Term 1 | Week 4 | 21 February 2019
‘Ask and it will be given, search and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened to you’ Matthew 7:7
From The Principal
We wish our debating teams well as the NSW Independent Coeducational Schools Debating Competition kicks off tomorrow for the 2019 season with EAC hosting Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School. The College has entered teams in each of Stages 3 through to 6. Initially students will debate against the four other Anglican Schools in our diocese to decide the Northern NSW regional champions. Those winners will then progress to compete against the winners from the Hunter region for the opportunity to go to Sydney to compete in the State Finals. The students involved in last year had a tremendous experience and relished in the opportunity to speak publically and contest their wit, insight and arguments against the skill of their counterparts. We look forward to another very successful season.
Good luck to Year 12 students Siena Seymour, Matilda Winchester, Lily Wallace, Mackenzie Wood and Josh Mumford, who have all entered the Lions Youth of the Year Quest. The quest has been running since 1964 and in 2019 is a truly national competition designed to celebrate the talents, efforts and hopes of young people. It is open to students who are 16 years and older. The Quest to identify the Lions Youth of the Year involves three parts. Firstly, participants in the Quest are required to prepare a portfolio outlining their hopes and goals, their personal achievements and their community involvement. Secondly, they must meet with an interview panel of three to answer questions about what they have presented in their portfolio. Finally they must attend a speech evening and present a prepared five minute speech on a topic about which they are passionate and they must also speak for two minutes about two impromptu topics. We certainly wish them well and look forward to hearing about their achievements in the Quest.
On Tuesday, March 5, the College community will celebrate Foundation Day. Students from Kindergarten to Year 12 will commence the day at St Mary’s Anglican Church Ballina for a Whole College Assembly. During the assembly we will induct the 2019 Student Representative Council and College Band Captians. I invite all our parents to join us for this very significant celebration in the life of the College.
Last week Year 7 and Year 9 were blessed with fantastic weather for their respective camps. Camp is a great opportunity for the group to build an identity, get to know to another a little better and to develop their independence, self confidence and team work. The students were involved in a range of activities across each camp including canoeing, commando and rope challenges courses. I am sure the comradery developed over the three days will form a solid foundation for great things in the future. I thank Mrs Heidi Miller, Mr Justin Cleverly, Mr Tom Papworth, Mr Julian Hunt, Mrs Felicity Regan, Mrs Daniela Payne, Mrs Brigette Campbell, Mrs Jess Raguse and Miss Kellie Guest for the generosity, leadership, energy and enthusiasm in providing these great experience for the students.
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
Off the Deputy's Desk
We are well and truly into the momentum of the term with Year 7 and Year 9 students returning safely from their respective camps. Most students will receive some notice of assessments soon and the academic demands will begin to ramp up. Students in the Primary have exercised their voting skills to elect SRC Representatives and the Secondary students will be finishing their voting this week. Successful students will be notified and will be inducted by Mr Tobias and Bishop Murray Harvey at our Foundation Day Chapel Service on Tuesday 5 March. Once the students have been inducted we will commence SRC meetings and hopefully get some wonderful ideas and energy from our elected representatives.
This week 6A presented at the first Primary assembly of the year. Their focus on the Habit of Mind of metacognition was a timely one given that self-reflection is an amazingly effective way of regulating your behaviour in social situations. The next Primary assembly will be run by 6B and I look forward to an interesting presentation from this class. Stage 6 had chapel this week and Rev Sal and Mr Raguse were happy with the engagement level of the students. Rev Sal is trialling breaking Secondary chapels up into stages to allow for a more personalised message and more intimate feel to the service.
As we move into the middle of first term it is an opportune time to remind our students of the importance of serving others. Service learning allows students to gain in so many areas and provides opportunities to strengthen relationships within and outside of the EAC community.
Upcoming Service Opportunities
Clean Up Australia Day for Schools Friday 1 March
All of our students will participate in a cleanup of the College grounds at recess and lunchtime on Friday 1 March. The purpose of this activity is to support the wonderful concept of Clean Up Australia Day. Students in each year level will be given zones to clean up during the day.
Students can also sign up to do the real Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 3 March. There are a number of sites available for students to volunteer at in the Northern Rivers area. To find out where you can assist please go to the clean Up Australia Day website. Participation on the day can be used to gain Lighthouse service hours. Why not volunteer and help keep our wider community clean?
Foundation Day Mini Fair Tuesday 5 March
All funds raised on Foundation Day will be donated to the chosen charity of the SRC. Each Secondary PC class will be running a stall at our Mini Fair. Students will be asked to donate items and their time to ensure the success of the Mini Fair.
Community service and volunteering helps others and most people feel good inside as a result of service. I encourage our students across all parts of the school to explore ways that they can serve others.
Mr Darren Parks
Deputy Principal
Term 1 Week 5
Monday 25 February
NCIS Swimming Training
Primary Netball Training
Cross Country Training
Tuesday 26 February
Primary Chapel
Wednesday 27 February
NCIS Swimming Training
Thursday 28 February
NCIS Swimming Championships at Alstonville Pool
Friday 1 March
Cross Country Training
Secondary Sport
Clean Up Australia Day for Schools-Primary at recess, Secondary at lunchtime.
