‘Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown to them’ Matthew 5:7
From The Principal
The College Open Evening will go ahead as planned next Tuesday evening from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. While the evening is primarily designed for those families who are enquiring about enrolment for their children, we are also inviting existing families to come along and have a look at the many new facilities that have been developed over the last two years and learn more about the programs and opportunities available through the College. I would particularly encourage those families that have joined the College Community in the last two years to drop by, have a look around and say hello to the teaching staff. All of the facilities from Early Learning to Year 12 will be open and the teaching staff will be available to answer questions and chat about ‘Learning, Living and Leading’ at EAC.
While the flood waters have subsided there is still a lengthy recovery ahead for our region and that is certainly true for the more than 100 students and staff whose homes were flooded. While some have been able to return to their homes, many are still living in temporary accommodation. For all affected by the floods, there is a huge financial and emotional challenge ahead of them as they come to terms with their loss and start the journey to recovery. We continue to operate the ‘help exchange’ via enquiries@eac.nsw.edu.au and financial donations can be made to https://ardfa.org.au/flood-appeal or any of the many other appeals that have been established to support the recovery of our region.
As families begin to repair and return to their homes in the coming weeks and months, there will be a need for household items such as beds and mattresses, white goods and other furniture. As families in our school let us know their needs we will alert the broader College community and invite them to donate such items.
This week Pre-Kindy and Kindergarten brought their favourite teddy bear or soft toy to school and came together for a ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ and I was lucky enough to get an invite and join them. All the students (and their teddies!) had a lovely picnic and listened to Michael Rosen’s wonderful story We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, which is celebrating 25 years since first being published. It was lovely listening to our youngest learners talking about the adventures they have had with their own teddy. It was a big morning for all with a number of the teddies needing a bit of a rest in the afternoon after such an exciting time!
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
off the deputy's desk
GREETINGS TO THE EAC COMMUNITY
Do you ever feel like you’re sleepwalking through life with no real idea of what you want?
Perhaps you know exactly what you want to achieve, but have no idea how to get there.
That’s where goal setting comes in. Goals are the first step towards planning for the future, and play a fundamental role in the development of skills in various facets of life, from work to relationships and everything in between. They are the target at which we aim our proverbial arrow.
Understanding the importance of goals and the techniques involved in setting achievable goals paves the way for success.
In the words of Pablo Picasso:
Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.
Why is Goal Setting Important?
The setting of goals has been shown to increase student motivation and commitment. Additionally, goals affect the intensity of our actions and our emotions – the more difficult and valued a goal is, the more intense our efforts will be in order to attain it, and the more success we experience following achievement.
Goal setting involves planning for the future. Thinking positively about the future bolsters students’ ability to create goals and consider the actions required to achieve them.
5 KEY PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL GOAL ACHIEVEMENT
1. Commitment
Commitment refers to the degree to which a student is attached to the goal and their determination to reach it – even when faced with obstacles.
2. Clarity
When a goal is clear in their mind, students have an improved understanding of the task at hand. They know exactly what is required and the resulting success is a further source of motivation.
3. Challenging
Goals must be challenging yet attainable. Challenging goals can improve performance through increased self-satisfaction, and the motivation to find suitable strategies to push our skills to the limit
4. Task Complexity
Allowing sufficient time to work toward a goal allows opportunities to reassess the goal complexity, whilst reviewing and improving performance. Even the most motivated of people can become disillusioned if the task’s complexity is too great for their skills.
5. Feedback
Goal setting is more effective in the presence of immediate feedback as it helps students determine the degree to which their goal is being met and how they are progressing.
An Interesting Fact on Goal Setting
Setting goals and reflecting upon them improves academic success. Around 25% of students who enrol in university courses do not complete their studies – common explanations for this include a lack of clear goals and motivation. Goal-setting intervention programs have been shown to significantly improve academic performance (Morisano, Hirsh, Peterson, Pihl, & Shore, 2010).
Goal setting ensures that students do not end up at the airport without a ticket. Frustratingly watching the departure board but unsure or unprepared of which flight to take.
