Last week I wrote about keeping teenagers safe. I shared some ideas I have heard discussed by parents. I have kept those ideas on his page for your reference (see below).

In coming weeks, I will be talking about the dangers of the internet and cyber bullying. Again, I will share the ideas parent have discussed with me about the ways they monitor their son's use of the internet and social networking sites.

Congratulations to Mr Matthew Bugden, who has been appointed Housemaster of Garnsey House. He will take over the House at the beginning of the 2009 academic year.

Congratulations also to all involved in the Spring Concert, staff and performers. It was an excellent production, and everyone should be proud of their efforts. Thanks to all staff who prepared the musicians for the performances.

On Tuesday 2nd September at 7.30pm in the Performing Arts Centre, we will hold an information evening for the parents of boys in Year 10. Its purpose is to explain the machinations of the HSC and UAI, and also to explain the curriculum of Years 11 and 12. I hope to see many parents then. We will hold a separate information session for boys at School later next week.

Next week I will publish some revisions to our academic curriculum in the Senior School. This Term we have been reviewing our curriculum structure, looking at ways that we can ensure that boys have sufficient time in any given course to achieve to their potential and beyond. I will send this report on these revisions to the curriculum to all families.

Today Year 11 boys will nominate their preferred candidates to be considered for the position of School Captain and Vice Captain. It is the first part of the selection process. Teachers will also be asked for their nominations. I will then compile a short-list that will be discussed at a Housemasters' meeting next week. Following that meeting, the final short-list will be interviewed by the Headmaster and me, and the successful candidates will be announced by the Headmaster at a special meeting of Year 11 boys on 9 September.

Good luck to the Under 15Bs in their Rugby Grand Final at Canberra Stadium this weekend.

Last week, I posted the Assessment Schedule for Years 7 – 11 for the rest of the Semester. This will be stored below for future reference.

Alan Ball
Head of Senior School

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Last week I spent three days with Year 11 students on their excursion for Studies of Religion. It was demanding in a number of ways, but very rewarding.

The purpose was to examine a number of 'sacred spaces' from a range of religious or spiritual traditions. What was most impressive was the response of the boys to the challenge of making sense of things. Their questioning was vigorous but always sensitive and respectful.Clearly, some of what they encountered was more readily accessible than other parts. Their interest was palpable, as was the genuine sense of good company that we enjoyed as a group.

I was struck, however, by one very evident distinction. In all of the traditions we visited there seems to be a greater sense of integration, of symbiosis, between faith or belief and the lived experience.Despite its claim to be a much 'lived' and living faith, one cannot avoid the sense that for many who claim to be Christian, there is too often a separatness between the two.

Usually I refer to this as 'Monday church', where the challenge exists to bring the Sunday beliefs and practice into the experience of every day.We cannot 'park' our faith somewhere while we get on with life. It is either an integral part of what we do and of what we are, or it may be just a hobby.

Evelyn Underhill wrote in 1937

Our favourite distinction between the spiritual life and practical life is false. We cannot divide them. . . For a spiritual life is simply a life in which all that we do comes from the centre, where we are anchored in God: a life soaked through and through by a sense of His reality and claim, and self-given to the great movement of His will.

Perhaps, if we can do this better, an authentic faith might be more appealing rather than putting people off, as we often fear. Half-heartedness about the conjunction between faith and life is not the Christian Way.

Rev Chris Welsh
Chaplain

For this weeks activity file and winter sports pages.
Click here

Winter Presentations

Water Polo - Friday 5 September
Rugby - Tuesday 9 September
Football - Wednesday 10 September
Hockey - Monday 22 September

Kate Borger
Director of Co-curricular

Sat 6 September
Winter projects to be collected