The program tends to begin with students feeling both joy and stress.

The logistics behind giving valuable musical instruments out to children in Year 4 may heighten the stakes, but written on the faces of the students is an excitement to develop their sense of responsibility, the enthusiasm brought on by giving something new a go, and the obvious thankfulness for being given such a special opportunity to learn an instrument from an exceptional musician in a small group.

For the music teachers and tutors who work on the program throughout the year there is great anticipation in seeing for which students the 'spark' will go off. We've found over the years that many of the students who go on to participate in our String Ensembles, our Concert Bands and our elective music classes owe some of their discovery of their love for music to the Year 4 Instrumental Program.

We're also very thankful that we tend to have a surprisingly small repair bill at the end of the year considering the workout that the Year 4 instruments in our hire program get by students practising at home, in their lessons and in our 12 ensembles. This probably comes down to the culture of care and responsibility that is shared between our school and the families that it is made up of. 

We look forward to the year ahead as students are exposed to a quality music education with life-long benefits.  

Mr David Humphreys
Head of Music

As an inclusive, non-selective school we have a range of students, from high ability to those with a learning disability. We have students who are very motivated and others who struggle to organise their learning. Some of our students are extroverted, while others are introverted.  

Sometimes people assume that schools primarily cater to a diverse range of learners through a variety of specialised programs and individual help. I am very thankful for the targeted, personalised assistance our learning support teachers and aides provide and I am confident that our specialised programs, such as the Junior School maths and literacy groups, make a tangible positive difference to learning outcomes.

Notwithstanding these excellent initiatives, it is also very important that teachers create activities accessible to all students. This is known as universal design for learning (UDL), which is proven in educational research literature to be a highly effective way of helping a range of students to access learning and improve their academic outcomes. Let me tell you a personal story to help illustrate the value of UDL.

Several years ago I saved up and treated my late parents to a trip to the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne. At the time the tennis centre had a grand set of stairs leading from the turnstiles to centre court. My father tended to be a little slow and unsteady on his feet; however, he wanted to walk up the stairs like everybody else and didn't want to be ushered through the disability services area. Unfortunately he overbalanced, fell down the stairs and ended up in hospital. He didn’t get to the tennis and didn’t have another opportunity in following years before he passed away.

In more recent times the grand set of stairs has been blocked off and the thousands of people going to watch the tennis enter by walking up a wide, gently sloping ramp. There are a few bench seats along the way and volunteers are available to assist people. My father would have comfortably navigated this ramp. He would have been slower than everyone else and may not have been able to sit in his preferred seat; however, he would have achieved his goal of being able to watch the tennis just like everyone else.

Similarly to my father, many students want to do the same task as other students in their class. They appreciate their teacher’s clear instructions and the quiet, personal help they may receive during the lesson. They may not finish the task as quickly as others and they may not do it as well; however, once completed the student will have more confidence to improve the quality of his or her academic work in the future.

UDL is also a powerful tool to challenge academically able students. When I taught HSC Legal Studies I would ask students to write an essay response to an open-ended question e.g. Evaluate how effectively the legal system responds to the needs of employees who are injured at work. I would help students who struggled with academic writing by providing them with a topic sentence for each paragraph and specific scaffolding on how to complete the paragraph. However, for those students who had ambitions to be lawyers I would expect them to show me their comprehensive essay plan, including a list of the academic authorities they intended to use to create their arguments. I would also insist on providing feedback on the first paragraph before they proceeded with the rest of the essay to ensure that their writing was deep and sophisticated.

The essay question was just like the long, gentle ramp to access the tennis centre. Everybody could access the question; however, with strategic teacher intervention every student could be challenged and extended using that one simple question.

I trust that the strategies our teachers are employing will help all of our students to learn, improve and achieve.

Mr Brett Hartley
Principal

We are very excited to introduce a new session for the evening occurring at 6pm for any ESL families. During this session Mr Chen (Secondary English Teacher) will share his experience and journey from an ESL student to English Teacher. 

A group of teachers from our school traveled to see the students tread the boards at Queenwood School for Girls, amongst a raft of other highly skilled performers. 

