School Newsletter, 2016 No. 8

Term 1 Week 8 18th March 2016 Issue No. 8

From the Principal Our school is blessed with so many amazing assets and wonderful people. We are a community that has come together under God and the vision, set by the Metford Community Baptist Church over 30 years ago, to be distinctly different. A community where God and His word are the foundation that we build all other things upon.

Earlier in the year, Mrs Ruddy shared one of the books from our school library called “The Biggest Story – How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden”

by Kevin De Young . It is a beautifully illustrated and well written book (so good I had to buy my own copy). The book tells the Bible story from cover to cover. It’s a book to read individually and as a family that explains the story of the Bible in simple yet profound terms which children and adults will both appreciate.

The story of the Bible is an amazing one.

Do you know it from cover to cover? You see, if we don’t know or remember the big story of the Bible, we will miss the point of some of the ‘little’ stories it contains.

Kevin DeYoung wants us to understand how each of the stories in the Bible are connected to the overarching message about God’s glorious plan to redeem His rebellious people. The Biggest Story helps us to understand the journey from the

If we’re not understanding God’s big plan, it means we may miss some or all of God’s big ideas in the Bible.

Page 1

Garden of Eden to Christ’s death on the cross, to the new heaven and earth:

they aren’t. Our world is broken and fallen.

The reality and consequences of sin are real. Yet they do not exist outside the big plans of God and will only exist for a while.

Those who have been born again in Jesus have nothing to fear and a certain future with Him.

“Once upon a time, there lived a man and a woman. They were the happiest people on the planet. True, they were the only people on the planet, but they were terrifically happy. Unfortunately things didn’t stay happy and wonderful for long.”

If you’ve never understood the story of the Bible from cover to cover, then “The Biggest Story” is a must read. If you need encouragement in your daily walk then it’s a book to read as well. If you’re a senior student that needs a 15-minute break in your study period, grab it, read it cover to cover and be encouraged by God’s big story.

Very soon after, sin entered the world and our relationship with God was broken. We know that God promised the hope of a Messiah and victory through Him. In the biggest Story we are reminded that “God promised that one of Eve’s children would, someday, eventually, sooner or later crush the head of that nasty snake.”

If you want to help your children to understand that God’s promises, power and provision is even better and bigger than we think, this is a book I highly recommend that you get your child to borrow from the library or look at purchasing your own copy.

Our prayer is that each child would not only understand but also live in the understanding of God’s big story.

God’s plan for the defeat of sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus has been worked out from the beginning of time and is still being worked out now. I love this line: “Our story is the story of God doing what we can’t, in order to make up for us doing what we shouldn’t. The Christ suffers for our sin, that we might share in his sinlessness.”

Yet that is not where the story ends.

Rich blessings Geoff Peet

“The Snake Crusher is coming back again to wipe away all the bad guys and wipe away every tear. He’s coming to make a new beginning and to finish what he started. He’s coming to give us the home we once had and might have forgotten we’ve lost”

On the Cover At the Lions Youth of the Year Quest regional final last Sunday, Lily from Year 10 competed against a field of outstanding public speakers, mostly from Year 12. Lily did an excellent job and came 2nd. She appreciated the experience she gained from this opportunity and is looking forward to competing again next year.

It is that hope, joy and glory that transforms our lives and which we live in daily as we serve Jesus. Are things always easy? No, Page 2

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2016

2016 Term Dates

The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is an encouragement for Kindergarten to Year 9 students to read 20 books from a prepared list between 7th March and 19th August.

Term 1: Wed 27/01/16 - Fri 08/04/16 Term 2: Tue 26/04/16 - Fri 01/07/16 Term 3: Mon 25/07/16 - Fri 23/09/16

Kindergarten to Year 2 students complete the PRC during school hours, with the help of their teachers and library staff. However, students in Years 3-9 need to read their books independently. A tub of books is available in every primary classroom to make it easy for students to read books from the PRC list.

Term 4: Tue 10/10/16 - Fri 9/12/16

Primary Assemblies Term 1

Date

Class

Week 9

Thu, 24th March

Easter Service

Week 11

8th April

5G

Week 3

13th May

4P

▪▪Years 3/4 green

Week 5

27th May

6H

▪▪Years 5/6 purple

Week 7

10th June

3/4L

Qualifying books are clearly marked with coloured stickers according to the division of the Challenge

Term 2

▪▪Years 7-9 light blue

Learning Together

Our local libraries also have clearly marked PRC books for students who wish to borrow after school hours.

This week, students from 2H and 3/4L were being coached in Physical Education activities by Mr Vine's Year 11 Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation students.

Please note that all students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will be entered into the PRC. If your child has previously completed the PRC at another school, please contact the library staff so that their reading records can be merged and kept up-to-date.

The younger students loved the dancing and other activities, as well as being able to spend time in the high school.

Last year, 201 students from Maitland Christian School completed the PRC. Students are asked to submit their reading log to the Library office for processing.

