_1.png){kind=logo}
-white-01-FINAL.svg){kind=logo}
As we conclude our first term of 2025 it is a great opportunity to reflect on this time and the many great things that have been happening in the life of the College.
Our theme for 2025 is 'Real Hope' and our accompanying scripture comes from Isaiah 40:31, ‘...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’ It has been wonderful to see how staff and students have captured this year’s theme and applying it to their faith walk.
Congratulations to Stefanie in Year 12 who created our winning piece of artwork to represent this year’s theme. The creativity she has expressed through her piece of work is inspiring and we are looking forward to this being our cover artwork for our 2025 Yearbook.
2025 also marks the official release of our St Andrews Christian College Pedagogical Framework. This framework represents several years of work from our academic staff and leaders to capture the essence of our approach to learning and teaching, including our 16 Learner Attributes. This framework supports our commitment to a distinctively Christian education, in which biblically-based truth forms the centre of our teaching and curriculum. We understand the importance of students, parents and carers having a strong understanding of our approach to education, so we will be sending copies of the St Andrews Christian College Pedagogical Framework to all families in the coming weeks. We encourage all parents and carers to read through this publication when received so that we can all share the journey together of your child’s education at the College.
I would like to thank our students, families and staff for a positive and purposeful Term 1.
Welcome to the end of Term 1, 2025. I have often heard people say to me, “Can you believe that it is the end of term?”, and it has caused me to stop and think about what this means. Is this a sign that time flies too fast or is it a sign that we are all trying to catch up and make sure that we are not missing out? Perhaps it is a mix of both.
If your family is like mine, it’s a juggle. The timetabling of who is going where and what is happening each week can creep up on us and we feel, at times, that it’s all flying past us too quickly. Yet here we are, again, at the end of this term looking back at all that has happened and how we have managed it all. I choose to stop, and press pause amid the juggle, the lunches that are needing to be made and the uniforms that need to be washed, and feel proud of all that has happened at St Andrews in Term 1—our high functioning College, wonderful students and committed and caring staff.
We continue to offer our students a wide variety of different experiences that allow for all students to achieve their individual best. Our amazing students continue to thrive with the opportunities presented to them. Whether this be the leadership opportunities and moments to present to other students, our new initiative of Monday Assembly timetable, or the initiation of different excursion or camp opportunities that our creative staff continue to design, plan and supervise. Yes, it’s busy but how wonderful it is that God gives us the resources and strength to provide these opportunities for our students; this is a true blessing.
Thank you, parents/carers, for your willingness to engage in volunteer opportunities and for your compliance with signing in, attending induction evenings and for the way that you engage with honesty and integrity to provide extra learning opportunities for our students. This year we continue to always refine and improve all volunteer opportunities, and I value your feedback in this area.
Staff have endeavoured to engage students in the importance of sun smart behaviour this term. We have worked hard to communicate the need to wear hats, and this is an area that we want to continually improve. Sun smart behaviour is foremost on our mind, and I am committed to ensuring that all students and staff embark on personal awareness and ownership of wearing their hats (enforced in Term 1 and 4, however, if possible, the whole year when UV rays are high). I would encourage you to speak of this at home with your children about the importance of wearing hats and protecting their skin. For your knowledge we require all students to own and wear a college hat and if they are not wearing this throughout recess and lunchtime, they will be asked to stay under verandas. Students are required to wear their hat always when playing outside and this applies from Prep to Year 12. Hats should be worn under the DOME, under the café and walking to the MPH for recess and lunchtime.
Thank you to families who are vigilant with ensuring that the students wear correct academic and sport uniforms. Please refer to the College Uniform guide listed on the website for further information, and could I please ask that students be mindful that jewellery should adhere to the uniform guidelines and that hair is tied back.
I also remind you of the need to ensure that your child is punctual to school by 9am sharp and that all efforts are made to be on time each day. All communication continues to be disseminated through the HUB and that if needed, help through the IT department is available to access the Parent HUB app.
