Principal’s Message Recently I have been challenged with the idea of proximity; being close to someone or something, and the thought that there is power in proximity. I know over the weekend and with those icy winds we experienced I was keen to be in close proximity with my heater, or at the very least, some of my warmer items of clothing. That was an easy decision to make. But sometimes it can be harder to know what or who we need to be proximal with. I mentioned in my last newsletter some of the many things that will take place in our school this term, and how busy Term 3 can be. I am sure that what we experience as a school is similar to what you experience as families, that being a busy life. Between work, managing a household (am I the only one who seems to have a never-ending supply of washing to be hung out and then folded and put away?), running children around to various sports events, parties, youth group and other social engagements, and then creating space for yourself, it can be easy to feel like we are being spread so thinly we don’t ever feel on top of anything. Our busy lives can make it hard sometimes to work out what are the important things we need to commit our time to, or who should get the priority of our time. There is great power in proximity. Let me give you an example. As a husband and father I need to be proximal to my family. If I fail to give adequate time and attention to my marriage, then odds are the quality of that relationship will decline. Similarly with my children, they need me to invest in their lives if I hope to see them grow into well-adjusted adults and maintain a positive relationship with each of them. When we get busy it can be easy to lose sight of the people and things we really need to be proximal with. Jesus taught and modelled a powerful lesson about proximity; the importance of being proximal with God. In spite of the many demands on his time it was clear he understood who he needed to be most proximal with. He would withdraw himself from crowds, or disappear during the early hours of the morning, to ensure that he spent time alone with his Father. Nothing could take priority over this. Like Jesus, we should all prioritise being proximal to God, taking time to read his word, talk to him and stop and listen to what he might be saying to us. For Jesus, he also needed to be proximal to his disciples, as he prepared them to grow the church. In your life at this time, who are the people that you need to be close to or dedicate your time to? I encourage you to not let a busy life prevent you from being proximal to the people and things that matter most. God Bless Mr Liney Lighthouse News Week 3, Term 3 12 th August 2019 www.facebook.com/wyongccs @wyongccs A Ministry of Wyong Baptist Church OUR MISSION To provide a Christian educational community founded on Biblically based beliefs, values and behaviour. We do this to equip young people to be responsible and responsive disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. SHINING LIGHT “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” James 4.8 @wyongccs Find our free School App on the App Store or Google Play
Transcript
WCCS
Page 1 Newsletter
Principal’s Message
Recently I have been challenged with the idea of proximity; being close to someone or something, and the thought that there is power in proximity. I know over the weekend and with those icy winds we experienced I was keen to be in close proximity with my heater, or at the very least, some of my warmer items of clothing. That was an easy decision to make. But sometimes it can be harder to know what or who we need to be proximal with.
I mentioned in my last newsletter some of the many things that will take place in our school this term, and how busy Term 3 can be. I am sure that what we experience as a school is similar to what you experience as families, that being a busy life. Between work, managing a household (am I the only one who seems to have a never-ending supply of washing to be hung out and then folded and put away?), running children around to various sports events, parties, youth group and other social engagements, and then creating space for yourself, it can be easy to feel like we are being spread so thinly we don’t ever feel on top of anything.
Our busy lives can make it hard sometimes to work out what are the important things we need to commit our time to, or who should get the priority of our time. There is great power in proximity. Let me give you an example. As a husband and father I need to be proximal to my family. If I fail to give adequate time and attention to my marriage, then odds are the quality of that relationship will decline. Similarly with my children, they need me to invest in their lives if I hope to see them grow into well-adjusted adults and maintain a positive relationship with each of them.
When we get busy it can be easy to lose sight of the people and things we really need to be proximal with. Jesus taught and modelled a powerful lesson about proximity; the importance of being proximal with God. In spite of the many demands on his time it was clear he understood who he needed to be most proximal with. He would withdraw himself from crowds, or disappear during the early hours of the morning, to ensure that he spent time alone with his Father. Nothing could take priority over this.
Like Jesus, we should all prioritise being proximal to God, taking time to read his word, talk to him and stop and listen to what he might be saying to us. For Jesus, he also needed to be proximal to his disciples, as he prepared them to grow the church. In your life at this time, who are the people that you need to be close to or dedicate your time to? I encourage you to not let a busy life prevent you from being proximal to the people and things that matter most.
