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LAKES NEWSLETTER

Week 2, Term 1 2021


ACTING PRINCIPAL'S NEWS

Welcome

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new families in our school. I hope that your child has settled in well to our school and have quickly found new friends and that they are enjoying their classes with their teachers.

Mr Hannah Update

As indicated in our welcome back letter, Mr Hannah, has been off sick due to a shoulder injury in a bicycle accident! He is recovering well, and I expect he will be back at school in around 2 weeks if all goes to plan. Please pray for him as he recovers.

HSC results

I would like to extend my congratulations to our Year 12 2020 students who completed their HSC last year in particularly trying times. I wish to particularly congratulate Rebecca Walker who was listed on the Honour Roll for her fine performance in Geography.

Afternoon pick up


A big thank you to all the parents and caregivers who have tried to follow our advice regarding afternoon pick up – it makes a huge difference and traffic is flowing much more smoothly. The change to arrangements is necessary because many children are currently not using bus transport, and the sheer volume of cars have been causing large traffic jams.

The photo below was taken at 3:17pm on Tuesday in the Junior School ‘Kiss and Go’. It clearly demonstrates that if you assist by following the advice then the pick-up system will work successfully - but it does need your co-operation.

The important messages are these:

  • Please do not park in the traffic queue. If you park, you are in the way and traffic will quickly bank up behind you - typically out the Senior School gate. It is illegal to park there, and doing so only causes grief for everyone who follows the traffic rules, including buses.
  • Please arrive at the right time and not before. Please stop coming early. Queueing up prior to the School finish time is fairly pointless and simply causes congestion out the Senior School gate. Remember, nothing can move until the children physically get out of class!
    By arriving at the correct time, as shown last Tuesday, the traffic flows freely, and the pick-up process runs smoothly.
  • If your child is not there, please move on. In the Junior school, the teachers will tell you to move right up past the head of the pick-up queue. In the Senior school, you need to leave and go around again – otherwise you will block up traffic!
Students moving between sites

Generally speaking, we have not had Junior School students on the Senior site and vice versa, to keep in line with COVID separation for contact tracing.  The uniform shop has its own contact tracing methods, so this is an obvious exception. The afternoon pick-up for the Junior School is now working with most students gone by 3:15, so we will resume arrangements to allow Senior students to walk to the Junior School to combine your pick up with their younger siblings. We do not allow Junior School students to walk to the Senior School – it is too busy and too dangerous around the Junior School bus bay area and the internal link road for this to happen.

COVID traffic lights

A few parents have commented about the way the traffic lights outside the school seem to do its own thing! You are not wrong! Many sets of traffic lights across New South Wales have been set to a COVID mode, where pedestrians no longer have to press the button to activate pedestrian crossings. This is a statewide decision, so all affected lights (including ours) are simply cycling through pre-set settings, regardless of need, and I am told that this process will not change while the COVID pandemic exists. Again, the message is to simply have a little patience.

COVID update

The latest advice is that some of the current restrictions are likely to ease for Greater Sydney from 12 February.

In the meantime, please be aware of the following:

  • Masks remain mandatory for students 13 years and over on public transport. This is a personal hygiene item, and you will need to make sure that your child brings a facemask to school. We do have a small supply of disposable facemasks for sale in the canteen if your child forgets their mask.
  • Masks do not have to be worn at school, although students may if they wish.
School buses

Now that restrictions appear to be easing, parents might like to reconsider bus travel for their child as a viable transport arrangement to and from school.

Lakes Grammar mobile app

Just a reminder that the Lakes Grammar App is now active, and you can download it from Apple or Google play – just search “Lakes Grammar”.

To use the App you will need to reset your password using the link provided to you in a separate communication earlier in the week. The App has a number of functions available to you, such as calendar and absentees, but the electronic note section will be activated later in the term when we know that all our parents are properly connected. If you have any difficulty logging onto Parent Lounge, please contact Bev Seers at school.

Once you have successfully downloaded the app, you can manage your subscriptions by tapping Settings (in the bottom right corner). By clicking the subscriptions tab you can select which Year Levels you would like to receive notifications for.


