Term 2 | Week 5 | 2025
College Principal's Address
As we approach mid-term, we are focusing on some areas where a minority of our students' uniform and appearance has begun to show divergence from our expectations. Not for us the extreme demands of the 473-year old garment style still worn today by students of the English private school, Christ’s Hospital, founded by King Edward, VI, Henry VIII’s father! However, even with Sapphire Coast Anglican College’s less formal and, one must surely consider infinitely easier to wear, wash and dry version of a school uniform, challenges remain for parents, youngsters and all those charged with maintaining, and improving standards here.
Overall, the standard of uniform has been improving markedly, but areas of stubborn 'resistance' include socks with visible brand names, canvas 'Vans' type of shoes that are worn with formal or sports uniform and the wearing of long-sleeved undershirts under short-sleeved shirts remain.
Perhaps inevitably as the garments worn by our students approach true uniformity, other avenues are explored, especially by our Secondary students.
Crew Groups have been visited by senior staff with a view to warning those with jewellery (that sometimes includes multiple bangles and bracelets, rings, necklaces and large/dangling earrings) to remove it and comply with our College rules. In line with our approach to mobile phone use around the campus and in lessons, should a staff member have to ask a student to remove items of jewellery a second time, then the items will be held at the administration desk until collected by a parent/carer.
Other areas where improvement is most needed is the tying back of long hair, female or male, the avoidance of ‘extreme’ styles and the more regular removal of those embryonic moustaches that appear in some adolescent boys, most predictably after long holidays.
Questioning the value of school uniform is a rite of passage for some young people, as summarised on an American education website, Foc.us:
'One common argument against school uniforms revolves around the idea that they stifle individuality and self-expression. Critics argue that uniforms limit students’ ability to express their personalities and unique identities. However, it is essential to remember that individuality is not solely defined by external appearances. Intellectual growth, character, and accomplishments are the true markers of individuality'.
Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds | Official Trailer | Netflix
In Secondary assembly on Monday, I shared my enjoyment of the newly released Netflix documentary featuring the United States Air Force airshow demonstration team, the ‘Thunderbirds’; the gathering of the very best fast jet pilots to perform breath-taking and extremely high-risk manoeuvres to entertain millions and inspire future generations of military aviators.
Stopping the official trailer at a precise moment, I reflected on why this team dress as they do when flying at over 1000 km/h, securely belted into the cockpit of their F-16 fighter, their clothing totally out of sight of the vast crowds staring up from airfields all across the United States and around the world. For all the onlookers know, these incredibly skilled pilots might be in t-shirts and shorts before donning their special ‘g-suits’ that serve to maintain sufficient blood flow to the brain when undertaking extremely fast turns and climbs.
But it is all about creating a culture. A culture of excellence, of being one’s best, but that personal best is also just one essential component of an extraordinary team of shared values.
I ended with a quote from an Australian education website that neatly sums thing up:
‘One of the principal aims behind school uniforms (and appearance codes) is to promote a sense of unity and belonging among students. When everyone is dressed the same, social divisions are minimised and a more level playing field is established. Ultimately, this contributes to a more positive school culture and a stronger sense of community’.
Many thanks for your steadfast support and for reading this far!
David Proudlove | College Principal
Bega Cheese Reps Visit The College
We were fortunate to have Faith Behrens, Executive Assistant at Bega Cheese Ltd., visit our HSC Agriculture and Business Study students to present her annual marketing talk on the Bega Group. Along with an absolute wealth of knowledge on how our Bega Cheese is produced and distributed around the world, students and teachers enjoyed Bega Group merchandise (including tiny tubs of Vegemite and Zooper Dooper scrunchies). They topped off the double lesson with some Bega Heritage Cheese and crackers! Faith's informative presentations help our students learn local content that will be directly assessed in their final HSC exams. THANK YOU, FAITH and BEGA GROUP!
Student Success
Piano Honour Roll
Congratulations to the following students who completed their Grade Two piano exams this term:
- Ben Oates, High Distinction
- Aslan Louie, Credit
Many of Mrs Stewart's students are working towards a 40 Piece Challenge in their piano learning this year. Jono Ireland has achieved 20 pieces already! Well done to Felicity, Lillian, Asha, Hannah and Theo, who have each accomplished ten pieces.
SASSA Cross Country
Ten runners qualify for the next level!
On Friday, 16th May, our runners took on the hills of the Willandra cross country course at the SASSA Cross Country carnival. We had a number of runners represent Sapphire Coast Anglican College with an encouraging atmosphere of cheering each other on.
