Continuing tradition, our Year 12s walked their Avenue of Honour this week to wrap the end of their Somerset journey.
Pre-Prep to Year 11s lined the Avenue for Somerset's Class of 2022 to stroll for their final time as students.
Parents, siblings, teachers and friends joined the students for the nostalgic event.
At Somerset College we have prided ourselves in the implementing a vibrant pastoral program that aims to develop the social and emotional wellbeing of all our students. Our programmes are backed by scientific research and founded by experts in the field of adolescent development. In 2022 the Somerset experience was further enhanced by the introductory of single sex programs that acknowledge the unique gender-based experiences and challenges uniquely faced.
The Year 7 boys engaged with a 'soft trial' of Glen Gerryn’s Men of Honour X programme. Over the past 10 years, I have been an advocate for boys’ education, and I have had the privilege of watching Glen inspire, motivate, and transform the boys I have pastorally led. For the past 20 years Glen has shared his message of hope with over a million people around the world; engaging with students, parents, teachers, employees, sporting groups and community leaders. Glen’s been invited to speak at TEDx events and on national TV and radio. He’s authored five books and created the ‘Men of Honour’ character development course.
The boys engaged in a series of five workshops which were delivered by experienced staff members and student leaders. The workshops aimed to highlight the power of an individual’s choice. For the 2022 Year 7 programme we chose to explore the areas of Exercise, Nutrition, Relationships, Online Presence, and Masculinity. The boys explored the portrayal of men in society, perpetuated by the media, and the subsequent effects on male identity and behaviour. The evidence-based sessions, all allowed the boys to exercise core skills and cultivate characteristics that are proven to strengthen resilience and good mental health. The workshops also emphasised the power of mentorship from honourable men, something that our boys need and should seek out.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the boys for taking part in the ‘soft release’ of this important programme. They have all played a vital role in pioneering a program that aims to better support the boys in our college. It has been such a pleasure hearing the positive feedback from students, and I hope this will be an effective tool they can utilise as a part of their Somerset journey and beyond.
And of course, no program can run without the generosity and commitment of staff. The following teachers have been acting as positive mentors for the boys. They have not only delivered the program, but they also demonstrated their commitment in ensuring our boys are supported along their journey into being honourable Somerset graduates. On behalf of Year 7, I would like to thank:
I would also like to thank the Year 7 2023 Captains Jake Johnson and Amy Barry for also helping to deliver the programme to the Year 7 boys. It was such a pleasure watching Jake and Amy demonstrate and develop their leadership capacity in a way which was so positively influential to our boys.
The Men of Honour will be 're-designed' with the guidance of Glen Gerryn and the feedback received from students. In 2023 we are hoping to make the program bigger and better than ever.
To conclude I leave with this quote from St Augustine:
“The good man, though a slave, is free; the wicked, though he reigns, is a slave, and not the slave of a single man, but – what is worse – the slave of as many masters as he has vices.”The Year 11s hosted the Year 1s for a Christmas Party in the Common Room.
The Year 11 cohort had all of the Year 1s complete a short questionnaire and the Year 11s then buddied up with a Year 1 friend of the same House and interests.
There were a range of games and activities including Christmas colouring in, Connect Four, the always popular handball and even a jumbo candy cane and bauble home run derby (which turned into a Don Bradman style of cricket).
Within the short space of an hour there were some genuine and really special connections made between our leaders of 2023 and some of our youngest at Somerset College. It was a great experience, and it was very hard to tell who was having more fun – the Year 1s or the Year 11s! Special thanks to all who helped make it a very special occasion.
Year 12s enjoyed a delightful morning tea this week in the Prep space where their schooling journey began, 13 years ago.
A continuing tradition before our Year 12s leave the College, students who have been at Somerset from the beginning visit where it all began.
The group from the Class of 2022 met with their Prep teachers, posed for photos and ate their treats.
The Gold Coast Primary Schools Debating Competition took place for the first time this year, offering students in Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to experience an introduction in debating in Junior School.
The inaugural cohort of Year 6 Somerset Debaters involved three teams, all of whom had zero debating experience heading into the competition, but whose passion, dedication and overall enthusiasm wholly made up for it. The competition consists of three rounds – arguing the topics: ‘School uniforms should be banned’; ‘Fairytales set us up for disappointment’ and finally that ‘We should ban pets’. Rather than being a leaderboard-style competition, the Primary Schools debates are more an opportunity to see what debating is all about, and to prepare students for the Gold Coast Debating Competition, which is open to Years 7 to 12.
