NewsLetter :
PRINCIPAL'S NEWS
During the non-term time, I had the opportunity to read The Resilience Project (Cuylenberg, 2019). His focus on gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness in order to build resilience reiterated the importance of focus that we have at Lakes Grammar on building students’ resilience, using elements of positive psychology, our wellbeing programs and academic care. I also read Daring Greatly (Brown, 2012) where the author argues that showing vulnerability is a strength and revealing our vulnerabilities and taking risks can bring purpose, meaning and connection to our lives. Finally, I dipped into the book by Daisy Turnbull, 50 Risks to take with your Kids (Turnbull, 2021), a guide to building resilience and independence in the first 10 years.
Improved resilience has been shown to improve academic outcomes, optimism and life satisfaction, relationships, self-esteem, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life – to name a few.
On Thursday of Week 1 of term, Mr Wearne, and I (along with many other staff) welcomed our 2022 Kindergarten students and parents. It was a lovely day where we saw much resilience in action, both from parents and new students.
The link between the start of kindergarten and resilience and revealing vulnerability may seem tenuous but bear with me! One of the elements of resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’ from adversity and having the skills to be able to effectively deal with the challenges that will inevitably come each day.
On Wednesday of Week 1, my regular meeting with our delightful Mr Wearne (head of junior school) was unexpectedly moved to later in the day. The inquisitive person that I am carried out a diligent investigation (not really) and – the truth came out. Mr Wearne, who, like me, gets to school very early, had found himself in this quandary of wearing two distinctly different shoes. Not even vaguely close in colour. Mr Wearne was mortified – he quietly arranged to have a matching pair of shoes delivered to the school, and, until they arrived, he kept his mismatched brogues well hidden under his desk.
This was the highlight of my day but maybe not Mr Wearne’s! None of us are perfect, (or I am certainly not). Being able to deal with the ups and downs of life, no matter how trivial or significant is an important skill that we start teaching from kindergarten right through to Year 12. Our Mr Wearne is full of optimism, courage and empathy, but clearly mismatched shoes are a bridge too far. I helpfully wore a mismatched pair of shoes the following day and shared Mr Wearne’s story with as many students as I could. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to use your strengths, show vulnerability to build trust and be resilient.
References
Brown, B. (2012). Darning Greatly - how the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent and lead. Great Britain: Penguin Random House UK.
Cuylenberg, H. V. (2019). The Resilience Project. Melbourne: Penguin Books.
Turnbull, D. (2021). 50 Risks to take with your kids. Melbourne: Hardie Grant Books.
Mrs Deborah Clancy
Principal
KEY DATES FOR THE DIARY
14 February School competitive swimming trials, Wyong Pool
15 February Year 12 parent/teacher interviews
21 February World Harmony Day
8 March Kindergarten 2023 information night
14 March K-6 parent/teacher interviews
18 March K-12 cross country held on site
22 March K-6 parent/teacher interviews
CHAPLAIN'S CHAT
In Term 1 of 2006 a younger me began as chaplain three days a week here at Lakes Grammar. The other three days of the week were dedicated to Lakes Anglican Church in Gorokan. One day of rest and family time made up the week. At that stage there were two Shorten daughters not yet at school with our youngest born the following year. We left Western Australia for this new opportunity, sensing God’s opening of the door. Chaplain Pete was still in Perth (which is where we actually first met), with his family and was also the father of two young daughters. Eight years later we would meet again and our lives would run parallel here at school. This year sees both our eldest girls as Year 12 graduates taking on the world. In the blink of an eye our little ones have grown up and our babies are now well and truly capable members of society.
2022 continues our journey though the COVID-19 era with masks worn, RAHT’s twice a week and a mixture of in person and online learning or learning from home. Many members of our school community have experienced COVID-19 first-hand as we have ridden the latest wave and its Greek letter variant. The first two weeks of school this year have again been like no other and we continue to adapt and change with the ever-changing demands. I am in awe of how well our students adapt to each new requirement and our staff manage to stay on top of the lists of do’s and don’ts!
What has remained the same through all of this is the story of God’s love through his son Jesus. Starting Term 1 we attempt to share the story of Jesus with our students and staff as we approach Easter. We will look at his character, his relationships with the people he encounters and how he challenged the status quo of the day. And yes, when we get to Easter, we will look at his sacrifice upon the cross so that all may have a way to be in relationship with God.
