From the Principal

Who are our students?

Last week, I had the privilege to meet our 2021 Kinder students at their first Kinder Orientation Session. It was an absolute delight seeing this group of students play and explore in the Kinder classroom, interact with their future peers and see them enjoy listening to a book read by Mr Whittle. As I went in the Kinder classroom on Thursday morning, I saw a pre-Kinder student quietly making sure that another student was well looked after and had plenty of toys to play with. This week, as I reflected on this beautiful sight I pondered these questions:

‘Who are our students?’
‘How do we relate to them?’
‘Do we see them in the light of knowledge that they are made in God’s image?’

At Northern, we believe that each student is made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 clearly states that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him.” Also, Genesis 1:26 recorded God’s will for the human race: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Both words ‘image’ and ‘likeness’ speak of resemblance. The word ‘image’ comes from the Hebrew word tselem, meaning being image-bearers or “something that is carved or cut out” (Gospel Coalition, 2020).

A well-known educator and advocate for Christian education, Martin Hanscamp, recently passed away; a man that I highly admired and respected. Martin was a pillar for Christian education and would be repeatedly asking questions, often hard questions, challenging Christian educators to ensure that they were letting the gospel inform, impact and permeate every part of a Christian school. In Martin’s last book, Transformation by Design: Crafting Formational Learning, he challenged educators not to see students as another ‘cog in the wheel’ or merely objects, rather see each student as God’s image-bearing creation; loved, gifted, full of potential, unique, and called to respond and serve (Martin Hanscamp, 2019).

We pray that at Northern, we will continue to be a community of learners, where all of our staff see each student as the workmanship of God, and get to know each unique and creative student. We pray that our students will be the best learners they can be, using the gifts God has provided to each of them.

Miss Bethany Armstrong - Principal
 

School Calendar

TERM 4

Week 6
Monday | School Banking
Monday | Ditto Program
Wednesday | Year 2 ‘Olden Days’ Incursion
Thursday | Kinder Orientation
Thursday | Subway Lunch - Order via QKR! before Thursday 9.00am
Friday | Little Learners 9.30am - 11.00am

A list of Term Dates for 2021 can be found on our Parents Page and also on the School Calendar.
 

Year 3 Update

This term, students have been enjoying the warmer weather and spending some more time outside. In Science, we have been looking at living and non-living things. The students had to classify different objects according to their physical attributes and requirements. We have then classified living things into plants and animals.

Whilst this can seem obvious at times, it was good to see students be able to justify their classification of unusual things, such as a Venus Fly Trap, using the specific requirements of animals and plants. The students also had the opportunity to look for animals outside and use a taxonomy branching key to classify what we found: arachnids, reptiles, insects and annelids.

We have also enjoyed the opportunity to participate in Forest School with Mr Whittle. This has complemented our Science unit. We located different flora and used their physical features to identify specific plants, as well as identifying what makes a plant a weed. They also had the opportunity to draw the various plants they found. It has been great to see the students expand their understanding of the physical world around them.

Miss Claire Gardner
Year 3 Teacher
 

Year 4 Update

This term, we have been studying the life-cycle of plants as part of our Science unit. It has been wonderful to see the students make new discoveries about this process, as well as to enjoy sharing their knowledge with the class as they participated in the different activities.

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7

As we draw near to the end of the school year, it has also been nice to reflect on the growth of the students since the beginning of the year. While I’m sure that many of them will enjoy sharing about the new things they have learned in class across a range of subjects and topics, there have been some other areas of growth that have really stood out to me as their teacher. This has included a growth in their maturity, in being responsible, in their capability to be a good friend and to care for others, and also in their ability to reflect on God’s love for them. These are vital skills as they head into the upper years of Primary school and I really look forward to seeing them continue to grow in years ahead!

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green…” Psalm 92:12-13

Mr Will Davis - Year 4 Teacher
 

Mission Program - Term 4

This term, we will be supporting Hobart City Mission in helping them to provide emergency relief food packs and food vouchers, for needy families and individuals.

The Student Representative Council will be organising a fundraising activity to purchase food vouchers. There will be more details about this event in coming weeks. In the meantime, we are asking families to contribute specific food items, over a four week period, that will then be donated to Hobart City Mission.

Each classroom will have a box into which the donated items can be placed. The dates and items to be donated will be as follows:

Week Beginning Monday 16 November:

  • Cans of Big’N Chunky Soup (525g)

  • Long Life (UHT) milk (1 litre)

Week Beginning Monday 23 November:

  • Jars of pasta sauce

  • Cans of tuna (185g and 95g)

Week Beginning Monday 30 November:

  • Cans of spaghetti and baked beans

  • Packet noodles

Week Beginning Monday 7 December:

  • Packets of plain pasta

  • Packets of rice (1kg)

Here are some examples:

This will be a practical way to show our love and care for the most needy in our community.

Mr Malcolm Lacey - Chaplain
 

THANK YOU for your generosity
We raised $293!
 

Little Learners THIS FRIDAY!

Little Learners is our play-based early learning program for children from birth to five years old. Join us at 10.30am - 11.30am at Hobart Gymnastics Academy.

Please visit our School Calendar to see what’s on and learn more.
 

From the Office

Hockey Shirts

All School Hockey tops to be returned to the Office by Friday 4 December. This will assist us with our future planning for hockey next year.

Drink Bottles - Bubblers Not Available

Please make sure your child brings a drink bottle everyday. COVID-19 restrictions prevent the use of bubblers, and we have had a large number of children asking for water throughout the day. With the start of the warmer weather, perhaps consider packing 2 bottles of water.

Hats - Term 4

Please be reminded that in Term 4 all students must wear a hat for outdoor play. Hats can be purchased for $9.00 from the Uniform Shop or via QKR!

COVID-19 Regulations

Parents and carers are not permitted to enter classrooms during school hours (between 9.00am and 3.00pm) unless signed in as a Visitor at the School Office. If you are dropping off or collecting your child during these hours please attend the Office first.

All other parents and carers are reminded to wait until 3:00pm before entering the school grounds to collect students.

All School Absentees

For absentees please fill-out our Absentee Form OR email us before 9.30am.

  • An SMS will be sent to parents for unexplained absences.

  • Please ensure late students who arrive after 9.00am are signed in at the office.

  • If students are leaving early they are required to be signed out at the office.

  • A doctor’s certificate is required for more than three days’ absence.

  • Please notify the office before 2.30pm for any messages your children need before leaving school.