Share the Good News:
The Importance of
Christian Education

Let's begin by reflecting on the question: “Why did you choose to enrol your child/ren at Northern Christian School?” Parents opt for Northern Christian School for various reasons, and we continue to witness a significant surge in parents seeking a high-quality Christian education for their children. They desire an educational environment where Christian values are instilled, students are taught from a Christian worldview, are encouraged in their faith, and the partnership between parents and the school is valued and encouraged. This trend is also evident in the strong demand for enrolments in future years, despite the geographical distance and financial sacrifices many parents must make.

During each enrolment tour, I have the privilege to remind prospective parents that God gives children not to schools but to parents. We believe that parents have the prime responsibility for educating their children. The Bible contains many passages that clearly state that parents are responsible for training their children. For example, Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This verse tells us that it is a parent’s calling; God has instructed parents to train children in his ways and to understand the world as it truly is. We believe this to be true, and therefore, as a Christian school, we seek to support parents in this calling.

Northern Christian School is part of a strong network of Christian schools nationwide. Christian Education National (CEN) was formed with the acknowledgment that we need schools that support parents in their right to raise children in the ways of the Lord. A key component of operating as a Christian school is that all our staff are Christian, and their faith shapes everything they do. We see the impact of this each day in so many ways. Students who are shaped by the faith of Christian teachers and support staff are shaping Australia for the better. Data shows that most go on to care for older Australians or the environment and that they are more likely to join sports and community groups. I hear countless stories of the difference that Northern staff have made, and I thank God for how He is using them.

Allow me to share a poignant story from Joshua, a parent in Queensland whose child attends a Christian school: “My eldest boy has just started studying at university to be a teacher. Why? Because he was inspired by the teachers he had at his Christian school who modelled a life of faith to him, whilst teaching him about the world around him. Teachers at Christian schools have a greater purpose, not only educating young minds, but caring for, and loving them. My son wants to now do this for others.”

In a time when the Federal Government is contemplating the necessity and significance of faith in the roles of Christian teachers and staff, I encourage you to pray and advocate with us; to share your ‘good news’ stories and experiences of the impact Northern staff have made on your family by visiting https://mychristianschool.au/ and click on the ‘Show your Support’ button. Perhaps you may even consider writing to your MP to share these stories. Above all, let us give thanks to God for the Christian schools movement in Australia, which are the fastest-growing schools in the education sector in Australia, and pray that we will continue to flourish and be able to operate as authentic Christian schools.

Bethany Armstrong - Principal

Recommendations by the Australian Law Reform Commission are a direct attack on faith and freedom of belief in Australia. Show your support for Christian staff in our school community. Join us for this town hall event:

Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Location: Launceston Christian School

Address: 452A W Tamar Rd, Riverside TAS

Time: 6.30pm for 7.00pm start (finishing by 9.00pm)

Registration is free but spaces are limited.

Introducing the
Shining Lights Program

As announced in our last newsletter, we have received valuable feedback from parents about the importance of us taking the time to encourage and celebrate students when they demonstrate School Values. We are excited to launch the Shining Lights Program, a new initiative to recognise, encourage, and celebrate positive behaviours that reflect our school values.

Northern focuses on multi-tiered interventions to promote positive behaviours. We have implemented a whole school recognition system as part of Tier One interventions. The Shining Lights Program aims to recognise, encourage, and celebrate students for demonstrating positive behaviours that reflect our School Values. Tokens called ‘Sparks’ (Students Practising Acts of Respect, Resilience and Kindness) are distributed by staff when the students are observed displaying one or more of the values through their behaviour and actions, and students can accumulate the tokens to obtain a reward. The reward may be their choice of experiences or opportunities based on the student's interests and desires.

All students have the opportunity to earn a Spark when they are observed displaying one or more of the values:

• through intentional actions;

• when they consistently show one of the school values in various settings throughout the school day; or

• when they show significant effort in demonstrating one or more of the school values.

Students will be able to deposit their Sparks into their class Sparks Jar.

• If a student receives 5 Sparks in a term, they receive a reward.

• If a student receives 10 Sparks in a term, they receive the reward and an Achievement Certificate from the Principal showcasing the particular value they have been recognised for demonstrating.

• At Line Up, there will be a general acknowledgment of students receiving Sparks. Classes will be asked to put their Sparks into the School Sparks Jar at different times throughout the year as an opportunity to encourage and celebrate the positive behaviour of students as a whole school.

