Term 2 Week 6 3rd June 2016 Issue No. 17
From the Principal
The past week has been jammed full of great opportunities for our students and teachers, seeing them travel all over the country to be part of many rich experiences.
and some overnight red-eye flights is quite exhausting. I am thankful for the commitment that our teachers show to the task of further developing quality Christian education and their willingness to put in the extra hours to do so.
Literacy and Numeracy Development Five of our Primary staff were able to travel right across the country as part of our ongoing funded Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan. They spent two days exploring explicit teaching in action at Dianella Heights Public School in Western Australia and shared the journey with some fellow Christian School teachers, who are similarly improving the pedagogical framework in their schools.
Early starts and late departs I am also encouraged by the many staff and families who have arrived at school before dawn and often returned after dusk to give our students opportunities to engage in events and carnivals. The State Cross Country last Friday saw four male and four female students from each age group travel to the Sydney International Equestrian Centre to compete with students from across the state. All of our students gave their best and ran well
While this is a wonderful opportunity, packing in two days of professional development, 5,000+kms of travel Page 1
as both individuals and teams, with some students finishing in the top 30. This is a fantastic effort when, in many of the races, there were over 150 competitors.
camping and watching State of Origin (on an iPad, whilst being jammed into a tent) at the Bungonia State Recreation area. For the other two days they were in community service locally and at Tahlee.
The High School Soccer Gala Day in Tamworth was able to take place on Monday, after the previously scheduled day was washed out. Again our teams were at school well before sunrise and not back until well into the night. They played with courage, with skill and with great teamwork, to do our school proud. Well done to the junior boys who won the tournament against bigger schools and will now progress to the State finals for this event. Thanks to their coaches, supervisors and logistics managers who assisted them.
This morning our student leaders were able to take part in the Lord Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Newcastle and also the Student Leadership Forum that follows this breakfast. These events involve strategic leaders from across our community and also interaction with student leaders from schools across the Hunter Region. Mr Tibbs and I represented our School at a Parliamentary reception for Christian Schools at the NSW Parliament House on Wednesday evening. It was an opportunity to network with our State leaders and remind them of our prayers for them, our thankfulness for the resources they provide and to also remind them of the needs and challenges of education.
Our senior drama classes and Year 11 Design and Technology students were also out and about on Monday visiting facilities that will enrich their learning, and interacting with students from other local Christian Schools.
I am thankful for the commitment of our staff and students to be willing to engage with high quality opportunities such as these, for the extra hours of travel and time they invest, and for the richness that these experiences bring. We are greatly blessed by the chance to be part of activities and events such as this and are excited by the dividends we see in our students.
Year 8 students visited the Lake Macquarie Gallery to enjoy the Archibald exhibition and to appreciate the wonderful and diverse skills on show in this national portrait competition. The Stand Tall Event at Luna Park in Sydney saw our students joining with over 2,000 other senior students from across NSW, with presenters encouraging them to stand tall and make positive choices in their life. Areas such as drugs, bullying, disability and courage, how to treat a woman, eating disorders, leadership, persistence and resilience were explored by nationally recognised role models, encouraging our students to live the life that God has given them well.
Thank you to the staff who have supervised and organised these activities, to the staff who stay behind at school to keep the quality education at school progressing, and also to our parents who have to adjust their busy schedules to give their children these opportunities. Above all, I give thanks to God for providing us with these enrichments and for safety and blessings as we travel and participate.
Throughout this week our Year 9 students have split into boys and girls groups. For part of the week they were at their outdoor education camp (adventure caving, abseiling, mountain bike riding, navigating,
Blessings Geoff Peet Page 2
This Week in Prep
Kindergarten Plant a Garden
On Tuesday, Mr Shafer and Dave from Year 12 taught us how to throw Fly Balls.
Last week Kindergarten planted some sugar snap peas with Michael Smith in the new gardens behind the sport shed. Michael came into the classroom first to talk about what plants need so they can grow. Kindergarten showed him that they knew what the word ‘photosynthesis’ meant! They now need to water their plants as part of our Science unit on growing things.
On Wednesday, we followed a treasure map around the playground to find buried treasure.
On Thursday, Mrs Tooler showed us how to make beautiful parrots to sit on our shoulders and we sang like pirates.
On Friday, we learnt about the weather, the days of the week and the months of the year.
On the Cover Year 9 were camping out in the cold at Bungonia State Recreation Area this week. One of the activities involved them exploring two of the caves in the park. There are more photos on Page 6. Page 3
Soccer Gala Day
State Cross Country
The Sydney International Equestrian Centre was buzzing with excited athletes from all over the state last Friday. It was the CSSA State Cross Country Championships. Our school was well represented, with full teams of students in both the Primary and Secondary sections of the competition.
After the disappointment of a rained out event earlier in the year, 3 teams from our high school finally headed for Tamworth on Monday for the Soccer Gala Day.
With up to 180 students running in each race, the competition was tough but 4 of our primary students and seven high school students came between 15th and 33rd in their respective races.
