7 May 2019

High School Musical was brilliant! Our high quality production enthralled all of the audiences and certainly generated great pride in our School community. The energetic, well rehearsed performances and the very co-ordinated production was achieved by a most committed, large team over months of regular practices. For the first time 'live music' provided the accompaniment i.e. a combined band and backing singers comprising students and staff. Everyone who witnessed the shows were excitedly impressed. Warm congratulations were conveyed to all the cast, band and crew, as well as the many supporting personnel who assisted with costumes, make-up/hair, staging/props, ushering, hospitality etc. Our memories are vibrantly positive and we rejoice in the many success stories. Well done RJ! Of particular mention were the staff who planned the Musical and led the students from Term 4 2018: Producer – Mr Alan Dawson, Directors – Mr John Derrington and Mrs Narelle Robertson, Choreographer - Miss Caitlin Shannon-Duhigg and Conductor - Mrs Erica Hales.

An inspiring ANZAC Service commenced Term 2. We are grateful to all the students who participated capably, co-ordinated by Mr Michael Sukkarieh and Mrs Jenny Clay. Our student body of Years 3-12 were extremely respectful as they considered those everyday citizens, including nurses and other female support personnel, who risked their lives for our country. We remember their courage, their comradeship and their compassion – men and women in our armed forces, past and present. During my message I shared about three men who served in the First World War – my grandfather and two of his brothers, both of whom were awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous acts of bravery, but both were killed in action and did not return home to Australia. Fortunately my Pop did come home, however my mother said that he never talked about the war. I also highlighted the poignancy of The Ode and the extraordinary links to be found in selected verses of Isaiah 53, which portray the young, brave Saviour, Jesus Christ. We concluded with the following:

What is our heritage from the ANZAC sacrifices?
Freedom and peace in our country, Australia!
What is our heritage from the sacrifice of Jesus?
Freedom and peace with Almighty God forever!

Years 8, 9 and 10 enjoyed three-day Camps last week: Year 8 travelled to Canberra and its environs, focusing on Science and HSIE related activities; Year 9 were challenged through a range of outdoor recreation activities, sleeping in tents near the Colo River; and Year 10 navigated their way in groups, staying in hostels, around the City, to observe the care and support given to the poor and homeless. We are grateful to the Secondary staff who made these outstanding experiences, including the development of character and teamwork possible: Year 8 – Mrs Scrimshaw, Mr Glazebrook, Mr Fletcher, Mr Hughes, Ms Watson, Mrs Babbar, Miss Leschev; Year 9 - Mr Bemrose, Mr Bunsell, Mr Pereira, Mr Millard, Miss Peterson, Miss Mahaffey; Year 10 - Mr Maxwell, Mr Derrington, Mr Cohen, Mr Leenman, Mr Webb, Miss Simos, Mrs Rathbone, Miss Botros; Year 12 - Mr Dawson, Mr Murthen, Mr Millard, Mr Sukkarieh, Mrs Clay, Mrs Hales.  

Also, a Year 12 Retreat, was very successfully pioneered last Friday, initiated by Mr Dawson. It proved to be a timely catch-up for our Senior Students to recalibrate their progress and to launch them forward to the HSC and beyond. They were assured of all the supportive people around them – their families, their teachers and their peers.

Mr Paul Cockrem
Principal

Other sessions promoted healthy habits leading into the last leg of their formal schooling journey; encouraged students to stay connected with each other, to their parents and to teachers maturely and effectively; built cohesion and a sense of unity and community among the cohort and encouraged students to begin to develop a big vision for their life and future vocation.

Our guest speaker Glen Gerryn spoke on having purpose and pursuing your dreams. Students were encouraged to take hold of the gifts and talents in their life, the ‘seeds of greatness’ that God has given them, and use them to pursue a future that impacts and serves others. All in all, the time away from campus was very beneficial for our Year 12’s.

WINTER UNIFORM & HAIRCUTS

With photo days coming up in the next few weeks, students and parents are to encouraged to check the Winter Uniform requirements to ensure that the students are wearing the Uniform correctly for this term. Winter Uniform is to be worn from next week – Monday 13 May.

