In this issue

Located within the Genesis Christian College campus, Genesis Dance Academy and Genesis Drama Academy offer after school performing arts classes in state-of-the-art dance and drama studios, with passionate teachers and engaging programs. With a focus on participation, developing technique and providing age-appropriate classes, Genesis Dance and Drama Academies are open to both Genesis Christian College students and members of our local community. Our Dance classes include Tiny Stars, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Acro. We also offer Drama & Musical Theatre classes as well as Performance Team and solo programs.

Please email dancedrama@genesis.qld.edu.au to find out more and claim your free trial class.

Did you know Genesis Sport & Aquatics offers a range of sports & activities for you and your family? Whether it’s swimming, tennis, football, fitness, triathlon or our Multisport school holiday camp GSA has something for everyone!

Conveniently located on-site at Genesis Christian College, GSA offers world-class coaching in fantastic facilities. Interested in one of our programs? Please email us at gsa@genesis.qld.edu.au.

Welcome Back!

A warm welcome back to all Genesis families in this, the first newsletter for the 2022 academic year.  A particular welcome to families new to the College.  Although we have been required to limit the number of parents on site, it has been great to have new families join the College and we do trust that you will feel more connected as COVID-19 restrictions ease across our State.  Thank you to all parents for your patience and understanding through this most unusual start to the school year.  It has been wonderful to watch students engage quickly into the school routine and the learning for the year ahead.

During the holidays, many in our graduating class of 2021 received their ATAR results along with Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) offers and we are so proud of their outstanding results.  Please take some time to review these results in the Secondary School update.

The College has many events and activities planned for the year ahead and we are incredibly excited to be joining together with you as a community for these.  I encourage you to keep an eye on the College calendar available in both the College App and on Parent Lounge.

In the coming weeks, the College will be sharing the new Strategic Plan with parents.  Unfortunately, this was delayed with the disrupted start to the school year.  Please keep an eye out for details of this launch as we would love to share with you our future vision for the College.  I look forward to connecting with throughout the course of the year.

Blessings,

Paul Sterling

Principal

Curriculum 

Recently we acknowledged the DUX of the College 2021, Julius Hart for his remarkable approach to his studies and co-curricular involvement and the humble way he approached his years of schooling.  In his address to the Secondary students Julius emphasised the necessity to have a balanced approach to one’s studies, emphasising the messaging we provide to our students, to take a measured approach to part-time work, socialising, academics, and co-curricular/extracurricular activities.  

The start of the school year has once again been disrupted as school staff, students and parents alike negate different ways of working – drawing on the lessons that have been learnt in the past to create teaching and learning programs which are flexible in their approach.   We welcome a new cohort of Preps and Year 7s, who have by all accounts settled into the College well, largely due to the excellent processes which have been set up to support their transitions.  The College community is commended for its resilience, patience and support this term and we look forward to another year of learning.

Kind regards,

Nichole Welsh

Head of Teaching & Learning (P-12)

During the holidays, Yr 12 student Matthew wanted to build something. Matthew used his creativity and coding skills to good use, by designing and building a mini desk vacuum cleaner!

Firstly, Matthew sourced all of the electronic components he needed to create his project. He sourced most of the components from Core-Electronics. Secondly, Matthew coded his solution using the Python programming language. He coded around 500 lines of code for his solution. Matthew used his 3D skills that he has learnt from Blender to create 3D models in CAD. The models were then printed on his 3D printer.

Once all of the components were ready, Matthew put them together to create the mini desk vacuum. Matthew said that the biggest challenge of the project was trying to get all of the components to fit into the case.

Matthew has refined his solution by adding additional features. He is currently working on version two of his robotic vacuum cleaner. The new and improved version will be larger and have wheels for movement. Sensors and cameras will be used to sense objects and prevent crashes.

Core Electronics was so impressed by Matthew’s project, that they have recognised Matthew, by publishing his design and project on their website. Congratulations Matthew! See the website for more information https://core-electronics.com.au/projects/mini-desk-vacuum.

Matthew has studied a range of design and digital technology subjects at the College, which have inspired his design, complemented his natural ability and given him the skills to create his project.

Kind regards,

Claire Walker

Secondary Teacher

What a great start to the year in Primary Sport. We are back into the swing of things with many events on our calendar.

Morning Training has started for those wanted to join. Anyone is welcome in Prep-Year 6. Please check the School Calendar for our specific dates around carnivals etc. No sign up required – we meet on the main oval at 7:30am.

Swimming Team: our Swimming Team has started our season this week with both the Metropolitan North Carnival and the NISSA Twilight Swim Meet. We will update you on the results of these carnivals next Newsletter.

