Each year, NBCS highlights student learning with our annual Showcase, where students present their work and lead us through their learning journey. Showcase 2014 will be held on Monday 25 August 2014, 4-7pm at NBCS. Showcase is open to the school community and beyond.

Throughout the afternoon and evening we have a diverse program including music and drama performances, cooking demonstrations, volleyball coaching on our Olympic-standard court, interactive installations, photography exhibitions, Shakespearean soliloquies and much more.

Students from all years will be on hand to host tours of their learning spaces and tell you about their work and learning, including HSC works.

We hope you will be able to join us on the night. More details will be provided as the event approaches.

Term 3 will see the application process commence for the 2015 GO Teams to Rwanda and Uganda. Students who will be in Year 11 in 2015 (current Year 10 students) are invited to apply for either program. Students in Year 12 in 2015 (current Year 11 students) may apply for the GO Rwanda program. Applications for GO Cambodia 2015 will occur later in the year, after the 2014 trip takes place in the September holidays.

If you have any questions please email Mr Tim Barrett: tbarrett@nbcs.nsw.edu.au

Information Timeline:

Thursday 31 July (Week 2)
Year 10/11 student information meeting
Held during the ExEd assembly. Expression of interest forms were distributed.

Monday 11 August (Week 4)
Parent Information Night at 7pm in the SCIL Building
Both programs will offer a short presentation followed by a question and answer time. Students will then be given an official application form.

Monday 18 August (Week 5)
Student application forms due

Weeks 6-8
Student Interviews

Week 9
GO Rwanda and GO Uganda 2015 teams announced

Pipeline is our community newsletter for Primary parents and students, sharing stories from across the Primary grades and Preschool classes – created especially to celebrate and share the journey of learning. Since launching last year, we have sent Pipeline as a fortnightly email to Primary parents (alongside Wavelength), and it has been well received.

This term, we are looking to take Pipeline to the next level, to better serve the community as we tell the story of Primary in an engaging way. We also realise that parents receive many emails from the school, and where possible, we would like to reduce the number of emails sent. As such, we are making Pipeline a print publication, with a new magazine-style layout, published twice per term. The first edition for Term 3 is due to come out on Wednesday Week 5, and will be distributed for students to bring home.

We trust that the new format will allow parents to browse content more naturally, and allow space to include more extensive photo galleries and reports. It will also allow for greater clarity regarding the role and purpose of each publication at NBCS. Wavelength will continue to be sent weekly on Mondays, and remains the key source of weekly news and information about upcoming events. We will also be including more stories from across the school.

If you would like to share your thoughts on this change, please feel free to contact us via return email: nbcscommunicate@nbcs.nsw.edu.au

Topic: 123 Magic – Parenting and Emotion Coaching
Presenter: Angharad Candlin BSc (Hons), Grad Dip M, MA
Date: Tuesday 19 August, 6:30-7:45pm
Location: SCIL Building at NBCS

Infants Dance Ensemble

The Infants Dance Ensemble is for students in Years 1-3 who would like to learn the skills involved in dance and performing as a group. The Ensemble is led by Michele van Niekerk, an experienced choreographer and performer, with extensive experience in professional music videos as well as appearing on the TV show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. Michele also has a Certificate III in Performing Arts from Brent Street Performing Arts School.

The Infants Dance Ensemble takes place on Tuesday afternoons, 3:15-4:15pm, and is available to all students in Years 1-3.

There are still limited spots available for this semester (Terms 3-4). If you would like your child to be involved, please contact Adriaan Mees in the School Office via email: amees@nbcs.nsw.edu.au

Upcoming Performance Dates

Concert & Training Band performing at Primary CIA
Friday 22 August (Week 5)

Band Tour to Blue Mountains (Wind Orchestra & Vocal Ensemble)
Thursday 28 – Friday 29th August (Week 6)

Big Night In 2014
Tuesday 16 September, 6pm (Week 9)
Featuring the NBCS Wind Orchestra, Senior Vocal Ensemble, Concert Band, and Senior Rock Bands

Last week, our new Student Chaplains and a selection of students from the Senior Student Leadership Team attended a leadership conference with 500 other students from around NSW. The full day ‘Masterclass’ encouraged leadership from a biblical perspective, helping the students to see how they could use their gifts for God at school, and as they plan their future.

The event was organised by Bible Society NSW, with speakers including John Dickson, author and academic from The Centre For Public Christianity, and author Dr Patricia Weerakoon. The speakers took students on a journey through the Christian life, looking at topics such as ‘can we trust the gospels?’, ‘knowing your worth’ and ‘who am I?’

The feedback from students was that it was informative, and extremely encouraging to connect with so many other young people who had a heart to lead, serve and make a difference.

In Semester 1 this year, 21 students from Year 7 and 8 took part in the Stage 4 Leadership Development program. The program allows students who are just starting Secondary the opportunity to develop leadership skills, and put those skills into action. Some highlights have included reading John C. Maxwell’s book ‘Leading from the lockers’, running activities for the wider Stage 4 cohort during Student Team time, welcoming on the front gate, serving Primary lunchtime groups, and attending leadership meetings, luncheons and seminars. The group looks forward to more opportunities in Semester 2.

There is space in the program for new members to join. If any student is interested they should see Mr Irvine at school or contact him via email: sirvine@nbcs.nsw.edu.au

This week’s Parenting Ideas information sheet:

• Raising Space Cadets

In association with our Empowering Parent Seminars, we have been providing additional weekly parent information sheets to support NBCS parents. Some information will be more relevant to Primary than Secondary and vice versa. This is to support families within our school community covering all age groups.

If you would like an information sheet on a specific topic sent via Wavelength, please contact Mrs Anne Jobson via the School Office (9450 1311).