I was delighted recently to hear from Anna in Year 6 who shared with me her proposal to start a Prep Reading Club in Term 2. I’m pleased to share that it is now up and running!

An enthusiastic group of Year 6 volunteers are visiting Prep a few lunchtimes a week to instil a passion for reading in our youngest students. They are thrilled to be immersing the Preps in a range of picture books and simply enjoy their time reading together. I’m greatly encouraged by their heart to serve and their desire to promote a love of reading with Prep students in the Junior School. 

Here is part of Anna’s proposal:

“This Pilot program will be in the preschool building with both kind and compassionate Year 6 students. This will foster a love for reading for Prep students involved.”

Anna demonstrated excellent leadership in the preparation phase to advocate for her project– she organised the resources through the library, spoke passionately to Prep staff and inspired other Year 6 students to volunteer. I am confident both the Prep and Year 6 students involved will benefit from the Prep Reading Club. I’m excited to keep visiting throughout the term and see the joy of reading flourish. 

Isn’t it amazing how the voice of one student with a passion can make a difference in the lives of others?! I wish the Reading Club Volunteers all the best. 

Mother’s Day brings up many feelings, depending on our relationship with our mother. We might feel happy, sad, conflicted, or left out. Can we make Mother’s Day a celebration for everyone, regardless of their relationship with their mother? Yes, we can.

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12)

Jesus instructs us that by following Him, we become part of His family. He draws us into a close relationship with Himself and with each other, expecting us to treat one another as genuine family members. This principle was deeply ingrained in the early church and emphasized as a crucial aspect of Christian living (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

Throughout the years, numerous women have embodied the nurturing role of a 'mother' in Christ for me. They've offered guidance, correction, nourishment, prayer, and care, enriching my life in profound ways. I am deeply grateful for their presence and influence—they have truly been a blessing.

Let's strive to be more than just a collection of individual families within our college community; let's become a unified college family. Every interaction presents an opportunity to strengthen not only our bonds with our biological families but also to forge genuine connections with others, enriching our lives through authentic relationships.

I am thrilled to be joining the Speech Pathology team at the College in Term 2 starting on Fridays.

I am an experienced Speech Pathologist with over 14 years of experience working with preschoolers, infants and primary school aged children. My core areas of interest and specialty are developing: preschool language, speech, and social skills; school aged language, speech, literacy and social skills; supporting children with Autism, Developmental Delays, or learning disabilities to promote their language and social communication skills; developing low technology supportive communication systems; assessment and screenings; and training and resourcing families and educational staff.

I believe that therapy should be fun and rewarding, based around a child’s interests and tailored to meet their/their family’s goals. I love working closely with caregivers and educators so that therapy can easily happen across a child’s week. As a mother to three children myself, I understand the demands of family life and how little time may be left for home practice. I will work hard to ensure that expectations are realistic and possible.

Please note that this service does incur fees. You may be able to use Extras cover with a private health fund to claim back part of the cost of the service. It you are interested, you will need to contact your health fund for more details. Depending on your child’s needs you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate which is generally for up to 5 sessions/calendar year. You will need a referral form from your GP to claim back from Medicare. While I am not NDIS registered, I am able to see children who are self or plan managed.

If you are interested in discussing Speech Pathology services further or in booking in an appointment, I would love to hear from you! You can contact me via email at julia@kidsflourishspeech.com.au  or by visiting my website www.kidsflourishspeech.com.au

Mrs Julia McLean
Speech Pathologist

The official changeover to the College Winter Uniform for all students is on Monday 13 May 2024.

Information about uniforms, shop trading hours and online purchasing can be found on the College website.

Imagine more than 1,000 people gathered in prayer, coming from different backgrounds but united in serving Jesus wherever he puts them, especially for the education of children.

This is the Sydney Prayer Breakfast. The guest speaker, Dr. Andrew Browning, a Fistula Surgeon who has helped over 14,000 African women, shared his experiences.

