From the Principal

2020…

As we draw close to the end of the year, and Christmas Day, it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect and thank God for 2020.  This year, we saw the COVID-19 pandemic in front of our eyes, and we were all affected by this in different ways. I would agree that this year has been challenging for us in so many ways. A friend was describing the year to me this weekend, and they believed the word ‘chaotic’ described the year well. We saw family and friends with the loss of employment, businesses struggling, families not able to visit their loved ones, students having to deal with so many changes, and the list goes on. Amid this chaotic year, we know that God has been good and faithful to us all, and his steadfast love never ceases.

‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ 
- Lamentations 3:22-23

This week on our staffroom fridge, staff have started putting up sticking notes, reflecting and thanking God for the ways He has been faithful to us this year. I believe our staffroom fridge will soon be covered entirely by sticking notes as we know that God has been so faithful to Northern Christian School this year.

As you reflect on the year and celebrate Christmas with family and friends, I pray that you will remember and be reminded of God’s faithfulness this year. These holidays, I will be praying for you all: our Northern families, families whose children are leaving Northern and our new families that will be joining us in 2021. As you celebrate Christmas, may it not just be an expression of human love and kindness, but an opportunity to receive the love of God for us again.

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’
- Isaiah 9:6

Miss Bethany Armstrong - Principal

School Calendar

TERM 4

Week 9
Friday | Little Learners: End of Year Picnic (See details below)

Week 10
Monday | School Banking
Monday | Virtual Thanksgiving Service from 5.30pm
Monday | Year 6 Fun Day - Bowling
Tuesday | Year 6 Graduation Dinner and Service from 4.45pm
Tuesday | Kinder Excursion to Bonorong
Tuesday | End of Year School Reports sent home
Wednesday | Kinder Graduation at 9.30am
Wednesday | End of Year School Picnic at The Royal Botanical Gardens
Wednesday | Last Day of Term

2021
Book Collection and Uniform Days:
Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 January 2021

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

New Uniform Policy

We are pleased to announce that our new Uniform Policy has been endorsed for 2021. I encourage everyone to read and become familiar with this Policy.

Please note, we are currently in a transition period for school uniform, and the School Council have agreed to have a two-year changeover
(2021 and 2022). Thus, hoodies, pinafores, polar fleece jackets and leggings may continue to be worn until the end of the transition period.

Effective immediately from 2021, the knitted red jumpers are not be worn, and the leggings are to only be worn on our designated Physical Education day.

Prep Update

Term 4 has been a busy one in Prep. I have been amazed by the progress I have seen in all students!

Visible Learning Update

Last term, in our school newsletter, I shared with you about each class’ visible learning focus. It has been a delight to see the improvements from each class, and to see the positive impact this is having on student’s learning.

Please see the impacts for each class below:

• Kinder - Feedback: All of the students were able to repeat given feedback when presented in appropriate language. Most students (91%) were able to explain what the feedback meant in appropriate terms. All students were able to act on feedback after checking understanding.

• Prep - Finger spacing: 57% of students are now consistently using finger spaces compared to 12% early in the term!

• Year 1 - Listening and Speaking: 70% of the students can now articulate what it means to be a good audience member in listening and speaking.

• Year 2 - The Learning Pit: Students were able to articulate the stages of the Learning Pit and were more able to understand where they sat in the learning pit during lessons/topics in class.

• Year 3 - Students independently using a rubric: 75% of my students were able to improve some aspects of their work using a rubric.

• Year 4 - Feedback: has been used with our with the Think Mentals program in Mathematics (addition/subtraction/multiplication/division strategies), and students can see their results immediately. With each weekly unit, students were set the challenge of beating their previous day’s score. Most students were able to achieve this and see this improvement straight away.

• Year 5 - Students articulating WALT and WILF: with the limited use of Exit cards, I was able to see that my WALT needed to be clearer and my WILF needed to be more outcomes based for students to understand and articulate.

• Year 6 Qualities of a Good Learner: Two-thirds of the class were able to articulate clear examples of how the NCS learner characteristics applied to them.

Mission Program - Term 4

Thank you to all the families who have donated to our food drive for Hobart City Mission. This has been such a practical way to show our love and care for the most needy in our community.

We also raised over $170 from our Free Dress Day on Monday for food vouchers, so a big ‘Thank You’ once again for your generosity!

This week we are asking for donations of

• Packets of plain pasta

• Packets of rice (1kg)

Mr Malcolm Lacey - Chaplain

From the Library

Students should keep reading for at least 10 minutes a day over the school holidays to set themselves up for a great start to the new school year. It will keep their brains active, develop overall reading skills and their love of reading. To help families keep their reading momentum rolling over the holidays, Scholastic is releasing some reading resources including:

• Fun competitions and reading challenges

• Reading games for car trips

• Author and illustrator tutorials

• Book recommendations

• Extra special book sales and promotions

• Reading tips and more!

Mrs Linda Rowlings - Librarian

Athletics Carnival Update

On Tuesday, 10 November we had our 2020 Athletics Carnival at the Domain Athletics Centre. It was wonderful to have so many families come out to support us on the day. Thank you also, to all the volunteers who helped out with recording results, handing out ribbons, setting up, packing up and many other tasks. There were lots of great photos taken the day.

After all the event results were tallied, the winning house this year was Wellington with Derwent following not too far behind. Well done to all of the students who participated and gave their best efforts on the day.

Mr Samuel Whittle - Physical Education Teacher

As Christmas lights go up in our neighbourhoods and carols play on our radios, the sights and sounds of the season of hope remind us that this Christmas marks the close of a year of unprecedented challenges; for some, one of the darkest in living memory. As the Christmas run kicks in, it is important to be mindful that in the wake of COVID-19, many are experiencing deep financial stress, personal grief and loss.

Nevermore than at a time like this, it is good to be reminded of the story of hope that is at the heart of Christmas. Through the humble birth of the baby Jesus, we are reminded that a great light has already shone into the darkness of our world and that hope for now and for the future is at hand. Through eyes of faith, we can see that the message of the first Christmas brings practical hope to our broken world.

Christmas is an opportunity for us all to spread, as well as to receive, the love of Christ and to be instruments of hope in a world riddled with pain. We can bring peace where there is conflict, give to the disadvantaged, strengthen the sick, and bring joy and love to the grieving and lonely.

May this Christmas be full of hope as the light of Christ shines on you and through you with peace, joy and love.

But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you: he is the Messiah, the Lord.’
- Luke 2:10-11

Jenny Berry - Chaplain

From the Office

2021 Uniform and Book Collection Days

Wednesday 27 January: 10.00am - 5.30pm
Thursday 28 January: 8.30am - 3.00pm

All students book packs need to be collected on either one of these days. Teachers will have instructions for covering and labelling. Uniforms ordered via QKR! can be collected or purchased from the Uniform Shop. Stock is subject to inventory levels, with out-of-stock items requiring a 2-3 week turnaround time. 

Update Details

If you need to update any details for your child or yourself, please follow the links under “Information and Medical” on our Parents Page.

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.