As I reflect on the events of this week, the song lyrics "It's the most wonderful time of the year" are running through my head. On Tuesday, we celebrated the achievements of Primary students, on Thursday it was a celebration of Secondary learning and today we celebrated the graduation of our Preparatory students. I've also spent time with ELC students as they decorated my Thanksgiving Tree, admired Year 8 gingerbread houses, and spent time in classrooms watching special immersion experience days. It truly has been a wonderful week of celebration and thanksgiving.
This week I was also fortunate to have had a sneak peek at several of the videos that will form part of the Glow 40 Years live stream on Tuesday, 7 December at 7 pm. This really will be a very special event and in order to capture the heart of Glow in years gone by I encourage you to invite College families into your home so that you can share this event together. Students and staff have worked hard on this live stream production and it is our hope that this event will help us all to end what has been a challenging year, on a high note.
Finally, a big thank you to our staff team who every day go above and beyond to invest in the lives of the young people within their care ensuring that their learning is both challenging and inspiring. Thank you too to parents and carers for entrusting your children into our care. It is an enormous privilege to partner with you.
I am praying for a truly refreshing holiday period for all members of our community. May you find peace and joy as you remember "God with us" this Christmas time.
Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
Felicity Marlow Principal
Striving for Excellence
At this time of year, we often see several events, both at the College and in after-school activities, where students are given the opportunity to be rewarded for their efforts and hard work throughout the year. There may be sports presentations at the end of the season, creative performances and trophies after the end of year concerts, exams with results for academic areas, and, as we have just completed, Presentation Days at schools.
These events acknowledge the hard work and dedication of many students across the year in various areas. At our Presentation Day events, students are recognised for excellence in academic results, top sporting achievements, contribution to College life, and demonstrating effective learning habits. At these end-of-year events, time is spent awarding certificates, medals, and trophies to recognise high achievement and application. These events show that our most outstanding achievement is seen when we give our personal best.
Recognising and celebrating achievements are helpful. It encourages us to acknowledge what excellence looks like, to know that we have completed a task to the best of our abilities. We acknowledge each student’s hard work and effort to achieve these successes. We celebrate success. We celebrate excellence.
Excellence is defined at the College as, ‘We set challenges and work with discipline and perseverance so that in all that we do and how we do it, we honour God.’ Or placed more simply, ‘We seek to honour God in all we do.’ We desire that students strive for personal excellence in all that they do. For students to do their very best. To display discipline in choices. We strive for excellence so that we can honour God in what we do.
We all are gifted with many talents and skills. It is beneficial to help our children to find their strengths. The areas in which they excel. When we have an understanding of their strengths, we can identify and reinforce each child’s potential. We can support them in pursuing excellence in their areas of skill and talent, honouring each child’s individual abilities.
It’s helpful for us to stop and recognise that achievement and success are identified in a variety of different ways. In the Primary Years, we introduced a new Stage Celebration Assembly this year, where we recognised students’ broad array of achievements in the stage. This year, as has been every year, there is an extensive range of growth and personal bests, which may not attract a specific award. The breadth of student achievement at the College is breathtaking, acknowledging the individual skills and talents that God gives each person.
At the end of year recognition events, we all feel a powerful sense of pride in seeing children receive awards. In our Presentation Day events, Mrs Marlow spoke to students about being winners. She communicated that in 2021 we have seen everyone win. We are all winners because of who God is and because he loves us.
While the end of year recognition events acknowledges some children, others are not seen in these events. These children are seen in different areas. Possibly in circumstances that occur outside the College. We may witness success and wins in horse riding, bike riding, musical performances, coding, gaming, cooking, chess, martial arts or other activities.
Excellence may even look a little more specific. Maybe you have a child who has demonstrated excellence in learning skills and strategies to assist with anxiety. Or a child that has persevered to overcome a fear, or to manage distractions in learning, or to resolve conflict more peacefully.
To those who demonstrate excellence in ways that are easily seen: we say congratulations. To those who demonstrate excellence in more individual or unique ways, we say congratulations. We say congratulations to all of our brave parents who try every day to do the best for their children. Congratulations to the teachers who have demonstrated excellence during our extended lockdown, managing this year with the changes that have been needed.
Every year there is progress, growth and development. Every year, we encourage our children to strive for their best and demonstrate discipline, perseverance, and diligence in the undertaken tasks. We strive for excellence to honour God with the skills and talents that he has given us, so that we can live a life with purpose.
Tara Waller Head of Primary Years
Glow 2021
Glow has always been a key time of family and community and a really special way for us all to end the year together. Therefore, for this event, we encourage you to invite other College families into your home to view the livestream together, with some food and glowsticks/candles. We have reinvented the program to include many appearances by students (it’ll be good COVID-safe-fun) and we’ve also included some highlights from the College’s 40th celebrations.
The event will be livestreamed, on Tuesday, 7 December @ 7pm.
2022 will see the College Band and Strings program continue to grow with the creation of a new Beginner Band as well as an expansion to our String Ensemble.
Our 2021 Concert Band cohort will continue to work together rebranded as the Norwest Christian College Intermediate Band.
Information packs and enrolment forms for the beginner concert band, and string ensemble will be distributed to interested students this week. If you would like to proceed with an enrolment please return the forms attached to the information pack to Mr Christie or your child’s class teacher.
Click here to view the 30 minute Monday Moments with Marlow from November 22nd, where Mr Christie, Mrs Wakeford and Mrs Marlow discuss the band program for 2022.
If you have any further questions regarding band or strings, please email Mr Christie ([email protected] )
Seed Academy Finishes for 2022
Well what a year it has been! Thank you to all of our Seed Academy families for their continued partnership throughout 2021. We would also like to extend our appreciation to all of our Seed Academy tutors for their commitment to Seed Academy and their students through the uncertainty of Term 3 this year.
Seed Academy classes will conclude this week (Week 9) unless your child's tutor has arranged a makeup lesson to take place in Week 10.
Seed Academy families would have received an End of Term communication email from the Seed Academy Administrator this week. Please ensure you read this information carefully.
We hope our students enjoy the Christmas and New Year period - try to get a few practices in there too - and we look forward to seeing you back at the College next year!
Online Uniform Order form & Size Charts
Current NWCC families can now also order uniform via our online Uniform Order form. Available size charts can now also be found on our website in the Student Uniform Guidelines section linked to the relevant items.
2023 Enrolments
Please note places are filling fast in many of our 2023 cohorts, some already with waiting lists, so if you are considering enrolling an additional child at the College in 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.
Travel Applications 2022
Applications for student travel in 2022 are now open. Students require a School Opal card or travel pass to catch public transport to and from the College. If you are new to the College, have moved address recently or are applying for a school travel pass for the first time, please visit the transport NSW information page https://transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply. It is best if this is completed prior to the end of Term 4 so that passes are ready for the new year.
2023 Scholarships
Applications are now open for our 2023 Scholarships.
We will be offering Music, Academic and our Principal's Scholarship for entry into 2023 Year 7 and 2023 Year 11. Click here for more information.
To apply for a 2023 Scholarship or to purchase practice materials please visit the ACER website.
Primary Communication Notes
Click here to read the Primary Communication Notes.