No Images? Click here From the Principal...Our schools spend a lot of time and effort to engage positively with parents. Whether it be through parent evenings, information nights, groups like Liaison Parents or by means of newsletters, emails, apps, Google Classrooms, Weebly and Parent Lounge. We also try to engage through community building activities and volunteering opportunities. All these activities are part of the greater picture of developing strong communities. The sense of belonging and commitment to a common cause, the betterment of our children is an obvious advantage, but there is even more gain to be had. Research shows that parent engagement in their children’s education has a marked impact on improving levels of educational success. In its simplest form, it would be fair to say that parental attitude towards education has the potential to mould the attitude of the child. Valuing education and success at school (according to each person’s ability) will make far more likely that the students will value this too. Engagement can look very different for each person. It can be the overt discussions about the day, week or terms performance or the subtler attitudes we teach our children about the value of hard work and dedication. It can be in the way we teach our children to persevere and to take pride in efforts that are reflective of their ability. The ‘craftsman’ analogy is one that I have used regularly. Simple completion of the reams of work over years is not the goal, to expand the mind, to grow in understanding and challenge one’s intellect to explore new heights is what skilled teachers seek. As a school and as parents if we work together to foster the approach that leads our students to seek to draft, plan, improve and enhance their final product, whatever that may be, the possibilities are endless. So what can we do?
Engage with the school and the teachers to work in cooperation for the good of your child. It is a privilege for us to work with you. River Rangers | Acts of ServiceI want to congratulate our River Rangers on the great work they have been doing across the Primary School. They have led the way with great acts of service, assisting the early learners to clean up their veggie patch and they have also developed their own garden area in the Bike Rack area. Click here to read more about what the River Rangers are doing through our website.
Justin Krause Primary School NewsFrom the Head of Primary...This year we are again partnering with Edith Cowan University (Mount Lawley) to provide professional practice placements for trainee teachers. We have two final year Bachelor of Education and three one year Graduate Diploma students. Each of the ECU students will be visiting their classrooms for one day a week throughout the rest of this term, followed by a ten week block for Bachelor students and a four week block for Diploma students during Term 2. Our trainee teachers are as follows:
Hosting trainee teachers benefits our staff as they reflect upon their own professional practice whilst providing quality feedback to others and extra support in the classroom is always welcome. Our New Playground has Arrived!Thanks again to the ECC Fundraising Committee for their contribution to the new playground and thanks also to all of our parents who contributed to fundraising activities last year. The play equipment is an excellent facility and is already a popular addition to our existing play areas and sporting resources. Stuart Harris WACSSA Cricket CarnivalOn Friday 17 April students from Years 4 to 6 competed in the WACSSA Cricket Carnival at Ron Jose Oval. Both the girls and boys teams showed excellent sportsmanship and encouragement of their teammates, with the girls winning Division 1 for the fourth consecutive year, and the boys finishing 4th in Division 1. The boys showed great persistence and determination in a nail-biting last over of their final match, where some great bowling and fielding resulted in three wickets, bringing ECC back to within one run. Congratulations to all the students who were involved in the day. Justina Smyth Year 4 | Kings Park TourOn Tuesday 14 March Year 4 students and teachers enjoyed a day of hands-on learning at Kings Park. The "From Firesticks to Fireworks" tour by education officers taught us about many Noongar words and customs. We got to wear kangaroo skin, hold boomerangs, dress up in explorer costumes, collect leaves and sticks and walk the 'tree tops'. Our sticks became 'journals of learning' as we wrapped different coloured wool around to symbolise elements of nature, adding the special leaves and gumnuts we had collected on our journey. In the afternoon, we met around the boab tree for a self-guided tour, which finished at the war memorial cenotaph. Here we searched for our surnames on the memorial war and reflected on the meaning of "we shall remember them."Below are a few quotes from our students about the day:
Ben Royce and Jenelle Palli Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten | Family PicnicOn Thursday 9 March, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten families came together for a fun and enjoyable afternoon picnic. Students were very excited by the presence of a huge bouncy castle and eagerly climbed on whilst parents settled in for some quality conversations and relationship building time. It was so wonderful to see so many different families engaging in and developing new and existing relationships within the school community as well as having a blast with their children with the various
activities provided. Helen Dunjey, Thiona Dicks and Melissa Dawson Years 4 to 6 | Primary Inter-House Swimming CarnivalOn Monday 13 March we had our first combined Primary Swimming Carnival with students in Year 4 to 6 from Ellenbrook Christian College and Beechboro Christian School competing in various races across the day. The morning started with 25m races, followed by 50m freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly races. After a break for lunch, students then participated in a range of games such as the ping pong relay, water basketball, water polo, boat race, noodle race and rope rescue. Congratulations to all the students who
participated and braved the few downpours of rain that we had! Year 4 Girls Champion | Phoebe Le Count Boys
Year 5 Girls Boys Year 6 Girls Champion | Brianna Gale Boys Champion | Evan Smith Overall House Points 1st | Garlett on 224 Katie Clayton and Justina Smyth Harmony Day 2017On March 17 Ellenbrook Christian College Primary students celebrated Harmony Day, a day which has been set aside for all Australians to celebrate our cultural diversity. It is also the United Nations Day for the elimination of racial discrimination. The Australian curriculum also outlines the importance of our students becoming “responsible local and global citizens, equipped through education for living and working together in an interconnected world.” The school was a sea of colour as many students wore orange or their national dress. During French language periods students participated in many activities, such as discussions, games and class surveys. We discovered some unique celebrations, like Greek “name days”, played a French schoolyard game Les Morelles (hopscotch) and we shared recipes for some tasty dishes such as sinigang na baboy, a pork ribs sour soup eaten by students from the Philippines. One of our Year 6 students made a surprise tray full of spring rolls for the students. Merci et miam miam! Australia’s cultural diversity and respect for one another is one of this country’s greatest strengths. We read in the Bible in the book of Psalms that where there is harmony, or unity, God commands a blessing, and we are indeed a blessed country. Sylvia Richardson Before School Tennis ClubThis term students in Years 1 to 6 have enjoyed before school tennis coaching on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Students have had a great time learning how to improve their forehand, backhand and volley shots, as well as their serving. The lessons have been provided by The Vines Tennis Academy, who are offering a 50% off voucher for ECC students in Term 2, at the tennis academy. Please see the community events section for details. Enrolment forms can be picked up from Student Services. Secondary School News From the Head of Secondary...Procrastination is a big word and it can have a big impact on your learning. Procrastination can be defined as the action of delaying or postponing something. From a student’s perspective, this is often putting off completing an assignment until the night before it is due, or putting off study so you must “cram” the morning of a test or examination. Procrastination often leads to greater pressure and stress in the future because you haven’t completed the work you should have within the allotted time. Below are five tips to help you avoid procrastination, so you can take control of your school work and in turn give yourself the best possible chance to achieve your personal excellence.
If you are struggling with procrastination, maybe try some of these tips. If that doesn’t work, you may need to apply the famous Nike slogan...
