nhulunbuy christian college news ncc... · our hief financial officer awood davies visited and...
TRANSCRIPT
March
Friday 7th—School Photos
- World Day of Prayer,
7.30pm, Catholic Church
Tuesday 11th—P & F
Meeting, 7.30pm, NCC
Staffroom
Wednesday 12th —
Assembly lead by year 1
class, 1.45pm
Friday 14th—Crazy Hair
Day, gold coin donation
Monday 17th—
Thursday 20th—Parent
Teacher Interviews
Wednesday 19th—
Assembly lead by year 6
class, 1.45pm
Wednesday 26th—
Assembly lead by year 5
class, 1.45pm
Nhulunbuy Christian College News
Term 1 March 2014 Issue 3
PO Box 621 | Eugenia Avenue, Nhulunbuy NT 0881 | 08 8987 2187
[email protected] | http://www.ncc.net.edu.au
Above: Students are awarded their official roles by on the Student Representative Council
by Mr. McKane and Mrs. Farnsworth at an outdoor assembly last week.
Below: The SRC’s first photo-shoot with Mrs. Duncan
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From the Principal’s Desk
Half the term has now passed and there is a
real sense in the College that we are gearing
up and settling in to a terrific year. When you
read this the College photos will have happened
and once again we are immortalised in print –
well perhaps immortal is a wrong idea. As time
goes on we who are here, the class of 2014, will
only be a distant memory for those who were
here.
So what does this ramping up look like?
Big M is up and flying – in my case literally with
kites and kids. What a wonderful program this
is – where older kids model citizenship and work
with the younger kids to provide an opportunity
rich learning and experiencing time. Big M is one
of the treasures of the Nhulunbuy Christian
College. A big thanks goes to Anthony Collier and
Kylie White for all their hard work in making it happen.
School captains, class and house leaders have been
elected and inaugurated – congratulations to all students
elected into these important positions. I know many
capable quality students missed out on the title but they
also are continuing to be leaders in the school. The
Student Representative Council (SRC) are now meeting
and contributing to the quality of our College. Another
big thanks goes out to Kylie Farnsworth for all her
ongoing contribution to this important part of student
life.
This is our third College newsletter under our new editor
Jo Duncan, she has had big shoes to fill following Sally,
and Jo has filled them admirably. Apologies from me for
the delayed publication with our last edition, I will make
a big effort to have my article ready on time and I’ve
instructed Jo to go to press without this missive in the
future. A lot of unseen work goes into this missal. (Now
those are two words not normally used at school – kids
use a dictionary). I really enjoy watching the students
who are in Jo’s journalism Big M group covering the
events of the week with cameras in hand. Students not
only take many of the photos but also do a lot of the
writing of segments of the newsletter. So another big
thanks to Jo and her crew.
One of the wonderful things about working for Nhulunbuy
Christian College is that we are a part of a bigger team. Our
head office is well aware of the issues we are facing locally
and are throwing their support behind us in many different
ways. One of these ways has been to visit us and give us
access to their expertise on the ground. A few weeks ago
our Chief Financial Officer Cawood Davies visited and spent
a lot of time with myself and Caren working on financial
scenarios for the future. I was very encouraged not only by
how the numbers played out with a downsized school. But
also by not having to cut our spending budget this year on
educational expenses.
As a part of their support for us the NT Christian Schools
Board are going to spend next Tuesday with us for their
regular board meeting and also to meet with the staff and
School Council as a show of solidarity with us in this time of
change. It means a lot to us that we have a Board who live
out their Christian conviction in action. So a very big thank
you to our Head Office and Board for all the support they
are giving us and have given us in this last six months.
One area of ramping up is our swimming program. We are
working toward our swimming carnival. First within Big M a
group of younger and older students are working together
to strengthen swimming skills. Houses have met and
captains elected and preparations are underway for the big
day. Swimming lessons for the Primary school begin in two
weeks and even yours truly can be seen of an afternoon
working on increasing his laps just in case there is a student
teacher race on the day. In a real sense a swimming carnival
is a metaphor for our school life in community: Working
toward a common gaol, cheering each other on and being
on the team.
Let this year be one of celebration, focus and
achievement. May it be one we remember
fondly so when we look at those school
photos in years to come. We will say I
was there in 2014 – what a year,
what an incredible year.
Russell McKane
Emma Peace & Hannah Fourie,
Primary School Captains
Rebecca Hermanus & Chayse Aston,
Middle School Captains
Katie Farnsworth & Samuel Nyamazana,
Meshach House Captains
Chris Lamboa and Liam Arkcoll,
Shadrach House Captains
Brendan O’Sullivan and Serina O’Connor,
Abednego House Captains
Hannah Adams,
Year 9 Representative
Emily Giles,
Year 8 Representative
Olivia Russell,
Year 7 Representative
Year 1 had fun singing and conversing with Yalmay, Dhanggul and Scott
(Mabel’s dad!) this week. We have been so blessed to have the ladies
from Yirrkala come into class and run introductory Yolngu Matha classes
with us. The Year 1 students were eager to have a go and try a new lan-
guage! We hope the ladies will join us for more fun lessons each term.
