I’m really looking forward to joining the Year 6s at the camp, and what has struck me is just how excited the students have been about camp this year. Of course camps are always exciting, but this year it seems even more so. Perhaps it was because COVID meant that we previously had to cancel the Year 6 camp, originally planned for Term 2, or perhaps it was because we’ve realised that there are so many “normal” things that we previously took for granted.

Being in the Moment

Being able to enjoy time together in person, to be in the moment with each other, is something that I think we may have, at times, taken for granted. Missing the normality of being able to be together with friends and family has made me realise that I need to appreciate being in the moment. Rather than being distracted by text messages, emails and social media, I have found that I need to learn to put my phone down and enjoy the things that I had been taking for granted.

As a parent of four children aged 14,17,19 and 21, it is often challenging to find time with each of them. The events of this year made me realise just how busy we all were, and how we had stopped doing a lot of the important things. Chatting at the dinner table, playing games, going for walks – things we haven’t done for a long time. It’s those simple, normal things that we did together when the children were younger, that I now regret that we didn’t do more of. One important thing that we can do at any time, is to pray for our children. My wife and I have put a lot of time in praying for our children, and I can recommend the book The Power of a Praying Parent. We should never underestimate the power that prayer has in the life of our families.

Enjoying the “Normal”

Being in the moment, enjoying the “normal”, allows me to listen to what my children have to say. Through these more normal times, there are so many valuable lessons for each of us to learn. Times that we’ve taken for granted with our family, with friends, and even at school camps, that can build relationships, and really make a difference.

Mr Nigel Austin, Upper Primary Co-ordinator

Students have enjoyed the return of Assemblies and Chapels, and found out quite emphatically that Little PK has apparently been camping previously, and knows quite a lot about it, as he repeatedly said throughout the Chapel! Through the camping adventures of Little PK and his friend Little TW, the students learned about trusting Jesus, even when we think we might know better, or we may not understand His plan.

Wild Hat Day

Book Week, this year, will look a little bit different, particularly on top of our heads!

It has been unfortunate that this year we have been unable to hold our usual Book Week parade and Grandparent’s Day events. The Primary School will, however, be holding their Book Week during the final week of Term 3, from September 21 – 25. To help celebrate Book Week, the Primary School will be holding a Wild Hat Day, on Wednesday 23 September (Week 10), which will replace the usual parade.

Students are invited to celebrate their favourite book by wearing a hat, horns, ears or antennas on their head, to fit in with the Book Week theme of Curious Creatures, Wild Minds or simply wear a whacky hat like a book character you love!

The hats need to be made at home (or purchased) and to help with some ideas, we’ve rounded up some web links to get your imagination started!

Printable Paper Hats  |  Paper Hat Crafts  |  Creative Hat Crafts  |  Hats to Make

Along with their wild head gear, students need to wear their Cedar College Sports Uniform. Please note that there will NOT be a parade for visitors during Book Week this year.

In Week 5 our annual NEVZ Year 9/10 Basketball competition was held at the newly established Lights Sports Centre. It was a familiar environment for the teams as they had recently visited the centre in Week 2 for the Year 9/10 SACSA competition, finishing in 1^st place.

Through to Finals

The NEVZ competition brings together secondary schools of South Australia that are located in the North Eastern zone of the state. It’s always an exciting day with 20 teams entering this year, to form both Division 1 & 2 groups. This year we nominated a team in each division, with both teams demonstrating their new-found level of determination, fuelled by their results earlier in the term. Tested to their limits throughout the day, the boys managed to battle their way through to the grand finals, on this occasion both finishing as runners up in their respective divisions.

I’m extremely proud of the teams, knowing that when we nominate a team we are leaving as ambassadors of Cedar College, and look to embrace every opportunity and build on the experience each time.

Mr Josh Fernihough, High School Sports Co-ordinator

The event usually takes place in the Auditorium, and includes students from a number of Christian schools in Adelaide. This year the workshop was held online with eight schools joining the sessions which were hosted by some of Cedar’s Senior School students, and co-ordinated by Pastor Jeremy. We asked some of our students what the workshop was all about.

So, what is Not Ashamed of the Gospel?

The Cedar Year 11 Veta Morphus class assisted in organising the Not Ashamed of the Gospel workshop, via Zoom. The heart of this workshop is aimed at emboldening the Christian school communities around us and assisting them in developing strategies for speaking out in their faith and spreading it to their friends in their school environments.

The goal of the workshop was for Christians in each of our respective schools to be strengthened practically, through connecting with other Christians at school, and to be confident in their faith to share with those who don’t know the Lord.

– Armaan

What did you learn, and what were the outcomes?

Dr Natasha Moore delivered two seminars that taught us how to share the Gospel message compellingly in the year of 2020. We also learned how there can be good outcomes, even in the difficult times that we are enduring this year. The students in each of the schools where equipped with ways to reach out to others around their school campus.

We hope that by the end of the Not Ashamed of the Gospel workshop, schools will be filled with a desire to reach out to people in their schools and have a passion to see a revival. We also hope to see students equipped with ways to share the Gospel engagingly, as well as a desire to glorify God by doing this.

– Samuel

I hope this year has brought you blessings, and you have been able to see the positives within this tough year.

My name is Sadie and I am one of the Year 12 Prefects this year at Cedar. Recently the student leadership team have been discussing the importance of community in our fortnightly meetings. Further discussions focused on how we can help our fellow peers feel included and valued in the community here at Cedar. It has been on our hearts to reach out and share some thoughts about how we as a school community can lift each other up, and truly encourage one another. This year has been very unpredictable and a lot of us have struggled with the uncertainty that the year has brought. This time has taught a lot of us to appreciate the people in our lives who continue to support, care, and display love to us. We are so blessed to be here in South Australia, where we can still go to school, go to work, visit friends and family, and try to continue living without interruption.

Appreciating Community

What does community mean?

“The people living in one particular area or people who are considered as a unit because of their common interests, social group, or nationality.”

How can we show community and grow as a community?

There are numerous ways that we could build and increase our community at Cedar College. Firstly, I encourage students to talk to one another, perhaps strike up a conversation in your Community Group with someone they may have not spoken to in the past. We have been blessed to be able to have communities where we are able to form new relationships with individuals in our House throughout the different grades. I implore students to appreciate this opportunity to form new friendships and build on former relationships. Furthermore, in the school yard I encourage students to be active in joining in with activities.

A Big Opportunity

The Big Day In, on the last day of Term 3, is a great way that we can continue to build community in the school yard. By signing up to the different events, we are able to meet new people and work together in the different events; building community spirit and getting points for our different houses. These are only a few ways that we can build community around Cedar College. As the school year progresses, and work begins to pile up, students must continue to speak out and ask for help. As students, we must continue to build each other up, offering and asking for help when needed. We as a school community are strong, and we can further inspire the outer community around us.

Here is a short quote to remind us that we can make a difference in our community.

“Aspire to inspire before you expire”

 May the rest of your year be filled with positivity, achievements, and happiness!

– Sadie, Year 12 Prefect