March

Friday 7th—School Photos

- World Day of Prayer,

7.30pm, Catholic Church

Tuesday 11th—P & F

Meeting, 7.30pm, NCC

Staffroom

Wednesday 12th —

Assembly lead by year 1

class, 1.45pm

Friday 14th—Crazy Hair

Day, gold coin donation

Monday 17th—

Thursday 20th—Parent

Teacher Interviews

Wednesday 19th—

Assembly lead by year 6

class, 1.45pm

Wednesday 26th—

Assembly lead by year 5

class, 1.45pm

Nhulunbuy Christian College News

Term 1 March 2014 Issue 3

PO Box 621 | Eugenia Avenue, Nhulunbuy NT 0881 | 08 8987 2187

admin.ncc@ntschools.net | http://www.ncc.net.edu.au

Above: Students are awarded their official roles by on the Student Representative Council

by Mr. McKane and Mrs. Farnsworth at an outdoor assembly last week.

Below: The SRC’s first photo-shoot with Mrs. Duncan

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From the Principal’s Desk

Half the term has now passed and there is a

real sense in the College that we are gearing

up and settling in to a terrific year. When you

read this the College photos will have happened

and once again we are immortalised in print –

well perhaps immortal is a wrong idea. As time

goes on we who are here, the class of 2014, will

only be a distant memory for those who were

here.

So what does this ramping up look like?

Big M is up and flying – in my case literally with

kites and kids. What a wonderful program this

is – where older kids model citizenship and work

with the younger kids to provide an opportunity

rich learning and experiencing time. Big M is one

of the treasures of the Nhulunbuy Christian

College. A big thanks goes to Anthony Collier and

Kylie White for all their hard work in making it happen.

School captains, class and house leaders have been

elected and inaugurated – congratulations to all students

elected into these important positions. I know many

capable quality students missed out on the title but they

also are continuing to be leaders in the school. The

Student Representative Council (SRC) are now meeting

and contributing to the quality of our College. Another

big thanks goes out to Kylie Farnsworth for all her

ongoing contribution to this important part of student

life.

This is our third College newsletter under our new editor

Jo Duncan, she has had big shoes to fill following Sally,

and Jo has filled them admirably. Apologies from me for

the delayed publication with our last edition, I will make

a big effort to have my article ready on time and I’ve

instructed Jo to go to press without this missive in the

future. A lot of unseen work goes into this missal. (Now

those are two words not normally used at school – kids

use a dictionary). I really enjoy watching the students

who are in Jo’s journalism Big M group covering the

events of the week with cameras in hand. Students not

only take many of the photos but also do a lot of the

writing of segments of the newsletter. So another big

thanks to Jo and her crew.

One of the wonderful things about working for Nhulunbuy

Christian College is that we are a part of a bigger team. Our

head office is well aware of the issues we are facing locally

and are throwing their support behind us in many different

ways. One of these ways has been to visit us and give us

access to their expertise on the ground. A few weeks ago

our Chief Financial Officer Cawood Davies visited and spent

a lot of time with myself and Caren working on financial

scenarios for the future. I was very encouraged not only by

how the numbers played out with a downsized school. But

also by not having to cut our spending budget this year on

educational expenses.

As a part of their support for us the NT Christian Schools

Board are going to spend next Tuesday with us for their

regular board meeting and also to meet with the staff and

School Council as a show of solidarity with us in this time of

change. It means a lot to us that we have a Board who live

out their Christian conviction in action. So a very big thank

you to our Head Office and Board for all the support they

are giving us and have given us in this last six months.

One area of ramping up is our swimming program. We are

working toward our swimming carnival. First within Big M a

group of younger and older students are working together

to strengthen swimming skills. Houses have met and

captains elected and preparations are underway for the big

day. Swimming lessons for the Primary school begin in two

weeks and even yours truly can be seen of an afternoon

working on increasing his laps just in case there is a student

teacher race on the day. In a real sense a swimming carnival

is a metaphor for our school life in community: Working

toward a common gaol, cheering each other on and being

on the team.

Let this year be one of celebration, focus and

achievement. May it be one we remember

fondly so when we look at those school

photos in years to come. We will say I

was there in 2014 – what a year,

what an incredible year.

Russell McKane

Emma Peace & Hannah Fourie,

Primary School Captains

Rebecca Hermanus & Chayse Aston,

Middle School Captains

Katie Farnsworth & Samuel Nyamazana,

Meshach House Captains

Chris Lamboa and Liam Arkcoll,

Shadrach House Captains

Brendan O’Sullivan and Serina O’Connor,

Abednego House Captains

Hannah Adams,

Year 9 Representative

Emily Giles,

Year 8 Representative

Olivia Russell,

Year 7 Representative

Year 1 had fun singing and conversing with Yalmay, Dhanggul and Scott

(Mabel’s dad!) this week. We have been so blessed to have the ladies

from Yirrkala come into class and run introductory Yolngu Matha classes

with us. The Year 1 students were eager to have a go and try a new lan-

guage! We hope the ladies will join us for more fun lessons each term.

