This term we have two whole school events coming up where we are looking forward to inviting parents (and/or grandparents) and friends to these important aspects of learning, to help with activities or simply to share in the children’s excitement while participating.  

The first of these is our Book Week celebration with a Book Week Parade on Friday 23 August. Mrs Affleck has outlined the details for this day in this newsletter. There are a few notable changes this year including:

• The theme, which changes every year;
• The change of time to a morning parade, with parents invited to stay for morning tea;
• The general timetable of the day, with Chapel at the end of the day; and
• The Book Stalls.

Please get on board with this day, celebrating reading and books, and don’t be shy, bring along your own super powers… and maybe dress up yourselves!

The second whole school event, is our second biannual ‘International Day’ on Friday 20 September. This was a highlight in 2017 so we are once again looking forward to this important event that celebrates multiculturalism, especially the many cultures within our own school community. To do this we need your ideas, your skills and your help. In next week’s newsletter We will explain the plan for the day. In the meantime, please put your thinking caps on and consider what ideas you can suggest for the rotating activities throughout the day.

These days work best when we have authentic cultural learning experiences. That means we need you to personally share your culture with the students. This is a lot more effective than teaching about a culture that is not our own. We hope to run a series of workshops based on different nationalities (with the teachers there to help of course). You might like to, for example:

• Cook a national dish,
• Teach the children a traditional dance,
• Create some cultural art,
• Share a story and some photos from your country of origin, or
• Play a culturally relevant game. 

It is important for all of us that we represent as many of the countries from the Claremont families as possible, and to do this we need you to email us through the office@claremont email address, by Friday 16 August with your ideas for culturally relevant activities that we could implement and if you are able to assist on the day. This will help us to organise some great authentic learning experiences for the students.

Also coming up this term, there are so many thoughtfully planned learning activities across the school, best described by the busyness of the Word Salad below.

We recognise it is difficult to get involved in everything that is happening at school, and we understand this. Your child/ren love you to be involved as often as you can, as this gives them an opportunity to share this aspect of their world. Please give some thought to how you can contribute to these two whole school events. So many good things happen when our school community works together.

Speaking of coming together, don’t forget to get your tables (or parts of tables) together for the P&F Trivia night on 17 August. See additional details in this newsletter.

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12: 4-5

Janelle Ford
Deputy Principal

  Follow me @janelleford2031

My good friend, Mr Phil Roberts, Principal of Mt Sinai College, a Jewish K-6 Primary school at Maroubra is hosting an important event for parents of his school next week, and he has extended a warm invitation to the Claremont parent community. I will certainly be attending and would be delighted to have you join me. I join Phil in sharing the concern for the wellbeing of our children whose easy access to explicit pornography is nothing but a modern day curse. Educators and parents need to be aware of the dangers and be equipped with strategies for both responding and talking to our kids about this. This is a fabulous opportunity for us to learn together and I highly recommend that you join me for this occasion. I hope to see you there.

Below is an article written by Mr Roberts

It is too often an uncomfortable topic but we need to talk about porn! Or more accurately, we need to talk about the ways in which this industry has, and is having an impact on young people. It is naïve to think that this is an issue that would never affect your child. If your child has a phone, they have immediate access to porn – even when that is accessed accidentally. Type the wrong words into a simple Google search and one can find a simple diversion to the porn industry.

I attended a recent conference by prominent child and adolescent psychologist – Michael Carr-Gregg. He recounted some horrendous stories of trauma in children who had been exposed to pornography. Tragically, the industry is 80% correlated with violence and so it is not surprising that porn is shaping the way young people view sexuality and relationships.

I recently watched a documentary on Viceland (Love and Sex in an Age of Pornography) which explored teenagers' emerging sexuality in an age of increasingly accessible and hard-core pornography. While the technology of our times (internet and mobile phones) amplify the availability of pornography, the impact on young people's sexual development and early relationships is unprecedented. The program told the stories of young people for whom pornography was normalised, and went behind the scenes of the porn industry to discover the reality behind the fantasy.

