The wonder of Christmas and celebration of the New Year are only weeks away. Families will be reunited again around the festive table and many of us will see friends and family we have not seen for years due to the restrictions of the pandemic. In all the hustle and bustle of getting the house …
Nurturing the joy of connection and learning over the holidays Read More »
After the Year 12 formal on Friday the 18th of November, a brave group of staff members took 67 of our graduates on a mystery all-night bus tour. The College sees this as an excellent opportunity to finish the year well. I am incredibly proud to be associated with a school that is willing to …
Can you imagine going to a brand-new school in a country halfway across the world? Last term, Year 10 had the privilege of welcoming Toku from Japan to Glasshouse Christian College for 9 weeks. It was great to see how welcoming and friendly the Year 10 students were with him – he had friends literally …
French, or learning languages in general, can take you to places. Last week, it took Year 10 French students Madeleine Mullins and Amyliah Harrison to Alliance Française, French cultural centre in Brisbane where the girls took part in DELF exam (Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française). DELF tests are official qualifications awarded by the French Ministry …
During the second week of the September school holidays, I attended QUT’s annual STEM Summit. It was a four-day experience designed to encourage high-achieving students to pursue a career in the STEM fields. Throughout the summit, I was treated like a QUT undergraduate student, receiving engaging lectures from industry professionals as well as professors from …
Year 12 Industrial Technology Skills students have been applying the technology of CNC plasma cutting to create a workshop sign based around the college logo. They worked in teams to develop the designs for each section of the sign. The layouts were set up using CAD and then the individual components were plasma cut from …
Design and Technologies Engineering Metal Craft project Read More »
Year 12 students have had a fantastic year and we want to make their Mystery Bus Tour after the formal really special. Last year we had businesses and families donate over $3,000 worth of gift vouchers, cash prizes and donations. We are putting a call out this year for businesses and families who would like to donate …
Glasshouse Christian College teachers have collaborated with the University of the Sunshine Coast in developing a Sustainable Neighbourhoods program to teach secondary students. Our teachers were part of the pilot program and have given feedback on the content and implementation, to help the developers create a more engaging and student-friendly product. In Term 4, we …
Have you ever wondered to yourself… What is a ‘good life’? Are we obliged to help those less fortunate than ourselves if we have the means to do so? Should animals be given the same rights as humans? Is artificial intelligence actually a good thing? If you have ever found yourself pondering life’s big questions, …
Year 10 students gallantly gave up the last week of their school holidays to get out into the workplace from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane. With a couple of brave souls heading interstate! The students did themselves and the College proud, with employers animately telling us of their employability, interest and motivation. It was a …
There are many tensions at work in any discussion about what happens in the classroom: what is taught, what is assessed and what this assessment should look like. The one I’m interested in today finds one of its extremes represented, at least in the English classroom, by the ‘Analytical Literary Essay’. I’m talking about the …
Tension between relevance and purity of understanding Read More »
In the early 1990’s I began working for a building company that constructed high-end, waterfront homes in Sydney. When I met with the Builder for the first time, he showed me the architectural drawings of the new house we were about to build. As a 21-year-old, I was completely overwhelmed with the detail in the …
Year 10 Aggies have just returned from a most exciting trip to Warwick for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Hermitage Plant Science Awards Day. As a part of this trip, the students also had the opportunity to visit Wonga Plains Feedlot run by Camm Agriculture, Sovereign Poll Dorsets owned by Chris Rubie and then …
The joint collaboration between the Agriculture and Hospitality Departments was showcased to a whole new level this year. Parents and special guests were invited along to the Ag Plot where they were treated to a farm tour and luncheon. The Ag students displayed their depth of both practical and scientific knowledge with agrotechnology demonstrations, animal …
Australia, the Lucky Country, is one of the international success stories of the past 50 years. With record low unemployment numbers, we are almost the victims of our own success. Overseas skilled workers are lining up to enter Australia to fill the huge skills gap that our country is unable to fill. The Federal Government …
Navigating educational and job opportunities of the 21st century in the lucky country Read More »
Year 12 Hospitality students demonstrated their culinary skills again in the kitchen. They served a three-course sit-down meal to the principals from different schools and colleges. The students worked hard leading up to the function in food preparation, to deliver a meal to a high standard. The meal consisted of two different soups for entrée, …
