Term 2 I Friday 18 June 2021

Students have been engaged in several major events at the College in the last few weeks. 

It has been a delight to enjoy the Junior School Creative Arts performances of Kindergarten, Year 1 & 2; to marvel at the Senior School Made for Stage Creative Arts production, including our special guest MC and performer Rebecca Selley, and to delight in the the MISA Dance Festival at the Campbelltown Cube last Tuesday. Our Creative Artists and backstage crews are very talented. Thank you to parents and friends who came along despite the cold weather to enjoy such fabulous creative arts.  We look forward to additional performances next term. While the 2020 College Musical had to be cancelled last year, we are making progress on the next Musical, set for early May 2022.

College sporting teams and talented individuals have been very active in the last few weeks. It was a pleasure to interview young Isaiah Wanna from Year 4 representing and highlighting all our students.  Isaiah placed first in the Combined Independent Schools Cross Country Carnival last Friday. Competing against the best across the State, Isaiah achieved the highest award of first place. He has a distinct understanding of how to run to win. Here's a small preview from the interview. You can catch his interview on THAC TV.

Representative teams have played in elite football competitions and Futsal competitions with success, and our NASSA Athletics team competed with success a fortnight ago at the Campbelltown Athletics Centre.  Congratulations to all our sportsmen and women as well as their teachers and coaches. 

We have made the decision to postpone the South West Festival again this year, and have looked at the opportunity of a revised date for the festival in 2022. More news will follow from our Community Relations team. The COVID issues seem to continue unfortunately, and we do well to keep watch around healthy practice.  Let me give every encouragement to have a vaccination as soon as possible. 

Let me bring special staff news to our community of the retirement this week of two long-standing staff members. AnnMarie Stanton has worked in the Junior School Library since 2001, and her two children were educated here. Farewell also to Sally Wonham who began at the College in 2006 and has worked to support staff in the Senior School Admin team.  Congratulations and thank you to AnnMarie and Sally, and on your behalf, let me wish them well for the next phase.   

Thank you so much for your support during the term. College teaching staff will undertake professional development next week. The College Office will be then be closed in the week of Monday 28th June to 2nd July. Term 3 commences Monday 12 July 2021 when all students will be back for classes. Please enjoy the winter break.

May the Lord bless and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Blind date with a book

Congratulations to Nimisha S (Year 9) for winning the first ‘Blind date with a book’ prize draw! She has won a brand new book of her choice. The second prize draw will be held lunchtime Friday 16th July. (Term 3 Week 1) Remember the more ‘blind book dates’ you go on, the more chances you have to win a great prize!

For more information please see Mrs Comiskey or Mr Smith.

Page Turners Book Club

Love Books? Love Reading? Love Food? Join the Page Turners, an exciting new book club for students in Years 7 to 9. Numbers are strictly limited. Sign up today to ensure your spot. Meetings will be held Monday lunchtime every three weeks. For more information please speak to Mr Smith.

What’s new on the Shelf?

Blast off into an incredible adventure with this new Sci-Fi series.

‘Skyward’ – Brandon Sanderson

“Spensa's world has been under attack for hundreds of years. An alien race called the Krell leads onslaught after onslaught from the sky in a never-ending campaign to destroy humankind. Humanity's only defense is to take to their ships and fight the enemy in the skies. Pilots have become the heroes of what's left of the human race. Spensa has always dreamed of being one of them; of soaring above Earth and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with her father's - a pilot who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, placing Spensa's chances of attending flight school somewhere between slim and none. No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, but she is still determined to fly. And the Krell just made that a possibility. They've doubled their fleet, making Spensa's world twice as dangerous . . . but their desperation to survive might just take her skyward . . .”

‘Skyward’ is the first novel in a fantastic new series by acclaimed author Brandon Sanderson. Filled with exciting space battles, terrible aliens, strange artificial Intelligence’s and a wonderfully unique futuristic society, this is a story that will hook readers from the very first page. Main protagonist Spensa is a compelling and complex character. Haunted by her father’s betrayal of their people, she constantly strives to prove herself loyal and steadfast. Readers will find themselves cheering her on as she battles to overcome the many obstacles that are placed in her way, obstacles trying to stop her from achieving her dream of becoming a fighter pilot.  The novels supporting characters are also well developed and believable, providing further depth to this wonderful world.  With an exciting plot filled with lots of intense moments of action and suspense, this is a great sci-fi novel that all readers will not want to miss.

Lots more exciting new novels have arrived in the Library, make sure to check out the ‘New Book’ stand for all the latest releases.

Mrs Annette Comiskey & Mr Michael Smith
Senior IRC Library Team

Our live lunchtime entertainment was back last week with live performances and record spinning from our Year 12 MC’s.
This is always a fun session, with a selection of our senior students performing for their peers as they enjoy lunch and sunshine. This time, both of our Contemporary Bands performed 2 songs each. The intermediate group performed 'Rosana' and 'Don't Start Now'.  The Seniors performed Hold the Line and On my Mind. The Year 12 hosts were Angus M. and Joey M, and these boys are always entertaining updating students with College community news and music trivia. Well done to these students, and we look forward to more GROOVE & THAC FM sessions next term.

Mr Byron Mark
Director of Ensembles

Students recently competed at the NASSA and AICES Cross Country Carnival.

It was perfect conditions for the event at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

Congratulations to the following students who qualified to compete at the next levels.

AICES Qualifiers:
Alexander A
Liliana C (2nd Place)
Dusan C
Adrian D
Jonathan F
Milly G
Charlie K
Christopher L
Joshua S
Cooper S
Flynn S
Adrian T
Isabella V(1st Place)
Lucas V

CIS Qualifiers:
Dusan C
Adrian D
Jonathan F
Charlie K
Adrian T

Mr Michael Fox
Senior School Sports Coordinator