Dia dhaoibh
Mr Francis McGuigan
Deputy Principal
TERM 1 WEEK 9B
Monday 21 March
- U15 Girls Soccer 7.15am
- Open Girls Soccer 7.15am
- Year 11 Legal Studies Task 1
- Year 11 Economics Task 1
- Slam Poetry Incursion - 9 English
- NAPLAN practice test window
- Year 9 Marine Studies Excursion
- Year 9 Human Movement - Jetts Gym
Tuesday 22 March
- U15 and Open Boys Touch
- NCIS Open Girls’ Basketball
- NCIS Surfing Coffs
- Year 10-Tae Kwon Do Excursion
- NAPLAN practice test window
- College Open Evening
Wednesday 23 March
- U15 and Open Girls’ Touch
- Year 11 Physics Task 1
- Year 11 SLR Task 1
- NAPLAN practice test window
Thursday 24 March
- U15 and Open Boys’ Soccer
- CIS Primary Swimming Championships
- Year 9 Human Movement - Jetts Gym
- NAPLAN practice test window
Friday 25 March
- Harmony Day
- 11 Biology Field Trip
- Y5 and Y6 Debating Training
- Year 12 Visual Arts Task 2
- NAPLAN practice test window
TERM 1 WEEK 10A
Monday 28 March
- U15 & Open Girls Soccer LWC 7.15am
- NAPLAN practice test window
- Year 11 PDHPE Task 1
- Year 12 Modern History Task 1
- Elevate Year 12 Workshop: Ace your exams 48 students 11:18am-12:08pm
- Elevate Year 11 Workshop: Student Elevation 70 students 11:20am - 12:02pm
- Year 7 Workshop: Study Skills Kick Start 96 students 12:08pm - 12:50pm
Tuesday 29 March
- NAPLAN practice test window
- Year 11 Business Studies Task 1
- Year 12 Biology Task 2
- Year 12 Legal Studies Task 2
- Year 12 SLR Task 2
Wednesday 30 March
- NAPLAN practice test window
- Year 9 HSIE (Geography) Excursion. Field mandated work for stage 5.
- NCIS Secondary Soccer at Coffs Harbour
Thursday 31 March
- NAPLAN practice test window
- Foundation Day
- Year 11 Visual Arts Task 1
- CIS Primary Soccer Championships Sydney
Friday 1 April
- NAPLAN practice test window
- Y5 and Y6 Debating Training
- Mountain Bike Training Day 1 – Nerang
- Year 11 Ancient History Task 1
PRIMARY NEWS
Superheros Don’t Wear Capes
At last week’s assembly I spoke about superheroes.
I asked the kids three questions:
- Who do you think of when you hear the word superhero?
- What do you notice about the Superheros depicted in film and on TV?
- What makes a person a superhero?
Answers were varied, with many taking the bait and pointing out that superheroes wear capes, can fly and possess super powers, though a few kids cottoned on to the incoming message and pointed out that by just helping out a friend everyday people can be heroes. I spoke to them about the fact that although Superman and Wonder Woman wear capes, real heroes don’t. Most of the time, the heroes who mean the most to us aren’t flashy at all. They don’t have bulging muscles, they can’t fly like a bird, leap tall buildings in a single bound, they don’t possess any super powers or wear a uniform. Real superheroes don’t wear capes. They are selfless, humble, and often overlooked going about their super deeds for one reason only, to help other people.
Over the past few weeks and even today there are superheroes everywhere around us. During the floods everyday people became superheroes. Plumbers, builders, teachers, factory workers, ordinary everyday people sensed that other people needed help and without thinking about themselves they went out to assist complete strangers. They put them in their boats when the flood waters were rising, they helped them clean their houses when the waters went down. They made cups of tea and listened to amazing stories, they cooked meals and found beds for people to sleep in, they drove busses and opened up the doors of their homes to welcome in friends and strangers.
Heroes can be found around the world, but true to their selfless nature, they do not bring attention to themselves. Sometimes, we have to seek out heroes, and we can't simply look for capes.
I pointed out to the kids that there were some super heroes at our assembly on Friday, big ones and little ones. They are some of your friends who had to do super hard things last week. I spoke of how very proud of them we all are. They are superheroes in my eyes, but they won’t brag about it because that’s not what super heroes do. Even most of the cartoon superheroes like Batman and Superman, never reveal their identity, they slip out the back quietly and go back to being ordinary people like Clark Kent or Bruce Wayne.
