We’re being formed, whether we like it or not…

I have recently started reading, ‘To Hell with The Hustle,’ by Jefferson Bethke. Bethke is a well-known Christian writer and speaker who has recently written a book about how we are being formed, whether we like it or not. Bethke and his wife worked hard to plan goals for their family each year and found the results that they were getting from the goals they set were not achieving the results they had hoped. As a family, they decided not to set goals each year but rather swapped ‘goals’ with ‘formations’, which is the ’process of forming.’  Bethke notes that the definition of a goal is the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired results. There is a stark difference between a goal and formation. “One is about the end. The other is about the present. One is about doing. The other is about being. One is about results. The other is about the process” (Bethke, 2019).

Bethke writes, “the word-formation seems to capture a bigger, truer idea. Goals are about what practices I’m doing. Formations are, too, but because they add a few extra words, in the beginning, they take on a deeper layer; formations are who I am becoming through the practices I’m doing'“.

At our school we do not want learning to be focusing only on goal setting, rather we seek to cultivate formational learning, which develops the mind, captivates the heart, equips the hand, encouraging curious and courageous learners to explore God’s world and live out the hope of Christ.

As you are aware, our students are encouraged to embody the following 5 learning traits:

1. to be resilient learners,

2. to be curious learners,

3. to be courageous learners,

4. to be responsible learners and

5. to be persevering learners.

This term, each class is focusing on exploring what being a ‘curious learner’ means and looks like for each student. Our hope for our students is that they will continue to be curious learners and to regularly ask questions to deepen their learning. The teaching staff have collaborated to have a common definition of a curious learner at our school: Curious Learners experience the joy of exploration. Curiosity is a hidden force that drives learning, critical thinking, and reasoning.

As a learning community, our teachers intentionally plan to foster curiosity in their classes. Learning needs to call on students to be brave, spirited and plucky. Students at our school are encouraged to put their best forward, at times stepping into unknown territory in order to expand on what they know. Inquiry problem-posing and deep questions are some of the methods teachers use to get students to expand their horizons and build on their knowledge.

We encourage all parents and caregivers to have a conversation about being a curious learner with your child/children in the coming weeks and find out a little more about how they perceive curiosity.

I pray that we will be a community of learners, where our students will be curious about God and exploring His world. 

Miss Bethany Armstrong - Principal

Introducing the 2020 Student Leadership

Last week our principal Bethany Armstrong announced the student leaders for 2020. Leadership positions include; School Captains & Vice Captains, Council Members, Sport Captains & Vice Captains, and Bus Monitors. These students will have an amazing opportunity to contribute to the community, and be an example to their fellow students.

Student Representative Council
School Captains
Lennon Jones & Bayley Smithurst

School Vice Captains
Joshua Sargent & Mikaela Greenwood

School Council Members
Rylee Furlong & Nate Hodges

Sports Captains
Wellington – Toby Gordon
Derwent – Ruby Elliott

Sports Vice Captains
Wellington - Stella Boucher
Derwent - Mahli Leslie

Bus Monitors

• Asante Blegg

• Jazmin Lawrence

• Holly Gardam

• Maddison Quarrell

• Jax Canham

• Bella Coulton

We will be officially welcoming our Student Leadership and presenting with their badges in an assembly on Wednesday 11 March. Parents and Caregivers are warmly invited to attend.

Year 4 News

We've had a busy and enjoyable start to the term in Year 4. The students have shown an enthusiasm for learning and adapted well to new routines. 

Along with Years 3, 5 and 6, we have already enjoyed two weeks’ of the swimming program, and the students are now looking forward to the Swimming Carnival in a few weeks time. 

The students are also excited about the upcoming Year 3/4 camp in Week 8 of the term. This promises to be a wonderful opportunity to build friendships and community, to learn new skills that aren't possible in the classroom, and to enjoy learning about God's creation. 

As part of our devotion time in class this year, we have learned from the book of Genesis about the way God made us in His image, and how we have been given the responsibility to take care of the earth we live in. Students have explored what this might look like in the classroom, the playground, at home and in the community, and they have been encouraged to respond to God's call to carefully look after His created world. As the term continues on, we will explore how this fits into the big picture of God's story as told through the Bible, where we will learn about the brokenness of our world and our need for a saviour, who is found in Jesus. 

Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.
— Genesis 1:26

Mr Will Davis - Year 4 Teacher

Clean Up Australia Day

On Friday March 6 from 2.30pm - 3.00 pm, the whole school will be participating in Clean Up Australia Day. We will be cleaning up rubbish around the school property. As a school, we acknowledge that the Earth is God's creation and we are called to take care of God's creation. 

"And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." — Genesis 2:15

Parents and Caregivers are welcome to join us in this event as we would love your assistance and support. Students are welcome to bring their own garden or rubber gloves on the day.

Lost Property

We have a lost property box in the office foyer area. It is very full at the moment. If you have lost any school uniform items please take the time to have a look.

Just a friendly reminder to clearly name all items of clothing, as they can be returned to your child’s classroom rather than adding them to the growing items in the lost property box.

Lego Club

We are excited Lego Club starts next week. We would still love to receive Lego donations to add to our collection, if you have any unwanted Lego at home please bring to the office.

If you think you are eligable and would like further information please contact Mrs Kerrie Prentice

Fostering Hope

Supporting your school community can take many shapes!

Northern and other CST Schools are partnering with Fostering Hope, a Christian organisation supporting foster carers, teachers and support staff of children in care. Fostering Hope also works to promote respite and foster care as a way that we can do God’s work in our communities. Is your child friends with a child in care at school, church, or in the community? Could you become that child’s respite carer, extended family, extra caring adult in his or her life? If this is something you think your family could do, please contact them.