Futurum #62, Winter 2018

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL NO. 62 WINTER 2018

THE CRAZY SUCCESS OF OUR SECONDARY SCHOOL MUSICAL

AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME: THE 2018 CULTURAL TOUR SEESAW: STUDENT DRIVEN DIGITAL PORTFOLIOS IN JUNIOR SCHOOL OUR NEW SCHOOL CANTEEN AND CAFÉ

CONTENTS ISSUE 62 WINTER 2018

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

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ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

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ST PAUL’S ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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FOCUSSING ON LITERACY IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL

52 Taylor Rd, Cranebrook NSW 2749 Locked Bag 8016, Penrith NSW 2751 Australia

CONTACT ST PAUL’S T: +61 2 4777 4888 E: info@stpauls.nsw.edu.au www.stpauls.nsw.edu.au

2018 TERM DATES Term 3 Term 4

Tuesday 24 July to Friday 28 September Tuesday 16 October to Thursday 6 December

SECONDARY SCHOOL MUSICAL: CRAZY FOR YOU

STAFF PROFILE: CHRISTINA PENNA

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2018 CULTURAL TOUR

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IB FILM PROJECT: BEHIND THE SCENES

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MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS’ HIGH TEA SEESAW: STUDENT DRIVEN DIGITAL PORTFOLIOS IN JUNIOR SCHOOL

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NEW CAFÉ AND CANTEEN

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GENERATIONS OF GOOD(E) AT ST PAUL’S

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FUN IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN

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ST PAUL’S COMMUNITY: NEW BABIES

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ALUMNI: SALLY ANDREWS

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT UPDATE

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMME: 20 YEAR REUNION

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FIND ST PAUL’S ONLINE /stpaulsgrammar

/stpaulsgrammar

FUTURUM ONLINE www.stpauls.nsw.edu.au/community/ futurum-magazine

EDITORS

DESIGN

Catherine Corry Sharon Mallin

Boheem

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY

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FAMILY PROFILE: MCHATTAN FAMILY

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IMAGES Sally Andrews, Matt Berg, Lauren Cullimore, Lester Dillon, Sharon Mallin, Josh and Rachel McHattan, Kymberlie Newby, Lachlan Paterson from Paterson Event Photography, Charles Qian, Sarah Robinson, Robert Storrie, Katy Whale, SPGS Students

CONTRIBUTORS Sally Andrews, Matthew Berg, Peter Corry, Lester Dillon, Brenda Goode, Kim Hellyer, Fiona Ingold, Karen Keogh, Sharon Mallin, Josh and Rachel McHattan, Christina Penna, Robert Storrie, Jacqueline Tuting, Mandy Turner, Ian Wake, Linda Weeks, Emma Wynne-Jones, Dee Xiao, SPGS Students, SPGS Parents

CONTACT Email: futurum@stpauls.nsw.edu.au

COVER IMAGE Secondary School Musical: “Crazy for You”

BACK COVER IMAGE Before and after of the gardens in front of the new School Canteen

CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS OR CONTACT DETAILS? Email: info@stpauls.nsw.edu.au

CRICOS 02267A

EDITOR’S COMMENT Welcome to your Winter 2018 Futurum.

The opportunities and experiences that students at St Paul’s Grammar School are offered are truly remarkable. Cultural tours, that take students on a learning journey through some of the most amazing destinations and landmarks in Europe. Spectacular productions like our Secondary School musical, “Crazy for You”, where students can actively participate and be involved either on the stage, behind-the-scenes or in the orchestra. Events that provide students and their parents the time and opportunity to reflect, connect and communicate, such as the “Mothers and Daughters High Tea” event. We hope that our students continue to embrace and participate in these and many other wonderful opportunities at our school.

We are also very thankful to our staff, who go above and beyond, to make St Paul’s such a unique, rich and diverse school. At St Paul’s Grammar School, we are very blessed.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Welcome to another edition of Futurum. One of the strong themes that radiates through the following pages is the importance of community at St Paul’s.

You probably have often heard me speak around this theme on numerous occasions. A strong and vibrant community, I believe, provides a foundation for a safe and supportive environment, in which effective holistic education can occur.

An environment where students, parents and staff can partner together in the exciting journey of education. An environment where individuals feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.

An environment that encourages all of us to be challenged, to take risks, to make a difference in this world and look out for the needs of others.

When I first arrived at St Paul’s at the start of 2016, a strong sense of community was one of the major aspects of the school that was evident. Students had confidence in their abilities and interacted healthily with each other and the adults around them, parents strongly supported the school and contributed significantly to the work of the school and staff genuinely cared for their students and were committed to facilitating a dynamic learning environment.

All of these wonderful aspects of our school are still strongly evident today.

As you look through the articles that follow in this publication, you can see the outworking of a strong school community.