In Secondary, all students should wear their blazer to and from School. All Secondary boys must wear a tie and all girls must wear the scarf. These should be put on at home and be worn throughout the day.

Non-school items are not permitted. Students are not allowed to be wearing beanies other than the newly launched ‘RJ’ Beanie. The RJ Beanie can only be worn with the Winter Uniform outside. The School Scarf may be worn by students if they are cold. Other scarfs are also not allowed.

Year 12 students may wear their Year 12 jersey instead of the blazer, but need to remember that the sleeves are to be down and that they must wear the full Uniform underneath the jersey. The jersey should be left outside of skirts and trousers and should not be tucked in.

For Primary students, the Primary ‘bomber’ jacket is the only outer garment to be worn with the Primary Winter Uniform. Follow this link to our Presentation and Uniform Policy for further clarification: 

School Uniform and Student Presentation Policy

On Wednesday 22 May, School Photos for everyone from K-12 on the Oakhurst Campus will be taken, so please make sure in advance that the Uniform is correct and neat for that day. Photo Day for Marsden Park Campus is on Wednesday 29 May.

Mr Alan Dawson
Deputy Principal

CHILDREN AND SCREEN TIME

You may have heard that the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week has presented guidelines in relation to screen time for children under the age of 5. The WHO recommend that children under one have no screen time and children between ages 1 and 5 are limited to one hour per day. Screen time includes watching any screen such as a television, computer or mobile device. Guidelines are also provided for physical behaviour and sedentary time. Parents with young children under 5 are encouraged to consider the recommendations of the report to support the well-being of their child. The report can be accessed at https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/311664

HOUSE MEETINGS

House Meetings will be held this week (Wednesday 8 May Marsden Park Campus, Thursday 9 May Oakhurst Campus) in place of Primary Assemblies. K-6 students across both Campuses wear their House Shirt and Sports Uniform and engage in House activities.

MOTHERS’ DAY STALL

The P&F Mothers’ Day Stall for mums or special carers in their place will be held at the Oakhurst Campus this Wednesday 8 May and Thursday 9 May at the Marsden Park Campus. Students should bring between $2-$10 to purchase a gift for their mother or special carer. Gifts cost $2, $5 or $10. Thank you to P&F representatives who will assist on these days.

NAPLAN

Parents of students in Years 3 and 5 are reminded that NAPLAN testing will be held in Week 3 on Tuesday 14 May (Writing), Wednesday 15 May (Reading) and Friday 17 May (Language Conventions), as well as Tuesday 21 May (Mathematics) in Week 4. Please ensure students are well-rested in preparation for these assessments. Results of NAPLAN testing will be made available to parents later in the year. No test can be sat prior to the advertised School testing dates. Catch-up opportunities for missed tests will be held after the test and prior to Friday 24 May. No testing can take place beyond that time.

PRIMARY PUBLIC SPEAKING FINALS

The Primary Public Speaking Finals were held in Week 11 of Term 1. Stage Finalists did a wonderful job presenting their speeches and speaking with clarity and confidence. A range of interesting topics were presented including: the importance of prayer, saying please, a smile, imagination, treating one another equally, standing up for your beliefs, art, reading and mathematics; recycling; endangered animals; deforestation; and homework. Students showed great maturity and social awareness in these topics as well as topics related to internet safety and the need for parents to ensure their children are safe online. Well done to all of the students involved. Thank you also to Yashita Dutt and Jody Villanueva for presenting an informative debating presentation.

RIVESTONE FESTIVAL

RJ will be participating in the Riverstone Festival this Saturday 11 May. The Festival runs from 9:00am-3:00pm with a street parade at 11:00am involving RJ students from both campuses. Students walking in the parade need to be at the Mill Street Reserve RJ marshalling area by 10:30am. We will also have a stall with information about the School. The Festival includes stalls, carnival rides and stage performances. Come along and support our School and enjoy this community event.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

School Photos for the Oakhurst Campus will be taken on Wednesday 22 May. School Photos for the Marsden Park Campus will be taken on Wednesday 29 May. All students (Pre-K to Year 6) are to wear their Winter Uniform on this day. Girls must wear navy blue tights, not socks. Hair is to be tied up with a small navy hair tie. Earrings must be as per the Uniform Policy – plain gold or silver stud or sleeper. Pre-Kindergarten children wear their long-sleeved RJ polo shirt, tracksuit pants and joggers. Further information relating to Uniform requirements is outlined below.

