Issue 2 2024
“God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you."
Colossians 3: 12-13
From the Principal
EAC is going Solar!
Thank you to everyone that was able to attend the Parent Welcome and Information Sessions on Wednesday 14 February. It was great to see the significant number of parents and carers who attended across both the Primary and Secondary schools. The afternoon certainly confirmed for me the great support that EAC enjoys from our families. The staff were also very appreciative of the number of attendees that came along to listen to the presentations and introduce themselves. It was also an exciting opportunity for our new families to visit the classrooms and see more of our College facilities.
During the afternoon, I was able to make a very significant announcement - EAC is going solar! We have been working with Solar Architects Australia to develop a plan to move the College to be completely powered by solar generated electricity by 2030. There are three phases to the plan.
Phase One
During the spring term break this year, we will install 269 solar panels on the roof of The Lindsay Walker Centre. From early May, this will provide more than 50% of our daily electricity usage – in excess of 570kWh/day! This will see an enormous reduction in our CO2 emissions and the power bill savings will mean the system will be paid off in two and a half years.
Phase Two
Once the system is installed, we will be able to monitor precisely our daily usage and plan for the installation of additional solar panels to generate enough electricity to ensure that during the day, when the College is in operation, we will be totally powered by solar.
Phase Three
The most challenging part of the project is to collect and store enough power each day to provide for our power needs once the sun goes down. About 10-15% of our power usage feeds our servers, security lighting, fridges and alarm systems. We will investigate and install battery storage options to manage this need.
Our goal is for EAC to be effectively ‘off grid’ by 2030. There will be so many educational, environmental, community and financial benefits to come out of this project and it will make such a significant statement about the efforts our community is making to be a responsible citizen and contribute to a better world.
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
First point of contact
Just a reminder that if you do have any issues, questions or concerns throughout the year the first point of contact for primary students is the Class Teacher and for secondary students it is the Pastoral Care Teacher.
2024 starts swimmingly well
And they're off! We held the Secondary swimming carnival this week and it was great to see the students competing with loud enthusiasm and in a wonderful spirit of healthy competition. Our EAC House spirit was very obvious on the day with many students dressing up in House colours and cheering every race. The level of participation was very high, with many students swimming in multiple races.
Special thanks to Mr Mike Ryan for his organisation and our Primary and Secondary House Captains for their leadership on the day. Thank you also to all of the parents and carers who joined us poolside for the event. Your support and encouragement of the students was greatly appreciated.
Drop Off and Pick Up Zones
Thank you to all families for your patience and common sense around Drop Off and Pick Up at the beginning and end of each day. As we all get used to the routine of a new year, I am sure the flow of people and car traffic during the busiest parts of the day will become even more streamlined and efficient. A reminder once again that in the morning the bays adjacent to the College are ‘Kiss and Drop’ only. There is no parking on that side of the zone in the morning.
What's On
CALENDAR
For your personalised Calendar of Events, simply log in to Parent Lounge HERE.
Stay up to date with EAC announcements and news by following us on Facebook HERE.
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
No doubt you have heard that I will shortly be leaving the EAC community for a new school community in Rome, Italy. During the rounds of interviews, I was continually asked about my educational vision and each time I returned to the child centred approach to teaching and learning as modelled by EAC.
It is the quality of relationships that defines school character, and this has been evident in spades over the past two weeks as our community has come together for sporting events, musical rehearsals and subject and careers afternoons. It is the wonderfully warm and inclusive way the Emmanuel family connects that makes my departure such a bittersweet event for myself and my wife Susan.
But there is much still to be done “for I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep” and numerous events still to arrange at the College! So I look forward in wishing you well before I leave.
Mr Francis McGuigan
Deputy Principal
CHAPLAIN CHAT
“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in the Gulag Archipeligo
Whenever you hear the language of separation, a division between good and bad, we so often picture a line that runs between people: us and them, a line between terrorist and person, between criminal and citizen, Palestinian and Israeli, Christian and 'pagan', between donkey and elephant, cockroach and cane toad. But is this the best way to understand it?
