The Roar - Issue 36 Term 4 2024

Contents

Head of College - Mr Richard Ford

This last week, it has started to feel increasingly like summer. In just over a week, students and teachers will head off on a well-deserved summer break, which we hope at some point will also afford parents and carers some rest.

Before the holidays commence, students still have a myriad of activities to look forward to, starting on Friday night with Carols.

The forecast rain for the next few days has meant that this morning, we have pre-emptively relocated Carols to the Senior School’s Aikman Hall. The start time of 6:00 pm remains, and it is expected that student performances will be completed by 7:30 pm.

Given the event is shifting inside, chairs will be out for people to sit on rather than needing to bring a rug. Please also eat your planned picnic before or after.

While being indoors will not be the same as being out on the lawn, we are looking forward to enjoying together the songs students have been learning and having the opportunity to sing along to some well-known Carols.

As you arrive tomorrow night, please enter via the second gate you come to as you head out of town. Please park in the Senior School Visitor Car Park rather than on the main driveway.

Next week, Heads of Year have planned a variety of special excursions and incursions, which include trips to Sydney and a cruise on Sydney Harbour for Year 10, an outing to the Blue Mountains for Year 8, along with a range of other special on-campus activities.

House Spirit Day next Thursday will see all students (K-12) come together at the Junior School for most of the day to compete. We then look forward to being together again on Friday morning for Celebration Day at CSU from 10:00 am to 12 noon. A seat has been set aside for every student as they are expected to attend. Parents need to click on the Operoo form they have been sent in order to secure limited seating.

Thank you to all staff who have been helping to make sure the final week of 2024 is memorable for students. I look forward to seeing many families at Carols in Aikman Hall tomorrow night.

Mr Richard Ford
Head of College

Chaplain

Christmas
I could not tell you how many of my Christmas evenings have ended in front of the TV, laughing at the National Lampoon’s Christmas movie. Worryingly, the older I get, the more I find myself sympathising with Clark Griswald and the various unfortunate events which befall him! What is beautiful about the movie is that through the chaos and calamity, there is – in the end – a story of beauty. More or less, everything goes wrong in Clark’s attempt to produce a joyful Christmas until the end. Finally – against all odds and through an unexpected hero – joy and peace arrive. I don’t just love the movie because it’s funny. I love it because it reminds me of the true story of Christmas.

In our final week at the College, we’ll find ways to remember the arrival of Jesus. Often, when people tell that story, it begins with angels, Mary, or shepherds. But it goes back long before that. Because to understand the meaning of Christmas we need to understand why God chose to enter our world as a human in the first place. He did it because our world needed rescuing: from sin, from darkness, from despair. We needed someone who could overcome evil instead of being overcome by it. It was fitting that Jesus’ birth was so messy and chaotic: no proper rooms available, a young and unmarried couple, and visitors who were low-class shepherds. It was fitting because Jesus was born to enter the chaos of our messy world – the chaos of our messy and restless hearts – and to bring peace.

As we reach the end of another busy, eventful, joyful, challenging and surprising year (every year is all of that and more!), I want to finish by pointing you to the One (Jesus) who offers us rest and peace. The One whose plans – unlike mine or Clark Griswald’s – always work out for good. And the One whose birth – quietly and unexpectedly – 2000 years ago made possible a hope, joy, forgiveness and life that can shine light into the darkest night. May you look to and find that hope this Christmas. And watch Lampoon’s Christmas, remembering the God who brings beauty from chaos! God bless you and your family this Christmas.

Mr Daniel Odell
College Chaplain

 

Senior School
Forecasting Fun with Year 7 Weather Reports

As part of their recent French assessment, Year 7 students took on the exciting challenge of creating their own weather reports. Using their newly acquired weather-related vocabulary and grammar skills, students showcased their creativity by presenting forecasts for various regions and seasons in French-speaking countries.

The results were as entertaining as they were impressive! From dramatic depictions of storms to comical sunny-day commentaries, the students combined language skills with flair and creativity, making their reports both educational and highly engaging.

