In this issue

As the College reaches the completion of our recent Strategic Planning process, one of the initiatives that has been established within the plan is ongoing infrastructure and campus development.

As a result, the College will be undertaking a Master Planning process which will seek to develop plans for our campus facilities for the next 10+ years. The College will be working with our Architect, Novum and we are thankful to the Australian Government for the recent financial assistance provided to the College to support the associated expenses of the Master Planning process.

The Master Planning process will occur throughout the remainder of this year and we look forward to providing our community with insight to the exciting plans for the future in 2022.

Blessings,

Mr Paul Sterling

Principal

Flexible and Creative Learning – the key to educational success

Recently, the Genesis teaching staff attended the Australian Christian School’s conference, with keynote speaker Dr Catherine Ball. Dr Ball is a futurist, and spoke with passion about the skills that young people will need to operate successfully in the future educational landscape and the workforce. Her focus was largely on technology and the rapid change in that space. She emphasized how it is impossible to predict how technology will alter the way we interact with one another and the world. The face of the health system, the defence force, education, transportation and just about everything else will be impacted by our ability to use and develop technology at an ever-increasing pace.

Some might be inclined to say that we should be exalting STEM subjects and the like, given this information. Dr Ball; however, also made the comment that we need “good people to make good robots” and this is where the teaching of ethics, religion, the Humanities, the Arts and Languages plays an essential role. In fact, she identified literacy as the key to unlocking the future. At Genesis, we believe that teaching our young people to develop and use technology for the common good is essential. Our young people need ‘cognitive flexibility’ (a term used by Einstein) more than ever – the skill which enables us to switch between different concepts or adapt our behaviour to achieve our goals in an ever-changing landscape. The ability to think creatively and courageously are also skills that will help our young people thrive.

At the College, we are endeavouring to ensure that our students are provided with many opportunities to practice and master these skills. Be it designing donuts, selling products at the Genesis Festival or designing new protypes, the future is looking bright for our Genesis students.

Kind regards,

Nichola Welsh

Head of Teaching and Learning (P-12)

Year 6 Outback Tour to Longreach

Written by Year 6 students Maddison, Bridget and Lucy.

Longreach is a beautiful place with plains that go for kilometres full of grass, animals, and occasional trees. But Longreach was not the only place we went on camp, with places like Emerald, Rubyvale, Barcaldine and Winton on the list of wonderful places we visited. Rubyvale, one of the stops for an activity. We learnt how the main mine at Miner’s Heritage Walk in Mine and the history behind.

After going through the maze of the mine we went fossicking for sapphires. Once everyone had finished the experience we departed for Longreach!

Once in Longreach we checked into our accommodation at Longreach Pastoral College and readied our rooms. After dinner bus 1 & 2 went to QUANTAS Founders Museum light show. The light show educated all of those who watched about the 4 founders, the planes and the beginning of QLD & NT Areal Services or QUANTAS. The next morning we visited Longreach School of Distance Education, seeing what learning from a distance was like. The Camden Park Station, being educated what life of an Australian stockman was like. Following on with the stockman theme Australian Stockman Hall of Fame was next Learning through audio of an iPod. We learnt life as an Australian stockman in the past. Then learning further at Kinnon & Co: Bush Fire at Night at Nogo Station under the moonlight, having the experience which any stockman would,(with a bunch of Year 6 students that is) having beef stew, mash potato, rice pudding and billy tea.

The next day off to Winton we went! Waltzing Matilda Centre was the first stop, before entering though we all got a horse drawn carriage ride around the area. Then we all headed for the sights of
the displays and artefacts. Next stop was Australian Age of the Dinosaurs museum! With footsteps and fossils of Australia’s dinosaurs, we learnt of Australia’s many dinosaurs. With the night activity at Australian’s Stockman‘s Hall of Fame : outback show. Full of whip cracking and stockman fun. After a good sleep ending our time at longreach with QUANTAS Founders museum, visiting the 747 and Super Constellation, we left Longreach after a spectacular time. On the way home we visited Barcaldine’s Tree of Knowledge Memorial, where the Labour Party was founded. Learning about Iningai culture.

Next morning we woke up on the bus near home. Couple hours left and no more time on those buses. Then we were there that Friday morning we were at school with most of us heading to Macca’s for breakfast. The end of the best camp ever!

Term 3 is Primary Camp Season!