Families who are committed to the ongoing work of the school, students who are involved in a myriad of activities and constantly find ways to serve the community, staff who go above and beyond that of what is typically expected in a school environment. Then of course, you can see the resulting product; past students who have graduated from St Paul’s and have achieved incredible things. It seems that not a week goes

past where I do not hear of some of the amazing accomplishments of our alumni. Young women and men who have reached the peak of their chosen fields, who have served our community in so many different ways and have realised their ambitions of making a difference in our world.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Futurum and that you are inspired and motivated to continue to contribute to the ongoing growth and development of our unique

and special community at St Paul’s.

God has greatly blessed our school and we give Him all the glory.

Ian Wake

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1:17

ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL

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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE...

WINTER 2018 15 & 16 AUGUST School Photographs

20 SEPTEMBER Duffy Medal

29 SEPTEMBER Valedictory Dinner — Class of 2018 19 NOVEMBER Ovations — Drama Academy Showcase

21 & 22 SEPTEMBER Junior School Musical

20 OCTOBER Friends of St Paul’s Colour Run 26 NOVEMBER Year 10 Formal

6 DECEMBER Secondary School 6 Presentation Assembly

NUMBER OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT ST PAUL’S IS ACTIVE ON:

9 NOVEMBER Sojourn — Dance Academy Showcase

30 NOVEMBER Christmas Celebration

6 DECEMBER Junior School Presentation Assembly

SPGS SOCIAL MEDIA

28 SEPTEMBER Year 12 Farewell Celebrations

4 DECEMBER Year 6 Celebration Evening 6 DECEMBER Presentation Evening 2018 (Years 5–11)

AS AT 1/5/2018

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SPGS INSTAGRAM

AVERAGE NUMBER OF POSTS PER DAY:

SPGS FACEBOOK

515

2,756

240

66%

6

590

FOLLOWERS

TOTAL POSTS

MONTHS ACTIVE

3

OF WHICH ARE FEMALES

LIKES

34%

OF WHICH ARE MALES

AVERAGE PAGE VIEWS PER WEEK

While our Facebook page continues to be the main platform where we share important news items and events with the school community, we are enjoying sharing images and short videos with our Instagram followers to convey the rich and diverse experiences our students encounter everyday here at St Paul’s.

Remember to ‘like’ us on Facebook and ‘follow’ along on Instagram:

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/stpaulsgrammar |

/stpaulsgrammar

FOCUSSING ON LITERACY IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL This year marks the inaugural implementation of both the Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) and Peer Reading Mentor programmes in the Secondary School.

All students are encouraged to bring a book from home, withdraw from the school library or to take a text from the book box that has been placed in every tutor room. Feedback from staff and students has been very positive; everyone is clearly loving the calm start to the day that reading brings.

DEAR provides a period during tutor group on Wednesday and Friday mornings, where students and staff ‘drop everything and read’. This gives an opportunity for students to develop their literacy skills by reading something of interest individually, or through students reading and discussing something as a group. During this time, some students participate in the Peer Reading Mentor programme. This programme has been designed to assist students in Years 7-9 to consolidate their reading skills by partnering with and reading aloud to a Year 11 student mentor. This happens in the Secondary School Library.

The implementation of our reading programmes has been truly embraced by staff and students and it has been amazing to support and witness both the literary development of these students, and the compassion and support that the students display for each other, particularly in the Peer Reading Mentor programme.

Students in the Peer Reading Mentor programme have expressed gratitude that their mentors have been so helpful and friendly, in what began as a very daunting experience. Whether you are a strong reader or not, it can be difficult to feel confident reading to someone else.

“I think that peer reading is a great programme.” said one student. “It helps kids to feel more comfortable when they read out loud and to bond with other year groups.”

“My mentor helped me heaps!” said another, “I don’t really like to read, but it is helping me improve my English and understanding.”

If you have any questions about these programmes, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Wynne-Jones (Head of English) or Mr Berg (Head of Learning Enrichment). If you are visiting school on a Wednesday or Friday morning, bring a book and join us in reading at St. Paul’s.

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SECONDARY SCHOOL MUSICAL:

CRAZY FOR YOU This year St Paul’s brought to the stage a wildly entertaining, all-singing, all-dancing, “tap-tastic” show — “Crazy for You.” The school’s iconic Centre was transformed into a dazzling theatre venue to stage an outstanding presentation to mark ten years since St Paul’s Secondary School has presented a musical. The staff and students enthusiastically took the opportunity to bring to the school community a show with a classic blend of music, hilarity, dancing and romance that showcased George and Ira Gershwins’ standards in all their glorious splendour.

The theatrical performance highlighted the strong arts culture here at St Paul’s and the talent of our students who have skilfully mastered the complex choreography of Susan Stroman, something that very few Secondary Schools would ever attempt.

“Crazy for You” presents a classic story of a zany rich-boy-meetshometown-girl romantic comedy. It tells the story of young New York banker, Bobby Child, who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre. In Deadrock, Bobby falls for spunky Polly Baker, the theatre owner’s daughter. But Polly takes an instant dislike to the city slicker, so Bobby vows (through cunning, razzmatazz and a hilarious case of mistaken identity) to win Polly’s heart and save the theatre.

