N EWSLETTER

20 March 2020 Issue No. 44

REMINDERstudents arriving late to school or leaving during the day need a note from a parent in their diary. The student can then sign in or out at student access and will be able to meet you in your pre-designated pick up place. having a note makes things much easier for all concerned – students, parents and

College leaders help to

‘Keep Flynn Flying’

See article on page 4.

SPC NEWSLETTER

Week 8 • 20 March 2020

Dear Parents,

We are definitely living in interesting times and at the moment we are all being inundated with information about COVID-19.

From a parents’ perspective I am being very conscious of the way I’m reacting to the issue in front of my own children. Our kids are watching us and watching how we are responding during this time of uncertainty. As a proponent of Positive Education now is a time that we can assist our kids to be resilient. How do we do that? We can ask them how they are feeling about everything happening. We can answer their questions with facts, not alarmist theories, we can be more pa-tient with them, we can ask them what they need in the way of practical things if the time comes and they do have to do lessons at home (I just want to reiter-ate, that at the moment we are not expecting this to happen, but preparing our kids gives them a sense of being in control of certain aspects of their lives). I would also be reminding students that they are in the best possible age bracket and the risk to them is extraordinarily low.

With many events and sporting competitions being postponed or cancelled, it is still vital that we all exer-cise and keep active. Keeping our social connections is also vital and maintaining our sense of humour as-sists everyone.

In my emails this week I have outlined the different measures the College has put in place or is putting in place in the event the College does need to close.

PrinciPal, roger Herbert

•Our teaching staff are learning how we can best de-liver our online academic program and we will at-tempt to keep the students as close as possible to their current timetable. •The nature of this program will vary according to the subject, and will be led by our curriculum, digital technology and information technology leaders.•We introduced the following protocols for anyone visiting the campus, and these will remain in place for the foreseeable future.Please do not visit the College, and do not send your child to school if any of the following apply:•If you display any form of cold or flu like symptoms•If you have been exposed to someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 •If you have returned from overseas from midnight Sunday 15 March (as mandatory 2 weeks isolation procedures are in place)

Unfortunately we have had to make the following changes to the College program as of Monday 16 March 2020.

•The Inter-School Swimming Carnival scheduled for this Friday 20 March has been postponed.•The College Swimming Carnival scheduled for Fri-day 27 March has been postponed until Term 4 and the normal school program will be running that day.•Our College assemblies will not be running for the time being, due to the Federal government stipulation that there be no gatherings of more than 500 people.•The College Cross Country event will be taking

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you

from the fowler’s snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes

Get yourself a cup of coffee, put on some lovely music that soothes your soul, take this Psalm and read it deliberately and slowly, out loud and allow the words to drip into your spirit bringing the peace of God which passes all understanding. Believe that the promise is for you, choose to have faith and your senses will still and softness will wash through you. In this time of challenge, stress and for many a sense of fear, we choose whether to turn into the promises of God or away from them. If we turn away where else is there to go? I choose to turn to Him; will you come with me?

Need to update your child’s medical details or update your details? Click here on the COMMUNITY PORTAL.

place on the last day of term (with a modified sched-ule) which means the Inter-House Quiz portion of that day is cancelled.•Work Experience for Year 10 students in Week 9 has been postponed. Those students who would have been on Work Experience will have normal classes that week.•School Tours scheduled for Sunday 29 March are postponed for later in the year.•Year 12 Retreat in Week 10 is going ahead as planned.

I’m reminding everyone that good hygiene is in our hands. Washing our hands thoroughly and practising other good hygiene habits will assist. Please also heed the advice of the health authorities. Up-to-date information can be found here: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

At times like this our community is so important and supporting each other is vital. Thank you for your un-derstanding and patience during this time.Some people may be feeling a little anxious, and if you wish to speak with someone, please remember organisations like Beyond Blue https://www.beyond-blue.org.au/ (1300 22 4636) and for our youth, Head-space https://headspace.org.au/ are just some of the organisations available.

I will continue to keep you informed of any further changes and I apologise for all the inconveniences.

