Each year I endeavour to spend at least a little time on a Secondary camp and this year I’ve been fortunate enough to be with Year 12 for most of their final camp experience at NWCC. From seeing their focus on their studies, to their skills in practice at their trivia night, it’s been a great joy to see them thrive and grow, especially after the intensity of the last couple of years. Camps are a unique experience, one often compared to ‘being in the trenches,’ where common experiences are encountered and memories and friendships are forged.
I’m grateful that most of our Secondary students are experiencing their own camp journey this week. Knowing that their community will be strengthened when they return, as well as their knowledge of our Lord Jesus, is a true joy and one I eagerly await to hear more about.
Felicity Marlow Principal
Amazing Grace
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” EPHESIANS 1:7
One of my favourite hymns is Amazing Grace. The message of redemption, forgiveness and mercy from God is so powerful. It’s also a hymn that has been sung for a few centuries, having been written in the late 1700s. That is amazing. Why is grace so amazing and why do we teach our students about grace?
Grace is one of the most astounding and life-transforming aspects of God’s character. God has chosen to lavish grace upon us from the beginning of time instead of wrath. Time and time again, we’ve turned our backs on Him. And time and time again He demonstrates the depth of His desire for us through the giving of His boundless grace. In His grace, we are afforded a life not only apart from His wrath but lived in the glory of relationship with our Creator through the redemption of Jesus.
Paul says that in Jesus, we have “redemption through his blood.” Have you thought about the nature of your redemption at length before? Colossians 1:19-22 says, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” Such is the grace of your heavenly Father that there is not a single thing between you and Him. You, who at one time stood apart from God, have been brought into the family of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
Not only have you been redeemed once and for all, but you are forgiven both now and forever. Paul writes that we as believers have “the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Where in your life do you need forgiveness today? What do you feel is separating you from an unveiled relationship with your heavenly Father? When you confess your sins, God offers you His forgiveness for anything you have done. “According to the riches of his grace,” which was made perfectly evident in the death of Jesus, you are being offered forgiveness. If God would send His Son to die in order to have a restored relationship with you, you can unquestionably believe He will forgive any trespass that seems to stand in your way now.
God doesn’t operate the way the world does. He doesn’t make you pay the penalty for your sin. Instead, He offers perfect grace. There are so many stories in Scripture where God turns the systems of the world on their head through the concept of grace. In the story of the prodigal son, the father allowed the son to dishonour him, set aside his rightful punishment, and threw a huge party for his wayward child when he returned home. He didn’t wait. He didn’t make him work for his redemption. He immediately offered him forgiveness freely in grace. God offers us the same today. Don’t attempt to pay for your sin by separating yourself from the fullness of relationship with God. Jesus paid the only price necessary by His own death. Live in light of God’s grace. Offer your heart to God freely. Let him work out redemption in every area of your life that you might more fully experience the wonderful relationship you have available to you with God.
Our hearts are naturally stirred to find rest in His goodness in seeing God for who He is. So may your heart be stirred at the revelation of God’s wonderful character.
Dee Fulcher Director of Primary Learning and Teaching
Our Feelings in Times of Uncertainty
We are living in times of uncertainty, threats of war, a pandemic, natural disasters, climate change and changes to life’s daily routine. Many of us may be feeling; unsure, helpless, afraid, isolated, hopeless, sad, disappointed, anxious, overwhelmed, lonely, isolated, tired, frustrated, scared, sad, stressed, trapped, worried, insecure, exhausted and/or nervous. All of these feelings are a normal part of life, they are neither negative nor positive, feelings are just feelings.
As a child in Year 4 I learnt the poem My Country by Dorothea Mackellar and I didn’t really think much about the words, I just learnt the poem so that I could recite from memory. The poem’s evocative words are from one of Australia's most quoted poets. The second verse is the most quoted and the one that most Australians can recite. My Country was written by a homesick young Australian, Dorothea Mackellar (1885-1968) in about 1904. The poem was first published in the London Spectator on 5 September 1908 and was titled Core of My Heart and her family were visiting England at the time. This famous poem is believed to have been directly inspired by her experience of life on the land, and her love of growing up near Gunnedah NSW between 1900-1935. It was written over a 100 hundred years ago and although our country is vast, rugged and at times challenging, these are the qualities of the country that Dorothea captured in 1904. Although at times this country is difficult and a trial, I have watched the resilience of people today to keep on persevering and to keep going no matter what their circumstances.
