Issue 11 2023
‘Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous; Love is never boastful or conceited. Love is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.’
1 Corinthians 13:4
From the Principal
It has been an incredible start to the second half of the year with Athletics Carnivals, Parent Teacher Conferences, NAIDOC assemblies, the commencement of the Year 4 Coastal College program and 10 new students and a staff member joining the community.
At both our Primary and Secondary Assemblies this week, we have taken time to reflect on NAIDOC week and celebrate the stories, traditions, culture and history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who have cared for this land for tens of thousands of years. Our students and staff that have first people’s connections lead the assemblies. At the Secondary assembly I encouraged students to play their part in the discussion about the referendum regarding an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament by reading the information made available by the electoral commission and raising the topic around the dinner table. I made the point that while they will not vote in this referendum, the outcome will impact on them and their friends and so they should be talking to the adults in their lives about the issue, sharing their opinions and deepening their knowledge about the process.
As part of the Secondary Assembly, I also gave out a significant number of Gold Awards related to Semester 1 reports. We acknowledged those students who achieved an A Grade in a vast majority of their courses with an Academic Excellence Award. We also acknowledged all those students who achieved an Effort Grade of Excellent in a vast majority of their courses. It was wonderful to recognise these students who have put so much into their learning throughout the first half of the year. A list of all Gold Award recipients are detailed below.
A special thank you to all those parents that attended the Athletics Carnivals last week to cheer on the students and help with running events. Your support is greatly appreciated. We had two beautiful days and the students’ behaviour, cooperation and level of participation was excellent. Thank you to Mr Mike Ryan and all of the staff involved in the running of the day.
The 2023 National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results have been released to schools and I am delighted to write that EAC’s results are nothing short of excellent. As part of the NAPLAN program, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 undertake tests in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Numeracy. In all these domains across each of the year groups, our students were above national average. The entire Emmanuel Anglican College community can be extremely proud of this outstanding outcome. Parents will receive the individual student report in the next few days.
The College will now set about reviewing the performance of all students and identifying ways to respond to the key messages contained within its detail for teaching and learning. While the data is significant, detailed and allows comparison to national trends, it is worth remembering that this is one of many assessment tasks that students will undertake this year and that it is providing a snapshot of student learning at a specific point in time. Along with NAPLAN students, participate in numerous internal assessment tasks which, in isolation, tell a small part of the story of each student. Their greatest worth, however, is found in gathering all this information together to help create a profile of each learner that can shape what teachers do in providing meaningful experiences for students in their class. Given the high quality of all our results in external testing, I wish to congratulate all our students for their ongoing commitment to their own learning as well as the great efforts of our teaching staff.
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
Welcome Ms Alyce Norman!
The College is pleased to welcome to Ms Alyce Norman as she steps into the role of Teacher for Secondary English and Art here at EAC. With her experience and passion for education, we know she will make a significant impact on our students' learning journey.
What's On
CALENDAR
For your personalised Calendar of Events, simply log in to Parent Lounge HERE.
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SchoolStream APP
Canteen orders, absentee notices, important notifications and more can all be found on EAC's app, SchoolStream which you can find out more about HERE.
WEBSITE
The EAC website is a treasure trove of valuable information including forms, publications and in depth information, all of which are available HERE
WHAT WEEK IS IT?
To help clarify our College Weeks, we've created a printable quick reference guide available HERE.
Off The Deputy's Desk
A Fortnight of Firsts
It has been a fortnight of firsts at the College as we settle back into Term 3. Last Thursday and Friday saw the first College Athletics Carnivals held right here onsite at Horizon Drive. We were blessed to have two wonderful days of sunshine and it was great to see so many parents take the opportunity to attend the events. In fact, there were so many students nominating to participate in the track and field events for the Secondary Carnival, that further competition flowed over to Monday. What a great problem to have!
Tuesday night saw the first combined Parent Teacher Student Conference to be held in The Lindsay Walker Centre. Having everyone under one roof provided a great opportunity for parents to move seamlessly between appointments and make best use of the opportunity to connect with teachers.
