Masterclasses 2010

At Cedars we have a commitment to inspired learning so our Masterclass Program is very important to us. For the last three  years at Cedars we have run a variety of Masterclasses in English, Maths, Science and in Leadership, Outdoor Education and other cocurricular pursuits. Our Masterclass Program is set to expand this year with the possibility of offering classes for parents in particular subjects or pursuits.

This week students in Years 8-10 will be invited to join in our latest Masterclass Program. Students in Years 5-7 will be invited at the start of Semester 2. This program is a little different from others in that it will be largely driven by the interests and skills of the students involved. Participants will be invited to take on a learning challenge which is designed to promote problem solving, high order thinking and both independent and interdependent learning.

The Challenge is a special extension project design based on educational research including the Habits of Mind and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Here are the underlying assumptions that are driving this project:

• Learning is a consequence of deep thinking.
• People learn when they have opportunity and motivation to learn.
• Knowledge and skills are acquired through clear information, reflective and abundant practice and informative feedback.
• Effective learning requires the learner to pull together concepts learned in the subject matter, approach open ended rather than one right answer questions, complex projects and the like, taking into account that individuals possess many different styles of learning.
• Effective educational systems support multiple intelligences.
• Less subject matter and deep probing of selected subject matter results in better learning.

We believe that if we are able to prompt our young people to reflect on their actions, their learning and their thinking we will help to prepare them for their lives after school. We will give them the skills and the strategies to face dilemmas and to find solutions to problems both inside and outside the classroom. As a Christian school we are committed to prompting our students to weigh all their decisions in the context of God’s word and spending time reflecting on how to weigh up the challenges and problems is essential.

Students have been nominated to attend our Masterclass. If your son or daughter is in Years 8-10 and is interested in joining in our Habits of Mind Challenge please encourage them to come to the Library on Thursday at lunchtime to find out more information.
If your son or daughter joins in the challenge we expect parents will want to get involved in the learning process and seek to encourage them in the project. We are hoping that our students will also show initiative and seek to link with experts in their chosen field of enquiry both within and outside our school community. If you are interested in supporting our students in the Habits of Mind Challenge please don’t hesitate to ring me at school.

We are excited about the possibility of this exciting new project. 

Mrs Julie Reynolds
Principal

My School Website

Cedars parents might have joined the millions of parents who have accessed the new My School Website. In looking at our local schools I am sure you will have joined me in feeling very proud of our students and teachers and celebrating the strong results our site shows. The staff and I have welcomed the publication of this material but I would like to offer a few comments about them. Firstly the information on this site is very minimal. Although we have done very well as a school I have reservations about a site that claims to compare schools on the data gathered from one test on one day. It is like evaluating the worth of a racing car by looking only at the tyres. Unfortunately the media makes stories out of minimal information and encourages sweeping statements for good and ill. Parents may not be aware that every school presents an annual report to the government with this information and much more. This is generally available on every school’s own website. You can access our Annual Report for 2008/2009.

 I would urge parents to read these reports for much more information than the MySchool site will ever offer.

Mrs Julie Reynolds
Principal

New School Leaving Age

As of January 2010, New South Wales will have a new school leaving age, meaning students will complete Year 10 and then have a number of options in which to participate until at least age 17.

What’s New?

From 2010, all NSW students must complete Year 10.
After Year 10 and until the age of 17 students must be:

• In school, or registered for home schooling OR

• In approved education or training OR

• In full time paid employment (average 25 hours/week) OR

• In a combination of these

This applies to students who complete Year 10 in 2009 and to all subsequent years.

More information
www.schools.nsw.edu.au

Mr Steve Walton
Deputy Principal - Welfare

Cedars Year 10 students get hands on for a good cause

While Year 10 books are packed away for 2009, students from Cedars Christian College are out and about for their third annual community service program. With projects as varied as participation in Wollongong City Council’s Bushcare program, disability housing support and helping at Parameadows school, the students have an opportunity to give something back now that exams are over.

The Program’s coordinator, Brad Kelly says that the community service week has been a successful part of the schools program for the past three years. “Students are keen to get out, test their skills in a new and challenging environment. We want to instil values of service, hard work and giving back in our students.”

Mr Kelly said that it was not hard to find community groups to partner with. “There are just so many needs out there, and our students are discovering for themselves that for them to give a little bit can make an enormous difference for someone else.”

The community service program, which runs from Monday 16th November to Wednesday 18th November, will end with a fun day on Thursday so students from the various projects can come together and share their experiences.

Go to Senior College News to find the 2009 HSC Examination Timetable

Cedars Partners with WEA

There has been publicity in recent weeks about the new venture between Cedars Christian College and WEA.