Each year in Term 3, our Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 students embark on their annual school camp! Already this term, our Year 6 students. under the leadership of Mr Johnson, visited Longreach and other Western Queensland towns, learning about our Australian history in a week-long camp. Again, by all reports this camp was an incredible time away for students, staff and the parent helpers who always attend our trips. Our Genesis students are shining role models; children of high character and calibre, with staff at venues visited often contacting the school to let us know just how amazing our Genesis students are.

The culminating Year 6 trip is a capstone event for Primary students, but the success of this trip can be attributed to the camping program of Years 3, 4 and 5, and the development of life skills which students learn through these experiences. Later this week, our Year 3 students will go on their first school camp for one night, then Year 4 will go next week for two nights, and Year 5 in the last week of term for 3 nights. At each camp students enjoy a range of challenge activities which test their teamwork, resilience, critical thinking, and a whole range of other life skills like making your bed, going to sleep on time, and learning how to serve others at mealtimes.

Students always have the best of fun, away camping with their friends, and at Genesis we always embed our Christian values into activities and share a devotions and prayer time at night together. Thankyou to all our parents for supporting our camping program, and thankyou to our wonderful teachers who work hard to make these the best experiences possible for our children.

Kind Regards, 

Jeremy Williamson

 Head of School – Primary

Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) Local Laws Unit undertakes a School Parking Patrol Program where officers complete scheduled school patrols, both in the morning and afternoon, to ensure that vehicles are parked in a safe and lawful manner. The primary aim of the program is to ensure that students and family members/caregivers are able to safely move around the school area as part of dropping off or picking up students from the school.

The Moreton Bay Regional Council Local Law No.5 (Parking) 2011 and Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1999 control parking or stopping of vehicles on footpaths, bicycle paths, marked yellow lines, shared paths, dividing strips and nature strips, along with vehicles parking across residents driveways and within ‘No Stopping’, ‘No Parking’, ‘Bus Zones’ and Pick-up / Drop -off zones. Council is legally required to enforce these areas and the School Parking Patrol Program forms part of this process.  Drivers are reminded that footpaths and nature strips are in place to promote pedestrian movement in a safe manner along roadsides and that drivers and residents must not stop on a bicycle path, shared path, dividing strip or nature strip.  Please also note that vehicles that are parked with two wheels up and two wheels down is not considered as a lawful parking practice.

Local Laws officers conduct enforcement through the issuance of Penalty Infringement Notices as part of each School Parking Patrol. Please be aware that Council officers may take photographic evidence of vehicles stopping or parking illegally with Penalty Infringement Notices to be issued via mail at a later date to the offending vehicle’s owner.

Visit www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/parking for further guidance on parking restrictions.

For any further information, members of the School community are welcome to contact Moreton Bay Regional Council on 3205 0555.

Care and Conduct – Year 11 Camp

Emu Gully Adventure Camp 2021 far exceeded all our Year 11’s expectations. Our students set out to prove they could achieve the goals they established upon their arrival, and they didn’t disappoint.

Genesis camp staff were humbled at our students’ perseverance and willingness to work on their individual, team and cohort weaknesses, despite the challenges they faced. All campers braved the extreme cold and low winter temperatures, working together as teams to overcome a range of challenges while reflecting on the ANZACs and their legacy. From crawling through dark tunnels, crossing over suspended logs, trudging through meters of thick fetid mud, all the while carrying a team member on a stretcher, and hiking through terrain in darkness; our future leaders faced their fears and foibles.

Some memorable highlights of the camp include the bush dance run by “Smashing Bumpkins” where we kicked up our heels to some new and old songs, pulling a truck, rock climbing, driving buggies, and playing paintball while capturing the flag. It is fair to say that our Year 11 students grasped the importance of character development and servant-hearted leadership. They experienced the strength and unity that comes from practicing our ‘Walk in the Light’ themes of Grow, Give and Connect with Conviction.

The challenge our Year 11 cohort now face is to apply the lessons they learned from camp to their lives each day which I am confident they can do.

Thank you to all the dedicated staff who gave of their time to accompany our Year 11s throughout this event.

Kind regards,

Sally-Ann Arro

Year 11 Care and Conduct Leader

Department Spotlight – Music 

Wintersong

Genesis Music was excited to present our Wintersong Ensembles Performance at the very end of last term. The College’s beginner and junior level ensembles performed a wonderful showcase of all they have achieved so far this year and the memorable evening featured debut performances from Beginner Strings and Year 4 Band. The excitement and buzz in the wings filtered out on to the stage which was filled with a sea of smiles and grins. We are looking forward to hearing more from these talented Genesis ensembles.