Ian Samways

Acting Principal

KEY DATES FOR THE DIARY

Years 1 - 6 Meet the Teacher evenings via zoom

Tuesday, 9 February

5:30pm and 6:00pm (both sessions contain the same content)

Your class teacher will send you a link to access the zoom meeting. 



Senior School Swimming Carnival

Monday, 15 February - Wyong Swimming Pool


CHAPLAIN'S CHAT

Matt's Mutterings


It’s a funny thing to look back on newsletters from 12 months ago and see what I wrote. If only I knew what 2020 would hold for us as a school community, nation and world at the time of writing.  What a journey we have all been on for the last 12 months!  So, here we are launching into 2021, bruised and battered from our last year, but with some hope tucked into our back pockets.


I was sharing with our Year 7’s that I am super excited to get to know them all as I have had the least to do with them so far.  Only 85 names to remember along with the rest of our Senior School.  It really is a joy to hear their stories and learn something of who they are.  It is also amazing to see how much our older students have grown over the holidays.  Many have shared their holiday stories and there is a real buzz in our very full playground.  It’s fantastic to be back!


Another great thing at the moment is the fact that Pete and I can run regular chapels again.  The only thing we can’t do is sing which is a bit disappointing in Junior School, but not really that different in Senior School.  Except for birthdays where we hum Happy Birthday to the special recipient so they can feel the love.  It is good to have Chapel back in our rhythm of school life in a way that is no longer rushed and can be a time of deep reflection.  Our prayer is that our chapels this year may be a safe place for our students to contemplate who they are in this world, who they want to be and maybe even who God is calling them to be.


Please be assured, too, that Pete and I pray for you all each day at school.  We are joined by our colleagues to hold you in our hearts and ask God to bless our school community.  We also wanted to say again at the beginning of this year that if you need a listening ear or just want to share your story with us then we are only too happy to listen.  We hope that as the chaplains of Lakes Grammar we can serve our school community well in 2021.



Matt
Chaplain

JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS

ACTING HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL 

Welcome

Welcome to the 2021 school year in the Junior School. I do hope that all families enjoyed a relaxing Christmas and New Year holiday period together, celebrating the birth of Christ, enjoying family time, and that everyone is refreshed and ready for all that 2021 has in store! It was such a pleasure last week to welcome the smiling faces that make our school such a happy place to come each day. It is a new and exciting year as the Junior School continues to strive to achieve excellence in education, care and friendship.


We have new families, including all of our new Kindergarten students, joining the Lakes Grammar family and a very warm welcome is extended to each. Our school is such a wonderful place with which to be associated and I am certain that you have already been made to feel very welcome. 


Being an Anglican School gives us a more complete sense of community. We are part of a much bigger family and we know that God goes with us into the year and into the joys and challenges that await us. One of the many positive features of our school is this great sense of community we share.


It is our prayer that all families, and especially new students and parents, feel a strong sense of belonging at Lakes Grammar as we work, play, worship and grow together in the spirit of ‘Glorify Jesus in all we do’ – our motto for the year.


Building Learning Power

We are continuing to work on our Building Learning Power program in classrooms. The diagram below shows the four areas of our ‘Building Learning Power’ program (Reach Out, Look Within, Think Clearly and Believe in Ourselves) which link in with our school motto ‘With Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength’.


A number of learning actions which are associated with each area are listed around the outside of the circle.

Lakes Grammar Habits

The Junior School utilises the learning framework of Lakes Grammar Habits to effectively integrate our Building Learning Power, Positive Behaviour for Learning and Virtues programs.


  • Building Learning Power develops the capacity of students for learning, their curiosity, craftsmanship, creativity and collaboration.
  • The Virtues program develops children’s Christian values, moral harmony and moral integrity, including kindness, honesty, trustworthiness, service, empathy and moral courage.
  • Positive Behaviour for Learning develops our student self-regulation and self-awareness to demonstrate respect, responsibility and care for themselves and others.


The Junior School collectively focuses on a Habit each week drawn from one of the three programs whilst concurrently working with students to develop a range of habits and capacities in the day-to-day life of the school.