The Year 11s are busy preparing for Year 12 next year. Year 12 2023…I can hardly believe we are this close! In this process, we have been voting for our new Jersey and after much debate, we have finally picked our winner. Here it is…. On the day of announcing which jersey design received the …
The University of Queensland Biological Sciences Faculty provides amazing support to teachers and students of Biology in Queensland. As part of their program, they invite applications from high-achieving students to attend the Biology Winter School. Year 12 student Olivia Ellis applied and was offered a place in the program which was held at the St …
Did you hear about the James Webb Space Telescope? It is incredible! It is the best telescope humanity has ever built and it cost 10 billion dollars. It sits in outer space far from our planet to get the best view. You can see many new galaxies and solar systems we never knew existed. It …
Teaching a positive outlook through a sense of awe and wonder Read More »
On Thursday 21 July, the Year 12 students took part in the “Celebrating Good Memories” program run by Lutheran Youth Queensland (LYQ). They reminisced on the great memories and achievements they have made together over their years at the College. Students felt encouraged to continue building healthy connections with each other, and continue to support each other’s goals. …
Experience USC and our Annual Careers Expo Year 10s had a great day out in June at the University of the Sunshine Coast hearing from academics about new degrees and areas of study in industries of high employment growth. They heard from Doctors of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Cyber and National Security, Business and Commerce, Criminology …
The science skills students learn at Glasshouse Christian College reach well beyond the class in preparation for the real world. In Senior Physics, students in Year 10 to Year 12 have been exploring the wide array of implications of the laws developed by Emil Lenz and Michael Faraday. The students have now completed their Electromagnetism …
We live in a time where the number of options available to us is so numerous that the sheer magnitude of options can leave us feeling lost while trying to make sense of what a best course of action should look like. You will have experienced this with your children or even yourself where you …
A few thoughts on beating FOMO and teaching young people how to make difficult decisions Read More »
For Glasshouse Christian College students, Year 10 is a rather big deal. They go from being at the top of the pile in Middle School to being on the lowest rung of the Senior School hierarchy. Their priorities change from having to plan dinner dances and walk some lovely mountain hikes, to having to prepare …
The most important lesson learnt so far in Year 10, 2022 Read More »
The Year 10 Hospitality students presented an exciting Multicultural Luncheon to their friends and teachers. They worked hard picking a suitable menu, to showcase their culture and demonstrate their cooking skills. The luncheon went without any problems and the students learnt what it was like to run a function and get all meals out on …
The theme for the Year 11 students this term has been on ‘Leadership’. It’s hard to believe that ‘Year 12, 2023’ is quickly approaching and we need to start considering applications for leadership positions next year! Recently, the students looked at five keys to becoming a good leader, these included; 1. Model the way2. Enable others to …
The 2022 Warialda Ag trip was once again an incredible experience for the Year 11 Science Aggies! The first day saw the students travel seven hours southwest and cross into NSW and to break up the trip they stopped at the Glen Innes Research Station. Here they were shown the latest technology in cattle yards …
Congratulations to Scott Roy who has been accepted into QUT’s 2022 Future You STEM Summit. Scott Roy’s application has been successful for QUT’s 2022 Future You STEM Summit, participating in the STEM Tasters stream of the program. Scott has been recognised for his outstanding STEM leadership potential and will be undertaking the program during the September holidays, Tuesday 27- …
Middle School Design Technology students have been exploring the way things work in the world of invention and innovation with car safety design and the amazing contraptions of Rube Goldberg machines. Year 9 students investigated the aerodynamics and hydrodynamics of powerboats, and then designed and created balsa wood prototypes, vacuum formed a plastic hull to …
Design and Technologies: I design, I create, I inspire Read More »
“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” (Winston Churchill, paraphrasing George Santayana) At GCC, this is the motto for our History subjects. And what better way to celebrate the study of history, than to hear what some of our Senior Students have to say about it: Why did you choose …
QATSIF stands for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation which was established in 2008 to provide scholarships to young eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Years 11 and 12. “QATSIF was created to give Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families increased educational choices and life opportunities. It is an independent, not-for-profit trust …
As a senior teacher of some years at Glasshouse Christian College, I’ve often been asked a question familiar to most English teachers: Why Shakespeare? I have several glib pre-prepared answers to this question when just ‘getting on with things’ doesn’t permit an extended response, but I thought that, given the popularity of the question and …
Senior science students are all working on their Student Experiment – otherwise known as the Internal Assessment 2. This counts for 20 per cent of their overall grade. Biology students are basing their experiments on ecosystem dynamics. Physics students are working on the refraction of light. Chemistry students investigated electroplating and combustion of fuels while …