Blessings to you and your family,
It has been an exciting start to the year at St Andrews Christian College with the launch of our new College Pedagogical Framework.
The St Andrews Christian College Pedagogical Framework has been developed to articulate for teachers, parents and students how the mission of the College will be realised. The Pedagogical Framework is designed to support teachers in the delivery of high-quality learning and teaching, based on best practice research, and relate it to the most effective way that students learn. A common, consistent and evidence-based approach to teaching and learning is vital to ensure that the learning outcomes for all students are maximised. Each family within the College will receive a copy of the College Pedagogical Framework prior to the end of Term 1.
Our framework, built on our established foundation of Christian education, encompasses:
Our College Pillars of Purpose, providing clear direction and mission.
A Graduate Student Profile, focused on developing young people who demonstrate strong Christian values and attributes.
A curriculum developed through the God's Big Story model, integrating biblical perspectives with academic excellence.
Sixteen key Learner Attributes, preparing students for their future beyond school.
A student wellbeing focus, incorporating Visible Wellbeing to ensure that each student is known, respected, and valued.
Practical teaching strategies, grounded in research for effective classroom implementation.
Our Learner Attributes identify the skills which students need to transition effectively into the world beyond school. The sixteen Learner Attributes have been grouped into four key areas: Engaging, Relating, Developing and Managing. Each of these areas will feature in the Term Newsletter throughout the year.
Engaging
Engaging is about actively participating in our learning. It involves creating new ideas, analysing information, applying knowledge to real situations, and using our skills to make positive changes. Through engagement, we become active contributors to our own learning and the world around us.
On Feb 20th, we welcomed Ryan Evans from Brickulum back to St Andrews Christian College to run a day of Lego building and enrichment activities. Ryan is a past Lego Masters contestant and brings a wealth of enthusiasm and experience (not to mention Lego bricks) when he comes.
Students from Year 1 to Year 6 were challenged in a variety of ways—from inventing wearable Lego, creating Lego food, building structures that could hang, cantilever or bridge as well as designing cars to compete for speed and distance. Collaboration, creativity and reasoning were the order of the day with a lot of fun and laughter mixed in.
The day ended with an after-school build session for any interested families. It was a great time, and we look forward to inviting Ryan back again next year.
This term, we held our first ASD Parent Support Group meeting, where we discussed executive functioning and helpful strategies.
Our primary aim is to provide an opportunity for parents to connect with other parents who are faced with the challenges of a child who has autism. This is a wonderful time for parents and staff to build community and a shared understanding. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Our next ASD Parent Support Group Meeting is Wednesday 30th April.
We have also completed all the Student Support Group (SSG) meetings, and it has been delightful to celebrate student growth and achievements.
It has been wonderful to welcome our Primary students and their families back for Term 1 of 2025. Our theme for the year ‘Real Hope’ and scripture from Isaiah 40:31 “those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength”, is a reminder of where our truest hope should lie, which is in Jesus! This scripture has been a great encouragement, as we have launched into Term 1, to keep our eyes focused on the Lord in all that we do.
Term 1 started with our annual Parent Information Evening, which was a great opportunity for parents to meet their child’s teachers to find out about the year ahead. Following on from this, several classes have enjoyed events including the Prep teachers hosting a Prep Picnic and Year 1 teachers hosting a Teddy Bears Picnic. Both were a huge success allowing for students and parents to connect and further develop their friendships and sense of belonging to the St Andrews community. There have been many excursions and incursions for particular year levels which have enriched the learning program, including a trip to the Botanic Gardens for Year 4 and a visit to the Imax for Year 3. Most recently, Year 6s ventured out to Canberra for a week and returned with fantastic stories and experiences that have further developed relationships, character, resilience, knowledge and understanding. It was a pleasure to join in and observe every student step up to try new things and learn more about our amazing country. We are grateful for all of these experiences and the dedicated staff that make learning so rich.