TERM 2 WINTER UNIFORM

From next Monday 13 May, all students are to wear their Winter Uniform as per the Uniform Policy Guidelines.

Pre-Kindergarten: Students wear the long-sleeve polo shirt with the winter tracksuit. They may wear the School Jumper underneath their Sport Jacket for extra warmth. No other visible garments are to be worn under the polo shirt.

Kindergarten-Year 6: Girls can choose to wear socks or tights with the Winter tunic, except on formal occasions such as School Photo day when they must wear blue tights. Girls’ tunics should be at knee length. All students require a Primary Jacket. The Primary Jacket should be worn when travelling to and from School in Terms 2 and 3. The School jumper is optional and may only be worn under the jacket if needed, not in place of it.

Pre-K to Year 6: Parents are reminded to label all Uniform items to ensure they are not lost as children remove them if they are warm throughout the day. Girls hair ties are to be navy blue only. Girls may wear a watch, small gold or silver studs or sleepers and a plain flat ring. Boys may only wear a watch. Necklaces, bracelets and bangles are not to be worn. Students wearing these items will be asked to remove them and place them in their School bag. To avoid these items potentially being misplaced, please do not allow your child to wear these items to School.

WESTERN SYDNEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SPORT / SCHOOL SPORT

The Western Sydney Christian School Sport (WSCS) competition commences tomorrow, Wednesday 8 May, as does School Sport. Please refer to the WSCS Sport Note for your child outlining WSCS dates and sport requirements.

YEAR 6 PRIMARY LEADERS DAY

On Monday 20 May, Year 6 student leaders from both Campuses will meet with Year 6 leaders across The Anglican Schools Corporation for the annual Year 6 Leaders Day. This event will be hosted by St Luke’s Grammar School in Dee Why. The students will have a great day interacting with other leaders, developing their leadership skills and exploring ways they can extend their leadership within our School community. 

Mrs Narelle Taylor
Assistant Principal/Head of Primary

The dates for CRU Blast are Monday 22 July – Friday 26 July 2019 (the 3^rd week of the July School Holidays).

The registrations have commenced and students will receive a brochure soon. The link to register for the Camp is https://crudaycamps.com.au/cru-blast#cru-blast-introduction

We’d love to see your child/children at CRU Blast this year. If you have any questions, please contact Mr Rowe via email srowe@rjas.nsw.edu.au

Mr Stewart Rowe
Director of Christian Ministry/Service Learning

Mr Taylor’s visit was voluntary and is in conjunction with the Federal Government initiative, ‘The Beacon Program’. Mr Taylor has offered to give feedback to the students' resumes and return to the School to conduct mock interviews to help further their skills and build confidence.

Students thoroughly enjoyed this incursion. Below are a few thoughts from them.

“It was a good experience and gave me an insight on what to expect during a job interview.”

“I really liked the incursion because I learnt new things about jobs and interviews as well.”

“I enjoyed the English incursion because it provided me with real-life insight in terms of applying for a job interview.”

“The incursion was informative.”

Mrs Kerrie Lyons
English Teacher

At this event, students heard from four different authors. Each author shared stories and offered advice for young writers about ways to develop imaginative ideas. It was great to see our students listening well and busily taking notes to help them in their own writing adventures. Students were also able to gather autographs and were delighted with a poster signed by R.A.Spratt. We will look forward to displaying the poster in our Primary Library!

Mrs Claire McCormick
Primary Co-ordinator 

The other event happened on the very last day, as a consequence of Bridie O’Kelly (Year 10) being selected as one of eight finalists in the Blacktown Youth Ambassador program. Bridie had already been through an extensive interview process, from an original group of over 60 applicants. It was a pleasure to hear her speak confidently and clearly to an audience of adults that evening, about her ideas for programs to connect with disengaged youth in the Blacktown LGA. It was also an opportunity to hear about the youth programs already in place in Blacktown, and gave me some food for thought as to how we could promote Council activities at School on a more regular basis. Bridie will still continue to have involvement this year with the Council as a member of their Youth Advisory team, and is able to apply again for the Youth Ambassador Program. Such events are tremendous opportunities for students to build a repertoire of skills in public speaking and gain confidence in presenting and promoting their ideas to a wider audience. My congratulations to all the students who have been courageous and taken on the challenges of trying something completely different!

