One of the most important qualities we can develop in life is courage. We often think of courage as something dramatic such as a heroic act, a bold decision, or standing up in the face of adversity. Yet some of the most significant acts of courage happen quietly every day. Courage can look like attempting something difficult, making a mistake, asking for help, sharing an idea, or trying again after experiencing disappointment.

A powerful example of this is found in Matthew 14:22-33, when Jesus walks on water toward His disciples during a storm. Peter responds with remarkable faith, stepping out of the boat and onto the water. While Peter is often remembered for sinking when he became distracted by the wind and waves, it is worth remembering that he was the only disciple willing to step out of the boat in the first place. Peter's story reminds us that growth begins with a willingness to try. Without taking that first step, he would never have experienced the miracle of walking on water at all.

This idea closely aligns with what educators often refer to as a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that abilities, understanding, and skills can be developed through effort, persistence, learning, and support. It encourages us to move from "I can't do this" to "I can't do this yet." Rather than viewing mistakes as failures, we begin to see them as opportunities for learning and growth.

Every day in our classrooms, students are invited to demonstrate this kind of courage. It may be shown through a Maths problem, a spelling test, reading a challenging book or making a new friend. Growth rarely occurs when we remain within our comfort zones. Like Peter stepping out of the boat, meaningful growth often begins when we are willing to embrace uncertainty and trust the process.

As a school community, we want our students to know that mistakes are not something to be feared. They are a natural and important part of learning. When students develop the confidence to take risks, receive feedback, and persevere through challenges, they not only grow academically but also build resilience, character, and self-belief.

Our College theme of "Committed to Growth" reminds us that growth is not measured by perfection but by progress. Whether we are students, staff, or parents, we all encounter moments that require courage. We all face situations where the outcome is uncertain and where success is not guaranteed. Yet it is often in these moments that God does some of His most important work in us.

May we continue to be a community that encourages one another to step out of the boat, embrace challenge, and trust God through the learning process. For growth does not begin when we have mastered something, rather it begins when we have the courage to try.

Danika Pittard
Deputy Head of Primary, Head of Teaching and Learning

As we approach the second half of the year, my fellow sports captains and I (Amelia) would like to take the time to reflect upon the past term. This term we have seen high levels of engagement and persistence from all year levels within our sporting opportunities at Flinders. Thank you to each student that stepped out of their comfort zone and participated in sporting events.

This term we hosted our annual Cross Country on campus where all students ran a 3km race around the school grounds. It was amazing to see so many people having a go ad smiling along the way. The house results are as follows:

4th place Cuthbert on 5650 points

3rd place Nicholls on 6280 points

2nd place Flynn on 6418 points

1st place Ten Boom on 6486 points.

Following our cross-country event, we had over 30 students represent the college at the Division A cross country event on the 19th of May. Every ran count and it led to Flinders finishing 3rd overall in Division A, a fantastic achievement that you should all be very proud of.

A special mention to Ryder G of Yr 9 who won gold in the U15 Boys race by 14 seconds in a time of 10:16 — congratulations

On a very exciting note, this term we had several students represent the college at the VIC college basketball tournament. So much so that the under 17 girls made it to the grand final – coming runners up; such an amazing effort girls! Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated from both campuses – we cannot wait to see where all your talent takes you.

This term we had a fantastic engagement with the SIS sports, thank you to all the players for showing true flinders spirit and commitment to growth throughout the term. Ans a big thank you to the teachers for coaching, your knowledge is well valued. This terms MVPs are

SIS Netball Team Gold – Abbey H

SIS Netball Team Maroon – Faith C

SIS Inter Girls AFL – Audrey W

SIS Senior Girls Volleyball - Sunday M

SIS Senior Boys Volleyball - Finn H and Will R

SIS Junior Boys Soccer - Lachie A

SIS Inter Boys Volleyball - Jacob H

A well-deserved recognition to our MVPs!!

Term 3 is set to be full of energy across our sporting teams. Our Senior Girls Netballers will bring determination to every game, while the Senior Boys Basketball team looks to dominate the court with speed and skill. On the oval, our Intermediate AFL sides are ready for tough contests, and the Intermediate Boys Soccer team will be chasing goals and teamwork all season. A big term ahead for all involved!

