Week 8B, 08.09.2020

02 6923 8888

www.waggachristian.nsw.edu.au

401 Kooringal Rd, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650

From the Principal So, how can a school run Grandparent’s Day, Book Week, Father’s Day Stall, Cattle Show, $20 Boss Challenge, and team-based sport training sessions during COVID restrictions?

The answer is that we have amazing students who respond to (and cooperate with) great staff, and there is a terrific group of parents who assist where they can. It is all built on a foundation of care and trust, including the days where adults and students willingly exclude themselves from events if they are feeling unwell, and others will encourage their friends to fill in gaps caused by absent team-mates.

Our Grandparent’s Day was able to be run as a Virtual Grandparent’s Week, and included videos produced by different classes that highlighted student work and classroom tours.

I’ve heard Grandparents around the world were able to be part of the celebration. Well done to those people involved in making these videos! We were also able to bless the Caloola Court residents with Grandparent gifts that reminded them of how much Jesus loves them.

Our Father’s Day Stall and Sport Training afternoons are other examples of how we have a community that supports. This last week we were able to call on volunteers to run much-needed activities in a safe way. I don’t know about you, but I seem to be spending a lot of time this year reading Government Public Movement orders about how we can support our students plus restrict the number of adults onsite each day! Please join me in praying for health and wisdom as we navigate these tricky situations.

We were also able to run virtual versions of activities that in the past were conducted in-person. These present both

amazing opportunities and difficulties that our students, staff, and parents have worked through. And our children

have benefitted from the diligence. So to the people who have gone above and beyond, I thank you!

Sincerely,

Mr Phillip Wilson Principal

College Calendar & Communication

Sep 2 - 9 Grandparents Day Link In

Sep 14 & 15 Parent Teacher Interviews by phone

Sep 21 - 24 Yr 11 Examinations

Sep 18 Junior School Healthy Habits Day

Sep 25 Yr 12 Final Day

Sep 25 Term 3 Ends

Oct 12 Term 4 Begins

Oct 20 HSC Written Exams Begin

Dec 10 Term 4 Ends

Give thanks for:

Connections across our community

Shared creativity - the Book Week Parade was fantastic!

Ongoing protection from COVID-19 in Wagga

Pray for:

Students as they approach HSC major work deadlines this week

Wisdom in navigating the constantly changing requirements of a COVID-19 environment

Year 11 preparing for final exams

Year 12 in the final few weeks of regular schooling

Parent Teacher Interviews

Kindergarten to Year 12 parents have the opportunity to talk via phone with teachers on Monday 14 & Tuesday 15 September. An email was sent to families yesterday with a link to the booking system to reserve your phone interview time. Alternatively, you may email the teachers via the same booking system instead of receiving a phone call. Please contact the College Office if you require further assistance, 6923 8888.

Last week we were able to celebrate our grandparents and recognise the important role they play in our lives. I am very thankful for my grandparents and the way they supported and loved me. None of my grandparents are with me anymore but their fingerprints of faith and guidance can be found on my life. A big thank you to the grandparents who play an active role in our College community, we look forward to you being able to join us again once things settle down. Did you see the Middle School Grandparents' Day video? If you missed it check this link.

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Earlier in the year, a number of students entered the Annual McCormack Anzac Day Writing Competition. Last week, the students received certificates recognising their efforts.

Freya Howard was also presented with a book prize as she won the South Division Secondary School division. Her short story was printed in the regional ANZAC Day booklet. Congratulations, Freya!

5/6H Grandparent Bio Poems

7M Archaeology Day

In HSIE, we learnt about the steps needed to become an archaeologist, what they do, and how they help historians. The main reason we did an archaeological dig was to get some hands-on experience about what archaeology is like. I was in the red group. My group found a whole lot of interesting artefacts, including parts of a broken clay pot, a pendant and a curtain hook.

After Kyson, Ano and Toby dug up the artifacts, Kitale, Kane, Victoria and I cleaned each artefact. Then, we tried to put the clay pieces together to see what it was. Overall, it was a marvelous day and I am grateful to Miss Abascal for planning it so well.

Brenna G (Year 7)

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

A number of Middle School students are actively involved in the College Cattle Team and spend a great deal of their own break times down caring, preparing and training the cattle. Last week they participated in online Cattle Parading, Junior Judging and the Junior Auctioneering Competitions. Mrs Everingham has been very impressed by their focus, dedication and willingness to have a go. The students will continue to work with the cattle and practice parading until the cattle depart on 25th September for judging. We are looking forward to hearing how they get on.

