News & Updates: 11 March 2024
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Principal's Update: Term 1, Week 7
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Continuous Reporting Update
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CCAS Exchange Program Update
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Harmony Day- Primary School Celebrations In Week 8
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Primary HRIS Swimming
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Primary HRIS Soccer Trials
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Year 4 Bushcraft Incursion
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Textiles Excursion
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CCAS Primary Class Running Challenge
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Extended Absences During Term
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Happy Families: When My Child Won't Listen
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Go4Fun Program
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Bible Verse Of The Week
Principal's Update: Term 1, Week 7
Anniversaries are important. Something not to forget – particularly if it relates to your spouse I have been reminded. Anniversaries are a time to celebrate and/or reflect and take stock of our lives, both the blessings and the challenges that life presents, regardless of what life event we are remembering. This is my tenth year as Principal at CCAS- an anniversary of sorts. It is both a privilege and an honour to continue to serve this wonderful community in my capacity as Principal; however hard it is to believe that 10 years have slipped by so fast.
As I reflect back on the last 10 years we have been busy and there has been a lot of change. Our school has grown numerically and we are now reaching what we see as our natural capacity. Our Teaching and Learning Program has continued to evolve and develop as we strive to ensure the education that our students receive prepares them well for their futures. We continue to develop our facilities to support our program - both new buildings and refurbishments of existing facilities. Our wonderful staff have continued to grow professionally to ensure they remain at the cutting edge of educational practice. And we continue to pivot as necessary to the changing demands and circumstances of our broader society, with all its related challenges.
And yet, as I often reflect to alumni parents -who came to CCAS as students and are now enrolling their children – we remain the same school that commenced on these grounds 55 years ago. The same school that they have such fond memories of during the 1990’s or 2000’s. A community committed to providing a nurturing and caring environment, committed to meeting the individual needs of our students to ensure all thrive, and continuing to share Christianity with our students and families.
One thing that remains at the forefront for me as I lead this school is to never lose sight of our reason for existence, which is best summed up in our school Vision Statement…
‘A community where all thrive and live abundantly in Jesus’.
Hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter.
Mr Tony Kent
Principal
Continuous Reporting Update
This year, assessment results and feedback will be released live for Years 1-12 via SEQTA Learn & Engage. With this, some adjustments to semesterly reporting will be made to reflect these changes. While parents of older students will be familiar with this process, new parents or parents with younger children will likely be unfamiliar with utilising certain features of SEQTA Engage (our Learning Management System). Please take the time to look at the attached file detailing changes to reporting and assessment procedures and another file supporting parents navigating SEQTA Engage.
Your survey feedback last year has helped us refine these processes. We appreciate your ongoing understanding and support as we strive to enhance the educational experience for our students.
Please note that for Kindergarten, ongoing feedback and assessments are provided through our SEESAW platform.
Mrs Joanne Andrews
Director of Teaching and Learning
CCAS Exchange Program Update
There are three host students due to arrive in Australia on the 20th April who do not have host families yet. If no families are found, they will have to defer or cancel their trip. So, if you were considering hosting a student and feel that you would like to do this sooner rather than later, please let me know and I will forward you the information. The three students are female and staying for 8 or 12 weeks.
If you and your family are interested in hosting a student from Spain or France, sometime this winter, please contact Mrs Grange via email (marilyn.grange@ccas.nsw.edu.au) for
Mrs Marilyn Grange
Secondary Teacher
Harmony Day- Primary School Celebrations In Week 8
Harmony Day, celebrated on Thursday the 21st of March, is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together, embrace cultural diversity, and foster a sense of belonging.
Here's a brief overview of the activities planned for our Primary School:
Cultural Show and Tell (Tuesday 19th March): Students will have the opportunity to share elements of their culture, traditions, and experiences with their peers. Students are encouraged to bring in items, photos, or stories that represent their cultural heritage.