He prayed with each patient before surgery and some witnessed amazing results from prayer.

One passage he shared stuck with me:

"Listen to my words, LORD; consider my sighing. Pay attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to You." (Psalm 5:1-2)

It reminds us that even when we're too stressed to find words, God hears our sighs.

Reverend Denis Oliver 
Chaplain

Recently, Year 6 students explored Australia’s connections with South-East Asia. We explored topics including trade, tourism, sport, migration and aid. Each student created a digital presentation about one country, showcasing their understanding of the topics. At the end of the unit, we celebrated our learning with a day where we viewed each other’s presentations, taking notes along the way.  

Mrs Cristy Abecina
Junior School Teacher - Year 6 Team Leader

The European Study Tour proved to be an enriching experience for the 30 senior History students who attended. From the grandeur of ancient Rome to the horrors of the Holocaust, each destination offered valuable lessons and insights into the complexities of the History studied in the Stage 6 courses.

Starting in Paris, we visited the Eifel Tower and then the Palace of Versailles which, as a symbol of absolute monarchy, provided insight into the lavish lifestyle of royalty in pre-revolutionary France. A full day in the Somme Valley learning about the Western Front helped us appreciate the costs of war. Climbing the Arc de Triomphe, shopping on the Champs-Elysees and visiting Napoleon’s tomb were the highlights of Day 3. Our evening walk through Paris and dinner in a local restaurant were wonderful experiences.

After arriving in Nuremburg, Germany, we enjoyed traditional German food, followed by a full day of exploration. In the morning, we walked through the old city towards the seat of power in the Holy Roman Empire, Kaiserberg Castle, our tour and hot chocolates in the café were both fantastic. The afternoon visits to Hitler’s underground art bunker followed by Nuremburg markets left us hungry for more delicious German food. On Day 6, a walking tour of the Nuremburg Rally Grounds in Munich and a visit to Courtroom 600 helped us understand the rise and fall of the NAZIS. A tour of Dachau Concentration Camp and the Munich Documentation centre were both sobering reminders of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. 

The beauty of Sorrento in Italy was a contrast to the cold German spring, and we all enjoyed eating too much Gelato and visiting the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. These ancient cities offered a poignant snapshot of daily life in ancient Rome. Climbing Mt Vesuvius was an achievement and a challenge but the spectacular views over the Bay of Naples were well worth the effort. The city of Rome was majestic in spring, and we threw our coins into the Trevi Fountain in the hope that we would all come back. The walking tour of Rome, the tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum all offered a glimpse into the architectural marvels and social dynamics of this great city throughout history.

Overall, it was a journey that left a lasting impression on all who participated as exploring some of the world’s greatest historical sites was an unforgettable experience. The students were a delightful group of young people, becoming more independent and confident as their journey progressed.

Mrs Michelle Pearson
Coordinator History/Legal Studies

Drama for Year 1 so far this term has been quite a natural fit! As I’m sure you will see from the pictures, the students are not holding back when taking on roles to explore familiar and imagined situations. This week we learnt about the freeze frame technique – freezing their bodies to create a scene. Can you guess which image corresponds to the following phrases. ‘You are being chased by a lion’, ‘you are looking up at a giant’, ‘you just stubbed your toe’ and finally ‘you are eating messy spaghetti’.  Year 1 are very dramatic!

Mrs Winsome Hollis 
Creative Arts Specialist Teacher  

Hockey

Congratulations to Harley P for his involvement in the CASA Hockey Team at the AICES Hockey Gala Day - He traveled all the way to Newcastle to represent the College and CASA at this prestigious event. We are very proud of him! 

Netball

We are so pleased to announce that our very own Ella W has made the AICES Netball Team. Out of all students in the independent region, she has made the top 10! We wish her all the best as she competes at the CIS U15s Netball Trials in May. 

Mrs Irene Focas
Senior School Sports Co-ordinator