Just as fascinating, was Jon Ronson’s podcast (The Butterfly Effect) which traced the lives of many people in the industry. The impact this industry has had on young people cannot be underestimated.

Please join us on 6 August 7 pm for an honest and open discussion on this topic which is hosted by Matt Friedman (founder of 2 Birds 1 Bee).

RSVP essential http://trybooking.com/BDVRF

Should you be unable to attend, the links below might be a helpful starting point should you wish to know more on this topic.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-the-office/research-library/parenting-and-pornography

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/big-issues/online-pornography

Doug Thomas
Principal

  Follow me @DougJThomas

The positive behaviour focus for the first week next term will be:

‘Make sure you eat the food your parents would like you to eat before you start playing at recess and lunch. It’s a good idea to eat the healthiest food first.

Larissa Cameron
Deputy Principal

TERM 3 

The following items require immediate action.

Year 4 - Body Image Incursion - 6 August - Parent Portal

Year 4 - Three Day Camp to Collaroy - 7 August-9 August -  Parent Portal

K-2 - The Protectors (an anti-bullying show) - 9 August - Parent Portal

Years 3 & 4 Indonesian Dance Lessons - 12 August-19 September - Parent Portal

Years 3-6 Angklung Performance Group Invitation

Dads' and Kids' Camp - 13 September-15 September - SOLD OUT - contact the school office to be placed on a WAIT LIST

Parent Groups in Term 3

Thank you to all the parents who helped in Kindy Parent Groups last term. On Friday 9 August (Week 3), our Parent Groups will be starting again. This will run until Friday 20 September (Week 9). If you are interested in assisting a group for maths and are available on Friday morning after Chapel from 9:20am - 9:50am, please complete the Google Form: https://forms.gle/5pftpHAgnkPFeudE9  

Year 4 & Year 6 ICAS Competitions

ICAS English - Tuesday 17 September 2019          
ICAS Mathematics - Thursday 19 September 2019

Each year we invite the Year 4 and Year 6 students to participate in the ICAS English and Mathematics Competitions. The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools, or ICAS for short, is an independent, skills-based assessment program. Students who sit for an assessment will receive a certificate and a detailed summary of the questions they know and the questions they have not mastered yet.

For over 10 years now we have chosen to participate in these two assessments or competitions for two reasons:

• To give students a challenging external assessment in their Primary year that is not a NAPLAN year, and
• To challenge the students through a competition that is set beyond grade expectations, against schools from around the world, to recognise academic excellence.

This year parents are asked to go online to register your child. You will be able to access practice papers online as well. To do this you will need to visit https://pay.unswglobal.com.au/ and enter the school unique code 68efff86f7 to make a direct payment to UNSW Global. 

The online payment option has been extended to 14 August 2019.

We strongly encourage you to register your child to give them this experience and to help both the parents and the school can understand where a child sits against an international cohort. to quote James Nottingham: "Easy is boring, challenge is interesting"...let's give our students this opportunity to be challenged.

PLEASE NOTE: It is possible to purchase and complete English and Mathematics practice tests online. As students will be completing the assessments on the school iPads, it is suggested that students who are interested in sitting the ICAS Assessments trial at least one online test at home on an iPad. To purchase any online tests, please visit: https://www.unswglobal.unsw.edu.au/educational-assessments/products/practice-online/

Janelle Ford
Deputy Principal

Our Excursion to Shark Island

This term we went to Shark Island. We had to catch a ferry to get there. Shark Island is 1km from Rose Bay. It took us around 30 minutes.

At Shark Island we had lots of fun. We went fishing in our geography groups (only a few of us caught fish though!), we also walked around the whole island in less than five minutes! We went crab hunting and made animal habitats. After that we had to leave and go back to school on the ferry. We had a wonderful time! 