So as our children journey through Term 1 we will be praying for them. We will be asking for God’s favour to shine upon them and for his grace to sustain them. We will also be listening to their stories and hopefully help them in making meaning of their experiences. Know that, as always, we are here as listening ears for our whole community, whether student, staff or parent/caregiver. We hope that we may continue to faithfully serve you and bring glory to God.
Bless ya!
Reverend Matt
Chaplain
WHOLE SCHOOL NEWS
Get excited and get fundraising! The Colour Explosion School Fun Run is coming!
The P&F Committee have organised a Colour Explosion School Fun run to be held on Friday 18 March, coinciding with our K-12 cross-country carnival. This will be a fun event to lift the community spirit and help raise money for our school.
Details on how to get started with fundraising and all the incentives will be sent out early next week.
If you don’t know what a Colour Explosion School Fun Run looks like, please look at the video here - https://australianfundraising.com.au/fundraising-products/school-colour-run/
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SCOUTS INFORMATION
JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL
Welcome everyone to 2022!
What an exciting year it is going to be, full of lots of action and fun.
There are times in our lives when we are having so much fun that we can miss the moment, or rush through and forget. If you have already read Mrs Clancy’s article, I was rushing out the door a little too fast and put on the wrong shoes.
I also think back to those enjoyable times in the holidays where I was able to take my family to the beach. However, most of the time my mind is thinking how best I avoid getting more sand in the car, or should I move the car, so it isn’t too hot when we get back. Instead, I should be trying to be present in every moment and not thinking ahead or rushing.
During the week Year 6 completed a task to help them focus on the year ahead. They were asked to simply write one word to aim and strive for. Now they have a wall full of words, such as patience, adventure, and peace.
As we are reminded from the book of Philippians 3:14
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Thank you for your support and I am looking forward to a great year ahead.
Mr Daniel Wearne
Head of Junior School
LIBRARY
Welcome Back to 2022!
Welcome back to another year of fun, excitement and enjoyment in the junior school library! There are many activities planned for the year so stay tuned.
We look forward to seeing your child on their library day.
Use this link for more information about junior school library times, resources, rules and procedures:
https://oliver.lakes.nsw.edu.au/oliver/home/news
New inclusive collection
As one of the 4 NASC schools, we work to embed the core practices of Newcastle Anglican. One of these practices is focused on inclusivity – respecting, valuing and celebrating the distinct gifts and contribution of each person irrespective of ability, gender, sexuality, race, age, or association with the church.
Our junior school library staff have worked hard to add age appropriate inclusive books to the library collection that explore diversity and tolerance in order to help our younger students learn appropriately about differences in our society and understanding others’ points of view. We aim to encourage all students to feel valued, respected and unique, and to let their differences shine.
These new inclusive titles (which include fiction, non-fiction, and picture books) have been added to our shelves and are now available for students to borrow.
Borrowing Overdues
Overdues were sent out at the end of last year. If your child has any outstanding books still at home, please return to the junior school library.
Coming up in Term 1:
- Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) 2022 Registration
- WW1 LIVING HISTORY Incursion – Year 5/6 - 27 April 2022
Mr Danny Summers
Junior School Teacher Librarian
SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS
HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
Week 2 and it already seems like we have been at school for several weeks! As I walk around the school I can see that we are well into the rhythm of teaching and learning. I am always so incredibly proud of our students, whatever we seem to ask of them they respond to. Even though students are still in year groups in the playground and wear masks when indoors, they seem incredibly happy and there is certainly a lovely vibe across the school.
It was wonderful to hear singing once again come from our school hall this week when the Aladdin musical rehearsals commenced on Wednesday. It is somewhat hard to believe that it has nearly been two years since we have had any singing in our school. I am also very excited this year to see key initiatives come to life in the senior school where we are focused on our students building better futures.
Wellbeing Hub
The wellbeing hub is up and running. This is a space in the administration building in the senior school where students can come to find their year advisors and to find support. This is a great addition to our school community, and it is wonderful to see students just popping in for a chat.
Flourish Framework
Since Term 4 2021 we have been focused on developing the student wellbeing framework in the school. The process started with the development of our Vital Character Framework and has now culminated with the launch of the whole school wellbeing Flourish Framework and our new academic care periods which are underpinned by positive psychology elements.
Student led parent/teacher conferences
This year we will be replacing the traditional parent/teacher interviews with student led, parent/teacher conferences. These conferences will be held on 14 June from 9am-5pm here at school. Parents will be able to book a time during the day to attend school with their child to meet with their teachers. This will otherwise be a pupil free day. I will provide additional information on this process in the coming weeks. However, please schedule this date in your calendar.
