A fresh term provides new opportunities, and that has always been the case at NBCS. As the school quickly settled into the new term, I have enjoyed catching up with many students, and enjoyed the opportunity for many conversations with parents and wider family members at the Primary Athletics Carnival last week.

I would like to quickly share some topics heard or read in recent weeks, both well worth following through further by accessing the following links.

The first was a fascinating piece on recent research in Australia suggesting that 7 out of 10 adolescents are sleep deprived as a result of late night social media before sleep. Dr Seton made a simple suggestion very much in line with our previous advice to parents: create a technology-stops-now time at least 40 minutes before bed.

Fear of missing out sparks sleep crisis (9 News)

Health Dimensions: Adolescent Sleep (ABC)

On an entirely separate topic – but highly relevant as well –the following article from the UK highlights the key reason why schools and the wider community must look to change our education strategies moving forward. The rapid disruption to our economic and career models brought about by ever-changing new technologies, will mean that almost 50% of existing jobs will most likely not exist by the time our current kindergarten students graduate from university (notionally in two decades: 2034). That’s a very sobering thought. The education scenario that seems to pervade the background model to the perception of schooling of many adults (probably paused somewhere in the mid 1980s) is very out of place in a world of such rapid change. This is a topic which will lead further community reflection.

47% Of All Jobs Will Be Automated By 2034 (Huffington Post)

If people are really interested, here is the full academic paper:

The Future Of Employment: How Susceptible Are jobs To Computerisation? (Oxford Martin School)

Finally, a brief comment on some outstanding opportunities for some of our senior students during this recent student vacation. One of our NBCS School Captains, Alec Green, and one of our  NBCS Student Ambassadors, Daniel Clarke, were selected to represent NSW school students at a reception for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Sydney Opera House on the first day of the recent Royal Visit. Daniel and Alec had a prolonged conversation with the Duchess of Cambridge in particular. Daniel was also able to present a copy of Tears in the Jungle (the book co-authored with his brother William) for Prince George. Images from the official photographer can be accessed via the Tears In The Jungle website.

Daniel and William Clarke also ably represented NBCS at the Pittwater RSL Anzac Day Dawn Service. They had the opportunity to catch up with local Pittwater MP, Mr Robert Stokes, the new NSW Minister for the Environment (pictured).

Mr Stephen Harris
Principal

Parents have the opportunity to purchase the popular Entertainment Books via the school, with $14 from each purchase supporting our GO Programs in Cambodia, Uganda and Rwanda.

Books were distributed to all Primary families last week. These Books need to be either paid for or returned by Friday 9 May.

This year you have a choice – to purchase the Entertainment Book, or the brand new Entertainment Digital Membership, which puts the value of the Entertainment Book into your iPhone or Android smartphone.

Link: Order form

If Primary families would like to purchase the Digital Membership instead of the physical book, please return the Book your child brought home in the envelope provided clearly marked with your child’s name and class, and purchase your Digital Membership via the link above.

If you have any questions, please contact Jo Rombouts on jrombouts@nbcs.nsw.edu.au or via the School Office on 02 9450 1311.

Entertainment Books offer tremendous value for cafes, restaurants and entertainment for the family. Thank you for your support for this initiative – the contribution to the GO Program makes a huge difference and is a great annual fixture on the fundraising calendar.

On Thursday this week, the Secondary Student Leadership Team will be running the annual Mothers’ Day Stall for Primary in the MPC. The purpose of the stall is to raise funds to support the on-the-ground work of NBCS GO programs to Cambodia, Uganda and Rwanda. We would like to raise as much money as possible to benefit those communities. Money raised does not go towards the teams’ airfares or other expenses.

The stall will be running on Thursday 8 May 2014. Each Primary class will be escorted to the stall, where they may select and pay for a gift.

We will be selling new gifts up to the value of $20. If your child would like to participate, please ensure they bring their money on the day. Please note that we will not be accepting or selling donated items this year.

We appreciate your support of this NBCS GO Program fundraiser.

Assessment Booklets are published at the beginning of each year with a detailed schedule of assessment tasks for Secondary students across the entire year. These schedules are prepared to be as accurate as possible, however changes are occasionally required as the year unfolds.

A ‘live’ Google Spreadsheet has been created as an always up-to-date master version of the schedule for each grade, and is amended as required throughout the year. We recommend parents and students bookmark this page for easy reference.

Link: Live Assessment Overview

Information for different year groups can be accessed via the tabs along the bottom of the document. The link is also available via the Secondary Learn website on the Grade Information pages, and as a link from the Download Centre on the NBCS Website.

It is expected that access to this live overview document will enable students to improve their time management, and also assist parents in supporting their child.

Warringah Council are hosting a free workshop for parents and supervisors of learner drivers at the Council Building in Dee Why on Thursday 15 May, 6:30-8:30pm.

The 2-hour course, Helping Leaders Drivers Become Safer Drivers, will offer hands-on advice on how to provide the most effective driving practise for learner drivers.

The course will cover topics such as:

• New laws for learner and P-Plate drivers
• How to use the "Learner driver log book"
• How to plan on-road driving lessons

Bookings are essential and can be made by calling Peter Wright from Warringah Council on 9942 2447or email: roadsafety@warringah.nsw.gov.au

For more information, go to the event website. For further resources and information on road safety, go to the Warringah Council Road Safety website.

This week’s Parenting Ideas information sheets:

• A mother like no other
• Helping students get ready for NAPLAN

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).