The past few weeks Gawura teachers have been asking their students about the things that make them sing, what indigenous nation they are from and the goals they would like to achieve this year. Not only is this part of the Personal Learning Plan that teachers conduct at various times throughout the year but it is also part of our display for International Year of Indigenous Languages. This display can now be viewed in the entrance hallway into Gawura. The students were so excited reading about their own information and that of their peers as well. Please take time to read your child’s display the next time you come into Gawura.

We have also booked our first cultural excursion for the year to take place on Monday 25 March. We will be cruising Sydney Harbour with Tribal Warrior including a traditional cultural performance that will take place on Clarke Island. Notes, an email and a text were sent home about this last week. We have a total of 51 students at SACS who identify as ATSI origin and this excursion is for all ATSI students from K-12. Many parents have already requested to attend and there is room for one or two more – just let me know if you are able to make it.

Finally I would like to invite you all to the next Parent Teacher & Personal Lesson Plan Interview which will take place for all Gawura students on Thursday 4 April between 1-5pm. We will also hold our GPAC Meeting between 2-3pm on the same day.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Have a wonderful and safe fortnight ahead.

Mr John Ralph
Head of Gawura

Premier's Reading Challenge 2019

Congratulations to the following students who have completed their challenge:

Audrey Linnett, Theodore Miles, Arthur Eidel, Ilia Campbell and Grace Patching.

For more information and the booklists visit the PRC website https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html

*If you attended a different school and completed the PRC there, please come and see me so I can request that your records be merged.  Otherwise this will be your first PRC year.  This is especially important if you are eligible for your gold or platinum certificates this year and if you are looking at earning your Premier’s medal.

Book Draw

Finished the PRC for 2019?
Well don’t stop reading!

The JS & Gawura library has a new challenge for you.  Pick up an entry form, read any ten books, complete the entry form and return it to Mrs Paul for your chance to win a book of your choice.  There’s 1 draw this term in week 10 and you can enter as many times as you’d like.
So, the more you read the more chances you have of winning!
What are you waiting for?

Parent / Teacher Challenge 2019

Come on teachers and parents, grab a book and read alongside your child/ren and complete the Parent / Teacher Challenge this year.

Congratulations to our first incredible reading role model:

Miss O’Malley.

Requirements for completion:

Read any 6 titles (in any language). Email me spaul@sacs.nsw.edu.au the titles and I’ll add you to our wall of wonderful reading role models.

“Reading never wears me out.” – Olivia, Ian Falconer

Library Monitors & SRC

We inducted the SRC & Library Monitors for 2019 in an assembly on Friday 8 March.
We challenged them to lead by example, to motivate and hear others and to complete their obligations with a sense of pride and honour.

We welcome them to both the leadership team and the library team for 2019.

Svetlana Paul
Information and Digital Literacy Coordinator JS and GS

Paul Kelly Cup

On Tuesday 12 March SACS Junior School and Gawura School students participated in the annual AFL Paul Kelly Cup. This is a statewide AFL knockout competition where the best teams meet in a final played on the Sydney Cricket ground. SACS entered two boys teams and one girls team. Our results were mixed throughout the day with our teams winning two games against Newtown Public School and Moriah College and losing two games against Annandale Public School and the eventual winners Cranbrook College.

All teams had a wonderful day and the team spirit and sportsmanship that occurred throughout the event was outstanding. The boys team who had the final game rostered off all went over to cheer on the girls team who were playing their first ever games of AFL. Our co education at SACS is a true asset to everyone.

Eva and Thea from Year 6 both received invitations to attend the Future Stars Program associated with the Sydney Swans. Congratulations girls and to everyone who participated - well done!

John Ralph
Head of Gawura

ASISSA Swimming

The ASISSA swimming carnival was held on Monday 11 March at Warringah Aquatic Centre. We had a strong team of swimmers head there to represent the school, with 26 students entered into 50 different events for the day. Congratulations to all involved, particularly those students who’ve qualified for the CIS Swimming Carnival – Alison Ahn, Reina Shi, Antonia Sarcasmo, Hayla Wilkinson, Nikolai Ivakhov and Junseong Nam.