These imaginative weather reports demonstrated not only the students’ grasp of the French language but also their ability to inject humour and originality into their work. The effort and enthusiasm they brought to this task were truly commendable, and the results left their peers and myself thoroughly entertained.

Bravo to Year 7 for their fantastic work on this assessment and to Erin Taylor from Bonjour Bathurst for her editing skills.

Click HERE to watch video.

Mrs Ann Maree Adamson
English/LOTE Teacher

Bringing French to Life at the Junior School

Our Year 8 students had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Junior School Campus this week for an engaging and joyful French immersion experience. The books they shared during this visit were especially meaningful—they were books that the students had composed themselves as part of their final French assessment for the year.

We were warmly welcomed by Mrs Wells and Ms Morris, who introduced us to their eager Year 1 classes. To begin, our senior students introduced themselves in French, showcasing their language skills with confidence. The room was soon buzzing with excitement as the students broke into small groups to share and read their self-created French books.

The younger students were enthralled by the experience, displaying great curiosity and enthusiasm as they delved into the vibrant world of the French language. Laughter and smiles filled the room as our senior students brought their stories to life. By the end of the session, the younger students were not just listening—they were actively participating! Many learned to count in French and practised simple greetings, guided patiently by their senior mentors.

The fun continued outdoors, where students played the French version of the classic chasing game “Duck, Duck, Goose,” reimagined as “Canard, Canard, Chèvre” (Duck, Duck, Goat). The giggles and energy were infectious, and it was clear that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the cultural twist on a familiar favourite.
This delightful excursion not only allowed the younger students to explore a new language but also strengthened bonds across year groups. It was heartwarming to see new friendships blossoming through the shared love of learning, creativity, and play.

We are thrilled to share that the Year 1 teachers have already invited us to return next year, marking the beginning of a lovely tradition. Merci beaucoup to everyone who contributed to making this experience so enriching and memorable!

Vive le français!

Click HERE to watch video.

Mrs Ann Maree Adamson
English/LOTE Teacher

Junior School

Junior School Year 6 Leadership Roles
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected in Year 6 Leadership roles for 2025.

Junior School Captains – Ava Middleton and Nicholas Lenehan
Booth House Captains – Ella Hunter and Toby Graf
Cowan House Captains – Harinee Ayngkaran and Thomas Roughley
Cuthbert House Captains – Jemima Sellers and James Chalmers
Dunlop House Captains – Chelsea Abel and Benjamin Alexander
Mawson House Captains – Gabriele Christen and Victor Chan

Reports
Students will receive their Semester 2 Reports on Thursday 5 November.

Last Day of classes Term 4
The last day of Term 4 classes for Prep to Year 6 will be Thursday 5 December. This will once again be House Spirit Day and the students will be required to wear their sports uniform with their House Shirt.

This year Celebration Day, Friday 6 December,  will be a Kinder to Year 12 event and will again be held at Charles Sturt University. It will begin at 10:00 am and will be concluded by midday. After the completion of the event all students will go home with their parents.

Mr Chris Jackman
Head of Junior School

Prep School

Prep Waratah
Prep Waratah have thoroughly enjoyed a very busy Term 4. Our primary focus was ‘Being Thankful’. Over the weeks, we learned what it means to be thankful and the importance of thinking of others. After reading the story of ‘The Great Gratitude Surprise’ by Rod Soper, we embarked on a gratitude journey and expressed our appreciation through fundraising and giving to the TEAR Fund project, preparing gifts for other Prep classes and our families.

Celebration Day on Thursday 21 November was a wonderful opportunity to welcome our families to the school to showcase our learning, formally conclude 2024 and receive our graduation certificates.

In the next two weeks, we are focusing on finishing the year with revision, as well as lots of Christmas craft and Christmas-related learning experiences.

Sports

Well done to Charlotte Shoemark and Josh Willcox (coach), who represented CIS at the NSW All Schools 15 and Under Cricket trials in Tuggerah this week. Charlotte finished in the top half of the run-scorers over the two days, with scores of 15 and 27. This is an excellent achievement for Charlotte, especially considering she still has another year in this age group.

