Week 5 Term 4

Acknowledgement of Country

We wish to acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the land we work, learn and play on and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

Coming up in Week 6

Monday 18th November 

Tuesday 19th November 

• JC 9:00am - 10:30am Stay and Play 

Wednesday 20th November 

• JC 9:30am - 10:30am Menslink: Year 5 Tribe Group 
• JC 10am - 1pm Kinder Excursion: National Museum of Australia
• SC 9:30am - 11:30am Care Academy: Year 7 & 8 Girls Group
• SC Outdoor Education: Jervis Bay Camp 2 Day 1

Thursday 21st November 

• SC 9:10am - 11:10am Pereus Program 
• SC 6:30pm - 8pm Big Night Out Showcase
• SC Outdoor Education: Jervis Bay Camp 2 Day 2

Friday 22nd November 

• JC Assembly 
• JC 11:15am - 2pm Year 1/2 Bush Play 
• SC Outdoor Education: Jervis Bay Camp 2 Day 3

Coming Up in Week 7

Monday 25th November 

• JC 9:15am - 10:30am Flex Space walk to Chisholm Shops 
• SC Year 10 Immunisations

Tuesday 26th November 

• JC 9:00am - 10:30am Stay and Play 

Wednesday 27th November 

• JC 9:15 am - 10am Preschool to Kindy Transition Visit 
• JC 9:30am - 10:30am Menslink: Year 5 Tribe Group 
• SC 9:30am - 11:30am Care Academy: Year 7 & 8 Girls Group
• SC 11:30am - 6:30pm Dining Showcase

Thursday 28th November 

• JC 9am - 10:30am Flex Space walk to Fadden Pines 
• SC 9:10am - 11:10am Pereus Program 

Friday 29th November 

Principals Message

Ausdance ACT’s Youth Dance Festival

2024 marks an incredible 40 years of running the Youth Dance Festival at Canberra Theatre Centre. On Wednesday 6 November 46 students from CCS Senior Campus performed on stage at Canberra Theatre with a range of other secondary schools from all sectors. The festival was held over three nights in total with live dance performances from secondary schools all across Canberra and the region.

This year’s theme, ‘What Do You Dream?’ invited bold imagination and creativity, and featured a special opening piece by YDF alumni and star choreographers KG (Passion & Purpose), Caroline Wall (Fresh Funk), and Francis Owusu (Kulture Break).

This event yet again showcased some of the incredible students we have at CCS. Huge thanks go to dance teacher Serena Cramond for her tireless work throughout the year, the students have come such a long way under her guidance. Thanks too go out to families and staff who were present in the audience to cheer our students on.

Student reflections on the night -

“It was amazing hearing our teachers and families cheering so loud for us, it made us laugh and get excited to perform.”

“I was so nervous but really happy that I did it.”

“It was fun having the day off school, going to Canberra Centre and doing our hair and makeup.”

“The dancing pained me, I worked so hard and performed with all my energy. It was hard but such a good experience.”

“It was our best performance, and we are really proud of ourselves.”

Respect - School property

Respecting the school environment involves taking care of shared spaces and resources. Students can show respect by properly disposing of rubbish into bins, keeping classrooms tidy, using bathrooms appropriately and reporting any damage or issues promptly to school staff. This collective responsibility contributes to a clean and safe atmosphere for everyone.

Students may have a hard time understanding that school property doesn’t magically replenish itself. The damage a student causes requires money for repairs, something many schools have a severe lack of already. For example, if a student pulls the pages out of an education text, the next student to receive that book may have to work around the damage because the school doesn’t have an extra book for them. When students upend rubbish bins into toilets it results in costly plumbing repairs.

When students lack respect for school property, it can bring the quality of life in the school down. For example, leaving rubbish around the school grounds can make the place seem uncomfortable and unsightly. It also poses a safety threat. Other students or staff can slip on the litter and injure themselves. Putting rubbish into toilets makes it difficult for other students to use the toilet safely and comfortably.

It is a basic expectation that all students who enrol at CCS treat school property and resources with respect. The school is funded by ACT taxpayers’ money, and we want to maximise its impact, not be wasting it on needless repairs. We ask all families to support us with this basic expectation from all students.