Term 1 Week 6
Monday 4 March
Cross Country Training-7.30-8.30am
Tuesday 5 March
Foundation Day Chapel-Years 1-12 at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Ballina. 9.00am
Induction of SRC Leaders will occur at Chapel
Shrove Tuesday
EAC Mini Fair Periods 5 and 6
Cross Country Training-3.10-4.10pm
Wednesday 6 March
Ash Wednesday Services -
Staff and wider community 8am Ezzy Centre
7, 8, 9 9am (P.1) Ezzy Centre
10, 11, 12 9.30 (second half of P1) Ezzy Centre
ES1 & Stage 1 10 am (P2) Discovery Centre
Stage 2 Period 3 Discovery Centre
Stage 3 Period 4 Discovery Centre
Friday 8 March
Cross Country Training 7.30-8.30am
Secondary Sport
Chaplain's Chat
What kind of an adult are you raising?
I find people watching an endless source of fascination, it’s even better if I don’t actually know the people or their stories as this means I can make up whatever fanciful story I like about what I am watching unfold in front of me. Airports are wonderful fodder for this, so are kid’s parks!
Before you find yourself wondering about me – as a mother of four sons, and now a grandmother of two girls I have spent a lot of time in parks, pushing swings, dusting off grubby children and catching miniature torpedoes as they come hurtling down slippery dips.
Playgrounds provide an amazing snap shot of the world we are creating, and frankly sometimes this can be a bit disturbing as I watch mini despots ruling the world that so clearly revolves around them. It’s cute when they are 3, less so when they are 9, and downright awful when they are 32!
As parents we can be so caught up in the whirl that is childhood we forget that parenting is about investing in the future. I don’t think that we realise the importance of the time and thought we place in our attitude to our children, not for the here and now, but for the times when they will become the adults in our world. I know I never gave much thought to raising my sons to become adults that I would want to spend time with. (For the record – they are good blokes to be with! )
I suspect some times that my lads became thoughtful warm adults through luck and circumstance more than management. We didn’t follow plans well, married young, and had our boys whilst we were still students, living on student income. In hindsight though, we had many benefits that I didn’t appreciate at the time – yet now I see my sons emulating it in their family life.
It was the simple accidental stuff:
The Magic Word – no. We said no to too many activities, to things that cluttered (we lived in a tiny house), but we said yes to Lego, books and building forts!
We studied and struggled in front of the kids and I realise now that we taught them the importance of pushing on even when it feels too hard. Getting a crappy grade on an assignment doesn’t spell the end of the world, but the beginning of a better effort.
We didn’t have money, but we spent time. Sometimes the time was studying alongside them, reading a book while they did their school work. It was really because they were so easily distracted by everything, and I would get bored with just sitting there…so I’d meal prep, or read, or knit…but I was there.
And we talked. A lot. In fact we still do. My husband and I discovered we had mastered the art of being a blank wall for them to throw ideas onto. Let’s be honest. There were times when I wished they’d stop talking! But in that talking they learnt to solve their own problems, to find perspective about the world and find their own opinions. It wasn’t always pretty, six independent thinkers in one house isn’t going to be.
It was often tough, but there’s not a thing I regret. Indeed, I recommend it. Stripping away all the fuss and fluff around being a parent, and coming back to seeing your child as they really are – faults and all, and thinking – is my behaviour and attitude towards this person helping them become an adult that I would like to spend time with? Am I modelling and fostering gratitude for the life we have? Am I encouraging self-management and responsibility? (A quick test … do they even see the mess they leave behind, or does it usually become someone else’s problem??)
Have I ‘made it’ as a parent? Probably not, but just recently my kid made me laugh so hard I snorted red wine out my nose…. And it was a bottle of wine they had brought …that’s got to count for something right?
Peace
Rev Sal
Early Learning Centre News
As we begin the new year we welcome many new children and their families to the Early Learning Centre. We also welcome our returning young friends and their families.
Blending of the new and the familiar takes time. A sense of belonging and identity will develop as we engage in nurturing relationships and provide plenty of opportunities for play-based learning.
The images chosen represent children engaging in role-play and dramatic play. Throughout this type of play, children need to negotiate ideas, share resources and co-operate. These learning dispositions are modeled, guided and supported by our thoughtful educators.
A Prince riding a horse, A Doctor in the making and Chefs working in the bush kitchen.
Early Learning Centre Coordinator
Year 7 Camp Reflections
Camp Thunderbird was awesome. I loved how I got to meet so many friends. By far my favourite activity was the Tree Top Challenge. I loved it because I love heights. My favourite part of the Tree Top Challenge was the zip lines. I loved the view as I flew down the zip line like a bird. Overall I loved making new friends and making stronger friendships. I also enjoyed the night time activities, like mini golf. Year seven camp was so much fun. I enjoyed it very much.
Hayley Kaye
The first day of camp was exciting but slightly nerve wrecking. About a third of the kids I did not know very well, but as time went on I felt I had known them for years.