Having seen the NESA Onstage showcase only a few days earlier, I could not have separated the skill level from either showcase as they were exceptional all round. Our group (Annie Carroll, Aimee Raval, Keziah Walker and Bethany Munckton) created their own original play called 'Shell Shocked', an allegorical story that dealt with hermit crabs and asylum seekers, while Bethany also performed a Piaf inspired solo performance of her character’s connection to the singer, reliving a number of key Piaf songs throughout the piece. Our Shire students certainly held their own in the outstanding selection. 

An exciting extra feature available to the Offstage performers is that their performances were filmed and will be available on You Tube. Once they are uploaded you will be able to view them for yourselves. We will let you know when they are available, however, feel free to view the trailer in the meantime. 

Please note that performances at an HSC level are aimed at a senior high audience and may deal with mature themes. Parents and caregivers are advised to show discretion when allowing younger students to view them.

Mrs Kathryn Breen
Head of Drama

Students were able to sit in on lectures such as Physics: putting light to work (Engineering and Info Sciences); Business Internships - more than just a line on your resume; Nursing - Discover the nursing laboratory and simulation suite; Law: You be the Judge; Exercise Science and Rehabilitation – more gain with less pain; Get Creative! Visual Arts painting workshop. 

Mrs Robyn Buchanan
Careers Advisor 

It soon becomes apparent that all good kingdoms need rules and guidelines. The new king and the children and teachers of K-2 worked on a good set of rules to keep this kingdom and its citizens happy. As it turns out, they are the same as our school's "Rainbow Reminders" which are based on the way our real King, Jesus, wants us to live!

A special thanks go to Secondary School Drama students, Lauren Smith and Annabel Henderson for helping Mrs Moes and Mrs Wright in all the Kindy - Year 2 class performances. 

They experienced exceptional performances by students playing instruments ranging from Violins, Pianos through to Acoustic Guitars, and Vibraphones. There was a strong representation of music from the Western Classical Tradition as well as Jazz Music, and there were also a few pieces in Rock, Pop and Musical Theatre.

Having regular opportunities for our students to engage with exceptional music from a range of cultures is vital to our students to grow in knowledge and love for their instrument and ultimately their creator. 

Many students commented that they felt inspired by the level of accomplishment that can be achieved by young people.

Mr David Humphreys
Head of Music

A team of 35 strong swimmers participated enthusiastically and represented our school very well.

Congratulations to the 8-10 years Girls Freestyle Relay who came 2nd and the 11-13 Years Boys Relay who came 3rd.

Of special mention were the Girls 10 Years Age Champion Tamara Dunkley and Boys 9 Years Age Champion James Seidel.

We are very grateful to Mr Bill Lewis who was official timer for the day and very appreciative of all the parents who attended to cheer on the team!

Mrs Alison Gawthorne

There was plenty of energy, excitement and smiles across all classes.

More dance class positions will be available towards the end of this term.

If you are interested in joining us on Friday mornings from 7.40am, you are more than welcome. Please fill in the permission note and return it to Student Services in Reception.

We've also now had three weeks of the secondary running group on Thursday mornings, with over 29 different students, teachers and parents joining us. This group is also made up of runners of all sorts of abilities and is open for both students and parents in secondary school. Just fill in the permission note and return it to Student Services if you wish to come along.

Mr Peter Richardson
Head of Sport

We entered both divisions, with a mix of experienced players and players new to the game but keen to learn. Both teams were very competitive in most matches throughout the day, although neither team reached semi-finals.

Players had to work very hard in the heat, particularly the open girls who were not able to be substituted all day. At one stage the organisers called a special break and turned on the centre's massive sprinklers to allow players to get wet and cool off.  

An enormous thank you to Glenn, our coach, who was a great help with the teams and special congratulations to Morgan Tsang and Jenna-Louise Davidson for their selection on the U16’s and the Opens CSSA team, along with Matt Thompson who was chosen as a shadow player. Also well done Harry Carrol on providing a great 80’s playlist for the team bus sing-a-long on the way home. You get my thumbs up!