Student Achievement – Reports

As students are approaching the end of term, we inch closer to end of Semester reporting. Report cards are complex. No matter what the core message is on your child/young person’s report it is important to take away lessons about what else can be done to improve your child’s learning outcomes. For those who have worked hard, take pride in the acknowledging those achievements and hard work. For those who are disappointed, what went wrong? Do you need help learning how to prioritise your workload, do you need to reflect on your effort in class, do you need additional support? It is important to acknowledge growth in your child’s learning and not reduce their learning or efforts to a ‘letter of the alphabet’.

Education is a partnership between home and school. If your child/young person is disappointed with their report you may wish to consider making an appointment to talk with the relevant teacher to identify strategies for future improvement.

Big Feelings go with key transitions

As the end of year approaches, we have three key cohorts that may be experiencing, or about to experience, some big feelings. Our preschool children will go into the school holidays with friends and family starting to talk about going to ‘big school’. This can be unsettling for children. We want the core message to be – you can do this. School is a place of learning, support from adults and a place where friendships can be nurtured. Learning takes time and each child will be supported to grow and learn at their pace. Remind your child that they know the school, the library, the hall, the playground. They are well prepared for the transition to kindergarten.

Below is a link to some articles from the Raising Children Network about transitions to primary school. Some families may find it helpful.

School & learning | Raising Children Network

We have the year 6 students who are about to start high school, which also brings with it a lot of stories from friends and families. Students at this age are often going through many physical and emotional changes. Being a teenager is complex and even harder in 2024! Give your child time and space as they enter this new phase and start to assert their independence. Again year 7 is not that different to year 6; as I said to the students at the recent transition day

• You are still expected to engage in learning.
• You will see your peers at break times.
• Teachers and adults will give you instructions throughout the day.
• The school expectations are the same; listen, be respectful and engage in safe behaviour.

Finally, our year 10 students are moving on to college education or post school options. It is important to remember they are only 16, and whilst this transition can be full of excitement for some, it may be a highly anxious time for others. No one expects our year 10 students to know what they want to do with their future, they have time to think. College is about new experiences, new subjects to explore and developing increased independence.

Below is a link to some articles from the Raising Children Network about transitions for teenagers. Some families may find it helpful.

Teens school, education & work | Raising Children Network

If you think your child/young person may require some additional support with an upcoming transition, please reach out to the school.

Warm Regards,

Julie

JC Flex News

This term in the Acacia Unit we are:

Looking at drama

In drama, we are focusing on understanding emotions better and the effect they have on our bodies and on each other. We are learning to express a healthy version of a variety of emotions such as happy, sad, angry, scared, etc. Recognising that it is OK to feel these and learning how we can better express them. Each week as we discuss each emotion we practise through drama healthy ways to express them. We are drawing our face to show each emotions and adding this emotion on a leaf and putting it on our emotions tree.

Looking at data and the passage of time

This term we are looking at the connections between doubling and halving with multiplying and dividing into equal groups. We have also been looking at the importance of data while creating graphs of data that has been collected. We have then made simple inferences about it.

Looking at technology

This term we are looking at technology and discovering that it is much broader than an i-pad or Switch. We are looking at how to create a system that enables us to get from one place to another or a route or to create a product such as bread.

Looking at shopping & cooking

This term we are continuing our journey of looking having a budget and buying ingredients to make something that  we all can enjoy. As we walked to the shops along Ngunnawal land, we stopped to look and see what signs there were to help us remember the way we to go. We created a ‘learning map’ together to show where we walked, remembering key features to help us. We will continue to do this and then create our own map as the Ngunnawal people do.

Looking at being ‘ready to play’

At the moment we are working on creating a list of strategies that we all can use when feeling that we are not ‘ready to play’ so that we can utilise the list to help ourselves and using ‘debugging’ strategies. We also are playing games to help us practise taking turns and negotiating how to enjoy playing the game even when we do not win.

 ~ Marjorie Waugh, Catherine Heath, Bec Brown, Marg Denne, Sam (JCFlex Staff).

Tap into Hydration

JC Student Leadership

This term, CCS is further celebrating students for demonstrating our school values, completing amazing work, being kind to others, and generally just being superstar humans. 

Each fortnight, our class advocates will choose two or three students from their class who they have noticed being outstanding school citizens. The chosen students will have their photos displayed in the canteen area as being our ‘Students in the Spotlight’.

The students in the spotlight for Weeks 5 and 6 are: 

From Kindy: Hana M, Archer N.

From Flex: Mia N, Baillie I.

From 1/2: Parker D, Lacey M, Leroy W, Jumana M.

From 3/4: Kaven L, Bella L, Ryan H, Lewis C-B, Matilda L, Tyrell B.

