School Newsletter

This week we farewell our graduating Year 12 Class of 2024. They will spend time at CRU Lake Mac for a Study Camp from Monday to Wednesday before their official Graduation ceremony in the MPC at 10am on Thursday 26th September.

The Year 12 Graduation is always a day that I look forward to with excitement. It is truly a great blessing to honour the students and share with their families the achievement of finishing Year 12.

A couple of weeks ago I invited the Year 12 students to lead the staff in our morning devotions and share some reflections on their time within our community. This morning we had the blessing of four students reflecting on the moments that they will hold onto as they transition to their next season. It was lovely to hear from each of them, two of whom had done their entire thirteen years of schooling at WCCS.

I often like to say to our staff that we deal with things of eternal significance every day. The students referred to moments that occurred throughout their schooling. When a graduating student reflects on what their Year 2 teacher said once to encourage them, or their Year 7 teacher in an HSIE class, or indeed their Year 12 mentor who they have truly benefitted from spending time with, or an admin staff member who meant a lot to them, I am filled with a range of emotions.

I feel a humble sense of pride that we have such tremendous staff who take the role of building God’s kingdom seriously. It’s great to know that the students notice it and can articulate how much they have benefitted as a result. I feel great joy at the calibre of young people who will be graduating on Thursday and look forward to seeing how God will use them in their future endeavours. I am also reminded of how much of an incredible privilege it is that I get to be part of this ministry and contribute to what occurs at our school.

When the School Board meets each month we always commence our meeting by reading out the school Mission and Vision statement. If someone were to ask me what that actually looks like in practice, I think I would be tempted to invite them along on Thursday when we farewell our graduating class of 2024. I look forward to saying hello if you are indeed able to join us.

God bless,

• Junior School Celebration Assembly – Friday 27th September at 9am (Week 9)
• Secondary School Celebration Assembly – Friday 27th September at 2pm (Week 9)
• Last Day of Term 3 - Friday 27th September (Week 9)

• Kindergarten Graduation - Tuesday 10th December (Week 9)
• Celebration Assemblies - Wednesday 11th December (Week 9)
• Secondary Gold Thumbs Up Reward Day - Wednesday 11th December (Week 9)
• Junior School Gold Star Reward Day - Thursday 12th December (Week 9)
• Last day of Term 4 - Thursday 12th December (Week 9)
• Presentation Evening - Thursday 12th December (Week 9)

YEARBOOK COVER COMPETITION
Our Yearbook Cover competition is quickly drawing to a close, with entries due at the end of Week 1, Term 4. School holidays provide a great opportunity for students to create an artwork, as they are out and about enjoying God’s good creation, or as they are enjoying some relaxing, creative time. We are hoping that the process of doing this will generate some fantastic discussions – what does ‘Excellence’, ‘Integrity’, 'Respect’, ‘Service’ or ‘Compassion’ mean to your child? What images could represent each of these words?

Some ideas are below, to get your child thinking and brainstorming:

• Excellence – a sunrise/sunset, a newborn baby, a person running, a flower
• Integrity – house on a rock whilst a storm rages, a tree with deep roots, a compass pointing north, anchor, a clear reflection (what you see is what you get)
• Respect – a listening ear, eye, hands joined, open hand, safe harbour, bridge
• Service – offering a drink, offering a helping hand, a lighthouse, a welcome mat with an open door, watering plants, a toolbox, a lantern in the darkness
• Compassion – eye, heart, blooming flower, healing touch, open arms, nest with eggs, a raindrop on a leaf

CELEBRATION ASSEMBLIES
Our Term 3 Celebration Assemblies will be held on Friday 27th September in our Multi-Purpose Centre at the following times:

• Junior School - 9am
• Secondary School - 2pm

Parents of award recipients have been notified via email.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

Please be advised of our office hours during the upcoming school holidays.

• Monday 30th September to Friday 4th October: closed
• Monday 7th October: closed (Public Holiday)
• Tuesday 8th to Friday 11th October: 8:30am-3:30pm

LOST PROPERTY

If your child is missing an item of clothing or personal belongings, please encourage them to check lost property in our office before the end of the term. Lost property will be cleaned out during the holidays, and any unclaimed items will be donated. Thank you.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Shoeboxes are due back by Friday 27th September, to be posted in time.

Operation Christmas Child is a wonderful initiative that spreads joy and hope to children in need around the world through shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and personal items. Each box costs $12.50 to ship, and this fee can be conveniently paid directly through the Operation Christmas Child website, which is the easiest method (click here to visit the website). Alternatively, cash can be included in an envelope with the box.

• Give thanks for our Year 12 students, and pray for them as they graduate and prepare for their HSC.
  
• Give thanks to God for a great Term 3, and pray for a restful, safe and restorative break for our staff and students.
• Pray for our Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Hike this week. That the students and staff attending would have a great experience in God's creation.

