Bethany Christian School

Bethany Christian School

Newsletter

Week 1Term 22023

Some photos from the Primary Chapel Easter Performance held last term. Photographs taken by Year 6 student Elias D.

From the Principal

Welcome back to school for Term 2. We hope that you were able to enjoy some rest over the term break and that your children are refreshed and ready for learning. We began our term with our teachers doing a deep dive into the new Australian Curriculum and how we can best implement the changes over the next few years. The changes bring opportunity to place importance of the development of the whole child and the building of capabilities rather than just focus on the content knowledge of subjects. Bringing wellbeing to the centre of learning and seeing that the world is changing, means our education will also need to change to help our children to thrive. This is not a new journey for us at Bethany and we are looking forward to walking with you for the time your children are learning with us. 

Next week we will hold our Mother’s Day stall for children to buy a special gift for mother figures in their lives. Please see the advertisement in this newsletter for details. Our Year 1 and Year 2 students have swimming lessons and so if you have any questions about that, please speak to your class teacher. Our Year 6 students also head off on camp. This is always a wonderful way to develop stronger relationships and try some new things that can’t easily be done on a school campus. These experiences are very important times for building resilience, teamwork, empathy, and bring a lot of fun. It is wonderful to have the freedom to return to these important events after the interruption of the past 3 years.

We have our school photograph day on Thursday 1st June. On this day we ask all students to wear their blue winter school uniform. I will remind you that the uniform policy is listed in the front of your child’s school diary for your information.

On June the 9th we have a Pupil Free day for students. This is prior to the June long weekend. OSHC is available on this day if your children require care.

There will be many other learning opportunities and celebrations throughout this term which we hope you will see growth in many different ways, and I look forward to sharing them with you.

I pray that you will experience the confident hope that we can know because of our faith in a God who loves and cares for us. We continue to pray for you and your family.

 

God bless,

Wendy Matear

Principal

This Week's Memory Verse

Then the LORD told me: "I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance."

Habakkuk 2:2

Deputy's Corner

Welcome back from the school break! It has been delightful to hear the students talking about all of the wonderful things they did over their school holiday and to see them excited to begin a new term.

Winter Uniform

In Term 2 and 3 our students are wearing their winter uniform. Our uniform shop is open each Wednesday and Friday from 8.15am – 10.30am. Uniform can also be purchased online via the School Locker website and collected from the Administration Front Desk or have it delivered to your home. For all of the details of the winter uniform, please see your child’s diary.

The Importance of School

Every child in Australia has not only the right to an education, but it is unlawful for them to be prevented from coming to school. It is a legal obligation for parents to enrol a child into a school. Being an active, present member of a school community helps develop critically important social and emotional skills, connectivity with a community and academic growth. There is a significant amount of research to support the need of consistent attendance at school, which includes the findings that school absenteeism is cumulative, and it can have an impact on academic success and school attendance in the latter years of school (Hancock et al, 2013; Zubrick, 2014). 

Any child who misses school must have an authorised absence. This is because there is a very strong link between student attendance and a child’s academic achievement, and the more absences a child has increases the impact of their learning. In short, “every day counts and there is no ‘safe’ threshold for absences” (Hancock et al. 2013). As a school, we are required by law to report our attendance statistics. There are three instances where ongoing absences are formally authorised via educational forms:

  • ED175 A (for family vacations for 15+ days);
  • ED175 B (for short term of up to 4 weeks absences due to disability, behaviour, health or medical reasons); or
  • ED175 C (for exemptions for a period greater than 12 months for an overseas exchange, participation in elite sports or full-time non-school education.

These forms can be collected at our Administration Front Desk upon request. Once they are filled in, they are then submitted to the Principal for official authorisation. The applications must include a plan of getting the child back to full time school attendance within a 4 week period. Filling in the form does not automatically approve your child’s absence, as this is at the Principal’s discretion. 

In short, no absence is considered unimportant. Your child’s whole education is vitally important, as there is a direct correlation to their future academic and employment success (AITSL, 2019). If you are having difficulties getting your child to school or your child is reluctant to come to school, we strongly encourage you to speak to your child’s teacher or a member of the Wellbeing Team. We are here to help.  

I wish you a wonderful start back after the school break, and I am praying you and your family stay warm and well this term.

God bless you,

Deb Clifford

Deputy Principal

 

AITSL. (2019). Spotlight: Attendance Matters. Retrieved from aitsl: Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Limited: https://www.aitsl.edu.au/tools-resources/resource/spotlight-attendance-matters

Hancock, K. J., Shepherd, C. C., Lawrence, D., & & Zubrick, S. R. (2013). Student attendance and educational outcomes: Every day counts. Canberra: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Highlights

Health Care

Dear Parents/Caregiver,

Welcome to term two.