Be kind always,

Roger Herbert

and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”

and you make the Most High your dwelling,

10 no harm will overtake you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honour him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

cHaPlain, saraH Pollitt

Page 5Week 8 • 20 March 2020

This week will see more boarders leave the boarding house as parents choose to send them home. It is good to hear that many of them are already back at the junior schools doing St Philip’s work but using the facilities available to them in their communities. Many thanks to all the junior school principals who have facilitated this, it is greatly appreci-ated by both parents and St Philip’s staff.

Last Friday, 13 March 2020 Flynn House raised money for the RFDS by hosting a Uniform Free Day. They asked that those who wore casual clothes and even those who chooe not to, brought in a gold coin donation to support their chosen not-for-profit or-ganisation, The Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The RFDS provides emergency and primary health care services for those living in rural, remote and regional areas in Australia who cannot access medi-cal facilities due to the vast distances across Aus-tralia. In the last year alone the Royal Flying Doctors have helped over 370,000 patients, conducted over 21,000 clinics and flown approximately 27,286,414 kms which is the equivalent of 34 trips to the moon and back.

The RFDS relies on donations and support from people like us to keep them flying and saving lives on a daily basis. Thanks to the St Philip’s College com-munity for their contribution on Friday.

“The furthest corner. The finest Care”

- Royal Flying Doctor Service

A number of boarders went home before the weekend and those that remained had a nice time. On Friday night the girls went with the boys to the stadium and played dodgeball and a few chose to have a dip in the swimming pool afterwards.

On Saturday there was a trip to town and in the even-ing we went to the movies to watch Call of the Wild, which everyone enjoyed. On Sunday a number of board-ers went to visit family and in the afternoon we baked scones and honey drops with Tammy in preparation for a party on Monday. After Sunday Chapel the girls had an Easter egg hunt and with less girls there were more Easter eggs per person. Yummy!

On Monday after school we invited the teaching assis-tant, school counsellors over for a party. It was a lovely event and the girls enjoyed showing off their rooms and playing five-minute rule with the staff. Thank you to them for coming.

IRLS’

Margaret StevensonHead of Girls’ Boarding

BOARDING

SPC NEWSLETTER

Page 7Week 8 • 20 March 2020

Hi Dad,

I have been fighting against the Germans for the past couple of weeks. I don’t feel great about fighting people who could potentially be our kin. One of my friends has a bullet in his leg, found by an X-ray which has just been introduced to the war. How is everyone back home? Is Mazey still doing well even with her old age? I really hope things are going well there. If you have any time could you send me some chocolate? The rations we get here is cold pea soup, stale bread, and rock-hard biscuits. I wish I was back home in a nice warm bed, unlike here in a muddy pit. There are puddles of mud and dirty water everywhere here.

There are rats that live with us, some of them have grown to the size of a small cat! One of my bunk mates brought their dog and a lot of the time she’ll find dead rats in her belongings. I always worry that the dog might die from an explosion while finding wounded sol-diers. I want to come back home now while I am still mentally and physically intact, not like the other soldiers around me.

Every day I must help replace the sandbags on the walls, which is a difficult task because they are big heavy bags. On occasion I have to clean the toilet which is just a muddy pit of poo. It is so gross. We only get an hour of sleep a day and it is always during daylight hours, I would almost rather be a nurse because there is less sound when you sleep, and you actually get sleep!

We need to take our shoes and socks off daily, so we don’t get trench foot. Trench foot is when your sock grows onto your foot and it might need to be amputated. I don’t want everyone taking their shoes off because it smells like feet - that haven’t been washed for months. Everyone has greasy hair and a bad smell, just like the toilet. The other day I was fighting along-side some Dan-ish soldiers, and they said they had already been to 6 different trenches that were over run. They didn’t think that they would survive any of the raids. They are getting a little nervous that this one will become overrun as well, but we are holding the fort down quite well.

What are you doing for Christmas this year? I won’t be able to make it home I’m sorry about that, but I don’t have that much of a choice. I hope I won’t have to kill anyone on Christmas. It should be shared and cher-ished. We should go to the other team and make a truce on Christmas, exchange gifts and hang out. It would be very lovely.

Hoping for the best back home and I know you are thinking about me.