Memorable Gershwin tunes from the score included “I Got Rhythm,” “Naughty Baby,” “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” “Embraceable You,” “But Not for Me,”

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“Nice Work if You Can Get It,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me”. These were performed by the Crazy for You® Orchestra, which comprised of current staff, ex-staff, current students, ex-students as well as local community professional musicians.

St Paul’s Creative Arts students sang and danced beautifully and all of the performances were warmly received by the audiences.

Congratulations to all staff and students involved.

Jacqueline Tuting Director

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SALLY ANDREWS St Paul’s Alumna Sally Andrews graduated from St Paul’s in 2011, as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Dux. She was also the School Vice-Captain.

In 2017, Sally graduated with a Bachelor of International and Global Studies / Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.

Sally was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in March 2018 and is a Policy Adviser in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

What was your favourite subject at school? Why? My favourite subject was International Baccalaureate Diploma History. It was quite an intense and rigorous course covering the major wars and European dictatorships of the last two centuries. It also covered less mainstream topics such as the Spanish Civil War and the Chinese Civil War. Having a solid understanding of Chinese history in particular, has been incredibly valuable in my later life.

Who inspired you growing up?

I was inspired by my aunt, Shelley Houghton, who during most of my childhood, was living up in West Papua and working for Uniting World (the aid and development branch of the Uniting Church in Australia). My aunt has spent her life working with disadvantaged communities. She is a very committed Christian and she exemplifies for me the way that one person can make a real difference in the world.

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Describe your typical week.

During my working hours, I assist with a range of tasks such as preparing advice, writing legislation and liaising with various stakeholders in our department and beyond. Quite often this will involve a fair bit of running around Canberra to attend meetings with other departments and chase up issues at Parliament House.

I go running or rock climbing most afternoons, I often play music at church and I play piano accordion at a weekly Irish session at my local pub.

Where do you see yourself headed in the future?

I hope to move into working on international policy in the future, focusing on Australia’s relationship with Southeast Asia and the Pacific. I can see myself doing a Masters in this area in a few years’ time, perhaps whilst concurrently working for the government. I would love to work overseas again and I certainly have my heart set on getting a role with the United Nations one day.

How did school help consolidate your career path?

What challenges have you encountered? How did you overcome them?

I did my Extended Essay in IB History focusing on the role of the Dutch, the United States of America, and the United Nations in the annexation of West Papua.

That essay was an absolute watershed moment for me. It ignited my passion for human rights and international law and has very much shaped the direction of my career and studies.

I had problems with my mental health during the latter years of law school, where the anxiety of trying to get top marks and applying for jobs was quite debilitating at times. I was eventually able to manage the problem by attending counselling, getting the right medication and going hiking a couple times per month. I also became sick

with typhoid during my exchange in Indonesia — recovering from that, both physically and mentally, was really tough.

I persevered with my studies though by taking each day at a time and building strong routines.

Have you travelled since leaving St Paul’s? If so — where, and how has this influenced you as a person?

I travelled to Jakarta when I was first learning Indonesian and became awfully sick with amoebic dysentery. I interned in Papua New Guinea and was attacked by a dog. I then lived in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for six months, during which I was hit by a car and then got typhoid.

I also went viral as an Indonesian rapping celebrity, climbed the tallest mountain in Java, rode a horse round the crater of a live volcano, and took a selfie with a Komodo dragon. These experiences have made me more resilient as a person, and more passionate about improving Australia’s engagement with the Asia-Pacific.

In 2017 I worked in New York as an intern to the Australian Mission to the United Nations. This was an utterly amazing time in which I walked to the UN every day, sat in the Security Council with world leaders like Theresa May and Mike Pence, befriended other young interns from all over the world, scrabbled for cheap theatre tickets at Broadway, and played accordion at Irish sessions all over the city. It was an amazing moment to be able to give my parents a personal tour of the UN. It has made me even more determined to get back to work at the UN one day.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at St Paul’s?

I have great memories from the St Paul’s Creative Writing Camps. There would be classic novels and books of poetry and musical instruments all over the place.

It was a great atmosphere for kids who loved English to flourish and to socialise with people from all different year groups who just loved writing.

What is one piece of advice for current St Paul’s students?

The theologian Frederick Buechner says that “the place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

My advice to current St Paul’s students is along the same lines — try to find something you can be passionate about that helps others.

It does not have to be human rights law — I have a friend who designs smartphone games in which a cut of the sales goes towards a Nepalese aid agency. If you can find that overarching goal or purpose that motivates you AND helps others, it becomes so much easier to get through subjects, activities or jobs that you do not enjoy as much.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT UPDATE Charles Qian, one of our International Students, graduated from St Paul’s in 2015. He is currently in his second year at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), studying a double major of Mathematics and Statistics.

