"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10
From The Principal
Congratulations to all Year 12 who have this week completed their final HSC Examinations. It has been an incredibly disruptive and disjointed year for the cohort but they have continued to work hard and give themselves every opportunity to achieve their goals. In speaking with the students, they expressed the joy, relief and sense of accomplishment that comes with seeing the HSC through to completion. There was also a little sadness about moving on but that was quickly lost in the excitement of having time to celebrate, rest, relax and enjoy their new found ‘freedom’. Next week we will celebrate their Graduation and Formal. It will be a wonderful way to farewell the Class of 2020.
I am delighted to say that as the HSC Examinations draw to a close, work has recommenced in earnest on our Multi Purpose Centre project. The team from Bennetts have returned and the building will now progress with some speed as we aim to complete the project by 21 July 2021. I thank all our students, staff and families for their patience with regard to the project which has experienced a number of delays in the government approval process and, more recently, with construction halted due to the uncertainties that related to the pandemic.
Work has also begun on the refurbishment and extension of S Block. This project has been made possible by a $500,000 grant from the Block Grant Authority. We are very grateful for the incredible financial support we have received and the students will enjoy new Visual Art and Food Technology facilities from early in the new school year.
As the Christmas season approaches, I just wish to mention a couple of things about saying thank you to the teaching staff for all their work throughout the year. Teacher’s love what they do and treasure the young people they have the opportunity to work with. They do not expect to receive a gift and can sometimes feel quite uncomfortable when people purchase gifts for them. A simple hand made card or even gift from the student can say more and be of more value than something purchased. I would ask that families do not arrange for groups of parents to pool money to buy a collective gift as each year there are issues around this and people can end up feeling obligated or excluded and the good intention is lost as people end up hurt or disappointed and the teacher may feel that they have been a source of division. I always think that the adages ‘it is not the gift, but the thought behind it that matters’ and ‘a gift made is a gift of yourself’, give good guidance about how to say thank you. I appreciate your support with this matter.
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
Off the Deputy's Desk
This week is NAIDOC Week for 2020. The theme for this year is Always Was, Always Will Be. Always Was, Always Will Be. recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.
The text below is written by First Nations people outlining the details and background to this year’s NAIDOC week.
We are spiritually and culturally connected to this country. This country was criss-crossed by generations of brilliant Nations.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists.
Australia has the world’s oldest oral stories. The First Peoples engraved the world’s first maps, made the earliest paintings of ceremony and invented unique technologies. We built and engineered structures - structures on Earth - predating well-known sites such as the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge.
Our adaptation and intimate knowledge of Country enabled us to endure climate change, catastrophic droughts and rising sea levels.
Always Was, Always Will Be. acknowledges that hundreds of Nations and our cultures covered this continent. All were managing the land - the biggest estate on earth - to sustainably provide for their future.
Through ingenious land management systems like fire stick farming we transformed the harshest habitable continent into a land of bounty.
NAIDOC Week 2020 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation’s story didn’t begin with documented European contact whether in 1770 or 1606 - with the arrival of the Dutch on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula.
The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples.
Our coastal Nations watched and interacted with at least 36 contacts made by Europeans prior to 1770. Many of them resulting in the charting of the northern, western and southern coastlines – of our lands and our waters.
For us, this nation’s story began at the dawn of time.
NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations.
It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country - which is Australian history. We want all Australians to celebrate that we have the oldest continuing cultures on the planet and to recognise that our sovereignty was never ceded.
Always Was, Always Will Be.
NAIDOC Week Information Sheet, 2020
Remembrance Day
We will be honouring the memory of all those killed in wars at 11.00am this Wednesday. Rev Sal has prepared a virtual Remembrance Day service for our students to view. We will have some Student Leader representatives at the Ballina service.
Please take the time to discuss the tradition, symbolism and importance of Remembrance Day with your children this week.
The video below is a nice simple explanation, especially for Primary aged students.
Mr Darren Parks
Deputy Principal
Reminders
Student Supervision
Supervision of students does not commence until 8.15am. Staff will not supervise students who arrive at the College before this time. Supervision ends at 4.10pm.
Buses
Buses run to timetables and it is impossible for us to hold buses for students who are late or not focusing upon the time. Staff let students out in adequate time to catch the bus.
Driving Around Schools
Please keep your speed down in the carpark and around the school zones near the College. Being late or in a hurry is not an excuse for compromising the safety of your child, my child or anyone else’s child.
School Excursions and Sport
Please ensure that you read and give permission, where applicable, for all variations to College routine. We communicate extensively with parents regarding these events and if permission is required it is always given via Parent Lounge.