~Evie

A Letter Home, Year 9 History November 29 1915

“It was a very interesting exhibition, and I would go again if I had the chance. It had

many elements that, together, created a great and deeply connected view on the perspective of those soldiers who never got credit for all

the great work they did. I hope to participate in more activities like this one in the future”

-Jordy Humphreys

An excursion to the Australian War Memorial Exhibition ‘For Country For Nation’

Presented by Araluen Arts Centre

SPC NEWSLETTER

St Philip’s v OLSH

eramics

Year 12 Ceramic Intensive

Page 11Week 8 • 20 March 2020

NT SwImmINg CHamPIONSHIPSFour st Philip’s students competed in the NT swimming championships and swam personal bests.

Aaron Graves - swam 6 events and won bronze in the 100m breast stroke.

Daniel Rando - swam 8 events and won silver in the 50m breast, silver in the boys free relay and bronze in the

medley relay.

Harrison Knott - swam 14 events and won silver in the 800m free, gold in the 50m back stroke, 50m breast

stroke, 50m fly, 200m free, 100m Free, 100m breast and 100m back stroke. he also won silver in the free relay,

and bronze in the medley relay.

Tom Stockwell - swam 6 events and did well in the open age group.

harrison Knott was awarded male dis-

tance swimmer of the meet for his 800m

free. congratulations to all students on

their achievements!

YOuTH aCTION grOuPThe Alice Spring’s Town Council is holding their second YAG meeting of the year on Wednesday, 25th March, 5:30pm – 7pm at the Andy McNeil Rom, Civic Centre.

There is a lot to chat about including:- The youth recycled art prize- Skate park festival in the works- 8CCC broadcasting workshop for young people- Our next casual meet at the YMCA for a free rock-wall climb - Plus anything else you’re keen to chat about or bring to the table!

For anyone aged 12-25 years old – bring your friends!

Youth Action Group

YOUR TOWN. YOUR VOICE. YOUR IDEAS.

YDO@astc.nt.gov.au 8950 0500 alicesprings.nt.gov.au/YAG @ASTCYAG

A youth initiative from

Meets Monthly. Sign up today!

The community we want starts at our front door

Sunday 29 March is Neighbour Day, Australia’s annual celebration of community

Why not get together with some of your neighbours to plan an event in your street? You may already know lots of neighbours, but you may have new neighbours or some

who are isolated. Neighbour Day is a chance to get together to celebrate good neighbours and connect with new ones – though events can be held on any day.

Choose a date that suits you and your neighbours

You could have a BBQ or a morning or afternoon tea. Neighbour Day can be simple – get others on board to plan and prepare for the day.

The principal aim of Neighbour Day is to build better relationships with the people who live around us, especially the elderly and vulnerable. Neighbour Day brings together like-minded people, resources, and organisations to grow stronger, well

connected communities.

Jump online to register an event and access a free resource e-kit at: http://www.neighbourday.org/

or call 08 89504100 for more information

Relationships Australia is the home of Neighbour Day Australia’s annual celebration of community

WESTS FOOTBALL CLUB CAFL U16 YOUTH GIRLS COMPETITION

Are you aged between 12 and 15?

Do you want to play AFL in a fun, social and relaxed environment?

Join our WESTS UNDER 16 YOUNG BLOOD’S TEAM for the 2020 season!!!!

TRAININGS—TUES & THURS @ 5PM

JIM MCCONVILLE OVAL

Teams of 9-12 girls—no experience necessary!!

CAFL Season begins Friday 17th April

Games will be played at 5pm followed by the Senior Women competition

Any Questions? Contact

Committee member

Yvette Kirk

0400 069 754

Any Questions? Contact

Coach

Grace Barry

0422 201 077

Learn your way round the gym with a qualifiedtrainer, free technique advice!

TEEN GYM

Tuesday & Thursday

3:30pm - 5:00pm

Ages 13 years +

FREE for Active Youth members

Casual - $12.80

10 Visit Pass - $100

Encouraging active lifestyles for Teens

USEYOUR

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

This newsletter is produced weekly by the Marketing and Community Relations Department, St Philip’s College. Please submit contributions to: Emma Wilmot (08) 8950 4534 or email: emma.wilmot@stphilips.nt.edu.au

Deadline for Friday’s issue is 5pm on the preceding Tuesday.Please note that any community notices are provided externally and do not reflect our advertising standards.

 https://www.revolutionise.com.au/asac/