By Caitlin Chee

Year 4 & Year 6 ICAS Competitions

ICAS English - Tuesday 17 September 2019           
ICAS Mathematics - Thursday 19 September 2019

Each year we invite the Year 4 and Year 6 students to participate in the ICAS English and Mathematics Competitions. The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools, or ICAS for short, is an independent, skills-based assessment program. Students who sit for an assessment will receive a certificate and a detailed summary of the questions they know and the questions they have not mastered yet.

For over 10 years now we have chosen to participate in these two assessments or competitions for two reasons:

• To give students a challenging external assessment in their Primary year that is not a NAPLAN year, and
• To challenge the students through a competition that is set beyond grade expectations, against schools from around the world, to recognise academic excellence.

This year parents are asked to go online to register your child. You will be able to access practice papers online as well. To do this you will need to visit https://pay.unswglobal.com.au/ and enter the school unique code 68efff86f7 to make a direct payment to UNSW Global. 

The online payment option has been extended to 14 August 2019.

We strongly encourage you to register your child to give them this experience and to help both the parents and the school can understand where a child sits against an international cohort. to quote James Nottingham: "Easy is boring, challenge is interesting"...let's give our students this opportunity to be challenged.

PLEASE NOTE: It is possible to purchase and complete English and Mathematics practice tests online. As students will be completing the assessments on the school iPads, it is suggested that students who are interested in sitting the ICAS Assessments trial at least one online test at home on an iPad. To purchase any online tests, please visit: https://www.unswglobal.unsw.edu.au/educational-assessments/products/practice-online/

Janelle Ford
Deputy Principal

Sumardi – Wayang Kancil    

This week for Indonesian, the K-2 students were so fortunate to see the famous Master Puppeteer Sumardi present the Wayang Kancil, a live puppetry performance especially for younger students. Wayang Kancil uses colourful cut-out animal puppets to bring traditional fables of Java Indonesia, to life. Stories about kancil are the most popular of traditional Indonesian folklore, which has been around for hundreds of years, and are told orally from one generation to the next.  

Sumardi explained to us that the delicate puppets he uses are handmade (by him) from buffalo hide, buffalo horn and tortoise shell. The children were given an opportunity to watch Sumardi perform from both sides of the screen to experience the magic of the show, as well as observe the skills and techniques behind the art forms and see the puppets at work.

The characters in the story, such as the elephant and the clever little kancil (mouse-deer) who is an Indonesian children’s favourite, are animals found in Java. The moral of this fable is to care for nature and the animals who live around us.

The presentation was professional and highly engaging. The children were fascinated and very impressed.

We can’t wait for the next Sumardi show!

Bu Jill
Indonesian Teacher

BOOK WEEK PARADE 2019

Claremont’s famous Book Week Celebration Day is only a few weeks away! On Friday 23 August, students will be involved in a range of exciting activities, all based on the theme “Reading is my Secret Power”. We would love to invite parents to attend our parade in the MORNING. This year we are trialing having our parade in the morning. One reason for this is that a number of the students wear costumes that include props and equipment. By having the parade in the morning, parents are able to take these “extras” home after the parade. Students can wear their costumes for the rest of the day, or they can change into something else weather appropriate. On the day students can dress up as either a literature character of their choice OR as something connected to the theme, “Reading is my Secret Power”. Please note that these costumes do NOT need to be purchased. In lessons, we have been encouraging students to think outside the box and challenge their creativity with their costumes. The morning’s agenda is as follows:

• 8:15 - 8:45 - Student drop off
• 8:45 - 9:00 Parents to arrive. Please do not arrive earlier to allow us time to set up the playground
• 9:00 - 10:20 - Parade
• 10:20 - 11:00 - Morning Tea. We would love to invite you to stay to enjoy Morning Tea with your child. You might also like to take up this opportunity to purchase a book from our book stalls.

After Morning Tea, students will be participating in a variety of different activities all surrounding literature and the Book Week theme. If you would like to be involved in one of these rotations, please email your interest through to me via the front office. I will contact the first interested parents to confirm over the next few weeks. (NB. If you are able to help, you will be stationed at an activity, not rotating around the activities with your own child/ren.)

