In this issue

Have some fun! Host a student from Japan in 2020!

The redevelopment of the tuckshop is in full swing with construction works commencing in the past week.  We’ve also got a new logo!

Meet Chef Ben

Menu Sneak Peak

Here’s a quick look at some exciting new menu items that will be available at Eden Eats!

• Bliss balls
• Mediterranean Salad
• Hot Chips
• Sushi
• Banana Berry Bread
• The Eden Wrap
• Genesis Parmy Burger

New Tuckshop Procedures

In line with the redevelopment of the tuckshop, there will be some new procedures to follow for students in Year 1 – 12.  We will issue further correspondence regarding these changes in due course. However – here’s a quick summary:

Years 1 – 4 Students:

• Only online orders accepted via Flexischools
• Online orders cut off time is 8am on the day
• Years 3 and 4 students only can make incidental purchases from the primary window at Eden Eats (max $5 spend per day please. Cash only.)

Years 5-12 Students:

• Online ordering is no longer available due to the self-serve style format of the Eden Eats tuckshop.
  • Exception – online ordering will be available via Flexischools for students with allergy requirements eg gluten free or dairy free
• Students can access Eden Eats everyday in break one or two
• Payment methods include cash, EFTPOS and Flexischools (using their student ID card)
• Please ensure you link your child’s student ID to their profile in Flexischools
  • Find out how to link your child’s student ID to their profile in Flexischools here.

Launch Day 2020

In January 2020, the College will be holding its annual Launch Day. This is an opportunity for students and parents to collect books/iPads/laptops, greet the teachers or sign up to any of our Genesis Clubs prior to the commencement of our school year. Please save these dates below. Reminders will also be sent out in the new year.

CURRENT FAMILIES

Thursday 23 January 

7:30am to 1:30pm

• Year 5 to collect iPads from the Main Auditorium (MP1)
• Year 7 and Year 10 to collect laptops from the Main Auditorium (MP1)
• All Secondary textbooks can be collected from the Library
• Uniform Shop will be open from 8:30am to 2:30pm (closed for lunch 12:00-12:30pm) for incidental purchases only. For more information on the Uniform Shop hours, please refer to our website https://www.genesis.qld.edu.au/community/uniform-shop/
• Genesis Sports Precinct, Genesis Dance and Drama Academy, and Instrumental Music tables will be set up in the Main Auditorium (MP1) for those families who wish to enrol their children into some of the extra-curricular activities offered by the College, or clubs associated with the College.

11:00am to 1:30pm

• Primary students’ book packs can be collected from their classroom and taken home for covering. These are to be returned by the end of the first week back

Friday 24 January

7:30am to 9:30am

• This day is for current families who were unable to attend on Thursday to collect iPads, laptops and textbooks only.
• No classroom visits.

10:30am to 4:30pm

• Auditions for the College’s 2020 Dance Companies will take place in MP1. In 2020, the College will be launching three Dance Companies:
  • Mini Dance Company (Years 5-6)
  • Junior Dance Company (Years 7-9)
  • Senior Dance Company (Years 10-12)

NEW FAMILIES (and current families with a new student starting)

Thursday 23 January

College Office Holiday Hours

Uniform News

Did you know if you have purchased new uniforms for 2020 and your children have a growth spurt over the holidays you can exchange the items on Wednesday 22 January 2020, IF the tags are left on?

Opening Hours:

• Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
• 8:15am – 9:45am and 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Flexischools Online

Did you know you can know purchase uniforms online via Flexischools?

Lay-bys

The uniform shop has a lay-by system that is offered to all our families in the College. When using this system we require a 20% deposit and regular payments, with the lay-by being finalised within 3 months.

Shoes Requirement Extract for 2020

Prep:

• Joggers with College sport socks (velcro straps are recommended for independence).

Years 1 and 2

• Buckle up or velcro strap regulation black leather/vinyl shoes are acceptable.

Years 1-12:

• Regulation black leather/vinyl lace up shoes (not boots, joggers or slip-ons).
• Ballet style slip-on shoes or heels higher than 2.5cm, for girls are not permitted for safety reasons.
• Sport shoes must be recognised running cross training, netball, tennis or low-cut basketball shoes predominately white, which provide foot support, and are to be worn with the sports uniform. Fashion sports shoes that do not provide ankle and arch support i.e. skate shoes, Volleys, canvas slip-ons or Converse shoes are not permitted.
• Cleat shoes are not to be worn away from the fields. Grass is to be cleaned from shoes before entering the toilet/change block and classrooms.
• Only white shoe laces are acceptable in sports shoes. Coloured shoelaces including black laces are unacceptable. Shoes must be kept clean and in good condition.

