"But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
2 Corinthians 8:7
From The Principal
I am delighted to be able to formally announce those students that have been elected as the Senior Student Leadership Team for 2020-21. I thank Rev Sally, Mrs Middleton, Mr Raguse and Mr Parks for their guidance and support of the students of Year 10 and Year 11, as they have worked through the process of nominating and electing the leadership group. I congratulate the students who have been identified by their peers as having the skills and talents that mark them as a leader. I am sure they will make a wonderful contribution to EAC in the coming year. I also want to thank and congratulate all those students who were generous and courageous enough to nominate for election this year. A willingness to be involved, to lend a hand and to give of your time, are all signs of a person with great character. For those students who did nominate and were unsuccessful, I say thank you and also encourage them to continue to look for ways to be involved and to support the College. Whether wearing a badge or not, everyone has the opportunity to be a role model for others and to give something back to the College and our community. It gives me great pleasure to announce to you the 2020-2021 Secondary Student Leadership Team:
College Captain – Ella Peart
College Captain – Lachlan Walker
Student Leader (Student Representative Council President) – Scarlett Donovan
Student Leader (Community Involvement) – Alex Chapman
Student Leader (Arts and Culture) – Simone Redman
Brockington House
Captain – Hayley Oakes
Captain – Francois van Kempen
Purcival House
Captain – Maiya Stotter
Captain – Gabe Mison
Smith House
Captain – Paige Wilkie
Captain – Hamish Walker
Walker House
Captain – Sofia Ribechini
Captain – Ethan Jorgensen
We look forward to working with this fine group of young men and women for the betterment of the College in the coming year. A date for the induction of the new leadership team will be set shortly, once details about restrictions on gatherings are reviewed this week.
Over the first weekend of the term break, Reverend Sally and I attended the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Grafton for 2020. A Synod is a meeting of representatives of all ministry units from across the Diocese. Ministry units include parishes, schools, specific groups such as Anglicare and other chaplaincies. Emmanuel Anglican College, along with the other four schools in the Diocese, plays a significant role in the life of the Church through our work with young people and their families in the realms of education and pastoral care.
The Synod is modelled on the parliamentary system and has two houses; The House of the Clergy and the House of the Laity. Laws, known as ordinances, are proposed, debated and voted on. These ordinances govern the structure and function of the Diocese. Motions are also put forward regarding the policies, programs and initiatives of the Diocese. Many of the motions passed relate to the ministry and social justice work of the Diocese, as well as formally stating the Diocesan policy on significant issues. A major point of discussion at this year’s Synod related to the restructure of Diocese to make better use of the physical and human resources we have. Once again the efforts of all our schools was greatly acknowledged and celebrated.
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
Off the Deputy's Desk
Welcome back to the final term of what has been a very unusual year. It was great to touch base with a number of Secondary year levels this morning, as Stage Coordinators met with the relevant year levels to discuss expectations and welcome students back for the term. I aim to get around to the Primary classrooms tomorrow.
It is hoped that we will be able to make the extracurricular part of our school a lot more normalised this term. NCIS events are back on now that we are allowed to travel further. Mr Walker has been working very hard to get our students in Primary and Secondary, some regular interschool sporting fixtures for the term ahead. Sport is great for student wellbeing, develops teamwork and cooperation as well as resilience and skills. Please encourage your child to try out for one of the teams that will be selected over the next few weeks.
Culturally, the Concert Band is back this term and again I encourage your child to be involved. Just like sport, music has many benefits for students involved, including development of persistence, using all senses to gather data, working independently and interdependently and developing musical skills.
That's a lot of Habits of Mind developed in 2 extracurricular activities.
Our new Year 12 students will be commencing their HSC courses and will shortly receive their report cards. This cohort is notable for its superior work ethic, kindness to one another and for its cohesion. They will be a delight to work with over the next year and I wish them every success in the journey ahead.
I also would ask that our families keep our Year 12 students in their thoughts and prayers as they undertake HSC Examinations next week. We wish them all the best and hope that they utilise all the skills, knowledge and academic dispositions that they have developed over their educational journey at EAC. We look forward to graduating them in November and thank them for their contribution to the life of EAC.
