newsletter ILLAWARRA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL TONGARRA A message from Dr Bertram Christmas is a time of great hope for all. We are reminded of this hope in the following passage (Luke 2:11-18): Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. On behalf of the staff, I would like to take this opportunity of wishing all our families a very restful holiday. It is our prayer that you will all know our Lord and Saviour and will celebrate His birth with a joyful heart. A very special thank you On behalf of our school community, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Neil McCracken, for the many years of dedicated service to our school. Mr McCracken has cared for our property over the years since the school was established on this site. Neil and Barbara were also key parents in our school community, when their own children were Tongarra students. We all wish him a very relaxing retirement. Save the Date: Monday, 30 January 2017 8:50 am Dedication Assembly 9:30 am Morning Tea for parents and pop-up office in the hall 9:45 am SignMe, SEQTA Learn & Engage and ipad Programme Information Session presented by Deputy in the hall (ipad information particularly relevant to new 7-12 families and all Year 7 parents) PRAYER & PRAISE For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Pray for those of our parent community who have spent many hours volunteering this year. Give thanks for their willing and caring service. Pray for a safe time of rest and relaxation over the school holidays. Pray that we might all enjoy the time with our families during Christmas. Give thanks for God s provision and guidance throughout 2016 and that this continues into 2017. TERM 4 WEEK 9 9 DECEMBER 2016 Check your child's bag These things went home this week: Welcome Back Assembly 2017 letter Years 5-10 Reports Please note: K-4 Reports went home last week. Please note: On Wednesday, 25 January 2017 Welcome Back Newsletter will be emailed Key dates 2017 Tuesday, 3 January Business Centre re-opens Thursday, 19 January Campus Office re-opens Monday, 23 January Friday, 27 January Staff return, Staff Development Days 2017 Welcome Back newsletter emailed Thursday, 26 January Public Holiday, closed Monday, 30 January Students return - Week 1 8:50 am Dedication Assembly 9:30 am Morning tea/pop-up office 9:45 am SignMe, SEQTA Learn & Engage and ipad Programme Information Session Friday, 17 Febuary Swimming Carnival Years 3-12, Albion Park Please visit our website for all of our calendar dates and many more important pieces of key information. Please also check our Parents & Friends Facebook Page
TERM 4 WEEK 9 9 DECEMBER 2016 2017 Staffing Prep Year 6 Prep Mrs Trudi Oliver, Miss Kiryn Poole Kindergarten Miss Jess Yeo Year 1 Ms Sarah Rodwell Mrs Sheree Barker (Thursdays) Year 2 Mrs Sian Barnes Year 3 Mrs Heather Morton Year 4 Mr Geoff Chesher Year 5 Mr Greg Maina Year 6 Ms Jemma Leigh Years 7 12 Roll Call and Stage Facilitators Stage 4 Facilitator: Mr Garry Hol Year 7 Mr Mitch Walker Mrs Ros Struthers Year 8 Mr Bruce Barker Mrs Bev Batten Stage 5 Facilitator: Mrs Cheryl Brennan Year 9 Mrs Nerylee Deans Mr David Imisides Year 10 Mrs Joy Evans Mr Grahame Bertram Stage 6 Facilitator: Mr Jonathan Nicholls Year 11 Mrs Cassie Gold Mr Ross Graham Year 12 Mrs Christine Bartley Mrs Dianne Gillett 2017 Term Dates for Students Term 1: 30 January to 7 April Term 2: 26 April to 30 June Term 3: 24 July to 22 September Term 4: 10 October to 7 December School Office Opening Hours during the Summer Holidays The school will be closed between Christmas and New Year with the Business Centre reopening on Tuesday, 3 January 2017. If you wish to contact the Business Centre, they will be open during normal business hours, after the date indicated above. The Campus Office will be closed from Thursday, 15 December 2016, until it reopens on Thursday, 19 January 2017. School Fees 2016 school fee accounts should now be paid in full and a payment plan put in place for 2017 school fees. If you are yet to action either of these, please contact the Business Centre on 4230 3777 before Wednesday, 14 December. Congratulations Mr Bertram Mr Bertram attended a volunteering presentation at Parliament House for his many years of service to the Duke of Edinburgh programme as the ICS-Tongarra Duke of Edinburgh Co-ordinator. He was awarded a DofE Service Medal and the NSW Premier s Volunteering award. Well done! Premier s Reading Challenge 2016 Results Congratulations to Aimee C who has been awarded a Premier s Reading Challenge Medal for completing the Challenge every year from Year 3 to Year 9. The following students have received a Platinum Award for their seventh successful year in the Challenge: Jessica S, Jordan S, George J and