Last week, students began the term by reflecting on the significance of ANZAC Day, and particularly commemorated the service of nurses during war time. It was a very respectful time, and had many personal touches, which help to make ANZAC Day itself more meaningful for younger generations. The further we move away in time from the events of Gallipoli and the Western Front, the greater the danger that we could forget the significance of the sacrifice of so many men and women who left their homes and families to serve the needs of others, and continue to do so in times of conflict. The pledge “We will remember them…lest we forget” is so important. Our younger generations now carry the torch that lights the path for those who follow them, to enable them to “remember”.

For three days last week, we also had Years 8-10 away on various camps and programs, and Year 12 enjoyed a “retreat” at Vision Valley. From all accounts, all these events went very smoothly and a wonderful time was had by all.

Sadly, we said goodbye to several Secondary staff at the end of last term, but we have been able to welcome new members to continue their great work – Mrs Miggins (Visual Arts), Mr Manoloto (Music) and Miss Longley (English). They have enthusiastically commenced their teaching and parents will have the opportunity to meet them at various events during the term.

The first major event is the Year 11 2020 Information Night on Wednesday evening (8 May). This evening will start at 6pm with a “marketplace” of information regarding various courses, and then the more formal presentations will start at 6:45pm. Students will be given a range of information about how to select subjects, the ATAR, TVET and other courses, and Careers Advice. Year 10 students are encouraged to start speaking with their friends in Years 11 and 12, to get an idea of what lies ahead for them and the challenges of Stage 6. It should be another great evening and we would like to see as many as possible in attendance. An SMS reminder was sent to parents last week, and Year 10 students have received written notification in class.

Week 3 sees NAPLAN Online testing commence, with the Writing test on Tuesday. All students in Years 7 and 9 need to remember to bring their laptop fully charged (NESA advises that it be re-booted at least 24 hours prior to the testing, to make the connection smoother), and their headphones/earphones. We only have a limited number of spares if students forget.

Students who are absent due to illness will be able to sit catch-up tests the following week. Please let the School know if your son or daughter will be absent due to illness.

It sometimes happens that families take leave during School term. Students are reminded that – as per Mr Cockrem’s letter – they need to speak with their teachers regarding any assessment tasks which are due. Often these will need to be completed BEFORE a student leaves, or submitted while they are away. In the case of Years 11 and 12, there are no exceptions to this. Extensions will not be granted because students go on holidays. Nor is “approved leave” an exemption from completing assessment tasks. In Stage 6, these are non-negotiable events. There is a schedule for the completion of tasks and teachers (and students) are expected to adhere to this. Since time for courses is pressured in these years, we also cannot wait for students to catch up the work they have missed. It is not advisable for senior students to take holidays during term time – it simply puts greater pressure on them for the completion of their course work.

The 2019 HSC exam timetable has been released and Year 12 students should check their Students Online account for a personalised timetable. The exams finish on Friday 8 November, and the Year 12 Formal will be held the following week. I will include details about this event in the next RJ Review.

We are off and running once more – I am thankful that God gives us the grace and energy to enjoy learning about the world He has created, and mankind’s place within it.

Mrs Jenny Clay
Assistant Principal/Head of Secondary

"The show was amazing. I had to take my kids a second time as they LOVED it so much the first time."

"We saw it on the Friday night! Such an amazing production 🌟"

"Such an awesome night... saw the first performance on Wednesday night..... absolutely loved it.... My daughter thoroughly enjoyed it as well.... congratulations to all students who performed and all teachers and other students who helped make it so great 😊"

"Great job! Loved it 💕"

"Now I’m gutted I forgot to get tickets! Looks amazing!"