We wish to congratulate the following students for their outstanding results.
- Lawson Umbers - 1st, 13 Years Boys,
- Lola Foster - 2nd, 8-9 Years Girls
- Scout Foster - 2nd, 10 Years Girls
- Jonathan Ireland - 3rd, 10 Years Boys
- Felicity Ireland - 3rd, 12 Years Girls (Secondary)
- Harrison Tudor - 4th, 15 Years Boys
- Clara Peres - 5th, 10 Years Girls
- Isla Oxenbridge - 6th, 10 Years Girls
- Bou Laidlaw - 6th, 11 Years Girls
- Stephen Boone - 6th, 8-9 Years Boys
Lawson, Felicity and Harrison qualified for the Secondary Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools (AICES). More on that further down in the newsletter.
Lola, Scout, Jonathan, Clara, Isla, Bou and Stephen have qualified for the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) state carnival to be held on 12th June.
Thank you to the staff and parents for taking the students to Nowra to participate in the carnival, and thank you to the students for representing the College.
We wish the students all the best in their upcoming carnivals.
AICES
Congratulations to our three Secondary students who represented SASSA at AICES Cross Country – Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Thursday.
We’re proud of their performance in a very large, competitive field; Felicity placed 12th, Lawson 21st and Harrison 18th in their respective age groups. Well done!
News From The Library
Year 1 News
Year 1 students used our natural environment to create a floral classroom. Check out their creations below.
Year 7 Forces
Year 7 continue their studies of forces on buoyancy, checking various objects to see if they float or sink. They are applying their learning by creating various aluminium and plasticine vessels of various shapes to best hold masses in comparison to their peers.
Rugby 9s
Ag News
The Ag Chickens
Our lab chicks were added to our farm chicks during the holidays. They appear to all be getting on, and students enjoyed hugging them and ensured that Jared the Rooster's scaly feet were covered in Vaseline to suffocate any mites.
Year 8 Aggies also enjoyed the Permiplot popcorn from the previous year - simply putting a cob in a brown paper bag and microwaving it for a minute or so!!
Year 8 Ag
While we have enjoyed some amazing beef burgers and all sorts, our remaining calves have been seeking beef friends in adjacent paddocks in the hope they may exchange for a longer lifecycle. Our Year 8 Aggies did an amazing job of bringing Willy and Marmalade home! They happily followed these young, caring students down, around, through and over back to their green paddock... only to find them a week later back over with their Hereford friend!
Year 9 Paddock to Plate
After our amazing visit by the mobile butcher, Jarryd, Year 9/10 Ag and Food Tech students completed the last stages of their Paddock to Plate journey! Food Tech students cooked up the beef cuts, decided on during their combined assessments, and, as discussed with Jarryd, shared them with their Aggie colleagues who cared for the calves over the previous 14 months.
Senior PDHPE and Health and Movement Science Students Bring Learning to Life at PhysXrehab
In Week 3, our Year 12 PDHPE and Year 11 Health and Movement Science students embarked on an exciting two-day excursion to Sydney for a hands-on learning experience with the team at PhysXrehab. This invaluable opportunity allowed students to extend their classroom knowledge into the real world, engaging with professional-grade facilities, equipment, and technologies not available at school.
Although the long hours on the bus were a challenge (a big thank you to Mr Arbon for driving!), the trip was filled with enriching and practical experiences that made it all worthwhile.
Year 12 PDHPE students focused on their option topic, Improving Performance. They explored how technology can enhance athletic performance and aid in injury prevention. Using advanced tools such as force plates and dynamometers, students measured force and strength—congratulations to Travis, who ranked in the 98th percentile for quadriceps strength, and Maddie, who reached the 90th percentile in her drop jump!
Students also participated in strength and conditioning training, practising exercises that promote muscle hypertrophy such as squats, bench press, and Romanian deadlifts (RDLs). Their final session covered the body's energy systems, including how to test, train, and improve them using GPS technology. The 30-15 fitness test was a standout (and a tough one)—well done to James for leading the pack!
Year 11 HMS students used the day to support their Collaborative Investigation topic. They, too, explored energy systems, with Jake taking out top honours in the 30-15 fitness test. The nutrition session had students analysing macronutrients and micronutrients in athletes' diets—and even creating their athlete-worthy smoothies! The final session focused on biomechanical analysis, where students had the chance to work with force plates and gain insights into the science behind athletic performance.
Overall, the excursion was an inspiring and educational experience that truly brought theory to life. Well done to all students for their enthusiastic participation!