Greetings friends of Junior School.

What a great week we had last week and there is more in store this week.

The Years 3-6 Disco was a treat. Humble thanks to Rev Matt Shorten, Mrs Lynda Lucas, and their teams. It was a great night, the kids totally loved it. Thanks to the parents who collected their children from school, washed them and party clothed them, and then returned them to school within a two-hour window. Genius! Mum and Dad's taxi service in operation right there.

God bless you for supporting the kids and this Wellbeing Week highlight.

Last week we also hosted our second round of Kindy Starters transition days. It was wonderful to see that our 2025 Kindergarten students are already showing progress and increased confidence. We would appreciate your prayers for our next generation of disciples, that they will know Jesus as their Lord and live in the future hope of glory and service to Him.

More amazing success for our debaters. Last Thursday our amazing Year 5 Debating Team defeated Scotts College in an online debate. Congratulations to all concerned and thanks to Mrs Anne Livette-Vial for organising these opportunities for our future solicitors and politicians.

Our amazing spellers will have another opportunity to show their skills at the Years 3-6 Inter-School Spelling Bee on Tuesday hosted by Green Point Christian College. Once again, humble thanks to Mrs Livette-Vial for organising this wonderful opportunity.

On Thursday 26th September, our Year 1 students will have the honour of escorting our Year 12 students across the stage at their Graduation.

You are cordially invited to join us for our Term 3 Celebration Assembly on Friday at 9am in the MPC. We will be blessed with a wonderful item from our Junior School choir and have the opportunity to celebrate the successes of our students this term. Families of award recipients have been notified by email.

We are still recruiting bus drivers for our Term 4 Infants Swim Scheme, if you have a Bus/Medium Rigid license and a free day or days during the first month of Term 4 please contact Mr Marks by phoning or emailing the school office (P: (02)4351 2020 E: office@wyongccs.nsw.edu.au). Also if you want to dob in a grandparent who has some free time and a license please contact the office and Mr Marks will call them personally.

There is one awkward bit of housekeeping that we need to bring to your attention. A growing number of families are ignoring the pedestrian crossing and opting to chance their luck at crossing the carpark at random spots with young students and siblings in tow. We have had a couple of near misses in recent weeks and we really want to avoid a foreseeable tragedy. This is a wonderful opportunity to support the Road Safety education that we share with the students in PDH. It gets a little awkward when we share road safety issues and kids say that their parents don’t worry about that. If we train them how to cross the road using the pedestrian crossing then one day they may follow this example and it can save their lives.

God bless,

As we reflect on the last two weeks, Secondary staff and students have so much for which we are thankful.

It was such a joy to hear from our Year 12 students at their final Chapel service last Thursday. Jolie S and Taya W invited up their classmates and asked them a series of questions. They reflected on their time at WCCS, in particular the impact of Chapel and Devotions on their journey of faith.

It was powerful listening to these Year 12 students share the following messages:

• When reading your Bible or listening to a sermon, focus on taking away just one key message. Allow that message to influence how you treat others throughout the day. Allow it to sit at the front of your mind throughout the day.
• Worship music is powerful. Choose a worship song and listen to it over and over.
• Surround yourself with friends who will encourage you in your faith.
• Identify a gift or skill that you have and use it to bless others. This will be a blessing for you also.

Rev Shorten finished the Chapel service by inviting Year 12 students and Secondary staff forward. We took a moment to stop and pray.

Year 12 have one more week left of their formal schooling life at WCCS and we are thankful for each one of them.

“Enjoy your Study Camp, Raw Challenge, Principal’s Breakfast, Graduation and final moments together Year 12. You are so loved and we will miss you.”

As we prepare to take a two-week break from classes for the school holidays, we encourage families to watch the next two videos from our Wellbeing series.

Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Wishing you all a safe and restful holiday break.

God bless,

ISABELLE B

This year Isabelle B from Year 11 was awarded both the Local RSL Kokoda Youth Leadership Scholarship and the PAMS Scholarship (Premiers ANZAC Memorial Scholarship).

The PAMS Scholarship is awarded to students who share a passion for history and have the opportunity to participate in an intensive study tour to develop their knowledge and understanding of the history of Australians at war by visiting significant military and cultural sites in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nara and Osaka.

The Kokoda Youth Leadership Scholarship Program aims to create a greater awareness of the sacrifices of the diggers on the Kokoda campaign among our young people to ensure the traditions live on. They undertake a two-week trek of the Kokoda Track. While walking through the trail, the program aims to instill in participants a commitment to community service, enhance their personal development by providing an opportunity for them to experience the same conditions under which our diggers fought and hopefully transform them for future leadership roles back in the community.

Unfortunately due to both scholarships being on at the same time, Isabelle is only completing the Kokoda Youth Leadership Program. To receive a scholarship for both of these programs is a huge achievement and we wish Isabelle all the best as she embarks on her trip in the holidays.

