From the Principal...

The value of collaboration and teachers spending time together in professional learning and professional conversation cannot be underestimated. We plan within our schools to always have such opportunities such as weekly staff meetings and Professional Learning Team meetings, as well as expectations and opportunities of common planning times. A fortnight ago, we had the fantastic opportunity of sending all our academic staff to the Better Education Conference. Being my first experience of a SCEA conference I had not consciously realised the great opportunity that lay ahead of us. Unlike in most instances, where one or two senior staff members might attend a conference and then share their learning, we had the unique opportunity for all to attend and hear the same motivating messages. The excitement and level of professional conversation following the conference was inspiring to hear. One of the many key messages that came out of the conference that you as parents are likely to hear, is talk about the “Wobble Zone”.

James Nottingham, the Key Speaker, used this colloquial term to describe the environment of optimal learning. Without over simplifying, he basically shared the message that we as teachers should endeavor to ensure that through deep knowledge of our students through targeted assessment, we move all students beyond their comfortable zone in their learning. We need to regularly ensure that we are taking them into that space where they feel challenged and where struggle; setbacks, reflection, reattempting and ultimately growth are commonplace. He spoke of the importance of educating the students that easy is boring and that challenge is interesting. So if you hear the terms bandied about by teachers or children this is what they mean.  As a parent, you too can play a role. When you are talking to your child about their homework, their assignments encourage them to attempt the challenges above that which they comfortably accomplish with little effort. The level of growth is far more important than final result, because the final result will always be subject to individual abilities. We may not all have the ability to attain straight A’s but each child has the ability to learn and to grow and that growth is what is key to achieving personal excellence.

I would like to congratulate the ECC Girls Senior Soccer team for their strong performance across the term and on making the finals being held next week. I commend all the other teams that have worked hard across the term and committed themselves to strong sportsmanship and continued improvement. I express my thanks and admiration to all who have been involved in the co-curricular program, it is a delight to see such a high level of involvement from our students.

​Justin Krause
Principal

Primary School News

From the Head of Primary...

Semester Reports
As this semester draws to a close, it is nearly time for you to receive the first of two reports for this year. The Semester 1 report is a ‘progress report’ designed to inform you of how your child is currently preforming against Western Australian Curriculum achievement criteria. Final (summative) results of student performance can only be made once they have completed an academic year. Grades published in this semester’s report are indicative of expected academic performance based upon data collected to date.

Primary will be joining Secondary in emailing reports to parents rather than distribute a hard copy. Parents of students in Pre-Primary to Year 2, who participate in the College’s Learning Support Program, will receive an additional printed report for this area. Golf and Peripatetic Music reports will also be received as a printed report and will be sent home with students as in previous years.

Further information in regard to reporting will be emailed to parents during the last week of this term.

College Fundraising Committee
The College Fundraising Committee is now in operation. Committee Chair, Mrs Amanda Roscoe, has created a Gmail account for parents to provide any fundraising ideas. The contact email is eccfundraisingcommittee@gmail.com.

Mr Smith and I have met with Mrs Amanda Roscoe and Mrs Jaelithe Nelson, Committee Secretary, for preliminary discussions on the types of fundraising we could engage with and where funds raised could be spent. From a Primary perspective we are planning on fundraising for new play equipment and we will rely upon the Year 12 Leadership Team to develop a plan for Secondary.

Stuart Harris
Head of Primary School

The Buddy Program

Term 2 has seen the introduction of a Buddy program between the Year 5 and Pre-Primary students and the Year 6 and Year 1 students. The Year 1 students enjoy reading and talking to their older buddies, whilst the Pre-Primary students work on a special ‘Buddy book’ with their Year 5 buddy. This term all students have also worked on establishing relationships and getting to know each other’s favourite things. This type of program helps to contribute to a positive and caring environment.

Both the younger and older students enjoy these sessions immensely and look forward to spending time with their buddy each week.

Helen Dunjey
Head of Early Learning

WACSSA Soccer Carnival

Congratulations to all the Year 6 Soccer players who recently competed in the WACSSA Soccer Carnival. They worked extremely hard in the rain, and only lost one game all day. This carnival was the largest WACSSA carnival of the year so far, with 15 schools in attendance. ECC finished third in our group after beating Regent College for the second time during the day.

Our team should be very proud of their achievement.

Year 6 | Visits from the Constitution Centre

This term, students in Year 6 have been learning about the three levels of government and the Houses of Parliament. They have also participated in a number of incursions from the Constitution Centre throughout the term. 