God Bless
Mr Liney
Lighthouse News
Week 3, Term 3 12th August 2019
www.facebook.com/wyongccs @wyongccs
A Ministry of Wyong Baptist Church
OUR MISSION To provide a Christian educational community founded on Biblically
based beliefs, values and behaviour.
We do this to equip young people to be
responsible and responsive disciples of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
SHINING LIGHT
“Draw near to God and He
will draw near to you”
James 4.8
@wyongccs
Find our free School App on the App Store or Google Play
KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION For children commencing Kindergarten next year we will be conducting Transition to Kindergarten sessions (half days) in September and November. If you or a friend have a child commencing Kindergarten next year and have not yet submitted their Enrolment Application, please do so ASAP so that you don’t miss your child’s invitation to these important times of preparing for Kindergarten. Enrolment Application forms can be collected from our Office or downloaded from the school website. BAND PERFORMANCE EVENING Our Beginner, Junior and Secondary School Bands will be performing in the Multi-Purpose Centre on Wednesday 14th August at 6pm. SPORTING EVENTS UNIFORM A friendly reminder for parents to ensure that their child is wearing the correct uniform when travelling to sporting carnivals and gala days. Students are required to wear full PE uniform. The Uniform Shop does have school track pants and jumpers available should you wish to purchase them. SCHOOL PHOTOS School photos will be handed out during class time on Tuesday 13th August. I f you have elected to pick your child’s photos up from the office, they are ready for collection. YEAR BOOK COVER PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION Year Book Cover Photography Competition entries are due in by Thursday 19th September. We are excited to see the creative entries from students in Years K to 12. Students can send through a high resolution photograph to the Yearbook committee ([email protected])
Prayer Points Please pray for our Year 9 students on the Red Centre Road Trip! That they would have a safe, fun,
meaningful trip and encounter God through His creation.
Pray for our Year 12 students as they approach and begin their Trial Examinations.
Give thanks for a successful Open Day, showcasing our wonderful school.
SHINE EVENING On Thursday 12th September we w ill be celebrating the talents and gifts of our students at SHINE evening. This is a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to come and watch the children from Kindergarten to Year 12, as they showcase creative performances they have been working on. Keep this date free in your calendar, and stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the date.
Community News Continued REMINDER - INDIVIDUAL PLANS Just a reminder to parents who were sent home IPs to sign and date last week. Could you please send them back to the school office by this Friday 16th August.
WCCS
Page 4 Newsletter
Greetings friends of Junior School, We have a mixed bag of opportunities for our trainee disciples (aren’t we all?) this week. Wednesday 14th August, during the day, we have the Lew is Shield interschool debating competition for our future politicians and legal practitioners. In the evening our Bandorama performance will be another outstanding opportunity for our budding musicians to hone their skills. On Friday 16th August, our athletics champions w ill head off to compete at the CSSA State Championships. Last Friday we had an exciting visit from Lee-Ron and NED. The message was based on the Mindset research from Dr Carol Dweck; it was all about helping our kids move from a fixed mindset – it’s too hard I can’t do it (Brain Freeze); to a growth mindset – it is hard but if I persist I will do it (Go Brain). NED – Never give Up Encourage others Do your best
We were able to secure the performance for free if we offered merchandise for purchase, and a yo-yo friendly area, for a couple of weeks after the show. The merchandise will be handled by the Year 6 Leaders, in front of the Year 6 classroom and our yo-yo friendly space is the B-block veranda at lunchtimes. The purchase information is to follow on page 5. Have a great week, Mr Paul Marks| Head of Junior School | [email protected] .edu.au
AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE AT LUNCHTIMES IN FRONT OF THE YEAR 6 CLASSROOM
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Page 6 Newsletter
SPEAKLIFE PROJECT Kindness continues to be promoted throughout the Secondary School this week. Our hope is that students are reminded to show Gods love by choosing kindness over being quiet. A number of devotion classes have continued discussions and even one class conducted a debate on whether kindness is an essential action for all people.
