And just like that, Term 1 is drawing to a close…

It’s been a full-on start but Year 5 is up and running. Although it’s hard to believe the number of activities we’ve participated in, skills we’ve refined and knowledge we’ve learned, seeing the improvement in only nine short weeks reminds me what this group has accomplished and is therefore capable of, which is so encouraging! It reinvigorates me and reaffirms my faith and dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ as he shepherds us down our predestined paths towards fulfilment, flourishing and faithful service. 

We’ve tackled NAPLAN, learned gymnastics, conquered the swimming carnival, played wheelchair basketball and done so much more besides. Every Carinya student is blessed to attend this school for the wonderful opportunities it provides for growth of character & spirit and the opportunities for extra-curricular activities to broaden his/her horizons and remind him/her that an education encompasses everything within and without the classroom.

In Pastoral Care, we’ve continued our exploration of righteous virtues. Namely: resilience, courage, self-control, perseverance & conscientiousness. Learning to be resolute and unyielding in the face of challenge or hardship prepares Year 5 for a world that too often sneers at Christians as “deluded”, “credulous” or “foolish”. Resilience to such taunts requires courage to stand on principle and master our baser desires to ‘fit in’. It also demonstrates self-control and perseverance never to stray from the path of Jesus Christ and work conscientiously to bring to God those yet to hear the gospel.

In Maths, we nailed addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; simple stuff for this group. We’ve since moved on to fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios, examining the relationship between these concepts and applying them to real-life scenarios (usually involving food).

In English, we’ve become expert persuaders, informers and narrators, perfecting our skills of convincing through reasoning & evidence. If you’re finding that your children are suddenly winning more arguments than they’re losing, you know who to blame…

The narrative unit has been particularly enjoyable thusfar for two reasons: 1) Year 5 have superb imaginations that never cease to amaze (and horrify occasionally, to be frank) and 2) it links nicely to Term 2’s novel study, which will entail plenty of suspenseful writing, cliffhangers and witty dialogue.

Science has been a slow burn. We began Unit 2 learning about mixtures, vehicle designs and fuel sources in preparation for our final project, which we’ve since commenced. That has meant a study of scientific experiments, reports and thinking, training our minds to think like scientists. Since the theory-heavy start, Year 5 has been hard at work designing, constructing, problem-solving, reconstructing, testing, reconstructing, playing, reconstructing, showing their friends what their vehicle can do, reconstructing and, well, you get the idea. The next stage is testing our alternative fuel sources, which should be immense, messy fun!

Finally, in PDH, we’ve begun investigating the four pillars of a healthy lifestyle: sleep, nutrition, physical activity & exercise and social engagement. Longevity and health span are passions of mine, so I am especially motivated to teach Year 5 that they can maximise the amount of their lifespans spent in tip-top shape. This can be achieved by eating nutritious, unprocessed wholefoods, sleeping enough and well, exercising regularly, remaining active in their day-to-day lives and spending as much time as possible with friends & family.

Teaching Spice has remained spicy, so I hope that all Year 5’s families are familiar with some of our Words Of The Day, like ‘syzygy’ and the stories about what will happen at the next occurrence thereof. For more details, consult Year 5.

Wishing you a joyous Easter as we reflect on Jesus’ unfathomable sacrifice and his marvellous and perfect resurrection. To Year 5, when the holidays arrive, please take the opportunity to be with your family and friends. Rest, play, repeat and return for Term 2 energised and motivated. 

God bless.

Malcolm Roberts | Year Five 

What an amazing term of learning for Year 6. It has been great getting to know one another and watch as friendships have blossomed.  During Pastoral Care, we have been delving into God’s word and looking at how it encourages us to live, being challenged to treat others with kindness and the way we want to be treated.  We found encouragement in the words of Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Seeking to ensure words that we speak to one another, our siblings, parents and other family members are words that will build one another up.

We have enjoyed our journey through Narnia and are at the climax of the story.  Listening to the students' reading has been a highlight of the term, as they gain confidence and enthusiasm in wanting to read aloud with improved expression and volume. It has been a pleasure to see the individual growth of students. In Writing, we have been strengthening writing pieces through the use of complex adjectives and adverbs. We are recognising how similies can be used to enhance the meaning and description of texts.

In Maths, we have battled the four operations and are working hard to identify factors and multiples of numbers. In the last week we have been converting measurements and calculating the perimeter of different 2-D shapes, including using formulas to assist in our calculations.  In the final weeks of term, we will be embarking on Fractions and revising the addition and subtraction of fractions with like denominators.  We are realising the importance of understanding fractions, especially when pizza and chocolate are involved.

Science with Mr Pass has seen us complete a range of investigations. While some of our experiment samples may have been accidentally thrown out, we have recognised the importance of controlled variables and ensuring that the investigations that are carried out are fair and accurate. Some of the experiments we have completed include attempting to grow mould samples and growing radish seeds in different types of water.

This term we have headed to the Gymnastics centre, where Miss Talisa and Miss Alice patiently taught us a variety of skills involving tumbling and balancing, and, for some of us, overcoming our fear of heights. We refined our Rugby League skills with Brock. Last Wednesday, we had a visit from NSW Wheelchair Sports, and learned some skills at Wheelchair Basketball.

Term 1 certainly has been a busy and exciting term. As we head to the Easter long weekend, may we be reminded of the true sacrifice that Jesus made on that first Easter where He was crucified and rose again.  May we rejoice with the words He has risen. We wish you all a safe and enjoyable long weekend and pray that the school holidays are a time for rest and relaxation.  Thank you for a great term and look forward to partnering with you all again in Term 2.

Janine Rumbel | Year Six  

Year 7 embarked on camp with Year 8 to Scotts Head and Coffs Harbour. They have recently completed NAPLAN assessments, as well as school assessments for both Maths and Health. They enjoyed athletics coaching where they were learning to run tall and use their arms well to maximise their speed. Wheelchair Basketball was a great experience last Wednesday. Year 7 grew in their appreciation for people who have to live in wheelchairs every single day. 

Daniel Pass & Beverley Harwood | Year Seven  

Year 8 attended their camp at Scotts Head this week after completing their assessments for most subjects in the weeks prior. Students have continued to build their relationships with one another and step out of their comfort zones. A common highlight of the trip was surfing at the beach, which was a new experience for many students. In Bible Time, students looked at how Jesus “Sends It” with Mr. Pass and also reflected on the significance of Jesus’ death from Luke 23 with Mr Berg. Students also heard testimonies of how their teachers came to know Christ and had some of their big questions answered. 

Ricky Petrie & Keely Murphy | Year Eight  

The days so quickly turn to weeks and before we know it we are coming to the end of the first term.  It has been a real delight to watch the children this term as they grow into themselves, growing in confidence and not to mention height. 

As I sit in my office typing I can hear the random singing from the students in Year 3. It is such a special moment to hear them spontaneously break into singing about our Creator and what He has done for us. You walk past Year 4 and they are being creative in their artworks. Year 2 are busy putting their Maths theory into practice, watching them build, balance or measure. Year 1 are gaining in confidence when reading and are always happy to show their increasing skills. Kinder is always wonderful to visit, the children just love everything and want to share with everyone what they are learning. 

We would like to invite any parents or school community members who would like to read with our students on a regular or semi-regular basis. If you would be available, please contact the Office or myself. Our children would like to read to you. 

All of our local churches will be having Easter services on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Sunday morning at 6am there is a wonderful combined churches service at Porcupine Lookout followed by hot cross buns and a cuppa. 

I would like to wish you all a happy and safe Easter.

Jacinta Hohnke | Junior School Coordinator