Over the beginning of the term, we will be focusing on the following concepts. These are also recorded in the Student Diary for each week:

Week 1: Review/introduce Habits and key expectations

Week 2: Respect fellow learners and teachers 

Week 3: Being prepared and organised for learning

Week 4: Commitment 


Stars of the Week


Review Habits and Key Expectations

Haven Fox, Thomas Webb, Claire Freeman, Summer Nicholls, Charlton Fewings, Zac Ellis, Ava Brien, Yung-Shan Littlefair, Gabriella Clark, Sara Olivieri, Kaella Doyle-Michaels, Noah Bain, Ashton Royle.



Respect Fellow Learners and Teachers

Henley Neale, Maddy Cunnington, Connor Eckersley, Nate Brownlaw, Oliver Hallet, Mark Thomas, Jackson Harris, Layla Choudhari, Lauren Peachey, Jada Whitmore, Kane McLeod, Zoe Vanderblom and Ally Richardson.


Junior School Leaders 2021

It has been a pleasure to have begun working with an enthusiastic and keen group of Junior School Leaders in 2021 and for them to officially take office following our Induction Assembly and Chapel on Thursday. We are looking forward to attending a Student Leadership Day later in the month to continue to grow together as leaders and to plan for a range of initiatives whereby the students are able to carry out their roles within the school this year.

A huge thank you to the leadership group for the example they are setting to others in the classroom, the playground and in a range of co-curricular activities. Their involvement at the Junior School Swimming Carnival and around the school has been very much appreciated already! 


Our 2021 Junior School Leaders are:

Junior School Leaders: Cohen Baldwin and Brianna Roberts

Junior School Deputy Leaders: Donald May and Milla Harding

Cranmer College: Harrison Williams and Addison Kowaliw

Lightfoot College: Christopher Webb and Miranda Feller

Ridley College: Thomas Pearson and Gemma Rooke

Tyrrell College: Ashton Royle and Emily Grout

Christian Ministry: Simon Connor and Heidi O’Donnell


Meet the Teacher Evening (Years 1-6)

This year due to COVID our ‘Meet the Teacher Evening’ will be held via Zoom. You will be sent a link closer to the date. This will enable you to join your grade’s teachers on Tuesday, 9 February. There will be identical sessions, one at 5:30pm and the other at 6:00pm.



Kindergarten and Year 6 Buddies

A warm welcome to all of our new Kindergarten students and their families. It has been great to see the top job that Year 6 have been doing with their Kindergarten buddies to help them to settle into Lakes Grammar. Thanks to Year 6, Mrs Stowe, our Kindergarten teachers, for all of the work that they have done to help the students settle in.


Lost Property

We have a small blue whizbin which has been clearly marked and has been placed in the breezeway near the Junior School Office.


Lost property (mainly lunch boxes and bottles, but not clothing/uniform items) will be placed in the bin each day.  All lost school uniform items will continue to be returned to the office as usual.


If you notice at item lost property missing, ask your child to look in this bin or the office. This should help to keep playground tidy and to have lost property in one place.


Afternoon Pickup

Thank you for your patience as everyone learns to use the Kiss n Go system in the Junior School. The system is flowing better each day. If you require a family sign for ‘Kiss and Go’, please make contact with the office. This is vital for our staff so to identify you as you arrive to pick up your child/ren.


Please use only the marked pedestrian crossing directly in front of the school to come and go from the carpark. Some parents and carers are using the speed humps in the carpark as pedestrian crossings… but these are not pedestrian crossings and it is dangerous to cross the road through the Kiss and Go queue.


Sport News

K – 6 PE and Sport

Sport lessons for K – 6 students will be held on Tuesdays, whilst PE is held each Wednesday. Students will continue to wear their sports uniform each Tuesday and Wednesday.



Ralph Johns

Acting Head of Junior School

LIBRARY

Premiere’s Reading Challenge 2021

We invite all students K-6 to participate in this year’s PRC. Notes will go out in the next week during library lessons with all the information and instructions. A reading log is also attached.

