Our Christmas Nativity and outdoor Chapel service was very special this morning. We salute and celebrate the Bible readers, the sheep, the wisemen and glorious angels and archangel, the shepherds, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph and of course the Baby Jesus (who appeared a little shaken at times). Thank you to the teachers for preparing the children so well. Kindy, you rock!

Thank you Mr Blevins, Mrs Irwin, Year 5, and the many parents, grandparents and friends. It is so wonderful to celebrate as a school community. Bring on Christmas - I think we might all be ready for it, if not in denial that the year is coming to an end.

This morning a good number of students, staff and parents participated in the Randwick Council White Ribbon March. Since its inception a few years back, Claremont College has always been involved in this event. We have been personally thanked and acknowledged over the years by the Police Commissioner, Members of Parliament and the Mayor. Today was no exception as we rang bells on the footpath and decorated the front of the school in white.

If the statistics are correct, and there is no reason to think they are not, it is very sad to consider that there would be members of our school community who are presently impacted by domestic and family violence. I reiterate the important theme of today, that violence is not okay, people love you and want to help you, so that this will stop. I pray that if you are a victim of violence or harassment, or you have been in the past and have kept it to yourself, please tell someone. You do not have to live with this. Violence, intimidation and bullying in any shape or form is not acceptable, and this school works hard to convey this message to children as they learn to express their feelings and emotions. We are here to help, and respond as soon as we are told.

Claremont College takes this matter seriously and we have many systems and structures to help kids who are bullied. Our Anti- Bullying Policy (Bullying Prevention & Intervention) is located on our website. We have a Weekly Pastoral Care Team comprising Mrs Cameron (Deputy Principal), Ms McKersie (School Counsellor), Ms Dalheim (Head of Learning Support), Mrs Eu (Head of Infants) and Mrs James (Head of Primary) who meet every Monday morning to discuss and review student and staff well-being matters. Student Pastoral Care matters are also raised as an agenda item at every weekly staff meeting, which is held after school on a Monday.

If you ever have a well-being concern, especially in relation to bullying, confirmed or suspected, please inform the school. At this time of the year particularly, if you are worried about your child, and are hoping that a concern may just ‘go away’ simply by waiting for the holiday and hoping for a fresh start in the new year, please tell us now. Parents can be assured of confidentiality if they call the school, or email us at office@claremont.nsw.edu.au

Thank you to the school community for the wonderful fundraising effort for today’s mufti day, together we have raised $1437.50 towards purchasing Christmas gifts for the 260 children and 12 teachers.

Thanks for reading and thanks again for your support, generosity and partnership.

Doug Thomas    
Principal

  Follow me @DougJThomas

The final half-day of our school year is Speech Day, which is on THURSDAY (5 December) at a new venue, the Jo Karaolis Sports Centre, St Catherine’s School, 26 Albion St, Waverley. It is a compulsory occasion for every child from Kindergarten to Year 6.

Parking There is no onsite parking available at St Catherine’s School. Street parking is available but please be aware of parking limits.

Teachers are completing reports at present and these will be available via the Parent Portal from Friday 29 November. As a school, we continually aim to improve the information that we provide to you in your child’s report. A message will be sent via the Claremont App as each year group is available. Please be patient as uploading can take time.

As reports are released on the final Friday of school each year, it has not been our practice to organise formal interviews at this time of the year. As you know, interviews are organised following Semester 1 reports. In addition, we have always encouraged parents to talk with teachers whenever they have a concern and from time to time, teachers initiate interviews with parents as they see the need. In this way, communication with parents is far more open, ongoing and meaningful. However, if having received your child’s report, you feel it is necessary to speak with the teacher, please contact the school office to make an appointment.

Janelle Ford
Deputy Principal

Coming into the last full week of school, let us all be encouraging to one another. Give praise and positive comments and build each other up.

Larissa Cameron
Deputy Principal

With the recent fires across the state, we have been monitoring the quality of air to ensure our students are kept safe when playing outside. At Claremont College, we refer to the government's health website, which gives us an Air Quality Index. This AQI is updated hourly and the website also provides us with specific information which guides us in taking protective steps. 

What does this mean for your child?

If the AQI is rated as Good or Very Good (0-66), your child will continue to enjoy outside activities. The air quality is considered good and the air pollution poses little or no risk to your child.

If the rating is rated Fair (67-99), all students who have asthma will be supervised inside and all other students will have the option of attending an indoor club, and there will be no strenuous physical activity permitted. According to the government's website, the air quality is acceptable for most people.

When the rating is regarded as Poor (100+), all students will spend their recess or lunchtime inside. The website explains that the air quality could be a problem for susceptible people. For example, people with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to particle pollution. The general population is not likely to be affected when the AQI is in this range.

For more information regarding this, refer to https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/air/Pages/aqi.aspx

Larissa Cameron
Deputy Principal

This week at Claremont we have been promoting National Skin Cancer Action Week. This year Cancer Council is encouraging young people to be SunSmart with new research from the National Sun Protection Survey showing one in four (26%) young people are getting sunburnt on summer weekends.

