Dear Parents

Tomorrow is our first full round of GBC Sport with both our Primary and Secondary students competing tomorrow morning.  Our Primary students will be at ‘home’ and our Secondary students will play ‘away’ at Rivermount College.  I look forward to seeing our students represent the College and also remind parents that the COVID-19 protocols remain in place at all GBC venues.

I was very pleased to meet with parents at our recent Parents and Friends Meeting.  At each meeting I will be giving a Principal’s report.  I encourage all parents to come along to meetings, not just for the valuable parent engagement opportunities, but to also hear what is happening in the College first-hand.

An initiative of the Parents and Friends is the upcoming Father’s Day Raffle.  There are some great prizes to be won and the proceeds of the raffle will form a discretionary fund to assist families in our College community who are struggling due to the COVID pandemic.  More information about this raffle can be found at here.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, parents have not been able to attend many of our events and are missing out on special moments with their children.  We are investigating recording our key events and making these available online for parents.  It takes expertise to produce footage of quality and some of our staff are quickly upskilling so that we can make this possible in the future.

Finally, if your student is not returning to The Springfield Anglican College next year (2021), it is important that you give the College a full term’s notice to avoid incurring fees as part of the College Enrolment Agreement.  If your student is not returning, please contact the Registrar by phone or email: enrolments@tsac.qld.edu.au.

My best wishes

Steven Morris

From the Chaplain

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. This year they have had to take into account the impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. Global Footprint Network analyses humanity’s current resource situation and has concluded that Earth Overshoot Day 2020 lands on Saturday the 22^nd August.

The website https://www.footprintcalculator.org/ enables everyone to explore their own ecological and carbon footprint and will conclude with how many planets it would take if everyone lived the same way you do! I did the test and to my horror it would take 4.6 planets if everyone lives my way and my Overshoot Day would be 20^th March! In Genesis 1:26-28, as human beings we are reminded that we have a special role within Creation, this passage indicates more of a caretaking or stewardship role.

Exploring my ecological and carbon footprint and calculating my overshoot day really does make me consider if I am being a good steward of the earth, being responsible and caring for nature in a way that is consistent with God’s will. I encourage everyone to calculate your own ecological footprint this week in celebration of Earth Overshoot Day and to discover your own Overshoot Date. I am definitely going to look at ways that I can start reducing my carbon and ecological footprint. I hope you take up the challenge too.

Blessings,

Reverend Erika Williams