The Commonwealth Attorney-General has recently asked the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to undertake an Inquiry into Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws.

At present, our College has clear exemptions to allow us to teach and maintain our character as a Christian school, including in relation to gender and appropriate sexual behaviour. In recent years, activists have sought to undermine these exemptions through campaigning, often using misinformation and unverified claims. This is the background in which this Inquiry is taking place.

Christian Schools Australia (CSA) and Australian Association of Christian Schools (AACS) have been actively lobbying for Christian schools to maintain their Christian distinctive and not be unreasonably limited by any changes to anti-discrimination law. As a part of this process, the Australian Christian Schools Alliance has released a website called mychristianschool.au. This website provides staff and parents of Christian schools the opportunity and ability to share their voice in the benefits and importance of Christian schooling and the ability to maintain our genuine Christian distinctive. We encourage parents to share their positive stories and experiences of Christian Education and make our voice heard in the need to maintain our Christian distinctive, not only for St Andrews Christian College, but for the sake of all Christian schools.

Special Event!

Ryan Evans from LEGO Masters Grand Masters will be visiting St Andrews Christian College on Wednesday 10th May. Ryan was a finalist in LEGO Masters Series 3 and is a competitor in the 2023 LEGO Masters Grand Masters, coming soon on Channel Nine.

Get ready to share your LEGO skills with a LEGO Master!!!

Further information to follow next term.

Parents & Friends Association

The Parents and Friends Association (PFA) at St Andrews Christian College aims to foster the fellowship and partnership amongst the College parents, carers, students, and staff to support the provision of Christian education to students and the platform for them to grow to the best of their abilities to honour and serve God.

THE PURPOSE OF PFA

The PFA’s purpose is not only to provide practical assistance in the forms of fund-raising, special projects and events that will benefit the whole College and improve the well-being, development, and enjoyment of students, but also to provide a forum of communication between parents, carers, and staff via quarterly general meetings, where parents and carers can receive essential updates from the School as well as provide feedback. The PFA also provides opportunities for parents and carers to volunteer and participate in school events, as well as be involved in raising funds to contribute towards major building projects, mission trips, technology, arts and music, sports facilities, and educational resources. The PFA serves to foster and build a united community among the College.

PFA CONTRIBUTIONS

In recent year the PFA have contributed towards:

• Solomon Islands mission trip
• Instruments for the music department
• School café

In March 2023, the PFA purchased 8 table tennis tables for the PE department to utilise.

The PFA look forward to working with the school to further enhance the school experience of our students so that they may bring glory to our Heavenly Father in all that they do.

Sustainability - Junior Landcare Grant

Towards the end of last year, the school was awarded a Junior Landcare grant to begin a Bush Tucker Garden. The wicking beds have been installed and the Prep students spent time planting the tube stock, linking to their learning in class about Indigenous plants.

Clean Up Australia Day

Students from the Sustainability Team participated in Clean Up Australia Day on March 3rd. Being a part of a larger group all working towards a common goal showed great unity with the community.

Your family can get involved by recycling items such as basketballs, batteries, bread tags, coffee cups food scraps, phones, plant pots and more. Find out where to recycle items at cleanup.org.au, ‘Recycle Rate, Mate’.

Mrs Wheelton & the Sustainability Team