination and grit. Small, atomic habits are important on a daily basis and may include remembering homework, arriving at school on time, getting to sleep on time and eating healthy nutritious food to keep us going.

A reminder that ‘going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day. If your child is not unwell, they should be at school every day to ensure the continuation of learning.

Should you have any questions about Primary events, please get in touch with our admin team (Marianne Morgan & Suzanne Lokot) on 9785 0000.

Congratulations to Aanya and Sasha for receiving a Flinders Values award during this week’s Primary Chapel Service.

Sasha received her award for displaying Integrity by being a hard worker, showing kindness, respect, and always looking for good in those around her.

Aanya exemplified the values of Perseverance and Excellence by showing diligence in her work to improve and achieve her best.

It is important to start conversations with children about staying safe online because the internet can be a great resource for learning, communication, and entertainment, but it can also be a risky place if children do not know how to protect themselves.

Children may not be aware of the potential dangers of sharing personal information, connecting with strangers, or clicking on suspicious links online, and it is important to educate them about how to stay safe.

Having open and ongoing conversations about internet safety can help children understand the importance of protecting their personal information, being cautious when interacting with others online, and knowing what to do if they encounter something that makes them feel uncomfortable.

It is also important to set clear rules and boundaries for children's internet use to help them stay safe and responsible online.

The eSafety Commissioner Website provides parents with helpful Conversation Starters designed to be used in a family or education setting to start everyday conversations about online safety.

The cards cover topics such as identifying online risks, using technology safely and reporting unsafe behaviour.

Use them together with the information at eSafety kids HERE and empower kids to take control of their online experiences

SOME POSITIVES

Student-led Secondary Assembly
A team of Year 11 and 12 House leaders took responsibility for the Secondary Assembly on Tuesday morning. As they are learning, it is a challenge to fit the program together and ensure that all of the ‘moving parts’ are worked together.

The next Assembly in Week 8 will actually be part Chapel/part Assembly – something to look forward to as Mr Dave Hughes (Head of Faith & Community) along with the Student Ministry Captains plan for the first section of this time together.

Nicholls Fundraiser
Nicholls staff and students have worked hard to ensure the success of their Term 2 fundraiser focusing on support of the Naijm Marr indigenous community on the Mornington Peninsula. We had a guest speaker at the assembly, a House Canned Food collection as well as a number of celebration events at lunchtime. Thanks to all who made this happen.

Year 9 and Year 11 Camps
Feedback from both camps – Year 9 in the city and Year 11 at CYC in Cowes – was very positive. Great student engagement and a real time of connection for each year level. Apart from the Year 7 & 9 Retreats in June/July, this brings an end to the formal year level camps program for the year. Having said that, there is still the opportunity for students to join:

The Snow Camp
The Great Victorian Bike Ride – an information evening (on Zoom) is happening on Tuesday 20 June (the last week of term).

Trivia Quiz and Drive In Movie nights
These events were held the weekend before last and provided a great opportunity for the Flinders community to come together to celebrate and enjoy some shared activities. A particular thanks to the VCAL/VM students who ran the Movie night, as well as to Dan and Chloe Mason who did a mountain of work to ensure the Trivia Night was a great success.

SIS Cross Country and VCCC Basketball finals
As I write these events are happening. By the time you read this article you’ll know how the students have fared in these interschool competitions. Regardless of the results, the College is really proud of all students who represent our College in interschool events, be they sporting or cultural.

The ‘READY RESPECT REWARD’ House Challenge is progressing well as we look to encourage students in each House to pursue ‘the Best Version of Us’. After Week 5, results are Cuthbert: 467; Flynn: 469; Nicholls: 451; Ten Boom: 473. The challenge will continue to the end of Week 8 with the winning House rewarded with a free lunch in the final week of term.

