Term 2 | Week 4 | 2026
Newsletter Contents:
- College Principal's Address
- Open Day Success
- SASSA Cross Country
- Student Success
- Pre-K PE Fun with Mrs Shovelton
- Introducing the SCAC Innovations Hub
- Beauty and the Beast Set Design
- Online Safety Presentation
- Tug of War with Year 7
- Year 8 Science
- Wellington Caves Excursion
- Year 11 Gold Mines
- Community Notices
College Principal's Address
As I write, the dust has not quite settled on what was an amazingly well-attended Open Day at Sapphire Coast Anglican College; but what’s the point of worrying about a little shimmer of dirt here and there, as within hours, our doors are thrown open again and, like a mischievous, heavily-bearded dust devil, ‘Costa Chaos’ returns for a 4th time. I was asked today by a visitor, ‘What does Costa do when he comes to the College? The only brutally honest answer that came to mind was, ‘whatever he wants! And we all absolutely love him for it. I have never met someone so well known with such humility, sociability and eagerness to lose himself in the company of whoever he is with. Especially children.
Costa Chaos, and Open Day, events that push the outer limits of the envelope for sheer intensity and energy on our campus, are a total contrast to the fascinating, intense but extremely calm day I spent in Canberra, at the invitation of Rt Rev Dr Mark Short, Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, and recently appointed as the 18th Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia (the most senior bishop of the national church).
Along with the other Principals and Board Chairs of the 9 Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn schools, we gathered at the Diocese’s new offices on Northbourne Avenue. The mission was to share recent developments in our schools and discuss, with Bishop Mark, what roles the Diocese’s schools are, and could be playing as part of the wider strategic plan of the Diocese.
What I found most fascinating about the day was the vast diversity of the Diocese’s schools, from the 97-year old Canberra Grammar School, to Canberra Girls’ Grammar School that celebrates its 100th birthday in 2026, to the very large suburban Burgmann Anglican School, not yet 30; and out to the furthest corners of the Diocese, represented by The Riverina Anglican College, Wagga Wagga, St Peter’s in Broulee and ourselves. Many similarities were apparent, as well as huge differences, not least a range of school fees that spanned a multiple of 5. I hope our readership will be relieved to learn that Sapphire Coast Anglican College rests very proudly, at the lowest extreme of the spectrum, but acknowledging even that level presents more than sufficient challenge for many in the current financial climate. We are always very keen to support any families who are facing difficulties meeting the demands of school fees. Just let us know, and productive conversations always ensue. Visiting Canberra is a regular necessity for many employed by the Anglican Diocese, and I find myself there once or twice a term, on average. My first Canberra encounter of any note was reading about the city in American-British award-winning author Bill Bryson’s 1990s book about his 6 weeks tour of Australia, rather unimaginatively entitled Down Under. Bill was not that impressed!
“Canberra is a city that seems to have been created for the convenience of politicians rather than people.” “There is a curious emptiness about it… as if everyone has gone somewhere else.”
I must say that I am sure Bill would find the city vastly improved in the 30 years since his book hit the shelves. Canberra strikes me, as the statistics confirm, as a rapidly-growing and ambitious city, with a young and highly educated population where politicians, and national museums, galleries and monuments no longer totally dominate the landscape. Indeed, Canberra’s universities are consistently the destination of choice for our graduates and quite bizarrely, for a family that were entirely Queenslanders a few years ago, within a few months our two adult children will both be Canberrans.
And in a funny coincidence, the type of which Bill Bryson’s very engaging, well-researched and often highly witty books are replete with, Bill was appointed Chancellor of the University of Durham, in the northeast of England, in 2005, just a few years after Rt Rev Dr Mark Short had graduated from there with a PhD! Bill Bryson famously described Durham, in another of his best-sellers, as ‘the perfect little city’. Perhaps if ever his travel plans involve Canberra again, our nation’s capital will close the gap in his estimations?
David Proudlove College Principal
Open Day Success
Thank you to everyone involved in making our Open Day such a huge success. From horse riding and hospitality, to the wonderful morning tea, informative speeches, and our Year 6 and Year 8 students who did an outstanding job showing visiting families around the College — it truly was a team effort.
The feedback from parents on the day was overwhelmingly positive, and the number of attendees was well above what we’ve seen in previous years. We look forward to welcoming even more families as enrolments for next year continue to come in, including enquiries for 2028 and beyond.
Aimee Abraham
SASSA Cross Country
SCAC Wins the Horsley Cup, and seven runners qualify for the next level!