Alternatively, they may enter their completed books electronically (please see Mrs Ruddy or Mrs Moore for your logon details).

More information is available at www.premiersreadingchallenge.nsw.edu.au Page 3

Page 4

Bus Transfer Protocols

Zone Swimming Presentation

Some students from our school need to transfer from one bus to another on their way to and from school. Sometimes this takes place at other schools.

On Monday at a special assembly, Mr Peet presented ribbons and medals to the students who excelled at the Primary Zone Swimming Carnival in February.

So that they can manage students from other schools, the Grammar School staff have requested that they abide by the following protocols while waiting for transfers in their bus lines. Many of these protocols will be relevant at all locations where students are transferring from one bus to another.

Benjamin, Isaac, Luke and Jai received ribbons for being place getters in their races and Taylor and Matilda also were presented with medals for gaining places in their age championships.

• Students are required to follow the instructions of staff at all times while waiting for their connection • Younger students will be allowed to board the bus first

Whooping Cough This week we have had notification that a case of whooping cough has been confirmed in the school. If your child is showing any symptoms listed on the Fact Sheet that was emailed to you this week, please have them assessed by your GP. The NSW Government Health Department have advised us that in these cases the child needs to be kept home from school. After 5 days of antibiotics, they are normally no longer infectious and can return to school.

• Students need to remain behind the yellow line while waiting to board their bus • If a bus is delayed, all students will be asked to wait together with a staff member to supervise them until such time as the problem has been rectified • Students are required to join the queue to board a bus under the direction of staff

Parent/Teacher Interview Codes

• If a student from another school misses their connection, they are asked to report to one of the staff, who will direct them to the Administration Office where they will be able to call a parent

Parent/Teacher Interview codes were emailed to all parents this week. If you haven’t received an email, please check your junk mail folder in case it was mistakenly discarded.

• Any conflict at the bus lines is to be referred to an appropriate Senior Leader for management

It is very important that you save either the email or the actual codes so that you can use them later to check your interview times.

Page 5

Music Matters!

It has been a busy start to the school year, with many extra-curricular groups getting started and learning new music.

Our school is blessed with amazing musical students, and we are so excited to provide opportunities for them to practice their skills and grow their talents.

This year we have had our Primary Choir grow in numbers to 47 musical enthusiasts, joining Mrs Aitcheson and Mrs Sculthorpe to develop their repertoire.

Rehearsals are: • High School Vocal Ensemble - Monday lunchtime

In High School, we have the new Vocal Ensemble starting up for the first time in many years. We have 15 members and it is still increasing. If you’re interested in joining, just come along to one of our rehearsals, which are run by Mr McLaren and Mrs Aitcheson. The Infants Choir has also just started with Mrs Balcombe.

• Infant Choirs - Tuesday lunchtime • Primary Choir - Wednesday lunchtime We look forward to showing you our work at MADD Night later in the year, as well as performing at other school assemblies and events.

Community News

Page 6

What’s Happening at Metford Community Baptist Church?

Easter Services At Metford Community Baptist Church Come along to church and join us in commemorating Jesus death and resurrection, as He paid the price for our salvation and rose in victory.

Good Friday Service:

Friday, 25th March at 9:00am

Easter Sunday Celebration: Sunday, 27th March at 9:30am

Fr e e

to a

Good Home

There are 24 chairs at Metford Community Baptist Church which need a new home. If anyone is interested in picking some up, please contact Geoff or Sandra on 0428 662 203.

Metford Community Baptist Church is a community of Christian believers who love Christ, each other and their community. We have services every Sunday (9:30am and 6:00pm) and would love to see you there.

Our Contact details: Pastor: John Cook 83 Chelmsford Drive Associate Pastor: Andrew Sumpton Metford NSW 2323 (Next to Maitland Christian School) Phone: 4934 5350 admin@metfordbaptist.com.au

Church Services: Every Sunday 9:30am and 6:00pm Page 7

W hat ’s

Monday

Tuesday

o n th e

S ch e du le

Before School

Lunch

Recess

After School

Supervision from 8:00am Period 1 starts 8:30am

11:03am - 11:43am

1:40pm - 2:00pm

2:51pm After 3:15pm, collect children from the school office

Primary Art/Mural Club in C1 SALT in E8 Secondary Vocal Group in M2

Secondary TOPS Meeting in M1

MiniSALT in M2 Years 3/4 Computer Coding Club in E3 K-2 Choir in B2

GIFT in E15

Primary Choir in M2

Wednesday

Thursday

Years 5/6 Drama Club in D5 Secondary Tops Rehearsal in M1 Mission Knitting and Quilting Group in E5

Friday

Years 3-6 Chess Club in the Hope Hub

Secondary Boys Bible Study in E8

To keep up to date with the events at the school, “like” our Maitland Christian School Facebook page. You will find it at www.facebook.com/maitlandcs Former students are invited to become part of the conversation at our Alumni Facebook page. You can find it at www.facebook.com/MaitlandcsAlumni “Like” the page to keep connected with each other and with the school community.

Page 8