Term 4 is a term where students need to finish the year strongly. Last term we saw a real flagging in wellbeing, behaviour and motivation by many students towards the latter part of the term. Whilst this was understandable due to the disruptions that students have faced this year - it has been a tough year and circumstances have been against all of us - it is not an excuse for students to disengage from the learning process. I would ask for the support of every family in relation to reinforcing our expectations regarding student engagement, uniform, manners and grooming. It is imperative that parents work with us to form a partnership if your children are to achieve to their potential.
Finally, I wish all of our students a successful term and welcome any new students to the College. Term 4 will hopefully see us begin to make further returns to normality with regards to school events and as always, we will keep you posted with regards to how the health advice will impact upon the College as we move towards the end of the academic year.
Mr Darren Parks
Deputy Principal
Term 4 Week 2
Monday 19 October
Primary Swimming Intensive -K-3 - until Friday 23 October
Under 15 Girls Touch Football Trials - 7.30-8.30am - Oval
Year 11 Hospitality Work Placement until Friday 23 October
Tuesday 20 October
NCIS Tennis Championships - Grafton - All day
Rugby Sevens Trials and Training - 7.30am-8.30am - Oval
Open Boys Cricket Trials and Training - 10.48-11.18am - Cricket nets
Whole College Assembly - Video recorded and sent to classes ready for Tuesday morning.
HSC Examinations
Wednesday 21 October
Year 11 Parent Teacher Interviews - Via Telephone - 3.30pm-6.30pm
Boys Secondary Basketball Trials and Training - 10.48am-11.18am - Courts
HSC Student Information Session - Period 6 - Library
HSC Parent Q and A via Zoom - 6.30-7.30pm
HSC Examinations
Thursday 22 October
HSC Examinations
Friday 23 October
HSC Examinations
Girls Secondary Basketball Trials and Training - 10.48am-11.18am - Courts
Secondary Sport - Years 7-10 - Periods 5 and 6
Term 4 Week 3
Monday 26 October
Under 15 Girls Touch Football Trials and Training - 7.30am-8.30am - Oval
HSC Examinations
Tuesday 27 October
Rugby Sevens Trials and Training - 7.30am-8.30am - Oval
Open Boys Cricket Trials and Training - 10.48am-11.18am - Cricket nets
HSC Examinations
Wednesday 28 October
HSC Examinations
Boys Secondary Basketball Trials and Training - 10.48am-11.18am - Courts
Thursday 29 October
HSC Examinations
Friday 30 October
HSC Examinations
Girls Secondary Basketball Trials and Training - 10.48am-11.18am - Courts
Primary Book Character Parade - Student only event - TBC
Chaplain's Chat
Do not worry
Like everyone, I am astonished that we are already at Term Four - and being faced with the countdown to Christmas. Like everyone, I am well and truly over the Covid-19 undertone in every conversation, plan and news bulletin. So my commitment to myself is that this term I will endeavour to encourage us all to look up and look out.
Last term, at the not so gentle nudging of Rev Greg, I got myself a copy of Julia Baird's book "Phosphorescence. On awe, wonder and things that sustain you when the world goes dark". Talk about a book for our times. It is brilliant. I am grateful for Greg's suggestion and want to pass it on to you. I initially listened to it in the car on my trips to and from school, and would find myself looking differently at people and the world around me. This is a book about the simple things - beauty in nature, the importance of savouring - and everything! And using ALL our senses! So during the first week of the school holidays, feeling utterly empty, with our camper, our hiking boots and each other, my husband and I went bush, with nothing but a pit toilet and a fire to cook on. And it was most excellent. I stared at clouds, and stars and the incredible full moon. We hiked and remembered how good a cold beer tastes when you're all hot and sweaty. We also remembered how cold it is using a pit toilet when it is only 3 degrees!
It was awe inspiring, it was wonderful and it was super simple.
We camped in one of the National Parks that was heavily impacted by the bushfires at the beginning of the year (remember all that time ago?). Talk about images of hope and resilience. The saplings around us were blackened and bent from the ferocity of the fire, yet they had still released their seed pods. We were surrounded by the new growth that comes in the wake of a bushfire and the native wildflowers of the spring season. Signs of hope, persistence, and a reminder that it is possible to survive even when it seems improbable.
I was reminded at the pointless nature of much of our worrying. As someone who lives with anxiety, I can overthink things at a gold medal level, but being among nature I saw how it just gets on with doing what it does, and makes the necessary adaptions to do so. I wonder if that is what is meant in the scriptures that have Jesus saying "do not worry".