Mrs Linda Makepeace | HSIE Teacher

YEAR 9 PASS

Over the last four weeks Year 9 PASS (Physical Activity and Sport Studies) has had the unique opportunity to engage in a variety of structured strength and conditioning workouts at Wyong’s ‘All Sorts Fitness’ Gym. Students have been undertaking studies in ‘Physical Fitness’ as a part of their learning this term which has challenged them positively.

Year 9 has learned the value of fitness and its application, the components of fitness, engaged in a series of fitness testing, designing and following programs and participating in a wide range of physical activities through movement.

As their classroom teacher, I am very proud of their efforts this term and the progress they have made in their overall health and wellbeing. Go Year 9 PASS!

SECONDARY STAFF VERSUS STUDENTS

In Week 8 our Secondary School community came together for an exciting afternoon of friendly competition as staff faced off against students for our end-of-term sports competition in a wild game of floor hockey!

The event was filled with energy, teamwork, and a lot of fun! Students cheered on their peers as each year level was given an opportunity to play against the teachers. It was a fantastic occasion to strengthen our school community and witness a thrilling showdown. The staff were able to secure wins against each year level except Year 12 who were a force. Congratulations Year 12!

Thank you to our Secondary Sports Captains and Sports Leadership Team, and to everyone who participated and supported the event. Stay tuned for our next staff versus student showdown in Term 4!

YEAR 11 SLR COACHING

Last week, Year 11 SLR (Sport Lifestyle and Recreation) performed their coaching assessment task by teaming up with our Years 4 and 6 students in a unique opportunity to run a sports coaching session. This term Year 11 have been studying a unit on coaching with a specific focus on learning about coaching principles, coaching styles, skills development and training, team management, physical fitness and conditioning, leadership and more.

It was very encouraging to see our Years 4 and 6 students excited by activities, from martial arts to soccer, netball, basketball, football and AFL. A big thank you to the Junior School staff who provided this awesome opportunity to our Year 11s to connect with our younger students.

OZTAG

During Week 7, WCCS sent three teams to compete at the annual Hunter Christian Zone Sport (HCZS) Oztag Gala Day in Gosford. It was a warm day filled with competition, fun and sportsmanship. Our students displayed true grit, facing off against some difficult opponents in each of our divisions (Junior Divisions 1 and 2 and our Opens Team). Each of our teams managed to tie for 3rd place in their divisions which is a great achievement. A big thank you to Mr Campbell and Miss Renyolds, who coached our teams in the lead-up and on the day. Your time and energy are appreciated.

Mr Nathan Irvine | Secondary School Sport Coordinator

On Tuesday 10th September, 36 students represented WCCS at the HCZS Zone Oztag Gala Day. There were three divisions, Years 3/4 Mixed (Boys and Girls), Years 5/6 Girls and Years 5/6 Boys.

The Years 5/6 Girls played four matches, where they won three games and lost one. This placed them second in their pool. They went on to play Green Point in the Semi-Final and won to progress to the Grand Final against Belmont. In a tight match, both teams were tied on tries at the end of the match. In the drop off the first team to score a try was Belmont, which meant the girls were the runners-up, which was an extraordinary effort.

The Years 3/4 Mixed Team had some varied results with one draw, one loss and three wins, placing third in their pool. However, the team played really well all day and even though they were very unlucky not to make the Semi-Finals, they should all be proud of their efforts and the inclusive way they played as a team.

The Years 5/6 Boys Team demonstrated remarkable dedication and teamwork throughout each match. They effectively executed set plays and adhered to their game plans, which ultimately led them to the Grand Final. The game was tightly contested, locked at 1:1. The boys showed incredible determination, refusing to give up. With just three seconds left on the clock, Lachlan R intercepted a pass and sprinted away, scoring the winning try and securing the Grand Final trophy. Congratulations to the players on their achievement, and a special thank you to Mr Mick Muddle (our parent coach) for his exceptional coaching. I would also like to thank Mr Shane Watts-Thomas and Mr Dean Knibbs for coaching teams on the day as well.

The students all had a fabulous day and all should be proud of their efforts. Congratulations to all these players for taking part in the day:

Ella A, Andy A, Jorja B, Isabelle C, Eloise C, Amariah C, Malachi C, Billy C, Harvey C, George C, Charlie C, Isaac C, Fletcher D, Tazz D, Marlo E, Oskar F, Betty G, Winnie H, Ellie H, Sarea H, Luka H, Isabelle J, Myah J, Kaiden K, Ryder K, Anna L, Indiana L, Chase M, Gracie M, Noah M, Cameron P, Judah R, Cleo R, Morgan R, Lachlan R and Simeon S.

Mr Dean Knibbs | Junior School Sports Coordinator