Of course we should; however, we should be mindful of the need to be thankful to God when we face trials. During World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsy consciously sought to find things they could thank God for while they were prisoners in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

At this time of burden, trial and uncertainty there are many things I am thankful for.

• The commitment of our parents to working with the school to educate children at home.
• The dedication of our teachers and support staff to provide a quality Christian education under particularly trying circumstances.
• The maturity and adaptability of our students.
• The comfort and strength God has given students, parents and staff.

We should also be thankful that the trials we face help us to be steadfast in our faith.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1: 2 – 4 ESV

During a time of uncertainty and trial it is important to pray and be thoughtful to those in need. My sincere thanks to so many in the school community who have been praying and supporting:

• those who are suffering financial hardship
• families who have found remote learning difficult
• those who are struggling emotionally

Notwithstanding the positive achievements of remote learning in recent weeks, it is a blessing that the school can transition back to face-to-face classroom learning more quickly than we expected. God created us to be in relationship with Him and each other. In my view the best way to develop relationships and to learn is for children to be personally interacting with each other and their teachers. Classroom learning gives teachers the best opportunity to perceive student need and make intuitive judgements about how best to help children to develop academically, socially and spiritually.

I trust that my communication in recent weeks has been clear and helpful and that our two-week transition back to regular face-to-face learning will be smooth and supportive of our families.

Mr Brett Hartley
Principal

As you know we have a staged plan to welcome everyone back to school. One of our main reasons for implementing this model of returning alphabetically is to support all families equally and help everyone in our school community adjust gradually to being back in our safe, healthy and supportive school environment.  

Next week Monday 11th sees those from A-L return, and Tuesday M-Z. Children will be taught by their class teachers and from Wednesday - Friday will continue remote learning at home. Children who attend school from Wednesday to Friday will be supervised to complete Remote Learning activities.

During the following week, children A-L will attend school on Tuesday and Wednesday, M-Z on Thursday and Friday. 

We look forward to welcoming all our students on Monday 25th May. We understand that some families may decide to continue to self-isolate. Content will be available for these families to continue to learn at home.

Please be mindful of practising national social distancing guidelines whilst at school for the safety of our students, parent community and our staff members. We appreciate your support in following Mr Hartley’s direction in saying goodbye to your child in the breezeway and not walking them to their classrooms in the morning. We ask that you please try to limit social conversations with other parents at drop off and pick up time. With increasing numbers of families returning to school, we want to ensure that the breezeway and playground do not become congested. If your child is upset or anxious our staff will support you in making sure your child feels settled before you leave.

Our theme this year is using data to inform and improve learning. During the coming weeks, teachers will be continuing to gather data and assess where students are in their learning and then putting programs in place to ensure they continue to make steps forward. Some parents may be concerned that their child’s learning has been impacted by the weeks of remote learning. Let me assure you that our teachers' priority over the coming weeks is to check in with how your child is going and communicate this with you as the term progresses.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 

Mr Paul Carter
Head of Junior School

Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I have lived in the Sutherland Shire all my life, except for living and working in England for close to a year. I have been to a few churches since becoming a Christian and currently go to Soul Revival church in Kirrawee. I play soccer and baseball and also enjoy scuba diving.

What are you looking forward to about teaching at Shire Christian? 

I am looking forward to meeting the students and seeing how God uses them and their gifts and teaching Maths in a way that students can understand so that they can succeed.

As a young teacher, any spare time is luxurious. As well as looking for teaching resources, I enjoy cultivating plants and herbs, making coffee and bread, occasionally cake and desserts. I have been doing calligraphy for a couple of years, and currently, I am moving from brush lettering to dip pen.

Where have you studied and worked?

I completed a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Teaching degree at The University of Sydney. Before the commencement of my postgrad course, I worked for one of the big four accounting firms for a couple of months. I trained as a student teacher at The King’s School with their brilliant Mathematics department, spent a term at Presbyterian Ladies College Sydney as an intern teacher, and then went back to The King’s School teaching casually.

What are you looking forward to about teaching at Shire Christian?

I love teaching and always get a great thrill teaching in front of a class, and I know that my enthusiasm will never wane. Having the opportunity to share my faith and to guide, to enthuse, to empathise and sympathise and to show compassion, I am looking forward to inspiring every student who comes under my care. I firmly believe that Christ leads me along His chosen path every second of every day. I am here to not only teach students about mathematics but help them develop their potential, as well as help them construct and form a logical and rational higher-order thinking framework for the future. I firmly believe, also it has been proved during the last few months at Shire Christian School, that every single child will grow, but at their own pace, in their own way, according to God’s timing.

