Head of Secondary

Term 1 Reflection

Hello and welcome to another fantastic edition of our school newsletter! This term our school has been buzzing with excitement and activity. There has been a whirlwind of engaging learning experiences, excursions, swimming sports carnivals, and unforgettable camping adventures. We've witnessed incredible moments of growth and achievement, and we give all glory to God for the success of each endeavour. From the bustling classrooms where students are delving deep into their subjects, to the exhilarating camps for Years 7, 8 and 11 and 12 that fostered teamwork, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for His creation, there's so much to celebrate. I hope you enjoy the newsletter and the opportunity to share in the school community.

A Message from Our 2025 College Captains

“Our leadership retreat a couple of weeks ago was a great opportunity to connect and grow as a team. Together we studied a book called 'The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry' that taught us how to slow down and be present with God, especially in a fast-paced world. Term 1 has flown by, with fun swimming carnivals and a great VCE camp that helped us bond with each other. Our leadership-run game went well, despite a few weather challenges. Overall, it’s been a fantastic first term, and we’re excited for what’s to come!”

2024 VCE Results

At St Andrews we believe God has placed a unique purpose and potential within the heart of every student. Part of our role is to help our students discover their gifts and talents, as we equip and guide them toward the life path God has planned for them.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 for their outstanding results. Their academic achievements are a testament to their hard work, resilience and perseverance throughout the school year.

At St Andrews Christian College, we know that an ATAR result does not define a student—our students have been prepared for life in the service of God’s Kingdom far beyond the tests, examinations and results of school. They are an outstanding group of young men and women. Their strength of character, caring hearts and faith have been a wonderful testimony to us all.

Our College motto is ‘Glory to God’ and we acknowledge and honour God for His grace, guidance and comfort given to our students, staff and parents throughout last year.

Well done Class of 2024. May God richly bless and direct you in your life journey. Additional congratulations goes to our College DUX Alvin Motet for his exceptional ATAR of 98.9. Well done Alvin and richly deserved!

Year 7 Camp

The Year 7 cohort set out on camp early in Term 1, an important part of their high school experience with the aim of getting to know each other better, develop stronger connections and build resilience. And they did, showing their willingness to try new experiences, to support each other and to push on at times.

It was a wonderful time spent in a very picturesque location, taking in God’s creation and learning more about ‘Real Hope’ at Camp Coolamatong. While the ‘tubing’ activity was certainly very popular, there were a wide range of activities that kept students and teachers on their toes and during evening time, there were some fun night games, trivia, a movie and devotions from the St Andrews staff that helped students develop a better understanding of the theme of ‘Real Hope’.

The Year 7 Team of homeroom teachers and myself are extremely thankful to the parents for their support and partnership and continue to look forward to the rest of the year as we work together to encourage, empower and equip our students with all that they need to continue to flourish as lifelong learners.

Year 7 Health

Vision Impaired Soccer

Students in Year 7 Health have been learning about disability in sport, researching Paralympic athletes and exploring what it might be like to live with some kind of physical impairment. This week students participated in vision impaired soccer, wearing glasses tailored to represent different vision impairments. Students did their best to listen out to the ball which had a bell inside as well as each other as they moved about the pitch. Whilst slightly chaotic at times, students reflected how difficult/impressive it is that disabled athletes can still perform at an elite level despite the challenges.

Year 8 Camp

The Year 8 Camp at Camp Coonawarra was an exciting and engaging experience for both students and staff. The mornings were filled with a mix of fun and meaningful activities. After an early morning volleyball game for some of the boys, the group gathered for worship and devotions before breakfast. Activity rotations included high ropes, canoeing, raft building, climbing wall, and archery, all of which kept the students engaged and enthusiastic.

The camp also featured a lively Trivia Night, thanks to Mr. Loy’s hard work in organising it. Students answered trivia questions on various topics and participated in teacher challenges, including running through the camp maze, popping balloons, undoing human knots, and solving cryptic clues. The night ended with devotions based on Proverbs, Bible reflection, and prayer.

As the camp continued, students exercised their hut-building skills, testing them with a water drenching. They participated in more activity rotations, including swimming and Superbook challenge, and looked forward to the evening’s Superbook presentations where they unpacked their chosen Bible story and applied it to modern-day life. The camp was a memorable blend of fun, learning, and spiritual growth.

Year 8: Hanging Rock Excursion

Student Reflections

“The Year 8s went to Hanging Rock and had massive amounts of fun hiking it. It was a tiring hike and even though everyone's energy started to fade, we learnt so much and the view at the top was breathtaking and made the hike worth it. During the hike, we had to be as careful as a ninja. We saw a lot of the natural earth and tried to imagine how it would have formed. At the low point of Hanging Rock the view looking up was still beautiful. When we weren't hiking we were recording the wind, the temperature, the light, and the humidity. To conclude, Hanging Rock was a fun experience, and we would all love to go back one day.”

“Going to Hanging Rock was quite an experience. Climbing the rock was a hard 50-minute hike, and climbing over some of the boulders was a challenge, but it was worth it in the end when we saw the view from the top. Rolling farmlands and a distant view of Mount Macedon stretched out before us when we paused to take in the sights. Plenty of photos were taken of the picturesque view, and we learnt a lot about Hanging Rock and the surrounding area. It was definitely a blessing to be able to go on a field trip to Hanging Rock.”

