ILLAWARRA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL TONGARRAnewsletter

Key dates

PRAYER & PRAISE

Saturday, 24th OctoberYear 1 & 2 Working Bee, 1pm - 4pm

Monday, 26th OctoberYear 7 Indonesian ExcursionHSC Exam - Ext 1 Maths

Tuesday, 27th OctoberSecondary CSSA State Tennis Gala DayInfants Mini-Tennis programHSC Exam - Physics

Wednesday, 28th OctoberYear 3 & 4 visit to Elizabeth FarmYear 7 ImmunisationsHSC Exam - Business StudiesDuke of Ed Archery, 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Thursday, 29th OctoberParent Coordinators afternoon tea, 2.30pmHSC Exam - Studies of Religion

Friday, 30th OctoberHSC Exam - ITM

Monday, 2nd NovemberYear 11 RYDA ProgramHSC Exam - History ExtensionHSC Exam - D&T

Tuesday, 3rd NovemberMorning Assembly, 8.50amKindy Orientation DayInfants Mini-Tennis program

Wednesday, 4th NovemberPrep Orientation DayKindy Orientation DayDuke of Ed Archery, 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Thursday, 5th NovemberKindy Orientation Day

A message from Mr BarkerLike many around the world, I have been enjoying the 2015 Rugby World Cup. As the final games approach, the skills, athleticism and strength of the last few teams is on show. At the end, though, the strongest, most skillful, most motivated and well trained team should win. Go Aussies!

This is the usual way that sporting contests and life in general seems to go. The best team wins. The fastest runner wins the gold medal. The smartest people get the best paid jobs. The most talented people win the greatest awards.

Sadly, for most of us this means that no matter how hard we work, or how much practice we do – we are just not going to make the Olympic stage and we probably won’t be the winner of “The Voice”.

While this fact should never stop us using and enjoying the skills and talents God has given us, it is good to remember that this is not the way that God works. In fact Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that God has actually chosen the foolish and the weak things in the world to accomplish his plans. This means that no matter who we are or what gifts we have, we can serve God with joy and faithfulness.

God uses weak things like us so that we cannot be arrogant and boastful. He does this so that only God is glorified and so that we cannot sneak a little bit of glory for ourselves. This is especially the case when we reflect on how we have become Christians. We have nothing to give to God, but Jesus has done everything for us. Praise God!

The next time you see a winner on the stage, thank God for their gifts and dedication, but remember that God deserves all praise and honour.

Student leadership at Tongarra 2016It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce our Captain and Vice-Captain for 2016. Sandy Lowcock has been appointed to the position of Tongarra Captain and Eden Williams to the position of Tongarra Vice-Captain.

We will formalise these appointments at a special assembly to be held in the hall at 8:50 am on Tuesday, 3rd November. Our community are invited to join us on that morning.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27

Give thanks for the opportunity for our upcoming Prep students to experience and spend an enjoyable time at Prep.Pray for our school families who are facing difficult health and family trials at the moment.Pray for the Board & Executive as they are working through staff appointments and staffing for 2016.Pray for our teaching staff who have a busy time over the next few weeks finalising reports & organising end of year activities.Give thanks for all our wonderful parent and grandparent volunteers.

TERM 4 WEEK 3 • 23RD OCTOBER 2015

Check your child's bagThese things went home this week:

• Year 6 PDHPE letter• Year 7 Indonesian Excursion note• Year 9 & 10 iPad letter• Whooping Cough Alert Flyer• Operation Christmas Child Flyer• Lamington Fundraiser letter• Outstanding absences notification letter

t. 02 4230 3700www.ics.nsw.edu.au

Tongarra Campus234 Calderwood Road, Albion Parktongarra@ics.nsw.edu.au

Member of

Morning Assembly - Week 5Please note that the Monday morning assembly in Week 5 will be moved to the Tuesday, 3rd November.The assembly will commence at 8.50am.

From the Uniform ShopUniforms for 2016

All students requiring any new uniforms for 2016 are required to either visit the shop during opening hours or make an appointment for a uniform fitting during Term 4, 2015.Families can purchase or lay-by uniforms at the time of fitting. The uniform shop will be open in January 2016 for lay-by collection and size exchanges (if required).Please make your Term 4 uniform fitting appointment as soon as possible by going to www.alintaapparel.com.au and register to make a booking or email ictongarra@alinta.com.auPlease note the opening hours of the Uniform Shop have slightly changed:

The Uniform Shop regular opening hours during term: Monday 8.30am – 10.30am & Wednesday 1.30pm – 4.00pm

NSW Health Alert - Whooping CoughThe Department of Health has advised that there is an outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) in NSW, mainly affecting school-aged children. If your doctor diagnoses whooping cough in your school-aged child, please let the school know and keep your child at home until they have taken 5 days of antibiotics. Keep coughing children away from babies.More information can be found on the flyer that went home this week.