Another 'first' is our upcoming Exhibition of Integrated and Experiential Learning which will be held at the College on Wednesday 2 August. I visited 6B while they were busily putting the finishing touches to their sustainability projects. The class has been investigating ways to reduce water consumption and their ideas were remarkable, insightful and give great hope for the future.
At our first College assembly for Term 3, I asked students if any of them watched the third round of the Rugby League State of Origin. Being 2 – 0 down going into the third game it would have been unsurprising for New South Wales to have lost. The result of the series was a fait accompli, however Blues coach Brad Fittler had other ideas. He told his team to think about the game as a new opportunity, to forget about the last two defeats and focus on what they had to do on the night. His advice boiled down to three simple yet effective ideas:
- Focus on the opportunities that come your way.
- Keep going forward, be persistent, don’t focus on past mistakes.
- Don’t listen to naysayers; listen to your inner voice that says "Yes, I can".
As I said to the students "This is Term 3, or perhaps you could call it Round 3. If you are like Queensland and are on a winning streak and working hard, keep going all the way to the line. If you have had a few stumbles and maybe lost a game or two, then this is your opportunity to dig in, be courageous and don’t focus on past mistakes."
I encourage all students to use the support of everyone here at the College to help them achieve success. It’s going to be a busy term, especially for our Year 12 students and there is plenty to look forward to in the weeks ahead – so focus on the prize, persist and remember that if you put your mind to something you can achieve it.
Mr Francis McGuigan
Deputy Principal
Sports Report
ATHLETICS CARNIVALS ENJOY HOME GROUND ADVANTAGE
The entire College was thrilled with the success of last week's Athletics Carnivals, which were both hosted onsite at our College for the first time. Two incredible days of sporting spirit and camaraderie were witnessed, making it an unforgettable experience for all involved.
The weather was spectacular us as the sun shone brightly, creating the perfect backdrop for the students to showcase their athletic prowess. The level of participation surpassed all expectations, with students enthusiastically taking part in various track and field events. Their dedication and sportsmanship were commendable.
Much of the Carnivals' success was due to the hardworking Sports and Maintenance staff who went above and beyond to ready the grounds and equipment and ensure the events ran smoothly and our students were able to showcase their abilities.
We extend our gratitude to parents who came along on the day, cheering on their children and adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Your support and encouragement made a significant difference in boosting the students' confidence and determination.
We are proud of every student who participated, and their achievements across the board were exceptional. Congratulations to all!
Students who have qualified to represent EAC at the NCIS Athletics Competition in Coffs Harbour on Wednesday 16 August are invited to attend before school training sessions.
- Primary students' training will be held on the mornings of Monday 7 and 14 August from 7:30am to 8:30am
- Secondary students' training will be held on the mornings of Thursday 3 and 10 August from 7:30am to 8:30am
Please check Parent Lounge to check if your child has qualified to represent the College at NCIS.
AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH FOR EAC SPORT
EAC is again expanding its Sports program for Secondary students, by introducing the exhilarating sport of indoor rock climbing at Jungle Ballina. The state of the art indoor climbing facility at Jungle Ballina will provide a safe and challenging environment for students to enhance their climbing skills while building confidence and resilience. Under the guidance of certified instructors, students will learn to conquer obstacles, set goals, and support one another, further enriching their overall educational experience. This exciting addition reflects the College's commitment to offering diverse opportunities for student growth and success.
EAC SHINES AT 2023 NCIS NETBALL COMPETITION
Congratulations to our outstanding EAC Secondary representative teams for their remarkable performance at the 2023 NCIS Netball Competition held in Tweed Heads. We proudly secured first place in both Girls 15s and Boys 15s categories, with the Open Boys clinching 2nd place. The Open Girls had a fantastic time, exemplifying sportsmanship throughout the event. Well done, team!
Particular congratulations goes out to Asha Ledingham and Olivia Rose who have both been selected in the CIS Netball team and will now go on to represent the North Coast.
Our talented Primary students displayed their exceptional skills and sportsmanship at the Netball School Cup. The Year 5 and 6 students represented the College with enthusiasm and determination.
