When Mrs Lindy Anning started our new Music Program this year, I didn't realise how privileged our students were, until I heard a snippet of the following program on ABC radio. Music can be something we take for granted, but is tremendously important in the development of the brain, imagination and learning processes.

Here is a summary of the program with a link at the bottom for more:

• The Flag flies again
• Coffee Night Postponed to 7pm Wednesday 22 July 2009
• Official Opening of Setdown Area and Treeplanting

Please find new timetable attached below.

Changes to Secondary:

• Double English on Fridays
• Science singles on Monday and Wednesday mornings
• Wednesday session 1 and 2 swapped, so SOSE is now in middle session

The words of the apostle Paul come to mind: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor 13:13)

I think that these three themes are worthy of our remembrance each day as we go upon our way.

FAITH:

• ask God what you would like to see
• have a goal
• be bold
• remember the promises of God

HOPE:

• expect God to act
• have a positive attitude
• let your positive expectation drive back any doubt or spiritual opposition you may face
  

Professor Masters recently conducted a "review to
examine available data on the performances of Queensland students and .. provide advice in the areas of curriculum, assessment and teacher quality. In particular, the review was asked to identify existing effective practices ..." While there is valid debate and criticism of Professor Masters' recommendations, I have found his review of effective practices very interesting reading. I include some of the main points here:


A number of common factors that appear to facilitate better student learning
outcomes were noted in the schools visited. Not surprisingly, these factors tend
to be consistent with the large body of school improvement research. They
include:

• strong and effective school leaders;
• a learning culture and strong commitment to continuous improvement;
• teachers with high expectations, thorough knowledge of their subjects and
  a deep understanding of how students learn those subjects;

• a safe, well-organised and supportive school environment which prioritises
  learning;

• well-developed systems for evaluating and monitoring performance; and
• parent and community engagement and support.

I was encouraged to read this interview with Dr Duane Litfin from Wheaton College in the USA. I read this while on mission in Indonesia last year. It was published in "Campus Asia" September 2008 edition. The article is by Marcel Glen Longdong. Please forgive any grammatical errors in his English translation, the points being recorded are worth noting. I feel that this represents our philosophy exactly.


Dr Litfin went straight to the point by saying that the centre of Christian education is the Lord Jesus Christ. In his opinion, Jesus Christ is relevant in every aspect of life, and it is our duty to think Christianly about life. We can integrate Christianity into our daily lives by [following] His teachings, Litfin remarked.

CQCC subscribes to the Christian Schools Australia Charter:


A Christian school is a Christ-centred and Biblically based educational Community, therefore:

• the Lordship of Christ is foundational in all its teaching and learning;
• its governors acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, and formulate policies and make decisions prayerfully, in dependence on the wisdom of God and in the light of Biblical principles;

from "The Beauty of God's Holiness" by Thomas L Trevethan:

Beauty and the creation of beauty (arts and craftsmanship) have a central place in God's scheme of things. It is a strikingly beautiful world in which we are blessed to live - beautiful in diverse and wonderful ways. All of this aesthetically delightful profusion is the handiwork of the Creator. His love of beauty cries out to us from all that he has made. God's holiness includes beauty and aesthetic design.

Founder, Rev John Alley addressing students