Parent Visit to Share About Their Culture (Wednesday 20th March): Parents will also be able to visit our school and share insights about their cultural background. This may include stories, traditions, or any aspect they feel comfortable discussing. It's a fantastic way for our students to learn firsthand about the rich tapestry of cultures within our community (limited spots available)
Mufti Day: On Thursday, March 21st, we will be hosting a Mufti Day where students are encouraged to dress in traditional attire or wear orange, the official colour of Harmony Day. This is a fun and enjoyable way for our students to express and celebrate their diverse backgrounds.
We believe that these activities will not only be enjoyable for our students but also contribute to fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
Mr James Crabtree & Katie Tipple
Primary Wellbeing Team
Primary HRIS Swimming
Congratulations to the CCAS team for winning Division 1 at the recent HRIS Swimming Championships.
We also had some fantastic team and individual results:
7-8 Girls Age Champion Team – Pearl M, Halle R, Maeve G, Isabelle H, Audrey A and Elsie H.
10 Yrs Boys age Champion – Oliver S
HRIS Records Broken - Darcie H – 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly and 100m freestyle.
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected in the HRIS team to compete at CIS: Felipe F, Ayla G, Nash G, Rory G, Darcie H, Casper K, Daniel P, Tiziana P, Mila P and Oliver S.
Also a big thank you to Connor B and Griffin H for being our timekeepers. They did a fantastic job.
Well done students!
Mr Michael Kosmeier
Primary Sport
Primary HRIS Soccer Trials
Congratulating Harry B, Owen W, Olivier L, Nate R, Archer P, Jayden K on representing CCAS at the HRIS Soccer Trials.
Special mention to Nate R and Archer P who were selected in the HRIS team to compete at the CIS Championships.
Mr Michael Kosmeier
Primary Sport
Year 4 Bushcraft Incursion
Year 4 was lucky enough to have Jake Cassar, a renowned youth mentor and environmentalist come in and talk to them about Bushcraft.
This incursion was to give the children insights into our land and the value of protecting it.
Year 4 Teachers
Textiles Excursion
Our Year 9, 10, and 11 textiles classes explored fibre use, construction techniques, the difference between functional and aesthetic design, and textile trends.
What an awesome bunch of students! Love learning with you all!
Here is Year 9 enjoying their first Textiles Scavenger Hunt!
Mrs Abby Davis
Secondary Teacher
CCAS Primary Class Running Challenge
Week 2 was a massive week for running. CCAS students ran for a combined total of 4543 laps! (1363 km)
Congratulations to the class winners for this week and also some great individual efforts:
Class Winners - KH, 1S, 2L, 3I, 4K, 5H and 6R
Great Individual efforts:
Kindy - Arlo M (37 laps) and Elka R (33 laps)
Yr 1 - Coby K (70 laps) and Leo M (58 laps)
Yr 2 - Mia W (53 laps) and Jackson M (42 laps)
Yr 3 - Emilie L (18 Laps) and Joe C (17 laps)
Yr 4 - Jonty G (60 laps) and Samson M (50 laps)
Yr 5 - Talia R (54 laps) and Logan M (22 laps)
Yr 6 - Fletcher G (64 laps) and Levi L (33 laps)
The challenge continues next week. Well done students!
Mr Michael Kosmeier
Primary Sport
Extended Absences During Term
If you are planning a holiday during term time, it is a government requirement that students taking extended leave from school for 5 or more consecutive days must apply for a Certificate of Exemption from Attendance at School. This can be found on our school website under "Quicklinks", "Parent Hub" then "Absences".
For absences between 1-4 days, please email the relevant campus with the reason and permission.
If your leave will coincide with major events eg. important exams or assessments, please make sure your child discusses the absence with their teachers.
If you are ever unsure, please call or email the school directly.
Administration Team
Happy Families: When My Child Won't Listen
Want to know some helpful tips on how you can help your child listen better?
Hit the article below for more details and tips from author Dr Justin Coulson.
Go4Fun Program
Go4Fun is a 10-week healthy lifestyle program for children between 7–13 years old to enjoy along with their families.
To find out more information or register, visit the link below or call 1800 780 900. Places are limited, so get registering now!
Bible Verse Of The Week
James 2:26
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead"