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• The Students’ Scholarship
• Boarding Week
• Transition activities
• Class numbers

The past week has been incredibly successful with the ongoing fundraising for The Students’ Scholarship. This initiative really demonstrates to the boys the concept of philanthropy and how rewarding to know that they have gifted a boy the experience of a wonderful education at Christ Church. A great initiative for the boys, by the boys. If you would like to help the boys achieve their goal, please go here.

We are very lucky as a community to have boarders on campus, and this week schools around the country acknowledged and celebrated Boarding Week. Our boarding staff work exceptionally hard to provide a home away from home for our rural and international students. We know it isn’t easy for families to send students to boarding school, but the experience is like no other and the boys end their Christ Church journey not only with academic success but skills that will stay with them for life.

Tonight, the Director of our Residential Community, Brad Downing and Director of the Centre for Boys’ Health and Wellbeing, Liam Casson will be in Esperance to meet families who either have a boy in boarding or wish to explore the option of doing so. Liam will be presenting on aspects of health and wellbeing for boys. If you know anyone who would like to attend, the event commences at 5.30pm at Taylor Street Quarters.

Next Tuesday evening, 21 May parents of boys entering Year 7 in 2020 have the opportunity to attend a briefing from Mahendra Vaswani, Director of Studies in the Senior School, Simon Angus, Deputy Principal and Jamie Foster, Acting Director of Planning and Co-Curricular. This evening provides parents and boys with an insight into the academic and co-curricular programs, and an opportunity to ask questions about the transition into the Senior School. This is only one of several events that we conduct to help the boys as they move into a different learning environment. I highly recommend that all parents and boys attend – please register here if interested.

Throughout the year we monitor overall student numbers and determine if it is possible to offer an additional class at the commencement of the new school year. As like all schools, we have a maximum number of students we can accommodate. At the beginning of 2019 we added an extra Year 3 class, and in 2020 we will be offering an additional Year 6 class, with Year 3 returning to two classes. I wanted to let parents know that by adding a single class in any designated year group there is no impact to the boys – overall there are the same number of boys in the School to interact with, the same oval and classroom spaces and the same opportunities for co-curricular, tours and activities.

This Saturday night I am looking forward to attending the Christ Church and  St Hilda’s combined parent event at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. I hope to see many of you there.

Alan Jones
Principal

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• Stalking Matilda
• Life choices presentation
• Uniform reminder
• Bicycle safety

I was most impressed by the talent demonstrated by our Years 9 and 10 actors in their performance of Stalking Mathilda. I congratulate all boys and girls involved and a special thanks to Miss Kalika Duck and her team for their work behind the scenes.

Over the past fortnight both our Years 11 and 12 cohorts were fortunate to listen to a presentation by US Navy Seal Chandler Comerford. Sharing his own experiences, Chandler spoke to our Year 11s about the impact of a single decision changing your life, making students aware of the power of choice and helping them to be prepared for the tough decisions they will eventually face. The Year 12 session focused on being prepared for the big transitions in life and how using perspective, fellowship and commitment can assist them.

All boys in Years 7 to 9 are now to wear normal school formal uniform for the entirety of Wednesday (boys that have PE class during Periods 5 and 6 will still have to bring PE uniform and change as per normal). When boys finish class during Period 6 they head straight for the bus bay and board the buses as directed by the Sports Department. Boys will then get changed at the change rooms located at their training venue into their sport specific attire.

I remind boys of the necessity of a proper bicycle lock (a ‘D’ lock). We have had another theft and we are working with the police to ensure how our campus remains a safe and secure environment.

Simon Angus
Deputy Principal
Head of Senior School

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• Mother’s Day afternoon tea
• NAPLAN testing
• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
• Cybersafety talk
• Year 7 information evening

I hope all our mums had a lovely Mother’s Day last Sunday and enjoyed being spoilt. It was wonderful to see our Year 4 classes host their mums last Friday afternoon with an afternoon tea in their classes. On another note, our Years 3 and 5 boys successfully completed their NAPLAN testing without any technical difficulties, as all of our boys completed paper tests. A credit to all the boys on their overall effort and attitude with this phase in their learning.

In the Preparatory School, educational programs are designed to target boys and their learning needs. Social and Emotional Learning programs are interventions which target social and emotional learning (SEL) and seek to improve student interaction with others and self-management of emotions, rather than focusing directly on the academic or cognitive elements of learning. SEL interventions might focus on the ways in which boys work with (and alongside) peers, teachers, family or community. Three broad categories of SEL interventions can be identified:

– universal programs which generally take place in the classroom;
– more specialised programs which are targeted at boys with particular social or emotional needs; and
– school-level approaches to developing a positive school ethos, which also aim to support greater engagement in learning.

Throughout the course of the year, each year level will engage with a range of specific approaches and programs to support your son’s needs.

Paul Litherland a cybersafety specialist will be presenting to our Years 4 to 6 classes next Thursday 23 May on cybersafety. Paul will also be presenting to our community from 7.30pm to 9.00pm on the same evening. Click here to register if you are interested in attending.

A reminder to our Year 6 families that the Year 7 information evening takes place next Tuesday 21 May in the School Chapel from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Please click here to register your attendance.

Best wishes for the week ahead!

Dr Steven Males
Head of Preparatory School