Dear College families,

I am imagining that like me you're probably feeling a range of emotions; tired, overwhelmed, frustrated or exhausted. And it's no wonder. Our brain craves certainty and in our current context where we are receiving daily doses of uncertainty as we navigate lockdown, navigate working from home and navigate online learning, your brain is in overdrive trying to find solutions for a whole range of unfamiliar situations. What you and I and our children are craving right now is some certainty and it's really important for an overall sense of wellbeing that we feed that craving.

In order to assist you with refocusing on what is certain from the College, here are some things that haven’t changed:

1. We are prioritising wellbeing. We have chosen to modify content and assessment procedures. This of course means that the pace of learning may be slightly slower, but that's OK given what it could cost us if we tried to do match online learning with what happens in the classroom.
2. We are prioritising connection. Norwest has always been great at community and you can be confident that despite the challenges that lay before us we are continuing to prioritise connection. I also want to encourage you to look for creative ways that you can connect as parents. Just as our students need to feel supported, you also need to know that you have a bunch of people on your team who are walking alongside you in this context.
3. We are prioritising communication. We want to hear from you. Let us know what is working and let us know what is not working for you and for your children. If there are ways we can support you that help you prioritise your child's wellbeing let us know. If you see ways to foster connection let us know but also if possible initiate those ideas.

Finally, I want to remind you of one thing that always remains certain. Whilst I don't know all of the challenges you face today or will face tomorrow, God does and His promise to us is to never leave us. Psalm 46 says He is our refuge, our strength and our very present help in times of trouble.

Felicity Marlow
Principal

These four words often come from the mouths of children sitting in the back seat of the car, enduring a long road trip that seems like it will never end.  Lately I've been finding these words echoing in my own mind and I suspect that I'm not alone in this. 

We are now eight weeks into lockdown and for many of us, it has been a very long eight weeks.  Many people have celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, some have attended virtual funerals and there have been so many Zoom meetings that we have lost count.  It can sometimes feel like we are never going to arrive at our destination, that we will keep calling out from the back seat, "Are we there yet?"

As our finish line keeps shifting I am reminded of a comment shared by a student in year 12 who likens this experience to running a 100m race only to be told at the end, actually, now you need to run a 200m race only to reach the end and be told now it's a 300m race.  We can start to question where the finish line is.

"We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world" writes Helen Keller and it rings true in our lives as well.  James chapter 1 also tells us "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing".

The response from parents whose children are asking, "Are we there yet" could be a means of distraction and redirecting the children to look out the window and notice the world around them.  By shifting their focus from the finish line to the road that is being travelled and the landscape surrounding them can shift the mindset from despair to hope and wonder.  This is important for us to remember as well as we continue to move through this lockdown.  If we just focus on the finish line we miss so much of what is happening around us. Maybe this is a time to remember the now, to think about the things that can bring some joy, hope and to take an interest in those around us. It has been said that every crisis has unexpected opportunities. They might be simple things like  noticing the beautiful sunsets, going for a walk or bike ride with your family, finishing a 1000 piece puzzle and enjoying the moments that this season can offer. This might be the perfect time to connect with family, friends and our Creator in a new way.

Suzi Scott
Director of ELC

We love having your family as part of the College community, and look forward to partnering with you in 2022 to continue to realise your desire for your child to have a Christ-centred education that inspires and equips them to build a purposeful life. However, if you are considering withdrawing your child/ren from the College for 2022, a friendly reminder to please notify the College in writing to enrol@nwcc.nsw.edu.au by the last day of Term 3, to ensure you provide the full term’s notice required as per your Enrolment Agreement.

Seed Academy - Online Tutoring

Seed Academy is pleased to advise that Online Tutoring sessions have been made available for some of our students. If your child's tutor is able to offer this service, you would have received an email from the Seed Academy Administrator already.

If your child is not currently enrolled in Seed Academy and you are interested in receiving online lessons, please email seed@nwcc.nsw.edu.au for more information.

NWCC ESCAPE FROM LOCKDOWN CHALLENGE IS HERE!!!

NWCC has issued a challenge to the Norwest community to walk, run or ride their way out of lockdown this term. It will be a race between our mighty Bradman, Chisholm, Gould, and Johnson to see who can reach the safety of the Queensland border first! Each house will need to complete 801km to reach the border. For more information and what you need to do to be part of this challenge and making history with your House, please click on the link below…. So, on your marks, get set, GO!

https://www.norwest.nsw.edu.au/nwcc-escape-from-lockdown

You can also access the NWCC Escape From Lockdown webpage through the College App under Links or via the website under the Parent Link.

Current House Tally

This year, instead of Literacy Fun Day we are excited to announce Literacy Fun Week!

During Week 6, the Primary students will be invited to participate in an activity each day including creating their own book character and listening to inspiring authors and illustrators. Students have the option to send in a photo of the character they have created or a character they have chosen to dress up as. This character will participate in a special event on Friday.