A few years ago I travelled with two of my sons to Ethiopia. Between the Danakil Desert and Simien National Park there are some stunning landscapes and people. We passed field after field filled with humans engaged in harvest. On every second ridge was a threshing floor. It is a clearing where bundles of wheat are brought, run over and beaten then thrown into the air to catch the wind so the heavier grain or kernel can fall and be gathered. The husk and stork is separated, collected and burned, never to spoil the grain again. This is the ready image John the Baptist uses when he says that "Jesus is among us, threshing fork in hand, ready to clean and separate with an eternal fire. But it is not about separating people from people." (Matthew 3.12) It is a reference to the heart of all people. And it is good news!
Solzhenitsyn speaks with clarity when he talks about the line between good and evil not divide us from them but running down the middle of every human being. So a threshing is a blessing, a welcomed act that honours what is good, the true and beautiful within each and every one of us, and removes the stain, the grit that spoils and destroys from within.
This is what is happening on Ash Wednesday when we come forward, presenting our wrists and our life blood, our leaning in with foreheads and our consent. Ash from last year’s Palm Crosses mixed with oil is marked on our bodies with these words:
"From dust we come and to dust we shall return"
This a strange practice. It is an act of humility that invites us to recognise within each of us there is a good, a beauty, an essence that is true and made in God’s image. It also recognises that within us all is the capacity for great selfishness and real wickedness. If we know that the line between good and evil actually runs through the middle of each of us, we will treat ourselves with more compassion. We will also treat others with greater kindness. We will seek to forgive and be less needy. We will work to understand, rather than be understood, and love rather than first seek to be loved.
Come. Reach out, be marked and winnowed, that all that is true and good within will be blessed, and that which spoils and stains, might be less.
Amen
Reverend Richard Browning
Chaplain
COUNSELLORS' CORNER
INTRODUCING OUR COLLEGE COUNSELLING TEAM
Our EAC school counselling service is a valuable resource dedicated to supporting the wellbeing and success of our students. We recognise each student faces unique challenges, and our counselling team is here to provide a compassionate and confidential space for them to navigate these experiences. Our experienced and trained counsellors are committed to fostering a positive and inclusive school
environment, promoting emotional and mental wellbeing, and assisting students in reaching their academic and personal goals.
Whether students are grappling with academic stress, peer relationships, or personal concerns, our counselling service aims to empower them with the tools and skills needed for a successful and fulfilling educational journey. We encourage students, parents, and staff to take advantage of this valuable resource and look forward to working together to create a supportive and thriving community.
The EAC School Counselling service is available to all students within the College community. Concerned parents and carers can connect with our counselling team through the Parent Referral Form or by discussing their child's challenges with their child's respective Class Teacher or Leader of House. Typically, around 40% of student referrals come from parents or caregivers, while school counsellors engage with approximately 10% of the total student enrollment each year.
For Secondary students, the option to self-refer is also available. Students can initiate a conversation with the counsellor directly, send an email to counselling@eac.nsw.edu.au, or approach their teacher or Leader of House. Our counselling service primarily addresses common student concerns related to anxiety management, exam stress, and interpersonal relationships.
Additionally, EAC School Counselling offers a brief therapy service and facilitates external referrals to broaden the scope of support. This includes access to adolescent and family counselling services, specialised adolescent mental health services, pediatricians, and other professionals.
Counselling extends beyond problem solving; it serves as a proactive means for students to set and achieve goals, enhance motivation, develop effective study habits, and manage stress. The overarching goal is to empower students to maximise their time at school by leveraging their existing strengths.
Respecting the importance of privacy, our counsellors discuss confidentiality parameters with students at the outset, clarifying the few exceptions due to risk of harm or child protection reporting requirements. Most matters remain confidential, and in cases where information sharing is necessary, negotiations occur with students to determine who needs to be informed and the extent of information disclosed. Some Secondary students may agree to involve parents or caregivers for additional support.
Keep an eye out for this regular column in each edition of our College newsletter for news and views on parenting, adolescence, and schooling from the counselling perspective.
The counselling team can be contacted on counselling@eac.nsw.edu.au.
Navigating change with our children
Change is an inevitable part of our lives and our children’s lives, and as we navigate through these transitions, it's crucial for both students and parents to develop coping strategies that foster resilience and growth. Whether your child is transitioning to a new year level, a new school, or you as a family are facing unexpected changes, understanding how to cope can make a significant difference.
Acknowledge and Share Emotions
Change often comes with a mix of emotions. Encourage your child to express their feelings, whether it's excitement, anxiety, or uncertainty. As a family, consider discussing these emotions openly to create a supportive environment.