“The Year 8 excursion to Hanging Rock was full of new experiences and knowledge. It was an exciting day where students got the opportunity to learn about the rock formations on site. We all enjoyed the view from the top of the rocks. We explored the discovery centre and were able to find out more about historic events and the novel 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'. Overall, it was an exciting day for the students to discover, learn and experience the site of Hanging Rock.”

Year 9: The City Experience

Students embarked on an enriching journey through Melbourne, engaging in diverse activities that deepened their knowledge and appreciation of the city.

The experience began with a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where students explored the history of male and female athletes and gained exclusive behind-the-scenes access. They were introduced to their ‘Inquiry Project’, requiring them to formulate a meaningful research question. Additionally, the ‘Landmark Bingo’ activity encouraged them to reflect on God’s creation through a creative and observational lens.

At The Salvation Army, students gathered insights on youth homelessness and discussed potential solutions. They also toured St Paul’s Cathedral, where they reflected on its historical and spiritual significance, experiencing a moment of tranquility.

A visit to the Shrine of Remembrance allowed students to explore the sacrifices of Australians in wartime. The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) tour inspired curiosity and artistic reflection, while the Queen Victoria Market provided a lively cultural experience.

The journey concluded with a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck, offering breathtaking panoramic views. The city experience wrapped up with students using their God-given talents and abilities to showcase creative presentations, highlighting their learning and personal growth. The week was a profound opportunity for exploration, reflection, and gratitude for the many blessings experienced in Melbourne.

Year 10: 'Future Focus' Program

We are very excited to have delivered three-day Careers Program to our Year 10 students. On Wednesday 19 March students completed Morrisby Profiles—a comprehensive career profiling system which is a part of Year 10 Careers Education in Victoria. Morrisby Profiles help students understand their strengths and inspire them to explore different careers options and plan their VCE. Students’ Profiles were released and explained at St Andrews Morrisby Information Evening on Thursday 20 March. The national Morrisby Manager Craig Eastwood led the evening and guided our students and parents through students’ Morrisby Profiles.

This year we included in the Program three university campus tours and presentations: Deakin University Burwood Campus, Monash University Clayton Campus and The University of Melbourne Parkville Campus. University visits were a great opportunity for our students to learn about university faculties, courses, admissions, scholarships, and the academic and social aspects of university life. 

Student Reflections

“I really enjoyed the university tours as they gave me an insight into what uni is like. Touring the campuses was awesome seeing all different buildings and how different each uni was.”

“They were great for learning about life on campus and it was great fun. I especially loved Monash and Uni of Melbourne as they are target universities for many students attending STACC.”

“The university visits were very useful as the tour guides were engaging, open, friendly and knowledgeable. Each university had its own appeals, and learning about the different faculties and specialties of each campus was interesting.”

“University visits were the main highlight of my week. This is because it gave us a crucial opportunity to gain an insight on what routine life looked like inside of a university and gave us a refresher on using public transport.”

In Year 10, students decide what to study in their senior school years and think ahead to what they might like to do when they finish school. In my session on Wednesday, I introduced students to VTAC, a hub for tertiary course applications in Victoria. Students researched tertiary courses, prerequisite studies needed for entry into tertiary courses and pathways into the courses. In my session on Thursday, students learned how to research junior positions and write a Cover Letter. We looked at two junior positions recently advertised on SEEK (casual team members at local Boost Juice and Betty’s Burgers) and the skills the employers are looking for.

Financial literacy workshops were delivered on Wednesday and Thursday, by Steven and Jake, two facilitators from ‘Talk Money’. The sessions were fun and engaging and focussed on: 'What is Tax and Superannuation', 'How to Read a Payslip' and 'Understanding Your Rights at Work'.

Melbourne Sustainability Guided Tour on Friday afternoon was our last activity and was a great way to finish the Program. The tour started and finished at Federation Square. Students explored different city locations where sustainable strategies are being implemented by architects, residents, planners, council, buildings, gardeners, social enterprises and transport authorities. This session inspired students to reflect on social responsibility and economic practice, consumption and waste, respect for nature, human rights, economic justice and ‘greener’ models of environmental management.

VCE Camp

The VCE camp at CYC The Island, Phillip Island, was an awesome few days full of adventure, teamwork, and reflection. The camp kicked off with a fun scavenger hunt around Cowes, where students raced to solve puzzles, take on challenges, and build friendships. Back at camp, everyone had a blast on the giant swing, abseiling, rock climbing, and playing basketball. The students also got to explore A Maze'N Things, enjoying illusions, a tricky maze, the vertical jump, and a mini golf game.

Each evening, the focus shifted to faith and reflection with worship sessions and devotions led by students, giving everyone a chance to share insights and support each other on their VCE journey. Day two started with a devotion by our school captain Sidra, followed by a jam-packed day of activities. Students had fun at ten-pin bowling, learned some new moves in a bush dance, and got creative during a student-led activity. When the rain threw off plans, everyone rolled with it and had a great time singing their hearts out at an impromptu karaoke session.

On the final day, the camp wrapped up with morning devotions led by our other school captain Scott, reminding everyone to take what they'd learned back into their VCE journey. After packing up, the group took a trip to the Nobbies Boardwalk, soaking in the stunning views and spotting some wildlife. It was the perfect way to end an amazing camp filled with great memories, new friendships, and meaningful moments. Thanks for the support and prayers—this camp was one to remember.