Charles completed an internship in the quantization department at a securities company in his first year at university, and is currently preparing to seek another internship at an investment company. He is also assisting UCLA’s laboratory in an upcoming project.

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMME – 20 YEAR REUNION On Saturday 21 October, 2017 we celebrated the St Paul’s International Student Programme with the 20 Year Reunion.

It was a wonderful afternoon celebrating the significance this programme holds at our school. Past and current international students and their families enjoyed reminiscing and building connections, along with past and present St Paul’s staff.

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GRANDPARENTS’ DAY St Paul’s Grammar School has been hosting Grandparents’ Day for over 25 years. It is a wonderful opportunity for grandparents to come to school with their grandchildren for the day, to see them in their classes and to find out what is happening in and around their school.

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This year, on March 2, we welcomed over 620 grandparents to the school. We had many grandparents who had travelled from interstate and overseas, from countries such as New Zealand, China, Albania, India and Austria, to be with us.

We also held a Book Fair in the Junior School Inquiry Centre. Following the classroom visits, grandparents ended their special day with a catered lunch, which they were able to enjoy with their grandchildren in the grounds of the school.

Grandparents began their day attending a gala concert, which showcased musical, drama and dance performances by students. Following the concert, our special guests then enjoyed a delicious morning tea before having the opportunity to visit the classrooms with their grandchild. It was wonderful to see so many grandparents immersing themselves in a 21st century education with their beloved grandchildren.

Grandparents’ Day is a very important date in our school calendar. It is an event that everyone in the St Paul’s community highly values and always enjoys, which is evident by the record numbers in attendance this year. We are looking forward to 2019 already.

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Family Profile: The McHattan Family Josh and Rachel McHattan grew up in the local area and had always heard great things about St Paul’s.

They share with us some of the things that they value about our school.

Who is the McHattan family?

The McHattan’s are a family of four comprising of Rachel (mum, wife and Kindergarten school teacher), Josh (dad, husband and Asia Pacific Product Leader in the medical research field) and two daughters, Sienna (aged 7, music and reading enthusiast) and Scarlett (aged 5, obsessed with horses — “No, we are not getting one!”).

Where have you lived previously?

Our first home was in Cranebrook.

Five years ago, we made the journey across the Northern Road to build a home in Jordan Springs.

How do you like to spend time together as a family?

We regularly take our bikes and scooters out to enjoy the parks and open spaces in Jordan Springs.

Friday night is homemade family pizza night. We relax with a family movie and enjoy baking with the girls.

Why did you choose to send your children to St Paul’s?

We value that the school is accredited in the International Baccalaureate programme, which provides choices for our daughters. We appreciate that the curriculum is based on a student-led enquiry model, allowing students to be responsible for their learning.

St Paul’s has a very welcoming community, facilitated by the great teaching staff whose values align with our own. Our girls have interests in music, singing, dancing and equestrian, all of which are catered for at St Paul’s. Also, being a Pre K to Year 12 school, we feel is a real bonus.

What are the things you engage with at St Paul’s that you really value as a family?

We value that St Paul’s gives students a sense of the world around them, encouraging them to participate and contribute positively to help others.

There is a real sense of inclusiveness and engagement from all the staff, students and other families, which makes us and others in the school community feel welcome.

What are some of things your children enjoy at St Paul’s?

“We enjoy making new friends, learning new things with help from our teachers, the afternoon hip-hop dancing class and spending time in the great library.”

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Our girls also enjoy the family orientated events including Grandparents Day and the end-of-year Christmas Celebration.

One of the highlights of the year for our family is the fun-filled Gala Day. What are some things you find challenging as parents (or as a family)?

Finding time, in general, to appreciate family, friends and those things which are important to us.

Josh’s job requires a lot of travel, which means that the family time we have is even more special. As our daughters get older, managing the fast-paced adoption of social media and general online activities to ensure we keep our children safe is both a responsibility and challenge that is a priority to us.

What has been a highlight for your family so far in 2018?

Scarlett starting kindergarten and watching both our girls flourish and grow have been real highlights this year.

What is your family looking forward to in 2018/2019?

We have booked a family trip to Walt Disney World in Florida at the end of year in the Christmas holidays. Each morning, we get an update on the ‘Countdown to Disney’ calendar to the number of days to go. Mickey here we come!

Staff Profile

CHRISTINA PENNA How long have you worked at St Paul’s?

In Bungendore, which is a little country town outside Canberra. Then I moved to Sydney for university, then Brisbane, then back again to Sydney.

parts. It makes me see how precious and complex each human soul is, and how little moments of positivity through our day get us through. This drives me to try to get to know my students’ minds and how they work, so I can adapt content better to their needs, and ultimately, try to make their experience with the content a positive one.

Tell us about your journey to becoming a teacher.

How does your faith influence your role as a teacher?

I went through so many different career ideas, and started studying most of them in university too. Underlying all of the attempts was a feeling of restlessness, a feeling that I was not in the place where I was meant to be, and a restlessness.

