Week 1, Term 3 2024

We Need Your Help!

It’s that time of that particular year when we desperately need your help! Our biennial School Fair is just two weeks away and we are still in urgent need of volunteers and donations. I know there is always a last-minute flurry, but may I please ask (beg!) those of you who might have an hour or so to spare on Saturday 27 July to sign up via the volunteer roster and offer a little of that most precious of commodities, your time. You will have a lot of fun, make new friendships, help the school and earn our eternal gratitude!

Equally with donations. If you have a spare bottle of wine or block of chocolate in the cupboard, or something that you might contribute to the Cent Auction, please bring it into whichever of the school offices you are most familiar with where it will be gratefully received. I know times are tough and I realise I am risking causing offence by even asking in such a tough economic climate and when you are making untold sacrifices to pay your school fees, but we all dearly want this Fair to be the success it always is, and we need your help to make this happen.

Just to place things in perspective, we expect up to 5,000 visitors from our local community to visit All Saints on the day. It is without doubt the biggest single event we undertake as a school; a fundraiser for sure (with every cent raised going back to help the school community), but a ‘friend raiser’ too; an opportunity to showcase our school to the wider community and to invite local families to enjoy a glorious day of innocent family fun. The Fair is also completely organised by P&F volunteers and it simply could not happen without you. Please do what you can to help. Just take the time to click on the Fair page and see if there is something that you think you might be able to contribute.

On a slightly different note, there are so many nasty viruses about at the moment and I implore you all to please keep your children home if they are displaying symptoms that suggest they are unwell. Schools are like Petrie dishes; viruses love schools like a spark loves dry vegetation. Please help us to minimise the spread of disease by keeping your child home if they are unwell. Our sick bay has been completely overwhelmed this week and, whilst we are surely in the middle of the flu season, too many children seem to be going straight from drop-off to sick bay.

You have also all received a separate email about the effects our car park expansion might have on traffic control. I can only thank you for your patience and once again assure you that the short-term pain will be vindicated by the outcomes these works will achieve.

On a brighter note, we have had a wonderful start to the term. The sun decided to shine on our Junior School Athletics Carnival, (just as it will decide to shine on Fair day – I’ve had a word!) and the school has once again been resonating with those glorious sounds of happy children delighted to recount their holiday adventures with each other. The Gold Coast Eisteddfod is about to get underway which is always an exciting time for our performing artists; Crossbones, the Middle School musical begins its performances next week and looks likely to be a fabulous show; our Explore, Dream, Discover Careers Dinner takes place on Thursday 25 July. So much to look forward to, so much to celebrate. Bring it on!

Patrick Wallas
Headmaster

Still Seeking Donations

We are seeking donations of the following:

Chocolate blocks

'The Chocolate Bed', one of the most popular stalls in Sideshow Alley, is now seeking chocolate block donations. Please drop off to Junior or Middle School Administration.

Lucky bags

Earlier this term, Junior School students will have brought home a small Lucky Bag to be filled with lots of fun things as a donation towards our Lucky Bag stall.

Items to include are small toys, notebooks, pens, pencils, lollies, scrunchies, hot wheels cars, keyrings, friendship bracelets, hand balls and other novelty items. Each bag can be between $5 and $10 in value.

This is always a very popular stall, especially among our younger students, so we hope to see lots of bags returned, ready for our fabulous Fair.

Wine for the Wine Wall

Pour a little love into our Wine Wall with your donation of red, white, or champagne bottles valued at a minimum of $15. Wine donations will be gratefully accepted at Middle School Administration.

Prizes for the Cent Auction

Promote your business and showcase your goods or services at our cent auction while supporting our school! Please email Carmel Conlin at fairauction@asas.qld.edu.au for more information.

Plants

Our Plant Stall convenors are seeking donations of plants, pots and cuttings, and would appreciate any assistance at the stall on the day of the fair. Donations can be dropped off at Middle School Administration starting in Term 3.

