It’s hard to believe we are halfway through the year already! It has been a big year so far as we have navigated our way back to hosting some of our regular Norwest events such as Grandparent’s Day, Mother’s Day, Athletics Carnival, and this week Primary Open classroom events.
As we embark on a period of rest, I want to acknowledge the wonderful staff team that I have the privilege of serving alongside each and every day. Each staff member enthusiastically gives of themselves so that our young people grow to become people who understand their purpose and have a genuine sense of belonging as they grow within this community. Their deep desire is that young people confidently lean into life and strive to be excellent in all that they do. My hope is that all staff, parents, and students over this break will enjoy a change of pace and the feeling of rest that this brings. Keep in mind this verse these holidays;
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31
In the third week of the holidays, after a period of rest, staff will gather for a variety of professional development opportunities, including a mid-year conference where we will host other schools interested in a learning-powered approach. We are looking forward to networking with other schools, showcasing what we are doing, and learning more about how to grow our student's learning power.
Felicity Marlow Principal
Reading for the future
I had the privilege of attending the conference for Heads of Independent Coeducational Schools (HICES) in the past week with Daryl Hinton, Dee Fulcher and Tara Waller. It was an event that was strangely intimidating in ways I hadn’t anticipated; not because I was sitting amongst some of the best leaders and educators in progressive, learning-powered schools in NSW, but because most of the keynote speakers were successful women working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths). I like to think of myself as a progressive, 21st-century educator and human being, but I know my limitations in a conversation with professionals who spend their days immersed in the world of technology. I am a Humanities girl through and through; for the past 30 years of my life, I have been dedicated to the study of literature and history. I assumed that if I met these same speakers at a dinner party, I would have a little in common and struggle to move beyond polite conversational exchanges.
My own well-rehearsed cliches came to haunt me as I realised one should not judge a book by its cover (or by her professional title!) Dr Catherine Ball, Scientific Futurist, made it clear to the room of experienced educators that, with all the advances being made in the realm of convergent technologies, the way that we must educate our students to be prepared for the rigour of both university study and professional life in cybernetics is for them to… read.
Read frequently. Read deeply. Read with growing complexity.
The English teacher in me promptly leapt to internal attention as I recognised that, though Dr. Ball and my professional lives are worlds apart, our deep belief in the power of reading illuminated our convergent thinking.
The need to engage in immersed reading is the best way for our children to develop the neural pathways required for critical thinking, an essential capability for graduates who wish to enter technology related fields. The research strongly indicates that, though the Internet has brought us for more flexibility and opportunity for a quick skip over a high volume of information, it does not encourage readers to dive deeply into the material. How many times have we each been guilty of flicking and scrolling our way through a newsfeed with only a brief immersion into something that sparks our interest? This ongoing, shallow engagement with reading is stifling our ability to immerse in deep reading to build long chain neural pathways, which is essential for solving complex problems, particularly those in the fields of science and technology.
As we enter this holiday period with the uncertainty of Covid restrictions limiting our flexibility in travel and mobility, we are provided with an exciting opportunity to put a paper copy of a book in the hands of our children. The next three weeks may allow the time and space for students to crack open a novel and launch themselves into a new world where their imagination can be unleashed to interpret the vision of the writer. With the Premier’s Reading Challenge closing in Term Three this is an opportune time for students complete their reading challenge goals. Even if your child identifies as being a more technology and science student than one of literature, be encouraged that developing their perseverance for reading will reap immeasurable rewards for their emergence as scientists and technology leaders of the future.
Linda Hogan Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning
For further reading how the internet is impacting our reading capacity, I highly recommend The Shallows – How the Internet is changing how we think, read and remember, by Nicholas Carr – “By moving from the depths of thought to the shallows of distraction, the web, it seems, is actually fostering ignorance.”
Uniform Shop Hours - July 2021
July Holiday Operating Hours
Thursday, 15 July: 10:30am – 3:30pm
Current families are always welcome to email uniform orders through to [email protected].