Singspiration

In Week 2 of this term, we held our first “Singspiration” event which brought together Junior Primary Choirs from local schools in a joyous celebration of song. This year, we were joined by Junior Choirs from Petrie State School, The Lakes College, Bounty Boulevard State School and Northside Christian College, as well as guest conductor and composer, Katherine Rhule. It was a wonderful afternoon of performances from these young choristers and everyone who attended commented on the joy and celebration of the occasion. Congratulations to these students and their talented choir directors.

Kind regards,

Marta Preston

Performance Music Coordinator

Primary Sports 

We have had a very busy period in Primary Sport pre-lockdown. We feel very fortunate that our students have had the ability to take part in these events in such uncertain times.

 Queensland State Cross Country Championships:

Recently Madison R, Sienna B and Matthew T were selected as part of the Met North Team to compete at the State Championships held in Ipswich. Our students performed amazingly and should be congratulated on their results:

• Madison R – 12 Years Girls: 4^th individual, 1^st– State Champions Relay
• Sienna B – 12 Years Girls: 8^th individual, 1^st– State Champions Relay
• Matthew T – 11 Years Boys: 12^th individual, 2^nd Relay

A very special congratulations to Madison who was selected into the Qld State team

Pine Rivers District Athletics:

Our Primary Athletics Team of 43 students competed at the Pine Rivers District Carnival. Congratulations to all members of the team. There were a lot of fantastic performances (and some big PB’s) but none more so than the team effort and cheering from our amazing kids!

Congratulation to the following 16 students who were selected in the Pine Rivers Team:

Noah C, Sienna B, Madison R, Mitchell E, Dylan M, Hayden N, Taylor B, Giselle B, Matthew T, Flynn S, Thomas M, Matilda T, Grace R, Charlie B, Eliza B, Lucille I.

Congratulations:

Pine Rivers District Team Selections:

• Oliver P (Year 6) Cricket

 Metropolitan North Region Team Selections:

• Jordyn C (Year 7) Softball

NISSA Gala Day:

We were so lucky to squeeze in our first Semester Two Gala Day which saw our kids participate in Soccer, Netball and Rugby Union against The Lakes College, Grace Lutheran Primary School and Prince of Peace. What a fabulous day it was for the students!

Kind regards,

Louise McCarthy

Director of Primary Sport 

Secondary Sport

On Wednesday 25 August, Kirralee H competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games in the 100 metres Butterfly and finished in 12^th place with a personal best time. The College celebrated this by dressing in Green and Gold and watched “The Race That Stopped the School”. She also raced in her pet event, the 50 metre Freestyle, on Sunday, 29 August coming 4^{th .}

Kirralee commenced her swimming journey at Genesis when the pool first opened in 2012. She started training in the Skills Squad which is the first level after Learn to Swim. She became a foundation member of the Genesis Aquatics Swimming Club and this was the beginning of her competitive pathway. Through her swimming career, Kirralee currently holds 22 Queensland records and 6 Australian records. She has won State and National Championships and we are very proud to have a home-grown Paralympian at our College.

On behalf of the College we would also like to congratulate the coaching team at Genesis Aquatics (Brendan Keogh, Rick Pendleton and Tony Keogh) for the role they played in coaching and mentoring Kirralee through her swimming development. We look forward to celebrating Kirralee’s achievements on her return.

Track and Field

Congratulations to all the students who represented Genesis proudly at the Pine Rivers District Track and Field Carnival, held on 29 and 30 July. Students selected in the Pine Rivers District team were:

Megan A, Ashley M, Joseph A, Grace M, Cooper B, Benjamin M, Petri B, Ralph N, Shandri B, Emma N, Jaegar B, Janelle P, Ella B, Travis P, Kaelah B, Ella P, Jordan B, Cooper S, Xavier C, Makenzie S, Luke D, Charlize S, Sophie D, Lincoln S, Michaela F, Lucy S, Hayley F, Olivia T, Alexander G, Eden T, Matthew G, Lachlan T, David H, Marne V, Owen H, Kairav V, Luka L, Windsor W, Preston L, Lucy W, Morgan L, Madeleine W, William M, Mitchell W and Holly M.

District/Regional Team Sport Selections:

Congratulations to Jordyn C (Year 7) for her selection in the Met North Softball team. This is a fantastic achievement and we wish Jordyn all the best for the State Softball Titles which will be held later this year.

