Learning through Christ

Transcription

1 The Advocate 2017 Term 4 I Issue 16 From the Headmaster Mr Gareth Leechman As the term, and the academic year, come quickly to an end I would like to thank every member of the college community for their positive involvement over the course of the past twelve months. It certainly has been another year of celebration and growth for the college! It is hard to believe how quickly the year is coming to an end and over the course of the final three weeks we will be seeing our Stage 3 going on camp, the Infants Nativity play, hosting the Year 6 Dinner/Dance, the Year 10 Dinner, Year 9 excursion to Canberra, as well as three presentation ceremonies. Before we know it, it will be Christmas! Enrolments for 2018 continue to grow and we are on track to exceed 1200 students (P 12) in 2018, this is very exciting. We will be operating a fully triple streamed Junior School and Year 7 for 2018 will be divided into six classes. To handle this growth a series of building projects will be undertaken during the Christmas break; installation of another modular building for Year 6, landscaping, refurbishment of the Infants classrooms as well as some other minor works. Most importantly we have, at this stage, finished our staffing appointments for 2018 and I will provide the community with a complete update of staffing appointments in my first newsletter comment next year. However I would like to inform the college community that Mrs Elmarie Filmalter has accepted the role as Emeritus Head of Science, this appointment will enable her to continue contributing to the science department as well as manage her PhD studies. In light of this movement, Mrs Kirsty Sheppard has been appointed as Acting Head of Science for As the term comes to an end, may I remind all of our community of our upcoming Presentation Ceremonies and hope to see many of you there at these events, it is a wonderful way for us to celebrate the achievements of so many of our students. Finally, may God Bless you all this Christmas Season. Friday 1 December Tuesday 5 December Infant Nativity (10.00am) Year 6 Farewell Chapel Service (1.30pm) Infants Presentation Afternoon (Kindergarten to 2) (1.30pm) In this issue From the Headmaster From the Chaplain Remembrance Day Arndell Orientation Week HSC Breakfast Camp Australia CRU Day Camp Term Calendar Contacts

2 Wednesday 6 December Pre-Kindergarten Graduation (9.00am) Primary Presentation Evening (Year 3 to 6) (7.00pm) Thursday 7 December Senior School (Year 7 12) Presentation Afternoon (1.00pm) From the Chaplain Rev Jeremy Clarke John Calvin 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Over the last few weeks I ve had the experience of marking many Biblical Studies papers following exams in the Senior School. It has struck me again that we so easily come up with our own ideas about Christianity. Many answers indicated our relationship with God is based on us giving to God and somehow receiving back. This leaves us with great uncertainty, what might be enough for God? Are we able to give enough? When I studied at Bible College I was informed during the first year that we would have holiday reading, that had to be completed and signed off by the end of the holidays. I didn t think this would be so bad at the time until I found what I would be reading in my holidays. We were to read the Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin (another reformer, living ). Instead of curling up under a tree with a great novel, I found myself engaging with a heavy theological textbook (1734 pages) about what Christians believe. Whilst I m not a great reader, as I read and studied this book I appreciated the depth to which Calvin wrote. I understood the challenges he faced as he preached the gospel in Geneva. To Calvin it was of upmost importance that the Christian religion be understood for what it is, based on the truth of God s word and bringing salvation to humans through Jesus Christ. The Institutes reminded me that I don t have to give to God to get a reward. Instead, as the scriptures tell us, Jesus has done it all, we re saved by God s grace. As we hold closely to this message my prayer is that we will all be saved. If you wish to chat about the Christian faith or ask general questions about chaplaincy, please contact the Chaplaincy Team at the College. As part of its 200th anniversary celebrations, Bible Society Australia is giving away copies of a little children s book telling the really good news of Christmas. The little book is full of colourful illustrations and rollicking verse, retelling the Christmas story from the Bible. Christmas is gift-giving time, and Bible Society is delighted to offer a really good gift to all Australians the true story of Jesus, said Bible Society Australia s CEO, Greg Clarke. Many Aussies now have never heard it. We trust it will be a blessing and a joy to hear. To claim up to three free copies please visit biblesociety.org.au/really good.