Cathy van Vuuren
Uniform Shop Coordinator

Dear Parents,

I’d like to give a very heartfelt thank you to one and all for their support and encouragement throughout the year. I feel embraced, encouraged and enabled by students, teachers, support staff and parents.

Genesis is an amazing school: a great place to learn, to belong, to grow. It is a champion school of both wide and high opportunity. Because of the opportunities, support and nurturing we provide our Genesis students – your children – are doing things like:

• representing Australia in a range of sports
• being recognised as one of the Top 30 achievers in the Queensland Year 12 academic results
• rowing like champions and stunning the “Grammars”
• displaying award-winning art in the New South Wales Art Gallery
• winning swimming gold at Nationals and are on pathways to the Olympics
• creating films that land in the top 30 for BUFTA
• winning national dance competitions
• and space does not allow this list to go on…..!

But all of this happens because we work together; enjoy ourselves; and, in the process develop character. All of this, under the gracious hand of our loving God.

As I look back on 2019 my encouragement to all our Genesis students is to take hold of the opportunities that Genesis Christian College provides you.

As this year’s Year 12 Valedictorian said:

Contribute as much as you can, try as hard as you can. Go to every carnival, performance and sports event with all your friends.

Because next year, it won’t be about what you achieved in 2019, it will be who you achieved it with.

I leave you with a quote that I always hold on to by none other than Drake himself, “sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you the importance of the destination.”

2020 begins with the Launch Day activities and letters have been sent in regard to this. Please check the Genesis App for details.

I wish one and all a blessed Christmas when we are reminded of the great news of “God is with us”. I pray that all might come to understand that more fully this Christmas. A safe, and well deserved holiday to all.

Blessings

Stuart Taylor

Head of School – Secondary

Dear Parents,

As the year draws to a close it is time to look back on the wonderful year we have had at Genesis, especially in our Primary school. Our students and staff continuously amaze me not just with their exceptional results across sporting, artistic and academic endeavours, but also (and perhaps more importantly!) with the dedication to training and studying, humility, and selflessness with which they do this. Our Genesis students consistently perform at the highest levels in all of these areas, within our culture of high expectations, and now is the time to rest and unwind as we head into the holiday season.

2019 has been a year of change with a number of new leaders settling into roles at the College, including myself; new academic programs, and ways of working, and as we head into 2020 our intention is to consolidate the changes and refinements, and really focus on our priorities of academics, and co-curricular activities. However, within this, and covering all of this of course, is our Christian culture; through which we observe and design everything, and ultimately understand learning and our world. With the help of God, and seeking His will in all things, 2020 will be another great year in the Genesis community.

 Staff Farewells

Each year some staff move on from Genesis, and we are beholden to thank them for their work at the College.

Chris Walters, our Care & Conduct leader, and Year 6 teacher, will be moving on from Genesis after 10 years of service. Chris and his family are moving back to their home town of Gympie, where Chris will be working for Education Queensland. Chris has had an enormous impact on our school community over his years of passionate and dedicated service not just in his Pastoral Care role, but also attending numerous camps, coaching sporting teams, and being a dynamic classroom teacher. Mr Walters, we pray every blessing on your move and will dearly miss you.

Jamie-Lee Le Roux, has completed her contract in Year 5 for Term 4, where she has shown a very high level of dedication to her class, and taught them with much skill and care. We will hopefully be seeing more of Mrs Le Roux in the future at Genesis.

Abby Gilchrist has been working in Primary administration for many years and has decided it is time for change. Abby has supported Simon Bedville superbly over this time and will be missed.

Kate Norman, who has been at Genesis for many years, will be taking maternity leave for the first part of 2020. We pray for Kate and her family as they welcome their second child into the world very shortly.

 2020 staff appointments

We have been blessed with the very high quality of staff who desire to work at Genesis and we are excited to announce the following appointments for next year.

The newly appointed Care & Conduct Leader for Primary is Paul Cobb. Paul and his family are moving to Brisbane from Perth, where he was a Year Level Coordinator in a Christian School. Paul has previously been a Deputy Head of Primary in the UK and has completed Masters level qualifications in school leadership. Paul brings a wealth of experience to the role and is a genuinely pastoral person. We really think he will be a wonderful cultural fit for the pastoral team in our College.

Grace Denny will be teaching in Primary for 2020. Grace comes to us from Trinity College, Gladstone where she has been the Year 4-6 Coordinator and also wrote the College student welfare and behaviour policy. Grace took time off in 2019 to complete her Masters in Education through QUT in Leadership & Management, but has also held the role of Chaplain at Grace Primary School in Clontarf.