In the competitive category, we fielded two teams who each showcased their prowess on the court. Our Girls team achieved a fantastic result, securing the third position overall. Remarkably, they even drew with the eventual cup-winning team, proving their ability to compete at the highest level.
The Boys team performed exceptionally well, securing victories in all matches until the final one, where they achieved second place against Southern Cross Primary School. Their outstanding teamwork and dedication were commendable.
The younger stars of EAC, our Year 3 and 4 teams, participated in a series of friendly matches. Their passion for the game and growing talent were evident throughout, leaving the coaches excited about the bright future ahead for EAC's netball program.
Congratulations to all our Primary teams for their performances and the excellent sportsmanship displayed throughout the tournament.
Ms Nicole Wagland
Teacher of Year 2 and Netball Coach
EAC Rugby 7s Teams Display Resilience at Northern Rivers Gala Day
On 25 July 2023, our EAC Rugby 7s teams showcased incredible determination and sportsmanship at the Northern Rivers Rugby 7s Gala Day in Casino. Though both teams faced tough competition, they fought valiantly. Our Girls' team put up a fierce fight, narrowly losing by only 1 try in each game against Woodlawn and Trinity. Similarly, the Boys' team had a nail-biting match against Alstonville. Congratulations to both teams for their unwavering spirit and never-give-up attitude!
Top of the Arts
Sean Choolburra Enthralls Students in Celebratory NAIDOC Week Performances
Today, Emmanuel Anglican College was graced with the engaging presence of Sean Choolburra, one of Australia's premier indigenous entertainers, who delivered captivating performances to both Primary and Secondary students. With his exceptional talent and charisma, Sean Choolburra captured the attention of the audience, weaving stories into the performance that further enhanced EAC's appreciation and respect for First Nations people and their rich culture.
As NAIDOC Week occurred during the winter school holidays, EAC has been commemorating this significant event throughout the week, and Sean Choolburra's performances have been an integral part of the celebratory program. His engaging and enlightening showcase provided a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about Indigenous traditions, customs, and history, fostering a deeper understanding and connection to Australia's First Nations.
Mind Matters
SUSTAINABILITY CENTRAL
THE WAR ON WASTE CONTINUES AT EAC
Our students are doing a great job of utilising the waste sorting stations now located throughout the playground and in classrooms.
As ever, we encourage lunchboxes to be waste free as much as possible. For any unavoidable waste items, these are sorted as follows;
Yellow lidded bins = Recycling
Red lidded bins = Landfill
Green lidded bins = Organics
Ms Kathryn Ashdown
Leader of Curriculum (TAS/VET) and Teacher of Biology and STEM
SUSTAINABLE SUSHI
As part of EAC's ongoing improvements to our ecological footprint, we are delighted to report that our College Canteen sushi is now packaged in plastic free wrapping. With hundreds of sushi rolls sold each week, this small but mighty change signals another step in the right direction. We will continue to work through our change agenda and thank you to the Sustainability Action Group for leading the way!
Library Lowdown
TERM 3 SET TO BE A REAL PAGE TURNER
The Joan Pickup Library will be a hive of activity this term with a host of fun events and activities planned.
First up is the MS Readathon.
Throughout August our Primary students will be going on a magical quest filled with adventure and mystery for one incredible cause.
Students will be reading as many books as they can in August to raise funds for kids who have a parent living with multiple sclerosis. Money raised through the MS Readathon will help fund vital support services, like special Family Camps. These camps provide an opportunity for kids who have a parent affected by MS to learn more about MS, bond with other kids and have fun with their family.
Ms Jasmine Jordan
Library Resource Centre Manager
Canteen Counter
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR ORDER
Online ordering for the College Canteen is both convenient and popular. Many students have orders placed days in advance which allows parents and carers to organise ahead of time. But what to do if your child is away from College on the day of their order? What if a last minute change needs to be made?
Postponements, changes and refunds can all be made by phoning the College on 02 6681 5054. We are able to make changes up until 8.30am on the day of the order.
Friends of EAC
How to EAC
NOTIFICATION OF ABSENTEES AND APPLYING FOR LEAVE
Although full attendance at school is an expectation for all students, we understand that at times circumstances arise when students may need to apply for extended leave for travel or other purposes. Students may also need to attend appointments during the school day which may mean they arrive late, leave early or miss part of the day.