Cognito
It is great to be able to again offer our cocurricular programs to our students. The Cognito program will be made available in the coming weeks for students. I really encourage you talk to your child about the program and encourage them to get involved. Participation in the Cognito program will also allow students to be considered for the Academic Connections award each term.
Mrs Michelle Smith
Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School
ACADEMIC CHALLENGE
Welcome to the start of a fresh new and exciting year of learning. It has been a delight to see students across the school walk through the gates with such enthusiasm over the past two weeks. As Director of Academic Challenge K-10, I have enjoyed visiting all the classes across the senior school and seeing settled happy students engaged in dynamic lessons. I hope to visit the junior school learning spaces soon when we can have more movement between both campuses.
The Years 7-10 assessment booklets have been published and will be sent to families via email in the week to come. Copies of the assessment booklets can also be found in Parent Lounge and Student Caffe by next week. These documents are invaluable sources of information that provide times for assessment tasks, and examinations. They outline rules for assessments and feature a calendar on the last page that is a handy overview of all tasks across the year.
I look forward to sharing exciting stories of excellence, growth, and achievement with you throughout the year.
Mrs Anne Hobden
Director of Academic Challenge, K-10
ENGLISH
It has been fantastic to start the new school year on a settled and positive note. Some notices from the English Department include:
- Debating: Students have been asked to email Mrs Hart to express interest in joining the Lakes Debating teams. Thank you to the students who have nominated. We look forward to a rigorous and fun competition ahead.
- English Portfolios: Students in Year 7-10 will keep an English portfolio this year, citing their personal learning goals and 2 refined pieces of writing to showcase. We expect that these portfolios will be used to share with you your child’s learning journey in English.
- Cognito and the English Honours Program: The Cognito booklet will be finalised soon and there are quite a few cocurricular activities on offer from the English department, including an illustration contest, poetry and public speaking prizes, and our English Honours program.
Mrs Serena Hart
English coordinator
LIBRARY
Do you know about the free app, BorrowBox, which allows you to borrow eBooks and audiobooks with your local library membership? Come and ask me about it! It is a free service available to those who belong to their local library.
For our second consecutive year, all Year 7 and 8 students will be participating in the Renaissance Accelerated Reader program with a fortnightly library visit during their English class. Once a Reading Level has been established with an initial online STAR assessment, students will choose, borrow, and read a book of their choice within their book level range, complete online comprehension quizzes which earn them points, and then be rewarded for their points accrual. The STAR assessment caters for the individual as it is computer adaptive and moves and changes with the student depending on their answers.
Next Monday 14 February is not only St Valentine’s Day but is also International Library Lovers Day. There will be some recognition of this special day both within the library for our senior students and in the 7-10 year group areas during recess and lunch – keep a lookout and take part in what will be on offer.
Finally, a friendly reminder to please return any overdue library books which are outstanding from loans last year.
Thank you
Mrs Anne-Marie Nicholls
Teacher Librarian
SPORT NEWS
SPORTS NEWS
I wish to extend a welcome to all families of Lakes Grammar. I am excited about the opportunities ahead in the year for students to compete in a variety of different sports.
The following dates have been determined for Lakes Grammar major sporting events for 2022. Term 1 dates are in the key dates earlier in this newsletter and below. Please keep an eye out for permissions to participate via the school App and in Parent Lounge.
- Secondary Athletics: Friday 20 May
- Primary Athletics: Wednesday 25 May
Weekly Sport
Junior school
Students should wear their sports uniform on Tuesday and Wednesday every week.
Term 1 – Years 3-6 weekly sports program
Students | Week2 | Week3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 |
3 | Basketball | Basketball | Basketball | Basketball | Touch foot. | Touch foot. | Touch foot. | Touch foot. | College games |
4 | Touch foot. | Touch foot. | Touch foot. | Touch foot. | Basketball | Basketball | Basketball | Basketball | College games |
5 | Cricket | Cricket | Cricket | Cricket | Volleyball | Volleyball | Volleyball | Volleyball | College games |
6/5-6OC | Volleyball | Volleyball | Volleyball | Volleyball | Cricket | Cricket | Cricket | Cricket | College games |
Teachers use the Australian Sports Commissions coaching resource ‘Play for life’ to help provide students with best opportunities to be as active as possible and improve their knowledge and skills in these sports.
Sports in schools Australia also attends every Wednesday to run athletics-based physical activity lessons for all K-6 students.
