From the inception of our College we have worked hard at establishing a culture based on strong community, mutual respect and open communication. This has became articulated in the language of our values culture- iLR. imagine, Listen, Respect. These three words simplify yet clarify what Coomera Anglican College is all about. As students grow and move across the three campuses of our College, we have a responsibility to ensure that they steadily become independent thinkers, willing to take responsibility for their own learning and actions as members of our community. We want them to become strong advocates for social justice and be able to contribute meaningfully towards the creation of just, inclusive, diverse, sustainable communities. We want them to reflect the strong values of our College and your families, and be proud of their commitment and contribution to the wider society. We want our students to be challenged, stimulated and encouraged to strive to be everything that God made them to be. In the goals we set for our students we are mindful of their age and stage of development. A toddler in the Early Learning Centre and a student in Year 5 have a different capacity to understand what “imagine” means, while a senior Year 12 student has a different concept, and expectations placed on them around the notion of independence. While the culture, the values and the concepts remain consistent throughout the College, the manifestation of those values may differ for students of different levels of maturity. We are very mindful that the transition from Primary to our Junior Secondary requires some adjusting for students and our transition programme ensures we cater well for students in this regard. Year 7 often coincides with the onset of puberty which is characterised by change (physical, social, intellectual and emotional). Young people of this age begin to develop a need for autonomy and social identity which sometimes makes it undesirable for parents to be visibly involved in the day to day schooling of their adolescent. However, it is during this time that they seek out and rely on their parents for supportive and active involvement in all aspects of their life including school. As a College we encourage parents to take an active interest in their child’s College life by assisting with homework, reading the newsletter and attending College events and activities as these are all proactive ways that you can support your child.