Leave of more than 5 Days
Parents or carers who wish for their child to be absent from the College for more than 5 days must apply to the Principal by completing a Primary Student or Secondary Student Application for Extended Leave/Travel Form available on the College Website.
Absentees
For leave of 5 days or less please inform the College of your child’s absence via any of the following means:
SMS: 0416906263
Phone: 0266815054
Email: attendance@eac.nsw.edu.au
In person at the College Administration Office
Arriving Late
Parents or carers may email attendance@eac.nsw.edu.au and the class teacher stating the reason for late arrival, or provide a signed note. All students arriving late must report to the College Administration Office.
Early Departure
Parents or carers may email attendance@eac.nsw.edu.au and the class teacher stating the reason for leaving early, or provide a signed note that should be presented to the class teacher and the College Administration Office when signing out. All students must report to the College Administration Office to sign out.
Unwell at School
Students who are unwell while at school should inform a teacher and come to the College Administration Office where a qualified first aider will assess the child and if required call the parent or carer. Students should not call parents/carers directly.
Early Learning Centre Corner
Brave Act Inspires and Delights ELC Students
In an inspiring act of compassion and courage, our beloved Ms Heather Woolcott participated in the Cancer Council's "Shave For A Cure" campaign, welcoming the children to watch on in fascination and delight. On Tuesday, Ms Woolcott bid farewell to her beautiful, very long hair to support cancer research and those fighting the battle against this disease.
The children gathered around with wide eyes and giggles of excitement as they witnessed Ms Woolcott's transformation thanks to the steady hands of Ms Rachel. Through this act, Ms Woolcott taught the young minds the importance of empathy, charity, and standing in solidarity with those in need.
Thank you to all who donated to help Ms Woolcott contribute to this worthy cause.
We applaud Ms Woolcott's bravery and dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer. Her actions have undoubtedly left a lasting impression on our young learners, teaching them valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the classroom. Well done, Ms Woolcott!
Ms Nicole Wilson
Director of the Early Learning Centre
Primary Pulse
WHAT A WAY TO START TERM 3
What a blistering start to Term 3! We are only two weeks into the term and have already celebrated the first 100 Days of Kindy, held two of our Year 4 Coastal College experiences, the Primary athletics carnival is won and done, all Primary Students were involved in a special NAIDOC performance by Australia’s Number 1 indigenous entertainer Sean Choolburra, our netballers fought it out at the Netball carnival and our Year 6 students have completed their Mustering Growth wellbeing program facilitated by the counselling team from Rural Aid.
A large crowd gathered in the Discovery Centre on Tuesday to mark 100 Days of Kindy. Our Kindergarten students performed their special 100 Day version of You Are My Sunshine complete with Auslan signing, danced away to "Your Love Makes Me Brave" and had the crowd singing along to "Home Among the Gumtrees". Throughout the day of celebration they completed a variety of activities all centred around to concept of 100.
The Primary School Athletics day was a great success and the day started with Walker House taking out the War Cry competition. Several College records were broken on the day and many personal bests were achieved. Please see the Sports section for all results.
This term our Year 4 students are taking their learning into the beautiful natural surroundings of the East Ballina Coastline with the introduction of Coastal College. I have been lucky to attend both sessions this term which see the students studying a wide variety of subject areas, including coastal care and indigenous perspectives. This week the group was lucky enough to gain insight into 65,000 years of history from local Bundjalung man Chris Cook. Chris spoke of the six micro-seasons observed on Bundjalung nation and the signs provided by weather, fish populations and animal migration that marks the change in the seasons. It was a fascinating insight and the time spent with Chris was a valuable experience for all.
This past week Rural Aid counsellors have been working with our Year 6 students in a program entitled 'Mustering Growth'. Mustering Growth aims to celebrate all that is great about growing up in the bush; strengthening kid's innate resilience, normalising mental health experiences and decreasing stigma, increasing mental health literacy and building skills and strategies to cope with challenges that are unique to the experiences of rural children. The program is fun, interactive, flexible and includes nature-based activities. It is a strengths-based program which means it has been designed to increase the skills of children rather than to talk about things that might be going wrong. EAC chose to be involved in the Mustering Growth Program, which has been piloted in schools Australia-wide and is now being delivered to schools in the Northern Rivers area. Dorothy, Roger and Sue who run the program thoroughly enjoyed the week with our Year 6 students and will return in Week 5 to work with our Year 5 students.