The junior and senior boys and junior girls teams showed great sportsmanship on the day and played their best. The junior boys came away with the championship after not losing a single game all day.
Congratulations to everyone who competed!
Congratulations to all the students who represented our school so well!
Netball Club March On It was a cold and windy day on Saturday but our netball teams participated with enthusiasm in the march past for the opening of the new headquarters for the Maitland Netball Association.
Page 4
y
Stand Tall
2016 Term Dates
Our Years 10, 11 and 12 students were encouraged to stand tall and make positive choices on Wednesday. They were at the Stand Tall event at Luna Park, where they heard from speakers who have wonderful testimonies of how making positive choices changed their lives.
Term 2: Tue 26/04/16 - Fri 01/07/16 Term 3: Mon 25/07/16 - Fri 23/09/16 Term 4: Mon 10/10/16 - Fri 9/12/16 2017 Term Dates Term 1: Mon 30/01/17 - Fri 07/04/17 Term 2: Mon 24/04/17 - Fri 30/06/17 Term 3: Mon 24/07/17 - Fri 22/09/17 Term 4: Mon 9/10/17 - Wed 13/12/17
6H Assembly, 27th May Congratulations to the following students who received awards at the assembly KB Ashlin, Caleb, Eden, Isabella, Jenna
4P Jayden, Jonathan, Joseph, Stevie-Lee
KG Daniella, Eve, Kaleb, Lily, Sophie
5G Chenay, Ryan, Samuel, Taite
1T
5S Elijah, Isaac, Issac, Riley
Bailey, Kyla, Levi, Mason, Tyler
1/2C Amelia, Cody, Eloise, Ryan, Shakye
6H Diesel, Elora, Jessica, Kaleb
2H Annabelle, Jye, Lucas, Shyla, Teyla 3/4L Brett, Isaac, Lexi, Seth
6S Ashleigh, Ella, Hunter, Lucy, Ryan Week 7’s assembly will be presented by 3/4L, next Friday, 10th June. Page 5
Urgent Request for Help! Extra volunteers are needed to help in the canteen next Friday 10th June and Friday 1st July. If you are available, please contact Narelle McIver at canteen@maitlandcs.nsw.edu.au Careers Website
The Overflowing Tub The Lost Property tub is overflowing and this week lots of Year 9 camping gear has been added to the pile. Please come and have a look through the tub, to see if any of your missing property is there.
For all sorts of information about careers and study options, visit our new careers website at www.careersatmcs.com
Grandparents’ Day, Friday, 1st July, 10:00am - 2:00pm Year 9 Camp It was cold at Bungonia State Recreation Area this week, where Year 9 went camping. However, the weather didn’t stop their enthusiasm for the hiking, abseiling, riding and caving experiences that they enjoyed. The girls were there from Monday to Wednesday and the boys from Wednesday to Friday. On the other two days, they were invloved in local missions.
Page 6
What’s Happening at Metford Community Baptist Church? Kids Club is on each Thursday afternoon during term in the Church Hall. Children can come over after school for afternoon tea at 3:00pm, followed by activities between 3:30pm and 5:00pm. This is a free program for 8 - 12 year old children. For more information contact Pastor Andrew on 0412 071 231.
School Pastor Induction Service Our new School Pastor, Peter Bryan, will be inducted at Metford Community Baptist Church this Sunday, 5th June at the 9:30am service. School families are invited to come along and meet Peter Bryan and his wife, Beryl. You are also invited to stay for a fellowship lunch at the church!
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
U p co m i n g E v e nt s Term 2 Mon 6/06
Sec
Years 7-10 Science Circus Incursion
Wed 8/06
Sec
Writers Retreat Begins at Tahlee
Sec
Auslan Parent Lessons, 7:00pm
Sec
Year 12 English Studies Excursion
Pri
Sec
Crazy Hair Day
Mon 13/06
Pri
Sec
Public Holiday
Wed 15/06
Pri
Pri Fri 10/06
Fri 17/06
Mon 20/06
Primary Athletics Carnival
Pri
Sec
Auslan Parent Lessons, 7:00pm
Pri
Sec
Sean W Smith visit
Pri
Years 5/6 Drama Team Movie Making Afternoon
Pri
Year 1/2 excursion to Tocal Homestead Sec
Wed 22/06
Pri
Primary Literacy and Numeracy Parent Info Morning
Pri
Primary Interschool Chess Challenge
Pri Thu 23/06
Pri
Fri 24/06
Pri
Sec
Auslan Parent Lessons, 7:00pm Primary Metro Cup (Soccer/Netball)
Sec
Write a Book in a Day, 8:00am - 8:00pm
Sec
High School Special Assembly
Pri Fri 1/07
Physics Experiment Festival, University of Newcastle
Years 5/6 Drama Team Movie Making Afternoon
Pri
Sec
Grandparents Day
Pri
Sec
Open Day
Pri
Sec
Last Day of Term 2 Page 8