We are all looking forward to this fun-filled day of learning and hope to see you there.

Book Stalls

This year, Claremont College is excited to partner with “Read On” books, from Eastgardens, which has arranged for the books on this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia shortlist to be available for students to order on the day. “Read On” have very generously offered a 20% discount for all books purchased on the day. You can see the amended prices of the books that will be available in the attached information sheet.

Mrs Vivian Yang (Elsie Y6) is also organising a Bible Book Stand, with children’s Bibles, stories and devotions. These can be purchased on the day, and are beautiful gifts for your children, and the children in your extended family.

Mrs Stephanie Affleck
Teacher/Librarian

Upcoming Events

Monday 26 August - IPSHA Athletics Championship @ Homebush
Friday 27 September - Claremont Cross Country Carnival

Claremont College Ski Team Report

What a fabulous week the Claremont Ski Team had in Thredbo during the school holidays for the Sydney Interschools Snowsports Championships. Our team participated in a cross section of events covering skiing and snowboarding with an overall result of 8^th place! 

The team performed brilliantly in the races, demonstrating great sportsmanship, comradeship, support and bravery. Most importantly, a whole lot of fun was had by everyone.

Thank you so much to all the children, parents and families who participated with such gusto: Archie (Year 4) and Rory Martin (Year 2), Henry Morris (Year 4), Jack (Year 4), Charlotte (Year 2) and Juliette Francis (Kindergarten), Fletcher Lay (Year 4) , Ziggy (Year 4) and Indigo Edwards (Year 2).

Thank you to Roxanne Fielding for the awesome beanies provided for the team.

Congratulations to Ziggy and Indigo Edwards who have made it through to the next level in the Northern States Interschools Snowsports Championships on August 20, in Perisher after both coming 6^th in their Snowboard GS and Skier Alpine respectively. A first for Claremont to be in the State Championships for this sport !

Mr Shaun Edwards
Team Coordinator

Claremont Champions

Congratulations to Noah Law (Kindergarten) who has made it to the Grand final of the Souths Juniors rugby league competition this coming Sunday 4th Aug. Noah plays for the under 6's Coogee Wombats Rugby League Team. His team recently won their semi finals match against an undefeated Redfern team and will now play against a strong Matraville Tigers team in the Final.

Noah's and his teammates have been working hard to make it this far, with a twice a week training commitment and a competitive game on the weekend for the past 16 weeks. An impressive feat to juggle these commitments with the demands of starting Kindergarten this year. Noah is known in his team as the “players player” due to his sportsmanship and care for his teammates (and opposition). Well done on your season so far, Noah. We wish you all the best for your Final this weekend.

Joel Geering
Sport and PDHPE

Today we continued our theme, ‘ In Jesus’ Name we Pray’. After the Year 6 students led us in songs, we encouraged the students to be intentional with our listening and doing. Often we lean towards one or the other, and our challenge is to do more of what doesn’t come naturally to us. Let’s continue to be vigilant listeners of God so we may do all that pleases Him. This pertains to loving one another, forgiving one another, helping one another, and leading each other to know God better. 

Verse of the Week

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25

God Bless!

Charlie Blevins
Chapel Coordinator

Today is the final round for the InterSchool Chess Competition. Over the last 10 weeks, members of our Intermediate Chess team, comprising Joseph Millward (5), Caitlin Chee (5), Nicholas Peters (3), Isaac Ha (3) and Hosea Wibowo (2), have been competing each week against various schools in our local area. The schools included Coogee Boys Preparatory School, Mt Sinai School, St Spyridon College, St Brigid’s Primary School and St Therese Primary School.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Lenny Maryani and Ms Sarah Bingham who have taken turns to transport the team to their away games.

We look forward to advising the school community of their overall result in the coming weeks.

Miss Su Lim and Mrs Karen Wiggins
Chess Coordinators 

Whilst we give priority for enrolments to siblings, placement can not be guaranteed. If you have a pre-schooler who is due to begin school in 2021, please ensure that your application form is lodged or your child might miss out on a place. Additional references are not required for sibling application.