Congratulations to Alyssa S for her selection in the Met North Basketball team. Unfortunately, the State Titles in Mackay had to be cancelled.  This is an outstanding achievement and well done.

Blessings,

Anthony Arro

Director of Sport – Secondary

Secondary Highlights 

At Genesis Christian College our DNA is excellence; we are not satisfied unless we are out performing across all categories.

Our students represent in Queensland and Australian teams for rowing, dance, swimming, shooting, boxing, netball, football, track and field, and the list goes on.

As this is written; we are about to go nuts cheering for our Year 12 student competing at the Tokyo Paralympics.

We not only compete at the highest level; we enjoy excellence in academics.

Our students represent at STEM in Australia and London; they place in the top 30 results for Year 12 in Queensland; they design and build for the F1 in School’s competition, gain drone licencing, win at Reader’s Cup and Shakefest, and once again the list is too long for now.

I am immensely proud of our students, their families who support them and our teachers, coaches and support staff who stretch and encourage them to higher achievement, day after day, in a warm and safe environment.

We love our students. They delight us. They inspire us.

We provide excellence in pastoral care and take seriously any issue which negatively effects our strong sense of community. We work hard to have every student enjoy a sense of place here and a strong bond of belonging. Our investment into enabling leadership throughout the student body reaps a rich harvest.

Genesis is strong in spirit and rightly proud of our students’ achievements and conduct.

Our focus though, is to live lives that ‘Walk in the Light’.

Our heart is to build character that charts a course in life that serves our world for the common good and glues it together with compassion.

I love this school and trust you feel that same sense of pride and family.

Blessings,

Stuart Taylor

Head of School – Secondary 

The Pastoral Care Pen

The Benefit of Serving Others 

A few weeks ago, a group of Secondary students and staff volunteered to take part in a MAD (Make A Difference) Backyard Blitz project. The afternoon involved gardening and labouring work for a person in need. The yard and garden looked fantastic after a couple of hours of work. However, I was most impressed, not with the results, but with the attitude of all involved. Students were smiling, laughing, asking what needed to be done next, and the team pushed hard to get it all done in time. By the end of the session, there were sore backs and red faces… but some of the students were already asking when they could do it again!

I was reflecting on how important it is that schools, families and communities give young people opportunities to serve others. There are so many benefits to volunteering and community service. Here are just a few…

We forget about ourselves and think of others instead

It’s easy for us to become absorbed in our own needs, stresses, desires and worries, and forget about the bigger picture of life and the people around us. Serving others, particularly someone in need, reminds us of what’s important in life and can help us to see things with a better perspective.

We build resilience

In his article, ‘How Persistence and Grit Helps Kids Succeed’, Michael Grose discusses how it is more important to celebrate and reward character (including grit, determination, perseverance, resilience) rather than talent. When we get used to doing things that are easy for us, we struggle to respond to situations that are more difficult. Getting our hands dirty at Backyard Blitz was a great chance for us to learn new skills, work hard, and persevere to get to the end of a project. Moments like this are important for developing character in young people.

We develop empathy

Exposing young people to stories and lives that are different to their own helps them to develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the journeys of others. We can also model this to our students and children by creating communities and families where caring for others is prioritised. It was fantastic to have such a great staff attendance at our MAD project and demonstrate what care and kindness looks like to our students.

We feel good afterwards!

Doing something good for others releases dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, which contributes to a positive mood and decreases stress. It seems that God has wired us to serve others! Some of our students reported that they were on the project ‘because their mum signed them up’. By the end of the session, they were cheerful and proud of the work they completed. It’s important that we expose young people to volunteering and serving others and demonstrate to them that it feels good to do good!

I love the way Eugene Peterson summarises this in Philippians 2:3-8 Message version:

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favour: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

I wonder if there are some opportunities this week to partner with your child in doing a good thing for someone else. We hope you will see the benefits of teaching young people how to serve others and help them to build a character of empathy, care, and awareness of those around them.

We’d love to hear of some of the things you get up to! Email Pastoral Care or share your good news stories to our #thelightside campaign by emailing Marketing.

How Persistence and Grit help kids succeed: https://www.parentingideas.com.au/blog/true-grit-helps-kids-succeed/

For more creating a culture of caring: https://www.parentingideas.com.au/blog/make-caring-common/

Blessings,

Laura Tepe

Secondary Chaplain