Term 2 | Week 4 | 22 May 2019
“Happy the merciful, they shall have mercy shown to them” Matthew 5:7
From The Principal
Good luck to all our Duke of Edinburgh Award participants who will embark on their physical expeditions in the coming weeks. The Duke of Ed program is a world wide, self development program for young people and involves four components. These being the development of a physical skill, development of a non physical skill or talent, participating in community service and the planning and participation in an physical expedition. The program is designed to give young people the opportunity to grow and develop their confidence, skill, character and contribution to the community. It is an important dimension of our Pastoral Care program and greatly supported by students and staff. The program is available to students in Year 9 through to 12. More information about the program can be found on the College website or by visiting https://dukeofed.com.au/
We wish all our Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh participants well as they embark on phase one of their physical expedition commencing with Bronze and Silver this weekend. Bronze candidates will spend two days hiking the 40km from Angourie to Minnie Waters carrying their tents, sleeping bags and clothes. Our Silver candidates will spend 3 days completing the Clarence River Canoe Trail which is a 50 kilometre paddle. Over the long weekend in June the Gold participants will undertake a 4 day challenge involving 40 kilometres of hiking and a further 40 kilometres of canoeing in the Clarence Valley. These expeditions form phase one of this component of the Award and students will undertake phase two later in the year.
Special thanks to all of the College staff involved in this program. They will all give up much family and recreation time to support the students who participate in the expeditions. It is a huge commitment but one that the staff generously embrace. Thanks to Mr Walker, Mr Evans, Mr Jukes, Ms Crichton, Mr Hunt, Mrs Payne, Mrs Regan and Dr Jacob for your generosity and commitment.
Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 have been sitting the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) over the last week. All students in the relevant year groups across Australia undertake tests in five areas which include Writing, Reading, Spelling, Language Conventions and Numeracy. EAC is one of a number of schools across Australia chosen to undertake the testing online. Due to the online delivery, the tests take place over 9 school days.
The NAPLAN tests provide an enormous amount of data on each individual as well as their cohort. The data collected from the tests is also used to develop understandings about student learning from a regional, state and national point of view. While certainly an extremely important and valuable assessment tool, NAPLAN is one of many assessment tools that teachers and schools use to gather feedback about student learning and development. Assessment takes on many forms and is designed to enable teachers to develop a profile of each student as a learner which includes insights into their learning styles, preferences, strengths and areas for development. The greatest understanding of a student is achieved when teachers have access to a broad range of data which is used to form a profile of the student.
While there have been a few minor technical issues with the NAPLAN site, the students have approached the assessment program in a calm, positive and mature manner and this has enabled them to manage the technical challenges and participate fully in the testing program. Students, parents and teachers will received NAPLAN feedback sometime in Term Three.
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
Off the Deputy's Desk
This Friday we have a large number of Secondary students involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Silver and Bronze Expeditions. These expeditions involve various elements of outdoor education, leadership and character development and are an essential component of the Duke of Edinburgh program. Our students have taken to the DOE program and Mr Graham Walker does a wonderful job coordinating the program. I also want to thank the following teaching staff for –Mr Hunt, Mrs Crichton and Mr Jukes for going on the Bronze expedition. Thanks also to Mr Randall Evans and Mrs Daniela Payne for supporting the students on the longer, more challenging, Silver expedition. Without the energy and good will of staff this program could not take place. I commend the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program to your child when they reach qualification age which at this point, is Year 9.
Duke of Edinburgh activities assist our students to develop the skills needed to lead themselves and to lead others. These skills include developing their ability to inspire themselves and others; solve problems individually or in teams, communicate with others, develop courage and resilience; increase their mental and physical stamina; develop their ability to shoulder responsibility and finally, to grasp the unexpected opportunities that come their way during the program.
NAPLAN continues this week and I commend our students for the diligent and serious approach that they have demonstrated to the national testing regimen. All we ask is that they do their best and that they keep a balanced perspective towards the test results when they are released in the near future. NAPLAN online concludes at the end of this week and Mrs Boyd will let families know once we have received access to the results and accompanying reports.
Next Monday we will be visited by senior staff from the Association of Independent Schools, a researcher and a videographer who will be undertaking research regarding Emmanuel Anglican College’s School Improvement story. Our school improvement story is worth sharing with the wider educational community and there will be interviews with several staff as well as some footage taken of various areas of the school. Two lessons will be filmed and we are looking forward to showcasing the efforts of our teaching staff and School Improvement Team in this AIS production. Parents of the two classes being visited have been sent consent notes regarding the filming process.
Next week at 4A’s Primary Assembly there will be a presentation of badges to Library Monitors by Mr Tobias. Mr Evans will also have lots of sports news to be shared as well. This should make for an exciting and achievement oriented assembly for the Primary students. The Year 4 students will no doubt be getting very excited about the upcoming camp to Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast. Hopefully we will have beautiful weather whilst the students are away and we look forward to hearing exciting news of their adventures upon their return. Thanks to Mr Christensen, Mrs Darnell and Mrs Anderson for supporting the Year 4 students on the camp.