Primary have enjoyed some combined events as well, including Cyber Safety and Lego Masters Brickulum incursion. Our visiting Lego Master, Ryan, wowed St Andrews students with engineering feats and gave the students interesting challenges that defied gravity. In our final week of Term 1 students have been stretched in new and creative ways with E³ Week. With the theme, Unveiling God’s Cosmic Story, students have created comic strips, poetry and journal articles. They have gone on virtual missions, explored heroes, cultural views and have engaged in galactic debates. E³ stands for 'Engage, Enrich and Empower' and we have certainly seen this unfold in our final week!
As the term concludes, we encourage you to read the many feedback pieces that have been released to you via the Hub. Our hope is that they provide you with feedback on how your child is progressing in various subjects and importantly share with you your child’s next learning step.
Please continue to keep the College in your prayers. We are thankful for His provision in all things and the love of Jesus which we get to share with our students every day.
Every blessing for the holidays,
Prep Tea'n'Tissues is a wonderful way for prep parents to connect on the first day of school for our prep students. Parents enjoyed some fellowship over tea & coffee and had the opportunity to make meaningful connections. Some of our staff members were also available to meet with the families. Our aim is to foster a strong sense of community within St Andrews College.
It was with great excitement that the Prep students met their Year 6 Buddies! Prep S students will work with Year 6LG and Prep L students will work with Year 6C. The students will meet once a fortnight and do lots of fun activities together. These include, playing games outside, doing craft activities inside, reading stories, doing puzzles, playing games inside and more! We are so thankful for these special experiences we can share and always enjoy saying “hi” to our Year 6 Buddies when we see them at school.
Our Year 1 students had a delightful time at the Teddy Bear Picnic incursion! With their favorite teddies in tow, they enjoyed a classic Monty Mouse puppet show, full of laughter and excitement. The event was made even more special by the wonderful conversations shared between students, families, and staff. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect, celebrate, and create lasting memories together. Thank you to everyone who joined in and helped make the day so special!
Our Year 2 students have had a fantastic term of hands-on learning across a range of subjects! They’ve been getting to know the new comms box and developing their social skills in exciting ways by playing board games on Friday afternoons. As part of our Humanities unit on Exploring the Past, students examined artefacts, discussing how they were used long ago. In Science, they explored the properties of different materials, using snack lollies to test how they stretch, break, and change shape. It’s been a wonderful term of discovery and fun!
The students did such a FANTASTIC job of completing their first NAPLAN tests. Thank you so much for your prayers for our classes, we are so proud of the students and the 3 long days of superior effort in focus they have put in! Each student showed great perseverance and focus. We prayed that each student would give their very best to God and they certainly did!
Our Year 3 students also recently visited the Melbourne Museum and IMAX. Students were treated to seeing the fascinating 'Bugs Alive' and 'Dynamic Earth' exhibitions together with a wonder-filled walk around the Forest Gallery. 'A Beautiful Planet' was showing on the big IMAX screen which came alive when students donned their 3D glasses! We were so grateful to God for blessing us with wonderful weather and a fabulous day out.
Our Year 4 students had a fantastic excursion to the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, blessed with beautiful weather for a day of hands-on learning and fun! They explored Aboriginal tools, learned how to make paint using water and ochre rock, and even got to taste lemon myrtle tea. The adventure continued as they discovered fascinating native plants, before wrapping up the day with plenty of fun at the playground.
In what was a hard-fought battle to try and retain the prized shield, St Andrews, together with our longstanding revivals WCC Wantirna, came in at third place. First place going to new kids on the block WCC Narre Warren, and second going to Lighthouse. There was only 1 and a half points between the top 4 teams.
Special shout-out to Nourah who ranked equal first amongst the girls. Nourah had lost her first game in record time, due to being beaten by the 4-move checkmate. I asked Nourah to ask one of our players about the strategy so she would not lose by it again. She then went and talk to her opponent, who after receiving a chocolate from the teacher for his first win (questionable), then proceeded graciously to explain the strategy. Nourah then used this strategy to win her next three matches. Impressive!
