Anzac Day Assembly

ANZAC Day provides an opportunity to recognise with gratitude the service and contribution of members of the Australian Defence Force and the sacrifices made to preserve our way of life. On 25 April, staff and students attended the Greenwell Point Dawn service and the Nowra March, with secondary and primary leaders laying wreaths in memory of the fallen.

A special commemoration assembly was held on Tuesday 30 April, with a number of special guests in attendance, including Commander Belinda Finlay, Mr Robert Grant representing the Nowra RSL, Daphne Lily on behalf of Open Arms: Veterans and Family Counselling, Nowra Veterans Wellbeing Centre Manager Lesley Labka, Mr Peter Williams who played the bugle, Captain Neil Barrett from the Australian Army Cadets, members of the Australian Defence Force and parents and carers.

The commemorative address was delivered by Commander Belinda Finlay who encouraged us to consider the importance of remembering. Commander Finlay shared stories of service men and women whose courage in the midst of great peril saved many lives at the cost of their own. These stories reminded us of the words of Christ in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” NKJV

We are thankful for our many student leaders who were actively involved in running the service, performing in the band and music team and serving during the morning tea. A highlight of the service was the catafalque party formed by ADF Cadets Tyler, Kayla, Taj and Levi, and the surprise performance of the New Zealand National Anthem by Mr Tama Wiringi.

Thank you to all those who attended the assembly and gave up their time during the holidays to represent our school at ANZAC Day marches. We Will Remember Them!

Stage 4 Camp at Attunga- A Beautiful Community

Our camp theme was based around one of our school anchors of ‘Community’. The camp experience inherently promotes a sense of connectedness to each other and to God’s creation. It should also provide opportunities for students to push themselves out of normal boundaries. The highlights from students show that they enjoyed the activities such as the flying fox and the giant swing where they could extend themselves. I was so proud to see many push themselves and face their fears in these challenges, as well as the support and encouragement students provided to each other. I was also really excited to see some students step up into leadership roles when given the opportunity. Several students listed the gospel talk around the campfire as a highlight. It is wonderful that our students enjoyed connecting and hearing the truth about God’s love for them.

We were blessed with perfect weather until we drove out, plus there were no injuries. Camp was marked by fun, friendship and connections to each other and God. Overall we saw successful foundations for our goals around community at Nowra Christian School.

Some of the students have provided their highlights -

'I enjoyed sharing a cabin with my friends'

‘Getting painted blue when doing raft building’

‘My friends and I got up really early for a scenic walk’

‘Mr Cowley’s talk around the campfire’

‘The food’

‘Archery’

‘Volleyball’

‘The flying fox’

‘The giant swing was awesome’

‘Getting to bond with friends and teachers’

Mrs Rebel

Messy Fun with our Kindy Friends!

Messy Memory Day was a fantastic way to celebrate the end of the first term of school for our Kindergarten students. We started the day by decorating cupcakes and smashing frozen dinosaur eggs. The middle session was when the real mess began. In the beautiful bushland of our school, we painted on paper, and on each other’s faces. We explored jelly, shaving foam, slime and clay. We wriggled our hands in coloured spaghetti and ran our fingers through rice. Those hesitant to join in the messy fun danced and blew bubbles, drew pictures and built towers. It was a joy to see our students explore the sensory fun, and further deepen the friendships they’ve made in Kindy so far.

We finished the day with a cupcake picnic and a play on the grass and all headed home for a well-earned break.

Here’s what our students said was the best part of Messy Memory Day:

“Having a butterfly face paint” - Sophie

"I liked the cupcakes" - Rihanna

“I liked putting slime all around” - Erik

“The face paint. You got to do it on other people and I got to do a spider on my cheek” - Logan

“The face paint - that we got to do it by ourselves” - Aaliyah

“The drawing” - Benjamin

“Clay - putting it on my face. And the cupcakes” - Ziggie

Stage 3 Girls 'Smash It' at CSSA Netball Trials

Late last Term, on Monday 8 April 2024, four girls from Stage 3 at NCS attended the CSSA Netball Trials for places in a CSSA team to complete at the forthcoming Combined Independent Schools (CIS) netball tournament. Our girls, Luka C, Amelia P, Havana G and Tiana K were amongst over 40 trialists who attended from Christian schools across NSW. There were various activities and games played throughout the morning, which then culminated in a game with the 'Probables' v the 'Possibles'. All four of our girls made it through to this match which is a fantastic achievement in itself. From those players the final team selections were made and Amelia P. was overjoyed to be chosen. She stayed for about another hour to train with her fellow teammates, girls from a variety of Christian Schools.

This CSSA team will compete in the CIS Primary Girls Netball Selection Championships on Friday 17 May 2024 to be held at Netball Central. We wish Amelia God's blessings as she plays one of the sports she loves at this elite level. Well done to all four Stage 3 trialists.

DaVinci Teams

In the last week of school NCS was represented by three teams competing in the regional Da Vinci Competition. This is an academic competition in which teams of eight complete challenges in English, Maths, Science, Cartography, Drama, Ideation, Engineering, Code-breaking, Art and Poetry and Legacy (General Knowledge). Every paper is difficult and the team must work to support each other to complete them in the time given. I was immensely proud of all the students, particularly of our Stage 4 teams backing up straight after camp!

Our Year 6 team managed to gain a top three certificate in Engineering and our Year 8 team won the Legacy section and gained a second in Maths. But more importantly each student entered the training and the competition with an excellent attitude and as always, were a pleasure to take to this broader community event.

Les Trois Petits Cochons are back!

Once again year 8 little pigs have been beset by wolves but the pot of soup and a decent house saved the day! Almost all the students have had the opportunity to present their play to the rest of their class and it has been awesome to see students who have told me, 'Miss I can't speak French!' actually prove themselves wrong by performing this play together in French!

The highlight (as always) was the opportunity that one of the groups had to share their play with primary classes. I had arranged for 5P, 5G and 3P to meet us in the COLA period 6 for our performance. Once the younger students learnt the crucial lines, "Petit cochon, petit cochon, je veux entrer, je veux entrer" (Little pig, little pig, I want to come in, I want to come in.), they play got underway and everyone was able to join in at the appropriate times. It was a lot of fun!

The performers were hopeful that we could also do the play for year 2 (as GF has a sibling in that class). It took some tracking to find that class (they were practicing in the Church) but both the teachers were willing for our group to jump in and perform the play. Thank you year 2 teachers!

It was also good to reflect how Jesus said that we should be like the wise man who built his house on the rock (or out of brick in this story) by listening to Jesus' words and obeying them. Are we wise or foolish in what we chose to build our lives on?

Congratulations Hamish and Emily

Hamish and Emily Mc recently competed at The Australian National Track and Field Championships in Adelaide. They both competed in the Steeplechase event. Hamish is ranked 15th and Emily 12th in Australia. Well done Hamish and Emily!

Prayer Points