This is why it is important that we intentionally set aside time to recognise and thank the heroes in our world; those who have sacrificed in countless ways for the good of others. We can do this by being a super kind friend, helping out, just listening and understanding if they are having a bad day. I told the kids that over the next few weeks there will be times where they may be asked to help out and be a superhero of their own and I know that many of them will step up and meet this challenge.
If your child is experiencing any difficulties over the coming weeks, please contact their classroom teacher, our Wellbeing Leaders Mrs Merilyn Mule (K-3), Mr Paul Christensen (4-6) or myself. There is a wealth of resources that parents can access online and I’ve included a few that come recommended by Mrs Sandra Evans from our counselling team.
https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/supporting-a-young-person/natural-disasters/
Harmony Day Assembly
Next week is Harmony Week. Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It is about inclusiveness, respect and sense of belonging for everyone.
To celebrate Harmony Week, the College will hold a special Harmony Week assembly on Friday 25 March. As a way to open the assembly, we will hold a March of Nations procession into The Lindsay Walker Centre. If your child would like to wear cultural dress and be involved in the procession, we ask that you complete the Google Form here nominating your child’s name, year level and country they wish to represent. Students involved in the procession will assemble at 10:30am in the Friends Forecourt of The Lindsay Walker Centre.
We know that from little things big things grow, so we will gauge by the responses above as to the scale of the procession. It may be that we all proceed in a large group, or under individual banners if we attract large numbers. We are also mindful of the impact that many families have had and continue to endure following the recent floods so understand for some, cultural dress may not be available at this time.
Foundation Day
On Thursday 31 March the College will hold its annual Foundation Day assembly. Following this, the College will celebrate by participating in the Colour Run and a variety of other activities throughout the afternoon. It is important to send along a white t-shirt, old business shirt or smock to wear during the colour run. We also advise you pack some towels in the car to save the upholstery on the way home! We urge you to keep raising funds using the Colour Run App and remember that all donations will now go to flood appeal charities.
Just Like You
This Friday 18 March, our Years 1,2,3 and 5 students will be involved in an online interactive session entitled 'Just Like You'. The sessions are supported by the children’s charity Variety and aim to educating primary school students to develop understanding, acceptance and inclusion of people with a disability, learning that people with a disability really are JUST LIKE YOU! Our younger students will develop an understanding of the different forms of disabilities, including physical, invisible and sensory disabilities and learn how to empathise with challenges people with disabilities may face. Our Year 5 students will be involved with discussions challenging preconceived ideas around disability. Students look at their own role in society and their contribution to positive and negative mindsets and practice integrating alternative modes of communication and movement in to their classroom environment.
We look forward to our students being involved in such an important learning opportunity.
Director of Primary
Secondary News
When your Teen is being left out - 10 tips to soothe the sting
Supporting teenagers through friendships can be really challenging as a parent. When you hear that your child has been excluded from a gathering with their friends you are the one who spends the time comforting them.
The feeling of being excluded can be one of the absolute worst feelings in the world. Both you and your child might not understand why the situation has occurred and with social media they can see what their friends are doing.
Below are 10 tips to help soothe the sting if this situation occurs:
- Don’t fuel the situation:
Your child already feels bad enough. The last thing they need is for you to make them feel worse by reiterating how crummy it was of their friends to leave them out. What your son or daughter needs now is reassurance and a listening ear. Let them vent about how they feel. Be supportive while resisting the urge to jump in and fuel an already difficult situation.
- Don’t use the “They’re just Jealous” Rationale:
As a protective parent, it’s all too easy to rationalize the situation by slapping a “they’re just jealous” sticker on their behaviour. Every time we use jealousy as an excuse, we prevent our kids from looking at the situation through a different lens and realizing the role they may have perhaps played in the turnout of events. Ultimately, “they’re just jealous” should never be assumed or used as a crutch to make our kids feel better
- Give them the benefit of the doubt:
Rather than jumping to conclusions, teach your kids to give others the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they texted your child earlier that week and the text never went through. Maybe they weren’t invited because they knew your son or daughter typically works on Friday nights so they simply assumed they couldn’t make it.