25 “I tell you, do not worry. Don’t worry about your life and what you will eat or drink. And don’t worry about your body and what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than eating? Aren’t there more important things for the body than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air. They don’t plant or gather crops. They don’t put away crops in storerooms. But your Father who is in heaven feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? 27 Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work or make clothing. 29 But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in all his royal robes was dressed like one of these flowers. 30 If that is how God dresses the wild grass, won’t he dress you even better? Your faith is so small! After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. 31 So don’t worry. Don’t say, ‘What will we eat?’ Or, ‘What will we drink?’ Or, ‘What will we wear?’ 32 People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need them. 33 But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you. 34 So don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34
Perhaps it's about perspective and the capacity to be flexible. I don't find it easy not to worry. It's my default setting. But I have some photographs at hand now to remind me of how it is possible to be concerned and aware, without being all consumed. And this, from Julia's book:
"Perspective is a crucial thing. As American author Robert Fulghum wrote, 'If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire - then you've got a problem. Everything else is an inconvenience. Life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy...a lump in the oatmeal, a lump in the throat, and a lump in a breast are not the same kind of lump. One should learn the difference.' It's true: we need to resist complaining about experiencing inconvenience. That is what it means to live."
Baird, Julia. Phosphorescence (p200). 4th Estate. Kindle Edition.
Peace
Rev Sal
Secondary News
SRC Initiative - Water Night: Saving Water at Home on 22 October
Can you imagine going through your daily routine without clean water? This is a reality for 650 million people who do not have access to clean, safe water.
Australia is one of the driest continents inhabited by humans with very limited freshwater sources. Despite the lack of freshwater, Australians use the most water per capita globally, using 100,000L of freshwater per person every year. This has meant that Australians have been diagnosed with an addiction to tap water, with an average Australian turning on the tap nine times a day.
Water Night is being held on Thursday 22nd October. Between 5pm to 5am Australians and the Emmanuel Anglican College Community are encouraged to use only one bucket of water, no taps, no running showers, no running water. Do you know how many times a day you use water within your house or how much water is used?
Below are some facts:
The SRC will be running some water awareness activities at the school on Thursday 22 October and families are encouraged to reflect on the amount of water they use in their home. Families are encouraged to take a picture of their buckets of water to show they are participating and forward them to the school. Becoming water aware allows all Australians to think of better ways to use water to ensure clean water can continue to be available in Australia.
To sign up for Water Night go to www.waternight.com.au.
Stay positive and motivated: the final push for HSC students
The end of formal College lessons has occurred and the time has come to revise for the final exams. In just over a week, Year 12 students will be starting their final HSC exams. Some students have an idea of where they want to go next year: be it university, TAFE or employment; but others are still reflecting on what 2021 may bring.
Motivation is what drives us to make things happen, but staying motivated isn't always easy. Managing stress and keeping the brain focused on study is also important. Reachout.com has provided a range of tips for HSC students to #staypositive until the HSC exams are over. All the advice below is taken from their website.
How to become (and stay) motivated
- Set goals. When you set a goal, you make a decision to act in a way that will help you achieve what you want. Goals give you a direction to focus on – one that’s measurable and has an endpoint. This can help you to stay motivated.
- Choose goals that interest you. You’re much more likely to stay motivated if you’re working towards something that you genuinely want to do or achieve, rather than what other people want for you.
- Find things that interest you within goals that don’t. Sometimes other people set goals or tasks for us that we don’t find interesting or want to do. So, try and find something within that task that does motivate you. For example: "I hate maths, but it’s going to help me become a builder, which I want more than anything."
- Make your goal public. If you tell someone – or write down – your goal, you’ve essentially made a promise to keep your word.
- Plot your progress. When you’re working towards something, it can be really motivating if you can see evidence that you’re making progress. Draw or create a visual representation of how you’re coming closer to achieving the goal you’ve set yourself.
- Break up your goal. Start with easier tasks and work your way up to bigger challenges. Breaking up a task in your mind into achievable chunks helps build confidence.
- Use rewards. Promise yourself some sort of reward each time you complete a step/task.
- Don’t do it alone. Join a class, or find a teacher or someone you can share the experience with. Other people’s encouragement to keep going can be a big boost to your motivation, particularly when you’re doing it tough.
Reachout.com interviewed a range of HSC students about how they have managed to keep a positive mindset during 2020. Georgia said that although there have been lots of disappointments and heaps of uncertainty, she has worked hard to keep a positive mindset and found that planning out her day, scheduling time for self care and having a good friends and family base has helped. The important thing to remember is that you can only do your best and it is important to plan your day to keep on track.
