Term 3, Week 5
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Connecting Through Books
While we live in a time where information is available at the click of a button, or tap of a screen, it’s pleasing to see that books are still an important part of our students’ lives.
We always remind our new school families at the Readiness Evening that reading books together is one of the most important things you can do to help prepare your child for school.
Reading books helps stimulate language and literacy skills, as well as build motivation, curiosity and memory; not to mention being a great way to connect as a family!
Around the Campus
Books were certainly the focus of activities this week in the Primary School, and in this issue of CedarNews, we also look at Science investigations in the High School, some creative ways that the Senior School is bringing History to life, and our Business Manager, Mr Jeff Thorpe, reminds us why outdoor play is so important at Cedar College.
Mr Peter Thomson, Principal
Calendar
The Front Page
Go Outside and Play
“Go outside and play” were words that I often heard from my mum over 40 years ago, and still remember them clearly to this day.
My mum understood the value of fresh air, sunshine and the opportunity to stretch my mind as I developed my creativity with sticks and stones, water, and just about anything else I could find to make all sorts of things. The backyard usually ended up in a mess, but my parents understood the importance of the process and the lessons that could be learned.
Today, the value of outdoor play is still the same. Unfortunately, in a world where housing density is much higher and urban infill means that older houses are replaced with several houses, many backyards are much smaller or even non-existent. This reduction of outdoor space is having a real impact on today’s children and their opportunity to be outside.
Cedar College began in a suburb surrounded by paddocks full of sheep and cows. Over the past 25 years, we have witnessed steady urban development, and are now completely surrounded by dense housing. To address this need for outdoor learning, the leadership at Cedar College has always had a mindset of maintaining as much open space on our campus as possible, to allow for students to “go outside and play”.
Benefits of Outdoor Play
This opportunity for children to be outside to play has been the subject of a number of studies. These studies have shown the enormous value to student development in skills, including reasoning and social interaction, as well as the value of having formal learning take place outside.
With this in mind, Cedar College, with the support of generous grants from the State Government as part of their Non-Government Schools Capital Funding program, has over the last three years developed, and will continue to develop, covered outdoor learning areas and play spaces. These spaces, including several new areas in the Junior and Upper Primary, provide the opportunity for our students to have both informal and formal learning opportunities around the school, as they enjoy the many benefits of being able to “go outside and play”.
Mr Jeff Thorpe, Business Manager
Week 8 News and Notices
Change to Student Free Day – Term 3
Please note that, due to the recent cancellation of the Royal Adelaide Show, our scheduled Student Free Day on Friday September 10 will now be a normal school day.
Usual Friday classes will take place on this day for all students in R-12.
COVID-19 Restrictions Update
Thank you to all of our College community for the support and adherence to the range of restrictions that are currently still in place. Please be reminded of the following:
Access to school grounds
• The presence of parents, volunteers, and non-urgent service providers entering the school site must continue to be minimised. Please avoid coming on campus if possible.
• Wherever possible, please continue to drop off and collect your child at the gate or Kiss and Drop and maintain the appropriate physical distance from other adults. Please avoid collecting your child from the classroom.
All events involving our school community will continue to be considered in relation to the impact of restrictions and the level of risk.
Please also ensure that you continue to adhere to the requirements communicated by the State Government and SA Health. This includes:
• Ensuring you follow any testing directives and recommendations.
• Quarantine/isolation requirements, including if you have been interstate or at any exposure locations identified by SA Health. Please ensure you adhere to all directives.
• Wearing a face mask on site.
• Adhering to QR Code or manual sign in requirements.
• Your child should not come to school if they are unwell or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, until a negative COVID-19 test result is achieved.
Should you have any questions related to your unique circumstances, please contact the High School or Primary School Offices.
School Photos – Friday September 3
Our School Photo Day has been rescheduled for Friday September 3.
All photo orders will carry over to the new Week 7 date, and all students are required to wear full winter uniform on this day. If you have not yet returned your photo envelope, please do so ASAP, even if you have chosen not to order photos.
Family photo envelopes (for siblings at Cedar) are still available from the Front Office. These photos will take place in the Sports Centre from 8am until 8:40am on Friday September 3. If you have ordered family photos, please ensure that your children make their way to the Sports Centre as soon as they arrive at school.
Our Sports Photo day has now been moved to Friday September 17 (Week 9).