When I finally got started on the route to becoming a teacher, the difficulties were wholesome and transforming rather than restless and incorrect, so I knew that I was where I was meant to be.

It sustains my love for the students and therefore my core motivation to be a teacher.

I began working here at the start of Term 1, 2018.

Where did you grow up?

Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher?

Yes, as a kid. I loved ‘teaching’ my brothers about logic puzzles. (I now see that I probably taught them patience more than logic puzzles). When I went to Year 11 and 12, I tried other options, as I listened too much to the opinions of my school friends and did not think properly about my true motivations.

But teaching chased me down!

As an educator, what inspires you?

Seeing students go through their daily lives, filled with good parts and tough

It also keeps me working hard through the tricky times as I know that I do not need to expect appreciation from humans if I am loved unconditionally by God. As a student, what was your favourite subject at school? Why? Definitely Maths. It is structured, logical, and creative. You can make links between different areas and it is consistently true, and you can solve problems in many different ways, but there is always only a right or wrong answer. Many people think it is just a bunch of arbitrary rules but it is not; no more than saying that 3 baskets full of 10 apples gives you 30 apples (3x10=30). Maths people didn’t decide that, logic did. We just used our number system’s symbols to notate and describe what is happening. It is the same with algebra. There is no other way to ‘do’ algebra; no one ‘invented’ how it works, it is just the way numbers work, except without writing the numbers there. If we pull apart the ‘rules’ and investigate, we will see why it makes so much sense.

As a student, what was your least favourite subject at school? Why? English. I didn’t understand whether my ‘theories’ about certain books or poems were right or wrong; and if they were wrong, then what decided that they should be wrong? I did not like the unpredictable nature of studying it.

In saying that, I LOVE analysing books and poems. I probably have it all wrong, but I will never know because there is no teacher to mark it.

What do you enjoy about St Paul’s?

The students here are good hearted and full of character, and the staff that I have come to know are some of the most exceptionally talented, hardworking, patient and selfless people I have met, with their great sense of humour. I could not have asked for a better staff group to join. When I first visited St Paul’s I had a strong conviction I would join the community.

Tell us about your family.

My parents are Italian. They had five kids, I am the second eldest. My older sister is a doctor and lives in Forster. My younger brother is a landscaper and fixes motorbikes, and the brother below him is in Year 11 at a local school and wants to run away to Spain. My youngest sister is in Year 6. They are all very loud.

What hobbies do you enjoy?

Ideally, I would be canyoning every weekend, but it requires equipment and time. I love the gym, hiking, rock climbing and a bit of downhill mountain biking.

Basically, everything outdoors except for surfing because the ocean scares me.

I also play piano and guitar and started playing soccer recently, which is good fun.

What is your favourite verse in the Bible? Why? 2 Corinthians 12:9. ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ I love this because God tells us that not only is weakness okay but in fact it is necessary. If we were not weak, we would never learn to lean on God, and then we would never know that He actually is alive and strong. An analogy is human relationships — we cannot truly know how much someone loves us until we show our vulnerabilities to them.

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EUROPEAN 2018 CULTURAL TOUR Since the inaugural Cultural Tour in 2008, through the continued support of the School Board and the Principal, numerous students have had the benefit of participating in the St Paul’s Grammar School Cultural Tour.

Participating students have engaged in many learning experiences beyond the world of St Paul’s and its surrounds and for many, it is one of the highlights of their schooling. The tour allows students to reflect on their learning, understanding and place in the world.

subjects as possible and students were regularly encouraged to be engaged with the broader cultural aspects of the tour, as well as more subject specific connections. If all of the places visited were listed, this article would become very long!

The 2018 Cultural Tour enabled students from Year 9 and 10 to travel to England, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain where they visited and experienced numerous places of cultural and historic significance (together with some playtime at Disneyland, Paris, mask-painting in Venice and cooking classes in Florence and Barcelona). As always, there were direct links to the curriculum in as many

The focus of the tour is not only on the academic, but also on the pastoral.

Students, with guidance from the teachers, have incredible opportunities to develop independence and maturity.

Learning to live in a community, organise belongings, washing and money, and to exercise high levels of responsibility becomes a pivotal point of learning to be responsible, young adults. Spending

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four weeks away from home, sharing rooms with others and having to be on time and up-to-date with each day’s proceedings are vital for those travelling.

For the teachers, it is a privilege to be entrusted with the students and to watch them develop new skills and grow in their understanding of the world.

We were often complimented on the excellence of the students’ behaviour.

They were fine ambassadors for their school and families.

As the tour continues to change with the times, it is delightful to be able to connect with the school community through my.stpauls, Facebook and Instagram.