More than 2,000 people in Australia die from skin cancer each year, and the Cancer Council estimates that Australia spends more than $1 billion per year treating skin cancer, with costs increasing substantially over the past few years.

However, most skin cancers can be prevented by the use of good sun protection. That’s why at Claremont we support and promote the use of sun protection. These include to: 

SLIP on sun-protective clothing
SLOP on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen
SLAP on a broad-brimmed hat
SEEK shade
SLIDE on sunglasses

As part of the school’s sun protection policy all staff and students use a combination of sun protection measures throughout the day. Some key parts of the school's policy include:   

• Shade Provision. Shade provision is an important factor and students are encouraged to use shade when on the playground (The shade sail in the playground is currently being updated).
• Any students without appropriate hat or outdoor clothing are restricted to shade areas when outdoors.
• Students are required to wear a school hat whenever they are outdoors.
• Claremont provides SPF30 sunscreen in the playground for student use. Please note that teachers will remind students to apply sunscreen but are not responsible for the application. Parents/carers should also apply sunscreen to their child before the school day.
• Sun protection and skin awareness programs are taught as part of the PDHPE curriculum.

This National Skin Cancer Action Week young people are encouraged to #OwnYourTone by using all five forms of sun protection to prevent sunburn and protect their skin from UV radiation.

If you’d like to help prevent skin cancer and raise awareness of sun protection with your child at home, there are a range of resources on the cancer.org.au website or you can follow the #ownyourtone hashtag for more information.

Mr Joel Geering
PDHPE Teacher

This week 18 students from Claremont College (6 teams of 3), together with students from many other schools across NSW, participated in a 2-day Quest facilitated by BRAINways Education. BRAINways Education in conjunction with Australian Catholic University creates opportunities for students across Australia to engage with complex, abstract, multi-disciplinary programs, designed to challenge students to work in teams to meet the fundamental principles of gifted education and stimulate higher order thinking, analysis and reflection. 

Please read the attached article about the event.

Mrs Brenda Dalheim
Head of Learning Support

TERM 4 

Year 6 - Let’s Go Surfing - 27 November - Parent Portal

Student Details and Permissions Form 2020

We are getting organised for the beginning of the 2020 School Year. If your child will be at Claremont College in 2020, please pour yourself a big cup of tea and complete a separate form for each child. We’d like these completed before 29 November please. 

Student Details and Permissions Form 2020

Year 4 will be selling their ‘Business in Box’ products in the hall Thursday Week 7, 28th of November. The students have been working extremely hard developing and making products that Claremont students will love. Please bring some money and come into the hall at lunch time and buy a product!

Prices range from 0.50c to $4

Products include:

Bookmarks
Bath bombs
Key chains
Hair clips
Leather bracelets and patches
Variety of stress balls
Clay sculptures
Party bags
Comics
Friendship bracelets

50% of all profits made by the children will go to the Bush Fire and Fire Fighter Appeal and the Drought.

Kabar Indonesia        

We were honoured to receive an invitation from the Consul General Mr. Heru Hartanto Subolo of the Republic of Indonesia to attend an Indonesian language networking dinner at the residence of the Consul General in Rose Bay last Sunday evening.

I was delighted to have our School Leaders Harry Awad, Jack Tremain, Zoe Costa and Jade Hastings accompany me to a thoroughly enjoyable occasion of traditional Indonesian dance and musical entertainment. Guests were invited to join in the dancing so you will be pleased to know that our students were happy to wave the Claremont flag! Their efforts drew enthusiastic applause and helped turn the event into somewhat of a party! They were subsequently rewarded with a huge buffet of delicious Indonesian dishes including bakso soup, beef rendang, fried chicken, prawn crackers, rice and gado-gado salad.

The audience was pleased to hear about future plans for several initiatives to support the teaching of Indonesian in schools.

The Consul General is very interested in what we are doing at Claremont and we have issued an invitation for him to visit soon.

Sampai jumpa!

Bu Jill

New Titles To The Library Collection

Katherine Rundell is an English author and academic. She lives mostly in London and a little in Oxford, where she holds a fellowship in English Literature at All Souls College, Oxford. Earlier this year some of our students attended the Sydney Writers’ Festival and we had the pleasure of listening to Katherine share her passion for storytelling. We have added several of her books to the library collection this year, including Rooftoppers, The Wolf Wilder and The Explorer. Due to popular demand we have now added the most recent title 'The Good Thieves'.

This book is full of adventure and set across New York City. Vita Marlowe finds out that her beloved grandfather has been cheated out of his home and possessions by a notorious conman. She sails from England to America desperate to win back the family home. This is a story about a group of children who will do anything to right a wrong.

Recommended for ages 10+.