Should you have any questions or require confirmation that an application has been submitted, please contact Mrs Rochester.

ONLINE ORDER CODE: 537 6V3 2EM

Online Order link: https://www.advancedimage.com.au/keycode/keycodefinder.aspx?keycode=5376V32EM

Dear Parents,

Photographs can be purchased by following the link above for 7 days from the day photos are taken, after which late fees/additional charges will be incurred.

Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups available at your school’s advancedorder site (follow the link above)

Important Information:

• ● School photos purchased online DO NOT require envelopes returned to school*
• ● Late fees/additional charges will be applied for purchases after photo day
• ● Photos will be returned to your school for distribution approximately six weeks after photos are taken

advancedlife would like to express our appreciation to your school for placing your trust in us. Please remember we offer a 100% money back guarantee on our products to ensure your peace of mind. We would also love to receive your feedback or resolve any issues you may experience as fast as possible, to ensure your satisfaction. If you have any questions, comments or feedback relating to your advancedlife experience please contact us at enquiries@advancedlife.com.au

The Claremont College bi-annual Trivia Night fundraiser will be held on Saturday 17 August at Maroubra Seals (Auditorium).  This event is always sold out, so get in early and purchase your tickets for $30 per person via Flexischools - friends and family welcome! 

Mr Geering recently received a Rechargeable pump purchased by the P&F with the Rebel Randwick credits.  Thank you to all of the parents who shop at Rebel Randwick. Please remember that the P&F get store credits for all purchases made in the Randwick store.

Eamon Dilworth is a Sydney-based trumpeter, songwriter, vocalist and educator. He is a graduate from the Sydney Conservatorium in jazz and has released three critically acclaimed albums of original jazz music. He now applies this background to a multitude of other genres — performing, recording and touring with artists as diverse as Ed Kuepper, Tijuana Cartel, Caravana Sun and The Aints. He has studied and toured across Australia, New Zealand and Europe, including Italy. His latest project, Crawfish Po’Boys, showcases his skill as a vocalist and songwriter, bringing together some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians to create New Orleans-inspired dance music for everyone to enjoy.

Eamon currently teaches brass at Marcellin College Randwick, Wenona School and Kincoppal Rose Bay in addition to conducting at Randwick PS and teaching improvisation at UNSW.

To enrol for lessons with Eamon please CLICK HERE.

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, there is now the opportunity to order a family meal once a week.  Orders will need to be placed by Tuesday for pick up from the Canteen on a Wednesday. 

Next week’s meal option is SHEPHERD’S PIE.  

The Canteen is open 5 days a week. Please place your orders via Flexischools. 

A reminder that children who bring their own food to school need to bring their own cutlery from home, and only children who have ordered from the canteen will be provided with a spoon or fork.

Also due to WHS issues, the canteen is unable to heat food brought from home.

All members of the extended Claremont family are warmly invited to come along and pray for our school community. Toddlers are also more than welcome.

The prayer group meets fortnightly on Thursdays at 8:45am. Please sign in at the school office.

The dates for Term 3 are 15 August, 29 August, 12 September and 26 September.

For those parents who would like to pray for the school but are unable to attend the Prayer Group, you are now able to receive fortnightly prayer points. If you are interested in receiving the fortnightly prayer points or have any questions, please contact Vivian Yang via email vivian@yang.id.au

The Uniform Shop is open every Wednesday fortnight from 8am - 9am. 

The remaining dates for Term 3 are 7 August, 21 August, 4 September and 18 September.

The Uniform Shop is situated below the School Hall with entry via the small gate next to the units. Whether you can make it at this time or not, parents are encouraged to place online orders (especially if you are purchasing accessories) via Flexischools. Please note, the Uniform Shop does not accept any second hand clothing except for Claremont school uniforms. It is very inconvenient if you leave other items. Thank you.

Please note that all communication should be through the email address: clothingpool@claremont.nsw.edu.au

Please refrain from calling or texting Roxanne Fielding directly.