Foster a Growth Mindset
Embrace change as an opportunity for personal and academic growth. Remind your child that challenges bring valuable lessons and skills. Encourage a positive perspective by focusing on the potential positive outcomes of the change.
Establish Consistent Routines
In the midst of change, maintaining routines can provide stability. Work with your child to establish a daily routine, including study habits, extracurricular activities, and family time. Consistency can ease the adjustment period.
Connect with Support Systems
Utilise the support systems available at EAC. Our school counsellors are here to assist students in navigating changes and offer valuable insights. Additionally, connecting with other parents or joining parent support groups can provide a sense of community during transitions.
Prioritise Family Self-Care
Encourage self-care practices for both you and your child. Ensure they get enough rest/sleep, engage in activities they enjoy, and practice mindfulness. As parents, modelling self-care behaviour sets a positive example for your child and reinforces the importance of well-being.
Change can be challenging, but with the right strategies, it becomes an opportunity for growth and resilience. If you or your child need additional support during times of change, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school counselling team.
Here are some websites that provide support for parents dealing with various changes:
- Parenting Research Centre (PRC) - Parenting Strategies
- Website: Parenting Research Centre
- The PRC provides evidence-based parenting advice and strategies
- Raising Children Network - Parenting Support
- Website: Raising Children Network
- This website offers a wide range of resources and articles on various aspects of parenting, including dealing with changes in family dynamics, school transitions, and other life events
- Beyond Blue - Parenting and Partners
- Website: Beyond Blue
- Beyond Blue is a mental health organisation in Australia
- Beyond Blue provides resources on mental health and may have information on coping with change and supporting family wellbeing
- ReachOut Parents
- Website: ReachOut Parents
- ReachOut Parents is a platform that provides practical support, tools, and tips for parents dealing with various issues, including those related to mental health and family changes
Wishing you a smooth and successful journey through any Term 1 transitions!
EAC Essentials
Hungry for Adventure? Join the Canteen Squad!
Looking for ways to engage with EAC?
The College Canteen is looking for volunteers!
Email enquiries@eac.nsw.edu.au or phone 66815054 for more information or to register your interest.
App-etite for online orders
Our College Canteen is seeing a large number of orders each day and we thank you for your support.
So we can maximise our efficiency, we are encouraging our parents, carers and students to use the SchoolStream app to submit their lunch orders wherever possible.
Orders can be submitted up to 2 weeks in advanced and up until 8.30am on the day of delivery.
To find out more about SchoolStream, CLICK HERE.
EAC takes Clean Up Australia to the next level
In the lead up to Clean Up Australia Day 2024, our Sustainability Action Group proudly observed that due to the consistent commitment to improving our environment, our College grounds are largely free of litter making the usual clean up activities redundant. The Group was then inspired to up the ante by focusing on ways to prevent landfill at its source.
During Clean Up Australia Week (Monday 4 to Friday 8 March), The College Canteen will exclusively serve sustainably packaged food. The Sustainability Action Group is also urging students to adopt waste-free lunchboxes, not just on our usual 'Waste Free Wednesday' but throughout the entire week.
In our pursuit of eco-conscious choices, EAC has identified sustainable packaging for almost all Canteen products. However, to further reduce our environmental impact, we will temporarily cease selling packet chips, including popular brands like Grainwaves, during Clean Up Australia Week.
We appreciate your continued support and engagement with this cause. Together, let's celebrate Clean Up Australia Day by making responsible choices and championing a greener future for our EAC community and beyond.
Early Learning Centre
We are glad that all our new families for 2024 have now commenced and the children are all settling in well to our ELC routines.
Our staff are now excitedly preparing a new garden project which will be rolled out over the coming weeks and will futher enhance our fantastic outdoor area and provide further opportunity for engagement and activity.
Ms Nicole Wilson
Director of the Early Learning Centre
Primary
Year 5 Day Camp
This week saw our Year 5 students spend two days at Lake Ainsworth testing their limits as they attempted to master the skills required for sailing, canoeing, raft building, archery and rock climbing. For most, it was how to work as a team that proved to be the vital skill to master. A canoe doesn’t go forward if the rowers aren’t communicating and working as a team. A sailboat won’t sail if all of the crew aren’t focused on the task and a raft will sink if it is built out of frustration and singular thinking. The students found all of this out the hard way, but pulled together and achieved their goal. The two days were a great way for our biggest cohort of new students to come together and bond as a group. Make sure you read the student recap below.