"Amazing show, Amazing Talent. Thanks for bringing so much enjoyment to so many. ❤️"

"It was brilliant! So much fun. Well done students & teachers. Awesome job all round 👏"

"Three nights of fabulous. Well done RJAS ❣️"

"Thank you for the wonderful show."

"Well done guys 👏. Better than the movie!"

"Congratulations to all. We went on Wednesday night. Enjoyed it so much so went on Friday night as well. Brilliant performance."

"We went on Wednesday night and it was such a professional performance and we enjoyed every minute. Congratulations on an amazing show."

"Fantastic show. Thoroughly enjoyed the last night."

"Hi there, I am writing in relation to the High School Musical at the Oakhurst Campus last week (I attended the Friday viewing). I just wanted to say what a delight those students were. I do not have a child who attends the campus, however I came to support a very close family friend's daughter and I was so happy I did. Even my teenage daughter loved the viewing. Our cheeks were so sore from laughing and smiling during the whole show. The kids clearly worked hard and it showed. It was such a delight."

Could all students please return the money that they have raised for Run 4 Bibles by Friday 10 May. There will be a final tally of the money raised in the next issue of the RJ Review. Again, thank you for the students who participated.

Mr Stewart Rowe
Director of Christian Ministry/Service Learning

The cost of the evening is $10 per student, which will be donated to Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off the Streets Program. Cardboard boxes are the go for the evening, so start collecting your bed for the night!! Permission notes are now available from Mr Rowe or Student Reception.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr Rowe by email srowe@rjas.nsw.edu.au

Mr Stewart Rowe
Director of Christian Ministry/Service Learning

Throughout the day, our students had the opportunity to explore the museum and participate in a range of sessions. One session included a hands-on-activity, where students could hold real ancient artefacts and use their creative skills to draw and answer questions such as what the artefact was used for in the ancient world.

The students also had the opportunity to spend a few sessions gazing amazingly at the artefacts in the museum. They had the chance to look closely at the ancient Egyptian mummies, learnt about the building of the Parthenon and most fascinating of all, they got the chance to explore the fantastic Lego creation which showed students what the site of Pompeii would have looked like before the eruption of Mt Vesuvius.

Overall, our mini RJ historians and archaeologists truly enjoyed themselves and had an amazing experience learning about the ancient past and the people within.

Miss Voula Simos
HSIE Teacher

On the careers front, we have had a large number of Stage 4 and 5 students making appointments at our Career’s Office in the Hub. I have had some wonderful conversations about careers, ranging from journalism, creative writing, engineering, even forensic science and investigation. All wonderful choices for our students here are RJ. With continued engagement and interaction, I hope that we can have many more students coming to the Careers Office talking about their futures and the amazing opportunities they have been provided.

With this comes our important dates to remember for the next few weeks:

• 8 May 2019- Information evening for Year 11 2020.
• 17 May 2019- Admission into UCAT (Medicine degrees) closes 11:59 pm.
• June/July- Preparation for UAC admission for Year 12 students.

A reminder not to forget about making appointments on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and looking at our new and improved RJ careers website: https://www.rjascareers.com/  

Miss Voula Simos
Careers Advisor 

CIS TRIALS

This term there are CIS trials in rugby league, rugby union, touch or softball (boys). These events are for Stage 3 students and your child needs to be playing at a representative level if that pathway exists in the sport in that age group to be considered for selection. If your child is interested, please contact me ASAP, so that I can nominate them.

CSSA GYMNASTICS

The CSSA State Gymnastics competition is on this term. For girls wishing to compete, they must be at least a WAG Level 3 gymnast (no acro levels unfortunately). For boys, any MAG level is allowed. Please contact me ASAP if your child is interested in competing.

CIS FOOTBALL GIRLS

Congratulations to Kiara Fragomeli for making the CIS Girls Football Team. We wish her luck as she competes in Lismore later this month.

AFL TRAINING

AFL training is on Friday (Oakhurst Campus) for the girls’ team who has moved onto the Regional Finals of the Paul Kelly Cup.

AFL CLINIC AT MARSDEN PARK

The AFL is coming to Marsden Park this week for a one-off session with the students at this Campus. They are also establishing a new AFL Auskick program in the Marsden Park area. If you are interested, refer to the flyer for details.