Year 12 SATAC Applications
Adelaide University Year 11 Entry Pathway
For Year 11 results to be considered for your 2022 SATAC Application, students will need to ensure your application with full payment of fees is completed by 5:00pm Tuesday, 24 August. Please contact Mrs Burleigh via the Front Office if you have any questions regarding SATAC entry.
Run4Fun Fundraising
Our Run4Fun fundraiser has raised an amazing $4176.65, which will go towards the ongoing upgrade of play areas in the Primary School.
Congratulations to Year 3JR, who raised the most funds this year – a total of $719. The individual student who raised the highest amount will be acknowledged at an upcoming Primary School assembly, and prizes will be sent home to all students who have qualified, on Friday August 20.
New Uniform Shop
Our Uniform Shop now has a new look and entrance.
The complete re-fit of the Uniform Shop during the term break has provided more space and easy access via the ramp, located on the western side of the building.
To help with current capacity restrictions, we are asking parents to create an online booking, available in 15 minute slots, via our website. To book a time slot, please visit our Uniform Shop page.
Uniform items may also be purchased via the Uniform Shop menu in the Qkr! app. Please remember to select a collection method, to ensure that your order is fulfilled correctly.
Updated Canteen Menu
Our Canteen has added a number of new items to the menu for Term 3.
As well as fresh sushi and cold rolls on Fridays, there are several new menu items available for lunch orders, including gluten free options.
Please note that Friday mornings are the busiest time for lunch orders on Qkr!, with many payments being processed Australia wide. Placing orders on Thursday night will help avoid slow connection issues with the app.
Enrolment Reminder
We appreciate and value each family at Cedar College, but also understand that situations can change for various reasons. If you are relocating, and your child will not be attending Cedar College next year, we ask that you please let the Enrolment Office know by the end of Term 3 – thank you.
Please also note that it is the responsibility of all parents/caregivers to submit sibling enrolments forms in a timely manner, up to three years prior to starting. Failure to do so may result in placement being unavailable. Please contact Lara Webb on 7221 3606 for more information.
CYC Kids Camp, September Holidays
Our Primary School Chaplain, Josh Taylor, has information about the September holidays CYC Kids Camp, for children aged 9–12.
The camp theme is “Toy Story” and you’ll get to make friends as you build your own toys, play games, experience the site activities, a bonfire, amazing food, and have fun learning more about God with great leaders! Run by Christian Youth Camps of South Australia (CYC), the campsite is at El Shaddai Camping Centre (near Tailem Bend).
When: Tuesday, September 28 – Friday, October 1. Cost: $200.
For more details visit: https://cycsa.org.au/camp/kids-camp or contact our Primary School Chaplain, Josh Taylor.
Father’s Day
CityReach Oakden would like to invite all fathers and their families to our special Father’s Day service on September 5, at 9 or 11am!
Come and celebrate our dads together with music, gifts and a photo booth.
Please note that current restrictions require people attending church services to wear face masks and to check in with the QR Code upon arrival.
We hope to see you there!
Equilibrium Pilates Studio @ Cedar
Equilibrium means equal balance, which is what we want to help you achieve.
We see movement as nourishing and restorative, and use pilates, functional training, and corrective exercise in every session to help you reach your goals.
Spring Special for new clients: 1 introduction to Pilates session and 2 Pilates equipment classes for $50 (valued at $124) – See brochure for details.
The Equilibrium Pilates Studio @ Cedar is housed within the Cedar College Sports Centre facility and teaches one-on-one and small group pilates sessions at affordable prices. Visit our website for further information or to book a session.
Dates this Term
TERM DATES
Term 3, 2021 – Wed 21 July – Fri 24 Sept
Term 4, 2021 – Tue 12 Oct – Wed 8 Dec
Term 1, 2022 – Tues 1 Feb – Thu 14 April
Term 2, 2022 – Tue 3 May – Fri 1 July
We will continue to have a three week break between Terms 2 and 3
UNIFORM SHOP
Regular opening hours during term:
Monday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Wednesday 3pm – 5:30pm
Thursday extended opening hours:
TERM 2 – Weeks 1 – 4, 3pm – 5.30pm
(closed during Week 9)
TERM 4 – Weeks 1 – 3, 3pm – 5.30pm
PRIMARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
Our Assemblies and Chapels are held on Fridays at 8:50am.
Chapels and Assemblies are currently not able to be attended by parents, due to restrictions.
Should guidelines for large gatherings change, parents/caregivers will be informed.
Primary School News
Collision of Worlds at Book Week Parade!
The auditorium was brimming with a vibrant mix of ancient, modern and unearthly characters, as primary school classes celebrated the theme Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds at Wednesday’s highly anticipated Book Week Parade!