HERE ARE SOME COMMENTS FROM TWO STUDENTS WHO REFLECTED ABOUT THE TOUR: “This trip has been an eye opening and amazing experience for me … [it] was jam-packed with only a few moments to rest while visiting six countries within four weeks! A few of the highlights for me were: trying so many different foods; “MAMMA MIA” even though I had seen it a couple weeks prior in Sydney, visiting Venice … so, so stunning, the water and boats, as well as the rainbow buildings, were so beautiful and there was a picture opportunity around every corner! …

Roaming around Rome was pretty cool too. Italy overall was amazing and my favourite. Paris was also another favourite of mine with the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe obviously being a hit. Having so many guided tours at each destination allowed for me to learn about the interesting history and cultures of the sites and cities.

The trip has allowed me to learn more about the friends around me, the teachers and parents who came along and the other students on the tour in my grade and the grade below me with whom I had no contact with before. Only this trip would have allowed me to create these friendships and stronger bonds with my close friends. … Overall, thank you to my family for sending me on the trip and the teachers for guiding us around. The trip has been life changing and has allowed me to create memories that I’ll be able to remember forever. From the trip, I hope to return to Europe, someday soon, to be able to see the sights again.”

Olivia-Adelaide Locke-Stevens, Year 10

“The St Paul’s Grammar School Cultural Tour 2018, was an exciting and fulfilling experience that really showed me just how little I knew of the world. During the Easter Holidays, forty-four students from Year 9 and 10 left Sydney with three teachers to tour Europe and get a taste of the history, the atmosphere and food of Europe. During this time, we went nearly everywhere that comes to mind when one thinks of Europe. London Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, the Brandenburg Gate and many more places!

This trip was very fast paced and was sometimes very hard to keep up with.

One day we would be throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain and by lunchtime the next day we would be in Barcelona. This is one of the aspects that I found slightly challenging but also exciting at the same time. This was because I didn’t like the constant rush of trying to cram as much into a day as possible, but I loved every minute of the limited time to ourselves that we had to look around.

As we got further into the trip, I noticed how everyone from Year 9 and 10 had comfortably accepted and befriended each other.

I liked this part the most because the friendships that we made while travelling have continued on in school this term.”

Alex Seppelt, Year 9 ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL 15

IB FILM PROJECT – BEHIND THE SCENES Late last year, we released “Our History, Our Future”, a short film that acknowledged the rich history of St Paul’s Grammar School.

It reinforced that our founders had bold dreams allowing us, as a school, to look to the future with confidence and excitement.

In March we invited Hugh Clark, a professional filmmaker, back to St Paul’s to work on the next three films in the series.

These films focus on the International Baccalaureate (IB) at St Paul’s, and specifically showcase each of the IB programmes offered at our school: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP).

Filming for this project took place over four days and was coordinated by the Office of Enrolments and Public Relations.

The week commenced with two days of filming in the Secondary School, followed by a day in Junior School. There was also a day of formal interviews, which involved some of the staff of St Paul’s and also alumni students. It was a big undertaking, which took a great deal of planning, preparation and cooperation.

In total, the filming project schedule incorporated fourteen Secondary School classes, nine Junior School classes and seven formal interviews. We appreciated the support of our staff and students during filming week.

We hope you enjoy a few of the behind-the-scenes photographs.

St Paul’s offers a continuum of IB education from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12. It has offered the DP since 1990, and was the first NSW School to offer the PYP and MYP in 2003. Since 2006, approximately half of the St Paul’s Senior School students have studied the IB Diploma, and half have studied the HSC.

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ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL 17

MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS’ HIGH TEA St Paul’s Grammar School is committed to partnering with our parents and facilitating events that help reinforce positive relationships between parents and their adolescent children.

Over the past five years, the school has organised and hosted breakfast events for Year 7 and Year 8 students and their parents, rotating between mothers and fathers with their sons and daughters. This year we decided to align the mother and daughter event with Mother’s Day, and change it from breakfast to a high tea.

This wonderful event took place on May 11, 2018, and was hosted by our Senior Girl Captains, Emma Bryant and Lena Xia. We were delighted to welcome Kelly-Ann Cummings as our guest speaker. Kelly-Ann facilitates a programme called ‘Curriculum for Living’, which she has built and designed from over ten years of coaching and mentoring experience.

Kelly-Ann spoke about ‘The Power of Now’, focussing on the power of our language through group conversations and visual stimulus. She also outlined the importance of developing a positive mindset and reducing stress and anxiety. Kelly-Ann then provided guidance to our students suggesting some practical steps that could be taken to address anxiety. The girls then had

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the opportunity to reflect and talk through the importance of self-care with their mothers, in response to what they had heard from Kelly-Ann and how they could make time to look after themselves and prioritise their wellbeing.

A photo booth corner and some other fun group activities, where the girls could support and encourage each other, made for a memorable afternoon.

Thank you to our Year 11 Hospitality students and their teachers, Mrs Helen Michalski and Mrs Jenny Moulds, for the delicious high tea that was served to the 200 mothers and daughters who attended this event. Thank you also to our Middle School Prefect Girls, for their assistance in welcoming our guests and for graciously serving the food.