40 Year Pavers Update
Just an update regarding the 40 year pavers, they were due to be delivered this week but due to the recent lockdown in Melbourne the delivery has been delayed for a few weeks. We will keep you posted on their arrival.
For those of you who missed out on ordering a paver there will be a second round of pavers going into production later in Term 3. Please watch this space for further information.
Seed Academy - Week 10, Term 2 2021
Seed Academy - End of Term 2
Seed Academy would like to thank our parents, tutors and students for what has been a wonderful term! We have had new tutors join our team, lots of new enrolments and have seen tremendous growth in our students. Please click here to read the end of term letter.
Also, please be reminded that scheduled Seed Academy lessons will commence in WEEK 2 of Term 3.
P&F – Exciting Announcements
After a successful start to Term 2 with our Australian themed discos, the Parents and Friends Association has been working quietly in the background to bring our students exciting new opportunities over Term 3 and Term 4. We have saved our biggest announcement to last, so be sure to read all the way through. Klipsta The Parents and Friends Association is excited to partner with Klipsta to offer you their award-winning hat clip as part of our ongoing fundraiser items. Perfect for not just for keeping hats off the ground and clean, it also keeps your child's hat securely attached so there is less chance of them getting lost or mixed up. With two heavy duty magnets Klipsta hat clips are super strong but can still be used by even our smallest ELC students. In High School, with so many items already to carry, the Klipsta ensures your child's hat is secure allowing them free use of their hands. Not only for students the Klipsta makes a great gift idea for anyone who enjoys the outdoors but wants to keep their hat off the ground and secure while not in use. They also make a wonderful teacher gift.
Available individually or in packs of 3, the P&F will be looking at doing a Klipsta classroom delivery once a fortnight, or you can arrange to collect from one of us direct. By buying direct through us you aren't charged any shipping.
To purchase a Klipsta and support the P&F fundraising initiatives please click here. They will be available again in Term 3. Stuck On You LOVE TO LABEL? Or perhaps you are just fed up with school and sporting items going missing!
The Parents and Friends Association has become an affiliate fundraiser with Stuck on You, who specialise in personalised labels and products - including drink bottles, lunch boxes, stationery, as well as an official Bluey range. There's no specific time frame, and no obligation to buy from this supplier. But every purchase you make using the affiliate link will help us raise funds that go towards purchasing products or setting up projects that will help enrich the lives of the students at our College!
To purchase from Stuck on You using our affiliate link please click here. Big Announcement We are incredibly excited to announce the Inaugural Norwest Christian College Colour Run. This will take place in the last week of Term 3. As we take the holidays to finalise details relating to this event, we wanted to first share the opportunity to put your name on the Sign Up sheet for those who have expressed their interest to volunteer for the event. We need people to help organise the event, as well as people to set up and participate on the day of the event. Once you add your name to the list the P&F will confirm your eligibility to volunteer at the College and then email you to discuss what areas you would like to assist in. As this is our first Colour Run, we would love to see some volunteers with events or previous colour run experience sign up too.
Parents must be approved volunteers in order to help. To become an approved parent volunteer, parents must do the following:
Have completed the Volunteer Induction Seminar within the last 5yrs. You can complete the Induction Seminar by clicking here
Provide the College with their Working with Children Check number and their Date of Birth. Working with Children Check can be applied for here
Stay tuned for further Colour Run information.
Thank you
Parents & Friends Association
Enrol Now for 2022 and 2023
We love our College Community and its exciting when families decide to enrol additional siblings to partner in their education at the College.
Please note places are filling fast in many of our 2022 and 2023 cohorts, some already with waiting lists, so if you are considering enrolling an additional child at the College in 2022 or 2023 in our ELC, Primary or Secondary Years, don’t delay and submit your application as soon as possible to secure your place!
Click here to access the online Application for Enrolment form.
ELC Letter - End of Term 2, 2021
Click here to read important information regarding the Early Learning Centre.
Primary Letter - End of Term 2, 2021
Click here to read important information regarding the Primary Years.
Secondary Letter - End of Term 2, 2021
Click here to read important information regarding the Secondary Years.