If your child is interested, please complete the registration form and have it returned to the PRC Box in the Junior School Library. Happy reading!!


Library Lunchtimes

It is with good news that we are currently opening the JS Library at lunchtimes with COVID-19 Safety plans in place. The JS Library will be open 4 days a week Monday-Thursday and closed on Fridays. Hours are 1.15pm-1.35pm and class groups as follows:

Mondays - Years 5/6

Tuesdays - Years 3/4

Wednesdays – Years 1/2   

Thursdays - Kindy

Friday – Closed

It is envisaged with further restrictions being reduced we can convert back to a K-2 and 3-6 rotated lunch in Term 2.


Library Lessons – Term 1

This term, K-6 Library lessons will focus on:

K - Nursery Rhymes / Classic Literature Appreciation

1 - Library Skills – Fiction / Non-Fiction Intro

2 - Library Skills – Fiction / Non-Fiction / Reference Intro

3 - Library Skills – Fiction / Non-Fiction / Reference

4 - Library Skills – Fiction / Non-Fiction / Reference

5 - Sustainability Unit (Rainforests)

6 - Aboriginal Rights / Reference


Overdues

A round of overdue notices were sent out today with students. It would be appreciated if you could you please check at home and return books ASAP to avoid any charges that may occur. Thank you.



Danny Summers

Junior School Teacher Librarian

SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS

ACTING HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

It has been so wonderful to welcome everyone back to the Senior School, especially our Year 7 students and all of our new students. I know the staff and I are very excited to see everyone return with such a positive attitude. Thank you to all our parents who have made sure our students are arriving everyday looking fantastic in their uniform, sometimes not an easy task when dealing with teenagers! It has been great to see many of our students with our new Sports shirt on this week.  Although it is not compulsory to immediately change over to the new sport polos as these are being phased in over the next two years – some sizes are available for purchase in our Uniform Shop and more stock is expected to arrive by mid-March.


Thankfully COVID restrictions are starting to ease and we have been able to start the year with some sense of normality. We certainly pray that COVID continues to stay at bay and restrictions are further lifted so we can get back to a normal school life, although I am sure we will never forget to hand sanitise or socially distant! We do give thanks, however, that we are in such a fortunate position compared to other nations and that our students can come to school everyday without the immediate threat of COVID.


Staff started the new year on Wednesday, 20 January with a Chapel service led by our Reverend, Matt Shorten. It is always good to start together in prayer and reflection and to remember our purpose; that we are here to create a school learning environment where our students can live the full life Jesus promised his followers. As a staff we are all committed to ‘Building Better Futures’ for our students through the wide variety of experiences we offer them here at school. In the coming weeks we will release our co-curricula options, outlined in our ‘Cognito’ program. When this is released, I encourage you to sit down with your child and look at what they may like to be involved in. Our highest award presented at Speech Day, the ‘Award of Excellence’ is based on students collecting 100 points from activities they have been involved in throughout the year and points being awarded to them for their achievements. Therefore, I really encourage all students to become involved in our ‘Cognito’ program, a great place to earn some points towards this award.


Following our Chapel service staff engaged in three days of Professional Development where we delved deep into what is means to teach with a Learning Powered Approach, our Teaching and Learning Goals for 2020 and our new character framework ‘Vital’ and how this will be reflected in our Wellbeing sessions. Our ‘Vital’ Framework is very exciting, I will let Mr Hannah reveal more to you when he returns!


This year we welcome three new staff members to our Senior School Staff Family:

  • Mr Kiel Gazzard: TAS
  • Miss Jennifer Bunch: Science
  • Kara-Lee Rabbetts: Music


We also welcomed back Mrs Serena Hart from maternity leave. We welcome them and wish them all the best for the year! It is great to have them on board!


Overall, it has been a great start to the year, I am looking forward to again working in partnership with parents to help our students flourish and be the best person they can be.


If you have any concerns regarding your child’s wellbeing or learning please do not hesitate to contact the relevant subject Coordinator or Year Adviser. You can also contact myself, Mrs MacLarty (Senior School Coordinator of Student Wellbeing) or Mr Samways (Acting Principal).