Secondary Sport on Fridays
All students in Years 7-10 are expected to attend the sport that they have been placed in. Rolls are marked at the commencement of sport and this is important given that many students are travelling offsite and we need to account for each student.
Sports Uniform in Secondary
Sports uniform can be worn only on Fridays and on days that students have PDHPE practical lessons. It is not a substitute for day uniform. We have allowed this practice to continue due to COVID 19 and it has worked well but it also requires trust that students do not abuse the privilege by trying to circumvent uniform expectations.
Term 4 Week 6
Monday 16 November
Year 6 Interrelate
Tuesday 17 November
Rugby 7’s Training-7.30-8.30am
Year 5 Interrelate
Year 8 Duke of Edinburgh Student Briefing-9.10am
Primary Chapel-Sent out by Rev Sal and played at 9.08am
Open Boys Cricket Training-10.48-11.18am
K-2 Athletics Carnival-1.30pm-Oval-No parent spectators allowed
Year 12 Graduation Service-7.00pm-St Mary’s Anglican Church-Invitation Only
Wednesday 18 November
Secondary Chapel-Sent out by Rev Sal and played during morning PC
Year 12 Formal-5.00pm-The House with No Steps, Alstonville
Thursday 19 November
Kindergarten 2021 Experience Day
U 14/U16 Basketball vs RCC-1.00pm-Courts
Friday 20 November
Secondary Sport Years 7-10
U/16 Basketball vs Xavier-1.00pm-Courts
Term 4 Week 7
Monday 23 November
Year 9/10 Examination Block
Year 6 Interrelate
Tuesday 24 November
Rugby 7’s Training-7.30-8.30am
Year 5 Interrelate
Primary Assembly-Sent out by Mr Cross and watched at 9.08am
Year 9/10 Examination Block
Kindergarten 2021 Information Evening-Via Zoom
Wednesday 25 November
Secondary Chapel-Sent out by Rev Sal and watched during morning PC
Year 9/10 Examination Block
Thursday 26 November
Year 9/10 Examination Block
Year 10 Minimum Standards Testing
Primary Touch Football Carnival-Saunders Oval-11.30am-3.00pm
Friday 27 November
Year 9/10 Examination Block
Year 10 Minimum Standards Testing
Under 15 Rugby 7’s and Touch Football vs Xavier-1.00pm-Oval
Open Cricket vs Xavier-Saunders Oval-11.30am
Open Netball vs Xavier-Courts-1.00pm
Secondary Sport Years 7-10
Paw Prints from Amber
Amber absolutely loves her new pet pod bed! Thank you to Ms Crichton and Pods4Pets for donating this to the College for Amber.
Sports Update
Secondary Inter School Netball
Our Secondary girls' netball team played a game against Xavier college on Friday last week. It was a very close game with Xavier winning by 2 goals in the end (27-25). This was a good result for the EAC girls who were playing their first game together as a team. Stand out players for EAC were Paige Wilkie and Michaela Ayebale in defence, Letia Paton in the mid court and Rhiannon Murphy. The girls will play again this Thursday against Lindisfarne.
Mr Graham Walker
Sport and Coaching Administrator
EAC Open Boys’ Cricket vs Xavier College
Taking on a powerful Xavier side was always going to be a challenge for our young side. The boys lost the toss and unfortunately paid a heavy price for dropped catches in the field. The best bowling figures were returned by Miloš Safranek 2/11 from 3 overs and Toby Mumford 3/49 from 4 overs. Chasing a huge 6 for 208 was never going to be easy but the team made a bright start with Ryan Kernaghan making 31. Aidan Rogers carried his bat for 54 not out and Toby Mumford contributed with 18. In the end we made 7 for 123. Positive times are ahead for this young team who should be proud of the fact that they were not bowled out by Xavier - this showed some character and cricket more than all sports is the ultimate character test.
The team now plays Lindisfarne on Thursday and will play a return match against Xavier in a few weeks’ time.
Mr Darren Parks
Deputy Principal
Filling in for Mr Paul Pryor
Primary Inter House Touch Football Tournament
On Wednesday and Thursday last week our Year 3 to 6 students played in the Primary Inter-House touch football tournament. This event was the culmination of a 5 week primary sport touch football program. The tournament was played as a round robin event with each House playing one another once, followed by a finals series.
I would like to congratulate the students who played the tournament as they played with great House spirit, sportsmanship and respect for referees and fellow students. The winning House of the tournament will be announced at the next Primary Assembly.