On Feb 20th, we welcomed Ryan Evans from Brickulum back to St Andrews Christian College to run a day of Lego building and enrichment activities. Ryan is a past Lego Masters contestant and brings a wealth of enthusiasm and experience (not to mention Lego bricks) when he comes.
Students from Year 1 to Year 6 were challenged in a variety of ways—from inventing wearable Lego, creating Lego food, building structures that could hang, cantilever or bridge as well as designing cars to compete for speed and distance. Collaboration, creativity and reasoning were the order of the day with a lot of fun and laughter mixed in.
The day ended with an after-school build session for any interested families. It was a great time, and we look forward to inviting Ryan back again next year
Our Year 6 Canberra camp was an unforgettable experience filled with exploration, learning, and plenty of fun.
The adventure began with an early 7 a.m. departure on Monday 24th March, as students eagerly set off for the nation’s capital. The long journey was broken up with several rest stops, allowing students to stretch their legs and enjoy some food. After arriving at camp, they ended the day with a Minute to Win It competition, where laughter and friendly rivalry set the tone for the days ahead.
Day 2 took students to the Australian War Memorial, where they participated in a wreath-laying ceremony and had the privilege of speaking with a war veteran. Their understanding of Australia’s democracy deepened with visits to the Electoral Education Centre and Museum of Australian Democracy, followed by hands-on scientific discovery at Questacon. The day concluded with a relaxing movie night.
Day 3 was packed with adventure, starting with stunning views from Mount Ainslie and an orienteering challenge at the National Arboretum. A major highlight was witnessing Question Time at Parliament House, where students saw Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, and other politicians engage in heated debate—including one moment where a senator dramatically unveiled a giant fish! They also had the unique opportunity to meet Mary Doyle, Victoria’s Member for Aston. The afternoon included a guided tour of the Australian Institute of Sport, finishing with an entertaining trivia night.
Our final full day was spent enjoying outdoor activities, including Bush Cooking, GPS Navigation, the Vertical Challenge, and a scenic bush walk. The evening wrapped up with a campfire under the stars, complete with marshmallow roasting and solving mystery riddles.
We are incredibly proud of the students’ camaraderie, enthusiasm, and resilience throughout this fun-filled week and thank God for His protection and the beautiful weather we enjoyed.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It has been a busy start to the year in Performing Arts so far. We’ve kicked off the year with several Café Music performances on Thursday lunchtimes organised by our Music Captain, Azriel Gandanegara, and preparations are well underway for Generations in Jazz. We are looking forward to a very busy year in the Performing Arts Department.
Over the weekend in Week 3, 66 of our committed music students participated in a focused Ensembles Camp in preparation for this year’s Generations in Jazz competition. Lots of progress was made across all 6 of the ensembles, and students had the chance to build connections within their ensembles, make new friends, and encourage one another in their performances.
Thanks to Mrs Elbourne, Mrs Bailey, Mr Jackson, Mrs Dan and Mr Batty, who gave up their weekend to help, and a special welcome back to two of our alumni; Ms Roslyn Kho and Mr Caleb Elbourne, who have recently joined our instrumental teaching team.
We look forward to seeing their hard work come to life on stage at Generations in Jazz in early May. Our GIJ Send Off Concert will be held on Monday the 29th of April, in the Secondary Library. More details regarding this event will be shared on the Hub soon.
We are incredibly proud to share that Caleb Elbourne (Class of 2024) was selected to perform at Top Class Music and Top Class Sound at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, on 20 March 2025.
Top Class Music features incredible young students from across Victoria, who excelled in their VCE and VCE VET Music performance examinations, while Top Class Sound recognises outstanding original compositions performed in VCE performance exams in 2024.
