This is an exciting and special time of year where we celebrate our graduating Year 12 students. It has been good to see them making the most of their final few days together, enjoying different activities including a thank you breakfast, painting of a canvas tile, hearing various presentations to prepare for life after school, winning a touch football match against staff, planting a tree with their Year 2 buddies and walking the labyrinth. As individuals and as a cohort they have made a significant contribution in all areas of College life. We have enjoyed learning with them and seeing them extend their academic capabilities, valued their strong engagement with sport and applauded their talent in performing and visual arts. As leaders they have brought a positive, warm, welcoming optimism to all they have done and raised student leadership to the next level.
As a College community we congratulate and thank our Year 12 students of 2017 for their very significant contribution. We thank their families for the important part they have played as partners in the growth of this community and of their children into the fine adults they have become. We look forward to their graduation and closing chapel and finally celebrating with them at their formal. We wish them every blessing as they take steps into the next exciting phase of their lives.
Our Year 7 students enjoyed the opportunity to compete in the First Lego League competition at Grace Lutheran College over the weekend. After weeks of planning, designing and coding they put their robots to the test competing with 38 teams. Our students had three rounds of competition in which they tweaked their coding to ensure they were able to repair and relocate the many different water utilities across a simulated economy. They also presented their design to capture and utilise wastewater to a committee of University lecturers. We thank Mr Andrew Block and Mr Wes Warner for their leadership of the group.
At our Sports Awards on Tuesday we recognised those teams and students who had performed very well in school sport throughout the year. Guest speaker, former rugby league player Jack Reed inspired students at both the Year 4-6 and the Year 7-12 Sports Awards with stories about the importance of persistence and resilience in achieving success. There has been a continuing growth in the quality and range of sports offered by the College and we appreciate the support of staff, students, parents and past students who have been generous with their time in coaching our teams. We congratulate all students on the way they have participated in our sporting programs and look forward to continuing growth next year. We particularly thank Mrs Natalie Campbell, Mr Darren Hooper and Mr Brett Kersnovske for their leadership and organisation of our sports program.
Different instrumental groups have also been participating in final performances including the Year 3 and 4 string groups who held a concert on Monday. Parents have appreciated the growth that these students have shown over the year. We look forward to the Year 5 and 6 Multi-Instrumental Program concert next week. We thank our instrumental teachers and Mrs Helen Williams, Miss Anita Morton, Mr Adrian King and Mrs Aleisha Tuaine for their leadership of Music at the College.
On Monday, the Year 3 and 4 Strings Program held their end of year concert. Each class performed and then there was a special performance from some of the more advanced players in each year level. It was a pleasure to hear the growth in our young string players over the past year and we thanks Mrs Helen Williams for the wonderful work she is doing. 
With our kayaking students recently completing their competitive season this year, the team used the Term 4 SCISSA Gala Day as an opportunity to try a different form of water sport. Our team spent the morning paddling at Lake Kawana in a Dragon Boat and then testing their skills in the K1’s and C1’s. To celebrate their success at both the Queensland Schools Marathon and Sprint Championships this year, the team then enjoyed lunch and activities at Currimundi Lake.
Major Sponsors Announced for 2018!
Planning for our 2018 season is well under way and we are looking forward to a very successful year, which builds on the efforts of 2017. 