Emily B. Ben G received the Gold award for his fourth successful year in the Challenge. Congratulations to all our award recipients. Well done to everyone who participated in the Premier s Reading Challenge. P&F - Thank you to our parent helpers As we come to the end of another year we would like to thank all our wonderful parents/grandparents and community helpers for all the wonderful work they have done throughout this year. Your support is invaluable and much appreciated. We would also like to say a big thank you to our class parent coordinators. This role is vital in helping build our wonderful school community. Their role is to support the class teacher through liaising with the parents and families. If you would like to know how you could help our current parent coordinator, please contact your child s class teacher or Linda Scherlowski in the campus office. From the Uniform Shop 2017 January Opening Hours The Uniform Shop will be opened on the following days: Monday, 23 January Wednesday, 25 January Monday, 30 January Wednesday, 1 February 8.30 am 10.30 am Monday, 6 February Normal hours resume. Home delivery web orders should be placed prior to 18 January to allow sufficient time for delivery before school returns. For pricelists, opening hours and shop details, login/register online at www.alintaapparel.com.au Community Notices This is but a small selection of notices. The community noticeboard is located outside E Block staff room and has a more comprehensive selection of notices. This board is updated weekly, keep an eye on it for all community information. Robo Camp Students (aged 7+) learn to design, build, and program Lego Mindstorms Robots. Hosted by the University of Wollongong. Bookings: Email coach@projectb.net.au. Full information at www.projectb.net.au 2016 Albion Park Community Carols Tuesday, 13 December, at Albion Park High School. 6.30 pm BBQ, jumping castle, face painting, animal zoo. 7.30 pm Carols. BYO chairs/blankets. Candles & glowsticks available for purchase on the night. Holiday Tennis Camp 3 5 January, 9 12 pm Warilla Bowls & Recreation Club. $70. All enquiries to Brett Edwards 0413 064 298 or Michelle Edwards 0403 289 974. Go4Fun A healthy lifestyle program to improve health, fitness, self-esteem and confidence in 7-13 year olds who are above their healthy weight. To book, please call 1800 780 900 or visit www.go4fun.com.au t. 02 4230 3700 www.ics.nsw.edu.au Tongarra Campus 234 Calderwood Road, Albion Park tongarra@ics.nsw.edu.au Member of
FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL Dear Parents, No doubt you are aware that the school has made ipads available to students in Years 7-10 over the past three years, commencing with Year 9 & 10 in 2014 and extending this to Years 7 & 8 in 2016. These devices have proved to be a valuable resource in the teaching of your children and they have fulfilled our expectations in relation to enhancing the learning experience. Whilst we do not believe that such devices should be the sole mode of delivery they are a significant adjunct to our teaching techniques and they offer additional and convenient resources to most lessons. Due to their success and the realisation that all students need to have this access we have embarked on a program to increase the availability of these devices to all students, on the basis of 1:2 for primary students, used as shared resources during class and left on site, and 1:1 for secondary students, able to be taken home, used for homework and assignments. However, the transition to this expanded program has some implications that need to be noted. Students currently in Year 10 will keep their ipad through to Year 12 and there will be no opportunity to purchase these devices. Students entering Year 7 in 2017 will receive ipads at the start of the 2017 Academic Year and we will expect the students will use these until the end of Year 9. Students beginning Year 10 in 2017 will also receive a new issue of ipads at the start of the 2017 Academic Year, and we expect they will use these devices through to the end of Year 12. All devices currently allocated to Years 7-9 students need to be returned before the end of term. Both the device (in its case) and the charger will be collected at a designated time on Monday, 5 December 2016. During the holiday break, the ipads will undergo routine maintenance by our IT staff, to be ready for the start of 2017. All devices remain the property of the school and are assigned on loan to students as per annual agreement. Over the past four years, we have been increasingly disappointed by the volume of breakages and degree of damage to our ipads due to deliberate misuse and neglect by students. As a result of negligent treatment of equipment, there are now