Caleb had the opportunity to perform two pieces at the concerts; his original composition ‘Nice Shoes’ and his own arrangement of Charlie Puth and Jacob Kasher’s ‘Attention’. This is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of Caleb’s dedication throughout his VCE studies.
We’re thrilled to now have Caleb back at St Andrews as part of our instrumental teaching staff, teaching Contemporary Piano in our Instrumental Tuition Program.
You can find Caleb’s EP “Room to Play” on Bandcamp, Spotify or Apple Music.
The Year 8 and 9 Theatre Elective classes attended the recent CSEN Theatre Sports workshop on Friday the 28th of February, to find out more about how to improvise and create entertaining theatre moments in groups. We had a great day, practising our improv skills, and meeting and working with theatrical students from other schools.
This term's summer café Busking Program has been nothing short of amazing! The response so far has been great from both performers and the audience, with a diverse amount of groups showing off their skills and bringing good vibes to the café at lunch!
Our karaoke session a few weeks ago also seemed to be a huge success, drawing in a great crowd of people from both primary and secondary school! Together, we sang songs like 'What Makes You Beautiful' and 'I Want It That Way'. It's been really great to see everyone interact with each other through music, so stay tuned for more music events like this!
We have performances scheduled every week until early next term, so if you want to sign up, now is the best time to do so! Stay tuned for upcoming performances and karaoke sessions, and a big thanks to all performers!
Run by our Drama Captain, Bethany Marshall, Secondary Dance Club is a new opportunity for students of all dance levels and abilities, with the goal of providing a fun, light-hearted, community building activity to secondary students. Dance Club will include simple warm up exercises, fun group dance activities, and opportunities to learn dance combos or choreography in a range of different styles, such as jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop. Interested students should check out the Hub for more details.
St Andrews Christian College's Year 11 Theatre students are excited to present Us and Them, a play by David Campton.
Us And Them is a simple story with a deeper, more profound message. Two groups of wanderers, one from the East and one from the West, arrive at the same place, each seeking a place to settle. Initially friendly, they agree to share the land and mark a boundary between their territories. Over time, small actions meant to maintain peace gradually give way to misunderstanding, suspicion, and mistrust. As tensions rise, the groups find themselves on the brink of conflict, each wondering what the other is up to. This play offers a reflection on how communities form and fracture, all presented with a blend of humour and thought-provoking insight.
Date: Thursday the 24th of April 2025
Show Times: 5:30pm and 7:30pm
Tickets - $5: https://www.trybooking.com/DABRD
Location: Drama Classroom, St Andrews Christian College
Congratulations to Year 12 student Stefanie Ng for her winning entry in our 2025 College theme poster competition. Stefanie beautifully captured this year's theme from Isaiah 40:31, "...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
What an incredible two days filled with energy, excitement, and memorable moments both in and out of the water! Over the course of the two events, 9 of the 15 captains from the Secondary Leadership went to help in both the Lower Secondary and VCE Swimming Carnivals.
Our College Captains Scott and Sidra, House Captains Arden, Alyssa, Ruby, Thenul, Yul, and Jemimah, along with Sports Captain Jaden, were all actively involved throughout the day. They marshalled, cheered, swam, and even sang, all while showing true leadership. To wrap up each day, the team indulged in a well-deserved 'team-building' Maccas run as a celebration!
The day was filled with thrilling events, from the Floatie Relay to the Oversized T-shirt Relay, and even an intense game of Water Polo. These, along with the main races, created an atmosphere of fun, friendly competition, and pure excitement.
While Deakin claimed victory in the Lower Secondary Carnival and Parkes took home the win in the VCE Carnival, every participant—whether in the pool or cheering from the sidelines—was a winner. All helping to foster a vibrant and supportive culture that we hope will continue throughout the rest of the year.
We can’t wait to see you all at the upcoming Cross Country and Athletics events! Let’s keep the momentum going!