Monday, 11th May saw our runners take on the challenging courses of the Willandra Cross Country Course at the SASSA Cross Country Carnival. Sapphire Coast Anglican College was proudly represented by a strong team of determined athletes who showed grit, sportsmanship, and an incredible spirit of encouragement. Throughout the day, our students could be heard cheering each other on, creating a supportive and uplifting atmosphere. Congratulations to all our competitors for representing our College with pride and enthusiasm.
With points close between schools, the College edged itself in front of the other schools to take home the Horsley Cup. The Horsley Cup is awarded to the best small school of the carnival. We are thrilled to announce that seven of our runners have qualified for the next level of competition. Lawson 1st 14 Years Boys Scout 2nd 11 Years Girls Harrison 2nd 16 Years Boys Angelina 4th 12 Years Girls (Secondary) Eva 4th 8-9 Years Girls Hunter 4th 14 Years Boys Clara 5th 10 Years Girls Lawson, Harrison, Hunter and Angelina have qualified for the Secondary Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools (AICES) carnival to be held on 2nd June. Scout, Eva and Clara have qualified for the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) state carnival to be held on 25th June. Thank you to the 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.
Student Success
We're so proud to announce that Sienna Smits, a member of the Bega Valley Youth Orchestra, has been awarded a Regional Scholarship in violin from the Sydney Youth Orchestra, one of Australia’s leading organisations for developing young orchestral musicians. She will perform at prestigious venues and community events this year, including the Sir John Clancy Auditorium at UNSW, Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and the Big Busk fundraising event. The SYO weekly program requires Sienna to commit 4 hours per week and to travel to Sydney on 7 weekends each year. She also attends the SYO Summer and Winter School, a six-day program that allows her to connect with and learn alongside like-minded young musicians. We celebrate her ongoing musical journey and her successes within and outside of our community. Keep it up, Sienna!
Pre-K PE Fun with Mrs Shovelton
And off they go! The children absolutely love racing down the hill to the Gym—who wouldn’t, with all that space to run, laugh, and let their energy burst out. Once they reach the Gym, they get a few joyful minutes to zoom around inside before Mrs Shovelton blows the whistle and gathers them on the bench.
With Mrs Shovelton, the children explore fundamental motor skills in the most playful way possible—throwing and catching, moving safely in shared spaces, building resilience, and learning to follow open‑ended instructions that encourage turn‑taking. Their listening skills are put to the test, and there are plenty of giggles along the way. By the end, they’re happily puffed out from all the action. One of their favourite activities is a fast‑paced challenge: collecting all the tennis balls and getting them into the bucket as quickly as they can. They also adore gently tossing a tennis ball onto the giant exercise ball to catch it again, and of course, giving that big ball their strongest throw with the tennis balls to see how far they can move the large ball. It’s energetic, it’s engaging, and it’s a highlight of their week.
Introducing the SCAC Innovations Hub
With many of our Design and Technology classes in L Block reaching maximum capacity this year, it became clear that a new dedicated space was needed to support our growing range of innovative technologies. Enter the new SCAC Innovation Hub! a purpose-built home for our expanding suite of equipment, including 3D printers, laser cutters, and newly acquired plastics shredder and extruder systems. Over the term, Mr Larter and Ms Mamone worked hard to transform the space, repairing walls and enlisting the help of enthusiastic student volunteers to bring the area to life with fresh paint and renewed energy. The result is a vibrant, functional breakout space that now serves as a centre for creativity, design and emerging technologies.
The Innovation Hub is already a hive of activity. Our 3D printers are currently being utilised by Year 8 Technology, Stage 5 Design and Technology, Stage 5 Engineering Studies, and HSC Design and Technology students. Meanwhile, the laser cutter has been working tirelessly on a variety of exciting projects, from cutting characters for the library and engraving student designs into acrylic to producing props and set pieces for this year’s SCAC production of Beauty and the Beast. A particularly exciting addition is our plastics recycling equipment, purchased through a grant secured by the Bega Group and the P&F. Generous support of local businesses, including Market Street: Merimbula, High Tide: Merimbula, Toast: Pambula, and the Bega Heritage Centre, have been collecting bottle caps for us. These community partners have been collecting bottle caps, which students will shred and repurpose into filament for 3D printing and other circular design projects. This innovative space represents a major step forward in embedding sustainability, circularity and future-focused technologies into student learning. Over the coming months, the Innovation Hub will also support primary students as they begin engaging in circular economy programs, further strengthening cross-campus opportunities for hands-on, real-world education.
