There are a number of external school fee finance providers in the market who seek to help families looking for different payment arrangements than the College is able to offer. These can vary from simply spreading payments over 12 months instead of 10, up to allowing approved families to spread their payments out for up to 5 years after their youngest child has finished their schooling. These kinds of arrangements can greatly assist families with managing their school fees, whilst still making sure that the College fees get paid on time. Families should however always seek their own independent financial advice as to whether using an external school fee finance provider is the right decision for their family.

For families seeking extended payment arrangements at St Greg’s, we are now referring them to Edstart. Edstart are listed as a partner on the Australian Boarding Schools Association website. Edstart offers an easy, flexible and low-cost way for you to pay for your child’s education over a time frame that suits your family budget. With Edstart, you can fund your tuition fees, additional charges such as extra-curricular activities, camps and excursions, as well as technology levies and amounts in arrears.

You can apply online at https://edstart.com.au/stgregs and the application process can be completed in minutes. Once approved, Edstart will pay the College fees at the start of each Term and you will make regular monthly, fortnightly or weekly payments to Edstart. All financial arrangements are a private matter between the family and Edstart and all the College knows is that the family is with Edstart and can expect the College fees to be paid that the start of each Term. Edstart or the parent will inform the College if those arrangements change.

To assist families who would like to try Edstart for 2020, the College will pay the 3% service charge. This is only for 2020 and from 2021 the College will subsidise 50% of this service charge e.g. 1.5%.

Please note, that in providing information about Edstart, we do not provide any recommendations, brokering or advice services. We do not receive referral fees, commissions or other remuneration from Edstart. If you have any queries, please contact Edstart on 1300 139 445 or chat with their team at contact@edstart.com.au.

Brian Schick,

Director of Business Services

End of Term 4 Arrangements – Senior School

The final day for students this year will be Thursday 12 December. It is expected that students attend up to and including the last day. The arrangements for the last day are set out in the program below.

Thursday 12 December 2019
8.25am	Students move to Homeroom
8.30am	Final Homeroom for 2019	Homerooms
8.40am	Move to Br Luke Hall for College Christmas Mass (K-12)	Br Luke Hall
9.00am	College Christmas Mass (K-12)	Br Luke Hall
10.15am	Farewells to Departing Staff	Br Luke Hall
10.30am - 11.15am	Recess
11.20am - 12.00pm	Period 1 – Thursday (Day 9)	Classrooms
12.00pm - 12.40pm	Period 2 – Thursday (Day 9)	Classrooms
12.40pm - 1.20pm	Lunch
1.25pm - 2.05pm	Year Assemblies and Distribution of Semester 2 Reports	Various Locations
2.10pm - 2.20pm	Final Line Up and Dismissal	Top Quadrangle

Please take note of the following points:

There is no sport scheduled for this day.
Dress for students is Summer Uniform, not sports uniform.
Finishing time is the same as a normal Thursday.
Parents are welcome to attend the Christmas Mass.

F45 Picton - School Holidays

Prodigy is a functional training program specifically designed to promote healthy adolescent and fitness outcomes in children and adolescents 11-17 years old. The program is delivered by two personal trainers and is designed to build healthy, happy and confident young adults.

F45 Picton are running a school holiday program from the 6th January until the 30th January. It will take place at 10:30am Monday - Thursday at their Picton studio.

Costs are as follows:

Two Day a week Program $120
Four Day Unlimited Training Program $160

Fees are paid up front prior to the program starting in January.

For further information contact Sara at F45 Picton:

M: 0499 777 755 E: picton@f45training.com.auF45 Picton, Shop 5 81-83 Argyle Street(Enter from Walton Lane)Picton NSW 2571 www.f45training.com.au

Year 10 Field Trip

On Monday 25th November, three Year 10 classes took an onsite field excursion to Badgally Hill to investigate the differences in urban development over time. Classes Geo10B, Geo 10F and Geo 10G walked up the hill and participated in Geography based activities including creating a field sketch, observations of change over time and land use patterns.

AMEB Exams

Congratulations to the boys who undertook AMEB exams. Everyone passed! Daniel Long - Grade 6, Joshua Gould - Grade 1, Oisin Chretien - Grade 3, Adam Fordham - Grade 4, Luke Schofield - Grade 5, Josh Federico - Grade 3, Will Potts - Grade 5, Ryan Carter - Grade 1, Jordan Messer - Grade 4, Leo Degeiling - Grade 4.

Miss Kathryn Wray, Music Teacher

Each year, Year 10 participate in a number of community service initiatives as part of the Community Service Project. Christopher Seton and Bayley Suters received the Dr Mike Freelander MP Community Service Awards for 2019. Both students went above and beyond by helping out at home, attending the ANZAC Day March, collecting money for the Red Shield Appeal, assisting the Smith Family at Claymore Homework Club, playing a game of sport with the residents at Reiby Juvenile Detention Centre and supporting their local communities through volunteering with sporting clubs and raising funds for Mater Dei and the Cancer Council. Christopher and Bayley epitomise what it means to be a student of St Gregory’s College through their commitment and integration of service in all aspects of their lives.

Emma Kent (Marist Solidarity Coordinator)

ICAS Education Assessments

The UNSW Global offers word-leading programs and products to schools. International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is a suite of competitions designed specifically for primary and secondary students. ICAS Assessments are designed to assess students’ ability to apply classroom learning in new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. All students who enter and complete the ICAS assessments receive a certificate. A certificate is awarded on the following basis for each subject assessed:

High Distinction Certificate	the top 1% of participants
Distinction Certificate	the next 10% of participants
Credit Certificate	the next 25% of participants
Merit Certificate	the next 10% of participants
Participation Certificate	for all remaining participants

We had students participate in four subject areas. A summary of the 2019 results are as follows:

Digital Technologies

22 students participated and were awarded 1 Distinction, 5 Credit, 4 Merit and 12 Participation Certificates.

Science

29 students participated and were awarded 7 Credit, 4 Merit and 18 Participation Certificates.

Mathematics

49 students participated and were awarded 12 Credit, 3 Merit and 34 Participation Certificates.

English

31 students participated and were awarded 1 High Distinction, 1 Distinction, 8 Credit, 6 Merit and 15 Participation Certificates.

Thank you to all the students who participated. Students were presented certificates at recent Year Meetings.

Mr Barry Graham, Director of Studies

Important Dates

December