Contact Diana at awad_diana@hotmail.com for more details or to get involved.

Cakes and Jams

Our Fair Cakes and Jam Stall convenor is calling out for donations of homemade goodies for this delectable stall at the All Saints Fair! They are seeking: jams, chutneys, spreads, cakes and sweets.

Donations will be collected the Friday before the fair.

PLUS the great 'class vs class' bake-off returns! The winning class will receive a pizza party! Further details at FIDO - Let's Get Baking!

Keep an eye on the 'Fair Updates' section of your news feed on the All Saints app and check the Fair FIDO page for further information and regular updates.

If you have any general questions about the Fair, please contact Kat and David Pearson at fairconvenor@asas.qld.edu.au.

Pre Order Your Ride Pass (+ Grazing Box!)

We have a sensational line-up of spectacular and thrilling rides for the big kids as well as family rides suitable for all ages, and of course everyone's favourite the bumper cars!

Get your all-day ride pass now for a special pre-sale price of $50. Passes will be $65 on the day of the Fair. Avoid the queues with the passes delivered to your child's classroom on the week of the Fair.

But be quick! The pre-sale ends at midnight on Sunday 21 July. After this, all passes must be purchased at full price on the day of the Fair.

When purchasing your tickets, please ensure you nominate the classroom where you would like your passes delivered.

Grazing Box Add On

Plus! New to the Fair this year, families now have the option to purchase a delicious grazing box proudly prepared by our Hospitality students and Heavens Above chef.

Enjoy a picnic on the oval or with your beverages at the bar.

Each grazing box is just $45 and will include:

Heavens Above zucchini slice
Two types of cheese (1 x soft / 1 x hard)
Grapes / strawberries
Dried apricots and apple
Sicilian olives
Cherry tomatoes
Heavens Above Rocky Road
Mild salami
Pepperoni / pancetta
Sundried tomatoes
Dark chocolate bark
Gherkins
Baby cucumbers
Assorted artisan crackers
Cutlery and serviettes (4 people)

Stock will be limited so get in quick! Boxes will be available for pick up at the Margarita stand (next to the bar) from 5pm.

Pre order ride pass

Important Ride Information

The All Saints Fair will take place from 10am - 7pm on Saturday 27 July 2024.
Rides open from 11am - 5pm.
Height restrictions will apply for individual rides but we will have plenty of rides available for all ages.
Please check the ride list on the ticketing page and consider the ride height limits before making your purchase.
Passes are non-transferable. Void if removed.
Passes are non-refundable.
Wristband passes will be delivered to classrooms on the day before the fair (Friday 26 July ).
Rides may close in inclement weather.
Ride list subject to change without notice.
Queue jumpers will have their wristband removed.

All Saints Unveils Yarning Circle During NAIDOC Week

On Wednesday, All Saints proudly unveiled its new Yarning Circle by the main oval, marking a significant addition to the campus and this week's NAIDOC celebrations. The ceremony featured special guests Mr Mark Stevens, the School’s inaugural Indigenous Engagement Officer, now retired, and Uncle John Graham, a Traditional Custodian of the Gold Coast region. Uncle John, a Kombumerri man from the Yugambeh Language Group, provided a meaningful Welcome to Country, setting a warm and collaborative environment for the event.

The Yarning Circle, designed to be a place for storytelling, learning and community gathering, embodies our school's commitment to fostering cultural understanding and inclusion. The ceremony featured a heartfelt yarn between Uncle John and Headmaster Mr Wallas, highlighting the importance of the space and our commitment to reconciliation for future generations.

This new addition not only honors the traditional custodians of the land but also serves as an educational resource, enriching the school community's appreciation for Indigenous culture and history.

A special thank you to School Captains Zach and Allegra for hosting a delicious barbeque and our Indigenous Engagement Officer Mr Ben Rea for organising this special event.

Maria Egan
Head of Marketing and Community Engagement

Griffith University Science and Engineering Challenge

Marie Curie once said,

“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement.”