Swimming- Week 2 is swimming week for our Year 1's and 2's.

I would like to remind you of the following.

  • Eczema and Swimming - if your child suffers from eczema which gets worsened by swimming, please talk to the teacher or to the school nurse who would be able to help you to come up with a care plan to help your child to enjoy swimming.
  • As usual the school will pack the medication that has already been provided to the school.
  • Please make sure to check your child’s hair for headlice before the swimming event.
  • If your child is not feeling well, please keep your child at home and notify the school.
  • As per the swimming centre policy, you must not swim for 2 weeks after gastro symptoms have ceased.
  • For more information about swimming centre policies please visit the below link https://parafieldgardensswimschool.com.au/contact-us/our-policies

Camp Medication - The year 6's are having their camp in week 2 Wednesday to Friday. The school will pack the medication that has been provided to the school. However, if your child is on any regular medication that needs to be administered in the evening, night or in the morning, please provide the medication along with a Doctor’s note by Monday Week 2. All medications including over the counter medication/herbal medications need to have a Doctor’s note.

Medication Policy at school

  • If your child needs to be on any medication at school, please provide the school with the required medication along with the current Management Plan.
  • Medication can only be administered with a Doctor’s prescription and with a Management Plan. 
  • All student medical management plans are updated annually.
  • All medications need to be labelled and provided to the school office by the parent/caregiver along with a Doctor's authorisation letter/plan at the beginning of the year.
  • Out-of-date medicines will not be administered.
  • Please ensure all medications are given to a member of staff for safe storage.
  • Students are not allowed to keep any medication in their bags including over the counter medication.
  • More information can be found on our website.

Raising a responsible student

One of the rights at school we follow is 'The Right to Learn'. Parent's are the most valuable teachers in our student’s life to teach them how to be responsible in their day-to-day activities. We are finding quiet a few students forgetting to bring in their essential school things such as red folder, library folder, iPad, drink bottle, lunch box, sport items, school projects and so on. As a school we are always looking for the opportunity to teach and guide our students. Some of the things you can do to support your children are:

  • Have a little reminder card on their school bag or on the fridge to remind them what they need to pack for the day.
  • Teach them to pack their school bag the day before school so it is ready for the next day.
  • Have a practice at home on how to pack their school bag.
  • Reward charts for being prepared to get ready for school on time with all their belongings.
  • We encourage you to speak to your child’s classroom teacher to assist you with support if you would like some guidance with strategies to help your child.

We will endeavor to ensure your child receives their items as soon as possible. The process once an item has been dropped off is:

  • email the appropriate teacher.
  • the teacher, at their earliest convenience, will send your child to collect their items from the Student Services Office.

Please understand our teachers are very busy teaching your children and will do the above when appropriate.

Thank you.

God bless you,

Priya Wilson

School Nurse

Camp Australia

New Coordinator Rachel Linford 1.pdf New Coordinator Rachel Linford 1.pdf

Hello my name is Rachel. I am the new coordinator with Camp Australia here at Bethany Christian School. I look forward to getting to know all of you. I am new to this role and still learning, so please be patient with me as I get to know families. Thank you and see you all soon!

Premier's Reading Challenge

Congratulations to the following students who have completed the Premier's Reading Challenge.

4NL4W
Ashiwei AZafia T
Claire K
Jaden C

Premier's Be Active Challenge

Congratulations to the following student who has completed the Premier's Be Active Challange.

6W
Diego T

Community News

Mother's Day Stall

Playgroup

Base Church Welcome Party

Sports News

Representative Sports | Athletics Report

Squad List  |  Captains - Lucca M and Wynter D

Abimbola A, Amelia J, Annabel J, Arizona G, Ashton S, Cohen F, Cooper C, Daniella Y, Deng A, Elias N, Elijah L, Elijah Y, Elise B, Emily D, Ethan L, Giuliana G, Hannah Mc, Harveer B, Isaleli T-F, Isla F, Jacob M, Jacob N, Jensen B, Kuch K, Liam H, Liliah M, Lucca M, Nhial M-Y, Nyok M, Riley B, Rory H, Saleisha B, Samantha C, Samantha Ch, Sienna M, Skye M, Sophie S, Stella R, Tyler M, Wynter D, Zoey G

Staff

Mr B Hannaford, Mr N Grieger, Mr A Peterson, Mr S Traeger, Mrs R Curtis

A beautiful sunny day greeted our squad as we headed to SA Athletics Stadium at Mile End on Friday, 14th April for the SACSA Athletics Carnival. Bethany competed in Division 2, and placed 3rd from 6 participating schools.

