Dear Parents,

Last week we held many celebrations, namely Year 12 Graduation, Year 12 Valedictory Dinner and the Board-ers’ Christmas Party. For all of these events to be successful it requires a lot of effort from a lot of people and I would sincerely like to thank all those staff who worked so hard to ensure they went so smoothly.

St Philip’s College is proudly a school of the Uniting Church and this week we held our Advent Service. During this season of goodwill it is a perfect opportunity to reflect on why we cel-ebrate Christmas and the significance many of us place on this.

We acknowledge that many of our students and families have differing beliefs but it is wonderful to see that we as a community come together at this time of year. Let’s celebrate the joy of the season and the celebration and be in the moment.

One of the underlying messages of Christmas is peace, joy and happiness. If we live that spirit every day and add a dash of gratitude for our blessings every day, then we could we keep the Christmas spirit alive all year round.

Regards,

Roger Herbert Principal

Tuesday 5 DecemberYear 7 & 8 Vaccination Catch-UpBand Retreat - The Minnamurra Hall

Wednesday 6 DecemberAcademic Assemblies in The Minnamurra Hall - Years 7 to 9 at 8.30am - Years 10 & 11 at 10.45amYears 7, 8, 9 & 10 ExamsEmails sent for overdue library resourcesLibrary closed from 8.45am to 3pm - accepting library returns onlyHomework Centre open from 3pm to 4.30pm

Thursday 7 DecemberYears 7, 8, 9 & 10 ExamsLibrary closed from 8.45am to 3pm - accepting library returns onlyHomework Centre open from 3pm to 4.30pm

Friday 8 DecemberChristmas Concert and SpecialAssemblySPC vs JSR netball trip returnsYears 7, 8, 9 & 10 ExamsEmails sent for overdue library resourcesLibrary closed from 8.45am to 3pm - accepting library returns only. Books/resources may be returned to College Reception during the holidays.NO Homework CentreTerm 4 concludes

Photo of the Week - We are proud to open our newest building the ‘Chris Tudor Centre’...

ewsletterN1 December 2017

Class of 2017

For Term 4

Important Dates

Is your child returning in 2018?

Please advise the Registrar if your child is not returning in 2018.

Please contact Carol Leesong at:registrar@stphilips.nt.edu.au

From Friday 1 December to Sunday 10 December, a group of students from Years 7 to 10 will participate in the Pacific School Games in Adelaide.

Students involved are:Year 7 – Nicholas Boffa, Max Brouwer, Luke Haywood, Paige Hughes, Jack James, William Kelaart, Charlotte Rudd and Moses WaringYear 8 – Jeremaia Fitisemanu, Millie Jaine, Tui Schwalger, Jack Walmsley and Charlotte O’NeillYear 9 – Annie Coffey and Keegan WeilyYear 10 – Cecile Ryan

The Pacific School Games provides opportunities for around 4000 school-aged students to participate in 11 different sports at the highest level. It is the flagship event of School Sport Australia, which provides educational opportunities for Australian and international students through the con-ducting of games in a range of sports.

The mission for the 2017 Pacific School Games in Adelaide is to deliver an outstanding sporting, educational, cultural, social and life-long experience to students from around the world.

We wish our students all the best for the competition.

Pacific School Games

Year 12 Valedictory DinnerPhotos on Page 4 and also the College website:http://www.stphilips.nt.edu.au/Below: Beau & Belle of the Ball - Heber-Jay Schwalger & Lidiya Tangey

St Philip’s College Page 2 Page 3Newsletter 2017

Boys’ Boarding NewsGirls’ Boarding News

The highlight of the weekend for the boarders was the Christmas party on Saturday night. It was a fun filled evening with wonderful food as usual. Ketut and the kitchen staff always do such a wonder-ful job and the desserts were amazing. Lily really surpassed herself making edible snowmen, ginger bread houses and Christmas trees. Many thanks to them all for the huge effort they put in to this event each year.

It’s always wonderful to see the boarders dressed up and this year the girls all looked lovely and the boys looked very smart. Nikita and Justin did a great job as MCs for the night and Mereoni, Kiera, Jordan and Jessica-May sang and performed well.

Special thanks to Jordan who organized the decorations and tables, to Nikita who prepared the PowerPoint and to everyone who agreed to be part of the skit, especially Pedrea, Apisa and Judas who were such good sports.

Sadly of course, we had to say goodbye to our Year 12’s Paris, Kirsten and Mikeely and also to Meagan, Jordan and Billie who are also mov-ing on. We wish them all the very best for whatever the future holds. We also said goodbye to Chris and Carol Leesong. As our campus neighbours for so long they have been wonderful supporters of the boarders and have entertained the girls for countless progres-sive dinners, trick or treat nights and much more. Our very heartfelt thanks to both of them and our best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

There has been more than one farewell for the Year 12 boarders of course over the last few days. There was Graduation on Friday morn-ing and the Valedictory Dinner on Friday night where they all looked stunning. While I attended that, Marsha drove the rest of the board-ers over to the viewing and I’m sure some of them will already be thinking about their own arrivals and outfits for the years to come.