Mr Darren Parks
Deputy Principal
Upcoming Events
Term 2 Week 5
Monday 27 May
Secondary Girls Touch Football Training-7.15am
Athletics Training-Sprints and Throws-7.15am
NSW CIS Secondary Football-Sydney
Tuesday 28 May
NSW CIS Secondary Football-Sydney
Primary Boys and Girls Touch Football Training-7.15am
Cross Country/Athletics Training-3.10-4.10pm
Year 7 Experience Day
Primary Assembly- 4A
Secondary Chapel-Stage 5
Thursday 30 May
NCIS Touch Football-Goonellabah
Friday 31 May
Secondary Sport
Term 2 Week 6
Monday 3 June
Athletics Training-Sprints and Throws-7.15am
Year 4 Camp at Tallebudgera until Wednesday 5 June
Tuesday 4 June
Cross Country/Athletics Training-3.10-4.10pm
Primary Chapel
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea-10.40am-Ezzy Centre
Kindergarten Open Afternoon
Thursday 6 June
Secondary Social-6.00-9.00pm-Undercover Area-Theme is Disney meets Australia
Friday 7 June
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Adventure until Monday 10 June
Athletics Training-Sprints and Jumps-7.15am
Chaplains Chat
Finding perspective
As you may have picked up, my children are all adults; our last child left home two years ago and only one of them actually lives near us. (It is ok – it’s the one with our grandkids – winning!) Recently, for the first time in a long time we were all together for a family function. It was not until we were all there that we realised this phenomenon was actually happening. My husband and lads hurriedly planned a ‘surprise’ early Mother’s Day breakfast for me.
And it was awesome.
I didn’t have time to get myself worked up about all the potential problems that might occur. Indeed, I had not built up any picture of the perfect Mother’s Day…so it was in fact, perfect. There was food, there was fun…it was my family. Come the actual Mother’s Day, I sat and remembered the time and smiled, contentedly. I have to say it hasn’t always been this way because I was a mean mum:
When my lads ‘lost’ something my response was ‘Well last time I used (insert misplaced item here) I put it away’. When they left an assignment to the last minute and were going to have to pull an all-nighter, I made them a cup of tea and went to bed. Unless they had a darn good reason (a missing limb, or having been stuck at sea would be a reasonable excuse) I didn’t write a note in their planner or give them a day off to get it done. I sat on my hands and tried not to step in to help too soon, because I know that failing and trying again is the best way to learn.
I will admit that I did not always take their side in an argument, and if they had something rude to say about someone, I was mean enough to ask them to think through what they had just said.
I was mean enough to make them say good morning, good-bye and good night, and to make them sit at the table for dinner even when they hated the world and its aunty. I am a mean mother. In fact when I asked permission from them to mention them, and what I was writing, Samuel (number 3 of 4) said ‘Well, you’ll have plenty of content’.
I was a mean mother because I loved my boys and wanted them to know that they could handle the world, and that I could be trusted. I took my lads seriously, seriously enough to help them find perspective and to recognize a yukky moment is not the same as a bad life. It is fair to say they have not always loved or appreciated this.
I think perspective is one of the greatest gifts that we can give our children. An oft spoken truth is that there is always another side to the story and I think we owe it to our children to help them see it. Perhaps I knew the nature of my lads, I always figured that perhaps they were not as blameless as the picture they painted would suggest. Helping our children to problem solve, to see their own role in any given situation is such a vital skill in reaching maturity and developing resilience and tenacity. Not rushing in to rescue, fix or defend sends the message that we believe our child is capable, is able to manage themselves. Encouraging them to find the words, practice the skills of trouble shooting and negotiation in the safety of the family is important – however, it is not easy and can sorely try the patience! Believe me.
I wonder sometimes if that is how God looks at me. There are times when I just want God to do that almighty magic kind of God stuff and fix it. Preferably, in the way that suits me. Then I remember the numerous times that Jesus said to go and do likewise. To tell the story of freedom and forgiveness by helping others find freedom and offering forgiveness. To alleviate the suffering of those around us by rolling up our sleeves and getting in to help.
Love, faith, belief. These are ‘doing words’, not fuzzy feelings and they ask us to step up and show our best selves in our care of the other, our stewardship of this world. To my chagrin, when I want to have a whinge to God about someone or something…I hear God suggesting that maybe I would like to rethink that, or reminding me that I am more than capable of fixing this issue. Reminding me that perhaps I should remove the log from my own eye before pointing out the speck in another.
Darn it.
You know there is another side to this.
My lads always knew that whilst I may not take their side, I am always, always on their side. They knew, and still know, that if it were rough, even though I may not be able to fix it, I would be with them in the rough. I will always hold space for them. Never alone, always held – that is what it means to be my child.
As it is with God.
Never alone, always held.
That is what it means to be a child of God.