tighter conditions around the repair and replacement of devices (effective as of 1 December 2016). The first being the completion of the claim form that will establish cause and nature of the problem and thereby direct to whose responsibility it is to replace or repair the school s device. As of today 1 December, all requests for repairs or replacement of school ipads will follow a new procedure. Students must collect a Claim Report form from the campus office, complete it with their parents and return it with the ipad, before any action can be taken. As has been stated in the past we have addressed ethical issues and personal security issues associated with the internet. We will continue to monitor, apply filters and to train staff and students in appropriate use, care and safety. The handbook has been updated to reflect the change in this provision and it needs to be read carefully to ensure that all students fully understand the basis upon which these devices have been provided and the care they must exercise in both the realm of personal safety as well as the physical care of the devices. These handbooks will be issued at the commencement of Term 1, 2017, with the annual agreement of use and multimedia policy that must be signed by both student and parents. It is with God s help and coverage that we provide this technology to enhance the educational experience whilst acknowledging that there are risks that need to be managed and monitored. We need to share that responsibility between parents, students and the school. I pray that this increased availability will bring blessings to every child who is enrolled at Calderwood Christian School in 2017 and beyond. Yours sincerely, Tony Horsley For more info contact Illawarra Christian School P 4230 3700 www.ics.nsw.edu.au
Illawarra Christian Education is a member of Christian Education National, educating students from Prep to Year 12 at two campuses: Illawarra Christian School, Cordeaux Campus at Cordeaux Heights & Illawarra Christian School, Tongarra Campus at Calderwood Applications are invited from committed Christians of reformed persuasion for the following positions: School Office Administration Assistant x 2 2 part time roles available (one at each campus) 19-28 hours per week during school term time Experience in administration in a fast paced environment essential Social media and Adobe Indesign experience desirable Role description available online Applications close: 11th December 2016 Process for Application: The application form and role description are available on our school website. www.ics.nsw.edu.au/employment You must complete the school s application form in order to apply. Please do not just send a resume. Please include all other documents listed in the application form, certified as true copies by a J.P. Applications will not be considered if not complete. Applications may be submitted either: in hard copy to: The Operations Manager Illawarra Christian School Business Centre PO Box 80, Albion Park 2527 NSW or electronically to: ellerman.beth@ics.nsw.edu.au For further enquiries please contact: Beth Ellerman (Operations Manager) email: ellerman.beth@ics.nsw.edu.au Phone: 02 4230 3777 It is an offence under the NSW Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998 for a person convicted of a serious sex offence to apply for these positions.
Illawarra Christian Education is a member of Christian Education National, educating students from Prep to Year 12 at two schools: Illawarra Christian School at Cordeaux Heights & Calderwood Christian School at Calderwood Applications are invited from committed Christians of reformed persuasion for the following position: Senior Information Technology and Communications Technician Full time role located at Calderwood (Albion Park) Commencing early 2017 Role description available online Applications close: 22nd December 2016 Process for Application: The application form and role description are available on our school website. www.ics.nsw.edu.au/employment You must complete the school s application form in order to apply. Please do not just send a resume. Please include all other documents listed in the application form, certified as true copies by a J.P. Applications will not be considered if not complete. Applications may be submitted either: in hard copy to: The Operations Manager Illawarra Christian Education Business Centre PO Box 80, Albion Park 2527 NSW or electronically to: ellerman.beth@ics.nsw.edu.au For further enquiries please contact: Robert Green (IT Manager) email: green.robert@ics.nsw.edu.au Phone: 02 4230 3777 It is an offence under the NSW Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998 for a person convicted of a serious sex offence to apply for these positions.