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Newsletter 11, 2008 Week 1, Winter Term, 2008

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

Winter Term has begun with a justification for its name! It certainly has been cold this week. However as always, at the beginning of a new term, it is wonderful to see our students return to fill the school once a gain.

The holiday time has almost been as busy as term time! The annual Holiday Club organised by Mr and Mrs Davis was held in the first week and was very popular. I was delighted to see so many of our older students lending a hand and so serving our community in such a practical way.

Rehearsals for Oliver! have also been held with our students now well prepared for their first performance on the 28th July.

Our staff undertake professional development at different times throughout the year. It has never been our practice to take ‘student free days’ for such events. During the last week of the holidays our whole staff took part in some very worthwhile professional development sessions. One section allowed the staff to consider possible future directions of the school as well as confirming the many things that are valued about Macarthur - a very profitable time for our staff.

It is a great pleasure for us to welcome to our school Mr Bernard Mgeni, the Headmaster of the St Michael School, Kilolo, Tanzania. As you know the St Michael School is our major outreach project. Our school invited him to visit us as part of his professional development (he was able to be with us last week). You may recall that Archbishop Donald had said he hoped that St Michael School might one day be like Macarthur! His visit also allows for first hand discussions as to how we might better help the boys and girls of St Michael and begin planning for a visit of Macarthur people to Tanzania. Mr Mgeni will be here for about three weeks.

The term ahead is an examination term for our students from Years 7 to Year 12. Year 12 will also finish their HSC lessons by the end of the term.

A group of Year 6 students left this week to take part in our North Australia Outreach to Aboriginal Communities - this outreach follows the very successful time our students had last year and has been strongly encouraged by Bishop Arthur Malcolm. Please pray for our boys and girls and their teachers as they begin this very full and purposeful term.

Riley WaRRen aM

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

Please continue to support these missionary families with your donations and your prayers.

Jono, Amy, Lili, Isaac, Brie and Abe Vink who work with the Church Missionary Society in Tanzania

javink@cms.org.au

Mike, Chantelle and Rachel Keithwho work for the Bush Church Aid Scoiety in Lightning Ridge

mckeith@westnet.com.au

From the head oF Senior SchoolWelcome to Winter Term! As the last term of the Academic year, Winter Term is an important one for all students, particularly for those students in Years 10, 11 and 12.

In the lead up to the Trial HSC and yearly examinations, implementing a study regime is crucial. Students should ensure that they spend adequate time preparing for their examinations. If students experience difficulty studying at home, a solution may be to attend one of the School’s Senior Study evenings. Importantly, students must study effectively. If students are unsure of how to best study for a particular subject they should talk to their teacher or consult their Head of Year or Head of School. Different subjects require different strategies and students will benefit from using a range of techniques depending on their learning style. There are also some great tips available on the Enhanced Learning Study Skills website to which Macarthur subscribes.

Year 10 and 11 students should start thinking about their preferred course and university and visit universities during their Open days held in August and September. This week forty Year 11 students had the opportunity to visit the University of Western Sydney and attended lectures in a range of fields including Business Studies, Medicine, Law, Psychology, Engineering, Languages, Science and Nursing. Detailed information about courses and universities can be found in the Tertiary and Careers e-bulletin located on Macarthur’s Intranet site.

Students interested in finding more about careers and university courses should make an appointment to see me during lunchtime, a study period or after school. Parents are also welcome to make an appointment with their child.

Melissa Gould-dRakeley

Head of Senior School

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Sunday: 9.30am Family Worship, Sunday School, Creche6.00pm Contemporany Worship ServiceFriday:7.00pm Blaze Youth Nights, Cell Groups

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

In Mark’s Gospel we read of Christ, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

One of the aims of Macarthur is to be a serving community. Indeed our motto, Through Christ Alone, is demonstrated as our students Enter to Learn and Go out to Serve. How can we serve God in the coming term?

One area in which we can serve God is by generously providing for others with the resources that we have been given. The School’s annual Anglicare Winter Appeal will be held from Week 3 to Week 7 of tjis term (4 August to 5 September). The Anglicare Winter Appeal aims to provide good quality food and household helps for the needy in the wider Macarthur Region.

The Tanzania Trek, to be held on Tuesday 26 August, is another activity through which we can come together to serve others. Students and staff participate in the Trek, seeking sponsorship from the wider Macarthur community to raise much needed funds for special projects at St Michael Secondary School in Tanzania.

We have local and international opportunities before us and I would encourage you to keep an attitude of service consistent with the Lord who has served us all with his life.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the Christian faith or the claims of Christ then do not hesitate to contact me at the School on 4629 6225 or email on church@mas.nsw.edu.au

steven davis

Chaplain

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

ready For Go with oliver!Students from the Middle School and Senior School have been working hard during the holidays finalising their preparations for performances of Oliver! next week With a student cast and crew and almost all the musicians also being students, I expect this production to make a special mark on the Macarthur tradition of excellence in performance.

