from the headmaster mr gareth leechman 14final2014.pdf · from the headmaster mr gareth leechman...

ARNDELL ANGLICAN COLLEGE ADVOCATE NEWSLETTER 2014 118-124 Wolseley Road, OAKVILLE NSW 2765 P. 02 4572 3633

From the Headmaster Mr Gareth Leechman

I am pleased to share with you two exciting changes that we will be introducing into the College in 2015. It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that Mr Austin

Robinson has accepted the position as Head of Middle School (Years 7 – 9). Austin is well known to us all and has served the College in a variety of middle management roles, most recently as the Head of Greenway House. Austin will stay as Head of Greenway until the end of this year and will start a gradual transition into his new role, moving into the role fulltime from the 1st of January 2015. We look forward to seeing what Austin will bring to this role.

Our second exciting change is in the area of mathematics in our high school. Mr Graham Smith will be taking the lead on introducing a gifted and talent program along with teaching classes, oversight of numeracy support and generating extension programs. This is an exciting development for the College and one we will all clearly benefit from.

With Graham moving into his new specialist role we have appointed a new Head of Mathematics, Miss Jennifer Turnbull. Jennifer has an extensive history in the teaching and leading of Mathematics. She is currently employed at Abbostleigh School for Girls as Head of Statistical Analysis, a role which requires her to analyse NAPLAN, HSC and other educational data in a way which helps identify areas where educational improvement can occur. Prior to fulfilling this current role Jennifer successfully led the Mathematics Department at Abbotsleigh for several years. Before moving to Abbotsleigh Jennifer was Head of Mathematics at Meriden for almost a

decade, a role which enabled her to under-take significant change and development.

Jennifer holds two Master Degrees, one in Education and one in the Arts where she majored in pure mathematics. She has actively taught students of a variety of academic ability and has a passion for the teaching of mathematics. This has led her to be actively involved in the mathematical world including; presenting at Association of Independent Schools Professional Development courses, membership and leadership in the Mathematical Association of NSW and HSC marking and setting.

Jennifer is a woman of active Christian faith and is involved in the work of the Ebenezer Uniting Church, where she currently leads the Sunday School program. She has been an active participant in the Christian programs offered at Meriden and Abbotsleigh and sees this as an essential part of her role. Her local links are extensive and her desire to move here is to come back and serve a community that has given her so much. We look forward to what she will bring to the College as she continues the good work that Graham and his team commenced some six or so years ago.

Enrolment demand continues to be very strong for 2015, but some vacancies still exist in all year groups. The Year 7 enrolment for 2015 will be capped at 140 students. Currently there are only four places available, so if you or friends are still planning on enrolling a student into the college for Year 7 entry you will need to act quickly as these places will not be available much longer.

The Advocate Newsletter

Term 3 | Issue 14 | September 2014


From the Head of Junior School Rev Keith Peterson

In the last ‘Advocate’ I asked whether it might sometimes be right to ask the big questions like, ‘Why are we here day by day? And what is primary

education actually for?

I’d like to keep on trying to explore these BIG questions just a little bit further today and maybe have a go at adding just a bit more scaffolding around the Junior School’s AIMS, priorities and practice.

So then - What is it we really want our children learning, knowing and doing?

• Exploring, knowing, understanding and making sense: We want to enable our children to encounter the amazing wealth of human experience. We want them to become lifelong ‘learning explorers,’ having reference both to their own culture and to an open-ended process of amazement, challenge and curiosity, which joins up to the magic of childhood wonder. We want our children to each find a real personal commitment to discovery, invention, experiment, possibility…

• Fostering skill: To develop our children’s skills in key areas such as oracy and literacy; mathematics, science, information technology and the creative and performing arts, BUT also to ally practical skills to knowledge through access to problem-solving, invention and activities like Circle Time; activities inwardly and outwardly designed to support and grow emotional and social intelligence.

• Exciting the imagination: I’ve always loved Einstein’s quote that ‘Imagination is better than knowledge’ – and one of our primary aims is to

excite our children’s imaginations so that they can begin to do all those wonderful things that only the imagination can do – contemplate worlds possible as well as actual; develop the capacity for empathy; fly high on the endlessly opening possibilities of creativity.

