As we come to the end of Term 1, many of us may be left feeling a bit disappointed and frustrated at how the term has gone. We hoped COVID restrictions would be lifted and we could enjoy life as normal again. Sadly, as the virus has spread amongst us, we have had home isolation, and this has resulted in many staff and students being absent.

So far, we have coped but I am conscious of senior students in particular who due to staff absences or their own, are anxious about falling behind. Our experience of the past two years, however, shows that this has not been an issue and those students will catch up. Much of the work is available online for students and they should, if they are well enough while in isolation, be online doing what they can and emailing their teachers for instructions.

The biggest challenge is teachers off work and feeling very unwell with COVID and often taking some time to recover. We have tried to provide casual staff and used our own staff internally as much as possible. Many teachers have been able to teach on-line with their classes too. Please ensure you read my emails about COVID changes carefully and follow the guidelines. We are trying to restrict the spread of the virus while not imposing burdensome restrictions of our own on the staff and students.

The wet weather has also not helped! I saw on one of the class Facebook pages a comment about children’s school bags getting soaked. We do have cover outside all our classes for bags but given the extent of the rain and its occasional heaviness, it is possible that a bag that looked safe, may well get soaked. My apologies to those who had had to replace books due to this happening.

We have also had some instance of graffiti and vandalism in a Secondary toilet block and outside one building. This is very unusual for GPCC, and we are working to track down the culprits and deal to them. I know it has been frustrating for students that they have often been unable to get outside during break times due to the rain and this can lead to poor behaviour. Generally, our students have been fantastic in spite of the challenging conditions.

Thank you to those who have been trying to work with us on our traffic problems in the afternoon. With the help of one of our Secondary parents who is a traffic engineer, we will be exploring some solutions. Part of that will be a survey that will go out to you, and I ask that you complete that promptly when it arrives.

We had a very encouraging Open Day on Thursday and it is great to hear positive comments about the school from so many prospective parents. While we do not claim to be a perfect school, we are working to make improvements and to serve your children well.

Words are a powerful tool that can do great good or deliver massive harm to the lives of a listener. Often the flippant humour that Australians use delivers great harm to the recipient. Students will often say that it was only a joke and wonder why someone else has been hurt. They often have a very narrow view of the effects that their words effects can have on others.  No student should be on the receiving end of cutting and unkind comments, this of course includes comments that racist, sexist, homophobic etc.

If we really want to be a community, the words we use should always lift and build up those around us. The delivery of positive words is powerful in the development of others, creating peace and the formation of a healthy culture. 

The reality is that we all fall short and end up hurting others, often unintentionally.  So part of growth needs to include the willingness to apologise for hurts we create, but also have the heart to forgive those who hurt us. I really believe these two fundamental actions to good relationships begin the development of resilience in a young person.

We are coming to the end of our first term for this year. It seems like so many things have happened and been accomplished in the first 10 weeks of the College year.  Well done to everyone and I pray that you have a restful break over the school holidays.  Of course, the holidays start with the most important time in the Christian Calendar, Easter. I pray that over this time you and your family have a sense of God’s amazing love for you that resulted in his sending his Son as the most expensive sacrifice that could be given.

Relationships are key to our lives and that is what Easter was about, relationship with God.  But our society continually distorts what is healthy in relationships and confuses our young people. I have felt that I have been speaking about relationships a lot this term.  I feel that our young people are confused about what is appropriate in any sort of relationship and it is all or our responsibilities to go back to the basics of what is acceptable in relationships.  This message needs to start in the home where clear understanding is created in the way that children treat their parents, adults and each other.

A message to Year 12 - you need to use these two weeks productively and not waste them. I know you are tired but the reality is that these two weeks is a great time to catch up on study notes and completing assessment tasks.

Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said he would.”

NAPLAN Practice Tests in Week 11 for Years 7 and 9

The College will be running NAPLAN Practice Tests on Thursday, 7 April 2022 for Year 7 during Period 3 and Year 9 during Period 1.

All students must have their own bring earphones/ headphones for the test.

Tests comprise of an OMNIBUS Test (reading, conventions of language and numeracy), and/or a writing test. The aim of the practice tests is for students to become familiar with the types of questions they will experience in NAPLAN in May and for staff to familiarise themselves with the functions of the online platform.

It is timed but is not marked. We do not receive any feedback or results from this test.

Reminder Years 7-10 Parent/Teacher Interviews – Tuesday 5 April 2022 4.30pm to 8.30pm

Bookings for these interviews are now open and will close on Monday 4 April 2022 at 4:00pm.

Interview times are 7 minutes with each subject teacher, and it is preferable for students to attend with their parent/s.

Parents of students in Years 7-10 can book these interviews via the Parent Lounge by logging in with your Parent Code previously supplied.

As with all our interview processes, if you have difficulties or do not have access to the internet, please call the Office and we will assist you.

If you are feeling unwell or displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, please stay at home.

If you are unable to attend or prefer not to if you are vulnerable to COVID-19, you can email your child's teacher to request feedback on their progress. 

NEW DATE FOR GPCC Secondary Athletics Carnival is Wednesday 27 April 2022 (Week 1, Term 2)

Our GPCC Secondary Athletics Carnival is now confirmed for Wednesday 27 April 2022 (Week 1, Term 2) at Mingara - First day of Term 2 

A reminder that this is a compulsory school event.  

When: Wednesday, 27 April 2022 (first day of Term 2) 

Venue: Mingara Regional Athletics Centre 

Time: Carnival will begin at 9:00am and conclude at 2:30pm  

What to wear/bring: House colours, sports uniform, recess and lunch  

Transport: All students are required to make their own way to and from the carnival.  If your child cannot make their own way to the carnival, there will be limited seating available on the College bus. Please note the bus will arrive at the carnival after the first event which commences at 9.00am. 

For those students who are unable to make their own way to the carnival – all transport already booked through the Parent Lounge for students travelling to and from the carnival on the bus provided will remain in place.

Booking Transport for GPCC Athletics Carnival

Please log into the Parent Lounge and locate the Events named which is listed in the Events and Payments tab:

1. Transport to the Secondary Athletics Carnival
2. Transport from the Secondary Athletics Carnival

When the appropriate boxes are ticked, you will need to select "Accept" in the box below the cost box, and then select "Save" at the bottom of the page to complete the acceptance.

GPCC Student Performs at Annual Police Awards Ceremony

Year 12 student Scotia E represented Green Point Christian College at the Brisbane

Water Police District annual awards ceremony. 

Year 7 Technology Class

Mr Ogden's Year 7 Technology (Woodwork) had a great time racing their COS Dragsters in class.