SOME REMINDERS/ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES

Uniform Matters
Students will be reminded at House and Year Level assemblies of the following 9 matters:

1) Blazers to/from school and to Home Room, assemblies and other formal occasions
2) Softshell jackets are NOT to be worn under blazers. It is one or the other.
3) Minimal jewellery – rings, necklaces etc
4) Simple single set of earrings/studs; no nose piercings
5) Natural nails only – no long extensions, shellac etc
6) No extreme hair styles including rat tails, horse tails, or any tails
7) Boys to be clean shaven
8) Maroon scarves and gloves
9) Beanies - I have checked with Mr Watts who has clarified: “Regarding Beanies, there isn't a Flinders version and I do understand that on very cold days it is reasonable for students to wear them when outside. My view is that they are allowed for outside use on cold days but are not an official uniform item. They should not be worn inside or at formal College events.”

Ongoing auditing of lateness to school and lunchtime detentions
I am continuing to monitor the punctuality of students to school each morning as well as auditing students who receive multiple lunchtime detentions (including times when a student doesn’t show up to a lunchtime without a legitimate reason).

From here on, parents will be contacted when a student reaches their 4th lunchtime detention for a term. This is to reduce the inordinate amount of admin required to communicate every single detention. Once a student has six detentions this then becomes an automatic After School detention.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND YEAR LEVEL CAMPS

Key Events
The Sound of Music rehearsals are running well. The production is scheduled for June 16-17 which is only a fortnight away. In the meantime, there is a further event to help support the production Flinders Got Talent on Thursday 8th June.

Year level camps and retreats
In Week 8 - there will be one-night Retreats for the Year 7 students at Amberley (and a similar experience for the Year 9s early in Term 3). A lot of work is going in to make these memorable occasions for these students.

Year 9 - 11 exams followed by the long weekend
Students in these three year levels will be sitting mid year exams starting this Friday 2 June and running through to Thursday 8 June.
Friday 9 June is then a student free day for report writing, followed by the King’s Birthday holiday on Monday 12 June.

As with addressing a number of uniform issues, information about student attendance at school during this exam period has been sent home to families.

Regards

Geoff Grace
Head of Secondary

We are so incredibly proud of the 40 athletes from Carrum Downs that represented Flinders at the 2023 SIS Division A Swimming Championships.

Flinders achieved incredible results including the U15 Girls Pennant and the Open Girls Pennant with Runner’s Up overall.

Congratulations to the following students who represented Flinders:

Brodie M, Cory V, Cullen H, Harry C, Jazlyn H, Sanuda P, Sarah W, Xander P, Eleanor S, Emma F, Ivy W, Kiana W, Luca S, Luke S, Maddison H, Reid A, Skyla S, Teale W, William M, Zac O, Zachary E, Darcy L, Evie W, Falcon L, Harper D, Lachlan C, Liam W, Max J, Oscar P, Shae B, Adele V, Ava V, Balin D, Bodea G, Ethan R, Mackenzie V, Maddison R, Maurice W, Sammer Z, Shannon N.

Congratulations to the students below that were selected to represent Southern Independent Schools (SIS) at the Victorian Schools Association Championships (VSAC) in May 2023. These students were selected based on both Division A and Division B results from SIS Championships. We are so proud of their performances at the SIS Div A Swimming Championships which has led to their selection in this prestigious event.

The Great Victorian Bike Ride is the world’s largest fully supported bike tour and Flinders is seeking interested riders from both Tyabb and Carrum Downs campuses, to participate in the 5-day riding and camping experience.

We invite all Year 7 - 12 students as well as parents/guardians/grandparents to join us in this challenge. This is Flinders 8th year involved in this amazing event.

In 2022 there were 29 participants including a family of 3 generations. This is a wonderful community event, and we encourage mum, dads and/or grandparents to join us too. Students that participate in this experience develop resilience, physical and mental fitness as well as developing deeper social connections with the participants. The ride is not a race, students complete each day at their own pace and work together while enjoying amazing views in the Victorian outdoor environment.

