Term 1 | Week 11 | 08 April 2020
“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened to you, as God gives good things to those who ask."
Matthew 7:7
Principal's Easter Message
As we enter the most sacred time of our Christian calendar, we give thanks for all that we have achieved throughout this most unusual of terms during the time of the Covid 19 pandemic. We give great thanks for our health, the love and support of family and for the opportunity to continue learning, albeit, in a very different way. In such a time of social distancing we give thanks for those things that we have often taken for granted such as family, friendships, community and social connectedness. We celebrate the wonderful spirit of generosity that all in our community have shown to maintain continuity of learning for the students. And we can be inspired by the innovation, creativity, ingenuity and energy that that has been displayed by students, staff and families to overcome the many obstacles and challenges we have encountered as we have moved to home based learning. Thank you to all our community for your incredible support, commitment and patience – it has been a remarkable team effort.
The term break for all of us will be very different to our normal Easter break and I encourage all of our families to take advantage of the opportunity to rest, spend time together and catch up on those many little tasks around our home that we never seem to have time to do. We often lament how we are time poor and are genuinely overwhelmed by the family calendar of social, sporting and work commitments and events. One positive of this situation is that we have time to stop, refocus on the most important things in our lives and invest our energy into the people around us.
I also understand that a number of our families have been hit hard by job loss and significant business downturn. The thoughts and prayers of all our community are with you at this time. I remind families that College Council has created a simple process to notify the College of your circumstance and to get immediate fee relief. I understand that for many families who have always been financially independent that it is difficult to say "I need help" but in these most unprecedented times of forced business closures no one is at fault and we simple want to support you and ensure your children can return to their school and friends once the medical advice says it is safe to do so.
The story of Resurrection of Jesus is so apt for all of us at this time. The journey of Holy Week relives the events of Jesus and his friends as they move through a time of great suffering, fear and even complete despair that is transformed by the Resurrection into the incredible experience of hope and good news. An experience so profound that it has changed the world and it is that exact hope and experience of God’s love that is at the heart of all that we do at EAC. I wish you much hope and love at this time of fear and trepidation and I pray that all our community will remain healthy, happy, generous and optimistic as we face these uncertain times together.
God Bless
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
Off The Deputy's Desk
With COVID 19 ramping up its path across the world our children are going to need certainty and support. We can’t give them certainty with how this will play out but we can by reassuring them of our love and care. Talk to them about their concerns.
Dr Judith Locke-clinical psychologist says that we need to communicate with our children but we must stay calm and be composed. Children can cope with challenges but if they have a sense that their parents are overwhelmed, then it will be much more impactful on them. Put on your best game face and use your most reassuring voice.
Normalise their fear by talking about their feelings and listen to their concerns and normalise their responses as being typical. Let them know that if their fears are greater than the situation demands give them more realistic facts and probabilities.
Discuss the truly effective things to do in a pandemic. For example, social distancing, limiting touching, washing your hands regularly and by coughing or sneezing into your elbow.
Ideally, manage what they hear and try to find more pleasant things that you can discuss. Too much focus on horrible situations can make us all feel even more overwhelmed.
Do something fun with the family. Play a family game of Monopoly, watch a favourite comedy together, and learn a new card game. Spend some time together and enjoy your children.
Get them to try to think about the community and about what they can do to help others and give back to the community. Also get them to talk to their Grandparents or Skype them but not visit them. These are tricky and challenging times for all of us.
I am a parent myself so am dealing with the same angst, concern and worries in our home so I have empathy for each of you with regards to striking the right balance between reassurance and giving our children the facts that are appropriate for their age and developmental level.
Wishing all of our families a wonderful Easter. Please stay safe, spend quality time as a family and reflect upon the wonderful gift that God gave us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Mr Darren Parks
Deputy Principal
Term 2 Week 1
Monday April 27
Student Free Day
Tuesday 28 April
Term 2 commences
Chaplain's Chat
Some people love Christmas, but I am an Easter person. For a number of reasons.
One of the reasons is absolutely the temperature – it’s not too hot! There is another, much more meaningful reason. Easter is simply the most amazing story. It is gritty and very real. From Palm Sunday through to Easter Day, we are taken through the full gamut of emotion and experience.
Jesus appears to be at the peak of his ministry, he has all the trappings of success – he is totally up there with all of the ‘influencers’, with more likes and shares than you can imagine.
But then he turns his back on it. In the Bible it says that he ‘set his face toward Jerusalem’, what it does not initially say is what that meant.
Jesus turned his face towards his death. He stepped into that city knowing it would mean his end.
But here’s the thing, it was also knowing it would be a beginning for everyone else. I very intentionally move through every day of Holy Week, I re-read the now very familiar stories, and I re-enter the journey with Jesus. And as I do so I am reminded of God’s promise to be with us in all things and through all things, I am reminded of a God, who in the flesh of Jesus feels along with everything that I feel. The pain and sorrow of betrayal, the frustration of being misunderstood, the ache of loneliness and the fear of what might come. Jesus felt all these things. All. Of. Them.
And continued along that road.
For me. For you.
Why? For no other reason than love. Love for me and you – and for all of creation.
Because Jesus also rose, from the dead, from the ultimate tie that binds – to remind us that we too may rise. From the struggles that we face, the pain we feel, sorrow, loneliness and fear.
God’s desire is for us to be Easter people - People of new life.
This is one of the best parts of Easter, new life that ripples into the world around us. We experience this promise in our own lives and are gifted to carry that to others.
It's not just that MY sins are forgiven, or that I am freed to start over…but in accepting that I am loved and forgiven…I live that out, give that to others – I love and forgive.
This is what it means to be an Easter person.
This is why the church rings bells, and shines lights and (normally) sings alleluias loudly together. To wake us up to run out to be the bearers of this new love and life for everyone!
It is so darn exciting! Seriously the potential of being an Easter person is phenomenal!
Even when we cannot celebrate this together…it changes nothing. Because this message is not just for those gathered in the churches…it is for EVERYONE – EVERYWHERE.
So yes, I love Easter. I love that it makes me stop and think, and push the reset button of my life.
It’s going to be a strange time this year, as we are all ‘socially isolating’, but maybe this year the gift will be just that – no place to run, no place to hide…but hopefully time to think – what does it look like for you to walk into life as an Easter person?
Have a wonderful Easter, may you all feel God’s peace at this very strange time in our world.
Blessings.
Rev Sal
Sports Update
Sport and Coaching Administrator
With the transition of all school services to on-line learning in Week 9 of Term 1 the sport and coaching team have been providing daily Fitness and Sport activities and challenges to our primary and secondary students.Sport Coach & Duke of Edinburgh Leader
ELC News
Year 9 Camp
Wow. It seems like months ago that Year 9 was up in the peace and quiet in the mountains of Natural Bridge. Away from the craziness that is our current situation. How lucky we were to have that time together!
Not to mention the students were resourceful, kind, brave, supportive, polite and yep even pretty self sufficient. Whether it be bonding over who can sling the biggest burn at Mr Brenton, gymnastic challenges at night, Thinking Thursday, the world's largest human burrito, or the most epic battle of Hide and Seek I have seen, there was laughter and adventure every hour.
Will there ever be a better camp?...I guess ‘you'll see’.
Ms Campbell
Whether through choice, necessity or clear direction, an increasing number of people are staying home and the Federal government have been widely encouraging that students and parents visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/covid-19 due to the increased time and risk children will be exposed to online.