With the warmer weather moving in, students now have the option of wearing either summer or winter uniform. Whichever they elect to wear, they need to ensure they are wearing it correctly. We also would ask that all jackets and hats have names clearly written in them as at the end of every day we are picking up clothing that has been discarded on the basketball court. The jackets in particular are expensive and if they have a name we are more likely to be able to return them to the owner

Parent teacher interviews are coming up on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 September. Due to the current restrictions, parents will be given an opportunity to book a phone interview or request email contact rather than coming on site. The booking process will be the same as we have used previously with parents selecting the teacher and a 10 minute slot of time. Teachers will then call at that designated time. Some families may prefer email contact and this will also be an option. The links to book in have been sent to families by email.

Have a wonderful week and enjoy this lovely Spring weather.

Heather Mansley Head of Middle School

This term Year 8 Art students have been working on their linoleum prints – a process where a block of lino is carved according to the chosen design & then inked repeatedly with various colours. I’m very proud of this group of creative students. They have been diligent and imaginative with their artworks, never giving up and using their problem solving skills to push their work to the next level. Well done Year 8 Art students! Mrs Martinez

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

MR CUNNINGHAM

MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER

What is your role at the College?

I am currently the Stage 3 (Year 5 & 6) Coordinator, Teacher and College Sports Coordinator. How long have you been part of the College Community?

My journey with the College began as a Year 11 student in 2004. As a student the thing that I loved about the College was the sport. My year group was particularly sporty and characterised by a culture that sought out fun in all we did. Much like Seniors today, basketball filled our recess and lunchtimes and I was part of the first College team to go to a State competition, a trip that was all the more memorable as we came second! Jason Grady, the PE teacher, was incredibly enthusiastic and supportive and that rubbed off on the Senior students.

I did every sport that was offered from swimming to athletics, but probably my favourite discipline was Cross Country. I was tenacious in competition and always determined to train as hard as I could to give myself the best chance of getting through to the next level of competition.

One of my most distinct school memories is the competition that the students had running in Year 12 - who could go to Sydney the most times in our final year? I went to every sport State Gala Day I could as well as a Physics excursion, bringing my total number of trips to nine in a year! I didn’t quite break the record of 11 but little did I realise at the time that I was really in training for the many school trips I would do as Sports Coordinator 15 years later! What are you passionate about?

As a teacher I have the privilege of impacting the lives of young people. By teaching life skills such as problem solving, in addition to English and Maths, I can make an ongoing difference in people’s lives.

The non-class teaching moments, such as coaching or hosting a trip away for team sport, offer significant opportunities to mentor students. In a ‘normal’, non-COVID year, I would lead at least seven overnight trips for sport. I really enjoy these times as they offer the chance to build and grow relationships with the students. It is great watching, and having a hand, in the growth in maturity of students from their Primary years right through to Year 12.

I get more satisfaction from being a coach than participating in the sport myself. I love to see others succeed and being there to share the highs and lows of competition which they train so hard for.

Shared times away have also allowed great connection with the families who accompany the students. I have

been able to build lasting relationships with the parents which have continued outside the College. The old adage, ‘It takes a community to raise a child’ has a lot of truth in it. It is my privilege to work together with the parents to encourage the young people in my care to grow into the child of God that He created them to be.

What do you do for fun?

Not surprisingly sport features in my ‘down’ time, fitting in indoor soccer and casual basketball games between seeing family and friends. I am partial to playing board games - Seven Wonders, Coup and Catan are some favourites - and on weekends I devote some time to video games such as Fall Guys.

2018 CSSA State Champions Basketball

2017 CSSA State Champions Basketball

Always making the most of trips to Sydney - Sydney Kings game 2017

One of many trips to the State CSSA Cross Country

BOOK WEEK PARADE SNAPSHOT

Tim Flint’s association with Wagga Wagga Christian College started before he donned the uniform. With a sister in the foundational year of the College, and worshipping with his family at St Paul’s Anglican Church, the site of the first two years of the College, Tim, as a primary school student, used to join in the hockey games that were a regular feature in the church/College carpark.

And like so many other past students Tim’s connection with the College didn’t finish with his final day of Year 12. After completing his Primary School training and working in English schools for a number of years Tim found himself back in Wagga teaching for a brief period at his old school.