This perfectly captures the essence of the Griffith University Science and Engineering Challenge for Year 9 and 10 students. Participating in this event was an exciting journey that inspired us to apply our knowledge through hands-on activities and team-based projects, demanding creativity, problem-solving, and time management.

All Saints brought together 32 enthusiastic Year 9 and 10 students, divided into seven groups to compete in activities like Helter Skelter Shelter, Fish Traps, and ElectraCITY. Our team (Erin Kim, Yuki Yu, Beverly Chen, and Willow Harris) took on the Wind Turbine activity and the Job Juggle. In Round 1, we were blown away by how much fun we had creating a wind turbine with limited materials. Despite not winning first place, our teamwork and communication made the experience unforgettable, and our fun was always renewable!

Round 2, however, presented its own set of challenges. Organising coloured blocks without clashing was tougher than expected, testing our patience and coordination. We quickly realised that Mrs Klein truly has the toughest job in the universe! Although our blocks clashed repeatedly, we learned the value of perseverance and adaptability. Despite the frustrations, we embraced the learning process and strengthened our teamwork.

In the end, All Saints placed fifth overall, but we left with more than just rankings. Marie Curie’s wise words resonate with us; winning isn't everything. The growth, improvement, and camaraderie we achieved are the real victories. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the support from Mrs Leslie. We encourage future Year 9 and 10 students to jump at the chance to participate in this fantastic STEM challenge.

Take it from two of your Year 10 Science Ambassadors of 2024!

Erin Kim and Yuki Yu
Year 10 Students

NAIDOC Week in Junior School

As we stepped into the vibrant tapestry of NAIDOC Week, the students eagerly immersed themselves in a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. This week not only honours the rich heritage of Australia's First Nations peoples but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation among our young learners. Through a variety of engaging activities, our students embarked on a journey of discovery and respect, highlighting the importance of unity and cultural diversity within our school community.

Mrs Tanya Chipps
Junior School Teacher

“All of the Year 4 students were keen to participate in all four activities that were on offer. Firstly, white paint was dabbed on our faces, representing a crocodile or stingray, as these are important animals in the Indigenous culture. Whilst we were in that activity, we creatively painted rocks with a variety of different colours using skewers to represent the dot technique of their culture. We also had to make a story with aboriginal pictures. Next, we excitedly walked over to where all of the stingray barbs, boomerangs, turtle shells, clapping sticks and lots of other interesting items were on display for us to touch and feel. After that, the Zuzu (which is a hand-woven skirt) was being made by a lady from the Torres Strait Islands. A Zuzu is made from leaves and straw, but the Zuzu that we made was from string and paper mache. When she asked us to choose different varieties of paper mache colours, we eagerly darted to go and choose the colours we wanted to have. Finally, we went over to a man who was from Tasmania. He was a wonderful storyteller. He told us a story about a galah and a lizard that had an important moral in it, like all dream stories. Finally, he allowed us to go in pairs to write different stories with crayons on a piece of paper with a boomerang on it. We had the best time ever! We are so fortunate as Year 4 students to have had lots of people come from various parts of Australia to teach us many things about their culture, heritage and identity.”

— Julietta - Year 4 Student

Many thanks to Mr Ben Rea and Mrs Georgia Liussi for organising such a truly valuable experience.

Nicky Buckley
A/Head of Junior School

Middle School Ski Trip

In the second week of the mid-year holidays, a brave 'army' of 74 Midde School students bussed/flew/bussed to Falls Creek for a week in the snow.

We enjoyed brilliant weather across the week and the students were simply magnificent ambassadors for the School the entire time they were away. Five days of skiing/snowboarding meant that every single student improved their alpine skills and thus their enjoyment levels and the number of friendships that flourished within and across the three year levels was fantastic.

A huge thank you to all the staff that made this trip possible, including Mrs Melinda Pascoe and Mr Craig Pascoe, as well as our two fearless and diligent organisers, Mrs Karen Couch and Ms Michelle Hunter!