Our first incursion focused on the difference and similarities between rules and laws. 
Students were engaged through fun activities that explore the reasons why rules and laws are important. They participated in a role play to develop their understanding and completed small group quizzes.

The second incursion was ‘Making Laws’. This visit identified the role and responsibilities of the three levels of government including shared roles. Students participated in a series of interactive activities to reinforce their knowledge of these three levels. Making laws saw students participate in a role playing scenario, which helped them to understand the passage of a bill. 

The next incursion allowed students to understand the importance of Magna Carta. Students investigated the place of Magna Carta on democracy and rights today, along with some of the interesting facts of feudal times. Students also participate in collaborative group work to investigate why and how Federation occurred.             

These incursions have assisted in developing students understanding of the government and how it operates. This should be a great spring board to our Term 3 Sydney and Canberra Trip! 

Secondary School News

From the Head of Secondary...

With examination periods coming to an end and with reports soon to be posted. We are at the half way point of the school year. This provides us with a time to stop, think and reflect on what has worked well for us during Semester 1 and to refocus and redefine our personal goals for Semester 2.

An important part of each child’s learning journey is reflection and being able to critically analyse what has made them be successful.

• Was the success due to putting aside a dedicated study time each week?
• Was it due to working on assignments well in advance to due dates?
• Was it due to you ensuring you stayed focused during the class you find a little more difficult?
• Was it because you had a clear goal and objective?

It is one thing to receive a good mark and be happy with that, but another thing to dive deeper and work out why you were able to attain such a mark. The reasons why are usually different for each individual. There is not a one size fits all approach for attaining your personal academic best. Our teachers are here to help and assist each child in finding out what it is that “works for them”; however for each of our Secondary students, it is up to them to be reflective and identify what works. It is then that students will make the most from the learning experiences on offer at the College and be on a pathway for continued improvement and learning.

For our Year 11 and 12 students, I would like to flag a number of opportunities to undertake external ATAR revision and preparation courses, some information on these can be found in this newsletter. I would strongly encourage students to attend the courses they feel would be advantageous to provide them with the greatest opportunity to achieve their personal best. Feedback from students who have attended such courses in the past indicates to me it is both time and money well invested.

Jordan Smith
Head of Secondary School

ATAR Revision Courses

Click here to access the information from regarding the ATAR revision courses offered at Guildford Grammar. 

Years 10, 11 and 12 | University Information Sessions

University is just one pathway that students can take following their Secondary schooling. We encourage parents and students to explore the many opportunities available by visiting the different university websites and/or Facebook pages. Many of the Universities have Open Days or information sessions over the next few months and these may assist your child in finding their pathway following Secondary School. 

Edith Cowan University Information

Click on the links below to visit ECU's future students page and other information pages on their website.

• Future Students
• Events

Curtin University Information

Click on the links below to visit Curtin Universities future students page and other information pages on their website.

• Future Students
• Non-School Leavers
• School Leavers
• Parents

Murdoch University Information Sessions

Click on the links below to download information on upcoming information sessions at Murdoch University.

• A Morning of Science
• Engineering IT Careers Evening
• Law Business Politics Careers Evening

University of Western Australia Information

Click on the link below to visit UWA's future students page on their website.

• Future Students

Student Services

From the Dean of Students...

When it comes to student attendance and educational outcomes, every day counts.
In 2013, The University of Western Australia (Telethon Institute for Child Health Research) studied the relationship between attendance at school and student outcomes.  The study found a strong link between regular and consistent attendance, established in early years of schooling, and those patterns continuing throughout a student’s educational career.

Alarmingly, in the study, the average academic achievement on NAPLAN tests declined with any absence from school and continued to decline as absence rates increased. The effects of absence do accumulate over time, often creating wide educational gaps, hindering students from meeting educational outcomes.

As parents, it is important to be aware of these relationships, and understand that when your child misses school it can have an ongoing impact on their learning.

On a similar note, it is important that students regularly arrive to school, and class, on time.  Research tells us that being half an hour late to school each day from Year 1 to 10 is equivalent to missing one year of schooling.

The following table illustrates the impact that regularly missing school, can have on a students’ education:

If you have any questions please contact me at the College.

Michael Bolan
Dean of Students K-12

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

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

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 text, or emailed through to Student Services, by a parent listed on the enrolment.

Excursion Permission
Permission for excursions must be completed by following the link that has been sent out to parents in an email, prior to the day of the excursion. Any student who does not have a completed form will not be able to attend the excursion. If you have any problems accessing a permission link that has been sent, please contact Student Services.

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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