Somerset lifetimes 2019 Semester 1

Headmaster FROM THE

As always at Somerset College we have enjoyed a semester full of events, achievements and developments. Our Class of 2018’s results released early this year revealed much success with one of our student’s ranking first in Queensland. We celebrated our established annual events and hosted the inaugural Sustainability Symposium, welcoming neighbouring schools to the College. We conducted our regular day-to-day activities while construction continued on our new buildings. These new projects will officially open next semester. Our 37 th year of the College began introducing 194 new students – 126 in the Junior School and 68 in the Senior School – to life at Somerset. More than 1520 students from Pre-Prep to Year 12 have enrolled this year and on behalf of the College Board, I thank the College community for continuing to support Somerset. We embraced new staff to Somerset in Grounds and Maintenance to teachers, sporting coaches, dance instructors, administrative support staff and appointed a new Co-ordinator –

Grace Kennett

Marc Eksteen

Chaplaincy Services. We welcomed teachers returning from leave who have taken no time settling back into their roles this semester. The first Sustainability Symposium was a great success and we were honoured to be part of the event. Congratulations must go to parent, Katie Norman and the team from the Sustainable Schools Network, who drove the initiative and launched the Symposium. Somerset is committed to adopting sustainable methods for an improved future and we look forward to sharing this journey with those who also value this approach. We are at the centre of major development and improvement of Somerset’s facilities. There have been extensive projects completed so far this year and designs approved for construction to begin on a state-of-the‑art building in the Junior School. An update on our new facilities will feature in the next edition of Somerset Lifetimes , published in December 2019. All students in Year 12 should be commended for their dedication and persistence. Grace Kennett is one shining example of the insightful individuals graduating from Somerset. Grace topped the Queensland Core Skills test, a cohort of over 30 000 students, and was awarded the prestigious Queensland Certificate of Education Achievement Award along with fellow graduate Marc Eksteen. Somerset is one of only two schools, and the only non-selective school, to have had two students recognised with these awards every year for the past three years. When we all work together great things happen. Craig Bassingthwaighte Headmaster

From the Headmaster

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