Welcome Back to Term 4

It is always such a joy to see our students return to school, filling the classrooms and playgrounds with laughter and energy. The start of a new term brings fresh opportunities for growth and celebration, and it has been delightful to see students learning with enthusiasm and staff so happy to be back. It is also lovely to see parents at drop off again and to feel the warmth of our community reconnecting.

Term 4 is a special time of year, full of celebrations as we look back with thankfulness for all that God has done. We celebrate so much learning, the growth of our Kinder students as they prepare to move into Prep for their first formal year of schooling, and our Year 6 students as they begin their final term before graduating from Northern Christian School. Every time I do my grocery shopping, the decorations remind me that Christmas is fast approaching and it will be here before we know it.

We thank God for His goodness and faithfulness throughout the year, and we look ahead in hope, trusting that He continues to go before us in all things.

Learning to Communicate in New Ways through AUSLAN

We are delighted to offer our students the opportunity to learn Australian Sign Language (Auslan) as part of their language program at Northern Christian School. Auslan is recognised as an official language of Australia and is approved within the Australian Curriculum as a second language. It is taught from Kinder to Year 6, giving all students the opportunity to develop communication skills that are both meaningful and inclusive.

Each year, students participate in a semester-long Auslan program where they learn through songs, books, games and small group activities. Being a visual language, Auslan enriches learning for all students, especially those who learn best through seeing and doing. It also nurtures empathy, patience and understanding as students discover new ways to connect with others.

At Northern Christian School, students are learning to love and listen in new ways through Aislan, the official sign language of Australia. Taught from Kinder to Year 6 as part of the Australian Curriculum, Auslan helps students develop inclusive communication skills through songs, stories, games and group activities. This year, students have been learning to communicate respectfully using signs, eye contact, facial expression and body language while practising greetings and simple conversations. Through stories such as Proud to Be Deaf, Never Mind: Duke the Deaf Dog and Dachy’s Deaf, they are discovering that Deaf culture offers a unique and valuable way of experiencing the world. Linked to our Biblical thread ‘Embracing Diversity’, students are learning that sign language is a powerful way to connect, showing that every person is made in God’s image and reflects His love in special ways.

Learning a second language has many cognitive and social benefits, but Auslan goes even further. It helps bridge communication with people who are hearing impaired or non-verbal, including members of our classrooms, families and wider community. Through Auslan, students are reminded that every person is made in God’s image and that each one reflects His creativity and love in unique ways. This aligns beautifully with our 2025 school theme, Loving God, Loving Others. As students learn Auslan, they practise loving others by valuing every individual and recognising the diverse ways God has gifted us to communicate and connect. Auslan equips our students to include, support and celebrate others, living out Jesus’ call to love their neighbour in both word and action.

This term’s learning thread, Embracing Diversity, invites students to respect and celebrate the God-given differences between cultures and peoples for the enrichment of all. They will explore key understandings, including:

• Sign language is an important and respectful way to communicate with others from all walks of life.

• There are many similarities between spoken and signed languages, reminding us that we are more alike than different.

• Practising modelled conversations helps build confidence in communicating and listening to others.

Through learning Auslan, our students not only gain a valuable second language but also a deeper understanding of how to love and serve others, reflecting God’s heart for inclusion, compassion and community.

Bethany Armstrong - Principal

Friday, 31 October - Wear Red!

We will be taking part in Day for Daniel, Australia’s largest day of action to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm intervention.

On this day, we encourage all students to wear red, and donations can be made via QKR! between now and Friday, 31 October. All funds raised will go toward helping this foundation develop free resources and programs for  parents, carers and educators to teach children to stay safe.

All students will be revisiting our Child Safeguarding Statement and will be sharing what this means for them and others.

For more information about Day for Daniel or for access to free resources and advice about talking with your child about personal safety, please visit  danielmorcombe.com.au

100 Nights of Reading

We continue to be so encouraged with the progress students are making in our 100 Nights of Reading initiative! Keep it up – we still have plenty of books to give away, and we’re hopeful that many students will go on to reach 200 nights of reading.

If your child needs a new 100 Nights of Reading Log, please don’t hesitate to chat with or email their teacher.

We deeply value reading and the lifelong benefits it brings. Our hope is that every student will develop a genuine love of reading. Thank you to all the parents and students who are supporting this wonderful initiative. It’s been such a joy to see students’ enthusiasm for reading grow!

Kinder Grandparent’s Day
Wednesday 22 October
11.30am – 1.00pm

We warmly invite all grandparents of our Kinder students to join us for a special Grandparent’s Day!

There will be fun activities and games to enjoy together, creating lasting memories and celebrating the important role grandparents play in our children’s lives.

This special occasion is a wonderful opportunity to build connections and strengthen our Kinder community.

Thank You!

From spades and buckets to Tonka trucks and diggers, our sandpit has been buzzing with creativity, teamwork, and loads of fun!

Over the past few months, students have been asking for some extra sandpit toys to help them build, dig, and create even more imaginative play worlds. Thanks to the fundraising initiatives held throughout the year, supported by our wonderful Community Engagement Committee (CEC), we were able to purchase a collection of new sandpit toys.

These new additions have already inspired some incredible construction projects and cooperative play, as students work together to design cities, dig tunnels, and explore their creativity.

A big thank you to the CEC and to our whole school community for supporting the fundraising events that make gifts like these possible. Your generosity continues to bless our students and allows them to make the most of playtime at Northern Christian School.

No Hat, No Play

As detailed in our Uniform Policy, and in line with our recognition as a SunSmart School, all students and staff must wear a hat when outside during Term 4. If students aren’t wearing a bucket hat, they will be asked to sit on the undercover deck.

The School’s bucket hat must be purchased from the Uniform Shop either via the Qkr! App or from the Office for $15.

Uniform Reminder

As we begin the new term, we ask families to please check that students are wearing the correct school uniform and following our guidelines for presentation.

Jewellery:
Students are permitted to wear one pair of earrings (one earring in each earlobe) of either the sleeper or stud variety. No dangling earrings are permitted. Other permitted jewellery includes:

• One watch

• One discreet chain necklace (gold or silver in colour), which must be tucked in

• One bracelet (gold or silver in colour)

• One ring on their finger or thumb (gold or silver in colour)

Hair:
Hairbands and clips are to be navy, red, aqua, black, or natural hair colour (or the matching dress scrunchie).

Hair that is long enough to be tied back must be secured neatly.

We appreciate your support in helping students wear their uniform with pride and uphold the uniform expectations of our school. For further details, please see our Uniform Policy.