Yesterday, they were not dodging footballs or basketballs, rather they were met with a sea of faces, as the College community lined the yard to present a guard of honour. The Cambridge dictionary defines this as ‘a group of people, who are arranged in a row at a special occasion to honour someone very important’. In farewelling our school leaders, the Year 12 cohort, I recognised that these young men had grown though the crisis of a lifetime. They had not been led through it, they had identified the challenges and as a group made a conscious decision to meet the challenge head on. Their goal this year was to bring the community together, and whilst they may feel COVID-19 impacted their ability to do this, I assured them that their heart, effort and leadership as a group ensured that we, as a community, stayed connected. Their care of each other in lockdown and commitment to studies has left a legacy to be proud of. St Augustine’s College is a successful school because our students understand what it means to have heart. This resilience and willing to work hard is cultural, it is learnt, and it is a wonderful part of our school.

Relationships, community and personal contact are an inherent part of the human condition. After very careful consideration, we decided yesterday that it was an important gesture to acknowledge each young man as he came across the stage to receive his graduation certificate and his Old Boy’s tie with a handshake. This gesture that personifies a connection between men, may seem insignificant but was important in the recognition and the personal contact that we have as an Augustinian community. In order to ensure that we could perform this basic human gesture safely,  the boys sanitised their hands immediately prior to coming across the stage, shook hands with myself and Chris Hardy, current teacher and Old Boy, Class of 1975, who also sanitised our hands, and once the boys left the stage they re-sanitised their hands. The College continues to find solutions to the challenges we face this year. It is our capacity to deliver the last 1% where excellence is found.

I reflected on this year, focusing on what is important. Just days prior to Graduation, I asked our Graduating Class eight questions that I think define a schools success:

1. I usually manage one way or another. 93% of boys picked the top band
2. I feel proud I have accomplished things. 92% of boys picked the top band
3. When I am in a difficult situation I can find my way out. 85% of boys picked the top band
4. I feel I can handle many things at once. 79% of boys picked the top band, I did say yesterday I think this is our most impressive result as it means we have taught a generation of young men to multi-task.
5. My belief in myself gets me through hard times. 83% of boys picked the top band
6. It is clear my teachers enjoy teaching. 86% of boys picked the top band
7. It is clear my teachers liked teaching us. 85% of boys picked the top band
8. My teachers showed an interest in my learning. 85% of boys picked the top band

We have young men that have graduated, capable of finding their way, discerning what is right and choosing to act on it. I referenced yesterday that this graduating class will leave the College with two of life’s most important personal attributes: integrity and a willingness to strive for excellence. The students are self-assured and humble young men who can also acknowledge the role others have contributed in supporting their development, their teachers and families. Over 20% of the cohort have already been offered early entry into a chosen pattern of tertiary study.

I would like to thank our College Captain, Jack Berry, Vice-Captain, Conor Fagan and Head Prefect, Nathan Gartner who have admirably led a committed student leadership body. Their calm and inclusive leadership, their sense of humour and mildly larrikin attitudes have ensured a grounded sense of fun they have brought to school each day, especially this month with the three of them sporting the world’s worst hair styles in support of ‘Mullets for Mental Health’. I would also like to acknowledge the House Formation Team and the Deputy Principal – Students, Kate Earle, for their exceptional work in providing a fitting farewell to these wonderful young men; a highlight being one of our International students live streamed from China receiving his Old Boy tie and Graduation certificate from his uncle. 

With next week celebrating World Teacher’s Day, at College Assembly today I asked the students to take a moment to recognise the passion, support and care that our staff invest in them every day, and before the day was out to simply thank a teacher for their commitment to our success. I know that over the last few days as graduation loomed in the minds of our Year 12 students, they realised how important their teachers have been in their journey here.  

I continue to be so humbled by the efforts of all students, parents and staff, the adaptability and willingness to accept changes, in many instances that lack consistency, is a demonstration of the trust the community has in the College. We finished Term 2 with a positive horizon and began Term 3 under the cloud of COVID-19 concern. I sincerely thank the whole community for a great term.

I hope that with the easing of restrictions families are able to spend some valuable time relaxing together as we prepare for the last term of the year.

Jonathan Byrne
Principal

Black Dog Institute’s Mullets for Mental Health

Congratulations to all the boys who are participating in Mullets for Mental Health campaign this month. Collectively, the boys have raised close to $40,000 for this wonderful initiative which raises funds to help support mental health research.  

Help and Support Needed for a Wonderful Augustinian Organisation

Our Augustinian volunteers are involved in wonderful service work throughout Australia. Please visit Augustinian Volunteers Australia (AVA) to learn about their valued work.