The House Staff vs Student Netball Competition was a fantastic showcase of school spirit, with triple House points on the line adding plenty of intensity to the games. A strong turnout saw 36 students take the court alongside 11 staff members, with Nicholls heavily represented through 6 staff players. Across all matches, teamwork and energy were on full display, with students from a range of year levels mixing and competing together in great spirits. In the end, Nicholls took the win with 40 points, followed by Cuthbert on 20 points, and Flynn and Ten Boom finishing equal on 19 points.

We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for our 2026 Secondary School Production, The Sound of Music: Youth Edition.

Join us from 6–9 August in the FCCC Tyabb Chapel as our talented students bring this much-loved musical to life. Filled with unforgettable songs, inspiring characters, and a timeless story of family, courage, and hope, this production promises to be an enjoyable experience for audiences of all ages.

Over the past two terms, our dedicated cast, crew, and production team have invested countless hours into rehearsals, set construction, choreography, music, and technical preparations. Their passion, commitment, and teamwork have been exceptional, and we are excited to share the result of their hard work with our school community.

We warmly invite all families, friends, alumni, and members of our wider community to come along and support our students as they showcase their remarkable talents on stage.

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a memorable production.

Performance Dates: 6–9 August 2026Venue: FCCC Tyabb Chapel

Book your tickets today and don't miss this wonderful celebration of music, storytelling, and student talent.

https://www.trybooking.com/eve...

From Wednesday 24 to Friday 26 June, our Year 9 students enjoyed three memorable days together at Ferngully Lodge in Healesville for their annual Year 9 Retreat.

The retreat provided a unique opportunity for students to pause, connect, and reflect as they explored themes of calling, identity, character, and impact. Through engaging sessions, small group discussions, outdoor adventures, service activities, and moments of personal reflection, students were encouraged to consider who God has created them to be and how they can positively influence the world around them.

Beyond the planned activities, the retreat was filled with opportunities to strengthen friendships, encourage one another, and create lasting memories. Whether tackling the high ropes course, sharing conversations around the fire pit, or supporting one another through team challenges, students embraced the experience with enthusiasm, kindness, and courage.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff, chaplains, and guest presenters who poured so much time, care, and encouragement into making the retreat such a meaningful experience. Their willingness to walk alongside our students is a wonderful reflection of the Christ-centred community we strive to cultivate at Flinders.

We pray that the seeds planted throughout these three days will continue to grow, and that our Year 9 students will carry forward a deeper understanding of their identity in Christ, stronger friendships, and the confidence to live lives of purpose, service, and faith.

During our Term 2 Year 7–9 Chapel Service, we were delighted to welcome local artist Anna Victoria to share with our students.

Anna's visit was a wonderful opportunity for our students to hear from a talented local creative, and they thoroughly enjoyed learning from her experience and insights.

We are so grateful to Anna for generously giving her time to invest in and inspire our students.

As another lambing season comes to a close, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated staff and wonderful students for the care, commitment, and teamwork they have shown throughout this special time on the farm.

From preparing facilities and monitoring ewes to feeding and caring for our newest arrivals, our students embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm and responsibility. Their willingness to learn, work together, and care for the animals has been a wonderful reflection of our school community.

Lambing season provides a unique hands-on learning experience, allowing students to develop practical agricultural skills while fostering compassion, patience, and an appreciation for the responsibilities involved in caring for livestock. These authentic experiences are an invaluable part of learning beyond the classroom.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to making this year's lambing season such a success. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and the genuine care you have shown for our animals. We look forward to watching our lambs continue to grow in the months ahead.

During Term Two, our Grade Five students explored the fascinating topic of Animal Adaptations in Science. They researched a variety of animals and the environments they live in, learning how different species have developed special features to help them survive—such as camouflage, unique body parts, and the ability to withstand harsh conditions.

To conclude the unit, students took part in a creative project where they designed their own imaginary animal. Using what they had learned, they combined different adaptations to create unique creatures suited to specific habitats. They then shared their ideas through oral presentations, explaining both their designs and the science behind them.

The final projects were exceptional, demonstrating creativity, effort, and careful thought. Well done, Grade Five! Your enthusiasm and imagination truly stood out.

Miss Smith and Miss Pearson
Grade Five Team

Our Joshua Centre recently held our very first Talent Show, and it was a fantastic success! Students showcased a wide range of talents, including moonwalking, singing, lightsaber tricks, breakdancing, comedy, sharing animal facts, and even naming different types of planes. It was truly wonderful to see our performers step up with such confidence and skill. We are incredibly proud of every student who took part and are already looking forward to running another Talent Show next term.

