Being Tech-Wise

It was wonderful to see so many families at our Welcome Barbecue. It was a wonderful night of community, filled with: very warm weather, students being saturated in water in their water fight, fellowship, class talks and much more. As you are aware, on this night our School Council organised a guest speaker, Daniel Sih, to present an Information Session about digital technology and parenting. This was a just a taster and many parents have asked for an extended session for parents and caregivers at a later date. Please stay tuned for the date of our next digital technology and parent session.

We all know that we live in a digitally saturated age in 2020. Technology is literally everywhere: homes, workplaces and schools are filled with technology. We give thanks to God that we are also well-resourced in technology at Northern Christian School. Our deep hope is for all students to continue to grow in wisdom and discernment in their use of technology. Digital Technologies is taught in all year levels from Prep and is mandated in the Australian Curriculum. The ‘Getting Wisdom’ is a biblical thread that is woven into our Digital Technology lessons. “Students go more deeply in order to understand and discern what is revealed and for what purpose. They seek the insight of God for these complex areas of investigation. Through Him, we are given a heart that is able to discern what is good and evil online and offline - and to live for Him.” Everyone, including students, parents, caregivers and staff, all need to work together and be disciplined to ensure that we are using technology to honour and glorify God. 

Andy Crouch, a well-known author writes, “The pace of technological change has surpassed anyone’s capacity to develop enough wisdom to handle it. The challenge we face is this: if we don’t learn to put technology, in all its forms, in its proper place, we will miss out on many of the best parts of life in a family.” Andy Crouch’s most recent book, The Tech-Wise Family does not focus on eliminating technology but rather the notion, ‘to put better things in its place’. He writes:

Technology in its proper place helps us bond with the real people we have been given to love. It's out of its proper place when we end up bonding with people at a distance.

Technology in its proper place starts great conversations. It’s out of its proper place when it prevents us from talking with and listening to one another.

Technology is in its proper place when we use it with intention and care. But technology doesn’t stay in its proper place on its own. It finds its way underfoot all over the house and all over our lives like my children’s toys and minor treasures.

I encourage you to ponder, think and even try some of Crouch’s “10 tech-wise commitments” as you make or revisit your own tech-wise commitments as a family.

10 Tech-Wise Commitments

1. We develop wisdom and courage together as a family.

2. We want to create more than we consume. So we fill the centre of our home with things that reward skill and active engagement.

3. We are designed for a rhythm of work and rest. So one hour a day, one day a week, and one week a year, we turn off our devices and worship, feast, play and rest together.

4. We wake up before our devices do, and they “go to bed” before we do.

5. We aim for “no screens before double digits” at school and at home.

6. We use screens for a purpose, and we use them together, rather than using them aimlessly and alone.

7. Car time is conversation time.

8. Spouses have one another’s passwords, and parents have total access to children’s devices.

9. We learn to sing together, rather than letting recorded and amplified music take over our lives and worship.

10. We show up in person for the big events of life. We learn how to be human by being fully present at our moments of greatest vulnerability.

Miss Bethany Armstrong - Principal

Introducing the 2020 Leadership Team

We are excited to announce the 2020 leadership team at Northern Christian School.

Mr Samuel Whittle will continue in his role of Pastoral Care Coordinator and will support the Principal with positive behaviour management and pastoral care of students.

Mrs Kerrie Prentice will support students, teachers and families as Learning Support Coordinator so that all students at Northern are able to achieve success with their learning. 

Miss Claire Gardner is stepping into the Teaching and Learning Coordinator role and will assist the Principal in the planning and implementation of teaching and learning.

Year 5 News

It has been a busy start to the term in Year 5, with new programs and expectations. These young emerging leaders within our school community have been worded up on the roles and responsibilities they will need to prosper and mature over the coming year. Already, they have shown maturity, commitment and a desire to learn, even amongst a busy start of year and swimming program. Despite the unfamiliar routine, they have been working together and supporting one another.

This year in Year 5, our focus is working as a team and developing a sense of mateship and strengthening the bonds they have already created. To assist in this focus we have developed a ranking system (using Military ranks), in which students will gradually be promoted after earning a set number of reward points via the Class Dojo App. We have moved away from awarding points for general classroom behaviours to a focus on the Five Learning Characteristics we value and promote at Northern - Responsible, Resilient, Persistent, Curious and Courageous learners.

The Year 5 class are now collectively working as a Squad (Echo Squad), with the focus on working as a supportive member of a team where we all learn together and help build each other up to our full potential.

1 Corinthians 12: 15-19 states:

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?

We may all be different, we all learn differently, we all have different life experiences and backgrounds and we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Our focus this year is to use our God-given gifts, our strengths to help build each other up and celebrate our success as a team, a squad and a member of the Northern Christian School family. If you see a year 5, ask them about our class motto, get them to explain what it means for our class and for them as an individual.

Mr Dean Prentice - Year 5 Teacher

Thank you to our School Council

The 2020 Kinder Class have been very generously gifted a Beginners Bible for each student, from our school council, to take home.

School Counsellor News

I hope your children have made a smooth re-entry to school for Term 1 2020. I certainly have enjoyed reconnecting with some and popping into the classrooms to check how everyone is going. 

As the School Counsellor at Northern Christian School I am always looking out for opportunities to alert parents to valuable resources to support and encourage you all in your parenting of our awesome students. We know that raising great kids takes courage, as well as support from everyone around us. Below are two great resources. The first is an event next week on Monday and Tuesday featuring Steve Biddulph. Steve will talk about raising both girls and boys on two separate nights. I highly recommend attending if at all possible.

This is a helpful article on brain development and children’s toys. Please read – you will find it very informative and interesting.

Finally, please feel free to touch base with me at any time if you have any concerns about your child via email. I am also at school every Monday from 8.30am – 3.30pm.

Mrs Julie Weeks - School Counsellor

Ticket to Play

The Tasmanian Government is pleased to announce the Ticket to Play sports voucher program is now open for 2020.

Ticket to Play provides vouchers up to $100 in value towards club membership for children aged 5-17 years who are listed on a Centrelink Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card or in Out of Home Care.

The key objective of Ticket to Play is to increase the number of young Tasmanians playing sport and supporting the Tasmanian Government’s objective of Tasmania being the healthiest population by 2025.

For information and to apply for a voucher visit their website.

School Banking

Northern Christian School is excited to offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking program to all students.

School Banking is a fun, interactive and engaging way for young Australians to learn about money and develop good savings habits. Children who deposit money into their Youthsaver account through School Banking will earn an exciting reward every time they reach ten deposits.

School Banking day is Monday. Each week your child needs to place their banking wallet into the slot in the front desk, near the office, as soon as they arrive at school.

If you would like to know more about School Banking, please ask for a School Banking program information pack from the office or visit the School Banking website.