• We have set a collective target of filling up the School Sparks Jar. If this is achieved, all classes will be rewarded. The SRC will discuss and organise these rewards; for example, a movie afternoon, an activity afternoon etc.

We are very excited to see the sparks fly at Northern!

Uniform Reminder

With the weather starting to cool down, please be reminded that students are not to wear tops under their school polo shirts that are visible. 

If a student is finding the weather a little cooler, they are encouraged to wear the long-sleeve polo top, then add the knitted or rugby jumper, and then add the soft shell jacket to add extra layers of warmth. 

Students are also permitted to wear the Northern beanies during Terms 2 and 3. Hats, caps, beanies, or jumpers other than Northern uniform items are not to be worn to, during or from school. Students can wear an additional puffer jacket over their uniform when outside if the weather is wet.

100 Nights of Reading

We are very excited by the progress students are making in our reading  initiative '100 Nights Of Reading'.  We would love to congratulate a few more students who have achieved 100 Nights of Reading and received their books. Keep reading as we have plenty more books to give away, and we are hoping that many students will also reach 200 Nights of Reading.  

We value reading very highly, and the benefits of reading are immeasurable. Our hope is that our students will develop a love of reading. Thank you to parents and students who are supporting this great initiative. It has been so wonderful to see students’ love of reading grow!

Monday, 13 May at 8.00am - 9.00am

Current students' mothers and mother-figures are warmly invited to a relaxed, casual Mother’s Day celebration. This will be a special time for our students to share time with the adult women in their lives, be it Mum, Big Sister, Grandmother, Aunty, or a family friend. The celebration will include a muffin and barista-made coffee or hot chocolate and will be held outside on our Performing Arts Centre Green!

The Community Engagement Committee would greatly value some help from our fathers or father-figures with set up from 7.30am. Please email the Community Engagement Committee if you would like to help. All volunteers must have a valid Working With Vulnerable People card.

Community Engagement Committee

City to Casino Fun Run
Sunday, May 26 2024

Come along and join the 2.7km Northern Christian School Fun Run/Walk Team. Families are encouraged to join in on the fun. Prams are welcome! Members of the Community Engagement Committee and Miss Armstrong will assist on the day.

· Enter via the website

· Select - Hansen Orchids 2.7km

· Select - Join Team and Northern Christian School

· Cost is $20 per participant. $5 bus fee for those who would like to be returned to the start line at the end of the race.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Community Engagement Committee

Students in Years 3 – 6, prepare for a thrilling day of cross-country racing at Calvin Christian School in Kingston. It's not just a race; it's a chance to have fun, compete, and make new friends with students from Emmanuel Christian School, Calvin Christian School, and Channel Christian School!

This event aims to provide an opportunity for kids to compete in a long-distance run and to build community within Christian Schools Tasmania.

Parents and carers are invited to attend the Carnival and can meet us at Calvin from 10.00am on the oval at the Secondary Campus.

Further information has be sent shortly via Consent2Go.

Book Week - Book Parade
Wednesday, 22 May at 9.20am

Families are warmly invited to Northern's Book Week Parade to be held in the Performing Arts Centre.

This year's theme is ‘Where's Wally?’. Students are encouraged to come dressed as a ‘Where's Wally’ character or to dress in red, white and black.

Book Week - Book Fair 

The Book Fair and book sales, as part of Book Week, will begin after the Book Parade on Wednesday. Students will be given time to complete their Book Fair Wish List on Tuesday, 21 May and then bring it home and share it with parents. The Library will be open for book sales as follows:

• Wednesday: after the Book Parade until 11:30am, 1:00pm-1:30pm

• Thursday: 8:30am - 9:30am, 11:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm - 3:30pm

• Friday: 8:30pm - 9:30pm, 11:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm - 1:30pm

EFTPOS and cash may be used for book purchases.

Illustration Competition

To celebrate our Book Week theme of ‘Where's Wally?’, we will be holding an illustration competition. Students are encouraged to draw their own ‘Where's Wally?’ page. Their submissions will be grouped into either Prep - Year 2 or Years 3 - 6 for judging.

• Students can work individually or in pairs.

• The Library will be open for students to work on their entries at lunchtime on Wednesdays and Fridays.

• Competition entries must be handed into the Library by Friday, 17 May.

• Prizes will be awarded at the Book Week Parade.