Our Year 7 and Year 8 boys will take part in a father and son breakfast event, to celebrate Fathers’ Day, later this year on August 30, 2018.

What did you enjoy about the High Tea? MUMS: “The High Tea was a lovely break in the day to spend time with my daughter, and enjoy easy conversation and fabulous food that was prepared by St Paul’s students.”

Brenda DAUGHTERS: “Spending time doing activities with my mum. These activities included bingo and sharing the lovely food that the TAS staff and students made for us. I also enjoyed the activity where we were taught by the presenter how to use more positive communication styles and techniques.”

Maddie

What was the topic covered at the High Tea? Why was it important?

MUMS:

“High tea focussed on self-care, and being kind to ourselves and others in the language we use.

The event was a wonderful celebration of the mother-daughter relationship and highly worthwhile. I particularly loved hearing the “pearls of wisdom” from the couple of mums who spoke.

Within the room there were many wonderful ideas and thoughts worth sharing and reflecting on.”

Bronwyn “How the different words we use really affect the way we portray different feelings to people and we need to be conscious of this, especially with our girls. Mothers all need to take time out, even if it is only fifteen minutes, to enjoy something we like.”

Monique DAUGHTERS:

“I learnt how the words that I choose to use have an effect on everyone.”

Charlotte “The impact of words. It was important because people often say things that can hurt others and make them stressed, upset or annoyed. It is important to learn how to control what we say and say things that will make people feel loved and happy.

Also, the way we talk to ourselves is very important as it can either lift us up or bring us down.”

Ariana ST PAUL’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL 19

SEESAW:

STUDENT DRIVEN DIGITAL PORTFOLIOS IN JUNIOR SCHOOL It has been a wonderful start to the year in the Junior School, particularly with the official launch of Seesaw, an online digital portfolio that allows students and teachers to capture and document their daily learning experiences.

Students have opportunities to demonstrate what they have been learning in class and capture those ‘ah ha!’ moments of understanding. These include specialist lessons, excursions and even camps. It is all part of the learning journey.

Families who have connected to the

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Seesaw app, get a personalised window into their child’s school day.

Seesaw now replaces the hard copy of student portfolios from Kindergarten to Year 6. It has been very exciting seeing students, teachers and families embrace the technology and the broad opportunities that are presented with such an initiative. Staff enjoy the freedom that a digital portfolio brings and the ease with which students can share what they are learning, as well as the work of which they are proud.

I have found that using Seesaw is highly motivational for students on many different levels, across all grades because it gives them a voice and a platform to ‘show off’ what they are doing while engaging

with technology. As a community, we can celebrate student learning with them!

I believe the implementation and use of Seesaw across the Junior School has been very successful.

Many parents have told me how much they love Seesaw, as it has allowed them a window into what their children are doing and learning in class. It provides opportunities for them to have discussions, with their children, at home or in the car about what they have experienced, rather than hearing the “oh, nothing!” response to the age-old question, “what did you do at school today?”

Robert Storrie Junior School Teacher and ICT Integrator

HERE ARE SOME QUOTES FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL COMMUNITY REGARDING SEESAW: “I find it really good to see pictures and videos of the kids doing stuff in class and on excursions on the same day — I can talk to them about it on school pick up. A great resource!”

Mary Halaka, mother of Marco (2B) and Lucinda (6H)

“This is what I like about Seesaw.

I like that it is technology based and that my parents can see what I’m doing everyday fast. And after school when they ask me questions I can remember it instead having to wait a semester and forgetting about something.”

Ella Jacob, Year 6

“I love the Seesaw app. The children get very excited to show me what they are doing during the day, and it gives me an insight as to what they’re doing. I really like that they can load things they’re interested in showing me too.”

Amanda Stevanovic, mother of Nicholas (6H), Alexandra (4B), Anastasia (3H) and Amelia (PreK)

“Seesaw’s great potential in our class is to invite an authentic and highly valued audience into our daily learning — parents! The app allows a more authentic insight into the varied ways children learn in modern classrooms.”

Zac Abela, Year 6 Teacher

“I love Seesaw because you take videos and pictures and send it to your mum and dad.”

Harrison Dunn, Year 1

“I think Seesaw is great because if you forget what you have done in school your parents will know and they can talk about it with you. You also can see other people’s stuff.”

Isaac Krebs, Year 3

“I love Seesaw because our mums and dads can see what we’ve been doing at school.”

Victoria Dunn, Year 3

Year 1 are really excited about Seesaw. An example of how we use it is when Year 1 visited the Kurrajong Radio Museum. Pairs of children had an iPad and were free to take photographs using the camera feature. The students returned to school, selected the photos that they wanted to use and uploaded them.

They then used Spark Video to reflect on their learning experience. The videos were shared with the class and then uploaded to parents. In the space of an hour the class had recorded, reflected and reported. Parents saw what we had been doing during the day, teachers had talked with students and assessed their learning, all while they were having a great learning time!