Also, congratulations are due to Ema Suluma, who completed the Exact Homes 5km series and won the silver medal in the U18 class. Great running Ema. It was also great to see our school nurse, Karen Jackson, setting a good example to the boarders by finishing in the medals in the Masters Running category. Well done too to Deb Page, our Boarding Support person for so ably organizing the whole series.

To end on another positive note, The Sapphires won convincingly last Monday and I’m sure as we keep training each Sunday and Thursday and playing together the wins will become more frequent.

(Photos on next page)

Marg StevensonHead of Girls’ Boarding

The past two weeks have been jam packed! On 18 November the boys all went to the Reptile Centre for a visit. It was a great couple of hours. The boys were treated to a live animal show and talk about the wildlife and reptiles in the centre. The boys were all given the opportunity to hold an Olive Python. It was great to see them all give it a go, despite some very frightened faces. That night, the boys and I went bowling at the Dust Bowl. The boys all outdid themselves again with great behaviour, good competition and friendly support. It was a great fun night and a number of the boys scored well over the 100 point mark.

Last weekend was our annual Boarders’ Christmas Party. The boys were all so helpful in setting up on Friday night that they were treated to some gelato at Uncle Edy’s. On Saturday we had the main event. Roger Herbert and family, Mr and Mrs Leesong, plus many other staff and parents of our seniors joined us for a night full of laughs, celebra-tion, some sad farewell tears and an exquisite meal all designed and cooked by our extremely talented kitchen staff Ketut, Lily, Edna and Cecille.

We said goodbye to Will Radovic and Wayne Braun, our two gradu-ating Year 12 boys. Wayne has been with us for the last six months and Will for the past six years. Although sad to say goodbye, it is with excitement and encouragement that we send these two very talented and ambitious young men out into the wider world. All the best boys!

We also farewelled Jonothan Barnes. Jono has been an excellent boarding supervisor for the past 18 months. He has set an outstand-ing example and been a great role model for all the boys across his time with us. On behalf of all the boarders, thank you for your hard work Jono.

There is only one week left in the year! Boarding will be closing on Fri-day 8 December at 5pm. We will be reopening on Sunday 28 January 2018 for Year 12 students.

(Photos on next page)

Sam MuirHead of Boys’ Boarding

Girls’ & Boys’ Boarding

Missed Meningococcal Vaccinations

Some students may have missed the Meningococcal vaccinations last Friday 17 November and Monday 20 November due to being absent (illness, sporting commitments, etc).

Unfortunately we were not left with any vaccinations to be able to do catch-up sessions; however, the Flynn Drive clinic has offered to help out with students who need catching up.

To make a catch-up appointment contact the clinic on 8951 6521. Students must attend with their parents and the vaccination is provided free of charge through the clinic.

Please speak with one of the nurses in the Medical Centre or Miss Hutchinson for any further information.

Returning Library ResourcesIt’s that time of year again when we need to go hunting for hiding Library resources….Please check your lockers, under the bed, in the dog house?! And return any items you may have on loan.

Books may be returned to College Reception dur-ing the holidays if found.

And a reminder that there is NO Homework Cen-tre on last day of Term (Friday 8 December).

Have a safe and happy holiday.

St Philip’s College Page 4 Page 5Newsletter 2017

The School Play

Halloween was history and Thanksgiving Day had passed.

St Anne’s School was all a-buzz. It was time to start getting ready for the school’s Christmas Pageant.

Tommy had been in the “Sunday School Christmas Concert” last year. Now that he was in “real” school, he was excited about getting to be in the “real” pageant.

He kept asking his mother, “Do you think they will let me be Joseph. I would like that. REALLY like that”

“Maybe I could be baby Jesus. I would just lay there and pretend I was asleep. You know I can do that good.”

“Oh, Mama, it would be fun to be a tiny little lamb; standing so qui-etly looking at Baby Jesus”

Tommy’s mother was really quite concerned, because the school was quite large and obviously not every child was going to get to be in the play. If he didn’t get a part, she was not sure how he would take it.

She had tried to gently prepare him for the possible disappoint-ment, but nothing she said could temper the excitement.

Chaplain’s MessageYear 12 Valedictory DinnerFinally the day came that the parts were awarded. Tommy’s mother went to pick him up after school with great trepidation.

As she reached the front door of the school, Tommy rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. “Guess what Mum,” he shouted, “I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer!”

May we remember to clap and cheer this Christmas, giving thanks for the gift of life, for our opportunities and the freedom we enjoy to celebrate our faith – may we never take that for granted.

Sarah PollittChaplain

St Philip’s College Page 6

This newsletter is produced weekly by the PR & Marketing Department, St Philip’s College. Please submit contributions to: Jill Jansons (08) 8950 4561 or email: info@stphilips.nt.edu.au

Deadline for Friday’s issue is 5pm on the preceding Tuesday.

Reception (08) 8950 4511 l Student Access (08) 8950 4573 l Library (08) 8950 4576 l Registrar (08) 8950 4501 l Medical Centre (08) 8950 4567

Boys’ Accommodation (08) 8950 4520 l Girls’ Accommodation (08) 8950 4537 l Rivergum Cafe (08) 8950 6232 l Accounts (08) 8950 4525

http://www.mittagundi.org.au/donate/