Northern Newsletter

From the Principal

Transformational…

What is ‘Transformational’? This is a question that I asked our students to think, ponder and answer last week. Quite a few students commented that transformation was connected to change and difference. Many students related transformational to transformers! I showed students a transformer and discussed how we are all being transformed - most students reminded me of the proper name for this transformer. I explained to students that our deep hope at Northern Christian School is that Jesus will transform us. Our new Vision Statement for Christian Schools Tasmania is to be a transformational Christian learning community!

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘Transformation’ as “A significant change in someone or something’s appearance or form”. We often hear the word ‘Transformational’ when we watch home renovation or body makeover shows. I would like to unpack the word ‘Transformational’ from a Christian worldview and in relation to how this relates to our new Vision Statement:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

In these verses, Paul challenges us to take everyday life - our eating, sleeping, going to work and walking around - and place it before God as an offering. Paul warns us against being so conditioned by our culture that we fit into it without thinking. Paul also challenges us to hone our discernment and not be blinded by the cultural and personal context, or led by every sweep of doctrine that swings our way (Mount Evelyn Christian School, 2014).

Being transformed by renewing your mind, a mind that is captive to Christ, is at the heart of a transformational vision for education at Northern.

We pray that we will aspire to be a transformative Christian learning community where we seek to guide each child so that they may be responsive learners, equipped to be God’s transformative agents in this world.

Bethany Armstrong - Principal

School Calendar

TERM 3

Week 7: August 30 - September 3

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

VIEW FULL SCHOOL CALENDAR

Please join our Northern community for a relaxed casual Fathers’ Day Breakfast on Wednesday, 1 September at 8.00am.

The aim of the occasion is to create a happy time for children to share with the adult men in their lives, be it Dad, big brother, Uncle, Grandad, Stepfather or a friend.

The Fathers' Day Breakfast is an initiative of the Northern Christian School Council. This is an unticketed event but RSVP via Facebook would be appreciated and all attendees must register upon arrival using the Check in Tas App.

RSVP VIA FACEBOOK

We would LOVE to thank all our parents, carers and family members for attending our Book Week Parade today.

Our students looked terrific in their costumes! WELL DONE to all for the huge effort put into creating them. Check out Facebook for all the great photos.

Year 2 Update

Life in Year 2 is great! We have been having lots of fun learning about new things and the world around us.

This term, we have had a strong focus on our writing skills including informative and imaginative recounts and persuasive writing. Students are currently writing persuasive letters on topics such as ‘Homework is a health hazard’ and ‘Why we should have a class pet turtle’.

In Mathematics, we have been spending time exploring what Mass is and using balancing scales to rank and compare classroom objects.

We have been having lots of fun in Science this term. In Life Sciences, we are currently studying plants, animals and people. We recently started growing our grass seed head people. Some are growing faster than others but we are certain they will all have fantastic hair shortly.

For Science Week we also spent time with our Buddy Class (Year 5) making volcanos and erupting them!

Throughout this term’s Bible curriculum, we have been learning about the different lessons Jesus shared with us from his time on Earth. It is my hope that through this study we can continue to understand how Jesus wants us to live our lives.

We have had a great year so far and we anticipate an exciting conclusion to it.

Sean Gressie - Year 2 Teacher

Music Update

Term 2 was an exciting time for the Junior and Senior Choirs as they performed live for the first time since 2019 at the opening of our new Performing Arts Centre (PAC).

Both choirs were wonderful and it was a joy to hear them singing together and being able to perform live to an audience.

This semester marked the beginning of the Junior and Senior Bands, and we have an exciting new space to rehearse in.You can have some fun at home with music too. I’ve included a link to a great version of the song “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” that you can try using different parts of your body to make your own band.

Have a great musical Term 3 everyone.

Andrea Marks - Music Teacher

1-2-3 Magic & Emotional Coaching is a program that aims to help parents and carers to manage difficult child behaviour. It has a strong focus on implementing strategies and techniques that promote positive behaviour.

1-2-3 Magic & Emotional Coaching helps to remove the emotion from discipline as well as helping a child to develop their ability to manage their emotional reactions. There is also a strong focus on relationship-building.

We are offering this program at Northern in September. There will be THREE sessions in the program and attendees will need to reserve a FREE ticket for each session to complete the program. The 3 sessions will run as follows:

Session 1: Wednesday, 1 September - 6.00pm - 8.30pm
Session 2: Wednesday, 15 September - 6.00pm - 8.30pm
Session 3: Wednesday, 22 September - 6.00pm - 8.30pm

The School Council will be providing nibbles.There are limited spaces so bookings are essential. All attendees must register upon arrival using the Check in Tas App. If you are interested please book your free ticket here.

Samuel Whittle – Pastoral Care Coordinator

BOOK HERE

School Council Fundraising

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are back!

All funds raised will directly benefit Northern Christian School.

$24 per box of 1 dozen (12) Original Glazed doughnuts
$24 per box of 1 dozen (12) Assorted doughnuts (6x original, 2x chocolate iced, 2x strawberry iced, 2x chocolate with sprinkles).

Order via QKR! before 4.00pm Friday, 17 September.

Doughnuts will be delivered to Northern Christian School for collection on
Monday, 18 October.

In support of the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child, we are asking families to either fill or donate items for shoeboxes.

We have boxes available at the Office or you are welcome to use your own. Click here for instructions on how to fill boxes or pick up a brochure at the Office.

Please place donated items or/and filled boxes through the window near the Year 4 Classroom door.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Williams

Instrumental Music Tuition

There are several vacant timeslots for music tuition this semester. Tuition is available for the following instruments:

Piano
Guitar
Beginner Violin
Flute*
Clarinet*

Cost is $25 per half-hour lesson, once a week during school terms. Invoices are emailed out monthly and can be paid through online banking.

Contact Andrea Marks to book in for lessons or if you wish to discuss the possibility of lessons on clarinet, flute or another instrument.

*In most cases you will require your own instrument to practice on at home. We may have a clarinet and/or flute available to borrow from the school.

From the Office

Entering Campus

All visitors to the campus between 9.00am and 3.00pm must present at the Office and sign in. If you are simply dropping off or collecting your child before or after the start and end of the school day, there is no need to sign in; however, if you enter a classroom during drop off or pick up, please ensure you sign in using the COVID-19 Check In Tas App QR code at the entrance to the classroom prior to entering. (You only need to sign in once even if you enter additional classrooms.)

Parents are not to enter classrooms between 9.00am – 3.00pm unless as a volunteer, signed in to the Office.

Parents entering classrooms once the school day has started can be very distracting and unsettling. If you need to drop off or collect your child during class time, please visit the Office, and we will assist you. We will deliver items to classrooms and provide messages to students and staff.

All School Abseentees

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.