The team competed throughout the day in discus, shot put, high jump, long jump, sprints, distance runs and relays. We are so proud of all of our students. They gave their best effort in each event they competed in and many walked away with ribbons and/or a Personal Best result in their events.

On the day the Bethany team was awarded 17 First Place, 16 Second Place and 9 Third Places Ribbons! Well done everyone.

Special mention goes to Nhial Magot-Yuang who broke the SACSA 11 Boys High Jump Record with a jump of 1.45m

There was a lot of great sportsmanship shown throughout the day as students encouraged each other and celebrated achievements together. We finished the day with 3rd place in our division - a brilliant outcome and a great way to finish the term.

Congratulations to all of the team on a fantastic day!

Broken School Records

AgeEventNameRecord
9 Year Old Female400mElise B1.24.10mins
9 Year Old Male70mAshton S11.06sec
11 Year Old MaleHigh JumpNhial M-Y1.45m

Weekly Sports

Weekly Basketball  |  Rec - Yr 6

Bethany Christian School offers a Weekly Basketball program. This is a user pay program staffed by approved volunteer coaches, with compulsory weekly after school trainings held at BCS

There are two seasons per year

Winter Season - Terms 2 and 3  |  Summer Season - Terms 4 and then 1

Age Groups as follows (must be 5 yrs old)

U08s mixed  |  U10s mixed  |  U12 Boys | U12 Girls

Saturday games are generally at the following recreation centers

Golden Grove  |  Burragah  |  Turramurra  |  Ingle Farm  |  The ARC

Weekly Netball  |  Rec - Yr 6

Bethany Christian School offers a Weekly Netball program. This is a user pay program staffed by approved volunteer coaches, with compulsory weekly after school trainings held at BCS

There are two seasons per year

S1 Season - Terms 1 and Two  |  S2 Season - Terms 2 and 4

Age Groups as follows (must be 5 yrs old)

U08s mixed  |  U10s mixed  |  Under 12s mixed

Saturday games are at the The Gardens Recreation Centre.

Match Results | Weekly Sports

Saturday 15|04

SportTeamOpponentCoach's PickMatch Result
NetballU08 Golden StarsLightning Blitz1Harper FNot Scored
NetballU10 Wild StarsRenegades SilverAmity CL06
NetballU10 Bright StarsBulldogs 1Ariana DL615

Weekly Information

Important Dates

Date Event
Monday 1st May Pupil Free Day 
Thursday 4th May  ELC Hearing Screening 
Friday 5th May  SACSA Cross Country 
Monday 8th May Swimming Lesson Week for Year 1 and 2 Commences
Monday 8th May  ELC Hearing Screening 
Wednesday 10th May  ELC Hearing Screening 
Wednesday 10th May - Friday 12th May Year 6 Camp
Thursday 11th May and Friday 12th May Mother's Day Stall
Monday 29th May  Reconciliation Week 
Tuesday 30th May  SACSA Soccer Carnival Year 3 and 4
Wednesday 31st May 

SACSA Soccer Carnival Year 5 and 6

Wednesday 31st May 

Dusty Feet Mob Performance during Chapel 

Thursday 1st June 

School Photos

Friday 9th June 

Pupil Free Day 

Monday 12th June

King's Birthday Public Holiday  

Tuesday 13th June 

Year 3 Excursion 

Wednesday 21st June - Friday 23rd June

Year 5 Camp

Monday 3rd July 

Swimming Lesson Week for Year 5 and 6 Commences 

Monday 3rd July

NAIDOC Week 

Uniform Shop Opening Times

Wednesday8.15 to 10.30 am
Friday8.15 to 10.30 am

PE Timetable

ELCMonday to Friday
RHDWednesday and Thursday
RHTuesday and Thursday
RMTuesday and Thursday
1DTuesday and Wednesday
1PWednesday and Thursday
1TCWednesday and Thursday
2RTuesday and Thursday
2WCTuesday and Wednesday
2ZTuesday and Wednesday
3HRMonday and Thursday
3METuesday and Wednesday
3MOTuesday and Friday
4GTMonday and Friday
4NLTuesday and Friday
4WMonday and Friday
5KMonday and Friday
5RTTuesday and Wednesday
5TTuesday and Thursday
6SCTuesday and Wednesday
6TTuesday and Friday
6WMonday and Thursday

School Terms 2023

Term 1Monday 6th February to Friday 14th April
Term 2Tuesday 2nd May to Friday 7th July
Term 3Tuesday 25th July to Friday 29th September
Term 4Monday 16th October to Wednesday 13th December

Bethany Christian School

PO Box 2125
Salisbury Downs SA 5108
37 Countess St
Paralowie, SA, 5108

P. 08 8283 0000
F. 08 8283 0101
E. office@bethany.sa.edu.au

Newsletter published: Thursday, May 4 2023

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