UNIFORM UPDATE A big thank you to all the families who have demonstrated your partnership with us by following through on haircuts and skirt lengths. As mentioned in recent correspondence our heart is not to be legalistic but rather hold students to a standard requirement. It’s teaching students to be community focused rather than self-focused. RCRT The girls have been having an amazing experience in the Red Centre. Please continue to pray for their safety and their spiritual development. We are receiving encouraging reports of students seeking God and asking questions about the Christian faith. When you are surrounded by the awesome creation of the Kimberleys it becomes increasingly difficult to deny the enormity and existence of God. The boys will be on their way soon to join the girls in Darwin.
PREMIER’S VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION PROGRAM Nominations are now open for the Premier’s Volunteer Recognition Program. The Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) is delighted to invite you to nominate students by Monday 30th September 2019 to receive a recognition certificate. The program – now in its fifth year – is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate young people at our school who have given their time and energy for the benefit of others. This year there is only one nomination category, Student Volunteering, to ensure every student from Year 7 to Year 12 who has donated their time and effort to volunteering has the opportunity to be recognised. We encourage you to nominate any student who has volunteered during 2019; whether it be one hour of volunteering or regular volunteering over several months. Students who complete their Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards before the end of September 2019 will be automatically nominated for recognition under the program by the school. Students can expect to receive their certificates by the first week of November 2019. All nominations should be emailed to Mrs Wilesmith by the end of term. Please include the student’s name, year group, hours and place of service. SUBJECT SELECTION Students from Years 8 and 10 must have their subject selections in by Wednesday 14th August. Families will have received an email with instructions on how to choose their subjects. Mr Stephen Moody | Head of Secondary - Teaching & Learning | [email protected] Mrs Rachael Wilesmith | Head of Secondary - Student Wellbeing | [email protected] This term in Modern History, the core topic in class is the coming of the First World War. Specifically, we have been exploring the various countries involved within the war, and the alliances between each nation. In one of our lessons, whilst looking at the mobilisation plans of Russia, Germany, France and Britain, we used visual components to explain the mobilisation of different nations using a large map of continental Europe, with lollies representing the armies of each country. Each lolly represented a country, with their flags on top of them; chocolate bullets for Germany, gummy bears for Russia and strawberries and creams for Great Britain. Using visual elements to map out where each army was, and where each battle occurred proved to be very meaningful for the class, as well as enjoyable, and yummy!!
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGE On Tuesday 30th August, a group of thirty Year 10 students represented WCCS at the Science and Engineering challenge at the University of Newcastle. This day was an awesome opportunity to do some science while having fun with a group of friends. The day consisted of multiple STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) related activities including; building a bridge, earthquake shelter, chair and table, modelling a city’s power grid, communicating via code, and building a Mars Rover. Overall it was a great chance to work in teams, on tasks that we don’t usually get to do at school, and use problem solving and critical thinking. We were successful in winning numerous challenges throughout the day, and winning the Challenge overall. Thank you to the Science teachers, Mrs Bianca Vieiro and Mr Peter Harrison, for this day. - Daniel C and Riley N The team have made it to the state finals and will be competing on Thursday 29th August at the University of Newcastle.
THE ARMIDALE SCHOOL FORENSIC SCIENCE CAMP Four accounts of homicide and a robbery committed by the same people unfolded before my very eyes throughout five days. Two other Year 8 students and I were given a true case, so perfectly planned by the perpetrators that it seemed impossible to solve. It wasn’t until we applied our knowledge of the law and science in order to solve it. Not only that, we were up against 83 other kids trying to solve other crimes. It was a competition, to see who could bring justice to families the quickest. Recently I was given the chance to spend five days at a forensic science camp at The Armidale School. I took that opportunity with both hands and I don’t regret a thing. Those five days were the most enthralling of my life. Not only was the forensic camp incredibly fun but I have learnt so many things. Science labs filled with equipment for us to solve our crimes were used at every opportunity. After getting evidence from police HQ, we would quickly rush up to the Labs to perform PH tests, fibre analysis, or fingerprint testing. From chromatography to soil analysis, we were using the basic science skills taught at school extensively, but we also learned new and technical skills. Even though our crimes were truly gruesome, we also took some time for other fun activities. Engineering games, theatre sports, karaoke, dodgeball and other ball games were included in “compulsory fun”. I met people and experienced things that I will never forget. I am so grateful for this opportunity and would recommend it to anybody interested. - Edith D
BOOK WEEK AND LITERACY DAY Our Literacy Day this year will be held on Wednesday 28th August. Our theme this year is “God’s Word has Power”. The Children’s Book Council of Australia theme is “Reading is my Secret Power.” All of our students are encouraged to come as a character from a book in our school library. Our parade will take place during lesson 1 on Literacy Day for Junior school. There will be a Meal Deal available for the whole school at lunchtime, and then we will finish the day with staff presenting a Readers Theatre in the MPC at 2:30pm. The Meal Deal details are below, we will be raising money for Farmers and their families in NSW.