They were amazing!
By Mrs. Hvala, year 1
New words we learnt this week:
How are you? Nha mirri nhe?
Good Manymak or Latju
Goodbye Djutjutjnha
See you later Nhäma yalala
In Junior assembly this week students were treated to a visit from Year 8 and 9 Yirrkala students. Bokitj Yunupingu, Gadaman Gurruwiwi and Ngalakan Wanambi presented 28 copies of the book Nganapungu Wanga (Our Country) to the college. These Yirrkala Students wrote and published this book on Indigenous plants of the region and their uses. Not only this, but they treated Year One students to a walk in the bush to identify some of the plants in the book. The Gaditjirri (Spear Grass) was a big hit. By Mr. McKane, Principal
What is the most valuable present
that Mr Fourie has ever given you?
“It will have to be his friendship and
the best present I have
ever given him is me.”
Where were you born?
“I was born in a mining
town called Alexander,
South Africa.”
Interview and Photography by Emma Muldoon,
Emma Peace and Saraya Aston, year 6
What your favourite animal?
“It’s a hippopotamus.”
Do you enjoy teaching year 2?
“ I love teaching year 2, I think
they’re the cleverest kids in the
school and they make the most
progress.”
In 2014 our school will again be facili-tating the opportunity for students to participate in the International Competi-tions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) in conjunction with the University of NSW.
It is an annual skills development assess-ment program in key areas of learning for students in Years 2-12; assessments are available in Computer Skills, English, Mathematics, Science, Spelling and Writing.
It gathers performance information through a 30–60 minute supervised in-school test.
It uses fellow students’ results as a refer-ence point; results are mapped against all students sitting at the same year level in Australia.
It provides an excellent preparation for national testing.
It enables students at all levels of abil-ity to participate.
Medals are awarded to the top stu-dents in each school year.
Achievement certificates are awarded to all students at a range of levels.
Results are available to parents and students online and are highly suitable for inclusion in a students’ portfolio for future tertiary entrance or job op-portunities.
ICAS sitting dates are between May and August and costs vary from
$8.80 to $18.70 per test. The Maths test is compulsory for Year 7 & 8 students and will be paid for by the school. Other tests are at parents’
discretion and cost.
For information about ICAS go to www.eaa.unsw.edu.au. Prac-tice Online tests are available for English, Mathematics and Science—www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/practice-online
Mike Vos
NCC ICAS Co-ordinator
How long have you been at Nhulunbuy Christian
College?
8 years, since Transition.
What is your favourite subject and why?
English because we have Mrs Duncan as a teacher.
What made you want to run for Shadrach house captain?
I’ve wanted to be Shadrach house captain since last year.
What would you do with one million dollars?
I’d probably give it to Mum and Dad to handle.
What is your favourite Mentos colour?
Green.
Interview and Photography by Andrea McKeough (9), Katrina
McKeough (10), Rebecca Hermanus (10) and Kaneesha Waag
Edmodo
Edmodo is Middle School’s number
one online tool for class notes,
homework, assignment submission
and notices. Each student in Middle
School now has an account and parents are given a
unique code in which they can access their student’s
assessment and exam grades, as well as the homework
and events calendar. To access, go to Edmodo.com and
follow the prompts to create a parent account. If you are
unsure of your unique parent code, or for any other
feedback, please email Mrs. Duncan at
Canteen Roster
Thank you to those who have given their time to assist Cassie in canteen each Tuesday throughout the term. Please email Laura Butler ([email protected]) if you are available to assist in any of the time slots be-low. Please remember that the hours you assist in the canteen contribute towards your Grounds and Mainte-nance Levy for each term.
11 March: Briony Boyd, Nikki Savage, , Haidee Dentith
18 March: Sally Ransom, Angeleen Lewers, volunteer needed
25 March: Kerry Collier, Sally Ransom, volunteer needed
Parent—Teacher Interviews
Parent-Teacher interviews will be held for Transition to Year 10
starting from Monday the 17th of March. Interviews will be 10 or 15
minutes long. We use an internet-based booking system called Par-
ent Teacher On-Line (PTO). Using this system you are able to book
the interview times that suit you best from any internet-connected computer. A computer will be availa-
ble in the front office during school hours if you do not have internet access at home or elsewhere.
Please access the system by going to:
https://bookings.parentteacheronline.com.au?school=w2a27
Crazy Hair Day!
Will be held on Friday 14th
March! Bring in a gold coin
donation and all monies will
be donated to the
Leukaemia Foundation.
P & F
First Parents and Friends Meeting for 2014
When – Tuesday 11th March, 7.30pm
Where – NCC Staffroom
Who – All welcome
Although all roles for the semester have been filled, new general committee members are always welcomed and encouraged – please come along to share your ideas about possible fundraising and social events for the year.