Around the College
Term Dates for 2020
Welcome to 2020. We hope your children are settling in well to the new school year.
A reminder for parents to record the new term dates down now.
TERM DATES– 2020
Term 1: Monday, 3 February – Thursday, 9 April 2020
Term 2: Wednesday, 29 April – Friday, 3 July 2020
Term 3: Tuesday, 21 July – Friday, 25 September 2020
Term 4: Tuesday, 13 October – Thursday, 10 December 2020
Chaplaincy in 2020
At Cornerstone, we want to support our students as best we can. Learning happens more effectively as we recognise the many and varied challenges that students often carry with them into the school day. A chaplain role has been created in the college, specifically to offer social and emotional support to students who are experiencing some of these challenges.
Odette Blennerhassett has a background in Social Work, mental health and pastoral care and is looking forward to working alongside teachers to care for students.
Students can make contact directly themselves, or via a teacher. Parents who would like to speak to the chaplain are encouraged to contact Mrs. Larissa Posa (larissa.posa@cornerstone.education) for high school students and Mrs. Lynn Chapman (lynn.chapman@cornerstone.education) for primary students.
Odette works Tuesday and Wednesday (12 noon to 3.30pm) and Friday (8.30am to 3.30pm), and will be spending some time at the Dunsborough campus.
Welcome Odette!
BushFire Buckets of Blessing
In response to the devastating fires that have occurred around Australia this Summer, as a school community, we would like to respond to and practically show our support to those who have lost so much.
We also believe it is important that our kids are aware and actively participate in their broader community, learning with their head, heart and hands.
In each of the primary classrooms in Busselton, we will have ‘buckets of blessing’ where students can drop in coins and donate. Furthermore, in collaboration with Bunbury Fire Brigade, students will participate in a ‘Firefighter Challenge’ in the next few weeks. We ask that students collect donations from family, friends and neighbours and all the primary school classes from Years 1-6 will rotate through 8 different challenges in their house teams. Firefighter Challenges will include: ladder drills, hose pull, squirting targets, team building relays, truck push and more! As advised by DFES, all funds will
be channeled through the Red Cross where they are right there, providing practical, local support where it’s needed.
Keep an eye out for the form your primary children will bring home.
Bushfire Fundraiser Dunsborough
The Dunsborough Year 5/6 class is leading the initiative in raising money for the Bush Fires as well. Students will be going around classes talking about fire awareness and producing book marks to sell to students. Well done Year 5 and Year 6s!
Ball Season
It's that time of the year ... Ball Season!
A reminder to our Year 11 and Year 12 students that tickets must be purchased before February 11th.
Volunteering
We love having volunteers working at the College. It's this partnership that is pivotal in the success of our academic program.
To help you understand the process, please find to follow the guidelines that we must adhere to as a College.
- Parents and legal guardians who volunteer in their child’s classroom are exempt from needing a volunteer Working With Children Card (WWCC).
- Parents and legal guardians who volunteer in another class need to complete a College Volunteer Agreement before they help. These available from the College office. This is to comply with Child Protection requirements.
- ALL OTHER VOLUNTEERS NEED A Working With Children Card.
- All volunteers need to sign in at the front office.
A few application forms will be kept in the office. The cost of the card for volunteers is currently $11.
If you have any questions, please talk to your child's teacher, or the office administration. We are here to help you, help us!
Youth Exchange Opportunity
This letter has just arrived from the Rotary Club. Please consider the opportunity.
'You may be aware of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program which offers students aged 15 – 18 the opportunity to undertake an international exchange for a twelve month period. Rotary International is a non-political, non-religious service organisation run by volunteers around the world. Our Committee is running an Information Day on Sunday 23 February 2020, for interested students and their family. It’s a fantastic program run via Rotary International and we’d welcome applications from your students. Some financial assistance may be available for qualifying families. Applications close on the 31st March 2020 for departure in January 2021.'
M: +61427 341022
H: +61898 310861
E: yepchair9465@gmail.com
Website: exchangestudentwa.org.au
Facebook: District9465YouthExchange
Year 11 Start Strong
Welcome to High School
Careers Website
We have a new Careers Website. Check it out! Thanks to Mr Tully for his creation of this fabulous resource.
Parents Making a Difference
This morning the library was buzzing with a delightful team of helpful parents - and we have plenty of opportunities coming up soon for others to join them.
Books and Library Assisting
The kettle was on, the banter was great, and a beautiful group of generous Mums were on hand helping cover books and prepare the readers for the Primary classes this year. We are so grateful for the assistance of each of these ladies, and wish to advise that coming up, there will be a weekly opportunity to support the work of the library whilst enjoying the company of other like-minded parents.
Keep an ear out for when the Wednesday afternoon library help and cuppa opportunities will start later in the term. A great way to help the College, support our students, and make new friends at the same time.
You can give an expression of interest at tonight's Primary Information Night, and Mrs Mapstone will be in touch in the coming weeks.
Parent Representatives
Each year, the Primary Classes at Busselton have a Parent Representative for each year group that is charged with helping build community in our classrooms. The team of Representatives for 2020 were on hand this morning and we want to celebrate these remarkable women (plus a couple of extras who had to rush off). As the year unfolds, these ladies will be organising the occasional catch-up or playdate with your child's class or parent group. Please support them as they aim to make your whole family's experience at Cornerstone one that is inclusive and engaging.
Join the Community
For many of the classes at the Busselton Campus (Kindy to Year 10), there is a closed Facebook group for the parents within each year group. This is an informal space for community to occur - to share information, organise get-togethers, and ask questions. It's not mandatory, but a means the school provides to enable you to get to know other families in the College. Visit the Busselton Facebook page and visit the groups tab to link into this resource.
Just follow the process below, and we look forward to welcoming you there.