Here at Shire Christian School we could not run our usual Anzac Day assembly due to students learning remotely. As a result, some Year 9 students came up with the idea of putting together an Anzac Day video to commemorate Anzac Day in lieu of not having an assembly.

The preparation for this involved Zoom meetings, scripts, filming and editing.

A big thank you to all of the Year 9 students who helped and Retired Lt. Colonel Scott Watkins (DFC) who gave a short talk in the video. The video also contains Lachlan Watkins reading out In Flanders Field poem, a reading of The Ode by Ruby McPherson and the playing of the Last Post by Noah Wiseman.

Tristan Hughes did a great job editing and putting the video together.

Lest we forget.

Mr Matthew Miller
Head of HSIE

You can enter any distance as many times as you wish, walking or running. Why not continue to strive for a personal best time? Check out the following video for a quick explanation.

I look forward to seeing many of you get involved and get active. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email Mr Peter Richardson at prichardson@shirechristian.nsw.edu.au 

Mr Peter Richardson
Head of Sport

So the thing that really struck me in the middle of this encouraging song was the request: ”But do not kill them, O Lord our shield, or my people will forget.”  What the King is asking is that the LORD will continue to protect him throughout this attack, but that he won’t take the ‘pressure’ off entirely! In effect, David wants the people who look up to him for spiritual strength and direction, to have a practical reason for trusting in God in spite of, and even because of, the surrounding adversity.

Other Scriptures come to mind:

• “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) - we actually need confusing and perplexing adverse circumstances to be the context of true faith.

• “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:8-10) - Job’s patient faith is demonstrated by the fact that, although from his own limited perspective it seems that his God is completely ‘out of the picture’, he knows that, in reality, he himself is firmly and clearly in focus on God’s radar screen! And Job also knew that God was using ‘adversity’ as a very effective ‘tool’ in shaping him for heaven.

• “These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): …” (Judges 3:1-2) - it was a way for the ‘body’ of Israel to build up an ‘immune system’ against the threat of attack.

The present coronavirus is such a threat to our health and economic security that many people are despairing about the long-term future, or even if there will be one. Perhaps God is using such a time as this to give his covenant people, his church, a backdrop, a setting, in which we can demonstrate our steadfast faith in his sovereign power and control, in which we can show our unshakeable trust in him as the One who controls all things and of whom we can say confidently without wavering: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3). And perhaps God will use such a solid witness to bring many others to take refuge in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of their lives!

Bruce Christian

Students, staff and parents must not come onto the school site if they:

• exhibit any symptoms consistent with COVID19 e.g. a cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat or other respiratory symptoms
• have travelled overseas within the last 14 days
• have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19
• have a confirmed case of COVID-19
• are awaiting the results of a test for COVID-19

Students who come to school and exhibit the above-mentioned symptoms will be sensitively asked to go home.

Of course, it’s not the same as working together in person, however, it is better than we even anticipated. 

Tutors have been using Zoom to effectively coach students at mutually agreed new lesson times. Many lessons have been able to be moved to outside school hours. This means that there is no interruption to regular classes.

Please click here if you’d like to find out more or enrol now. If you have a question, please email music@shirechristian.nsw.edu.au.

Lessons will continue on Zoom for now. We are watching the situation closely and will reassess in week 5 when in-person peripatetic lessons can start to happen at school again.

Ensembles

Our ensemble rehearsals will also remain on pause during this transition period. We’ll be reviewing the situation towards the midpoint of the term and hope to be able to announce the official dates for the first rehearsals of our 10+ ensembles.

In the mean time, we encourage students to take up this opportunity of remaining home more than normal to grow in skill on their instrument as they dedicate some time each day to play their instrument. To help with this, each of our ensemble directors have made sheet music, play along recordings and some other resources available through the music website.

If you’re interested in joining an ensemble when we return, feel free to also have a look and play through at this amazing resource!

Mr David Humphreys
Head of Music

Edstart helps make it easy for you to manage school fees by providing flexible payment plans. You can reduce your annual school fee spend by extending payments over a longer period.

With Edstart, you can fund tuition fees, additional charges such as uniforms, extra-curricular activities as well as amounts in arrears.

To find out more, visit edstart.com.au/shirechristian.

Please note that in providing information about Edstart, the school is not providing any recommendation, brokering or advice services. The school does not receive referral fees, commissions or any other remuneration from Edstart.