Peace
Rev Sal
Sports Update
EAC had a great day last Friday at the NCIS Cross Country championships, gaining a top 3 place in all point score categories. We won the Secondary Percentage Shield, which is our teams performance relative to the size of each school. An amazing 30 students are now eligible to attend the NSW CIS Cross Country in Sydney.
| Overall Point score Results | First | Second | Third |
| Primary | Lindisfarne | Bishop Druit | Emmanuel |
| Secondary | Lindisfarne | Emmanuel & The Armidale School | |
| Percentage Point score Results | First | Second | Third |
| Primary | Bishop Druit | Emmanuel | Lindifarne |
| Secondary | Emmanuel | Lindisfarne | Blue Hills College |
Congratulations to the Following Students who placed in the top 3.
| First 8/9 Girls | Abigail Matthews |
| First 18 Girls | Ella DuPlessis |
| First 18 Boys | Joshua Mumford |
| Second 9 Boys | Marlon Andrews |
| Second 12 Boys | Kelly Campbell |
| Second 14 Girls | Mikala Campbell |
| Second 17 Girls | Abigail Hanna |
| Second 18 Boys | Lachlan Mumford |
| Third 9 Boys | Henry Drew |
| Third 10 Girls | Zoe Campbell |
| Third 12 Boys | Cooper Keane |
| Third 13 Boys | Jesse Thompson |
| Third 18 Girls | Sophie Cottrill |
Congratulations to the following students who are eligible to attend the NSW CIS Cross Country in Sydney.
Marlon Andrews, Zoe Campbell, Kelly Campbell, Henry Drew, Kalani Franklin, Cooper Keane, Abigail Matthews, Stella Payne , William Shepherd, Finley Thomson, Louis Visser, Felicity Walker, Mikala Campbell, Sophie Cottrill, Ella Du Plessis, Christopher Flavel, Luke Flavel, Abigail Hanna, Cooper Lamb, Chelsea Maund, Isabella McMahon, Annie Milne, Lachlan Mumford, Joshua Mumford, Alanah Osborne, Oliver Payne, Miloš Safranek, Jesse Thompson, Hamish Walker and Jack Whitaker.
Thank you to Mr Potts, Mrs Sculley, Mrs Payne, Miss Guest, Mrs Buddee and Mr Kelly for training the team in the lead up to the competition.
Mr Graham Walker
Sport and Coaching Administrator
Early Learning Centre News
Term 2 is well and truly underway at the Early Learning Centre. We have a soccer tots program running for 5 weeks with Ms Wendy. The children are developing not only soccer skills, but team-work, cooperation, resilience and persistence - all quality dispositions for learning that underpin the Early Years Learning Framework.
Most afternoons, Mrs Docherty and a small group of children go on an adventure, exploring the 'big school' together. These adventures not only develop a greater sense of belonging to the college, it also affords children the opportunity to visit their siblings' classrooms, their parent's offices or their Dad's shed, sharing "This is my Dad's shed, it's where stuff happens" ...
As the year progresses, children demonstrate feeling safe, secure and supported through the development of real and meaningful relationships. These relationships may be with one or more trusted educators and/or peers. It is a delight to witness the big smiles of children when they see a person they like and are interested in. We are beginning to talk about friends, friendship and the qualities that make a good friend.
Please note, our Parent Information Evening will now be held on Tuesday the 28th May from 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm. Please see attached flyer.
ELC Director
Food Technology
Year 10 Students
Year 10 Food Technology completing ther assessment task creating a menu of canapes for a wedding.
live life well @ school
As part of the Live Life Well at School program we are sharing some snippets of information on different healthy nutrition and physical activity messages from NNSW Local Government Health Service.
Canteen
EAC Canteen opens at 8.30am and operates 4 days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, with special lunches on Tuesdays, canteen is open on Tuesdays for general sales at LUNCH only.
Canteen opens at 8.30am and the Menu is available here:
WINTER MENU EXTRA’S– TERM 2 & 3
Hot Chicken & Gravy Roll - $3.50
Wedges & Sweet Chilli Sauce- $3.00
Pumpkin Soup* & Roll** - $3.50
Milo - $1.00
* Gluten Free
** Students would need to come to the canteen to collect their soup
Special Order Term 2 Dates
Sushi: 4 & 18 June
Noodle Box : 28 May, 11 & 25 June
Subway: 2 July
Noodle Box – Tuesday 28 May
Noodle Box from “Noodle Box” at Ballina Fair, will be available from the canteen next Tuesday, 28 May. If you would like to order Noodle Box for your child’s lunch next Tuesday please complete the order form .
Attach your order to a paper bag with your payment enclosed. This should then be put in the canteen basket on Monday morning, 27 May . Order forms will NO LONGER be sent home but are also available online or from the office or canteen.
PRIMARY LUNCH ORDERS
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 child’s lunch please provide two (2) bags. Please remind your child to place their lunch/recess bag in the class tub NOT directly to the canteen.
PLEASE DO NOT STAPLE / TAPE BAGS CLOSED, FOLDED IN 4 APPEARS TO WORK WELL
BAG 1: Name, Class, Teacher, Lunch Order (John Smith, 5A, Mr Falvey, 1 Junior Pie)
BAG 2: Name, Class, Drink/Cold Order (John Smith, 5A, Mr Falvey, 1 Orange Juice)
Any change required will be placed in the bag for return with the child’s lunch order.
Christine Hall
Canteen Supervisor
0414 811 668
Community News
