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• NAIDOC celebrations
• School Council
• Staying connected with our community
• Safety on campus
• Weekend sport

This year, due to Covid-19, we are celebrating NAIDOC Week differently. The Prep School have enjoyed a wonderful week with our boys from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 having time with Olman and Rickeeta Walley and tomorrow morning the assembly features a talk from one of our Senior School Indigenous boys who will share the stories behind the creation of the beautiful mural he and other Indigenous boys painted especially for NAIDOC celebrations. If you would like to watch the live streaming of the Preparatory School Assembly tomorrow morning please follow this link. The Senior School celebration of NAIDOC Week will occur in Week 5 with interviews, videos and an assembly on Thursday 20 August.

On Tuesday night the School Council held the August meeting. We are incredibly fortunate with the composition of our Council. The spread of professions and skill base combined with the diversity and even number of males and females serves us well. The Strategic Plan 2021 to 2025 was discussed as we are entering the final stages of its development and preparing to launch it at the beginning of 2021.

In any normal year, I would be travelling locally and nationally, hosting events as we stay connected with current, past and prospective families and old boys. But in a time when many elements of business and life are being challenged we know that the next normal may look very different as new ways of connecting and coming together are carried over into the future. This week we are considering our options to connect with communities outside of Perth in a safe way, and I am approaching the planning with caution. Relationships and social connection are so important and perhaps even more so for people who may have recently experienced working from home, loss of employment, isolation and other changes thrust upon us by the pandemic. Regardless, we will continue to demonstrate care and interest for our community via online channels, virtual events and safe visits. I feel for families who have been split by Covid-19 and also for a few of our international students who have not been able to return to Perth. I am pleased that all these students have been able to enrol in an international school and are looking forward to returning to Christ Church when the borders re-open.

It is imperative that the School is a secure and safe environment for students, staff and visitors. On a regular basis the School initiates lockdown and emergency evacuation drills to test our procedures and the boys’ understanding of what they should do in each scenario. The most recent test, earlier this term, produced one update to the procedure which we have actioned, are communicating to the boys this week and will continue to do so on a regular basis to ensure everyone knows the best, safest and fastest way to respond in an emergency.

With limited amount of community sport and with the live streaming of the PSA Football, we are seeing a larger than normal number of spectators turning up on a Saturday to watch our students in action. Thank you to the parents, students and old boys for the positive manner in which you continue to support our students on game day. Here are some photos from recent matches.

Alan Jones
Principal

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• Covid safe practises
• 2021 Prefect applications
• Arrival and departures from campus
• Upcoming events

The week that’s been

In these ever changing times, it is important that we continue to adhere to Covid safe practises. It is frightening to watch what our east coast counterparts are currently enduring. I thank you for your continued support of the School, by observing our requests to keep your son at home if they are sick, seek Covid testing if symptoms are shown and adhering to good hygiene practice.

2021 Prefect applications

All our boys are constantly presented with opportunities to develop important leadership skills and at times, given the chance to apply for various formal positions. Today I spoke with the Year 11 cohort about their opportunity to apply for the positions of House and School Prefects. The process of Prefect applications begins today and our Year 11s are encouraged to work with their Heads of House as they complete their applications.

School and House Prefects for 2021 are appointed in Term 4, where they will begin their duties and are assigned particular leadership portfolios. Over the course of Year 12 they work alongside assigned staff mentors implementing new initiatives and growing as young leaders. I wish all Year 11 applicants well as they participate in this process.

Safe arrival/departure on campus

I ask you to remind your son about personal safety should they ride to school. It is important that the boys dismount and walk their bikes onto campus and pay attention to their surroundings.

Upcoming events

• House Arts Grand Final – Thursday 6 August
• 2021 Prefect applications open – Thursday 6 August
• Wolsey House Anglicare Sleep Out – Friday 7 August
• Year 7 Parent/Teacher Evening – Monday 10 August
• Senior School Parent Forum | Managing Device Usage – Tuesday 11 August
• Senior School photographs – Thursday 13 August
• NAIDOC Week (Senior School) at Christ Church – 17 to 21 August
• Amor Fati presented by The Midnite Youth Theatre Company – 19 to 22 August. Tickets available here.
• Year 12 photographs – Thursday 27 August
• Year 12 School Ball – Saturday 29 August

 

Simon Angus
Deputy Principal
Head of Senior School

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• Gratitude in the Prep School
• NAIDOC Week
• Talk for Write program
• Student Voice
• BGM Awards

‘Showing Gratitude’

Gratitude was celebrated in the Preparatory School last week with a big surprise for all the staff. Not only were all teachers presented with ‘Thank you’ cards from the boys that were written in their Health and Wellbeing classes, but all teachers were honoured with a standing ovation and a walk into Chapel through a guard of honour created from all Year 5 and 6 boys. It was a simple and powerful way for the boys to express gratitude toward all the teachers and staff for all their hard work and dedication to learning at Christ Church.

NAIDOC Week

This week all the boys in the Preparatory School have been taking part in NAIDOC Week. Starting Monday, we welcomed Olman and Rickeeta Walley to the Preparatory School. Throughout the week classes across Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 have been involved in a range of activities and workshops culminating in a NAIDOC Week assembly this Friday. All our families are welcome to attend and take part in this wonderful celebration. If you would like to watch the live streaming of the Preparatory School Assembly tomorrow morning please follow this link.

Talk for Write: Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten

This year we have introduced our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten boys to the ‘Talk for Write’ program and it has been immensely pleasing to observe the development of the oral language and narrative skills of the boys. This has been made evident through our cold and hot tasks in which we record and assess each boy and their ability to tell a story.

At the beginning of our first unit, the cold task assessment reflected early language conventions, a beginning repertoire of language and the initial stages of telling a story in a logical and sequential manner. The structured approach and the element of movement within the ‘Talk for Write’ program specifically supports boys in their learning. The program has notably enhanced the boys’ ability to internalise language structures and build upon their syntactic knowledge.

Good quality writing is the product of having sound oral language skills and a comprehensive understanding of the language structures. Through using this language-based program within the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes, boys will be well prepared when their time comes to put pencil to paper.

Student Voice

This year our boys across Years 3 to 6 were provided a student diary with a dedicated section for their learning reflection. In 2020 our focus on writing includes taking time each day to enter a short reflection. Here is a powerful reflection about ‘Fairness’ written by George Vijayasekaran (5SM):

“Being fair means to be equal. The world isn’t always fair. Sometimes you’re not fair with your friends, you might not even be fair with yourself. Being fair is a huge part of life. If you are fair, it means you are a kind and considerate person. Being fair doesn’t just mean including people in your game, sometimes you need to ease up on yourself.”

Congratulations to this week’s BGM Award winners.

Enjoy the week!

Dr Steven Males
Head of Preparatory School