Starting the Term in Delight…

“How did you start the day when you were a child? What practices stood out to you growing up? How do you start the day now as an adult?” These were just a few of the challenging questions that over 1,000 educators, support staff, and board members, which included staff from Christian Schools Tasmania, were asked to ponder by the renowned education professor, Dr David I. Smith, at the recent ITEC Conference in Perth. The questions were asked to acknowledge how our practices shape us and form others.

As I reflected on these questions, I recalled the chaos when my mum was trying to get seven children fed and ready for the school bus while my dad was milking on our dairy farm. In the chaos and mess, my mum would still share a family devotion and pray for us each morning. I know I wasn’t always listening, but what has stood out to me is the importance and value of starting the day with God. This is not something I valued or even realised until I was older. This practice of praying and having a devotion has definitely helped shape how I start the day.

I would like to ask you the same question: how does your family start the day? We all know mornings at home do not look anything like a picture-perfect Instagram post where everyone is perfectly clean, happy, and eating pancakes quietly. David Smith encouraged us to ponder what story your children infer from how we ‘start’: from how we start the day at home, to starting the school day, to starting a unit of work in class or starting the term? David reminded us that God is interested in all spheres of school life, not just the curriculum, and that God is interested even in the practices that may seem mundane, like how we start the day. He encouraged us to understand that our practices shape the culture and formation of students.

So, what narrative are our students interpreting from our practices at Northern? In the past week, I have been deeply encouraged by the formational practices of starting the day well that I have observed, such as:

• parents saying goodbye to their children with such love and care as they drop them off at school

• teachers using engaging and interactive lessons to start a new unit of work

• staff patiently and actively listening to students retell their holiday stories numerous times

• classes starting the day with devotion and prayers

• students warmly greeting other students as they arrive

• hearing and seeing the excitement of Year 1 students eager to learn about volcanoes and Egyptian pyramids for their Writing unit

As we celebrated the return to school with Line Up last week, we started the term by delighting in God as we marvelled at His creation. I showed students a stunning clip of God’s incredible world called The Beauty of Earth. I highly recommend watching this if you haven't seen it; like me, you might even shed a tear at the overwhelming beauty He created. Students were given delicious Turkish Delight to enjoy as a reminder to start the term by delighting in Him! I encourage everyone to ponder God's incredible creation and ask you the same questions I asked students:

• Where can we see the fingerprints of God in creation?

• What does creation tell us about God?

• If God created the whole universe, why does He care about us?

I would welcome the opportunity to speak to you if you want help discovering the answers to these questions.

Let us pray that as we start this new semester, filled with many exciting opportunities and reasons to celebrate as a community, students can reorient, refocus, and renew their passion and curiosity for learning about God’s world and delighting in Him!

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them. (Psalm 8:3-4)

Bethany Armstrong - Principal

We continue to highly value reading, and its benefits are immeasurable. Our prayer is that our students will continue to develop a love of reading. To encourage this, we are continuing our 100 Nights of Reading initiative this semester. We have been so encouraged by how many students have already completed 100 Nights of Reading and are aiming for 200 Nights of Reading.

All students are encouraged to take on this challenge. Kinder to Year 6 students who complete 100 Nights of Reading receive a book of their choice. Please speak with your child’s teacher if you need a replacement ‘100 Nights of Reading’ Logbook. We hope our students will continue to read at school and home and learn to love reading!

Help turn Australia GREEN & GOLD
Friday, 2nd August

Students are encouraged to wear GREEN & GOLD in support of the Australian Olympic Team.

‘Green & Gold Day’ is for everyone - the athletes, the fans, the businesses, the schools, the young, the old and everything in between. This day is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements; it’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold.

Costumes due Monday, 12th August

Every student in the school will participate in the production, and therefore, we are asking all families to support us to make costuming as easy as possible. For the performances, we require all students to be dressed in a plain coloured t-shirt, which can be long-sleeve or short-sleeved (no logos or images), plain black full-length pants (denim, cotton/linen or track pants are acceptable - not leggings/stockings) and black socks. Students will decorate their t-shirts with stars and dots in their classes according to their role in the production. The stars and dots are stickers and should not damage clothing.