From 5/6: Alvan D, Tessa M, Abi S, Helena S, Tobias K, Violet L.

Junior Campus Events

Spotlight on Staff - Marjorie Waugh, JC Flexible Education and Classroom Teacher

How long have you worked at CCS?  

Since 2009

What do you enjoy about working with children/ young people?

Seeing lights go on when they realise that they can do something they struggled with before having opportunity to impact changes in children’s trajectory for their future

Describe your work in education in three words.

Supportive, engaging, connected to real life

What are your strengths?

Developing a connection with children that helps them to grow both personally and academically.

What are you passionate about?

Learning and the impact this will have on those I teach for their future 

What is something people don’t know about you?

I was part of a team that built a house for a family in Mexico who did not have one.

Future of Education Student Equity Fund 2024

Closing soon – Future of Education Student Equity Fund 2024

Applications for the Future of Education Equity Fund for the 2024 school year closes on 29 November 2024. Eligible low-income ACT families can receive one-off payments for financial assistance to help cover the costs of their children’s educational expenses such as sport equipment and activities, music lessons, school uniforms and excursions.

The Fund is open to eligible students enrolled in preschools (attached to a school) through to year 12 in the ACT. Further information and the online application form is available at Financial and Resource Assistance for Families - Education.

Missing Something?

Year 8 News

What.A.Year.
It has been, and will continue to be, an honour to be the Year Coordinator for CCS’ current Year 8 students. We have nearly made it halfway through our four-year stint together and I am confident the best is yet to come. It is also a pleasure to work alongside families of these young people to help set them up for successful lives. 
This year has been a big step from Year 7, where we fostered the transition into high school. Year 8 is where students have really begun to shine and settle into the structure of high school. This year in particular has seen a few students and staff come and go as well as a restructure of the timetable which has bought a lot of change and, at times, stress. I want to thank the Year 8 students for adapting well to the changes of this year and hope for a more settled two years coming up!

Our run as the ‘middle years’ students is nearly up. Next step, senior years.
The past two years have been about settling in and getting into good habits, so the crew is ready for Years 9 and 10, where everything counts and goes towards their Year 10 Certificates. A reminder that attendance and uniform are even more vital in the senior years, so I am hoping to see a rise in those two things as this year wraps up, in preparation for next year.

Thank you again for all your supports at home, I am genuinely to be part of the next two years with this year group.
I wish everybody a happy and safe break over summer!

Tanya Turner, Year 8 Coordinator.

Dancefest 2024:

‘What Do You Dream?’ was the theme for Youth Dance Festival this year. Canberra Theatre hosted many schools showcasing their dance and story selling skills, but a huge highlight was our Year 8 class performing in front of an audience outside of school for the first time. To take this dance from learning how to do basic dance steps in the dance room in Term 1, to practicing fully choregraphed dances in the gym and then performing a perfected dance on stage in Term 4 really encompassed the theme of the show. This project required a variety of students to collaborate, communicate and use their personal time to practice their skills, to ensure everyone was up to the task. Everyone worked together to ensure no one was left behind. Thank you, Year 8, for their hard work over the past few months with a special shout out to Mrs Cramond for teaching, inspiring and encouraging these students to work past their nerves and to dream big. I, for one, cannot wait to see these students join dance again next year and collaborate and learn from students in the grade above as they combine classes as the seniors for the school.

2024, Year 8 Highlights:

• Student Advocates: Thank you so much to our current Student Advocates, Emma, Mya and Grace for being the voice of Year 8, 2024. They attended lots of meetings with other student advocates and the school house captains to make changes in the school. A big focus for the year 8’s was ideas on themed days to raise money for formal and the P&C. It is a difficult task to be the youngest of the advocates, but that didn’t stop these three from using their voices and backing their cohort. Thank you again to these three lovely humans for stepping up this year and creating change for the better.

• Performances: Congratulations to the Year 8 students who performed in the School Musical as well as Dancefest. It is also really exciting to see so many Year 8’s sign up to show their talents at Big Night In in week 6. There is so much talent in this year group and it is highly appreciated that these students are willing to showcase their work to a wider audience.

• Year 10 Jackets & Formal: From Term 1, 2025, this group will be able to opt in to our committee to design the Year 10 jackets that this cohort can wear for 2026. Once opted in, students are required to stay in the committee, so there is consistency in decision making. If a student is not in the committee, that is completely fine, they will still have a say in the jacket as they will be able to see all designs from the committee and vote for their final choice. This committee will also stick together through Year 10 to organise the formal as well. All this requires is a few break times per term (only one per day, per week at max) to meet and consult about things that impact the entire grade.