• Learning the importance, and practice, of dialogue: To help our children grasp that learning is an interactive process and that understanding builds best in partnership between teacher and student, as well as among students working collaboratively (such as in the Junior School’s Literacy Connections Science Program). In this way children are able to gather an increasing sense of self-responsibility, and independence, for what and how they learn.

• Encouraging respect and reciprocity: To promote a real, living, respect for self, for peers, and adults, for other generations, for diversity and difference, for ideas and values and for the deeply valuable recognition of those habits of willing courtesy that just do add such quality to community life. To ensure that respect is mutual: between adult and child as well as between child and adult.

• Celebrating culture and community: To establish the Junior School, within the whole community of Arndell Anglican College P-12, as a connected community – inwardly connected to a missional vision of caring, faith and shared meaning and - outwardly connected to the community of the Hawkesbury as a thriving communal and community site in a relationship of deep and authentic reciprocity.


Book Week Parade

Books are great!


What’s happening in Before and After School Care? Miss Jade

Throughout September and October we will be having a few special days at Afterschool Care to help raise funds for the Smith’s Family Back to School Appeal. We believe that all children should experience a positive school education and through this appeal we will help those who have the disadvantage of such experiences. Each week we will be doing something fun and exciting that requires only a simple gold coin donation, these activities are: Term 3

• Monday, 1st of September: Teddy Bear Picnic • Tuesday, 9th of September: Movie Extravaganza • Monday, 15th of September: Loom Bands Mayhem • Friday, 19th of September: Pyjama Party

Term 4

• Wednesday, 8th of October: Loom Bands Mayhem • Monday, 13th of October: Trivia Quiz • Tuesday, 28th of October – ‘Scary’ Monsters Party

If you aren’t already registered on these days you can book your child in for one or all of these special days as an adhoc booking by contacting Camp Australia on 1300 105 343. If your child hasn’t been to Before or Afterschool Care before one of these days might be a great way of introducing them to our program. Also don’t forget with Parent / Teacher Interviews coming up on the 10th and 11th of September you can do an adhoc booking for your student/s to come to Afterschool Care until you have finished your appointment. We are open until 6 pm each school day.


Kindy’s Observatory Excursion

Photos by Mrs Jessica Rogers

On the excursion we looked at the weather. Steiger

At the Observatory we measured the wind. Riannon

At the Observatory it was sunny and cloudy. Thomas

We measured the wind direction. Nicole

We measured the wind speed. Ruby

On the excursion I measured the temperature. Cooper

On the excursion I played a hot and cold game. Jaiden

I had lots of fun at the Observatory. Lorina

On the excursion I looked at the cannon in the park. Lachlan

We had lunch in the park near the Observatory. Ryan


Junior School Science Exhibition


French Dinner and Cinema Night Krista Bourne Yr 12

On Tuesday the 26th of August the French department held a film evening and farewelled our French exchange students, Nathan and Alexandra. French elective students from years 9-12 enjoyed dinner together and viewed the French film comedy, Neuilly Sa Mere.

Alex treated us to a beautiful pre-dinner piano performance and we presented Nathan and Alex with parting gifts, including keepsakes to remember their time in Australia. It has been a wonderful experience getting to know our ‘Frenchies’ and they will be missed greatly. Thank you to the host families, the Wouters and Holmans, who have opened their homes to Nathan and Alex.

We shared a typical French meal of quiche, salad, bread and cheese and for dessert, profiteroles! A Big thank you to Mrs. Webb and Miss Anderson for preparing a meal and evening that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Nathan and Alex


HSC Music Evening

Thank you Ben, Alana, Theo, Jessica and Oscar for your brilliant recital on Wednesday. We we treated to a vibrant evening of talented performances. We wish each of you the very best is your HSC examination this week. Special thanks to accompanying musicians Tony Merrick, James Walsh, Michael Rohanek, Cameron Lees, Chris Wilson and Daniel Sakoulis.


More Arndell Anglican College Equestrian Carnival Photos

Photos by Danny Mayson-Kinder PhotographyP


Summer Uniform Mrs Elizabeth Moore

Summer uniform changeover is after each Father’s Day. Students are required to wear summer uniform from Monday 8th September.