The show starts on Monday 28 July and already many performances are completely sold out, or have just a few seats remaining.

This well known musical is much loved by people of all ages. It is a show which children and adults will enjoy and I encourage every family to get their tickets before the show is sold out!

nadine JaMes

Director

aiceS croSS country Congratulations to Justin Dixon, Year 11, Kasey Mumby, Year 10, Gareth Mumby, Year 9, Michael van den Heuvel, Year 9 and

Teo Markou,Year 7 who represented Macarthur and AICES at the C o m b i n e d I n d e p e n d e n t Schools Cross

Country at Eastern Creek Raceway at the end of May. All competed very well in races and I was very proud of their efforts. Gareth (fouteenth out of sixty three), Kasey (fourteenth out of forty four), Michael (twenty second out of fifty eight - this was the first time Michael has competed at this level of cross country) and Teo achieved our best result coming tenth out of fifty six. Teo will be part of the CIS team at the NSW All Schools Cross Country on Friday 25 July.

eRica looyen

Sport Co-ordinator

Junior School athleticS carnival

On Tuesday 24 June the Junior School held it’s annual Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to Heber House who were victorious on the day, although the Shield was hotly contested by all the Houses. It was a wonderful day with plenty of student involvement and a display of wonderful House and School spirit. It was enjoyable to see the support students gave fellow students whilst competing. Thank you to those staff, parent helpers and Year 11students who assisted on the day.

Age Champions were:Girls BoysMatilda Offord 8/9’s Joshua Azzopardi Madison Hale 10’s Jhett KellnerBessie Lucile Platt 11’s Lachlan RobertsCourtney Cross 12/13’s Cameron Zadro

There were 5 records equalled or broken on the day:Name Event Old record New recordLachlan Roberts 11yrs 200m 29.31s 28.87s 11yrs 100m 14.12s 13.58s 11yrs Long Jump 4.1m 4.1m

Tegan Bremner Snr Turbo Javelin 15.03m 17.42mJack Hutchins Snr Turbo Javelin 23.91m 25.7m

Congratulations to all record breakers, our age champions and all students for the involvement and attitude that made the Carnival such a successful one.

Jonathan BeGGs

K-6 Sport Co-ordinator

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

inFantS School and Junior School Public SPeakinG

Semi-Finals of the Infants School and Junior School Public Speaking Competition were held on Thursday 19 June, with two final speeches delivered on Friday 27 June.

The judges were faced with a difficult decision and the following students have successfully progressed through to the Finals on Wednesday, September 17.

Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Julia Kokic Mitchell Biggart Tahlia McCroary Emma NocklesMatilda Offord Austen Perich Tayla Callinan Courtney CrossLaura Perich Isobelle Offord Matthew Buffa Alanna Wright Thomas van der Velde

dennis schaefeR

Co-ordinator

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

Teo Markou, Year 7, has been selected in the NSW under 13s Hockey team announced today. He will play in a carnival in Adelaide between September 29 and October 4.

Olivia Hale, Year 12, was recently recognised for her sporting involvement and sportsmanship when she received the Pierre de Coubertin Award.

Rosalie Baldwin, Year 12, has been selected to participate in the Distinguished Concert International Programme in New York in 2009. Rosalie will be one of the seventy four students from across the

world of the Honours Wind Symphony to perform at the Lincoln Centre in May next year.

Rachael Soto, Year 4, spoke on radio recently regarding her personal beliefs. She discussed with Sonia (radio host) the importance of caring for family.

Jonathan Nash-Daly, Year 7, was recently invited to speak to a class of Year 12 students at a local school on Fostering and Disabilities. The students asked many questions related to his experiences

Student achievementS

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Contact us: advancement@mas.nsw.edu.au

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Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

macarthur SnowSPortS 2008 and the reGional interSchoolS comPetitionS

During the recent school holidays over eighty students participated in the Macarthur Snowsports programme. While some were beginners and first timers others refined and developed their skills in skiing and snowboarding. All students are catered for and some developed their racing skills in preparation for the Regional Intershools competition. At the regional Interschools championships forty students competed in Snowboard and Skiing events, with the following highlights: Moguls Division 4Montana Byers and Diana Lambert as a team finished first with Montana first overall in this division. Skiing Giant Slalom Division 4Diana Lambert, Montana Byers, Emma Cosier and Paige Perich as a team finished second with Diana finishing second overall in the competiton. Snowboard Giant Slalom Division 2Edward Cosier and Adam Lardner finished third as a team with Edward finishing second overall. Skier Cross Division 4Diana Lambert, Montana Byers and Emma Cosier as a team finished third. Snowboard Cross Division 4Emma Cosier third overall.

Alpine Division 1Elizabeth Lambert third overall. Skier Cross Division 1Elizabeth Lambert third overall. Snowboard Cross Division 2Edward Cosier and Adam Lardner finished fourth as a team with Edward finishing fifth overall.