By now you would have all received information about our Annual Book Week and Grandparent’s Day celebration on Friday 25 August. This year we are asking Years 1-3 to provide a plate for the Grandparent’s Day morning tea. The day will start with out Book Week Parade in The Lindsay Walker Centre from 9:15am followed by an opportunity for our Grandparents to visit the classrooms. Morning Tea will be held in the Ezzy Centre from 11am. Please let Grandparents know about the day and start thinking about those Book Week costumes.
Next Wednesday afternoon, 2 August, from 1:30pm our Year 5 and 6 parents are invited to visit the Innovation Centre to see the exciting work their children have been involved with in our Experiential Learning days each Friday. From vertical gardens to models of reliant housing, there will something for all to see. Please note the Primary showcase will wrap up at 3pm to allow our visitors to head over to the Secondary school to view their exhibition.
Next week we also welcome 23 students and staff from Tachibana Primary School in Japan who will spend a week with us here in the Primary. Many Primary families (including mine) will play host families to these students and I trust this will be a rich and rewarding cultural exchange for all involved.
Mr Wayne Cross
Director of the Primary School
COASTAL COLLEGE COMMENCES
As part of the College's Experiential Learning Program, Year 4 commenced Coastal College this term.
Each Thursday, the students and their teachers will spend the day in the surroundings of Lighthouse Beach, Ballina. They will use the natural environment to build their understanding of tides, erosion, Indigenous knowledge and explore human impact over time on our surroundings.
This week, whales and eagles graced the students with their presence, inspiration was taken from the coast line for artworks and beach games were enjoyed by all.
We will pray for ongoing good weather and thank those parents who have kindly volunteered their time in support of this program.
Ms Roxanne Kent
Leader of Foundational Learning (K to Year 4)
VACATION CARE FUN
Our Winter Holidays Vacation Care Program was a blast! With themed days including Science, Nature, Sports and Pyjamas, students had a marvellous time while parents and carers were able to carry on knowing their children were well taken care of and enjoying themselves. A special thank you to Ms Fiona McGregor who volunteered her time to read books with the children and to our dedicated After College Hours Care team for keeping the activities vibrant and fun.
To book your child into After College Hours or Vacation Care for the Spring Holidays, please email enrolments@eac.nsw.edu.au.
This week our class 1B made ANZAC biscuits. We have been learning how to write and structure a procedure. Last week we made slime and today we made Anzac biscuits.
It was fun making slime and biscuits. We made an extra biscuit for Mr Tobias.
Micha Baker
Year 1 Student
Exploring the World of Procedures
During this term, our Year 1 students have been learning how to develop procedures in English class. Each week students have been discussing the essential components of a well structured procedure and its significance in guiding readers.
To make learning even more exciting, our young learners actively engage in hands on procedures. Recently, they were tasked with creating a procedure to produce a batch of ANZAC biscuits, turning the classroom into a culinary hub.
With teamwork at the core, students collaborated to craft, test, and refine their procedure, ensuring its clarity and ease of follow-through. The best part? Mr Tobias got to savour the delicious end product!
Ms Mel McClelland
Teacher of Year 1B
Secondary Scoop
SRC MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
On the last day of Term 2 the Secondary Student Representative Council had their major fundraising event for the term. Each House had to raise a minimum of $250 for a representative of their House to have their head shaved. What an amazing achievement from the students at the school with them raising over $2400 for this!
Students also were given the opportunity to wear free dress for a donation and their was a Purcival House BBQ with all proceeds donated to further research into cancer. I am pleased to announce that over $4,500 was raised for cancer research with donations going to Pankind, Kids Cancer Project Australia and Lymphoma Australia.
A special mention to Connor McGreevy of House Brockington who raised more $1,000 from the wider community for cancer research and Anna Gray who came as the hairdresser to support the shaving of heads.
Ms Amanda Middleton
Director of the Secondary School
HSC Study Hall
While most students were relaxing during the winter school holidays, our Year 12 students took great advantage of our HSC Study Hall sessions. HSC Study Hall gives students opportunity to cement their learning and brush up on any areas of study they feel unsure of. Thanks to our teachers including Ms Luanne McIllhatton and Mr Mason Brenton for providing their expertise and showing their dedication to the success and wellbeing of our students.
Subject Selection and Choosing Right
This week Year 10 and 11 students had the opportunity to attend the Careers Expo at Lismore Showgrounds. This expo had education and training providers from universities, TAFE and employment agencies and gave students opportunities to have discussions and find out move information of the different career opportunities available as they consider life beyond school.
At the expo Mr Ben McRae and Mikayla Ayebale, an EAC Year 12 Hospitality student, represented the College in a 'Ready, Steady, Cook' competition against Mullumbimby High School. Although our food looked and tasted amazing, the crowd support for Mullumbimby made them the winners of this round.
During the week, Year 10 students also attended a Year 11 information session to begin the subject selection process for 2024. They also had an individual pathway interview with their Leader of House or Mr McRae to discuss their future career pathways and the subjects they are considering for 2024.
Students will have the opportunity to choose their subjects over the next week as part of the selection process before having discussions with the EAC Curriculum team about their choices.
Some tips to consider when choosing subjects include:
- Pursue your interests. If you love Art and Japanese, then choose those subjects. But balance them with other studies that will make you ATAR eligible (if university is an option) and that will give you the most flexibility in your options after Year 12.
- Research the post high school pathway you are planning on taking. See what subjects may be required to help get you in to a course, apprenticeship, traineeship or career.
- Speak to an expert (like your Leader of House, subject teachers or Mr McRae) to see if the combination of subjects on your shortlist will make you eligible for an ATAR or not.
- Think about whether your electives provide the best range of options for after high school.
We are dedicated to helping our teachers engage with their students and guide them in digital classroom environments. To strengthen that commitment, we recently adopted a classroom management solution known as LanSchool Air (LSA) for use with students’ devices. LSA helps keep our students safe, focused, and engaged during class time. You can visit the LSA website for details.
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions:
Why are we using LSA?
We chose to use LSA to:
- Help students engage more fully when learning online while attending their classes.
- Help teachers guide students’ engagement while using digitally supported classroom assignments and tools.
- Facilitate communication and support between teachers and students during class time.
What does LSA do?
LSA helps teachers provide instruction and guidance to students using devices during active college hours. This solution includes features that:
- Enable teachers to view students’ screens during class time to ensure they’re staying on track.
- Allow teachers to save time by pushing a website to student devices instantly.
- Offer instant messaging between the teacher and students, giving students the opportunity to digitally “raise their hand” to indicate they’ve finished their assignment or have a question.
- Provide a way for teachers to set restrictions on the websites students can visit during class time.
- Allow teachers to broadcast their screen to the student’s screens.
How does LSA work?
LSA is a small agent that is installed by our IT administration on each student’s device.
Teachers can only monitor student devices in LSA when they’re connected to the EAC network and during College hours of 9:08am to 3:08pm. LSA cannot remotely operate a student’s computer camera or microphone at any time.
For even more information including student’s data security check out this Parents' guide to LanSchool.
Thank you for all you are doing to help keep our students safe, highly engaged, and focused on their educational goals.
Ms Julie Fryer
Director of Teaching and Learning (K-12)
LIFE SAVING OPPORTUNITY
The Lennox Head Surf Lifesaving Club is looking to recruit any members or potential members keen on completing their upcoming Bronze Medallion course (minimum age is 15 years) or Surf Rescue Certificate (minimum age is 13 years).
Both courses are lots of fun and are a great way to meet new people, get fit and help out in our community.
The courses are set to start in the first week of August.
If you would like more information on this course or future course dates please email Brian at Lennox.cto@gmail.com
Ms Heidi Miller
Teacher of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education and Sports, Lifestyle and Recreation Studies
Northern Rivers News