Please join us for our 2023 Information session:

PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

Tuesday 20 June 2023
ONLINE at 6:30 PM via Zoom

Meeting URL: HERE
Meeting ID: 884 2937 4819
Passcode: 112171

Camp Dates: Saturday 25 November (Arrival Day) – Thursday 30 November 2023.

Route: Orbost to Sale (300km)

Congratulations to the following Age Group Champions at our recent Combined

Campus House Cross Country Carnival.

A special congratulations to the students highlighted in yellow below that have achieved a Flinders Cross Country Record:

As we move our way through Term 2, we are seeing the enjoyment that music brings in our classes. Our dedicated music teachers have been working hard to provide engaging and interactive music education for our students. From learning basic rhythms to exploring different instruments, our students have been actively involved in a variety of musical activities.

Mr Rolleston’s Grade 1 students this term have been expanding their knowledge on pitch and notation. This week they spent time writing out treble clefs and intervals of the major scale. As you can see there were a few students who were super thrilled with their efforts.

Since the beginning of the school year, our Grade 4 Band & Orchestra students have been working to learn and master their chosen instruments. We are so excited to see the progress they have made so far. From mastering the basics of technique to reading musical notation, our students are building a strong foundation for their musical development. We encourage students to practice regularly at home to reinforce their skills and enhance their musical fluency.

The Grade 3 Strings students have also been working hard this term on developing their technique, posture and bow control. We are thrilled to see their progress and musical growth as they become more comfortable with their instruments.

For those students who would like to get more out of their instrumental experience private, paired or small group lessons are available. If you would like more information, please contact the Mrs Linda Harris at musiccarrumdowns@flinders.vic.edu.au

We believe that each of these grade programs will provide an opportunity for our students to explore the world of music. There is something for everyone in our music department.

Our fundraising evening took place on Saturday 20 May in E Block.

I am delighted to inform you that we raised $2549.81 which will contribute to the costs of staging The Sound of Music plus supporting a project in India suggested by Chloe Mason in Year 12.

Thank you to everyone for your support.

Flinders Got Talent will take place in E Block on Thursday 8 June from 6:30pm until 8:30pm. Audience Tickets, $10 per person will go on sale through Flinders Connect on Monday 8th May, again all proceeds will contribute to The Sound of Music.

Staff and students should now start emailing diane.ohare@flinders.vic.edu.au to register their act, informing Diane of what they will be performing.

Closing date for registrations will be Sunday 4 June.

Students and staff are reminded to send me a link for their backing tracks or a downloaded version on a memory stick by Monday 5 June.

The Sound of Music production will take place at The George Jenkins Theatre, Monash University at their Frankston campus.

Our cast will be performing three shows on the following dates:

Friday 16 June at 7.00pm
Saturday 17 June at 2.00pm and 7.00pm

Tickets are now available for purchase.

Please support our students and staff.

This year, Flinders will be competing at the SIS championships for Theatre sports!

Students will be attending a workshop day to hone their skills, before the championships early next term.

The students and I are really excited for this opportunity and are looking forward to the event!

Please keep them in your prayers as they improvise their way through the challenges.

Peter Davidson

Our Primary School Holiday Workshop will be held from Monday 26 June until Wednesday 28 June from 9.00am until 4.00pm each day.

I am excited to say that we will be learning some of Broadway’s favourite Musical anthems and the choreography to accompany them.

The cost of the workshop will be $250, and families should email diane.ohare@flinders.vic.edu.au in the first instance expressing their interest.

Congratulations to Eden and Cory Vass, Alice Cooper and Chloe Mason who have been cast in the Gateway Theatre production of The Adams Family in the July school holidays.

I am looking forward to watching you all shine!

Diane O’Hare Performing Arts Coordinator

Term 2 is going rapidly with boundless fun, and we are getting busier each day. Please try to book your child in advance as it is hard to get the spot once we are booked out.

Parents, please cancel the booking if your child is not attending the service so the other parents can book their children.