We ask that you provide the clothing, with their name clearly marked on the inside, by Monday, August 12th, ready for decorating and full-dress rehearsals.

Rehearsals for ‘You Are Special’ are in full swing this term! What an incredible learning opportunity and experience for our students. Tickets are $5.00 per person, and children under age 4 do not need a ticket but will need to sit on an adult’s lap unless a ticket is purchased for them.

Wednesday, 14th August
8.30am - 9.00am

Come join us for our first Reading Cafe for Semester 2 as we share our love of reading in our Library on Wednesday, 14th August from 8.30am to 9.00am.

Families are warmly invited to come and enjoy a FREE hot chocolate from the PAC Kitchen and start the school day reading with their child in our fantastic Library.

Our deep hope is that our Library space will continue to nurture our students’ love for reading and provide a wonderful opportunity for our families to come together to read! We’d love to see you there!

Friday, 16th August
Wear Purple!

From the 12th to the 16th of August 2024, Australian schools will participate in Bullying No Way: National Week of Action. We have participated in this initiative for many years, and it is a valuable part of building a safe culture at Northern Christian School. The week allows students to learn about and reflect upon finding solutions to prevent bullying.

The theme for 2024 is ‘Everyone Belongs’. When we all feel like we belong, bullying struggles to find a place. It’s about embracing who we are, respecting everyone’s differences and standing up together against unkindness. Belonging means we all have a role in preventing bullying. We are encouraged to speak up and create a safe place where everyone feels supported and respected and our voices are heard and valued.

On Friday, August 16th, students and staff will be encouraged to dress or accessorise in PURPLE (the event's recognised theme colour in 2024) to raise awareness. Each class will explore the theme through an activity on the day.

Friday,16th August
5.00pm - 7.00pm

You are warmly invited to attend our Light Festival!

Join us for a self-guided light walk through our School with a laser show, a sing-a- long around the fire pits, hot spiced apple cider and hot chocolate to keep you warm, and delicious soup and desserts. There will also be a student art exhibition in the Performing Arts Centre with our theme of ‘Unwrapping God’s Gifts He has Given Us: Discovering, Sharing, and Celebrating His Blessings’ and other surprises, including a guest live music performer.

This event for our current families is presented by the Northern Community Engagement Committee. Please note due to car parking restraints, only immediate families are able to attend.

If you would like to reserve a Disabled Parking space, please contact us so we can ensure your needs are catered for.

We’d love to see you there!

Volunteers Needed:

To make this a success, we would greatly value help with the planning and the organising of this event. We need help setting up, stringing lots of fairy lights, cooking soup and desserts, and many other activities.

If you would like to be involved with planning or participating in the Light Festival activities, please refer to the email previously sent with all the details, and we encourage you to register on our Volunteer Sign Up sheet.

Community Engagement Committee

Cross Country Carnival
Wednesday, 21st August

Kinder to Year 6 students will participate in the Cross Country Carnival, which forms part of our Physical Education program; therefore, all students are expected to participate. This is a chance for students to give it their all and show perseverance by racing through the school and surrounding bushland.

The Carnival will be held in two sessions:

• Years 3 - 6 students start at 9.10am - 11.00am

• Prep - Year 2 students start at 11.30am - 1.00pm

Kinder will be racing at 11.35am and will head back to class after their race.

All students will be required to wear sports uniform for this event and are encouraged to wear their house colour.

Parents and families are invited to come along to encourage and support students.

We seek volunteers to assist with marshalling and assisting at the finish line. If you can assist, please contact me. All volunteers must have a valid Working With Vulnerable People card.

Peter Humphrey - Physical Education Teacher

Community Engagement Committee
Hot Dogs and Zooper Doopers

The Community Engagement Committee will be hosting lunch for students at the Cross Country Carnival. Hot Dogs are $4.00 and Zooper Doppers are $1.00. Orders must be placed by 9.00am on Monday, 19th August, via the QKR! app.

We would love some help with serving the lunch from 12.40pm onwards. Please email the Community Engagement Committee if you would like to help.

Community Engagement Committee