Often requesting multiple training sessions a week, along with early morning practice debates, our three Somerset Year 6 teams absolutely threw themselves into the preparation process and performed extremely strongly in all three rounds across Term Three and Term Four. Special congratulations to Somerset 6.3 (Ailin Zhao, Lawrence Lee, Angela Sun, Evie Wilson, Liam Hartley, Jackson Smith and Ishan Chauhan) who were undefeated across all three debates! Our other teams also performed extremely well, winning two debates apiece.
The future of the Somerset College Debating Programme looks extremely bright, and we look forward to seeing how these students progress throughout their Senior years!
Our Sustainable Spartans captains headed off to Tangalooma on Moreton Island as part of the ECOMARINES programme, 4 November.
The students have worked all year on projects including clean up Australia day, creating and maintaining our community garden which also services the Bird and Bush.
Year 4 and 5 students completed the Oz Harvest sustainable cooking programme. The captains have also been working on our sustainable lunchbox programme. The Ecomarines programme focused on ocean and waterway sustainability with a presentation in the marine education centre on the many wonders of dolphins including a research project into their blood and it’s healing powers and dolphins bringing gifts to eco rangers. The information centre has many interesting environmental displays which prompted much thinking and discussion around sustainability.
Somerset Spartans Football and Futsal organised several lunchtime competitions this year. Please read below the trophy winners from our Lunchtime activities 2022.
With the fast-growing interest in Futsal, we had to split the Junior and Senior School competition in two separated leagues based. At the interhouse futsal, all five houses play against each other once in the group stage. The houses placed first and second play the Final.
This competition took place during Term One. In the group stage Starkey stayed undefeated in. In the final they were facing Franklin that ended second. Starkey underestimated their opponent and Franklin won the Final with 3-nil!
The Golden Boot winner with 8 goals is Andrew Blatchford. (Franklin, Year 4). Second place with seven goals for Abhiveer Gupta (Laver, Year 4).
This competition took place during Term Three. Big shout out to Laver that had a total of 13 players registered. Laver was each week on full strength with lots of options to choose out. It was not a surprise that they reached the final. But in the final, it was Starkey that played the best and won from Laver with 5 to 2. Well done, Starkey! The Golden Boot winner with 8 goals is Mila Oldfield. (Veivers, Year 5). Shared second place with seven goals for Connor Millar-Martin (Laver, Year 5) and Jackson Smith (Starkey, Year 6).
Inter-House Futsal Competition Seniors, Years 7, 8 and 9: This competition took place during Term Three. All houses are all from a similar level each team. It was very tight I in the group stage. It was Starkey and Veivers that ended both in the top 2. Unfortunately, the Final could not be played. The winner of the competition is going to the group winner Starkey. The Golden Boot winner with 8 goals is Ari Thake. (Starkey, Year 8).
Second place with 7 goals for Emily Nickels (Franklin, Year 9).
This competition took place during term 1. Franklin, Starkey and laver were the teams that dominated the group. It was Starkey and Laver that came as number one and two. In the Final, Starkey played the best and defeated Laver with 3 to 1. The Golden Boot winners with seven goals are Angus Martin (Laver, Year 12) and Peter Osborne (Starkey, Year 12).
During term 1 all students had the change to participate in the Shooting Accuracy Master. Each student has five attempts per week. At the end of the term, we had a winner in the Junior and Senior School. In the Juniors it was Alex Pourre with a total of 31 points. In the Senior School with a total on 25 points, Sophia O’Leary won the competition. Congratulations to both!
This was already the fourth edition of the Lunchtime Street Football. In the Senior School we have four teams playing matches each week. Rylan Kennedy and Tristan Song came out as winners. In the Junior School, with a total of 12 teams. The 12 teams were divided in two groups. At the end of Term Three. The top four from both groups played the knockout finals. The team that that won all their knockout matches were Paxton Stewart and Liam Seymour. Well done to the winners! We hope to see you back next year!
Lunchtime football tennis takes place during Term Four. This is a six-week competition with all students have practice matches in Week 1. After the first week we are heading in the group stage. Same as in Street Football. Football tennis gets played in pairs. In the Semi Finals, Bertrand and Vaughan defeated Benedict and Andrew. And Oliver and Paxton defeated Liam and Max.
In the final, Bertrand and Vaughan took the lead at the start of the game. But Paxton and Oliver had a strong comeback. Paxton Stewart and Oliver Ng become the Champions of Football Tennis in 2022.
For any questions about Football and Futsal, please contact our Head of Football and Futsal.
Paul is a regular attendee at my Friday morning boxing classes. He brings with him a witty sense of humor which certainly keeps me on my toes. His commitment to his overall health and fitness throughout this year, leaving no stone unturned, attending yoga and pilate classes, as well as a regular member in the weights room.
Paul is a true asset and inspiration to our Somerset Gym community.
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