Jordan Smith GRIP Leadership ConferenceOn Thursday 9 March, the Year 12 Leadership team had the opportunity to attend the GRIP Leadership Conference at the Perth Convention Centre. The Leadership Conference was an interactive way of learning about the key components of making a successful team. Skills included: knowing your strengths, having a clear realistic goal and making a detailed plan that will help you achieve your goal. Other sessions throughout the day included: thinking outside the box, gaining support from your peers and putting ideas into action. All the speakers throughout the conference were very interactive, which left little time for wandering minds and created a friendly environment to learn some new skills! Alissa David ACC Inter-School Swimming CarnivalOn Monday 13 March, the Ellenbrook Christian College Swimming team headed to Challenge Stadium to compete in the ACC competition. The students had been working hard in the lead up to the event by participating in before school swimming practices and also a practice event at La Salle College prior to the carnival. We were able to fill every race this year which is a credit to the commitment of the team and it was a real highlight seeing all the students supporting each other throughout the day. Please see below for outstanding individual awards. Male U/13 1st place champion boy: Finley O'Neill Female U/13 3rd place champion girl: Ella Morphew Female U/14 3rd place champion girl: Elizabeth David Female U/15 3rd place champion girl: Carla Da Silva Female Open 1st place champion girl: Ebony White John Taylor Bushranger Cadets are off to CampThe Bushranger Cadets are busily planning for their first major activity for the year. They are off to Lane Poole Reserve where they will be climbing trees (with harnesses and helmets of course), hiking about 10km with full packs, sleeping in tents, cooking their own food and canoeing down the Murray River. They are also learning about first aid and enjoying the environment with minimal impact. Bushrangers meet Thursdays after school in J1. New members are always welcome. If you would like to be a Bushranger Cadet. Please see the College website and join us each Thursday. Year 7 AQWA ExcursionWhat group does this belong to? This was a common question heard on the Year 7 excursion to AQWA and the Western Australian Reptile Park last Friday. We all know about Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish. These are all animals with backbones, Vertebrates. The Invertebrates are a bit more of a mystery. The Year 7 students were charged with the challenge of finding as many different examples as they could, one from each Vertebrate class and each Invertebrate Phylum. We discovered Molluscs (including the Gloomy Octopus), Cniderians (jellyfish and corals) and we even got to feel the spiny skin of an Echinoderm (starfish) and the sandpaper-like scales of a Chondrichthyes (ray) in the touch pool. Sea Dragons are fish but they look more like plants. Jellyfish belong to Cnideria because they have a hollow gut and stinging cells. Getting up close and personal in the touch tank. A Seahorse is actually a fish too . In the afternoon we headed off to the Western Australian Reptile Park where we learnt how to tell a legless lizard from a snake and how to treat a snake bite. Those who wanted to, were able to wear a python as a scarf and pat a bobtail. Their scales were smooth and not at all slimy. Kerry Martin Community EventsUpcoming Meeting RemindersCollege Committee Open Parent Meeting Year 10 Parent Information Evening This year's Bennett Springs Fair is on Saturday 1 April from This family fun packed day is not something you want to miss, with performances, Science experiments, rides, a petting zoo, food and community market stalls to browse. The Vines Tennis AcademyComing Soon | Sean W SmithSean W Smith is one of the top Christian songwriters for children today. Using cutting edge music, life experience and a unique ability to connect with children and adults alike, Sean speaks powerfully into the hearts of Primary school students to help them discover their God given destiny. Saturday Games, Family Friendly and training locally ALL GAMES ASHFIELD RESERVE, BASSENDEAN Register online at Click on “Register Now” or CALL JODIE on 0427 198 667 for more Information. * U6s are Kindy (turning 5 this year) and Pre-Primary. The University of Notre Dame AustraliaMEDICINE INFORMATION SESSIONStudents interested in studying Medicine at Notre Dame are invited to attend a Medicine Information Session. Learn about the Doctor of Medicine, Pre-Medicine Certificate, the application process, and hear from current Medicine students about their experience. Sunday 26 March, 10:45am start for an 11:00am presentation Drill Hall (ND25), corner of Croke and Mouat Street, Fremantle To register, visit www.nd.edu.au or contact the Prospective Students Office to speak to someone on 9433 0533. Ellenbrook Police Station Public Open DayThe Ellenbrook Police Station, provides quality Policing Services to the Local Community and works in partnership with community groups and other Government Departments to resolve local policing problems. Community members are invited to inspect the station and to engage with staff and a variety of other WA Police business areas at a public open day is to be held on: Sunday 30 April between 10:00am and 2:00pm at Ellenbrook Police Station EventsSignificant events that occur throughout the year at the College can be found on the events page on our website. CalendarThe College calendar is updated regularly. You are encouraged to use this resource to keep yourself up-to-date with school functions, excursions, incursions, after school programs and anything else that your child may be involved in. |