Rebecca Scott, who has taught in Prep for a number of years, has been appointed Innovation and Learning Leader for Prep from 2020. We look forward to Mrs Scott’s leadership of this team into the future.

 Primary Colours Assembly

Recently we conducted our Primary Sports and Colours Co-curricular Awards which combine Sport, Cultural and Service awards.  We have had a considerable number of students achieving these awards and this is a very healthy sign of a growing program and also an expanding commitment to activities that the College offers beyond the classroom.

Through the Colours system, we not only recognise the efforts of many students but also demonstrate to all the many and varied ways of contributing to our College life.  By doing so, students gain so much more fulfilment, a sense of worth and a sense of service and well-being, and these attributes are so necessary for a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

The Colours Scheme provides students with a small incentive to be involved in activities beyond the classroom. Students accumulate colour points varying on the commitment required for training or involvement.  All activities are College-based and the Colours system operates across the whole College with a small roll-over of points from Primary into Secondary.  Both systems are similar in nature with the end goal for Primary, a Gold award and in Secondary School, full colours worn on the College Blazer.

Primary Celebration Services

The last two weeks of school saw our annual Primary Celebration services for:

• Prep
• Years 1 and 2
• Years 3 and 4
• Years 5 and 6

These services were a fine demonstration of student achievements throughout the year. One particular aspect of the Prep to Year 4 services, special to Genesis, is the individual citations. At Genesis, we believe that every student is special in God’s eyes and brings their own unique skills and talents to make our school a better place. Therefore we don’t just celebrate academic, sporting and cultural achievements, but other aspects of life such as citizenship and character, in every student.

I will however give special mention below to our mjor award winners from Year 6, as they represent the pinnacle of Primary school achievement.

• Most Valuable Contribution, Senior Primary Choir – Jacynta Baxter
• Most Valuable Contribution String Ensemble – Jessica Black
• Most Valuable Contribution, Primary Concert Band – Sarah Secker
• Most Valuable Contribution Percussion Ensemble – Heath Maloney
• Most Valuable Contribution, Flute Ensemble – Zoe Burton
• Most Valuable Contribution, Brass Band – Owen Ross
• Susan Hay Memorial 2nd Runner Up to Best and Fairest – Girl – Megan Allen
• Susan Hay Memorial 2nd Runner Up to Best and Fairest – Boy – Anaru Wetere
• Susan Hay Memorial Runner Up to Best and Fairest – Girl – Morgan Lyall
• Susan Hay Memorial Runner Up to Best and Fairest – Boy – Luka Lendvay
• Susan Hay Memorial Best and Fairest – Girl – Mia Croucamp
• Susan Hay Memorial Best and Fairest – Boy – Declan Warnes
• 2019 Female Christian Citizenship Award – Courtney O’Brien
• 2019 Male Christian Citizenship Award – Isaac Smith
• 2019 runner-up to Dux – Owen Ross
• 2019 Year 6 Dux Award – Jacinta Power

UPCOMING EVENTS     

 Launch Day

• First Day of Classes 2020 – Tuesday, 28 January
  • Please note that the first day of school for our students is Tuesday, 28 January 2020.

Allocation to classes in 2020

Class allocations will be uploaded to Parent Lounge and once this has occurred, families will receive an App notification directing them to Parent Lounge to check their child/ren’s allocations.

We specifically hold class allocations to January for no other reason than we do have changes to enrolments over the Christmas period and releasing class allocations early on makes these changes very difficult to enact.

From my family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Jeremy Williamson

Head of School – Primary

As we usually do when we come to this time of year, we have taken the time in our Chapel services over the last two weeks to remind students of the true meaning of Christmas. We recognise this as the time that our amazing Saviour was born and we see this so beautifully declared in the bible in Isaiah 9:6-1,

“For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!”

I personally love the words used here to describe who Jesus is. There are countless times for me personally where I have needed each of these attributes in my life….I have needed a Prince of Peace, an Everlasting Father, a wonderful Counsellor and a Mighty God. I am sure we can all relate to this.

It blows my mind that God knew and continues to know what we need, especially in our greatest time of need. This is the Promise and Gift of Christmas and God is always extravagantly generous in his giving to His children.

This is who He is. Christmas time is an amazing reminder of this generosity and how we can also bless others, just as God has given to us. When we are generous to others, we are truly showing people the love of God, but in turn we also benefit as the Bible says in Acts 20:35,

“I’ve left you an example of how you should serve and take care of those who are weak. For we must always cherish the words of our Lord Jesus, who taught, ‘Giving brings a far greater blessing than receiving’.”