• Work Experience: Thank you to the following companies who have already hosted our current Year 8’s on work experience:
  • Canberra Leather & Plastics Trim & Upholstery Services
  • Erindale McDonalds
  • Caroline Chisholm School – Junior Campus
  • St Vincent de Paul Society
  • Ali Baba
  • PCYC
  • Serene Hair & Body Clinic
  • Bridgestone Tuggeranong
• There are so many opportunities for students, especially in the senior years, to go out and experience what it is like to be in the working environment. School Based Apprenticeships are also a great way for students to trial different career options and find what they like (and even maybe what they don’t like) before they leave to go into the workplace or into further study.
  Students can reach out to Ms Livia Tigwell at any time to chat about options.

Year 8 Sporting Achievements:

We love celebrating school related things with our students, but it is just as important to celebrate the wins they have outside of school. The below information demonstrates the resilience, commitment and dedication our students put into their passion areas after their big days of learning and growing at school. Congratulations and shout out to the following students for the following achievements:

Adelynn Dobry - Represented ACT in wrestling at Nationals three times. Three Time Gold Medal holder
Mya Sherwood - Won Gold in the Riverina Karate Championships
Mini McBeth – Made the ACT team for Nationals for Shotput. Rising Star Award for Div1 Volleyball. Currently attending try outs for ACT Volleyball
Maite Perez Fuentes – Player of the Match after winning Soccer Grand Final. Made it into National Premier League
Khadija Mustansir – Represented ACT in Soccer
Sadie Souverain – Selected for ACT Basketball Team
Celeste Fitzpatrick – TNA Netball Div 1 and Div 2
Lachlan Lomas – Player of the Match after winning his Grand Final in Rugby League
Bella Huntly – Encouragement Award for Rugby League
Shyla Kowalick – Spirit Award in Netball
Clara Wilson – Coaches Award for Netball
Lucia Proctor – Players Player and Captain of Oztag Team
Atelea Veamatahau – Won League Grand Final
Levi Martin-Edmond - Won League Grand Final
Colby Smyth - Won League Grand Final
Mal Bowen - Won League Grand Final
Jordy Ward-Rowley - Won League Grand Final
Logan Shelmerdine - Won League Grand Final
Stirling Britton – Won Basketball Grand Final
Delaney Garland – Progressing in her Figure Skating skils
Isla Osborne – Started Figure Skating Journey
Zoe Briggs – Competing in League Tag and Netball
Grace Lewis – Swims approx. 50km a few times a week

I have no doubt there are more people to celebrate. So, to anyone and everyone who is extending themselves outside of school hours to be better athletes and/or gain more knowledge and understanding via further studies, thank you for putting the hours into making a better future for yourself!

Did someone say 'Raffle'?

Hi CCS Community, 

The Christmas Raffle is now live. There are an incredible 18 prizes on offer this year! With a total prize pool of $2500! We have never had such a big raffle!

Tickets start at $5 each and go up from there. Price packs are available for multiple ticket purchases, the more you buy the more you can save.

The efforts of this years fundraising team have been enormous and we would like to thank them as well as the donations from the sponsors listed on the attached. Please see our Facebook page for the full list of sponsors.

Hard copy flyers will be going home with all students this week, you can use the QR code to purchase tickets. Tickets are on sale in both the ACT and NSW.

https://www.rafflelink.com.au/...

Thank you for the support throughout the year! And Good Luck!

Spotlight on Staff - Jacob ‘Jay’ Reid, Learning Support Assistant

How long have you worked at CCS?  

I worked for 7 years on the JC, and am currently on the SC wrapping up my 8th year!

 What do you enjoy about working with children/ young people?

There’s never a dull moment! Every single day is different, and watching students grow and find their voice over the years has been extremely rewarding.

Describe your work in education in three words.

Supporting, Connecting, Entertaining.

 What are your strengths?

I pride myself on my patience and ability to understand the slang teenagers are using 80% of the time. 

What are you passionate about?

Watching too many movies, listening to too much music, producing music, producing videos, trying new recipes, professional wrestling, and my 11 year old greyhound Kath.

 What is something people don’t know about you?

I’m a huge film and music nerd, and I'm obsessed with hip-hop and 70’s cinema. I can probably tell you more than you ever wanted to know about either!

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