Sometimes people are just not able to continue the fight and they feel weary, overwhelmed and exhausted. It is perfectly natural to have these feelings when faced with so much uncertainty and change in our lives. I have included some resources below that may assist anyone who is struggling at the moment. Parents are welcome to call the counsellor at the College if they wish to get further assistance or perhaps, they may just want to debrief about how they feel.
Questions to ask yourself every day from smiling mind.
- What am I grateful for today? - Who am I checking in on or connecting with today? - What expectation of “normal” am I letting go of today? - How am I moving my body today? - What beauty am I creating, cultivating or inviting in today? - How am I getting outside today? Connect with an image of something that you love outside even if that isn’t possible at the moment.
Catherine Redwood Counsellor
Imago Day 2022
Our theme for Imago Day for this year is Being part of Jesus’ Tribe as we again consider what it means to be “made in the image of God”. On Thursday, 9 June the College will be participating in the Word of Life Kick Off program.
We’re all part of at least one “tribe”, in fact it’s likely that children are part of a number of tribes (family, class, College House, sports team, dance group, church, Youth Group, etc) and knowing that you fit in is really important as children develop. We want to highlight that regardless of family situation or interest group we all fit into the big tribe where we are all “made in the image of God” and we will be invited to consider being part of Jesus’ tribe.
Students will be permitted to wear their sports uniform and House shirt for the day. Teachers will give more details as we get closer.
P&F Meeting - Week 8, Term 1, 2022
Wednesday, 23 March at 7:30pm
The next P&F Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 23 March commencing at 7:30pm in the Atrium. Regular P&F items (events and reports) will be discussed. Additionally, Mr Daryl Hinton and Mrs Tara Waller will be the College representatives. They will be talking about the Norwest Challenge.
We look forward to seeing you there.
P&F Executive
SPMs - Term 1, 2022
Student Progress Meetings (SPMs) are an essential part of the home-school learning and well-being partnership. These meetings provide opportunities for communication and feedback about achievement and improvement strategies.
Please see below for the relevant dates.
Secondary – Y7 and Y12
Tuesday, 5 April & Wednesday, 6 April
Please note that our Year 12 students also have the opportunity for longer time slots with our Careers Counsellor, Mrs Pamela Ledley.
Click here to read the letter for Secondary SPM's.
As Easter approaches, the P&F would like to celebrate with a Hot Cross Bun Drive for morning tea on Monday, 4 April for ELC, Primary, and Secondary families as well as staff. This year we will again be adding the opportunity to purchase Bakers Delight 6-pack hot cross buns to be taken home.
Individual Hot Cross Buns for Morning Tea Hot cross buns MUST be pre-ordered by midnight Wednesday, 30 March, as no purchases will be able to be made on the day. There are three hot cross bun options to choose from: Traditional Fruit, Fruit Free and Chocolate (including Gluten Free options for each).
- ELC/Primary students will have theirs delivered to the classrooms. - Secondary students must collect theirs from the canteen.
Bakers Delight Take Home 6-Pack There are three hot cross bun options to choose from: Traditional Fruit, Apple & Cinnamon and Choc Chip. (Unfortunately, no gluten free options available). The 6-packs will be delivered to the child’s classroom to take home. If ordering more than one pack, please use the same child’s name on each pack.
To order a hot cross bun for your child or a take home 6-pack, please click on the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/BXUIY
If you have any questions regarding the hot cross bun drive, please email [email protected].
We thank you for your kind support.
P&F Executive
BASC vouchers
The NSW Government has recently announced BASC vouchers available to families enrolled in Primary Schools to be used in OSHC services including Vacation Care. Our OSHC service has been approved as an eligible provider accepting vouchers from families. These vouchers are available through the Service NSW App and can be used in Before and After School Care as well as Vacation Care.
Our OSHC service will start to accept vouchers from 14 March. There is no need to send the voucher details to the OSHC email as we will be scanning the QR code available on the Service NSW App. More details about the program can be found here
2023 and 2024 Enrolments
Please note places are filling fast in many of our 2023 and 2024 cohorts, some already with waiting lists, so if you are considering enrolling an additional child at the College in 2023 or 2024 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.
College Communication Notes
Click here to read the Early Learning Centre Communication Notes.
Click here to read the Primary Communication Notes.