Many of you may have watched the recent Coronation on Saturday 6th and Monday 8th May 2023 when the King and Queen were officially crowned in a very special ceremony at Westminster Abbey. It was an exciting event that lots of people from all around the world attended with many billions more watching it on TV!

I checked my email inbox and my letterbox daily for months, but I never received an invite. Perhaps they accidentally overlooked me or perhaps the reality is that I am no dignitary and have no claim to fame or special whatsoever. Did you get an invite, or do you know anyone that did?

Birthdays are fun. But if it is your birthday, then knowing who to invite can be tough. You don’t want anyone to miss out, but you have a budget and the challenge of finding the right location and then it’s trying to make sure that everyone that comes will like each other and not whinge or complain. Phew. Invitations can be tough to manage!

Author Max Lucado writes and reminds us that to receive an invitation is to be honoured and to be held in high esteem. Perhaps the most amazing invitations are not found in royal envelopes but rather in the Bible itself. Throughout the Bible, God is always issuing us invitations and perhaps if you look hard enough, in nature itself. God invites Eve to marry Adam, the animals to enter the ark, David to be King, Mary to birth his son, Jesus, and the adulterous woman to start over again. God is always opening the door and inviting us to come in and be safe with him. He invites us to feel and know what it is to be loved, forgiven, healed, encouraged, inspired, and filled with purpose. Who does God invite? Everyone!

So, here’s one more thing to remember. You and I can invite God into your world or situation right now. In Revelation 3: 20, God (Jesus) say’s “Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you.”

If I was going to invite someone to my party, it would be Jesus! Now that would be really great fun.

Mr Julian Van Tienen

Head of Primary School

The 6th of May saw our wonder Year 11 students enjoy their Maroon and Gold Ball, an evening that celebrates their journey into Year 12 and ultimately life beyond Flinders. After many hours of rehearsal and some sore feet it made for a wonderful spectacle. Memories were made and lifelong friendships formed.

It was a very proud evening for all involved.

Congratulations!

Sally Bentley

Wednesday 17th May | Wednesday 7th June | Wednesday 21st June

2.30PM - 4PM @ Shade Sails

Friday 26th May

Primary School Gym

Wednesday 31st May - 9am to 11am

Tyabb Campus

Beginner Concert Band

The new Concert Band program is off to a strong start with rehearsals beginning last week during Thursday lunch times. This program invites grade 5 to 7 students to learn a Wood Wind or Brass instrument in weekly lessons with our instrumental staff. These students come together on Thursday's to rehearse a wide range of beginner repertoire in a Concert band. It was a joy to see the students sharing their passion and enthusiasm towards learning an instrument. If you have a child who's interested in playing a Wood Wind or Brass instrument, please email the Head of Performing Arts, Adam Carson, at adam.carson@flinders.vic.edu.au

Thank you

Mr Adam Carson

Head of Performing Arts

Mount Eliza North Primary Music Workshop

Students from the Modern Band joined forces with the Mount Eliza North Primary Concert Band and Senior Band students on Tuesday May 9th for a full day music workshop program.

Students spent the day rehearsing ABBA and Rihanna hits in both full band and sectional settings. This involved a full rhythm section, including eight keyboards, a Wood Wind and brass section, a string section, and two vocalists.

The day ended with a performance to family, friends, and students from MENPS. The Modern Band were also provided the opportunity to showcase their talent and skills to the wider MENPS community through an individual performance. An ideal opportunity for the Flinders Music Department to showcase our programs.

I’d like to congratulate all the students involved on their commitment and enthusiasm. It was a pleasure to see the Flinders students provide support and guidance to the MENPS students.

Thank you

Mr Adam Carson

Head of Performing Arts

Gig Day Friday

Gig Day Friday is back again for term 2 with our talented ensembles, classroom programs, and solo artists performing to the school community during Friday lunch times.

Last week the Primary school put on their dance shoes for a wide variety of top hit charts played by the Brass Hipstas.

We have some exciting performances lined up this term including the Year 9 and Year 10 Music Classroom bands.

Mr Adam Carson

Head of Performing Arts

On Monday the 8th of May, our Year 7's enjoyed their Ancient Rome Incursion. They learned about ancient styles of dress, weaponry, and fighting styles. Some students even got to partake in gladiator battles and dress up in replica armour and clothing. Next up in Humanities, our year 7s will be moving onto a study of Ancient China.

Mr Tim Gordon

Secondary Humanities Teacher

By Emily Sludden, Public Speaking and Debating Captain.

Public speaking is the most common fear in the entire world, yet that didn’t stop the brave students of Flinders Christian Community College last week! On the 5th of May 2023, Flinders Competed in the SIS Public Speaking competition, a yearly tradition for the school.

Led by Miss Davidson, we charged into battle, facing our opponents in two different categories: the prepared speech and the unprepared speech. In the first category, we are given a topic three weeks before the competition to research, write, and practice our speech. In the unprepared category, however, we are taken into a separate room and told our topic five minutes before we are required to present – yes, only five minutes of preparation! For both speeches, we are marked out of 100 points, with 50 allocated for matter (the content and flow of our speech) and 50 for manner (the way in which we present our speech).

