Before anyone else could see the impact of technology on education, in the sixties Professor Seymour Papert could see its potential for new ways to learn and enhancing creativity. In 1996 he famously said “learning is hard fun”. Learning sticks when we wrestle with a problem, when we seek to find that elusive solution that we know is there. There are times when learning is just fun, and other times when it is “hard fun”.

It is the culture at NBCS to give opportunities for our students to wrestle with problems and provide them with tools and resources, but helping them to take ownership of their learning. This process reminds me of a story recently shared at staff devotions. It illustrates the profound significance of allowing the struggle to take its course.

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole. Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go any further. With noble intentions the man decided to help the butterfly.

He took a pair of scissors and carefully snipped off the remaining bits of the cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shrivelled wings.The man continued to watch it, expecting that at any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body. Neither happened. The butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling. It was never able to fly.

The man later learnt that the struggle through the restricted cocoon was a way of forcing fluid from the body into the wings so that it was ready for flight.

Sometimes in our kindness and haste we want to fast-track a process, especially when it comes to learning at school. Overcoming obstacles is an essential part of life. Just as the emerging butterfly needed to go through the process, all of us are better and stronger when we face an obstacle and develop the strength and strategy to overcome it. Allowing the struggle is a necessary part of the journey of learning and growth. We all desire to see our children emerge and fly.

Our students gain important skills for life when they are provided with the opportunity to be independent learners. This is achieved through allowing them to see learning as “hard fun”.

Mr Stephen Harris
Principal

PHOTO CREDIT: CHRIS O’DONOGHUE

Our goal is for all of our students to be highly engaged in their learning, to build their skills, to be challenged and to grow their confidence in all subjects.

At NBCS teachers strive to implement best practice. Whilst we have a structured lesson plan, our teachers continually assess and respond to student needs and progress.

In a typical Mathematics lesson, for example, using a variety of learning spaces, students

• participate in small group, teacher directed workshops
• respond to questions and scenarios, via online textbooks
• use a variety of strategies to practise their application of Mathematics
• are supported  as teachers move throughout the learning space working with individuals and groups

We are excited to see student confidence building as they develop their skills and understanding.

Mr Mark Liddell
Mathematics Learning Leader

Permission notes for the upcoming Student Opportunity Week in Secondary were due in at the end of last week.

Forms can be downloaded from the Student Opportunity Website and should be delivered to Student Reception as soon as possible.

Student Opportunity Week will be held in Week 9 of this term: Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 March 2014.

For those who may have missed it last week, NBCS was featured in a highly positive news story last Wednesday on Channel Ten’s Eyewitness News. The main focus was on our approach to learning in The Zone (Years 5-6) and in Rhythm and Blues (music studio).

Video of the segment can be viewed on the Channel Ten website: tenplay.com.au/news/sydney/2014/2/20/a-different-approach

For anyone in our community who would like to follow day-to-day progress of construction for Project Barcelona, we have created an Instagram account specifically for that purpose: @ProjectBarcelona

Many parents are curious about technology and learning. We are hoping to dispel some of the mystery, provide answers to your questions and to engage parents in an informative workshop at our Term 1 Empowering Parents event - ‘Technology and Learning’.

When: Monday 10 March, 7:30-8:30pm in the SCIL Building

To find out more and to register please complete this form. We recommend you register early as spaces are limited.

Any parent wishing to participate in activities at the school must first attend a Parent Involvement Training Workshop. Workshops last for approximately 45 minutes and cover WHS issues, privacy legislation, Child Protection legislation and working with staff. All required forms will be distributed on the night.

Upcoming dates:

• Monday 10 March at 6:30pm

Period of Accreditation

We would like to clarify that training needs to be completed every 5 years, not 3 as previously communicated. Parents who completed accreditation prior to 2010 need to be re-accredited this year. Any parent who has been accredited since that time does not need to attend the workshop. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.

Thinking about joining the band? Tried out an instrument last year but haven’t joined yet? It’s not too late!

If you would like to be part of the Training Band, Concert Band, Wind Orchestra or String Ensemble, please fill out an Extra-curricular form and return it to the School Office as soon as possible.

Private tuition on both orchestral and ‘rock band’ ensembles (drums, guitar, bass, vocals, keyboard) also available through the school.

Please contact Dani Cosford for details: dcosford@nbcs.nsw.edu.au

The Year 9/10 Leadership class is keen to be involved in supporting the GO Programs this year and to that end are collecting ribbons to make some special gifts for children in Cambodia, Uganda and Rwanda. If you have any ribbons you are able to donate to this cause it would be greatly appreciated. Ribbons can be left at Student Reception.

We are pleased to be hosting a series of study skills and time management seminars prepared by Elevate Education for our Year 11 and Year 12 Students.

These seminars will take place at NBCS on Wednesday 5 March during normal lesson time.

About Elevate:

Over the last 12 years Elevate’s quest has been to unlock the secret to the final years of school: Why do the top students get the top marks? Having carried out an exhaustive process of benchmarking the study habits of thousands of past students, we have identified a number of areas where the practices of the top students differ from average or lower performing students. It is our belief and experience that any student can improve their marks by tapping into, replicating and using these study skills and techniques.

This simple yet incredibly powerful approach has seen Elevate’s award winning programmes adopted in 600 schools across Australia and shared with 75,000 students annually. Elevate Education is a past winner of the Nescafé Big Break Awards in 2002 and publisher of “Science of Student Success”, a study guide that has sold over 10,000 copies and takes readers into the minds of the top students.

A one-off order of Cotton/Polyester Jumpers will be placed at the end of February for delivery end of March. These jumpers are identical to the standard woollen ones available from the Uniform Shop, including the ‘NBCS’ embroidery. They are primarily for students who suffer from eczema and skin allergies, however any student may choose to wear one. These jumpers will cost $70. If you would like to place an order, please do so in person at the Uniform Shop, by email to uniformshop@nbcs.nsw.edu.au or fax (02 9450 0601) including student's name, year, size required, and credit card details for payment. All orders need to be received by the Uniform Shop by Thursday 27 February, 2014.

Stress Management Skills for the HSC

The HSC is a difficult time for many students. Some Year 11 and Year 12 students may already be stressed and want to get on top of this. Other students may want to be proactive and manage their stress before it becomes overwhelming. Others may want to learn more about themselves, overcome procrastination, develop a study routine or manage perfectionism. There are a range of well researched cognitive and behavioural strategies that can help students to manage their stress.

Mr Malcolm Smith, a Provisional Psychologist, and former HSC Ancient History Teacher with 20 years of experience in preparing students for the HSC, is available Wednesdays and Thursdays at NBCS to offer students skills to combat stress. These skills can be presented to small groups or individuals. If you would like your student to participate in a small group or benefit from individual sessions, please contact Mr Tim Harding by email to tharding@nbcs.nsw.edu.au or via the School Office.

Mrs Anne Jobson
School Counsellor