To the Somerville House Community 03/1

Thank you to the Somerville House boarders, musicians and staff who represented the School so admirably at the
Ann Street Presbyterian Church service last Sunday morning, wonderful community service in one of our governing
churches.
Co-Curriculum
We congratulate Year 9 Debating Team Eva Wang (9E), Harriet Wilson (9F), Grace Chen (9D), Emmily Lau (9B)
and Tara Kannan (9C), under the guidance of coach, Ms Trish Scholl, on winning their quarter final against
Terrace last Friday night, and wish them well for their semi-final debate this evening.
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER
F A Kearney, Principal
Ms C O'Gorman
One of the things I enjoy about my job is going to visit the various sporting fixtures as the students of Somerville
House pit themselves against students from the various other QGSSSA schools. This weekend our rowers have
their big day, the Head of the River regatta. I remember last year as my heart raced with the close finishes to some
of those races, just like I could almost feel the pain when one of our netballers twisted her ankle at Netball last
weekend. My heart also swells with pride when I see our Volleyball teams doing a Jumping Jive after yet another
successful three or five-set thriller.
Now of course I’m not the one experiencing the pain or the ecstasy or the exhaustion of our athletes, I am just
sitting in the stands or on the sidelines watching. But in a very real sense they go out there each week as our
representatives, wearing the lime green for each of us, and we are proud of their efforts.
It seems to me from what our Somerville House athletes say after matches - how much they appreciate those who
make the effort to support them from the sidelines - that in a very real sense we do share in their successes and
disappointments in some small way. It is the joy of being part of a bigger team, even if we are cheering on from the
sidelines rather than competing.
This idea of someone representing us, going out there on our behalf and us sharing in the benefits also applies in
the area of our faith. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is our High Priest, who has gone into the presence of
God on our behalf, offering Himself as a substitute for our sins - His life for ours. As our representative, He has run
the race of life on our behalf, but unlike us, although faced with the same temptations, He never sinned. A bit like
our representative athletes are the best among us, so Jesus, was the best, the ultimate example of how a life
should be lived, exemplifying the character and behaviour God is looking for.
This is why He was able to also die on our behalf, as our substitute. His life was perfect, and His sacrifice means
we can indeed find the mercy and grace we need when we seek it in the presence of God.
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL
Quote of the Week: ‘By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn’
Latin proverb
Mrs A Bennett
NEW STUDENT
We welcome Anna Lillig, Year 4, and her family to Somerville House and to her first Somerville House camp.
YEAR 4 CAMP
Last week I had the pleasure of joining the Year 4 students at Camp Somerset where we were engaged in
orienteering, bush cooking, low ropes and archery with the highlight being the bush dancing on Thursday night led
by Miss Hennessy.
One of the biggest challenges was faced at the end of the camp. What was it? It was folding up a sleeping bag to
get it back into a small cover bag. A great time was had by all and the students thank their teachers for their
support and encouragement through the time we were away from our normal classroom routine. Thank you to Mrs
Sewell, Miss Brunello, Mrs Reynish, Miss Hennessy, Miss Bragg and Mrs Allen-Moules.
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