Michelle Smith

Acting Head of Senior School

WELLBEING

What a great start to our school year in the Senior School. Welcome to our newest students, most of whom are in Year 7, and an extension of that welcome to their families. We hope that you all settle in well and enjoy the experiences Lakes Grammar has to offer.


Our Year 11 students have led the way conducting the beginning of our Peer Support Program with Year 7. Fantastic conversations opened up and some positive peer relationships are forming. The Peer Support program teaches students a range of skills to deal positively and proactively with life experiences, develop a sense of self-worth and belonging and encourages taking responsibility for decisions and actions. Year 7 are split into groups of 7-8 and work through a series of activities with their Peer Support leaders. Moving into Secondary School represents significant change for students, as they adjust to a new situation that is quite different from their experience in Primary School.


Research has shown when students form close connections with their peers, they are more likely to have a satisfying and successful school experience. Developing a sense of belonging is an important protective factor for good wellbeing. 


You can support your child by asking them about their Peer Support group and encouraging ongoing communication between your child, home and school.

Our Dungeons and Dragons club is about to get underway for 2021. Our leaders who are now in Year 10 are currently devising the teams with the plan to start next Thursday from 3:15-4:45pm. Students will be notified of their teams and all the details early next week.


Year 12 are about to head off on their Year 12 Retreat where they will spend some time together at Riverwood Downs in Monkerai developing skills in self-reflection, relationship building and service to others. We wish them a fun and safe camp.


This week our Youth Liaison Officer from Tuggerah Lakes Police, Senior Constable Kim Smith visited to speak with Year 7 and Year 8 about using the internet safely and treating other people with respect. This was a great opportunity for our youngest students to ask questions and to understand the role they need to play to keep themselves safe online. It is important for our students to understand their responsibility as citizens in their community. Senior Constable Smith will be visiting again soon to speak with each year group in turn about important issues relating to them. We look forward to hearing from her and giving our students the opportunity to learn more about being responsible citizens.


I really looking forward to a year of student involvement, great learning activities and good wellbeing for everyone!



Alison MacLarty

Co-ordinator of Student Wellbeing

MUSIC ENSEMBLE

Tuesday lunchtime: Stage Band

Students who play a woodwind, brass, guitar, keyboard, strings, drums and percussion instruments are welcome to join. Percussion, guitar and keyboard section may be required to audition. We will meet on Tuesdays at lunch time in the B7 Music room. Bring your lunch.



Thursday lunchtime: Choir

Everyone is welcome. We will meet on Thursdays at lunch time outside the B7 Music room. 

Due to current COVID restrictions, singing will be outdoors. Bring your lunch.



Justine Amor

Music Teacher


LIBRARY

Breaking news from the Senior School library – the entire Fiction and Quick Reads collections of some 2343 book titles have been organised into ten different genres e.g. Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Humour, Mystery, Realistic, Sci-Fi and Sport – see the attached photos.


The new signage is a work in progress; however, the students and English staff are all very impressed with the new look. This will enable students to find their preferred book genre more easily – it’s a bit like going into a bookstore.


The gentrification process was a precursor to introducing the Renaissance Accelerated Reader program to all our Year 7 and Year 8 students. A letter explaining this in more detail will be coming home soon to those parents. Briefly, the students choose book within a given book level range, complete a comprehension quiz about the book, and then earn points, working towards a range of rewards and awards as the year progresses.


Library Lovers’ Day is on 14 February, a Sunday this year, so be sure to take some time out for yourself with a book and enjoy some down time.


"Fantasy Book" by Theo Crazzolara is licensed with CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/



Anne-Marie Nicholls

SS Teacher Librarian

SPORT NEWS

JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS 

School Sport - Tuesdays

School sport is now up and running and there are a variety of different sports for students to participate in.

Just a reminder that full sports uniform must be worn on Tuesdays for sport i.e. hat, sport shirt, white / coloured joggers (no fluro colours), school sport shorts and socks. It is strongly advisable to have a water bottle as well during the hotter months. 