Senior School
Students have embarked on a new sporting program this year which provides them all with equal opportunity to take part in a variety of different sports during the year. We are very lucky to have some great sport providers on board to develop student’s knowledge and skills in these areas. Qualified coaches are provided for: Swimming, volleyball, cricket, group fitness and martial arts. Lake Haven Recreation Centre provides opportunities for students to play basketball, indoor soccer, badminton, table tennis, racquet ball and use the indoor and outdoor gym facilities as long as they bring a sweat towel.
Year/class | Weeks 1-3 | Weeks 4-6 | Weeks 7-9 | Week 10 |
7L | Swim program | Cricket | Group fitness | College games |
7G | Group fitness | Swim program | Cricket | College games |
7S | Cricket | Group fitness | Swim program | College games |
8L | Swim program | Cricket | Group fitness | College games |
8G | Group fitness | Swim program | Cricket | College games |
8S | Cricket | Group fitness | Swim program | College games |
9L | Lake Haven rec | Martial arts | Volleyball | College games |
9G | Martial Arts | Volleyball | Lake Haven rec | College games |
9S | Volleyball | Lake Haven rec | Martial Arts | College games |
10L | Lake Haven rec | Martial arts | Volleyball | College games |
10G | Martial Arts | Volleyball | Lake Haven rec | College games |
10S | Volleyball | Lake Haven rec | Martial arts | College games |
Term 1 – Key Sporting Dates
Monday 14 February | School swimming trials |
Tuesday 22 February | Open HRIS tennis gala day |
Tuesday 1 March | HRIS Primary boys and girls open football trials |
Wednesday 2 March | HRIS Secondary hockey trials |
Friday 4 March | HRIS Primary Division 1 swimming championships |
Monday 7 March | HRIS Primary boys and girls open football trials |
Monday 7 March | HRIS Primary opens netball trials |
Thursday 10 March | HRIS Secondary Division 1 swimming championships |
Monday 14 March | HRIS Secondary open boys/girls and U15’s girls football trials |
Tuesday 15 March | HRIS Secondary opens & 15’s touch football trials |
Friday 18 March | School cross country championships |
Tuesday 22 March | HRIS Secondary U16 boys football trials |
Wednesday 23 March | HRIS Secondary opens & 15’s netball trials |
If you would like to attend any of these sporting trials please contact Mr Beecroft well before trial date as nominations close, at least 1 week before competition or trial.
Please note, students wishing to trial for HRIS representative teams should be playing at a representative level outside of school. This is the performance standard of other trialling athletes from the other 19 HRIS schools.
Mr Darren Beecroft
K-12 Sports coordinator
EQUESTRIAN NEWS
Welcome back to our students participating in equestrian.
Please email me (cynthia.jobe-parker@lakes.nsw.edu.au) if you are interested in participating this year on
Upcoming events are listed below. The list will be updated if events change.
Please be aware, you may not enter an event without prior permission from myself and Mrs Clancy. This may be a signature on an entry form or verbal/email confirmation prior to entering on nominate.
We have to confirm the event and all their risk assessments and procedures in place before you will be permitted to attend.
Upcoming Equestrian Interschool Events
Arndell Anglican College Jumping Classic
19 March 2022
Hawkesbury Showground, Clarendon
Entries via Nominate, opening soon
Snowy Mountains Interschools Equestrian Competition
21-24 April 2022
The Station Resort, Jindabyne
Entries via global entries online – contact Catherine Fairfield-Smith 0412866912
Oxley College Equestrian Day
1 May 2022
Bong Bong Picnic Racecourse, Bowral
Entries via nominate closer to the event
North West Equestrian Expo, Coonabarabran
3-7June 2022
Nominate – Event website is http://www.nwequestrianexpo.com.au/
Equestrian NSW Interschool Championships – Sydney International Equestrian Centre
2-6 July 2022
Information on qualifications and schedule will be published when available
Arndell College Equestrian Carnival
13 August 2022
Hawkesbury Showground Clarendon - show horse and sporting
Liverpool Plains Equestrian Interschools, Quirindi Racecourse
17-18 September 2022
More information closer to the event
Berry Interschool Championships, Berry Riding Club, 50 Schofields Lane, Berry
1-3 October 2022
Show riding dressage, jumping, sporting Hunter more information closed to the event
Mrs Cynthia Jobe-Parker
Junior School Teacher
QUICK LINKS
FLEXISCHOOLS
https://www.flexischools.com.au/
UNIFORM SHOP
http://www.alintaapparel.com.au/