From the Principal...

As a man who grew up in South Africa I was very interested to watch the recent ODI Cricket series between Australia and South Africa. It was not only the result that held my attention but some of the accompanying clashes and resultant behavior we saw.

A very unpleasant verbal clash between two of the players resulted again in them both being fined 25 percent of their match fee for conduct contrary to the spirit of the game. For those who follow cricket, you will realise this is not an unusual or isolated event. The reputations within the game is that South Africa, Australia and England are the greatest culprits when it comes to sledging. The clash itself was not unusual but I did ponder the response from the teams. There appeared to be very little sense of remorse reported in the media and comments like ‘we will keep coming hard at them, we won’t back down’ were reported. This morning I read another report of another Nick Kyrgios incident. I reflected also on the doping scandal that still continues in the AFL and certainly the cloud that hung over the Olympics.

I love sport and I always have. I value tremendously what my children can gain from participation in sport. I do however find it ironic that we still hold up sportsmen and women as role models in society. The excellent aspects of sportsmanship that we value so much are today often sadly lacking in professional sport. We can, of course, not judge all by those who from time to time let themselves and others down in their approach, but it does give us opportunity to evaluate and remember what we really value. I desire to see my children be competitive and give of their best but most of all I wish to see them demonstrating respect, care and compassion. I want to see them grow up with the ability to win with grace and to lose with dignity. I want them to develop teamwork skills and not be inwardly focused.

I wonder in later years what many sportsmen will want to be remembered for? Perhaps the answer lies in whom we encourage our children to look up to and to emulate. Perhaps it is we who need to teach our children to hold dear and admire the values we value and not to be too easily led into and enticed by victory and achievement gained at the expense of those values. Maybe we need to be deliberate in teaching them that who they are and become is far more important than what they will win or achieve.

Primary School News

From the Head of Primary...

Welcome back and I trust you were able to spend some quality time with your children over the break. Term 4 is typically very busy and can be likened to a ‘sprint finish’. Listed below are some of the key events for this term:

• Pre-Primary Ace Excursion (Week 2)
• Extra-Curricular programs commence (Week 2)
• Year 3 Hyogo Excursion (Week 3)
• Year 5 Scitech Excursion (Week 3)
• Year 4 Redhill Excursion (Week 4)
• Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Orientations (Week 4)
• Inter-school Track and Field carnivals (Week 5)
• Primary Recital Evening (Week 5)
• Years 1 to 3 Dance Showcase (Week 6)
• Years 1 to 3 Swimming Lessons commence (Week 7)
• Years 1 to 5 Final Awards Assembly (Week 8)
• Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Pre-Primary Celebration (Week 9)
• Year 6 Graduation (Week 9)

Details of these events will be communicated to you during the course of the term. Specific dates and times can be found on the College website.

Class Placement and Teachers
As the 2016 year comes to completion, decisions regarding teacher and student placement for the following year are made. The placement of students in the classes is a complex process, taking into account the academic and social needs of our students, to ensure that individual circumstance is best catered for. Changes can occur all the way up to and including January with both students and teachers.

With this in mind I would like to inform you that class placements and teacher allocations will be communicated to you via email in the week prior to the 2017 school year commencing - similar in process to this year.  Please note this does not apply to Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes, as details regarding 2017 will be released during the relevant orientation days.

​Stuart Harris
Head of Primary School

Secondary School News

From the Head of Secondary...

I always see Term 4 as the decisive term. It's the last opportunity for students to improve their marks, be challenged with the examination period and the requirement to complete a variety of projects and tasks. This term is also the last opportunity for you to be able achieve the goals you have set out for yourself earlier in the year. Just like the AFL Grand Final the fourth quarter is where we saw the hard work of the Western Bulldogs pay off on the scoreboard. My hope for our students is that the effort you have put in across the first three terms allows you to be successful in achieving your goals and overcome any of the obstacles in your way. 

Term 4 is packed with events and in the first weeks we say goodbye and good luck to our Year 12 students as they celebrate the completion of Year 12 at the College with the Graduation Assembly and a valedictory evening. 

We will soon be starting interviews with our current Year 6 students joining us in the Secondary School in 2017. I am looking forward to meeting with each of the students and their families. 

Jordan Smith
Head of Secondary School

Ever Considered Becoming a Teacher?

Teaching is a true calling – a career dedicated to serving others. Teaching is mostly joyous and at times challenging, but it is always meaningful.

Applications are now open for our Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Master of Teaching (Primary) degrees.

Our small class sizes and low staff - student ratio ensure a nurturing learning environment where students are known by name, not lost in the crowd.

To secure your position visit www.scea.institute or call 9274 6411 for more information.

Student Services

Student Services Team
Mrs Lorraine Wheeler, Mrs Lyndsey Turner and Mrs Joanna de Grauw (Student Services team) can be contacted on:

• Email: ellenbrookss@scea.wa.edu.au 
• Phone: 08 9297 9230

Canteen National Bandanna Day | Friday 28 October
Every day, 63 young people will have their world torn apart by a cancer diagnosis. The College has decided to support National Bandanna Day this year. Bandannas will be sold during recess and lunch by Student Leaders at a cost of $4.00 each. Students will be permitted to wear their Bandanna to school on Friday 28 October. Your support is greatly appreciated.

​Lost property 
If your child has lost an item of uniform, please check the lost property box located in Student Services. Items left in the box at the end of term will be disposed of.

Absent or Late 
If your child is unwell or arriving late, please contact us through our:

• voicemail service on (08) 9297 9292; or
• the absentee email, eccabsentees@scea.wa.edu.au; or
• our new text service number, 0416 905 250. 

Late Arrivals/Early Departures
Please remember that students who arrive late to school must be signed in by a parent (Primary) or sign themselves in (Secondary) at Student Services.

An early departure slip must be obtained from Student Services prior to you collecting your child early from school. If your child is being picked up for an appointment 
during school hours, to avoid delays, we ask that you notify us in advance by email, text or a phone call. If someone else is collecting your child for any reason, their details must be sent by text, or emailed through to Student Services, by a parent listed on the enrolment documents.

Reminder
If you need to visit the College during the day, to drop off lunch, or forgotten equipment for your child, please do so via Student Services. For the safety of all students, we do not allow visitors to wander through the College during the day.

Bike Helmets
There are an increasing number of students riding to the College who are not wearing a bike helmet. It is compulsory in Western Australia that all cyclists wear an approved helmet while riding. For more information on this, and other cycling road rules, please visit the Road Safety Commission website at: https://rsc.wa.gov.au/Topics/Cycling

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