Library Borrowing

Please note that this week was the final library borrowing sessions. Please can we ask you to remind your children to return all library books to the library next week. Students that still have overdue books will be issued with overdue notice slips. These books can be returned any day up the last day of term and placed in the library returns box. Could you please advise us in advance if books have been lost. This is a busy time of the year in the library and we try to conduct a complete a stock take and ensure that the library shelves and boxes are full once again with interesting and enjoyable books for the next year. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Mrs Susan Kesur
Library Assistant

Congratulations to the overall winners of Claremont’s got Talent in each division: 

DANCE CHAMPION: Ella English and Charli Dodd  - Hyland
SINGING CHAMPION: Zara Puntigam - Wearne
INSTRUMENTAL CHAMPION: Emma Li  - Austin
OTHER CHAMPION: Francesca Green  - Wearne

ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD: Mateo Horne Lucero- Hyland
ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD: Lauren Cheng - Storey
SOLO: Asimina Chorafitis  - Austin
GROUP: Chloe King, Lara Davidovic, Stella Larby, Dion Tziortzis - Austin
HOUSE SPIRIT: Taka Maven - Hyland     

Term 1 Morning Skills Sports Programs 2020

Term 1 Sport information and registration form are now available via the link in the attached program. Please remember to register online for all morning activities as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as some sports have limited positions. For billing purposes, registrations will close on Monday 9 December 2019.

Programs commence from Week 3, 2020.

Monday: Year 3-6 Tennis (Eastern Suburbs Tennis Centre)
Tuesday: Year 1-2 Tennis and Year 3-6 AFL (Grant Reserve)
Wednesday: Year 3-6 Netball
Thursday: Year 1-2 Dance (hip hop)
Friday: Year 1-2 Football (soccer)

Jogging club will commence in Week 5. More details about students selected and days/time/venue of training will be published towards the start of Term 1, 2020.

Claremont Champions

Congratulations to Marnie Laurence (Yr 2) who competed at the State Athletics Relay Championships at Homebush on the weekend. Marnie was in a number of events throughout the day. Her all age 4 x 800m relay team (featuring Lola Upfold Yr 4) came 5th. The mixed U8 4 x 200m won bronze. Her U8 4 x 100m team scraped through to the final after a tricky heat in the morning and then went on to win GOLD! Well done, Marnie.

If you have any Claremont singlets or jerseys, swimming caps or other Claremont gear you have borrowed, please return these to office or myself as soon as possible. Thanks!

Mr Joel Geering
Sport and PDHPE

What an amazing Christmas Service we had today! The Year 5 students did a wonderful job starting the service by leading the singing of ‘Silent Night + Away in a Manger’. After this I shared a talk, ‘The Perfect Gift’. So often when we receive or give gifts where these presents fall under two categories which are ‘Generic’ or ‘Personalised’ gifts. I posed the question, ‘Jesus, is he a generic gift to us or a personalised gift?’ Of course it is the latter. The supporting verses that gave us fresh insights into the purpose of why Jesus came to earth. Jesus was a personalised gift for all of us and we can remember this daily, especially during this Christmas period.

Verse of the Week: 

‘Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.’ James 1:17 (NLT)

God Bless!

Charlie Blevins
Chapel Coordinator

LUCKY STAR FUNDRAISER for PROJECT HELP INDIA

Naomi Lee and Josephine Xue, both students in Year 6, have been inspired to create a fundraiser to help those who are less fortunate. They have used their own creativity, resources, time and effort since February this year to produce handmade origami “lucky stars.” With the help of fellow Year 6 students, Hannah Gajus and Elsie Yang, they have made over 4000 lucky stars! Many students would have seen them making lucky stars during recess and lunch over the course of the entire year.

Next Tuesday 26 November during recess the girls will be selling their handmade goods which range from $1 to $5 (see flyer attached). Being their last year at Claremont College, the girls would like to partner with 'Project Help India' the charity started by our Principal, Doug Thomas and his wife Rowena in Kotdwara and Bijnor, India. Their goal is to raise $400 in order to build a shelter for one of the village schools where the sponsor children attend, and the girls welcome any support from the school community to reach their goal.

St Andrew’s Cathedral School will offer one full or part scholarship to a Claremont student (boy or girl) for entry into Year 7, 2021. This scholarship is in recognition of the excellent relationship between the two schools, and acknowledgement of the high standard of Claremont graduates. The scholarship, and amount of the scholarship will be based on the following criteria:

• Results in the ACER Scholarship Selection Test which will be run at Claremont.
• Demonstrated commitment to school life at Claremont through Music, Drama, Sport, Leadership or other school programs
• School reports and NAPLAN.

Application forms can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

2021-Claremont-Scholarship-Application

Application closing date: Monday 10 February 2020. Test date: TBC

If you have any further questions regarding scholarships, please contact the Registrar’s Office via telephone or email.

T: 9286 9500
E: wbannister@sacs.nsw.edu.au

Please remember to check Flexischools by Tuesday afternoon for the weekly Family Special. 

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, 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.

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 for the last time this term on Friday 29 November from 9:00am - 10:00am.

The Uniform Shop will open on Wednesday 15 January and Wednesday 22 January 2020 from 9:00am-10:00am prior to the commencement of the 2020 school year.

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 apart from 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.