Anne Rogers and Stephen Ongley, Year 1 Teachers

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NEW CAFÉ AND CANTEEN St Paul’s Grammar School is happy to announce the completion of a new School Canteen and Saints Café.

The idea for this project came as a response to a need to bring together two canteens into one central location, easily accessible to students and staff from Junior School and Secondary School as well as parents and the St Paul’s community.

The construction and outfitting of the new building was an interesting and challenging journey for the Facilities Department. We were supporting the building company Zac Homes in overseeing the project but also participating practically in different stages of the project. It has been great watching part of the school’s history being built and feeling a sense of community and belonging as we have worked together 22 FUTURUM WINTER 2018

with Zac Homes and other community school sponsors such as Western Suburbs Concrete, DX & RJ Woods Earthmoving, Nastasi & Associates, Richard Hogan & Co, Wallace Concrete Pumping, Bay Gallery Furniture, Morgan’s Coffee Roasters and 2773 Glenbrook.

The Facilities Department would like to thank everyone who was involved in this project and we hope to have another opportunity to work together in improving the facilities and making St Paul’s a place that serves not only students and staff but also the wider St Paul’s community.

Lester Dillen Facilities Manager

In 2017, Mr Wake convened a Canteen Advisory Committee to advise on the changes brought about by the construction of the new café.

This team of staff and parent representatives worked collegially on the development of a new menu for both the Café and the Canteen as well as policies for the facility. Our committee parent representative, a qualified dietician, provided valuable input into the menu development.

A competition was run late in 2017 to choose the name for the new café. The winning name “Saints” was chosen by six students and each was awarded with a voucher to use at the Café. We were delighted to appoint Sue Olesen as the Café Supervisor and Kay Lancashire to work with her. Both were contractors in our former Canteen. This year, due to the increased patronage of students

and staff at the new Café and Canteen, we have expanded our staffing to include Poh Phillips and alumnae Paige Kullen.

The school have been delighted to have partnered with Morgan’s Coffee Roasters as our coffee supplier. We are extremely grateful to Dean and Michelle Morgan, who are parents at our school, for their ongoing support of our staff in their coffee training and for their advice in setting up our Café space.

Our Hospitality students serve coffee in the Café on Thursday mornings, and Year 11 CAS students assist in the Canteen at recess and lunch. It has been a wonderful opportunity for the students to serve and learn in this new space.

The response from our St Paul’s community to the new Café, as a central place to meet and enjoy great coffee and food, has exceeded expectations.

Thank you to our families, students and staff for their support of this new venture and their encouragement of the staff and students as they have learnt new skills in this wonderful facility.

Karen Keogh Head of Secondary School

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GENERATIONS OF GOOD(E) AT ST PAUL’S It was with great pleasure on Grandparents’ Day that Library staff received a bundle of superbly knitted teddies and a large blanket from Mrs Brenda Goode.

Brenda has been regularly supplying these for over 10 years, with delivery often coinciding with the School Board meetings at which her husband, Stephen, was involved.

Indeed, the Goodes have a longstanding history with the school. Mark Goode (father of Andrew, Joshua and David) started as a student at St Paul’s in 1989. He graduated in 1992, after which his father, Stephen, began an extended commitment to the School Board, serving for almost 17 years, (from May 1995 to February 2013) mainly in the capacity of Treasurer, and still remains a Board member today.

When asked to comment on Stephen’s dedication to the School, Kim Hellyer, who served alongside him on the Board said:

“As a fellow Director on the School Board, I always had confidence in Stephen’s decisions, and building projects went ahead for the betterment of the school community. The school can be very thankful for Stephen’s valuable input during his years on the School Board.”

Mark’s brother, Scott, also attended St Paul’s, completed a nursing degree, ran his own business and is now an ordained minister at South Wagga Anglican Church. Scott is married, with four children.

Since leaving school, David has completed a computing degree at Sydney University — now working for an IT company in Sydney. Joshua is studying psychology at Sydney University, after completing the Army’s ‘gap year’ program and still remains in the Army Reserves. Andrew will the last Goode graduate at the end of this year.

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When asked about the impact of generations belonging to the St Paul’s community, Stephen and Brenda Goode provided the following statement:

“St Paul’s has been a large part of our lives for many years. We feel privileged that three generations of Goodes have been involved in the school’s strong Christian ethos and superb education. We have witnessed the dedication of the teachers and staff since the school opened.

We have watched many students (besides our own children and grandchildren) develop into fine young men and women, ready and willing to serve God in their chosen professions, families and communities.”

Linda Weeks Teacher Librarian

FUN IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN

WELCOME ST PAUL’S COMMUNITY:

NEW BABIES

Thomas David Cullimore Born 19/2/2018, 3.04kgs and 51cm

Lauren Cullimore from our Dance Academy and her husband, Jack, welcome Thomas.

Daisy Olive Berg Born 16/3/2018, 4.1kgs and 51cm

Matthew Berg from our Student Support Department and his wife, Alison, welcome Daisy.

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WINTER 2018