Congratulations to Digby Oldham, who scored an impressive 137 runs while playing for the Under 14s Bathurst District Cricket team against Orange on Sunday 24 November. Digby, alongside Clement Gentle (60 not out), formed a fantastic 150-run partnership. Well done to both players and all the best to our students participating in the upcoming representative fixtures.

On Wednesday 27 November, we held the annual Junior School Triathlon at the Junior School Campus. It was fantastic to see so many students participating in either the individual or team events. The house spirit was outstanding, and we are grateful to all the parents and staff who made this event possible.

For students interested in competing in future triathlons, please refer to the events calendar below for upcoming opportunities hosted by the Bathurst Triathlon Club.

Book Buzz

As we approach the end of the year, it is lovely to see all the students getting into the Christmas spirit. The library has been a hive of activity with Christmas crafts and colouring, with more to come next week in our K-2 lessons.

This week, our Year 3-6 students completed their biographies. It has been a pleasure to read such detailed research and learn more about prominent figures in a variety of fields, from the bright lights of the stage to the competition on the sporting pitch and everything in between.
A reminder to be looking for any overdue library books that might be in bags and under beds as we wind up borrowing and try to get all our books back on the shelf. These books can be returned during library lessons or at lunchtimes to myself or Mrs Mackay.

Check out this week’s reading recommendations as you take a break from all the Christmas shopping and wrapping and grab a few minutes with a good book.

The Roar Recommends

Junior Campus
Younger Readers 

Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton

Older Readers   

All the Tales from the Ark by Avril Rowlands

Senior Campus
Junior Readers   

The Other Side of Summer by Emily Gale

Senior Readers

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Happy Reading!

Mrs Angela Davis
Head of Library Services

Events & Announcements
CHANGE OF LOCATION FOR CAROLS

The forecast rain for the next few days has meant that we have pre-emptively relocated Carols to the Senior School’s Aikman Hall.

Date: Friday 29 November
Start time: 6:00pm
Expected finish: 7:30pm.
Location: Aikman Hall, Senior Campus, 4173 O’Connell Road, White Rock

Given the changed arrangements, please note:

  • Chairs will be in place in the hall for people to sit on – picnic rugs will not be required.

We ask the following, please:

  • Eat your planned picnic before or after the event
  • Enter via the second gate you come to as you head out of town.
  • Park in the Senior School Visitor Car Park rather than on the main driveway.

We look forward to you joining us for a wonderful evening of College Community Carols.


Parent Portal Ready for 2025

The College Parent Portal has been updated with information relevant to 2025, such as College bus timetables, Uniform Shop open dates and times, textbook and stationery lists and the Commencement Letter from your child’s Head of School.

Please take the time to read the Commencement Letter as it contains key information including details of early Term 1 activities and for parents of Senior School students,  reminders of uniform expectations, laptop setup, locker mobile phone use and more.

2025 fee details will be communicated to families in mid December.

Visit: https://scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au/parent-portal/ and select the tab for your child’s school (Junior, Prep or Senior) to find information to help make their start to 2025 as easy as possible.


Uniform Fittings for New Students

A few appointment times remain for new students requiring uniform fittings.
For all uniform information and a link to the booking system:

Click Here

 

 

Learn More

Learn More

Calendar

Friday 29 November
Year 8-11 New Students Orientation Day
Carols on the Green – Junior School Campus

Saturday 30 November
Pipes and Drums Young Cherry Festival

Monday 2 December
Year 11 End of Year Lunch

Tuesday 3 December
Year 8 End of Year Excursion Blue Mountains
Year 7 Celebration of Cultures Day

Wednesday 4 December
Year 10 End of Year Excursion Sydney/Cruise
Year 9 In School Activities Afternoon

Thursday 5 December
House Spirit Day 9.30 to 2.30pm Junior School

Friday 6 December
Celebration Day CSU 10:00 am-12 noon

The latest Term Dates can be found on our website HERE

SS: Senior School   JS: Junior School

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