No dogs please
Please note that under the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW, Section 14), dogs are prohibited on school grounds unless the Principal grants permission. Reasons why the Principal may grant permission for a dog to be in a school include: assistance or service dogs, as is the situation with our therapy dog Amber. Please keep your dogs away from the College grounds including our pick up and drop off zones.
Parent contact details
From time to time, parents looking to connect with other families, approach our College staff requesting contact details or help to set up play dates and the like. Our privacy policy prohibits our staff from providing third party contact details and we encourage parents and carers to liaise directly when organising social activities outside of school hours. There is a function of Parent Lounge that allows parents to list their contact details for other EAC parents to view (or keep private).
In Parent Lounge, under 'Parent Details', navigate to 'Parent Directory'. You can view and edit your Parent Directory listing from there.
To view the details of other parents who have elected to share their contacts on the Parent Directory, click on the year group under 'Parent Directory Links'.
Mr Wayne Cross
Director of the Primary School
Beyond the Classroom: Year 5 Students Dive into Fun and Learning at Lake Ainsworth
Year 5 camp was amazing! It went for two days and we did lots of activities. There were three groups, the Dugongs, the Sharks and the Whales. We were in the Dugongs.
Day 1
We started off with archery. First, our instructor Ollie told us how to use a bow and arrow. You had to hold the bow in your left hand if your were right handed but if you were left handed you would hold the bow with your right hand. Then you would put the arrow in and pull all the way back to your ear. After that, you would release your grip in your right hand and the arrow would shoot out and hit the target (or the grass!). If you were left handed then you would do it the other way around. There were lots of mozzies during archery and we knew that the next day we should definitely bring mosquito repellent!
After archery we had 'Initiatives'. Our class was split into groups of about six and we had to complete activities involving teamwork and problem solving. We were crawling through a spider web shaped rope and couldn’t touch it, swinging on rope across tires without touching the ground, using ropes to hook a claw onto crates and stacking them and balancing out your team’s weight evenly on a wooden platform which fell to one side if it was not balanced correctly.
Next we had lunch. We waited outside until it was time to go in. Then we all lined up to get our burgers then we sat down to eat and talk about what our group had done. After we had all eaten we went outside to our next activity.
Our last activity for the day was canoeing so we had to get changed into our swimmers and put on our wet shoes. When we were ready we headed to the back of the lake. After that, we went to get our life jackets then we hopped in our canoes. After our instructor had run us through some simple instructions, it was time to start canoeing. There were three people in a canoe and some lucky groups got teachers in their canoe. We paddled around the lake for a bit and at one point we all joined into one big raft. Then it was time to head back, so we had a race. There were three rafts each consisting of three canoes. The canoe in the middle had to hold onto the canoes on the outside which were paddling. It was hard work but all the teams made it back and on the bus when we were leaving we all agreed that it was an amazing first day of camp.
Day 2
On day two, the Dugongs went sailing and it was so much fun. We got to pick our groups and sail to the other side of Lake Ainsworth. Some groups got stuck in the trees but the instructor helped them out. Once everyone was there, we had to go to the buoy and use the sails to get us there. Luckily there was lots of wind. No one capsized but someone did fall off - they were alright.
For lunch we had pulled pork with a bread roll with a side of potato and salad. Then we went outside to go to our next activity.
After lunch we went rock climbing in this massive basketball centre. Our instructor, named Ollie, showed us how to put harnesses on properly and help us safely get down the wall without hitting other students. When we were rock climbing we got to have two turns if we wanted to but we didn’t have to if we didn't want to. There was also a timer, so we got two minutes to climb up and after we would have to come down.
Then we went straight to the raft building. We got eight small tools to build our raft and four big tools. Our tools were bread trays, pool noodles, crates with empty milk jugs inside them and kick boards. Then we started building. The instructor, Ollie, gave us challenges to complete with our rafts. One of the challenges was balancing two people on the raft that we made. Our team's raft survived with two people on it. It was so fun and nice because we used teamwork to build them and keep them afloat.
Camp was really fun and the activities were so awesome. Everyone had a great time and really enjoyed it.