They were amazing!

By Mrs. Hvala, year 1

New words we learnt this week:

How are you? Nha mirri nhe?

Good Manymak or Latju

Goodbye Djutjutjnha

See you later Nhäma yalala

In Junior assembly this week students were treated to a visit from Year 8 and 9 Yirrkala students. Bokitj Yunupingu, Gadaman Gurruwiwi and Ngalakan Wanambi presented 28 copies of the book Nganapungu Wanga (Our Country) to the college. These Yirrkala Students wrote and published this book on Indigenous plants of the region and their uses. Not only this, but they treated Year One students to a walk in the bush to identify some of the plants in the book. The Gaditjirri (Spear Grass) was a big hit. By Mr. McKane, Principal

What is the most valuable present

that Mr Fourie has ever given you?

“It will have to be his friendship and

the best present I have

ever given him is me.”

Where were you born?

“I was born in a mining

town called Alexander,

South Africa.”

Interview and Photography by Emma Muldoon,

Emma Peace and Saraya Aston, year 6

What your favourite animal?

“It’s a hippopotamus.”

Do you enjoy teaching year 2?

“ I love teaching year 2, I think

they’re the cleverest kids in the

school and they make the most

progress.”

In 2014 our school will again be facili-tating the opportunity for students to participate in the International Competi-tions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) in conjunction with the University of NSW.

It is an annual skills development assess-ment program in key areas of learning for students in Years 2-12; assessments are available in Computer Skills, English, Mathematics, Science, Spelling and Writing.

It gathers performance information through a 30–60 minute supervised in-school test.

It uses fellow students’ results as a refer-ence point; results are mapped against all students sitting at the same year level in Australia.

It provides an excellent preparation for national testing.

It enables students at all levels of abil-ity to participate.

Medals are awarded to the top stu-dents in each school year.

Achievement certificates are awarded to all students at a range of levels.

Results are available to parents and students online and are highly suitable for inclusion in a students’ portfolio for future tertiary entrance or job op-portunities.

ICAS sitting dates are between May and August and costs vary from

$8.80 to $18.70 per test. The Maths test is compulsory for Year 7 & 8 students and will be paid for by the school. Other tests are at parents’

discretion and cost.

For information about ICAS go to www.eaa.unsw.edu.au. Prac-tice Online tests are available for English, Mathematics and Science—www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/practice-online

Mike Vos

michael.vos@ntschools.net

NCC ICAS Co-ordinator

How long have you been at Nhulunbuy Christian

College?

8 years, since Transition.

What is your favourite subject and why?

English because we have Mrs Duncan as a teacher.

What made you want to run for Shadrach house captain?

I’ve wanted to be Shadrach house captain since last year.

What would you do with one million dollars?

I’d probably give it to Mum and Dad to handle.

What is your favourite Mentos colour?

Green.

Interview and Photography by Andrea McKeough (9), Katrina

McKeough (10), Rebecca Hermanus (10) and Kaneesha Waag

Edmodo

Edmodo is Middle School’s number

one online tool for class notes,

homework, assignment submission

and notices. Each student in Middle

School now has an account and parents are given a

unique code in which they can access their student’s

assessment and exam grades, as well as the homework

and events calendar. To access, go to Edmodo.com and

follow the prompts to create a parent account. If you are

unsure of your unique parent code, or for any other

feedback, please email Mrs. Duncan at

jo.duncan@ntschools.net.

Canteen Roster

Thank you to those who have given their time to assist Cassie in canteen each Tuesday throughout the term. Please email Laura Butler (ricky_laura@westnet.com.au) if you are available to assist in any of the time slots be-low. Please remember that the hours you assist in the canteen contribute towards your Grounds and Mainte-nance Levy for each term.

11 March: Briony Boyd, Nikki Savage, , Haidee Dentith

18 March: Sally Ransom, Angeleen Lewers, volunteer needed

25 March: Kerry Collier, Sally Ransom, volunteer needed

Parent—Teacher Interviews

Parent-Teacher interviews will be held for Transition to Year 10

starting from Monday the 17th of March. Interviews will be 10 or 15

minutes long. We use an internet-based booking system called Par-

ent Teacher On-Line (PTO). Using this system you are able to book

the interview times that suit you best from any internet-connected computer. A computer will be availa-

ble in the front office during school hours if you do not have internet access at home or elsewhere.

Please access the system by going to:

https://bookings.parentteacheronline.com.au?school=w2a27

Crazy Hair Day!

Will be held on Friday 14th

March! Bring in a gold coin

donation and all monies will

be donated to the

Leukaemia Foundation.

P & F

First Parents and Friends Meeting for 2014

When – Tuesday 11th March, 7.30pm

Where – NCC Staffroom

Who – All welcome

Although all roles for the semester have been filled, new general committee members are always welcomed and encouraged – please come along to share your ideas about possible fundraising and social events for the year.