On Friday, the 15th of November, we celebrated the final day of school for our Year 12 Class of 2024! The day began with a Graduation Breakfast, where each student received a book of photos capturing key moments from their journey at our college. Students then gathered for the tree-planting ceremony. Mrs. Petersen shared words about resilience and growth, likening the new tree to the next chapter in their lives.
Unexpected events can knock us off our feet. And while some of us get knocked down and out, others get back up and go on. They refuse to accept defeat as being permanent. They’re like the man who said, ‘I’m never down; I’m either up, or I’m getting up.’ They see everything that happens in life as a learning experience. Losing a loved one is heart breaking, but it can also be a wake-up call to live every day of your life to the fullest. Losing a job can be traumatic, but it can also bring to the surface talents and abilities you never knew you had.
This week at SMC Playgroup, we hosted a cooking class run by Mission Australia. The children made mini pizzas and fruit skewers. It was great to see them having fun and trying new healthy foods they wouldn't usually eat at home.
On Monday, the 11th November, our incoming Prep students for 2025 had their very first Staines Memorial College experience at our annual Teddy Bear's Picnic. The children enjoyed games on the lawn, storytime, and got creative with crafts! Our staff and senior leaders were there to help make it a fun, welcoming day for each child.
At our final Secondary Assembly for the year, we celebrated students’ achievements in athletics and academics.
On Wednesday, the 6th of November, our Year 5 students went back in time to experience life in an 1854 goldfield township. Through hands-on activities like gold panning, role-playing, and damper-making over an open fire, students dived into the Australian gold rush era, discovering the challenges and excitement of life in a frontier town.
On Thursday, 7 November 2024, we held our Primary Special Effort Awards Assembly to recognise the efforts of our Primary students. We were delighted to celebrate those who participated in the Storydance musical, Wakakirri, along with students who represented MetWest.
What does it mean to love God with all your strength? A pastor defines it: ‘It means expending tremendous amounts of energy for Kingdom causes. It means blood, sweat, and tears. It means servanthood and sacrifice. It means good old-fashioned hard work. Energy may be the least appreciated dimension of love because it’s the least sentimental. And how we invest our energy reveals our true priorities.’ It reveals how much we love someone; in this case, God. The pastor continues: ‘Christianity was never intended to be a noun. And when we turn it into a noun, it becomes a turnoff. Christianity was always intended to be a verb. We’ve got to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We’ve got to seize opportunities to serve … At the end of the day, God isn’t going to say, ‘Well said, good and faithful servant’… but, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’
On Monday, the 4th November, we presented effort awards to our students, thanked our 2024 Emerging Leaders, and announced the 2025 Sports Captains and presented them with their badges.
In our Kindy at Staines Memorial College, every day, our young learners dive into hands-on activities that allow them to explore, discover, and grow in ways that suit their natural curiosity.