Dear SCBC Community,
This Newsletter is an ideal opportunity to share exciting news about 2022.
Gymnasium in 2022
By the end of next year, we will have a new purpose-build, fully equipped gymnasium. This will give our students access to an exceptional sports facility in 2022. The gymnasium is the first section of a larger scale Sports Centre. Bigger picture, SCBC is on-track to continue rolling out a $45M redevelopment plan. The Master Plan includes increased parking and future state-of-the-art facilities for both primary and secondary students.
New House System next year
We’ve had 3 Houses serve the college well since its inception back in the early 80’s. During the last 5 years, we’ve doubled in size and likely to be at full-capacity within the next 12 to 24months. In preparation for the season ahead, we’ve created 4 new Houses for 2022 and onwards. There’s a big picture plan in place to guide the college into the next 5 years.
SCBC’s School Empowerment Plan (2020 – 2025) has 5 domains: Faith Focus, Student Focus, Excellent Standards (developing a culture of excellence), Investing in Staff, as well as Community & Culture. One of our strategic goals under the domain ‘Community and Culture’ is: ‘Welcoming community, especially Australia’s indigenous culture.’
Remaining mindful of our faith, students, and culture, it’s a pleasure to share with you the new House names for 2022. You will see they also incorporate our values of; Love, Hope, Wisdom and Grit. Wisdom and grit reflect our motto of ‘rigorous minds’. Love and Hope form ‘compassionate hearts’.
“… but the greatest of these is love” 1 Corinthians 13 v 13
The pelican represents our College value of ‘Love’.
For millennia, the pelican has served as a symbol of self-sacrificial love. In medieval Europe it was believed that, if there was not enough food, the pelican would sacrifice itself to feed its young. Because of this belief, the pelican became a major symbol of self-sacrifice and charity. Early Christians had already adopted it by the 2nd Century as a symbol of Christ’s love.
“… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Isaiah 40 v 1
The penguin represents our College value of ‘Hope’.
Penguin Island, off the coast of Rockingham, is home to a significant colony of ‘little penguins’. These birds lay two eggs during Autumn and Winter, with the male and female birds taking turns to incubate the eggs and eventually feed the chicks. To provide food for their chicks, penguin parents must confront predators including sea eagles, seals, sea lions and sharks. The future hope of raising strong offspring compels these brave penguins to leave the safety of their nest to bring back fish for their hatchlings.
“Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honour” Proverbs 15 v 33
The dolphin represents our College value of ‘Wisdom’.
The dolphins that frequent the waters off Warnbro Sound are amongst the smartest animals in the world. These beautiful creatures are capable of complex communication, social interaction, tool use and problem solving. Intensely communal creatures, dolphins do not only learn as individuals, but pass their knowledge onto their offspring and others in their pods.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial” James 1 v 12
The turtle represents our College value of ‘Grit’.
Of all the creatures, fewer have greater odds to beat than the sea turtle. It is estimated that only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings survive into adulthood. Watching a young turtle struggle out of its nest and make its way to the water is an incredible experience. Everything from footprints to rocks and driftwood are obstacles to be overcome. On the beach and in the water, they must escape birds, crabs, dolphins, sharks and fish. It is a dangerous journey but running this gauntlet unassisted is essential for the young turtle’s survival.
Likely House questions
Q: Will brothers and sisters be placed in the same house?
Answer – “Yes.”
Q: When will the new shirts be available?
Answer – “They will be sold during Term 1, 2022. All students will have their House shirt by the start of Term 2.”
Q: What about the old shirt?
Answer – “The Uniform Shop will offer you a $10 trade-in per old House shirt (i.e. one old per one new).”
Q: What days will the House shirts be worn?
Answer – “You will be advised by your Head of School in a following letter.”
Your children’s Heads of Schools will be writing to you, helping to provide specific information. Mr Moses will inform Primary families, and Mr Trimble Secondary families.
Thanks to you
On behalf of all staff, thank you for helping us positively engage your children in their learning journey at SCBC. Every one of our students defines who we are as a community. We delight in their idiosyncrasies and uniqueness. The recent Year 12 Graduation reflected the strength of relationship between students and staff.
Christmas: A time of Hope
Hope defined
‘Hope is defined as a strong expectation, a strong desire for something to happen, a feeling of trust. Hope is a powerful word. With hope, comes encouragement and the desire to persevere. The ability to wait expectantly infuses a person with life, energy, and often the “want to” when growing weary. A life without hope is a life of defeat, doubt, and dread.’ (Warren Baptist Church)
Benefits of hope to students
Increased hope is beneficial for students. Numerous studies conclude there is a positive correlation between hope and school performance. Peterson and Steen (1998) observed that hope, when combined with optimism and self-esteem, produced a key factor in the psychological development of adolescents. In a study of middle and high school students by Valle, Huebner, and Suldo (2006), they concluded: ‘Adolescents who report higher levels of hope appear to be at less risk for experiencing increases … in behaviour problems and reductions in life satisfaction when confronted with adverse life events’ (p. 404). Bashant (2016) states hope drives the wellbeing of people and that it’s an essential key to a person’s happiness and success. More specifically to students, hope is associated with; ‘self- efficacy and self-worth, better school attendance, optimism, higher grades, life satisfaction and wellbeing, athletic achievements, physical health, and social competence’ (p. 17). In relation to achievement, Dixon, Worrell, and Mello (2017) also concluded: ‘Academic success during the adolescent years has been linked to several positive outcomes in later life’ (p. 55).
Hope in Jesus
As a Christian school community, we love this time of the year. We teach our students that Jesus was born to become the light and hope of the world. He was God’s gift to mankind. The Bible writes: ‘In his name the nations will put their hope’ (Matthew 12:21). ‘Hope is, indeed, at the heart of Christmas, and Christ’s coming marked the first visible reality of hope fulfilled. Hope for salvation, hope for provision, and hope for a presence – that is Jesus.’ https://warrenbaptist.org/the-words-of-christmas-hope/
As you approach Christmas, may you experience the life empowering hope of knowing: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’
Love, Joy, Peace and Hope to you and your much loved family,
Des Mitchell
PRINCIPAL