3 Remembrance Day On Saturday 11th November, three students from Arndell - Amy Winterbottom, Courtney Stafford and Emma Fallon attended the Windsor Memorial Service held at McQuade Park as part of the Australian Air Force cadets. Well done on representing themselves and the Australian Air Force Cadets with pride and dignity on Remembrance Day. Arndell Mrs Katrina New Congratulations to Brooklyn Gregory on her photographic portrait nomination for Art Express, the annual exhibition for outstanding works for HSC Visual Arts. Brooklyn Gregory s photographic portraits of horses are outstanding and worthy of this accolade. We will hear shortly if Brooklyn s works have been selected for display at either the Art Gallery of NSW or the Armory Gallery at Homebush. Well done Brooklyn.

4 Movember 2017 This November you might see a few of our male staff members sporting spectacular Mo s. The Movember Foundation is saving and improving men s lives through projects focussed on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. If you would like to donate to this cause please do so using the following link Year Orientation Events Orientation Day 21 November Running from 8.30 am through to 3.05 pm. Students are to assemble in the Auditorium and wear their current school sports uniform. Parent Information Session 22 November At 7.30 pm in the Auditorium, our parent session provides the opportunity to meet College staff to talk about the transition from junior to secondary school. Testing Days Saturday 25 November 2017 or Monday 27 November am to pm in the College Gymnasium. Testing will include basic literacy and numeracy. Students should bring appropriate equipment and a morning tea for this session. Please contact the enrolments office on should you have not yet received information in relation to orientation events. Changes to Bus Services Hillsbus Mr Jim Webb

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9 2017 Term Calendar Term 1 10 Weeks Monday 30 January Tuesday 31 January Friday 7 April Prep, KG, Yrs 7, 11 and Yr 12 Commence All students Commence Term 1 Concludes Friday 14 April Monday 17 April Good Friday Easter Monday Term 2 9 Weeks Monday 24 April Friday 23 June Term 2 Commences Term 2 Concludes Monday 12 June Tuesday 25 April Queen s Birthday Anzac Day Term 3 10 Weeks Monday 17 July Tuesday 18 July Friday 22 September Staff Professional Development Day Term 3 Students Commence Term 3 Concludes Term 4 9 Weeks Monday 9 October Tuesday 10 October Thursday 7 December Friday 8 December Staff Professional Development Day Term 4 Students Commence Term 4 Students Conclude Staff Professional Development Day Monday 2 October Labour Day

10 College Contacts Headmaster: Deputy Headmaster: Head of Senior School: Head of Middle School: Head of Junior School: Director of Curriculum: Director of Teaching and Learning: Chaplain: Business Manager: Enrolments Manager: Careers and Tertiary Education Advisor: Equestrian Co-ordinator: Mr Gareth Leechman Mr James Webb Mr Leighton Corr Mr Austin Robinson Rev. Keith Peterson Mrs Karen Merrick Mr Jim Milford Rev. Jeremy Clark Mrs Jodie Woods Mrs Roxanne Arnold Mr Tom Lavelle Miss Kristen Bailey Uniform Shop: Mrs Liz Moore Shop Opening Hours Term Time Monday 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm Tuesday 8.15 am to 4.00 pm Thursday 8.15 am to 6.00 pm Before and After School Care: Camp Australia (for bookings) Before School Care: 6:45 am 8:45 am After School Care: 2:45 pm 6:00 pm Ms Amber Torney (Coordinator) Canteen: Monday Friday Website: General: enquiries@arndell.nsw.edu.au Advocate Newsletter: roxanne.arnold@arndell.nsw.edu.au Sport Scene Newsletter: peter.gordon@arndell.nsw.edu.au