Tony Dunseath
Coordinator of Sport and Cocurricular K-6

Kindergarten and Year 1 Excursion

On Friday, Kindy and Year 1 went to the see "The Gruffalo". We caught the bus to the Seymour Centre. We went in and had lunch. After we got to play a little. After that we went into the theatre! My favourite character was the mouse! We also went to a park called Victoria Park. We had Afternoon Tea there. I found a tree to look at and I was playing with my friend Aadya.

– Vanessa Yang 1V

2019 Leadership Team

On Monday 11 March the Junior and Gawura School leaders had the opportunity to attend the National Leader Day 2019 at the ICC Darling Harbour. We were lucky enough to hear from four presenters across the day who spoke about leadership qualities and how to overcome difficult situations. We were all inspired by the speakers and can’t wait to put some of their tips into action.  Personally my favourite speaker was Holly Sterling who is a women’s cricket player, she spoke about the importance of leading the way for the younger students and inspiring others. By Orlando Lennon House Captain St Paul's.

Claire Linnett
JS Teacher & Leaders Co-ordinator

Resilience by Judy Willis

Judy Willis is an American medical doctor who has researched Neuroscience and links into how this can have positive affects in education. I have had the privilege of hearing her speak. Her work has influenced my great interest in Neuroscience. In this excellent article, “Resilience”, Judy has defined it as:

“Resilience in learning, as in life, is the capacity to persevere through setbacks, take on challenges, and even risk making mistakes to reach a goal.”

I love the part where Judy writes that even making mistakes still can move us forward towards our goals. I like to think that in education we see that as an important step. She calls it Failing Forward.

“When you provide opportunities for students to experience mistakes as an expected part of the process of learning or trying something new, you build their resilience to setbacks and mistakes. You can share your own mistakes, encourage open discussions of their past "whoppers" and guide them to recognize that mistakes are really part of learning. For example, "If you don't make mistakes, it means you already knew it, so you aren't building your knowledge or skill." The goal is for your students to develop the competence, optimism, and understanding to persevere and progress from mistakes to goal-achievement.”

Judy suggests some simple strategies to help children “fail forward.”

1. When students make mistakes, explain that these are not failures. They are opportunities for brain building that will bridge them to future successes.
2. When your students make errors, encourage them to correct them with revisions. Explain that: "When you correct an error you make, your brain builds new wiring to guide you to make a better choice the next time and the next."
3. Invite them to share their past "whopper" mistakes and recognize they lived through them and can see them with the perspective of time and even humour now. Students are more likely to remember, understand, and be able to apply what they learn to future applications when they connect with personal relevance, discovery, and build skill and understanding with perseverance.

I love the influence of a positive mindset that Judy has infused into this article as well. She has raised some great points and as teachers and parents we can use these ideas effectively I believe.

Joy Rohrlach
Stage 3 Leader

Bullying: No Way!

“We can be upstanders” has been the phrase that you could hear through the Junior School and Gawura this week.  Students have been encouraged to not be mere bystanders if they see bullying or unkind behaviour but rather to be upstanders.  Students have learnt to be a buddy, interrupt, speak out and tell someone if they see bullying happening.  Our year 6 students also helped to create a post it note wall on the rooftop by interviewing younger students about their ideas on what bullying is and how students could help to make St Andrew’s Cathedral School a great place for everyone.  Classroom lessons, books and activities reinforced these themes.  Maybe you have seen the pocket information card or the arm band come home with your child?  Why not ask your child about these and what they learnt about being an upstander. That could be a great conversation to have this weekend!

Bronwyn Wake
JS and GS School Counsellor and Well Being Coordinator

Dear Parents.

We are starting our 2020 Gawura Kindy Enrolment process by marketing for new applicants.

We would like to ensure that all siblings of our current Gawura students have the opportunity to apply, so that they can be considered for enrolment. Hence, if you do have children who are Kindy age 2020, please ensure you have sent an application form to me by the end of May.

Application forms can be found at https://gawura.nsw.edu.au/our-school/enrolment-application/ or email me at bperry@sacs.nsw.edu.au. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you need any advice or help.

Regards. 