Mr Phil Askew

• 12 years boys: Max Burke-Moore
• 12 years girls: Summerset Rigg
• 13 years boys: Kieran George
• 13 years girls: Sophie Dunkley
• 14 years boys: Noah Wiseman
• 14 years girls: Caitlin James
• 15 years boys: Danie Bredell
• 15 years girls: Shae Lewis
• 16 years boys: Gabriel Garcia
• 16 years girls: Ashleigh Robinson
• 17 years boys: Joshua Rupenovic
• 17 years girls: Chevonne Britton
• 18 years boys: Patrick Murrary
• 18 years girls: Julia Jacobson

The zone team can be seen here (with those in green having already handed in a permission note). There is one last chance to hand in permission notes before the entries close on Monday 25 February (Week 5). Congratulations to Cranmer house on taking out the house championship for the umpteenth year running!

Mr Peter Richardson
Head of Sport

Firstly, the things described in disturbing detail in verses 21-32, written 2,000 years ago on the other side of the world, are almost an exact description of what we see being acted out on our TV screens, in our cinemas, and on our streets every day, because they are endemic to our current culture. How could the Apostle Paul have known? Because he was being inspired and moved by God’s Holy Spirit as he wrote.

This reinforces my confidence in the Scriptures as God’s revelation of his absolute and unchanging truth to sinful man; which in turn spurs me on in my desire and my efforts to follow David’s wise advice in Psalm 1:

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night, ….”

Secondly, if God is unchangeably righteous and just, it is inevitable that his “wrath is being being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, …” (Romans 1:18). Sadly, but understandably, the outpouring of his wrath does not have to be ‘active’, but is achieved simply by the withdrawing of his hand of mercy that we depend on every day to prevent us from destroying ourselves, each other, and our world!

Thirdly, and this is the ‘Good News’, all this is not a cause for despair but for hope. The fact that Romans 1:18-32 appears in Scripture proves that the all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient) Creator is not taken by surprise by what is happening under our very eyes, but instead, is using it to bring about his ultimate Plan in history to save his people who turn to him for refuge in repentance-and-faith.

As Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (verses 16-17) - and it is this truth that provides the glorious context for the otherwise scary revelation about God’s wrath!

Let us, too, be unashamed of the ‘Gospel’ that demonstrates the depth of the Father’s love by his Son, Jesus, bearing the wrath himself in our place and so turning it back from us, in order to protect all who turn to him for refuge!

Bruce Christian

This year our in-house psychologists, Mrs Karlie Carroll and Mr Jair Graham, will be speaking on resilience and bullying. 

Junior School
As you will notice in the Junior School program there are several optional small group sessions which will give you an opportunity to hear from your child’s class teacher.

Secondary School
There are several optional sessions in the Secondary School program which will be of interest to parents. These sessions include the Year 12 student/parent/teacher interviews, a session providing information about Year 12 study and separate meetings for each year group. Information on how to make appointments will be provided to Year 12 parents closer to the date. 

Our Kindergarten to Year 11 parent teacher interviews will be on Thursday 4 April and Tuesday 9 April. Parents will be able to choose to come on one of the two nights. More information will be provided on how to book closer to the date.

The standard processing fee of 50 cents per transaction will begin appearing on transactions from the week beginning 18/02/2019.

AIE Games, Design and Animation 20 March, 6.00pm-8.00pm, Level 2, Wentworth Park Grandstand, Wattle Street, Ultimo

Discover the courses designed to get you started in game development, 3D animation and visual effects.This evening will include presentations on different areas on industry to get into as well as information about AIE full-time and part-time courses and entry requirements.Student work will be on display and teachers will be available to speak with prospective students and parents about courses and how AIE can get you into a creative career. https://aie.edu.au/aie_event/information-evening/

Year 10 Subject Selection and Information Evenings

University of New South Wales 10 April and 2 May.For more information and to register, head to UNSW.to/whatson