“There is so much that I loved about my time at the College:

the close knit nature of the community was one of the main

things. Everyone was valued, the staff knew who you were and

where you were coming from. The College was characterised by a deep care for the children who

were part of it’s community. It was qualitatively different in that this care was bourn out of a

Christian concern.”

Tim remembers key staff whose solid faith in Christ was evident in how they interacted with students.

“Ethel McNeill had this wonderful thick Scottish accent and

she was unflappable in the face of sometimes trying secondary school students.

Her genuine Christian walk overflowed into a care and

concern which was palpably felt by everyone.”

Tim’s own Christian walk, fed by home, church and school through his teenage years, was impacted in his late 20’s as he realised afresh the profound significance of the gift that Jesus offers each of us. With training and experience as a primary school teacher, it was when he was part of a schools based evangelistic team in the United Kingdom that he understood that God was calling him to use his skills in full time ministry.

“I love teaching and I love God. I have been blessed with an opportunity to use my gifts and

experience in a ministry role at Wagga Evangelical Church,

funnily enough, back on my old school grounds!”

If you would like to get to know Tim and find out more about Jesus’ great gift to us, connect with WEC through their website. Currently numbers for meeting in person are limited and services are complemented with online streaming each Sunday.

Many past students continue to be part of the local Wagga community. Although not employed by the College this graduate is on College grounds every week of the year.

MEET TIM FLINT, WWCC GRADUATE 1999

CURRENT OCCUPATION: MEMBERSHIP & MISSION PASTOR WAGGA EVANGELICAL CHURCH (WEC)

Tim is a keen fisherman and was welcomed in 2019 as a guest speaker in 2S to share his knowledge of fishing.

WAGGA COMMUNITY NEWS

CHURCH COMMUNITIES - COVID-19

Unlimited CRC 48 Vestey St www.unlimitedcrc.com.au

Generocity Church Wagga 194 Lake Albert Rd (the old Prime News building) www.generocitychurch.com.au CHURCH IS ONLINE. Check website for further details. 10am service; + 5pm last Sunday of each month.

Wagga Wagga Evangelical Church (WWEC) 401 Kooringal Road www.wwec.org.au Check out our YouTube channel: WWEC. Online. On Point. Visit our website and click the link to subscribe and check out our new space for doing church online! You can also book to attend our Sunday Service - spots are limited. https://www.youtube.com/channel/

Inspire Church Wagga 555 Kooringal Rd www.inspirewagga.com.au Each Sunday, we will be meeting either online at 9.30am, 11am and 5pm, or join us in person for our services at 9.30am and 11am, however you MUST register to attend via www.inspirewagga.com.au as numbers are limited due to current restrictions.

UniChurch/Christian Fellowship CSU Wagga, In the Rec Hall cfwagga.org.au

St Aidan's Presbyterian Church 62-64 Coleman St staidanswagga.org.au Dear church family, our Sunday gatherings is online for the time being. We encourage you to find our online service with readings, prayer suggestions and the weekly sermon from the gospel of Matthew at the church website: http://staidanswagga.org.au/online-service/

Wagga Baptist Church 156 Tarcutta St www.wwbc.org.au Livestream is ready! Join us for the next service on line! https://livestream.com/waggabaptist/events/9048805 Living Water Fellowship

Kooringal Guide Hall 565 Kooringal Rd We are now online! Info can be found on the church website or contact the church office number ph: 6931 5673 for details. https://livingwaterwagga.org.au/

The Salvation Army 188 Edward Street salvos.org.au/wagga/contact-us/

St Paul’s Turvey Park 31 Fernleigh Rd www.swac.church South Wagga Anglican Church (SWAC) is now ‘online’ and we are scattered throughout the city. Ra-ther than coming to church, we are now exploring new and creative ways of being the church. Check the website above for further details.

Gospel Power Ministries Cnr Bourke and Mckell Ave (Mt Austin Public School) www.gospelpowerministries.org.au

Wagga Church of Christ 49 Fernleigh Road We meet as a church online and via a group phone call on Sunday's at 10:00 AM. You can join the meeting by clicking the following link on either a computer, mobile phone, or tablet. Link to Online Video Conference! (Meeting Live at 10:00 AM Sundays) If it is easier for you, you may also join the meeting using your landline or mobile phone by calling 02 8320 4510 and when prompted providing the pin 931 759 814 8738#.

Wagga Wagga Uniting Churches https://waggaunitingchurch.org/

Thank you to the following businesses for supporting

Wagga Wagga Christian College in 2020.

We trust that our College community will also support them.