By Stevie Foukkare, Florence Percival, Chloe White and Elsie Drew, Year 5
If you want to change the world… Start by MAKING YOUR BED!
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it is easy to overlook the small actions that can have a big impact on our lives. In Mental Fitness, students from Year 4 to Year 6 have been exploring how seemingly insignificant actions hold the power to positively change our lives and the world.
Last week's Mental Fitness session drew inspiration from the text "Make Your Bed" by Admiral William H. McRaven. The book shares powerful insights that resonate deeply with the concept of nurturing mental resilience and wellbeing through simple yet profound habits. Making your bed sets a positive tone for the day, cultivating discipline, order, and a sense of accomplishment.
"Making Your Bed" serves as a poignant reminder that fostering mental wellbeing is not about grand gestures or sweeping transformations. Instead, it's about embracing the power of small, intentional actions that lay the foundation for resilience, positivity, and inner strength.
As we start the 2024 academic year, let's take Admiral McRaven's advice to heart and remind ourselves that mastering the small things often leads to triumph in the larger challenges we encounter.
Mr Daniel Walsh
Primary Pastoral Care Leader (Years 4 to 6)
Welcome Afternoon Presentations
Secondary
A Growth Mindset helps you succeed!
The way you think about life affects the decisions that you make and ultimately how you respond to a situation. By practicing a growth mindset in all life situations, you are able to develop the character traits of resilience, passion, determination and conscientiousness. Many people talk about developing a growth mindset but how do you do it? Below are 10 simple ways to start to develop Grit as a character trait to help with success.
- Know yourself: Try different learning strategies to see which one works best
- Have self-awareness: acknowledge and embrace your strengths and weaknesses
- Train your brain for change: learn how you can train your brain to change
- Fixed vs Growth Mindset traits: Distinguish between the traits that make a fixed and growth mindset
- Listen to yourself: We all have an inner voice that impacts our lives. Get in touch with these thoughts and remember to speak in a positive way about ourselves
- Focus on the right thing: concentrate more on the process to ensure that you are able to meet your goals
- Goal Setting: Set meaningful and challenging goals that will keep you motivated and give a sense of accomplishment
- Do it for yourself: stop seeking reassurance and praise from others - keep a determined and motivated outlook on life
- Reflect and be grateful: Take time to reflect weekly on the progress that you have made
- Embrace opportunities to learn: remember that all challenges, mistakes or failures are opportunities to grow and learn
To support students in developing a growth mindset it is a good idea that they set goals and plan their workload. This could be a great conversation with your child to see what their goal is and how they intend to meet this goal. An example of the conversation is below:
"What do you want to achieve this year?"
"How will you work to achieve these goals?"
"What strategies will you need to achieve this goal?"
"What support networks do I need to help me?"
Ms Amanda Middleton
Director of the Secondary School
SUSTAINABLE LIVING WORKSHOP
As part of EAC's commitment to developing the sustainability skills of our students, Year 8 recently had the privilege of participating in a Sustainable Living Workshop. The workshop, a collaborative effort with local Indigenous expert, Kris Cook, a Nyangbal man, encouraged the exploration of the Indigenous Cultural Calendar of the Bundjalung nation.
The Indigenous Cultural Calendar harmonises traditional wisdom with contemporary environmental consciousness and provides a unique lens through which we can perceive the interconnectedness of culture and the environment.
During the workshop, students gained valuable insights into sustainable practices deeply rooted in cultural traditions. This holistic approach encourages a symbiotic relationship with the land, reinforcing the importance of preserving and respecting the natural world.
YEAR 9 EXPLORE MEDICAL MARVELS
The new Year 9 integrated elective, Forensic and Biomedical Science, was very fortunate to experience a talk from a highly respected and well qualified medical professional, Dr Marilise Erasmus. Dr Erasmus presented a fascinating and scientific talk about anesthetics and the body, before demonstrating some of the tools used to establish an airway. Students had been learning about how body cells are kept alive and this experience gave them a medical perspective as well as some very fun hands on skills.
We thank Dr Erasmus very much for the time and effort that she put into the presentation.
The year 9 Forensic and Biomedical Science class is seeking other speakers, particularly those with experience in diagnostics, pathology, crime scene analysis, and forensics. Please contact kashdown@eac.nsw.edu.
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