Beauty and the Beast Set Design
Stage 5 Design, Innovation and Technology students have enthusiastically begun their major collaborative project for the year: designing and creating the complete set for Beauty and the Beast. From the grand castle and enchanted forest trees to the town statue, students are transforming creative concepts into reality through innovation, teamwork and technical expertise. A highlight of the production includes a coded robotic rose that will dramatically drop its petals throughout the play, showcasing the integration of engineering and design. Students are working with a diverse range of materials, including timber, plastics and metals, while also using advanced CAD and CAM technologies to design, prototype and manufacture large-scale set pieces. The project also incorporates puppetry elements, further expanding students’ creative and technical capabilities.
Beyond construction, students are developing a comprehensive understanding of set design by exploring the key elements that shape successful productions, including visual storytelling, audience engagement, communication, resource and budget management, and large-scale production planning. They are also investigating emerging technologies and advancements in modern stage design, from automation and robotics to digital fabrication and innovative special effects. Inspired by their recent experience attending The Lion King during the Sydney camp, Year 10 students have returned with renewed passion and creative ambition. This project is also opening students’ eyes to the wide range of career opportunities within the entertainment and production industries, including lighting design, stage engineering, technical production, set construction and theatrical design. Through this immersive experience, students are building both practical skills and industry knowledge while bringing the magic of live performance to life.
Online Safety Presentation
On Wednesday 13 May, Year 7-8 took part in a presentation, focused on staying safe online with our local Police Youth Liaison Officer, Senior Constable Tim and his colleague Senior Constable Tony. The students engaged with the content positively, with lots of questions. During the presentation, students learned about the dangers of sharing images online, the risks of interacting with people you don’t know, catfishing, identity theft and what to do if someone shares an inappropriate image with you to ensure you aren’t at risk of breaking the law yourself. Students were encouraged to check their current privacy settings and, in particular, make sure that they don’t have their ‘AirDrop’ set to ‘everyone’. This prevents random members of the public from sharing messages, images or videos on their phones. This might be something you could chat with your child about. One particular focus was on the use of social media following the ban. Many of the students in attendance indicated that they were still accessing social media. This could be for several reasons, including that the social media companies are still working through accounts of young people or that they have been able to trick the filter that assesses their age. One other possible reason is that they have used a fake date of birth. Using a fake date of birth can be particularly problematic, as the algorithms used by social media companies to curate content for individual feeds will present age-appropriate content. This means that if a 12-year-old has entered a date of birth of a 16-year-old, then they will be given content appropriate for a 16-year-old, and each year the content they get will be progressively older. This is often overlooked when parents allow their younger children to create an account, but it could lead to them interacting with people and themes that are not age-appropriate and could cause significant long-term harm for young people. If you are after more information regarding how to keep your child safe online, the safety commission website is a great place to start. See more at: Online safety | eSafety Commissioner.
Tug of War with Year 7
Year 7 had an afternoon of playing tug of war to demonstrate balanced and unbalanced forces. Prizes were given to the winning teams. A lesson on forces that won’t be forgotten quickly!
Year 8 Science
As part of our Year 8 Science studies on the circulatory and respiratory systems, students have participated in a supervised dissection activity involving animal hearts and lungs. This hands-on investigation helped students better understand the structure and function of these organs and how they work together in the human body. All activities were conducted safely with protective equipment and respectfully in accordance with school guidelines.
Wellington Caves Excursion
Around July last year, I was introduced online to the James Moore Memorial Prize, an award that included a week-long excursion as part of a real scientific investigation. I later on accepted a cash prize, a membership to the paleo community at Flinders Uni, a tour of their labs, and a super cool Thylacine jaw! From the 14th to the 19th of April, I was invited to travel with Flinders University to the Wellington Caves site and Canowindra fish museum, as part of an investigation into Australia's ancient mega fauna and aquatic life. This was part of a yearly assignment for their first-year students, so we did a variety of things, including exploring the nearby Devonian fish museum.
I was able to meet some amazing palaeontologists and scientists who work at Flinders and surrounds, as well as camp with some super fun uni students, and made some great memories with the other winner, Sam Mellen. We did all sorts of activities, including sorting, sifting, excavation in a real fossil site, and documenting/investigating everything we found. I think the meeting of fascinating people from outside my state was my favourite. I learned so much about ancient organism anatomy, ecosystems and diversity. I even found some fascinating fossils from ancient kangaroos. This year was the first that they opened it to applicants outside of South Australia, and I was so grateful that I won. They will continue to offer this award every year, and it was a truly memorable experience. I definitely recommend it!
Cat, Year 11
Year 11 Gold Mines
Our Year 11 gold miners (AKA Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science) went to the Wolumla goldfields again on Friday, May 8th, to examine rocks and minerals. Cat, Evie and Michael found some great samples for us to look at back at school.