Congratulations to our Primary Swimming Captains for 2022 – Felix Nielsen and Indigo Kovac. We congratulate both of these students on this recognition of both their achievements in Swimming as well as the characteristics they display making them both extremely worthy captains.

Queensland School Sport Aquathlon Championships:

Congratulations to Matilda Taylor and Matthew Turner who participated as pat of the Met North Team at the recent State Championships. Both Tilly and Matthew performed well on the day giving their all to their performances.

Congratulations to Matthew Turner who finished 8^th in his division gaining him selection in the Qld State Team. What an amazing achievement.

NISSA Semester One Sports:

Students have started up their Semester One Sports and have started enthusiastically on the first Friday Sport session. What an amazing opportunity for students to learn from experienced sport specific coaches.

Upcoming events

Please ensure you have updated your subscriptions on the Genesis App and check back regularly. All sporting information will be communicated on the app.

• Thursday 10 March 3-12 GCC Cross Country
• Monday 14 March CSSAQ Swimming
• Friday 25 March NISSA Gala Day

Kind regards,

Louise McCarthy

Director of Sport – Primary

Dance Camp

Dance Camp this year presented itself quite differently to other years, being held at school to fit government requirements, yet this did not limit the fun or change the experience for us students, and we even had aircon which was a great bonus.

Dance Camp ran for 3 days, Senior Dance company, Junior Dance company and Show choir attended the camp from Thursday and the Mini Dance Company joined in on Saturday, the final day of camp. The purpose of Dance camp is an intensive block of rehearsals and workshops to prepare teams for competitions and performances. Between rehearsals there was plenty of fun, games, food and activities. We were privileged to have a variety of guest choreographers come in to teach us, and on the final day we performed for our peers to show what we had been working on throughout the camp. Between the games night, trivia night, a group tik tok and buddy activities, the students had plenty of time to bond and build new friendships with other like-minded students. Despite being different to other years dance camp was very successful and we finished off Dance camp well with Zooper Doopers and look forward to the competition season ahead of us.

Kind regards,

Amy Filmalter

2022 Dance Captain

Welcome back!

I would like to extend a vote of appreciation to our families for the smooth start to the academic year. Despite facing delays to the start of Term and increased COVID restrictions we have enjoyed a very positive first half of Term. Mum; dad; your parenting is paying dividends!

Likewise at College we invest heavily into the lives of our students so they face our ever-changing world with confidence. Our intention is that they care for, nurture and delight in this life and are always agents for the common good.

The year has already seen a number of very successful events- the Dedication Service acknowledged our thankfulness to God for His provision; the Leadership Commissioning Service focussed our attention on our corporate vision; and, the Championship and House Swimming Carnivals celebrated a tremendous sense of excellence and House spirit. I am very much looking forward to the Cross Country on 10 March and expect to see all in attendance.

Our ATAR results from December 2021 were outstanding:

Also, keep an eye on the App tomorrow for an exciting update on our plans for House spirit this year… here’s a sneak peak below!

Kind regards,

Stuart Taylor

Head of School – Secondary

Dear Parents,

Welcome!

We warmly welcome families back to the 2022 school year, and I look forward to getting to know those who are new to our school community, and journeying with families, as together we work towards the development and growth of your children academically, socially, and spiritually.  It’s been an interesting start to the school year (yet again!) but we will begin to move into more normal school life soon.

The next stage of our new building plan has opened and we welcomed Year 3 into The Learning Village.  The children and the staff are enjoying the new spaces and I’m so excited to see all the planning come to fruition.

We trust you enjoyed the videos that were provided by teachers, in place of the usual Class Information Sessions.  The purpose of these sessions is to give parents an overview of the year ahead, and an introduction to your classroom teacher, and their expectations for the class. Discussions on individual students and their progress will occur during the official Parent teacher interviews in Week 10 of term.

Although I work as a school leader and manager, I am firstly a teacher, who loves just being around children, and working with staff in a child’s development. As such, you will see me out and about the school grounds, and regularly in classrooms. Our teacher-parent-student relationships are vital, and I encourage parents to connect with me when possible; even just for a quick hello and a chat. I also pray that the start of the school year has been a blessed one for your families, as you send your older children back to school, and some of your children to school for the first time. May the peace of God be with you all these coming weeks.

Can I take this opportunity to remind families to subscribe to the College App (including any activities your child is involved in)  – this is the point of contact for most College correspondence.

I’m looking forward to what the coming year has in store for us all.

Blessings,

Jeremy Williamson

Head of School – Primary