2016 Fee ScheduleAll families would have received the Fee Schedule for 2016 via email this week.The schedule can also be found on the school website by following this link:http://www.ics.nsw.edu.au/tongarrafees

Christmas Toy Catalogue OrdersOrders have now come in and are being sorted.Please arrange to pick your order up from Trudi in Prep next week.

Year 7 ImmunisationsWednesday, 28th October

The third visit for immunisations will take place on Wednesday, 28th October. Permission forms were completed at the beginning of the year for all Year 7 students.

Chairs AvailableNeed to find something for the person who has everything? A Christmas present?We have updated the chairs used in the hall, and we now have 250 red chairs that need to go to a new home. Some are single, and some are connected in a row of four.If interested, please contact the school office. No cost for the chairs, Mr Cleall will even help transport them!

Graeme Best Memorial Bike RideSaturday, 31st October

Riders and their parents from the 2015 Bike for Bibles ride are invited to ride the final leg from Jamberoo to Tongarra on Saturday, 31st October. This will acknowledge the contribution Graeme made to our school community through Bike for Bibles and provide a fitting conclusion to our 2015 ride. Meet at Jamberoo oval at 10am to begin the ride and enjoy an optional BYO picnic lunch in the grounds of Tongarra from 12 noon to 2pm. For further details contact Mr Phil Pratt on pratt.phil@ics.nsw.edu.au

Community Notices • Fair Food Week - Movies under the

Stars, Saturday, 24th October from 5.30pm, Boonerah Point, Reddall Parade, Mount Warrigal. For more information visit www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au

TERM 4 WEEK 3 • 23RD OCTOBER 2015

Operation Christmas ChildCollecting items now!

Our School will again be supporting Operation Christmas Child this year. Rather than each class having a designated item to donate, this year please donate any item that you choose.Check the website for more information about what things can be included in the box: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/All items for donation can be dropped off at the school office. A gold coin donation for postage is also welcome.All donations due Friday, 13th November.

Lamington FundraiserWe’d love your help on Friday, 6th November!

To increase our fundraising for Operation Christmas Child, and to enjoy a fun day with others, we are making lamingtons, from bought slab cakes, on Friday, 6th November.We’d love (and need) parent and/or grandparent help (jobs for everyone including those less mobile). No experience or skill necessary.If you are unable to help on the day, please support this fundraiser by purchasing lamingtons, which can be collected on the day. Further information can be found in the letter that went home during the week.

Year 1 & 2 Working Bee Saturday, 24th October, 1pm - 4pm

This working bee will be in the afternoon, 1pm to 4pm with a BBQ lunch ready on arrival. A note was sent home to the particular families involved with details of the tasks allocated and equipment needed for the working bee. Please contact the school office to organise another date, if you are unable to attend your allocated roster day.A compulsory WH&S safety talk will be held at the start of every working bee, so please arrive promptly at 1pm, as everyone must hear the safety talk before the work commences.

Illawarra Christian School is a member of Christian Education National, educating students from Prep to Year 12 at two campuses:

Cordeaux Campus at Cordeaux Heights & Tongarra Campus at Albion ParkApplications are invited from committed Christians of reformed persuasion for the following position:

Cordeaux Campus:SecondaryEnglishTeacher• Permanent/parttimeposition0.6load• Positiondescriptionavailable:www.ics.nsw.edu.au/employment• CommenceTerm1,2016

Process for Application:Application forms are available by calling our school office or on our school website. www.ics.nsw.edu.au/employment• Youmustcompletetheschool’sapplicationforminordertoapply.Pleasedonotjust

sendaresume.• Pleaseincludeallotherdocumentslistedintheapplicationform,certifiedastrue

copiesbyaJ.P. Applications will not be considered if not complete.

ILLAWARRA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Applications may be submitted either• inhardcopyto:

ThePrincipal’sPersonalAssistant Illawarra Christian School Cordeaux Campus PO Box 380 Unanderra 2526 NSW

• orelectronicallyto: vidler.melinda@ics.nsw.edu.au

Applications close: 4pm Friday 30th October 2015.

For further enquiries please contact: Melinda Vidler (PA to the Cordeaux Principal)

email: vidler.melinda@ics.nsw.edu.au Phone: 02 4239 5200

It is an offence under the NSW Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998 for a person convicted of a serious sex offence to apply for these positions.