HSC Study Days in the October School Holidays

A number of HSC Teachers are offering HSC Study and Revision sessions in the upcoming October Holidays. The following has been organised:

SUBJECT DATE OF SESSION TIME AND LOCATION TEACHER

PDHPE Wednesday 24th September 10am – 3pm Mears 7 Mr. Peter Gordon

French Beginners Wednesday 24th September 9am-12pm Mears 8 Miss. Debra Anderson

French Continuers Wednesday 24th September 9am-12pm Mears 6 Mrs. Angela Webb

Geography Friday 26th September 9:30am-3pm Mears 8 Mrs. Amy Woodward

Modern History Wednesday 1st October 9am-3pm Laffin 1 Mr. Leighton Corr

Modern History Thursday 2nd October 9am-3pm Laffin 3 Mr. Ian Finn

Society and Culture Friday 3rd October 9:30am-3pm Mears 8 Mrs. Amy Woodward

Legal Studies Friday 3rd October 9am-12pm Mears 1 Mrs. Jennifer Barter

Business Studies Friday 3rd October 1pm – 4pm Mears 1 Mrs. Jennifer Barter

Ancient History Tuesday 7th October (Week 1 of Term 4)

11am – 3pm Laffin 2 Dr. Sam Jackson

Extension History

Wednesday October 8th (Week 1 of Term 4) Friday October 31st (Week 4 of Term 4)

10am-1pm Laffin 2 12pm-3pm Laffin 2

Dr. Sam Jackson


Last week in the Media


Jospeh and the Amazing Technicolour Coat Tickets on Sale


School Holiday Camp


Term Dates 2015 Term 1 (10 Weeks) – 48 days . Tuesday 27th January: Term 1 Commences for Prep, KG, Yrs 7, 11 and Yr 12. Wednesday 28 January All other students commence Thursday 2 April: Term 1 Finishes Friday 3 April Good Friday Monday 6 April Easter Monday Term 2 (9 Weeks) – 44 days . Monday 20 April: Term 2 Commences Saturday 25 April ANZAC Day Monday 8th June Queens Birthday Weekend Friday 19 June: Term 2 Finishes Term 3 (10 weeks) – 49 days . Monday 13 July Staff Professional Day Tuesday 14 July: Term 3 Commences Friday 18 September: Term 3 Finishes Term 4 (9 weeks) – 44 days . Monday 5 October Long Weekend Tuesday 6 October Term 4 Commences Tuesday 1 December Infants Presentation Afternoon Wednesday 2 December Primary School Presentation Evening Thursday 3 December Students last day for 2015 Senior School Presentation Evening


Term Dates 2014

Friday 19th September Term 3 finishes Tuesday 7th October Term 4 commences Thursday 4th December Students last day for 2014

College Contacts

Headmaster: Mr Gareth Leechman Deputy Head / Head of Senior School: Mr James Webb Head of Junior School: Rev Keith Peterson Director of Curriculum and Policy: Mrs Karen Merrick Director of Teaching and Learning: Mr Jim Milford Director of Staff and Student Welfare: Business Manager: Equestrian

Mrs Lynn Gillen Mrs Jodie Woods Miss Kristen Bailey [email protected]

Uniform Shop:

Mrs Liz Moore – 4572 3254

Tues/Thurs: 8.20am - 11am & 2.30pm – 4pm Before and After School Care:

Camp Australia – 1300 105 343 (for bookings) www.campaustralia.com.au Before School Care from 6.45am – 8.45am After School Care 2.45pm – 6pm 0401 904 531

P & F President:

Mrs Alannah Norman – 0404 033 994 [email protected]

Canteen: Monday – Friday - 4545 2486 (Recess / Lunch)

Advocate Newsletter [email protected]

Website: www.arndell.nsw.edu.au

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/arndellanglicancollege

To keep up to date with the latest college events and activities

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=10Ddojt86cLZXM&tbnid=q8FnjPIKEqYt4M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.clipartbest.com/summer-vacation-clip-art&ei=JctmU72PO8n7kgWiqYHQBw&bvm=bv.65788261,d.dGc&psig=AFQjCNEfGcwuLD50JZs4K8S3YwtkYqjPVg&ust=1399331964548742

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.campaustralia.com.au/



http://www.arndell.nsw.edu.au/


http://www.faebook.com/arndellanglicancollege

from the headmaster mr gareth leechman 14final2014.pdf · from the headmaster mr gareth leechman...

Documents