The NSW Paper Plane State Championships are getting closer! This year they are on Saturday 31st August - again at Sydney University, during their Open Day. We always love to have students competing in the championships and have had some very good results over the years, including some first places. The competition is open for all students from K-12. There are two categories DISTANCE and TIME ALOFT. BUT you do need to qualify first SO we will have our own in school competition happening in the Year 6 classrooms. No need to sign up, just be there at the time shown for your year group. Wednesday 14th August - recess and lunch Year 2 Thursday 15th August - recess and lunch Year 5 Tuesday 20th August - recess and lunch Year 3 Wednesday 21st August - recess and lunch Year 4 & Kindergarten Thursday 22nd August - recess and lunch Year 6 & Year 1 Paper planes must be made from one piece of A4 paper. No sticky tape or glue, no paper clips or other weights, no tearing or cutting – only folding! Qualifying distances and times are shown on the flyer below. Students in Years 7 to 12 please see Mrs Samways in The Space to organise a time to have your throws verified for qualifying. Can you beat the current Australian distance record of 35.2 metres?
ZONE ATHLETICS On Monday 5th August, Mrs Scarr, Mr Knibbs, Mr Higgins and Mrs Papalexion took fifty Junior School students to the Hunter Sports Centre to represent WCCS at the THACCCSA Zone Athletics Carnival. All of the students demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and a healthy competitive spirit. Some highlights of the day included both the boys and girls relays and watching lots of students dominate in their track and field events. It was also great to see so many students improve their throws, jumps and runs from the school athletics carnival. WCCS did tremendously well to place 3rd overall. By the end of the day there were some very tired students and the bus trip home was strangely quiet and relaxing. Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the CSSA State Athletics Carnival on Friday 16th August: Charlotte B, Michaela C, Cooper C, Joel E, Otis H, Cassius K, Marianne P, Callum S, Laurence T, Elijah F, Lisa C and Isabelle B.
Junior School Sport News
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Page 12 Newsletter
CSSA SOCCER GALA DAY On Thursday 8th August, WCCS competed in the state Metro Cup soccer finals. In the first round, the Senior 5/6 Boys were unlucky to concede two late goals to lose against Oxford Falls Grammar School. They did a great job to step up in the following two rounds, defeating Illawarra Christian School 4-0 and Oran Park Anglican College 2-0 to come second in their pool. In the next round the boys were defeated in a super close 3-2 quarter final result. The kids played impressively, despite getting incredibly tired by the end of the day, and represented our school very well. A big thanks to Mark K and Lachlan C for helping out coaching this team. Well done Zac C, Ashton C, Cassius K, Hamish C, Tafara M, Levi K, Jacob N, Bailey W, Zach H, Max H, Isaac J, Dylan F, Charlie C, Aston M, Laurence T and Harry K. The Junior Boys competed well in their gala day as well. They were placed in a tough pool. Their first game was against Pacific Hills Christian School. The game was evenly matched and unfortunately WCCS went down 1-0. The second game against Cedars Christian College was a much more polished effort, as the boys ran out winners 5-0. They needed at least a draw in their final game against William Carey Christian School. This was another tough match, where only one goal decided the match. Unfortunately WCCS lost the match. This meant they finished the day placing 3rd in the pool. However, the coaches, parents and spectators were extremely proud of their efforts. Congratulations to the following students for their hard work throughout the day: Brayden B, Cohen F, Cooper C, Cooper T, Hunter N, Isaac H, Jaxten F, Joel E, Joshua S, Levi F, Judah L and Bailey F.