At the end of it all, the Flinders team stood with bated breath as the SIS coordinators calculated the scores. It’s a big job as the individual scores need to be tallied up and averaged out, and the school with the highest average wins. It was first announced that not only did our Senior Team win their age division, but that we also took out Highest Overall Unprepared Speaker (myself) and Highest Overall Prepared Speaker (my co-captain, Izzy Molloy)! Our Intermediate and Juniors team both tied for 3rd and 1st place respectively, and we also were awarded Highest Overall Unprepared Speaker for Intermediate (Bethany Irvin).

We are so proud to announce that we took home the shield for the first time in Flinders history, and you could feel the passion and excitement radiating off of not only the team, but the entire school. Overall, everyone across each team did exceptionally well and are not only celebrating their win, but are excited to defend the shield again next year. Bring on SIS Debating next term when I am sure we will have more news to share!

VCAL Update

The VCE / VM students were involved in a Bunnings BBQ on Sunday 7th May. Thank you to the following students for their preparation and fund raising efforts. Harry Fleming, Jack Buckley, Toby Meyer, Claudia Quiggin and Olivia Simpson.

A special thanks to Mrs. McLoughlin for giving up her Sunday and for helping with the planning, organisation and for everything that she does for the students.

On Thursday 25th May, the students will be heading to the Salvation Army Headquarters in Melbourne and would like to make a donation to this amazing organisation. Any of the items listed in the below download link, would be greatly appreciated. If you can help please drop in the items at the front reception area or email me at andrew.bylart@flinders.vic.edu.au

Thanking you

Andrew Bylart

VCAL Coordinator

As a part of the Outdoor Explore subject, our students had the opportunity to participate in snorkeling at Portsea. They had great fun, getting to experience some beautiful sea life.

On the 10th May our Duke of Ed students travelled up to the Great Ocean Road, in order to gain their Bronze award.

Dear Farm Friends,

We hope this newsletter finds you in high spirits, ready to embark on a journey through the bountiful happenings at our beloved farm. It's time to roll up our sleeves, put on our boots, and dive into the delightful tales of sheep, chickens, vibrant gardens, and curious minds.

Sheep and Chicken Shenanigans: Our farm has been buzzing with the joyous laughter and abundant care bestowed upon our woolly friends and clucking companions. Students have reveled in nurturing and bonding with the sheep and chickens, forming deep connections with these gentle creatures. From feeding and grooming to engaging in playful frolics, it's been a heartwarming experience for all involved.

Garden Galore: Our garden has become a vibrant haven of growth and discovery, captivating both young and old. The tireless efforts of our students have resulted in bountiful harvests of various delectable treasures. Can you imagine the taste explosion as they savoured the fresh beans, juicy tomatoes, crisp celery, fragrant parsley, earthy sage, nutritious broccoli, delightful snow peas, and luscious Asian greens? And let's not forget the refreshing crunch of cucumbers and the versatile zucchini that graced our plates. The Grade 1 students, in particular, were thrilled to discover just how green their tongues could get while exploring the textures and flavours of the herbs and vegetables.

Blooming Beauties: But it's not just the vegetables that are flourishing on our farm. The vibrant colours and delicate petals of our flower garden have been a sight to behold. Petunias, snapdragons, and violets have burst into an explosion of hues, adding a touch of elegance and whimsy to our surroundings. Their presence invites bees and butterflies, spreading a sense of joy and wonder.

We eagerly await the enchanting sight of foxgloves and hollyhocks in full bloom. Though they are still growing tall and strong, their flowers are yet to grace us with their presence. But fret not, dear friends, for patience is the key to witnessing the marvels of nature unfold before our very eyes.

Explorers of Nature: Our young explorers have delved deeper into the wonders of the farm, embracing every opportunity to connect with nature. One memorable adventure involved collecting earthworms that were washed into the drains after the storms. With wide-eyed curiosity, the students carefully relocated these wiggly inhabitants to their new homes in the garden. Witnessing the awe and joy on their faces was truly a testament to the magic of learning in nature's embrace.


As we bid farewell to this edition of our farm newsletter, let's remember to cherish the moments spent in the company of our beloved animals, the joys of harvesting and savouring nature's bounty, and the invaluable lessons learned through hands-on exploration.


With Hearty Farm Regards,

Siobhan Morris

Agricultural Studies

Mother’s Day High Tea @ The Joshua Centre

Last week we hosted a Mother's Day High Tea event to celebrate and honour the amazing mothers and grandmothers in our Joshua Centre community. The event was a great success with delicious treats & beautiful decorations made by the students. It was wonderful to come together in joy, appreciation and love. Students opened the event with a beautiful prayer for mothers. Students also prepared a special video message for their mothers to watch whilst enjoying afternoon tea. Well done to all of our students who put so much effort into the event and worked as a team to make this a delightful event. An enormous thank you to one of our mums, Sally Martin, who was instrumental in helping the JC team prepare and cater for the event.

Thank you

Joshua Centre Team

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