Managing Stress
It's normal to feel stressed sometimes, but if you always feel under the pump it can have a really negative impact on your body and mind. The diagram below shows you what stress does to your body and provides some tips on how to manage stress as you prepare for your HSC.
Stress Swaps: managing stress whilst preparing for your HSC
Set up a reward system
One of the hardest things about focusing on your studies at home is sidestepping the many distractions and temptations that are on offer there. Who wouldn’t find it easier to escape into an eight-hour streamed series when you’ve hit a wall with your studies, rather than push through it? But instead of denying yourself all distractions, try a work-and-reward system. For each hour of study, you could reward yourself with something: an episode of your fave show, an online game, or a FaceTime call with friends.
Sharing is caring
Sometimes a natural reaction to stress is to switch off, shut down and tap out, by turning off your notifications and pretending that whatever is going on simply doesn’t exist. This is especially true with the current global crisis (when all anyone can talk about is coronavirus), when pulling away from your pals and going AWOL might sound like a good idea. But in times of stress, whether it’s school-related or otherwise, talking to people is typically the best way forward. Give your friends a chance to lend a hand by letting them know what’s up with you. If they’re aware that you’re having a tough time and aren’t travelling so well, they’ll check in with you more often.
Love the list
Every school student knows that their brain is busiest JUST as they switch out the lights and try to fall asleep. All of a sudden, their mind is overcome by worries, concerns and thoughts, and sleep seems like a distant possibility. This is particularly true if they’re feeling anxious or nervous about an upcoming exam or assignment. Take back control by writing a checklist before going to bed of things you need to do, and things you’re worried about. Putting them down on paper is a smart way to make big problems seem a little more manageable.
Quarantine clean
There is no better way to buy time than by creating jobs that require your immediate attention: My assignment will have to wait because I MUST organise my bookshelves in alphabetical order! While a tidy workspace will help you to focus and concentrate – both of which are important for study/school – don’t get sucked into the trap of spending all day arranging and rearranging your desk. Try to pick an area to work that has some natural light, and set up a space that is calming and free of clutter.
Foods that help our brain study
The food you put into your body can have a huge impact on how your brain works. This is important to remember around exam time, when you're probably paying more attention to books than brekkie.
Which foods are the best fuel?
Healthy brain food for studying includes:
- Protein — meat, fish, eggs, poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds, dried beans and lentils, dairy products and soy products. Protein helps your brain send messages to the rest of your body, and helps create brain chemicals that improve your mood.
- Antioxidants — fruits and veggies, including berries, and pomegranate juice. Antioxidants can help delay or even prevent certain effects of aging on the brain.
- Omega-3 — oily fish, flax seeds and flax oil, and eggs, chicken and beef. Omega-3s have been found to help your brain work harder and improve your mental health.
- Dietary cholesterol — dairy and egg yolks. Your brain relies on cholesterol to create the cells that send messages to the rest of the body.
Monounsaturated fats - avocados, nuts, olive oil, canola oil and peanut oil. Food that contains monounsaturated fats can improve your memory and help your brain work harder, better, faster, stronger.- Caffeine (moderate amounts) — tea, coffee and dark chocolate. In small doses, caffeine can help you feel refreshed and more focused.
- Water. Your brain is 73% water, and water is vital to keeping your body (and brain) in tip-top shape.
Please keep the Year 12 students in your prayers as they prepare for these exams. Further advice and quizzes to help studying can be found at reachout.com. Remember the importance for students to stay healthy, stay active and keep connected during the HSC.
Mrs Amanda Middleton
Director of Secondary
#StayHealthyHSC
It has been an eventful and challenging year for Year 12, with significant concerns regarding Year 12 students' anxiety and mental health issues as they approach their HSC exams. NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has launched the #StayHealthyHSC social media campaign, an initiative produced in partnership with NSW Education Standards Authority, the Department of Education, Catholic Schools NSW, the AISNSW and the mental health organisation ReachOut. The objective is to provide Year 12 students with resources to support them on their journey through this year’s HSC.
There are some fantastic resources, study tips, wellbeing advice, articles, news and support available for Year 12 students on the Stay Healthy HSC website.