There is no easy answer or magic bullet. Anyone who pretends to have all the answers is definitely selling snake oil. There are however a few principles that may bear fruit in the long run. Some may say that having a good self-esteem, believing in yourself and feeling validated will lead to success and happiness. …
How do I help my teenager to get confidence, happiness and direction in life? Read More »
With a late start to the school year, our 2022 DeLorean cohort only had a few weeks to get ready for their ‘Fish Tank’ pitches at the end of last term, attempting to communicate their Pilot Project ideas to a panel of judges and practising how to receive feedback, both the good and the bad. …
DeLorean is back… and thinking about the future! Read More »
At the end of Term 1, many of the Senior students went on their camps some to Burleigh, some to Noosa and others to Moreton Island. I was fortunate enough to be included with the Year 10s to Moreton. I quickly saw why most of the kids that graduate GCC see it as their favourite …
What a busy term it has been! Here are some of the things that have happened in Secondary French so far. Year 7 French in Exploration of the French-Speaking World The start of Year 7 can be daunting, especially if you are new to studying a new language. As an introduction to French and gaining …
I thought I would take a moment this week to describe the College Laptop Program and compare our style of laptop program with those offered by other organisations on the Sunshine Coast. Our College delivers a school owned and managed laptop program which ensures our entire fleet of computers are running on the same hardware …
ReachOut : Laps for Life2022 This March, Iris, a Year 10 student at Glasshouse Christian College, is challenging herself to participate in Laps for Life for the third year in a row. She is swimming laps to raise much-needed funds for ReachOut – youth mental health services. Iris has set herself a target of swimming …
The teenage years are dreaded by many parents as their beautiful, loving children turn into grunting, moody, technology addicts who want to cross all available boundaries. In reality, the average teenager is vastly different from these stereotypes that are perpetuated by the media. Start early Preparation for the teenage years starts in early childhood where …
Starting school is amazing and can sometimes be an overwhelming experience for parents and students. Yet, at the same time, at the “other” end of the school, the end can be both wonderful and daunting. The Year 12 final year can be exciting and I have loved the opportunity to create a few little ceremonies to …
It has been a fantastic beginning to 2022 for all the Aggies, new and old, and it is set to be an amazing year ahead. Year 10 Ag Science are immersing themselves in researching global food security and how to crop wild relatives to help plant breeders adapt new plant varieties to climate change. Over …
On Friday night, after the Year 12 Formal, 55 Year 12 Graduates and eight staff members took off on what would truly be a mystery overnight bus tour! Despite our best-laid plans, the ending of the trip became a mystery, even to the teachers and staff! We started late with a different bus than what …
The Year 10 French students participated in an international French examination held at Alliance Française de Brisbane, the French cultural centre in Brisbane. This was a great chance for the students to test their language skills and challenge themselves in an authentic, French speaking environment. DELF exams are held in over 120 countries each year …
Year 10 French students at an international DELF exam Read More »
We’re super proud and very pleased to announce that LED Plates have taken out their second big Sunshine Coast Innovation Award, the 2021 Generation Innovation Challenge. The challenge is open to 15-25 year olds on the Sunshine Coast. Out of the three finalists, four of the young entrepreneurs were 15 when they began the challenge. …
Order Of Australia Association – QLD Branch – Secondary Schools Citizen of the Year Award Earlier this year Angelique Hallett was nominated for the SSCA Award. The award is open to Year 12 students from across Queensland and who have been influential young people in their schools and communities. It is of no surprise that …
Earlier in the year, Laneeka Andrews (Year 11 at GCC) achieved her Queen Scout Award. This Scout award is recognised throughout Australia and the Commonwealth. In recognition of this award, Laneeka was invited to attend a prestigious award ceremony with the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC CVO and the …
Shark Tank is always a highlight of the DeLorean Project and this year was another to add to the success stories. Based on the Channel 10 concept, it’s an amazing opportunity for our students to face their fears and share their project ideas with a panel of industry representatives and entrepreneurs. This year we had …
Young people need heroes. They need positive role models to aspire to. Most often these are sportsmen and women who society places on a pedestal. With the recent closing of the Summer Olympics, there were 46 medalists returning to Australia who many of our students will look up to. The whole Olympic team trained exceptionally …
Year 11 students are learning about sustainability in the kitchen culminating in a student and staff challenge where they have to make a family meal out of leftover food that would otherwise be thrown away. Special guest Mary O’Rourke from Oz Harvest spoke to the group about the importance of reducing landfill. “It takes a …