A huge shout out to our boys and girls basketball teams that competed in the CSEN basketball tournament at the State Centre, Wantirna South. It was a great day of competition with our Secondary Junior Girls taking out top honours and winning Gold and our Secondary Senior Boys taking third spot and winning the Bronze medal. Well done all players!
Congratulations to our Year 3 to 6 swimmers on their amazing performance at the Primary CSEN swimming meet at MSAC! Well done to our Under 10 girls team for bringing home the gold in the Freestyle Relay.
We also had a fantastic day at the CSEN Secondary Swimming Championships! A special congratulations to Grace Dou, who set a new record in the 50m Butterfly with an incredible time of 32.61! Also a huge shoutout to our U16 Boys for bringing home the pennant, with outstanding individual results, a 2nd place finish in the Freestyle Relay, and 3rd place in the Medley Relay! A big congratulations also to our U14 Girls, for finishing 1st in the Medley Relay and 2nd in the Freestyle Relay!
The Melbourne Stars Cricket mascot 'Star Man' visited the school as part of the mascot challenge program the students have been engaged in with Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia. Staff and Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students showed their throwing and catching skills off under the dome for a fun session to finish off their four week program. Children can continue to practice their skills at home by watching Big Bash Schools Challenge for further details! Well played STACC, keep up the great cricket skills!
From the 18th-31st January, 9 students from St Andrews and 3 staff members, joined a Mission Service Learning Team from Pacific Hills Christian School (in Sydney). Our team of 31 (25 students and 6 staff) served in Cambodia as we met and worked with local church leaders, missionaries and even the Cambodia Secretary of State! It was such a blessing to share our testimonies, serve in the Sunday School, Youth Group, Kids Club activities and to learn about the work God is doing in Cambodia. We visited churches, schools and villages and also served by painting, gardening and laying concrete (we were the concrete mixers!) to support the work the church is doing in the Cambodian villages. Lots of time was spent training for and playing soccer and volleyball. A highlight of our time was giving soccer boots and shirts to the youth and running a Soccer Tournament for 6 local teams. We loved the food and fun we shared during 'team times' and were privileged to pray with and for these beautiful people.
Working alongside Transform the Nations (TtN), a group of six—including the Principal, three staff members, and two board members—embarked on an investigative trip to Nepal in February. Their goal was to witness firsthand the transformative work taking place among the poorest and lowest-caste Nepalese. They saw the profound impact that Christian education and a safe home can have in giving children the gift of real hope.
With a strategic commitment to Mission Service Learning, we are excited about the opportunity to develop a mission-oriented program that can be woven into every aspect of College life. Our Principal and his team continue to explore ways to integrate the concept of faithful service into the College’s overall vision, and we pray that this initiative will help shape that journey.
As we continue to be blessed by the growth in our College, we are excited to welcome thirteen new staff members to our community this year. Each of these talented individuals brings unique skills and experiences that will enrich our learning environment and support our students' growth. We are grateful for God's provision in bringing these dedicated professionals to our team, and we look forward to the positive impact they will have on our college.
Joining our teaching team are:
Supporting our students’ learning and wellbeing, we are pleased to welcome Fiona Porter (Learning Support Teacher), Valerie Kuan (Learning Support Assistant), and Melissa Kiernan (Student Counsellor). Additionally, Ye Han Chong joins us as IT Service Desk Assistant, Clarissa Seow as our new Publications & Social Media Coordinator, and Talia Lee and Josephine Kristhianto as Administration Assistants in our front office reception area.
As we welcome these new staff members, we are reminded of 1 Peter 4:10, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
May this year be one where we continue to grow together, using our gifts to honour God and bless those around us.
The Parents and Friends Association (PFA) has had a wonderful start to the year, welcoming new families and strengthening our school community.
A highlight was the Welcome Picnic, where families gathered to connect and enjoy a relaxed afternoon together. It was a joy to see new friendships forming and to celebrate the sense of belonging that makes St Andrews Christian College so special.