As a school we highly value generosity. This was evident last week when we were able to give a tractor to the New Life Trust Orphanage in Myanmar. This amazing gift was purchased from funds  raised over the past few years by staff and students at Genesis Christian College. This tractor will replace a very primitive version that meant there was only a certain amount of planting and harvesting that could be undertaken. However, this new tractor will be used to plant and harvest a great deal more and continue to feed the many staff and children at the Orphanage and surrounding areas. The amazing thing about this kind of generosity is that it never ends and keeps on blessing the givers and recipients.

This Christmas, how can you and your family reflect God’s nature through generous acts of kindness? Are there people in need in your life that will be blessed by your loving and generous words, time, practical gifts or a place to belong? As we give this Christmas, let’s remember the amazing difference God’s ultimate act of generosity in giving us His son has made in our lives and how we can show this love to others.

On behalf of the Pastoral Care team at Genesis Christian College, we want to wish you and your family a happy, blessed and safe Christmas. We look forward to seeing you again in the New Year in 2020.

Louise Klar

Head of Pastoral Care & Growth / College Counsellor

There have been a number of systemic and historic changes to the Senior system this year – changes which will inevitably impact how curriculum is designed and delivered in both the Primary and Secondary School.

In the Senior setting, teachers all across the State have participated in professional development to build capacity around changed assessment practices and the introduction of cognitive verbs, for example. Formal processes have been put in place to have assessment pieces “Endorsed” and then “Confirmed” by the QCAA.

The College’s recent restructure in the Middle and Senior schools in particular was designed to assist with the anticipated changes placing us in an ideal position to be intentional around distinctive curriculum needs. This year also saw the introduction of the “I Love Reading” program, which will be in full implementation in Lower Primary in 2020 and a focus on literacy and inquiry learning in the Upper Primary will continue into next year.

As awards evening and celebrations come to an end, we acknowledge the contribution that all students make to the College and congratulate them for their participation and involvement in all aspects of school life. The new year brings exciting opportunities for the College and we thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide your children with a holistic, Christian education.

Nichola Welsh

Head of Teaching & Learning (P-12)

Interestingly, many people did my final activity countdown for me over the past month. From shout outs on the crossing to students in Year 12 commenting, “this is your last assembly”.  Even if I was trying to avoid the reality, I had others reminding me of my pending retirement.

In this, my last short article, I do want to take the opportunity to say a heartfelt and sincere thank you to our wonderful Genesis Community. I have always counted it a privilege to be able to serve as a Principal, however, leaving the Sunshine Coast in 2007 and coming to Genesis was very daunting.

What I did not know though, was just how fulfilling the next thirteen years was going to be and the school community spirit we would encounter. From day one, Janet and I were welcomed and embraced, and as a result, the College thrived. Our students have been the beneficiaries of that planned and systematic growth. This has been possible because of planned strategic growth which has always been done with our students’ best interest as the motivating reason.

That sense of community has been extended beyond this campus. In amongst all the end of year events and celebrations, Janet and I went on a fly in fly out mission trip to Myanmar. The purpose of which was to be part of the ceremony to hand over a brand new tractor to an orphanage so that they can produce enough food to feed the 147 orphans it currently looks after. However, what was so pleasing for me, and a reminder that Genesis is not just a fine school producing excellent graduates, but a school that has seen the needs of others and responded.

The graduates who have visited the orphanage over the past five years are testimony to the importance of living out our mission statement and in this instance specifically having a desire to serve God in the wider community. It was wonderful to witness first hand our 2019 graduates doing just that. Importantly, they were doing it wholeheartedly and joyfully.

Finally, Janet and I thank you all for your investment in our lives over the past thirteen years. As I commented to the staff last Friday, we have done life together. In our time here at Genesis, our two daughters have married, produced five grandchildren, the fifth arriving just two days ago and both Janet and I have had parents pass on. However, through it all we have felt and been the recipients of much love and support.

Thank you one and all for enriching our lives. Our time at Genesis has been the most rewarding of our educational journey. Our prayer is that Genesis continues to go from strength to strength under God’s guidance and grace. Mr Paul Sterling is a fine leader and a man of integrity. With your support there is no limit to what Genesis Christian College can achieve.

We thank God for His favour over our lives and trust He blesses all our families this Christmas season.

Brian Barker

Principal

The 2020 holidays and pupil-free days are listed below.

You can also access these dates via Parent Lounge via School Links > General Links > 2020 Term Dates with PD Days

Work is continuing on the 2020 calendar and it will be available early in the New Year.