Bruce Perry                                                                                                          Registrar/Mathematics Teacher

Wednesday and Friday Appointments Available.

I would like to advise you that we have secured the services of a very generous doctor in the city who is willing to see our Gawura students and their families free of charge (he will bulk bill through Medicare) if the need arises. Dr Shuo (Shore) Zhao is located at Level 1, 70 Pitt St, Sydney. You can book an appointment with him on any Wednesday and Friday morning between 8am – 12pm.The number of the practice is 02 9233 3399.

We understand that many parents already have their own doctor that they use, possibly even through the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) in Redfern but this is just another option for you to use if you choose to do so and one that is located in the city, near our school.

Gawura Cocktail Evening Fundraiser – Friday 22 March

Please come and celebrate the International Year of Indigenous languages and the life changing work that happens in our Gawura classrooms every day.

Join us at our 2019 Gawura Cocktail Party and help us raise funds for this important educational work.

Bring your friends, bring your colleagues or bring a group of parents from your child’s class. Enjoy the music, the company, the fun and we will even teach you some Wiradjuri language.

It’s a great way to get involved in the important work of Gawura.

• Where: L’Aqua, Roof Top Level Cockle Bay Wharf
• When: Friday 22 March: 6pm – 9pm
• Cost: $120 per head

For further information please contact Catherine Gunning, cgunning@sacs.nsw.edu.au or 9009 5465

Fiddler on the Roof - Thursday 4 April - Saturday 6 April

The 2019 Musical of Fiddler on the Roof will be performed at NIDA on April 4, 5 and 6. The cast members have been rehearsing for months and are ready to put on an amazing show.

Come along and see our talented Secondary School students sing, dance, act and perform for you.

Based on Sholem Aleichem stories by special permission of Arnold Perl
Book by  JOSEPH STEIN  Music by JERRY BOCK  Lyrics by SHELDON HARNICK
Produced on the New York Stage by Harold Prince Original New York Stage Production Directed and Choreographed by JEROME ROBBINS
Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.

Thank you to our Sponsors for Fiddler on the Roof

• Pascoe Whittle Chartered Accountants
• The Pottery Shed
• Geosynthetics Australia
• The Inner Shine Clinic
• The Stitz Family
• John & Mary Canning
• Darcy Luff
• The Overton Family
• M & P Rohde

Junior School and Gawura Grandparents' Day - Friday 7 June

We welcome the grandparents of our students and seek to embrace them and give thanks for them as key members of our student’s families. Please save the date.

We hope you can come!

More details about this event are coming soon.

Autumn Code Camp on Sale

It’s that time again! Camps are officially on sale and if parents book before Sunday 10 March they will recieve our $20 ‘Early Bird’ discount.

Upcoming dates at St Andrew's:

April 16-18 (Week 1) and April 23,24,26 (Week 2, not 25th due to ANZAC).

Join Camp Australia. It’s FREE to Register!

Did you know that it is free to register an account with us at Camp Australia? That’s right, FREE! What are you waiting for? Head to pp.campaustralia.com.au/account/login and click ‘Register here’ to get started!

Why it is important to Register:
It is important to supply us with all the below information when registering as the safety of your child is by far the most important pillar in what we do every day. That way, if you ever need us, you are set up and ready to go and we can care for your child and ensure their safety.

1. Your details and emergency contact details – In the unlikely chance of an emergency we need to have the correct contact on file.
2. Details about your child, including allergies or medical conditions - To ensure we are prepared in case your child has any allergies or medical conditions.
3. Your CRN (Customer Reference Number) from the Family Assistance Office* - If eligible, you may be entitled to receive the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy.
4. Payment method - To complete your registration, we require your preferred payment option. Don’t be alarmed you will not be charged when registering.

We are currently running our First Session Free promotion, this means that after you finish your FREE Registration your child will be able to attend their first session free of charge. You will only be charged from your second booking onwards.

Program Details
Find out more about our program, fees and to register, visit http://www.campaustralia.com.au and search for your school. Or you can contact our friendly Customer Care Team on 1300 105 343. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - except for National Public Holidays.

We look forward to seeing you and your family soon!
From the Team at Camp Australia