My favourite activity was definitely the Tree Top Challenge, because it required a bit of skill but it certainly paid off. Another of my favourite activities was the Laser Skirmish. It consisted of a friendly competition and jam-packed action. A player was tagged using a long ranged laser and when you were tagged enough you were eliminated.
Samuel Stredder
I thought that I would only have one group of friends throughout all of high school. But when I went on camp I made friends with so many other people in different classes with the best personalities. I learnt a tremendous amount about survival skills and bonded with the teachers. I had so much fun in every activity and will never regret attending camp.
Ruby Jones
My feet shook as I made my way across the thin wire, glancing down at the drop below me. The lush green of the surrounding tree tops filled my vision. I pulled myself up onto the platform and hooked my harness onto the next obstacle, a zip line. I took a deep breath and jumped. The cool breeze hit the sides of my head as I soared over the trees, adrenaline flowing through my veins and my heart beating like a drum in my chest. I felt like I was flying, so high I was certain I would fall.
The Tree Top Challenge really pushed me out of my comfort zone but overall it was my favourite part of camp. I would recommend it to everyone.
Asia Windeyer
Year 9 Camp News
Ms Campbell, Mrs Regan, Mrs Raguse and Mr Hunt took Year 9 away from their devices and into the wilderness for three full days.
Some discoveries were made as we navigated the camp together;
- Year 9 has the capacity to support each other immensely. New connections were made as students quickly realised who they could count on for support and relentless “donkeying” on the high ropes.
- Sleep is critical to success and attitude.
- There are a huge number of willing and able leaders, made more evident by the closest race for SRC leader Stage 5 has ever seen.
- Never let loose anything from the cup of values!
- Temperatures can vary immensely and cotton does not fare well when wet!
- Good leaders listen.
- Brooms are complicated.
- There is more to empathy than liking an Instagram post.
Thank you for another fun camp Year 9!
Ms Campbell
Stage 5 Coordinator
Sports Update
It has been a very busy start to the year for students and staff involved in our football (soccer), basketball and netball sporting teams.
Within the past 4 weeks there has been sporting trials for our Primary Boys and Girls NCIS soccer teams, Boys and Girls U/15 Bill Turner Cup teams, Senior Boys NCIS soccer team, Boys and Girls U/15 and Open basketball teams, Primary Boys and Girls Netball and the NCIS Swimming Team also commenced training last week.
Some of these teams have been selected while other sports are still in the selection trial process.
Thank you to all of the primary and secondary students for their positive participation in the various sporting trials, congratulations to those students selected in the various teams and please remember that if a student was not selected then they will have an opportunity to trial for other sporting teams during the year and/or try again next year.
A special mention to the staff who have dedicated their time to help with the various teams (Debbie Wilson, Kate Sculley, Daniel Kelly, Heidi Miller, Mason Brenton) and parents for your assistance in ensuring their student has attended a sports trial and/or training on time.
Should any parent have questions regarding the sporting team trials or up-coming NCIS sporting team their child may have been selected in, please contact either Graham Walker or Randall Evans from our sports and coaching team.
Bounce Back Program
This year, the Primary School has adopted a new wellbeing and resilience program called Bounce Back. This is the first year this program will be implemented in the Primary School. It will be embedded in our Personal Health and Development programs each term, building on the concepts of a positive education approach to wellbeing, resilience and social-emotional learning. We look forward to seeing students using the program's language and visual displays around classrooms.
Here is an excerpt about the program:
The BOUNCE BACK! Wellbeing & Resilience Program addresses the environmental building blocks and the personal skills for fostering resilience in children and young people. The program focuses mainly on the teaching of coping skills to help children and young people respond positively to the complexity of their everyday lives. In other words, children are taught how to ‘bounce back’ after experiencing sadness, difficulties, frustrations and hard times.
Bounce Back stands for:
Bad times don't last. Things always get better. Stay optimistic.
Other people can help if you talk to them. Get a reality check.
Unhelpful thinking makes you feel more upset. Think again.
Nobody is perfect - not you and not others.
Concentrate on the positives (no matter how small) and use laughter.
Everybody experiences sadness, failure, rejection and setbacks sometimes, not just you. They are a normal part of life. Try not to personalise them.
Blame fairly. How much of what happened was due to you, to others and to bad luck or circumstances?
Accept what can't be changed (but try to change what you can change first).
Catastrophising exaggerates you worries. Don't believe the worst possible picture.
Keep things in perspective. It's only part of you life.
Paul Christensen Merilyn Mulé
Leader of Welfare - 3-6/Year 4 Teacher Leader of Welfare - K-2/Learning Support
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.
Please note that I am unable to reheat food from home or provide hot water to students.
Canteen opens at 8.30am and the Menu is available here:
Sushi Dates: 5 & 19 March, 2 April
Noodle Box Dates: 26 February, 12 & 26 March
Subway Date: 9 April
Noodle Box – Tuesday 26 February
Noodles from Noodle Box Ballina Fair, will be available from the canteen this Tuesday, 26 February. If you would like to order Noodle Box for your child’s lunch this 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, 25 February. Order forms are also available from the canteen or College office.
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