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

Alpine Division 3Anna Maria Wosik, Louise Walker and Ashlee Perich as a team finished eighth. Snowboard Cross Division 3Luke Kennedy ninth overall. The Macarthur Junior School team finished fourth overall out of forty three teams and the Middle School and Senior School Boys team finished eighth overall from forty two teams. The Middle School and Senior Schol Girl team finished fifteenth out of forty teams. Scots and Redlands CupsA further thirteen students then stayed on to compete in the Scots Snowsports Championships and the Redlands Cup with the following highlights: Scots Snowsports ChampionshipsElizabeth Lambert – 1st overallCallum Masjuk – 3rd overall Redlands Cup This is a particularly challenging event in which a number of our students performed very well: Edward Cosier second overall.Edward Cosier, Adam Lardner and Luke Kennedy fourth overall as a team. These results reflect the excellent effort made by the students who participated well and represented themselves and Macartur with great distinction. Thank you to all the staff and parent helpers for making this the most successful Snowsports programme so far. Students will be invited through to the State Championships in the coming weeks.

scott BedinGfield

Snowsports Co-ordinator

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

Senior Student Study SuPPort

To provide an opportunity for students to prepare themselves adequately for HSC studies the School holds Senior Student Study Support two evenings per week (Tuesday and Thursday) during Autumn and Winter Terms. Years 10-12 are welcome to participate in this proven programme during these terms as they approach their School Certificate and Higher School Certificate examinations.

The Senior Student Study Support programme enables intensive use of school facilities and access to some staff by students in Years 10, Year 11 and 12 outside normal school hours. These sessions also assist students and their families by providing a supportive environment in which students are safe to undertake their examination and assignment preparation.

Members of the teaching staff supervise the sessions. Students are expected to work individually or in small groups. While staff will provide support and encouragement, this is not intended as an opportunity for one-on-one tutoring.

Students will not be permitted to leave the area in which the session is being held after 4.15pm or prior to 7.30pm. Normal school rules will apply.

Sessions will be held in the Library. Sessions will begin at 4.00pm and continue to 7.30pm, with a 30-minute dinner break and meal provided between 6.00pm and 6.30pm.

The Library will be available to all students as normal until 4.00pm each day.

A cost of $15.00 per student per evening will be charged. For more details contact the Administration Office.

Andrew KoKic

Director of Studies

Tanzania Trek26 August 2008

Help us raise $40,000.00 to extend the Boy’s Dormitory

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

chamP camP

Year 12 students should note that deposits of $100 to secure a place at Champ Camp were due on July 23, with the balance of $260 due on August 31.

Medical forms and further information will be issued after the latter date.

Anyone still wishing to apply for Champ Camp should contact Mrs Low as soon as possible. Questions regarding Champ Camp may be directed to Mrs Low or Mr Kokic.

PatRicia loW

Co-ordinator

Goodbye and thank you, mrS kinG

The end of term marked the completion of a long commitment to Macarthur and its students by Mrs Gail King. Her official title was ‘Library Assistant’ but she was far more than that.

Mrs King has given fourteen years of service to the school, initially in a part time and later in a full time capacity. She has outlasted three librarians and a great many students and staff.

Mrs King is noted for her kindly disposition and her ready smile. Nothing is ever too much trouble for her, as many students and staff in search of ‘that blue book that used to be on the third shelf ’ or asking ‘Miss, how do I use the colour printer?’ will attest.

Mrs King has been a greatly valued member of the library staff and her knowledge and expertise will be sorely missed. We wish her a happy and productive retirement.

PatRicia loW

Head of Libraries

Enter to Learn Go out to Serve

Why not check out the new

items on our menu ?

For your diaryJuly21-25 Year 6 Queensland Outreach28 -31 Oliver Musical Performances

August1-2 Oliver Musical Performances4 Scholarship Presentation Evening Trial HSC exams begin5 PFA Term Forum Nihon Visit commences7 Infants School and Junior School Parent/ Teacher Night8-10 Year 12 Leadership Camp11 Infants School and Junior School Parent/ Teacher Night12 Year 7 to Year 9 Recital14 Year 7 to Year 11 Parent/Teacher Night15 Book Week celebrations16 Macarthur Debutante Ball18 Nihon visit concludes Year 7 to Year 11 Parent Teacher Night20 HICES Music Festival GATEway 8 - Junior School21 GATEway 8 - Middle School25 Middle School and Senior School Public Speaking Finals 26 Tanzania Trek28 GATEway Testing Day29 HSC Recital Evening

September5 Father’s Day Breakfast15 Year 7-11 examinations commence17 Infants School and Junior School Public Speaking Final18 Year 7, 2009 Testing Day19 Sport Photo Day Sports Award Dinner

22-26 Junior School Musical - Alice in Wonderland24 Year 12 Celebration Day26 End of Winter Term29 Champ Camp begins

October13 Infants School and Junior School resumes20 Middle School and Senior School resumes HSC commences 24 Headmaster’s Farewell Cocktail Event