28 November 2024
From the Head of the ELC
Dear Families,
The spirit of giving has been prominent over the past few weeks at the ELC. Thank you for the generosity you have shown through our Greeting Cards project and the Toys n Tucker charity run. We feel privileged to have families who have unreservedly supported us in engaging the children in meaningful and worthwhile service learning throughout the term.
The children’s understanding of compassion and empathy that fuel the act of giving, has been growing and visible throughout the Toys n Tucker collections. Talking among themselves has led to concerns and questions about why some people require assistance from others, demonstrating how they are making sense of and consolidating their understanding of the importance of giving to those in need.
We thank you for kindling the spirit of giving within the hearts of your children. Anglicare has collected all donations and expressed gratitude for your care and generosity.
ELC Email Address
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at elc@newington.nsw.edu.au and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
Chapel Thought
This week in Chapel we have been reflecting on Advent and Christmas. Advent is the Christian season of preparation that occurs in the four weeks preceding Christmas. Whilst Advent will begin for Christians on 1 December, in schools we need to bring our journey forward. Advent gives us time to reflect on the deeper meaning of Christmas and what the gift of Jesus’ birth might mean for our world this year.
In Advent, we centre our reflections on the themes of hope, joy, peace and love. These themes remind us of the hope given to all of humanity through the birth of Jesus. We remember the joy of the angels as they proclaimed the Good News of the birth. It allows us to acknowledge that, at Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, sent by God to proclaim God’s Kingdom. And perhaps most of all, we remember the love of God given to all of us in the birth of the Christ Child.
As we move towards the Christmas season, my prayer is that these values of hope, joy, peace and love may guide us in our personal preparations but also inspire us as a community as we journey towards the holidays and Christmas.
– Pastor Richard La’Brooy
What’s Happening this Term
Orientation for 2025 Goanna and Eagle Classes
Current Possum Class children will have designated orientation time to play, explore and become familiar with the Eagle and Goanna classrooms throughout the term. These exploration times will provide opportunities for the children to become familiar with the environment that will potentially become their classrooms next year.
End of Year Luncheon
On Wednesday 4 December, from 12.00pm-1.00pm, the ELC children and educators will gather for a special End of Year Luncheon to celebrate and conclude the fabulous year they have had together.
We request that children come to ELC without packed lunches on the day as lunch will be provided. They will be served chargrilled chicken, baked vegetables and potato wedges/chips. If you do not wish for your child to have this meal, please inform us in writing and ensure your child has a home-packed lunch on the day.
ELC Learning Celebration
Date:
- Friday 29 November
The Program:
- 2.00pm: Music Showcase (Goanna & Eagle class parents only)
- 2.40pm: Learning Exhibition (All ELC families)
- 3.00pm-4.30pm: ELC Community Gathering (All ELC families)
Important planning
- Goanna & Eagle class families: Sign out children on arrival for the Music Showcase
- Possum class families: Arrive by 2.40pm and sign out children on arrival for the Learning Exhibition
- Possum class (three-day attendees): If your child is a three-day attendee, we kindly ask that you attend this event with your child, arriving by 2.40pm. We thank you in advance for your time and effort to do this and join our ELC community gathering.
ELC Closure and Commencement Dates
Please note the following dates:
- Last day for ELC children: Thursday 12 December 2024
- Commencement date for ELC children: Tuesday 7 January 2025
If your child will be starting with us later, please inform us via email.
Staff Profile
This week we are profiling Philosophy and Religious Studies Teacher Samuel Giles, who recently received the Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award 2024 from the Professional Teacher’s Council. A dedicated and passionate teacher, this was a well-deserved recognition of his commitment to shaping young minds.
Q. If you weren’t a teacher, what other career would you imagine yourself in?
A. My passion is for philosophy and the discussion of ideas, so I imagine I would still be a student or working in a university. If I were forced to branch out, I would like to work researching and writing for documentaries or films, perhaps investigating the boundary between games and sport.
Q. Which book, movie, or TV show do you think every student should experience at least once, and why?
A. There is a short film that we show in Year 7 called Flatland. It packages so many thought-provoking questions in a beautiful mix of considered scriptwriting, artistic creativity and geometrical thinking. Guaranteed to generate discussion, ideas and inspiration.
Q. What was your favourite subject in school when you were a student, and did you ever struggle with a subject yourself?
A. I liked English the most. I struggled a lot to get back up to speed with Maths and German after neglecting them in Years 9 and 10. I still find rehearsing and revising things difficult, but at least I have learned that it is necessary if you want to improve.
Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to students that you wish you had known when you were in school?
A. There is a limited amount of time in your life in which there are lots of people around you who are actively invested in making you a more interesting and successful person. Honest conversations with these people can change your life significantly. Seek them out and find out about more things!
