"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind… and your neighbour as yourself."
Matthew 22:37-39
From The Principal
Thanks to everyone for your patience and support with the tightening of restrictions regarding parents on the College site due to the developing situation involving the Brisbane cluster and NSW health advice relating to venues in Byron Bay and Suffolk Park. As a precaution, parent access to the College grounds will be restricted to essential matters only and all parents must attend the College Office to register attendance. Parents must not enter the College grounds during drop off and pick up times (except for ELC families) and therefore, drop off and collect children at the College gate. With only two days remaining this term, it is a small inconvenience to wear in order to maximise the opportunity for us all to get to the Easter break without a local outbreak of the virus.
Please stay in touch with the latest advice from NSW Health which can be viewed here.
I remind all our families of the basic principles in relation to good health and hygiene habits in order to minimise the risk of infection and to promote a safe and healthy environment for all our community. These practices include:
- Any staff, student or parent displaying cold or flu like symptoms, no matter how minor, are to self-isolate, get a COVID test and not return to the College until you have received a negative test result and the symptoms have ceased.
- Any staff, student or parent identified as having been a ‘close contact’ must self-isolate, get a COVID test and remain in isolation for 14 days.
- Any staff, student or parent identified as a ‘casual contact’ must self-isolate, get a COVID test and remain in isolation until they receive confirmation of a negative result.
- Continue to wash hands regularly and to use hand sanitiser when available.
- Practice social distancing measures.
Congratulations to Year 12, who will receive their Mid Course Reports as part of the Parent Teacher Meetings this week. The reports tell a wonderful story of the dedication, participation and achievement of the Year 12 cohort. I had the privileged opportunity to read all of the reports and I was particularly pleased with the regularity with which the teachers graded individual student efforts as Excellent. Demand for Parent Teacher bookings was also very high right across the College and I thank parents for being so involved in their children’s learning. It will be a very busy and productive couple of nights for all concerned.
It has been a very busy, high paced and jam packed term and I thank the students, staff and families for all your tremendous efforts during this time. I hope that the holiday break is relaxing and enjoyable. A reminder that students in Kindergarten to Year 12 return on Tuesday 20 April 2021.
Easter blessings to you all.
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
Off the Deputy's Desk
We are nearly at the end of what has been a term that has moved us closer towards normality. We have managed to resume sports, concert band and debating and start having excursions again. Our students no doubt are looking forward to a break and a chance to rest and recharge and socialise. For our staff, the return to an almost normal start to the school year has hopefully been refreshing.
As we journey towards Easter it is always an opportune time to remember the real purpose of Easter and take the chance to reflect upon Jesus' perfect sacrifice to save all of humankind for our sins. Whether you are a believer or not, there is something powerful about the verse from John 15:13 "No greater love hath one man than to lay down his life for his friends". My father used to quote this to us on Food Friday, even though he wasn't particularly pious in any way, shape or form. I guess he was just trying in his own homespun way to get the Easter message across to my brother and I. I also used to remember asking my father "if Jesus was the Son of God, why couldn't he just come down from the cross and not die". His reply was worldly and simple, "because that's not what was in God's plan and it wasn't meant to be".
Whatever your religious persuasion, have a safe and family focused Easter. Enjoy your long weekend and cherish the time spent with loved ones.
I look forward to seeing all of our students back on the 20th April, ready to energetically tackle the challenges of Term 2 and all the exciting learning opportunities that it will bring.
Mr Darren Parks
Deputy Principal
Term 2 Week 1
Monday 19 April
Student Free Day - Staff Professional Learning Day
Tuesday 20 April
Term 2 commences
Touch Football Trials and Training - 7.30am-8.30am - Saunders Oval
NCIS Secondary Football - Armidale
Wednesday 21 April
NCIS Secondary Football - Armidale
Thursday 22 April
Primary Interschool Touch Football Gala Day - All day - Saunders Oval
Friday 23 April
Primary Debating Training - 7.45am-8.45am
Primary Cross Country - 9.10am-11.40am - Saunders Oval
Secondary Cross Country - 12.10pm-2.45pm - Saunders Oval
Term 2 Week 2
Monday 26 April
Cross Country Training - 7.30am-8.30am - Saunders Oval
Photo Day - All day - Library and L1. A-K Sibling photos
CIS Swimming - Sydney
Tuesday 27 April
CIS Swimming - Sydney
Friends’ Meeting - 6.30pm - Ezzy Centre
Wednesday 28 April
Shakespeare Festival Final - TBC
Primary Concert Band Workshop - 9.00am-3.00pm - Life Church Ballina
Thursday 29 April
Interhouse Cross Country Back Up Day - TBA
Northern Rivers Careers’ Expo - 9.00am-11.00am - GSAC
Friday 30 April
Primary Debating Training - 7.45am-8.45am - Innovation Centre
Visual Arts, Drama and History Excursion - All day - Murwillumbah Art Gallery
Secondary Sport - 1.28-3.08pm
Sports Update
Bill Turner Cup Soccer Matches
Our Under 15 boys and girls soccer teams both played Bill Turner Soccer matches last week. The Bill Turner competition is a statewide knockout competition for Under 15 boys and girls.
The girls played against Byron Bay High School on Friday in Alstonville. They played very well and won the game 5-2. Goal scorers were Lola Wagner (2), Katie Smith (1), Chloe Neilson (1) and Thandi Malaba (1). The girls progress to round 2 of the competition and play against Ballina Coast High School early next term. Congratulations to the team and coaches Mrs McLelland and Wendy Britton.