Mr Gavin Mitchell
Primary Sports Coordinator

RJ 3 -12 CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL 

What a great event to finish the term. We had a wonderful turn out, with parents and family joining the event to cheer on our students. With a new venue and course, students can be commended for their conduct throughout the day. Thank you to all the teachers and staff who helped in the setup, running and pack up at the end of the day. Another thank you goes to the Year 9 PASS class who helped in the Primary section. Results and places will be announced at the Secondary Assembly in week 4. The top 4 places in each age division will be going to the CSSA State Cross Country on Friday 31 May at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

STUDENTS REPRESENTING RJ

Over the last week, we had 6 students trial for the CSSA Rugby Union teams. All of the students were successful in making the team for their age division. Congratulations to Sione Pula, Uilikona Puni-Iakopo, John Wesley Vunga, Mikaele Soseu, Jesse Tima, and Corey Nicholson. These students will be representing RJ and CSSA at the AICES Rugby Carnival this Thursday at T.G. Milner Fields in Eastwood.

Also on Wednesday last week, we had 2 students trial for the Opens Boys CIS Volleyball team. I am still waiting on confirmation on how they went. I will update their progress in the next issue of the RJ Review.

This Thursday we have 3 students trialling for the CIS Boys 15’s AFL team. I wish them the best.

KEEPING UP-TO-DATE

Please make sure that if your child is a keen sports person and would like to attempt higher honours in their chosen sport, please keep a look out on the following websites:

CSSA Sport: https://www.cssa.net.au/

CIS Sport: https://www.revolutionise.com.au/nswcis/home/

Mr David Hyde
Secondary Sports Coordinator

What is your favourite food?

Without a doubt anything containing CHOCOLATE! Choc chip cookies, chocolate ice-cream, Cadbury blocks (hint..hint).

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love spending any spare time with friends and socialising. I also love to cook and any form of exercise.

When and why did you come to work at this School?

I started at Richard Johnson at the beginning of this year. It has been a great opportunity to share in this mission field with like-minded people and showing Christ to the next generation.

What have you enjoyed about your role in the School?

I have enjoyed learning from experienced staff, sharing new skills I have learnt and participating in extra curricular activities.

Describe a wonderful experience you’ve had which you’ll never forget.

I was treated to an incredible surprise holiday to Queensland for my 21^st (and conquered my fear of theme parks while I was there).

Why did you become a Christian?

I grew up in a Christian family, but at the age of 7 I was curious about knowing God for myself and pursing a personal relationship with Him.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

2 Corinthians 9:8 (it’s long!). This verse is a constant reminder that God is in control and my provider for every need.

What is something you want to achieve?

I want to empower students to always try their best in school and reach their potential in life.

If you could meet any person in the world at the moment who would it be?

Amercian Educator Brook Brown – ‘Teach Outside the Box’ STEM specialist.

What is your favourite food?

My favourite food would have to be a large slice of pizza, finished off with a slice of Ricotta cheesecake.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Going for long drives, exploring new destinations, spending time with family and reading.

When and why did you come to work at this School?

Beginning of 2019. To use my passion for History to make every student love school.

What have you enjoyed about your role in the School?

Working with new students and staff together to create and teach something new, exciting and creative.

Describe a wonderful experience you’ve had which you’ll never forget.

Most memorable experience, especially when I am teaching, is seeing all my students happy and enjoying life.

Why did you become a Christian?

I have been brought up in a Christian home and have found it most important in thanking God for the life He has provided through Jesus. 

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Philippians 4:8 ‘Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right….think about such things.’ 

What is something you want to achieve?

I want to achieve consistent passion, happiness and love, especially for my students.

If you could meet any person in the world at the moment who would it be?

Emma Watson for her dedication towards equal rights for all.