For more information visit https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covidsafe-app.

ICT Interactive Career Wheel

Check out the Interactive ICT Career Wheel with various roles sitting within each quadrant - Digital Design, Security, Specialities, Marketing/Consulting, Industry, Software, Hardware and Content.  https://www.careersfoundation.com.au

Click on any role and there is a video behind it featuring someone who works in that role, talking about what their role entails, what they studied etc.

InspirED's Free HSC & Beyond Virtual Career Expo  

28, 29, 30, 31 May and 25, 26, 27, 28 June 

Visit virtual booths from over 80 University and Higher Education providers!

-Access faculty-specific information

-Ask live questions or book a video chat with student advisors

-Attend a live stream lecture — Early Admission information, scholarship applications and other relevant topics.

Students & parents can meet with university ambassadors & advisors via chat, phone, or video chat & browse their virtual booths. This will be a really fun & engaging way to ensure that HSC students don’t miss out on finding their dream university. 

https://inspired.edu.au/hscbeyond/?inf_contact_key=dd100260c42176bc6fff8dd471f2a57d

Year13's Digital Careers Expo 18 to 22 May 

Year13 is holding an all-inclusive Digital Careers Expo in order to help youth navigate the transitional period from high school during National Careers Week.

https://youthsense.com.au/events/year13s-digital-careers-expo/

Using LinkedIn to Hustle in High School During the time of COVID-19, making valuable connections has never been more important. Separate from the pack, and learn how to use LinkedIn to build strong relationships with industry professionals during high school. To register for the free webinar head to this link: https://bit.ly/3cnLgEQ.

Why Aged Care is a Great Career Move 

A career in the fast-growing aged care industry could be absolutely right for you. Be inspired, challenged and bring comfort and dignity to older Australians.

To make sure working in aged care was really going to be right, Aiden took up an aged care short course which included four weeks of work experience. Next, he applied for a traineeship vacancy with a large provider. “Of course, there were a few hoops to go through,” he says. But very quickly he was offered a place. “I accepted, I started and I’m loving it!” he says. “The advantages of taking up a traineeship over just doing a course are that you are getting paid on the job while you learn,” he says.

http://bit.ly/2U6hQ9s

Avondale is Sponsoring a Free Wellbeing Program As Australia’s leading provider of wellbeing higher education, Avondale University College is sponsoring free access for individuals and families* to participate in an award-winning and evidence-based wellbeing initiative called The Lift Project: https://www.theliftproject.global/thanksavondale/ *For companies, organisations and schools go to: https://www.theliftproject.global/group-enquiries/.

Engineers Australia’s Secondary School Engagement Programs Here are links to some great immersions.

• STEM2020 on demand
• Engineering Heroes
• Above & Beyond
• https://academy.3ds.com/en/challenges
• If you are in to Space, Astronomy Defence –NASA Newsletter
• What Australian Engineering Students are doing in the fight against COVID-19. 

Labour Market Information Portal - Australian Government

  If you or someone you know is affected by COVID-19 there is information to help students, parents, education/training providers and job seekers on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment's website. The information includes: 

• A  Jobs HubOpens a new window providing an up to date list of some of the businesses and organisations that are currently hiring, how to contact them if you are looking for work, as well as the latest information on jobs by location 

• Support for apprentices and trainees

• Information for job seekers, and participants

• Support for Australian businesses to manage cash flow challenges and retain employees.

You can find this information on the Department's websiteOpens a new window or australia.gov.auOpens a new window 

Medicine

For any students who are thinking of studying medicine post school this could be a helpful website.

https://www.studymedicine.com.au

COVID-19, Weekly Webinars from The University of Sydney: From the start of Term 2, USYD will be hosting a series of webinars and live chats (via Zoom) to provide your students with everything they need to start their journey to Sydney. Topics include: HSC study tips; course information; student life; how to apply for pathways and scholarships; and live Q&As with our students. www.sydney.edu.au/undergraduate-events.