In order to fund this important organisation, AVA conduct a series of fundraisers each year. This year, AVA are participating in the ‘Virtual City2Surf’ and are seeking your generous support.

The ‘Virtual City2Surf’ involves registering for a small fee, obtaining an App to measure your walk/run, and, on the 18 October, completing a 14 km walk or walk/run within a location of your choice!

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT!

1. Register as a walker/runner for the ‘Virtual City to Surf’ and join the ‘Augustinian Volunteers Australia’ Team then seek sponsorships with all donations going to AVA.

• Register as an individual at  https://city2surf.com.au/  Gather family and friends to register and walk/run with you on the day.
• Join AVA team at https://city2surf2020.everydayhero.com/au/walking-with-augustinian-volunteers-australia
• Spread the word among family and friends and seek sponsorship.

     OR

2. Support and donate directly to the ‘Augustinian Volunteers Australia’ Team AVA or individuals who are part of the AVA team at https://city2surf2020.everydayhero.com/au/walking-with-augustinian-volunteers-australia

Any question or queries make contact with me at the College. Thanks for your consideration and support.

Peter Nolan
Deputy Principal – Mission and Wellbeing

Term 4 Community Mass Schedule

Wednesday 14 October – 7 Reville 1&2
Wednesday 28 October – Year 5 (50 &5G)

Significant Dates

Thursday 15 October - Senior Reflection Day

Simon Hyland
Leader of Liturgy and Retreats

Mao’s Last Dancer - Discussion Panel

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the third year of the Mao’s Last Dancer discussion panel was ZOOMed into Year 8 English classrooms. The panel featured insightful speeches from Executive Officer- International Program Augustinian School Australia, Ms Vivian Cao, Chinese International EAL/D students Tony Gao (Year 9) and Gehret Zhu (Year 10), and Chinese teacher Mr Mark Hall. The event is designed to complement the Year 8 English Identity unit focusing on Li Cunxin’s memoir, Mao’s Last Dancer, and provide Year 8 students with an understanding of the contextual background of Communist China and Chinese culture in a more relatable manner.

Ms Vivian Cao presented some family photos and spoke to the boys about the intense pressures she experienced during her Chinese schooling. For six days each week, she attended school from 7:30am- 9pm in classes of 108 students and spent an additional three hours completing homework each night. Furthermore, Ms Vivian explained how Chinese thoughts, attitudes and evaluations on an event may considerably differ from western countries due to their cultural differences and experiences.

Tony Gao (Year 9) echoed Ms Vivian’s words when revealing his admiration of Chairman Mao, the founding father of modern China, and his personal experiences of the extremely high expectations Chinese teachers and parents impose upon students. Tony entertained the boys with tales of being forced to learn from his incorrect test responses by rewriting the correct answer fifty times for every error. In addition, Tony explained the difference between Qingdao and Beijing and the cultural significance of Chinese names and food.

Gehret Zhu (Year 10) confirmed Tony’s assessment of the greater pressures on students in China in comparison to western countries. Gehret’s experience of studying in California for two years prior to commencing at St Augustine’s College this term enabled him to share his perspective on studying in three countries. Most notably, his attempt to describe a taco by comparing it to dumplings was well received by the Year 8 students.

The final speaker, Mr Mark Hall, reflected on his years living in China to outline the more controversial western perspective of Chairman Mao’s reign. He guided the Year 8 students on a whirlwind journey through the rise of Mao Zedong’s CCP- Communist China Party, The Great Leap Forward (1958-59) and The Cultural Revolution facilitated by the fearsome Red Guards. In addition, Mr Hall shared personal experiences of his wife’s estrangement from her sisters and the hardships and physical punishments her uncle endured.

For another year, the discussion panel was a rewarding learning experience and a successful presentation of the valuable contributions and rich diversity the Chinese International EAL/D students provide for our Augustinian community. Both Tony and Gehret encouraged the Year 8 students to appreciate the freedom of the Australian school system.

“I really enjoyed learning more about the history of China. The aspect of the panel I found the most interesting was Tony and Gehret comparing the schooling and punishments in China with Australia.” – Aiden O’Donoughue (Year 8)

“It was interesting learning about the everyday life of students in China and their respect for Chairman Mao. I also liked Tony’s comparisons between Li’s home in Qingdao and the capital, Beijing.” – Simon Taylor (Year 8)

“The speakers showed us a different perspective of Mao as a respected and admired leader.” – Jackson Elepano (Year 8)

Visual Arts

Congratulations to our HSC Visual Arts class of 2020. The boys have made outstanding practical bodies of work in a variety of forms including drawing, painting, printmaking, photomedia and film. Families celebrated the achievements from home with a Visual Arts ZOOM Showcase where each student presented their work to a very keen audience who have supported the boys through this challenging HSC year.