Todd Harm
Head of Middle School

Welcome Back

I trust everyone managed to rest up and recharge for our second semester and I welcome you all back. It was great to hear the sound of happy students’ voices returning to the School on Tuesday morning. I congratulate our students upon an overwhelmingly ‘smart’ appearance as the fresh haircuts and well-presented uniforms couldn’t help but impress this week. Our uniform certainly deserves to be worn with pride and I thank all parents for their support in ensuring their children do so. Having said this, there are a few students who have been asked to address the length of their hair. I trust such matters have been quickly rectified this first week of term. All students were also reminded that they must be in their Day Uniform on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Can parents please assist by making sure that no student is travelling to or from school in sport uniform on these days. It will be is a busy start to Term Three because of the number of amazing events happening. I look forward to the ‘hectic joy’ that this will bring.

TERM 3 STAFF NEWS
Over the break, Ms Tanya Robinson accepted a position as Deputy Principal - Pastoral Care at Cromwell College in Brisbane. For over 20 years at All Saints, 'Robbo' has been an outstanding PE teacher, coach, colleague, Director of Pastoral Care, and passionate Head of Day House. Ms Robinson has been commuting from Brisbane for many years and it has only been her love for All Saints, its staff and its students that has seen her battle the highway for so long. It is a well-deserved appointment. We will miss her but wish her well.

Ms Lizzie Wood is moving up from the Middle School to replace Ms Robinson. Ms Wood is an experienced Senior PE teacher and a HPE Head of Department before moving to the coast and joining All Saints. We welcome Lizzie and are lucky that we have someone of her experience to guide our students through this year.

Ms Katie Hobbins will fill the Acting Head of Day House role for Term 3. We welcome her to this role and know she will continue Ms Robinson’s love for Day House and pastoral care.

Bryn Evans
Head of Senior School

Hospitality Work Placements

During the school holidays our Hospitality students undertook work placement at a variety of businesses across the Gold Coast. The placement is part of the Certificate III in Hospitality program which the students are completing. The placements give students experience of the real world of hospitality and help to consolidate the skills they have learnt in their course so far. We are grateful to the following businesses for providing these opportunities and supporting our students: Mercure Gold Coast Resort, Intercontinental Hotel Sanctuary Cove, Joy & Joy, Bumbles Cafe, Burleigh Surf Club, The Wine Barrel, Social Brew and The Standard Market Company.

Alison Weeks
Director of Careers & VET (Years 10-12)

Service Learning Update

“Each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”

— (1 Peter 4:10)

As we embark upon an exciting Term 3, All Saints Anglican School community is already busying itself with a range of service activities and campaigns. Some of these meaningful endeavours include:

Our Year 3 Lil’ Mates Program each Tuesday afternoon. Thank you to our amazing group of Year 12s for facilitating this program.
The Year 5 launch of our annual Pen Pal Program with retired residents within the Gold Coast community. Thank you for the support of the Year 5 teachers whose incredible effort and support allows this program to continue and flourish.
The Year 10 feeding and caring for the homeless. A continuation of small-group, weekly visits to St John’s Crisis Centre.
Year 11 student weekly visits to Hillview Aged Care as facilitated by our Senior School Teacher, Mr George Parker.
This weekend’s Happening #13 primarily supported by our Chaplaincy team. Happening provides a fun and safe environment for youth to join together and reflect upon individuality, spirituality, connectedness, values, ethics and leadership.

Our Year 12 SOS Team’s campaign in pursuit of continued support of our sub-school’s 2024 Giveathon Charities:

Starlight Foundation
Restoration of Community Centre in Lomanikaya Village, Vatulele Fiji
Reach Out
Enriching Lives Foundation

We ask for your continued and generous support towards our Giveathon charities. All funds raised contributes to improving the lives of those in need.

Louise Thorpe
Service Learning Coordinator