University of Sydney www.sydney.edu.au/yr10-info-evening

Wollongong University Tuesday 2 April, Tradies, 6.00pm

TAFE NSW Credit Transfer Pathways to University

If you want to go to University via a TAFE qualification, check out your great options at the website below and get credit for what you studied at TAFE/. This credit transfer website is a guide to credits available for completed TAFE NSW qualifications to articulate into a University or Higher Education Provider degree.It is designed to help you tailor your study journey.How much credit you are eligible for varies depending on course, institution chosen and the grades achieved.As credit arrangements are updated regularly, you should always confirm your eligibility with the offering institution.https://credittransfer.tafensw.edu.au/

General

Astronomy -Apollo 11 50th Anniversary - Open Day at Parkes Observatory, 20-21 July, 585 Telescope Road, ParkesIt was one giant leap for mankind, taken at 12.56pm (AEST) on Monday, 21 July 1969, and recorded by our own Parkes radio telescope along with NASA’s Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station near Canberra.

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, we’ll be holding open days at Parkes Observatory to celebrate the telescope’s achievements. You are invited to visit the Observatory.https://events.csiro.au/Events/2018/November/26/Parkes-Open-Days-2019

UCAT - No Need to Panic

A good article via My Health Career published by UCAT NIE – The National Institute of Education nie.edu.au
The shift from UMAT to UCAT took place without much warning with only the university admission offices having been made aware ahead of the change. For everyone else it did come as a surprise and truth be told, it has created a lot of work for people like us who had spent a lot of time researching and developing courses for the UMAT. https://www.myhealthcareer.com.au/medicine/ucat-panic

UCAT Test Dates, Fees and Processes.Candidates taking the UCAT in 2019 for entry to universities in Australia and New Zealand in 2020 should note these key dates:

March- Registrations Open

17 May - Registrations Close

1 July - Testing begins

Early September - Results delivered to universities.All details in full are found here:https://www.ucat.edu.au/ucat-anz/

NYSF Year 12 Program - Inspiring Australia's Young Scientists

Applications open 1 March for January 2020

The NYSF Year 12 Program is a 12-day residential program designed to give students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage continued studies in these fields. At the NYSF Year 12 Program run in January each year, participants will:

Visit science and technology related laboratories and facilities

Go on site tours and listen to lectures

Participants also take part in sessions on entrepreneurship, critical thinking, how to work together effectively, and more. The focus is not solely on academic achievements, but on developing well-rounded individuals who have the skills and confidence to determine their futures.

https://www.nysf.edu.au/programs/year-12-program/

CASE2019 - Cochlear Autumn School of Engineering 15-18 April 2019 EA's Autumn School of Engineering is a 4 day program for 100 x Year 11 & 12 School Students - studying Maths, Science & Engineering. Enjoy workshops at USYD, UTS, UNSW and Macquarie; see behind the scenes at RAAF Richmond, ANSTO & Cochlear. Meet current young engineers at the Careers Night! $330 per student / email: nswregistration@engineersaustralia.org.au ph: 9410 5652

University

Sydney UTAS – Medical Programs

Darlinghurst - The University of Tasmania's Darlinghurst campus offers Nursing within the School of Health Sciences offers the two year fast track Bachelor of Nursing course through the Darlinghurst campus in partnership with the St Vincent's and Mater Health Services.

Rozelle - UTAS offers Bachelor of Paramedic Practice and this course is supported by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales. The School of Medicine at the Rozelle campus aims to provide the community with sound, comprehensive out-of-hospital care through the development of paramedic students conversant in the field of paramedic practice.

The University's School of Health Sciences offers the fast track two year Bachelor of Nursing course through the Rozelle campus in partnership with the Sydney Local Health District, South Western Sydney Local Health District, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.

New sectors beckon and these undergraduate courses come highly recommended

• Bachelor of Medical Engineering (Honours), University of Newcastle
• Electrical Engineering, Macquarie University
• Bachelor of Advanced Studies University of Sydney
• Computer Science, University of NSW
• Bachelor of Cyber Security and Behaviour, Western Sydney
• Bachelor of Laws major, Legal Futures and Technology, UTS