JCA class has been having a wonderful time in their specialist classes, with Agriculture and Performing Arts proving to be real highlights of the week. These sessions have been fantastic for building friendships and connection within the class, as students work and play alongside one another. We were even lucky enough to have Ms Carlon join in on one of the sessions recently and she loved spending time with the class and being shown around by the students, who were proud to share what they've been learning. In Performing Arts, dress-ups and make-believe remain a firm favourite, and with our students' imaginations leading the way, anything is possible!

JCB (Orcas Pod) have had a busy and hands-on few weeks of learning. In Numeracy, students have been building their confidence with multiplication, while our Ag Studies sessions have seen us experimenting to better understand how plants absorb water from the ground. We’ve also enjoyed spending time with the lambs, which has been a highlight for many. In Performing Arts, the energy has been high as students explored rhythm and sound using boomwhackers, definitely making some joyful noise along the way!

JCC recently enjoyed a fun and hands-on cooking experience, baking delicious cookies from scratch using Ms Batey’s recipe, which made an impressive 100 cookies! Students were involved in each step of the process, from mixing ingredients to shaping and decorating their creations, before icing and enjoying the final product. This activity provided a great opportunity to practise listening and following instructions, build independence in the kitchen, and experience the satisfaction of seeing a task through from start to finish, with a well-earned “aha” moment.

Medieval Incursion:

Last week, our Joshua Centre seniors joined students from across the College for a Medieval Incursion, bringing their Humanities learning to life through hands-on, immersive activities.

This semester, students have been exploring life in Medieval Europe like castles, knights, feudal society, weaponry, daily life, and the key events that shaped the Middle Ages. The incursion gave them a chance to see that learning come alive in a way that's hard to forget.

Students got to handle replicas of medieval armour and weapons, learn about the role of knights and soldiers, and explore what everyday life was really like in this period. They asked questions, engaged with the artefacts, and made connections back to what they'd learned in class.

Just as importantly, the day was a great chance for connection. Our students loved learning alongside peers from across the College, building confidence, communication skills, and a real sense of belonging in the wider school community.

Peninsula Boxing Excursion:

As part of our end-of-semester celebrations, Senior Joshua Centre students enjoyed a community-based excursion that brought their learning to life and capped off a semester of real growth. The day started with an hour-long session at Peninsula Boxing, where students built fitness, coordination, resilience and teamwork while pushing themselves to try new skills and support one another. From there, they headed into the local community to put life skills into practice like handling money, comparing prices and making purchasing decisions, all while engaging respectfully with local business owners and staff. These authentic, real-world settings are exactly where our students do their best learning: it's one thing to talk about communication, self-advocacy and independence in the classroom, and another to actually order food, ask a question or navigate a busy shop with confidence. That's the real value of these excursions as they give students a safe, supported space to practise the skills that matter most for everyday life, and to see just how capable they are. We're incredibly proud of how our students represented themselves, The Joshua Centre and our wider school community, and of the positive, respectful attitude they brought to every part of the day.

During our recent visit from Aussie Animal Displays, the children engaged in a rich and memorable learning experience as they encountered a range of native Australian animals.

This experience supported the children to deepen their understanding of the natural world as they observed, asked questions, and shared their thoughts with confidence. Many demonstrated a growing respect and care for living things, approaching the animals with curiosity and gentleness, while also building their vocabulary and communication skills through meaningful interactions.

Within our Flinders context, this experience provided an opportunity for children to appreciate and reflect on God’s creation, developing a sense of wonder and connection to the world around them.

Moments like these highlight the value of hands-on, real-world learning, where children are able to explore ideas, collaborate with others, and extend their thinking in authentic and engaging ways.

On Monday 15th June, our Music Department was delighted to present both the Primary and Secondary Music Soirees, showcasing the wonderful musical talents of our students in a relaxed and supportive performance environment.

It was a joy to welcome more than 25 performers at the Primary Music Soiree and 15 performers at the Secondary Music Soiree. Students demonstrated great courage, dedication, and musicianship as they shared their performances with family, friends, and members of our College community. Congratulations to every student who performed—you should all be incredibly proud of your efforts and achievements.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to our families for their ongoing encouragement and support, and to our dedicated Music staff who helped make these evenings such a success. Special thanks to Chelsea, Brooke, Julia, Kate, Gary, Mark, and Anna for their time, expertise, and commitment to ensuring both events ran so smoothly.

We look forward to seeing our students continue to grow in confidence and musicianship and can't wait to enjoy another wonderful evening of performances at our Term 3 Music Soiree.