The curator for ‘Express Yourself’ exhibition at Manly Art Gallery came to view the works and was impressed with ALL of them. Works were also nominated for ‘Art Express’ at the Art Gallery NSW and we look forward with anticipation to the decision on who will be selected.

Year 7 Music Composition Assessment

Performing music is one way of engaging in the artform but composition is arguably the more creative aspect. Composition is a vital learning experience in the Music curriculum, one in which students take their knowledge and understanding of the discipline and then apply it creatively to organise sound.

Year 7 Music students recently completed their Composition Assessment Task, where they were required to write a ternary form piece using a prescribed chord progression for string trio and to notate their scores in Noteflight music program. Although this was a creative process, the boys learnt about basic music notation, major and minor tonality, dynamics and expression, melody writing and chordal accompaniment and about string instruments. To reinforce this learning experience and to showcase exemplar compositions, a professional string trio was engaged to perform and record the works. Congratulations and well done to the following 10 students whose compositions were selected for recording:

Lucas Dent
Jasper Duckworth
Charles McDonald
Hayden McLellan
Jacob Saady
Joshua Skinner
Joshua Sloots
Ruban Steffens
Oskar Swerdlow
Louis Tilly

Please enjoy these fine compositions - https://youtu.be/msW3A0i91d0

Year 12 Music HSC Composition Submissions reprise

For a taste of what our senior boys are creating, please take a moment to listen to this year’s HSC compositions:

Dominic Edgell (12 Music 2) – https://youtu.be/w3zQ-QV_lbQ

Benjamin Weiley (12 Music 1) – https://youtu.be/XXFqNnFumec

Year 8 Music Extension 2020 – Concert

Year 8 Music Extension students are commended on their absolutely superb end of term concert last Monday afternoon. Their efforts in class and after many early morning rehearsals paid dividends as they presented a highly entertaining concert of cover and original songs. It was great to see all singing and jumping between instruments. We cannot wait to hear the recording planned for Term 4!

Well done to Performing Arts Co-ordinator, Joseph Montz and Year 8 Music Extension students, Luke Ambrosius, William Kearns, Marlow McCarthy, Alec Raymond and Hamish Rose.

Primary School Instrumental Program

Regular programming has been disrupted in Term 3 due to changes to the Government’s COVID-19 regulations relating to group performances of voice, chanting, woodwind and brass instruments. Significant modifications to the program have been in place since Week 6, however I am pleased to announce that woodwind and brass instrumentalists will return to their tuition, in short individual sessions with tutors, from the start of Term 4.

Value of instrumental music and Private Music Tuition Program

There are many benefits of playing a musical instrument in human development. Music is an integral part of human life and is a fundamental part of a culture and identity, a creative pursuit which is often performed in a collaborative or ensemble situation. There have been many studies conducted that link music and increased intelligence in students, but this is not the only benefit. In schools, learning an instrument is a discipline in which students simultaneously develop academic capacity, physical ability and social skills.

All students are encouraged to take up learning and instrument. Private tuition in most instruments and voice is available at the College. Further information and the enrolment form are available online at - https://atlas.saintaug.nsw.edu.au/Sport-Co-Curricular/Sport-and-Co-curricular-Forms/music-tuition. If you have any questions regarding the Private Music Tuition Program, please contact Alan Caulfield caulfield.a@saintaug.nsw.edu.au or Lynne Papahatzis lpapahatzis@saintaug.nsw.edu.au

Alan Caulfield
Faculty Co-ordinator Music 

Rehearsals

All Co-curricular Music rehearsals are now on hold until further notice with the exception of drumline and guitar ensemble.

Night of Voice

Set for October 27 (Term 4, Week 3), this concert is designed for all singers at the College.  Featuring special performances by the College Choir, and accompanied by our in-house band, it is a great opportunity for our vocalists to have their time on stage.

Performing Arts BBQ lunch

Booked for November 3 (Term 4, Week 4), this is our opportunity to recognise the work put in by all of our talented performing arts students.

Jo Montz
Performing Arts Co-ordinator

Weekly Careers News updates are now available via the College ATLAS page.

Information related to university, TAFE, private colleges, cadetships, scholarships, gap years and employment opportunities are included.

Enquiries: pmcalinden@saintaug.nsw.edu.au

The College has been working with Northern Beaches Council, and has been successful in establishing another permanent Drop off and Pick up Zone in front of College Reception on Alfred Road. Parents are asked to make use of this zone for the safety of all students, and to improve traffic flow around the College precinct during these peak times.

The Gulliver Street “Kiss and Drop” continues to be for Primary students only. Primary parents are reminded that when exiting this zone you left turn only (as per signage).

Your co-operation with this is greatly appreciated.