We were also inspired by our Principal and Mission Service Learning Coordinator, Majella, who shared about last year’s mission trips and the exciting new partnership with Transform the Nations. This mission focus reminds us of the bigger picture of faith in action, and we are excited to see how our school community can make an impact in the lives of one of the most vulnerable people groups in Nepal. The PFA is delighted to partner with the school in supporting the work of Transform the Nations.
We are also thrilled to have Icypole Fridays back in full swing! A big thank you to the volunteers who help make this possible—it’s always a hit with the students.
Speaking of volunteers, we are incredibly grateful for those who have given their time to serve in the Uniform Shop and support the school’s Open Day. Your generosity and willingness to help are truly appreciated!
The PFA looks forward to another great year of building community and supporting our school. Thank you for your continued involvement!
Blessings,
Our Garden Club students have been hard at work tending to the veggie patch, growing fresh produce for our school community. The club is student-run and meets at lunchtime in the veggie patch. In addition to enjoying the rewards of their hard work, they also sell the produce they grow, with all proceeds donated to Tearfund. Staff and students are welcome to purchase our veggies. Parents can send a few dollars with their child if they’d like to buy some fresh produce!
To all our staff and parents of students at St Andrews Christian College, we would love for you to join us in praising God and praying for the College. The meetings are held at these times:
There is no obligation to pray aloud but of course you are welcome to. More information is also available from our Chaplain, Warwick Grant at wgrant@standrews.vic.edu.au or from Suzy Song at the College office.
Did you know that 2 in 5 young people may experience a mental health problem or crisis this year? That is a staggering statistic and should make us concerned for our children and students.
At St Andrews we are very proactive about youth mental health and we know that educating ourselves and our families is the best way to support our young people.
We train our staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid every 3 years and also train our Years 8 & 10 students to be qualified teen Mental Health First Aiders. Additionally have introduced Visible Wellbeing as a whole school framework (being officially launched later this year) and embed student wellbeing in all aspects of learning and teaching (Pedagogical Framework).
As a qualified Youth Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, this means the College can offer a 2-day Parent/Carer Youth Mental Health First Aid Course to interested persons. The course will take place in Term-2 (Course is open to members of the public). For more information please email me: mheading@standrews.vic.edu.au
Thank you for your partnership in caring for our young people.
God Bless,
Hi, my name is Youran Wang and I am the Secondary Wellbeing Captain for 2025. I'd love to talk about the initiatives and activities that my Student Wellbeing Team are planning for this year.
Firstly, the student wellbeing team is a group of students that have been meeting at Monday lunchtimes to plan activities and events that can boost Visible Wellbeing—making wellbeing more visible! We've talked about what it means to see, hear and feel wellbeing, which we concluded that it included creating a safe environment for everyone, encouraging clear and open conversations about mental health, and also bringing a sense of belonging and support where students and staff can thrive. Our next upcoming wellbeing event is Culture Day, which we intend to encourage inclusivity, showcase diversity and foster unity in the St Andrews community!
Here is a photo of my team. I am really proud to lead them as we promote FLOURISHING at St Andrews.
We are excited to announce that we now have some Chinese Language books in both our libraries. Library staff have worked with the Chinese Faculty to purchase a variety of titles. These should be available for borrowing early Term 2. Library staff are very grateful to Mrs Miao, Mrs Yuan and Mrs Lim for such a wonderful selection.
These are for loan by Primary and Secondary students.
These are for loan by Year 9 students and above. They can be found in the General section of the Senior Library.
We also have a selection of readings for students wishing to practice their Chinese. These are located in the General section in the Senior Library and available for students in Years 5 and up.
Students in Years 7 and 8 participate in this Challenge as part of their English program. They are required to read a minimum of 15 books to complete the Challenge successfully. They are, however encouraged to read as many books as possible during this time. English classes have a reading lesson in the Senior Library each fortnight.
Students in Years 9 and 10 may also participate if they wish. To do so they will need to see Mrs. Marks or Miss Valentine in the Senior Library and be enrolled.
back