On Friday, 27 August, we have a special day planned for Primary students in celebration of books. The teachers have prepared a range of enriching experiences, to instill a deeper love of literature into the hearts and minds of our students.

The theme of Book Week 2021 is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) present awards to authors and illustrators each year for inspiring and noteworthy books. These books are shortlisted in several categories, and the winners announced around Book Week. A selection of these shortlisted titles will be shared on Literacy Fun Day.

We thank you for your support of this wonderful event and look forward to celebrating the joy that comes from reading books. 

Whilst COVID-19 has interrupted many plans for our Year 12 students, we are determined to re-imagine and redesign events so they can proceed in keeping with health advice. We are currently considering alternate options for the Graduation Ceremony that is traditionally held on the last day of Term 3. It is likely that the College will postpone the Graduation ceremony until after HSC Examinations in the hope that restrictions will ease and allow for greater involvement of parents and the College community.

As part of the Graduation Ceremony, it is a past tradition that we organise a special presentation of students showing their growth from Kindergarten through to Year 12 and include information about their plans for the future, their favourite subject, favourite quote etc. We would like to invite you to please send through a digital or hard copy of your child's Kindergarten, Year 3 and Year 7 school photograph by the end of Week 6 (Friday, 28 August). If your child has joined the College since Year 10 photographs were taken, we ask you to include this photograph as well. Please send these to Mrs Hope (edadmin@nwcc.nsw.edu.au). We will scan and return any hard copies provided.

Further to these individual photos, if you have any photos of College Events, past Year group photos, camp photos etc of your children, please feel free to forward them to the College so we can prepare a special memory publication for Year 12.

Thank you for your assistance and the College will communicate with you the plans for Graduation, once they have been determined

From Monday, 6 September students attending the College on campus can wear their summer uniform. Click here for more information on Uniform Requirements. 

Marielle Flores has joined the College as our Intern Counsellor for Semester 2 2021. Marielle is completing her Master of Psychotherapy and Counselling at Western Sydney University, Parramatta Campus. During this time, she will be at Norwest Christian College on Wednesdays between 8:15am and 3:10pm and she will be supervised by Catherine Redwood the College Counsellor. 

Marielle is very excited to join the team with Emma Scott another Intern Counsellor. She will be using a variety of expressive and conventional therapy methods during her time with us. A requirement of her counsellor training is that she completes 300 general hours of counselling and 70 clinical hours of practicum with students/clients. Marielle will have supervision of her counselling with Catherine Redwood during this time. Marielle will see students at the College from primary and secondary years.

Fortunately, during this time, the College have implemented zoom counselling which is accessible to primary and secondary years students. If parents would like to talk to the Counsellor – Catherine, or one of the Intern Counsellors – Emma or Marielle about their child, please contact the College and ask for a message to be passed onto Catherine Redwood. Both our Intern Counsellors, Marielle and Emma are available most days to counsel students and are not specifically counselling just on Mondays and Wednesdays. However, Catherine Redwood is only available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and will speak with parents after hours if necessary, to support College families.

Marielle’s qualifications include:
Diploma of Christian Studies – Morling College
Bachelor of Ministry – Morling College, and she is currently completing her
Master of Psychotherapy and Counselling – Western Sydney University  

Marielle is currently working as a School Chaplain in a public school, and her work in the school community involves:

- Assisting teachers supporting students with behavioural and learning disabilities and guiding them in achieving their learning goals.
- Initiating activities that will enhance a student’s inter-personal relationships to re-enforce their self-esteem and build positivity within the student.
- Emailing weekly updates on students to staff and to work in conjunction with the school counsellor and other support agencies in the community.
- Taking a pastoral care role within the whole school community  that is inclusive of students, parents and staff.
- Leading a social skills program for students in Stage 3.
- Leading a Stage 3 student group in a targeted comprehension skills program.

Marielle’s previous work as a school chaplain also involved:
- Assisting students with special needs and helping those experiencing trauma or learning difficulties.
-Assisting teachers by taking small groups of students with behavioural and learning difficulties to guide them with their learning activities.
- Initiating activities that would enhance a student’s inter-personal relationships, to re-enforce and build their self-esteem, highlighting their positive values.
- Working in conjunction with the school counsellor and other support agencies within the community to support a student.
- Being visibly present in the school community to develop the Chaplain profile. Taking a pastoral care role within the whole school community inclusive of all students, parents and staff.

Catherine Redwood
College Counsellor

Christmas Card Design Competition

We know it’s early, but we thought it might be a good time while most families are home together, to open up our Christmas Card Design Competition.

We have a new challenge which will involve your whole family. We would love to see what Christmas means to you. You are only limited by your collective creativity.

Some examples might be a drawing, a collage, or a sculpture. You may want to take a photo of your Christmas in July feast, or perhaps build a nativity scene out of Lego. The options are endless.

Please email your submissions through to community@nwcc.nsw.edu.au by the end of August and the winning family will be notified before cards are posted out to our community.

Click here to read the Primary Communication Notes.