• Discuss drawing/painting on paper vs computer-drawing (this can vary from using drawing tools in standard word processors through to expensive drawing/graphics software).
• Family idea: family members produce a hand-drawn and a computer-drawn artwork each (just something small), then organise a day to have a family art show.
• What is a podcast? Discuss. You might even research the history of radio plays (their peak time was in the 1930s and 40s). Find some family-friendly podcasts to enjoy.
• Discuss values. Can your child give a definition of values? (some examples are: respect, honesty, trustworthiness, dependability, generosity, empathy.) What are the positive values of some characters in video games/YouTube clips, movies etc? What are some poor values your child can see in action? (e.g. disrespecting others, disrespecting property, characters going back on their word). Help you child learn how to name and identify values in action.
• Example 1: In the movie Shrek: Fiona decides to kiss her true love at sunset and take on his form (that of an ogre). In other words: Fiona demonstrates that she looks past outward appearances. She appreciates Shrek’s integrity.
• Example 2: In the movie Finding Nemo, Dory’s repeated phrase “just keep swimming” demonstrates perseverance.
• There are many websites that recommend movies that promote positive values.
• Have a family discussion about digital streaming laws. Why do these laws exist?

What is FoMO? (Fear of Missing Out) How does FoMO apply to e-media use? Can there be any connection between media use and anxiety and depression? You might use the following article to kick off a discussion with your child: https://www.psychology.org.au/news/media_releases/8Nov2015-fomo/

• Discuss downloading apps, advertising in apps, price of apps, some apps that claim to be free are not necessarily so.
• What is “phishing.” How can you be alert to phishing tactics? https://kidsnclicks.com/7-online-social-media-scams-parents-should-know-about/
• Discuss social media. What is it? What is publishing? What is private? What is public? What is bullying? How to handle bullying and unhelpful comments (together with your child, look up how to report poor online behaviour to media administrators).

DISCUSS:

• Does social media affect your view of yourself?
• Does it cause you to unhelpfully compare yourself to others?
• When you post things, are you looking for approval from others?
• Do other people’s posts cause you to feel bad about yourself? If so, why?
• Discuss: Social media posts are the carefully constructed representations that people want you to have of themselves. Most of what you see of people on social media are either just the part of themselves they want you to see, or carefully constructed personas. People are not the sum of their posts.
• Play a video game with your child (you might make it a regular thing and take turns in choosing games). Ask your older child about how their favourite games have changed over time. Tell them about the video games that were around when you were younger.

Discuss paper map/atlas vs GPS. Decide on a car trip to take and ask your child to “be the GPS” using a paper map (or an adult could model being the GPS the first time you try this). Choose a short journey and clue your child into how far in advance they need to give instructions to the driver.

Discuss: is there such a thing as “electronic media addiction”? Some websites you might check out for a discussion with your child:

https://www.melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/does-your-child-have-a-technology-addiction/

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-44640959

https://theconversation.com/digital-addiction-how-technology-keeps-us-hooked-97499

If you prefer to make a cash/cheque payment, an order envelope may be collected from any Reception at either Campus, due to be returned on Photo Day. Ensure correct payment is securely contained within the envelope.

Sibling (Family) photographs will be taken on the Co-curricular & Sporting Groups days in September (Term 3) . Advanced notice is given that sibling photos can only be ordered online.

On Photo Day, all students are to wear full Winter School Uniform, as per the Student Uniform and Presentation Policy. Pre-Kindergarten students wear their long sleeved polo and tracksuit.

*Special Note re Primary WSCS Sport:
WSCS has been cancelled on Wednesday 22 May – Oakhurst students are to wear full Winter Uniform (not Sports Uniform).
WSCS Sport will go ahead on Wednesday 29 May – Marsden Park students are to wear full Winter Uniform and bring Sports Uniform to change into.

Should you have any queries concerning School photographs or online ordering, please direct them via email to enquiries@advancedlife.com.au.

From Wednesday 1 May 2019 to Tuesday 25 June 2019 or while stock lasts, we are collecting Woolworths Earn & Learn Stickers. Place the Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker onto a Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker Sheet and when it’s complete, the Sticker Sheet can be dropped into the Collection Box located at (Oakhurst) Primary Reception or Marsden Park Reception and there will be collection boxes at the Plumpton Woolworths and Greenway Woolworths.

At the end of the promotion, the School will receive some great new equipment. If you’d like to know more visit woolworths.com.au/earnandlearn.

Thank you