Primary Update
Welcome back to Term 4
I welcome all students and their families back for Term 4. I trust that the past two weeks provided you time to reconnect as a family, without the daily grind of a busy schedule that I trust, like my family, you all have. Personally, my family welcomed the easing of border restrictions to once again visit family and friends in Queensland and we also started, what I believe is, the well-worn local tradition of a few days camping at Evan's Head. It was wonderful to see a few other EAC families enjoying their time away at this popular spot.
I was reminded this week, via my wife who is part of the Year 2 parent community Facebook Group, that the timeframe to receive your Active Kids and Creative Kids grants are due soon. For Active Kids, the NSW Government grants provide two $100 vouchers for parents, guardians and carers of school-enrolled children to use toward sport and active recreation costs each year. The Creative Kids grant also provides a $100 voucher per year to put toward the cost of lessons and fees with registered providers.
For more information and to apply, please visit the following websites:
Active Kids: Apply Active Kids Voucher
Creative Kids: Apply Creative Kids Voucher
Speaking of active kids, I was overjoyed to hear that following our netball coaching sessions last term, two teams consisting of students from our Year 6 cohort have entered the local Twilight Netball competition. It has also been great to see the Year 4-6 students at the Alstonville Pool all this week for our annual Swimming Intensive, with the K-3 students' sessions starting next Monday.
Book Week
Don't forget that Friday 30 October is our annual Book Week parade, where we invite all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 to come to school dressed as a book character. Whilst the parade will look a little different this year, we still look forward to a fun filled morning celebrating the joy of reading.
Mr Wayne Cross
Director of Primary
Clubs
Each lunchtime, the Primary staff provide clubs for the students to attend. If a student is looking for options or is having a day where they find the playground a challenge, there will always be a place to go.
Please speak to your child about the clubs that are on offer.
Early Learning Centre News
Herbal tea making, fairy house constructions and dance filled our school holiday sessions at the ELC. Ms Cassie facilitated a hibiscus flower tea making and tasting ceremony and Ms Natasha supported a group of children in picking some lemon myrtle leaves and steeping them to make refreshing tea too. Mrs Docherty was curious about some clay-based soil near her home and with shared enthusiasm, she and a group of children made a clay, straw and stick fairy house. Later, decorated with shells, gems and stones. All the while, sweet music graced our gardens and at times we danced our sillies out.
Mrs Natasha Livock
Early Learning Centre Coordinator
Library News - Book Club
Scholastic Book Club Issue 7 has been sent home with all Primary students this week and it is full of great books for all readers. Some highlights from this issue include:
Value Books - only $3 each:
Where's Santa by Toby Reynolds
I Wanna be a Great Big Dinosaur by Heath McKenzie
Time Jumpers - Fast Forward to the Future by Wendy Mass
Bad Pets Hall of Shame - I Stole a Car by Allan Zullo
And much more...
Take a look at these 'Hot New Books' including:
Do Not Open This Book Ever by Andy Lee
Stupid Carrots by David Campbell
Pig the Blob by Arron Blabey
Grump by Jonathan Bentley
And the list goes on and on...
Orders can be placed dirextly online with payments made by Visa or Mastercard. Paying online also unlocks great benefits and special offers throughout the year.
You may also pay by cash or with cheques payable to Scholastic Australia.
Scholastic Book Club Orders must be completed online or given to me by THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER 2020.
Mrs Fiona Wilson-Jones
Library Resource Centre Manager
Canteen
Please note there are new prices on all canteen menu items.All orders must be received at the canteen before 9.15am.The canteen will operate Monday to Friday.
The revised menu is below for your information and is also available on the College website.
All orders must be received at the canteen before 9.15am.
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 lunch please provide two (2) bags. Please write the information on the LOWER half of the bag. If money is short we will substitute items to the value received.
REMEMBER, if ordering RECESS, you must have a separate recess bag.
RECESS: Name, Teacher, PC Class, Recess Order
John Smith, Mr Falvey, 3A
Recess
Cheesymite Scroll
Pack Sultanas, Small
LUNCH BAG 1: Name, Teacher, PC Class, Lunch Order
John Smith, Mr Falvey, 3A,
Lunch
1 Snack Pie
LUNCH BAG 2: Name, Teacher, PC Class, Drink Order
John Smith, Mr Falvey, 3A,
Lunch
1 Orange Juice
Any change required will be placed in the bag for return with the lunch order.
Christine Hall
Canteen Coodinator
Community News