Please see Mr Cantor for any questions regarding Tuesday sport.


2-6 Primary Swimming Carnival 3/2

The annual Swimming Carnival at Mingara Pool was held on Wednesday, 3 February. Although a little different this year, students were well-behaved and had a wonderful time. A full detailed report along with photos will be available in the next newsletter.


CIS / HRIS Sport nominations / Trials – Yrs 5/6

Throughout the year, there will be many opportunities for students in Years 5 and Year 6 to trial for HRIS / CIS teams. Please check the newsletter regularly, the JS Sports noticeboard and HRIS and CIS websites for further information.


Coming up in Term 1:

  • Cross Country
  • HRIS Swimming
  • 5/6 HRIS Soccer Trials - Please see Mr Summers
  • 5/6 HRIS Netball Trials - Please see Mr Summers
  • Open Boys/ Girls CIS Trials - Please see Mr Summers
  • HRIS Open Boys / Girls Tennis Trials - Please see Mr Summers

 

 

James Cantor

K-6 Sports Co-ordinator

 





SENIOR SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS 

Welcome

I wish to extend a welcome to all new and continuing students and their families to Lakes Grammar to another busy year of sport.


The following dates have been determined for Lakes Grammar major sporting events for 2021.


Secondary Swimming on Monday, 15 February, Wyong Pool.

Cross Country (K-12) on Thursday 25 March at school.

Secondary Athletics TBC.


Weekly Sport

Every Wednesday, Year 7 and 8 students complete sport in Periods 5 and 6 and Years 9 and 10 complete sport during Periods 3 and 4.


As part of meeting the PDHPE mandatory syllabus outcomes Year 7 are undertaking a compulsory aquatics program run by qualified swimming instructors at Toukley Aquatic Centre in sport time this term. Please ensure your child is packing the right equipment for the program including: swimmers, goggles and towel. Due to COVID restriction there will be two different groups with the boys group commencing the swim program on Wednesday, 3 Feb and continuing until Wednesday, 24 Feb. From Wednesday, 3 March the girls group will commence the swimming program. Each group will also receive Cricket coaching from NSW Cricket coaches on the alternate weeks.


I remind all students that you must have the correct equipment to participate in your sport each week. I would like to remind parents and students that the correct uniform is to be worn each sport day. The correct uniform is the school sport shirt, school sport shorts, white school socks and joggers. Street shoes or slip on shoes are not appropriate for sporting activities as they do not support the ankle and foot and do not support the heel. If your child is having concerns with uniform items please contact the school.



The following policy again applies to Sport Choices in 2021: If fees are in arrears for your child/children, your child must choose a free sport that is offered at school, unless you have an agreed payment arrangement with the school. Paid sports will not be visible to students who are in this situation on the night of online sport selections. Please speak to your child about this to avoid any disappointment.


 

Term 1 – Key Sporting Dates

8th February – HRIS Open Basketball Trials

15th February – Secondary Swimming Carnival

23rd February – Open HRIS Tennis Gala Day

25th February – School Cross Country Championships

3rd March – Open HRIS Hockey Trials & Gala Day

9th March – Open & 15yrs HRIS Netball Trials

10th March – HRIS Div 2 Secondary Swimming Championships

15th March – Open/15 girls & 16 boys HRIS Football (soccer) Trials

16th March – Open & 15’s HRIS Touch Football Trials

22nd March – Open boys HRIS Football Trials


Term 2

30th April – HRIS Cross Country


If you would like to attend any of these sporting events please see Mr Beecroft for the nomination details 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.



Surf Survival Certificate Course

Students in Years 7-10 have the opportunity to complete their Surf Survival Certificate through the NSW Surf Lifesaving Association. A permission note has been sent out to families. There are limited places available so be quick if your child would like to take up this great opportunity and gain this valuable qualification.



TAP – Talented Athlete Program

We are hopeful that we might be able to get the TAP program up and running this year. We had 25 students selected in this program last year. Stay tuned for further information.



Mr Darren Beecroft

Senior School Sports Co-ordinator