Gallant knights were on hand to rescue fair princesses from marauding dragons; energetic superheroes and sports stars flexed their muscles, while scientists and astronauts tried to make sense of the glittering aliens and fairies they encountered.
Plenty of characters from much-loved books also made an appearance, with classic characters such as Elizabeth Bennet, Snow White, Tigger and the Mad Hatter represented, as well as modern favourites such as Koala Lou, Captain Underpants, WALL-E, and even the cake from shortlisted book, Your Birthday was the Best!
A big thank you to Mrs Wilkin and Mrs Sakovits for adding to the Book Week fun with their incredible Other World themed display of fairytale castle and dragon in the Library. Thanks also to parents for their hard work creating amazing costumes which helped make our morning such a success!
Mrs Clare Wright, Junior Primary Library Teacher
Curriculum News
21st Century Skills in Science
For the 2021 cohort, Year 10 Science teachers are combining the three subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Scientific Studies, to increase understanding of a range of content.
Year 10 – Investigations
Last week, they looked at the topics of Motion, Velocity, Speed and Acceleration and used a combination of high leverage strategies, including Hot Wheels tracks, to investigate these concepts within their laboratory groups.
The lessons were very engaging and pleasantly productive, with more than one student asking, “Can we do this again next week?”. The students’ engagement and creativity were clearly evident, as the photos illustrate – well done Year 10!
Year 9 – Building Skills
Similarly, in Year 9, the Science faculty has heavily embraced a focus on building skills to enable students to design their own investigations, solve problems and draw conclusions, in a variety of applications. This was evidenced in the recent Year 9 Science topic of Electricity, with students showing their individual creativity in all three of these science areas.
Our electrical energy knowledge was further embedded through the practical use of electronic kits. Students used electronic breadboards and Arduinos (an open-source electronic prototyping platform used to create interactive electronic objects), to refine specific skills in the context of the program. The overall result was that the students’ understanding was greatly extended through the hands-on design and problem-solving activities, as they built upon their theoretical knowledge in a meaningful and engaging way.
Mr Herman du Preez, High School Science Teacher
Senior School News
Historic Honours
Since 2018, Year 10 History students at Cedar have been running their own country as a class parliament, not only learning about the events of the past century but actively engaging in the processes which shaped them.
Weekly decisions are linked with the History curriculum, but students are also encouraged to make history themselves – fighting elections, forming cabinets, and writing and passing their own legislation to improve the health and stability of their country.
Three Nations
This year, the program has been expanded from a single country to a three-nation model, allowing all three History classes to get involved, and making way for students to participate in international summits, negotiations and co-operation. The leaders of Renahria, Jardinland and the Cefiro Islands have battled financial crises, environmental threats, and even foreign invasions, all while attempting to placate voters and to improve the health, wellbeing and security of their citizens.
Inductees Honoured
Last Friday saw seven of our most dedicated parliamentarians inducted into the prestigious Order of Renahria, an honours system established last year (and open to citizens of all three nations) to recognise those students who had gone above and beyond in their commitment to their roles and in their service to their nation. Inductees are presented with the medal of their class of honour, along with a lapel pin which they wear with their uniforms. Last week’s ceremony, also attended by past recipients, honoured those who have served with distinction over the past two years, including Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and even a backbench MP whose legislative push altered the way Renahrian cabinets are formed.
This year’s August Honours List included:
The Order of Renahria Medal (ORM):
For service to the country, or an electorate, which is worthy of particular recognition
Ethan L – Cefiro Islands Defence Minister, instrumental in wartime policy
Christian T – Former Renahrian Prime Minister with a strong economic record
Lara T – Backbench legislator then Renahrian Deputy Prime Minister
Blade W – An active Minister for Environment and Health in three successive Renahrian governments
Member of the Order of Renahria (RM):
For distinguished, sustained service to the nation or humanity at large
Jack A – Two-term Jardinland Prime Minister with a strong economic and trade record
Companion of the Order of Renahria (RC):
For eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Renahria or to humanity at large
Nathan P – Two-term Cefiro Islands Prime Minister, who pioneered international trade negotiations and summits, and whose personal legislation facilitated significant growth in national prosperity.
Daksh S – Former Jardinland Prime Minister who was appointed by the three nations’ parliaments as the wartime Supreme Allied Commander, leading to a decisive victory.
Congratulations to all inductees.
Mr Jordan Rose, High School History Teacher
Previous Newsletters
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