UTS Introducing the Bachelor of Business at UTS Webinar
7 May 2020. 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Learn about our Bachelor of Business as well as extra-curricular activities within UTS Business School
Register

UTS Undergraduate options in Business and Management webinar
12 May 2020. 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Learn about your single and combined degree options as well as extra-curricular activities and internship opportunities within UTS Business School.
Register

UTS The Bachelor of Accounting at UTS: A Zoom Webinar
13 May 2020. 6:00pm – 7:00pm
If you are a high achieving school leaver and believe you could be one of Australia’s future business leaders, then the Bachelor of Accounting cooperative education scholarship program has been designed just for you.
Register

UTS Understanding the Bachelor of Economics at UTS: Zoom Webinar
14 May 2020. 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Learn how the Bachelor of Economics, as well as the Economics major within the Bachelor of Business, provide you with a unique understanding of how people, businesses and governments make decisions.
Register

The University of Sydney, Contemporary Music Workshop at Sydney Con: 4 June, 4-6pm Join this online workshop and learn from Con experts about songwriting, lyrics and song structures, as we explore the ways you can generate great, distinctive lyrics to distinguish your songs. This workshop is a fantastic opportunity for students considering studying Contemporary Music at the Conservatorium of Music. Register at https://bit.ly/2VQuyXM.

UOW College - covid-19 update 

UOW College will stay operational to support students, Careers Advisers and parents. UOW College will be participating in virtual Careers Expos as they are scheduled and move all other activities to online platforms to provide advice to students and their families. One on one video consultations are also available. More information, please visit www.uowcollege.edu.au or contact annika@uow.edu.au

Torrens Virtual Open Day – Billy Blue

19 May Online

Virtual Open Day is a customised online event that is designed for you to explore your study options in courses related to Business, Design, Technology, Hospitality, Health and Education.

https://www.torrens.edu.au/about/virtual-open-day?_ga=2.228940191.2052019135.1586389232-1362278214.1586389232

Becoming a Commercial Pilot: New Webinar Now Available Sydney Flight College has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by producing a brand new webinar for students, parents and careers advisers. Available on-demand, this 24 minute presentation discusses the pathways to becoming a commercial pilot, and the career opportunities such a qualification offers. View the presentation at bit.ly/SFCWebinar. 

JMC Online Open Day Saturday 23 May Join JMC Academy for their first ever Digital Open Day on Saturday 23 May from 1pm. There will be virtual campus tours, live Q&A sessions, interactive online workshops, talks from current students & Heads of Department about the courses, internships and study abroad opportunities. Learn why JMC continues to lead the way in Creative Industries. Register at https://www.jmcacademy.edu.au/events/open-days.

SAE Virtual Open Day | May 21 2020 | 12:00pm - 4:00pm Join us at the SAE Virtual Open Day, an online and interactive experience on Thursday, May 21 from 12pm–4pm. View campus videos, exclusive behind the scenes tours, course presentations, student showcases and experience SAE360 - SAE's interactive campus experience! Ask questions about studying at SAE with friendly course advisors LIVE during the event. Register here to attend: https://bit.ly/2XPvBtG.

Career in Games & Film, Open Day Online - Academy of Interactive Entertainment 16th May Considering a career in games or film development? Discover what makes AIE’s courses in Game Art & Animation, Programming and Game Design. Learn about entry requirements and career pathways. Industry and alumni guest speakers. Registration and more information https://aie.edu.au/aie_event/open-day/.

NECA Virtual Tour and Information Session Video for all those students who may be interested in electrical.

https://youtu.be/RP3JaoLLlUs | www.necatraining.com.au.

NECA Resources NECA have put together resources to help Students prepare for Aptitude tests in the electrical Industry https://www.necatraining.com.au/maths-in-the-electrical-trade/. 

Fee-Free Apprenticeships are a great way for students to launch their careers 

There’s never been a better time to start an apprenticeship in NSW. The NSW Government is paying the course cost for 100,000 new apprenticeships – meaning apprentices undertaking a government funded apprenticeship no longer face a student fee of up to $2000.

Apprenticeships are a great career pathway. They combine on-the-job training with classroom study to give you the skills and experience employers are looking for. Apprenticeships generally take around 3-4 years to complete, and apprentices earn a salary while they learn.

There are more than 120 different apprenticeship courses available in NSW, in a range of industries including construction, cooking, aviation and automotive.

http://bit.ly/2U8Hevl

My Gain Videos – Nearly Every Apprenticeship Video is Here

Nearly every possible apprenticeship or traineeship career is here to watch. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/user/AAPathways/videos

ATEL Gap Year Traineeships - Is a Gap Year Traineeships Right for You?

Not sure if you want to continue on with your studies or feel like having a bit of a break before throwing yourself back into studying full-time? Or perhaps you are looking to get stuck straight into your career? Gap Year Traineeships are a great way to test drive your chosen career to see if it’s right for you. Enjoy a bit of a breather from the daily demands of school, all while earning money.

https://www.atel.com.au/individual/choosing-a-gap-year-traineeship