A special mention to our wonderful referees from the U/15 EAC girls representative team, Ms Coghill and the amazing Primary teachers who managed the House teams and were our official game scorers. Our final Primary Inter-House tournament will be Basketball, with the tournament date set for Week 8.
Mr Randall Evans
Sport Coach & Duke of Edinburgh Leader
Secondary News
Secondary Student Leaders Prepararing for 2021
Last week I had the opportunity to work with the new Secondary Student Leaders as they planned for their leadership in 2021. The team worked together to develop a shared vision and to reflect on the legacy that they wanted to leave the College.
To support them to develop their shared vision, they had a zoom meeting with a former House Captain from another school to give some ideas of how they led in their role at school. This opportunity led to a list of great initiatives being planned for 2021.
This week the Secondary Student Leaders will be inducted as College Leaders and will begin to share their vision for the College.
I am excited to continue to work with these students throughout the rest of this year and next year.
Year 12 2021 preparing for their studies
During Pastoral Care this week and over the next few weeks the Year 12 students of 2021 are reflecting on managing their time during their HSC year. Workshops led by Mrs McIllhatton and Mrs Campbell are supporting students in time management, summarising, and developing effective strategies to support them. By starting off their final year at school on the right foot, they will be well prepared for the HSC Exams.
Revising at Home
As students prepare for their final examinations in 2020 it is important that they develop a home study routine.
Extending students’ learning beyond the classroom builds their independence, brain pathways and growth mindsets, and one of these learning environments is at home. Having an area predominantly for study will build patterns for their brains that associate that place with study, thus creating habits and reducing barriers to getting started. Desirable conditions include well lit, quiet, warm and comfortable, a copy of their Personal Timetable on the wall, well resourced, away from distractions, especially TV and loud music, and mobiles on flight mode. Students need to revisit what they learn in each of their subjects every night, or their brains will “forget”.
Facts relating to how much the brain retains:
- should notes not be reviewed within 24 hours, 60% to 80% of is forgotten
- after a month with no reviews, only 3% to 4% is remembered
- the brain pathways which were created wither and die
- when 50 minutes of learning is not reviewed regularly, it takes 30 to 40 minutes to relearn it; why learn it in the first place?
Renowned Polish pianist, Ignace Paderewski, once said, “If I miss one day’s practice, I notice it. If I miss two day’s practice, the critics notice. If I miss three days practice, the audience notices it.”
Acknowledgement: Wade & Walsh
Mrs Amanda Middleton
Director of Secondary
Homework Help
Secondary students can get help with homework, assessments or any other work they are wishing to review and need assistance with.
Where: Joan Pickup Library
When: Tuesday and Thursday
3:15pm to 4:15pm
Up to and including week 8
Primary Update
Primary Assembly, Term 4 Week 5
Circular Rhythm
Primary students in K-6 were fortunate enough to have a visit from Lucas Proudfoot last Friday. Lucas Proudfoot is a musician, storyteller, surfer and educator, and now a children’s author. He has been spreading the word about the diversity and vibrancy of Indigenous cultures through his brilliant school program Circular Rhythm. It was an engaging and exciting show, enjoyed by all.
Ms Jody Baker
Primary School Teacher
Early Learning Centre News
The Dolphin room is on a learning journey, discovering what lives beneath the sea. We have created sculptures that now hang from our ceiling, a hammerhead shark, a dolphin, a turtle, jellyfish and a whale. When the children were consulted about what they wanted to know, Harrison stated that he wanted to touch a crab and know what it is like to be bitten by a crab. "Mrs Docherty catches crabs", I stated, "let's ask if she has been bitten by a crab". Mrs Docherty had this discussion with Harrison and the class, then surprised us by bringing in a 'real live' mud crab for us to observe. We also had the opportunity to touch and observe a frozen mud crab; some children drew their observations too.
The children in the Whales room are wondering about the bigness of space. Rocket sculptures have been made, along with planets and stars. The planets that make up our solar system are being explored as children create stories about space travel and adventures.
Mrs Natasha Livock
Early Learning Centre Coordinator
Canteen
Canteen Stock - end of year
With the college year coming to an end, I will be cutting back on my ordering so that excess stock is not being held over the Christmas break.
This will begin in week six, 16 November. I will keep you posted on the availability of items through this newsletter. I will post what is no longer available and what stock I am running low on.
I will always have available fresh items such as sandwiches, rolls etc but will also guarantee dino nuggets and junior pies.
Thank you for your continuing support of the canteen in 2020.
The Canteen menu for Term 4 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