Cedars has offered the use of their cooking facilities to enable WEA to start up their cooking classes once again.

CEO of WEA, Gareth McKeen:

"Even before the interest in the TV show 'Masterchef, WEA were often asked when were we going to bring back cooking classes.  Unfortunately we were unable to locate a kitchen suitable for teaching cooking despite trying local schools, serviced clubs and even private catering venues.  When Cedars Christian College offered their kitchen we didn't hesitate as it is an excellent, clean and modern facility.'

WEA cooking classes will commence in Term 4 this year and will initially be Saturday workshops with the aim to offer additional classes in 2010.  

Julie Reynolds, Principal of Cedars comments:

"Our College is very pleased to be able to support the WEA in this new venture.  We value our connections with the wider community and look forward to this partnership.  Cooking is a creative pursuit and we are very pleased to be able to support the WEA in their programs.  We know that our wonderful facilities will provide a great base for some culinary creativity."

We are very excited to announce to our school community that we have been successful in our $2 million grant application for a multipurpose hall and are in the process of submitting our development application to Council. The Cedars Leadership Centre will enable our community to meet together for sporting, cultural, musical and community events and will be completed before the end of 2010. The Cedars Leadership Centre will be a wonderful asset for our school and for our community.
We are able to embark upon this project because of the generous funding from the Federal Government as part of their Building the Education Revolution program. We are very excited that the Government has targeted education as one of the key sectors in their stimulus package and that our school will benefit from this exciting initiative.

28th May 2009


Dear parents

As you are aware the human swine influenza has continued to spread internationally and is now gaining some momentum in Australia. We have been following the advice of NSW Health and refer also to advice from the Director-General of Education.

The incubation period of human swine influenza is thought to be up to seven days. People can be infectious with influenza for up to 24 hours before they will develop any symptoms. This means that people who are infected could unknowingly spread the virus.

To limit the potential exposure, NSW Health has advised the education department to take steps to exclude staff or students who may have been in countries that have had community or school transmission of the virus.

Currently the countries are Mexico, USA, Canada, Japan and Panama. This list will be continually revised. This 'exclusion' approach would mean that students or staff members returning, or arriving, from a country affected by human swine influenza would be instructed to remain at home for seven days (the maximum incubation period) following their travel before returning to school.

This will allow time for any illness related to that travel to develop, and for prompt assessment and treatment to commence.  If they remain well after seven days they can return to school.

To limit the risk within our school community we also advise any student or staff member who has contact with someone diagnosed or suspected of having swine flu that they contact NSW Health for assessment and support. We also request that they contact the College and that they remain at home for seven days before returning to school.

NSW Health also advises that anyone with flu-like symptoms should stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

It is important that we all cooperate with these strategies. The primary objective of NSW Health is to delay and limit the spread of human swine influenza within the community. This is a very important strategy in the effective management of the current influenza threat.

A confirmed case of human swine influenza in a student or staff member who has attended school while infectious would result in that school being identified as a 'school of interest'.  NSW Health would investigate each case identified and decide what to do based on the level of exposure to individuals in the school. Appropriate mitigation actions may include placing close contacts into home isolation with antiviral treatment, increased social distancing at school, or partially or completely closing the school. Partial closure could mean closing just a class or year group.

NSW Health would not make any decision to close a school lightly, and would fully consider the social support issues an unexpected closure may create for some families.

We must also remember that good hygiene practices can minimise the spread of infections. Simple precautions that prevent catching and spreading influenza include
·    covering your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze;
·    washing your hands after contact with soiled tissues or any contact with nose or throat discharge; and
·    stay at home if sick.

If you would like more information about human swine influenza, please read the NSW Health website at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/swine_flu.asp. You can also contact your Doctor or the Public Health Unit for the Illawarra on 02 4221 6700.

Please contact the College if you have any concerns or questions regarding this information.

$200,000 Grant - Building the Education Revolution

We received wonderful news on Monday, 6th of April, from the Australian Government that we have received a grant of $200,000 for minor works within our College. Over the next few months students and parents will begin to see a number of special projects springing up including the refurbishment of shade structures, outdoor areas, small building projects and other amenities. High on our agenda is the provision of shade sails and an improved play area and safety fencing for our Junior School. We are grateful to the Federal Government for their decision to invest in the infrastructure of our school.

We are also working on a grant application for a multipurpose hall for our College. We will bring more details to the community as they are confirmed.

 

Cedars has managed to raise $3500 for Flinders Christian Community College in the Gippsland region of Victoria where many families are suffering in the wake of the fires. The money will go to those who have lost their home and other possessions, while messages of support have also been sent to encourage those who have feared for their lives and experienced loss.