The boys team played their second round game against Xavier College at Xavier. The boys played well in the match but went down 3-2 in the last minutes of the game. Ryder Moss had a strong game in goals, Jacob Bazar and Matthew Smith were strong in defence and Cooper Keane played well, scoring 2 goals. The boys are out of the Bill Turner Cup for this year but are looking forward to games against Bishop Druitt this week and the NCIS championships early next term.
Mr Graham Walker
Sport and Coaching Administrator
MTB Training Session at New Italy Mountain Bike Forest
On Friday last week, Mr Raguse, Mr Evans and I took 23 enthusiastic mountain bikers from Years 7-12 for a training ride to New Italy MTB forest.
All participants had a great time and returned muddy and tired, yet happy. Double national champion and EAC Year 12 student, Hayley Oakes put participants through their paces with some mock starts and cross country criterium (XCC) practice.
Some great skills and fitness were displayed and everyone is looking forward to another three sessions in preparation for the Mountain Biking Schools National Titles in Nerang in August.
Thank you to all involved, especially the parent helpers and staff.
Mr Justin Cleverley
Teacher of Music - Primary/Secondary
Instrumental and Vocal Tutor Coordinator
Secondary News
Holidays bring a time of rest, recreation and reflection
As each day passes, the pace of life seems to accelerate - demands of assignments, class tasks and external activities tend to increase, meaning there is hardly any moments for us to stay in touch with our friends and family.
Imagine your brain is like a computer and you never log off or do a virus check or clean it up, eventually it's going to get glitches and it's not going to perform so well. During this holiday period, you have the opportunity to pause and be quiet for a moment. The holidays allow us to step back from everyday work and activities and provides opportunities for recreation and reflection.
Recreation can include a variety of activities. Physical activities are proven to protect against mental health problems, decrease depression and improves self esteem and cognitive function in young people. Going for a walk on the beach or riding a bike are two simple ways that physical activity can be supported during the holidays.
Reading is another relaxing recreation activity which supports students as they expand their vocabularies and writing skills. The more that a student reads, the more information they pick up and this solid core of knowledge is useful in a variety of subjects. It is also a great opportunity to read for more than learning but pleasure.
Reflection at the end of the term is a great way to consolidate learning. Reflecting on what you have learnt and how you've grown personally will help in recharging and thriving when school returns.
Some areas of reflection could include:
- Experiences for the term.
- Events that were significant or stood out. This might be developing a new skill or a new friendship.
- The next steps: how you can build on what you have learnt and move forward during the following terms.
So as we enter this holiday period, allow time to unwind from the busy term that was and rest, have time with friends and reflect on what you have learnt, ready for Term 2.
Mrs Amanda Middleton
Director of Secondary
Primary Update
As this is our last newsletter for the term, I'd like to wish all of our families a happy and safe Easter holiday period. It has been a very productive, but settled Term 1 with wonderful behaviour from the students across the year levels. Our Kindergarten students have settled into school life with ease and have made strong connections with their Year 6 Buddies. We look forward to the Peer Support program starting next term where again our Year 6 students will lead the school as they lead their nominated groups through a finely structured and carefully planned wellbeing program.
This week we announced the winners of the Bullying No Way Day poster competition. The students were asked to create a poster highlighting positive relationships. Congratulations to the winners below, who in true friendship, won a treat for their entire class.
Mr Wayne Cross
Director of Primary
Second Hand Uniform Shop
Please be advised the Second Hand Uniform Shop will re-open in Week 2 of Term 2:
Tuesday 27 April 2021
2.30pm - 3.30pm
Ezzy Centre
Please note sales are cash only!
Canteen
Canteen Menu 2021
The new menu is available on the College website. The menu complies with the NSW Healthy School canteen strategy. Further items will be added as the year progresses and an expanded Winter Menu will be available in terms two and three.
Please note that items change in price from time to time. If correct money has not been provided, the item will be substituted for an item of the monetary value provided.
Emergency Lunch
At times, for various reasons, students may require an emergency meal (basic sandwich), this will be provided with a canteen note sent home requesting payment, please send in the money to the Canteen ASAP.
Secondary Student Orders
All orders MUST be placed at the canteen by 9.15am each morning, bags can be provided if required.
Primary Student Orders
All orders must be placed in the classroom tub at the start of the day so they can be received at the Canteen before 9.15am. Late orders will only receive an emergency lunch.
Please place the money in a paper bag of sufficient size to fit all of the lunch items.
If you are ordering a drink with your lunch please provide two (2) bags. Please write the information on the LOWER half of the bag. If money is short we will substitute items to the value received.
REMEMBER, if ordering at both breaks, you must have a separate bag for each break.
FIRST BREAK BAG 1: Name, Teacher, PC Class, First Break Order
Sue Smith, Mrs Kelvin 4B
First Break
1 Pie
FIRST BREAK BAG 2: Name, Teacher, PC Class, First Break Order
Sue Smith, Mrs Kelvin 4B
First Break
1 Orange Juice
1 Juice Tube
SECOND BREAK: Name, Teacher, PC Class, Second Break Order
Sue Smith, Mrs Kelvin 4B
Second Break
1 Mini Fingerbun
1 Snap Stix
Any change will be placed in the bag for return with the child's order for Second Break.
Christine Hall
Canteen Supervisor