It’s normal to jump to a worst-case scenario, but it’s not very helpful. Not only does it trigger a lot of anxiety and upset, it also makes it far more difficult to consider reasonable explanations.
- Communicate your feelings:
After your son or daughter gains their composure, have them call one of their closest friends in the group and ask why they weren’t included. Rather than putting their friend on the defensive and saying something like, “You left me out! Why would you do that?” say something like, “Hey listen, I noticed a bunch of you got together last Friday night and didn’t invite me. I really would have liked to go. Is there a reason I wasn’t included?” It’s always better to be honest and talk things out rather than harboring the hurt. Plus, there’s a good chance there’s a reason they may not have considered.
- Understand the fragility of teen friendships:
Teenagers (especially girls) have a tendency to have more than a few highs and lows in their friendships. One minute your teen and her friends could be besties, the next they’re vowing never to speak to one another again. Recognizing the overall fragility of teen friendships, avoid saying things you shouldn’t about the person or people who left your child out (after all, those same kids could be hanging out in your kitchen laughing and acting as though nothing happened in a few days) and help your son or daughter realize that this could be an isolated incident that will eventually blow over.
- Think about signals your teen is sending:
Is your teen always studying? Are they always too busy to get together or notorious for canceling at the last minute? When your teen is being excluded on a regular basis, it might be time to consider whether their actions are playing a role. How does your teen act when they’re with friends? Are they constantly gossipping or negative? Do they have a tendency to judge others in the group or put others down? Are they painfully shy or always staring at their phone? By having your teen consider how they might be coming across to others, they may be able to identify the reason why they’re being kept off the invite list.
- Look for patterns in the relationship:
If your teen is a good friend and they’re being left out more often than not, it might be time to reconsider those friendships. The bottom line is, not all friendships are meant to last. Tell your teen to try not to take it personally. People change, interests change, life directions change. It doesn’t mean those friends don’t appreciate or care about your son or daughter, it simply might mean they’re forming new friendships with kids who they can relate to at this time in their lives or kids who they have more in common with.
- Cast a wide social net
One of the best things parents can do when their teen is being left out is to encourage their child to cast a wide social net.
The more “pockets” of friends your son or daughter has (for instance, through sports or clubs, their job or internship), the less likely they’ll be to hyper-focus or let it get to them when they’re not included in a particular gathering or event.
- Change Your Mindset
There’s a chance our kids may not always get the satisfactory explanation they’re looking for when they’re excluded. Sometimes, they have to accept the harsh reality that they may very well have been left out intentionally.
Rather than agonizing over what they did wrong or how they don’t “measure up” enough to be on the invite list, encourage your son or daughter to focus on what they do have to offer in a friendship. Sure, they’re hurt and even angry, but they’re not the one missing out. Their friends are missing out on a caring, supportive, great friendship and that’s on them… not your son or daughter.
- It’s Okay to Walk Away
Our teens won’t always be included. They won’t always fit in. They won’t always be liked. This is a hard lesson our kids will eventually learn as they navigate their way through to adulthood. But when people who are supposedly our teen’s friends continue to treat them poorly, we need to instill the mindset that it’s okay for them to walk away.
Even if they’ve been friends since kindergarten. Even if they’ve lived next door to one another for over a decade or played football together since elementary school, they need to be reminded that friendships change and evolve. Sometimes, it’s better for them to move on and forge new friendships in which your child is accepted, supported, and included.
Our kids want to fit in and be accepted, so it can feel pretty crummy when people they call friends ignore them or leave them out. But they need to remember this: They are in complete control of who they spend their time with. If someone is treating them poorly or making them question their self-worth in any way, they don’t have to stick around waiting for them to recognize their worth. They can and should move on and find friends who really care and want to be with them, without all the drama and upset.
Article from Raising Teens Today
success at the lions youth of the year
Photography
Photography
Sport News
Friends Update
Friends of EAC has offered to donate any money raised through the ‘Colour Run’ to EAC families that have been affected by the flood.
There are 2 ways to donate - either create a "student profile" at www.schoolfunrun.com.au and share with family and friends, or you can donate through the link below (which does not link to a particular student).
Friends of EAC are encouraging everyone to share the profile outside of the EAC community so that the extended community can also donate.
For raising just $10 students will get to pick a prize, check out the prizes here.