Wrapping Up 2022
As we wrap up Claremont College’s 140th year, let us focus on the many good things that have happened this year. We have much to celebrate and much to be happy about. We have not only survived a year without lockdown and without Off Campus Learning, we celebrated our 140th Year in style.
We began the year with our celebratory School Picnic and gift stickers for students. We welcomed our 2022 Kindergarten students and saw our Year 6 students step up as Kindy Buddies. We began our Goal Setting Program with all students, so they could think about the part they each play in their own lives, their learning and their futures. We welcomed Grandparents and Special Friends back to school and celebrated a school where ‘Kindness Culture’ is the norm. And we shared stories through our newsletters of so many of our students who ‘Inspire Us For Life’ with their acts of kindness and generosity. And that is just in Term 1.
In Term 2, we continued our respectful tradition of honouring ANZAC Day, and we celebrated Mothers’ Day with our beautiful Mothers’ Day breakfast. We were once again able to show off our innovative school with Open Days, and we recognised the importance of National Reconciliation Week, National Sorry Day and Naidoc Week 2022. We have been proactive with The Five Ways of Wellbeing with students and staff, and we cheered for the Queen during her Platinum Jubilee. We learnt about what makes our students, the Alpha Generation tick and we began having Learning Festivals again to share the variety of our learning with parents.
We began Term 3 with our 140th Gala dinner… what would we do without the active participation of the parents of the P&F! The Fathering Project has grown from strength to strength, and we have enjoyed many stories from past students of Claremont. Our School Concert was a huge hit – how amazing are our students! And of course we were able to welcome Dads to school for our annual Fathers’ Day breakfast. We were reminded that we are a Child Safe school and community, and we celebrated the ever popular Book Week.
In Term 4, we introduced our new Strategic Intent with so much hope for the future, and we began preparing the students for their first school camp in 3 years. Excursions and incursions were abundant again, and the students had many opportunities to think of others less fortunate than themselves and to raise money for charities. Last week we welcomed many Kindy visitors to our Christmas Nativity and now we are preparing to farewell our Year 6 students and wish them well on their educational journeys ahead.
Yes – we have much to celebrate; Life is good, God is good.
Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him.
Psalm 34:8
Student Behaviour
In the last week of the school year, it is always important not to let our guard down, as students become excited about the coming of Christmas. Over the next few school days we have the Year 6 Valedictory Dinner, the School Picnic, the Year 6 Farewell Assembly, lots of fun in classes and a time of farewells for some friends, however, we do expect the students to remain on their best behaviour and to stay safe at all times.
We are Proud of our Community
Thank you to our students, parents and staff. We are sincerely grateful for the support, encouragement, perseverance, commitment, dedication and love shown to each other during the year. Congratulations to all of our students. They have learnt and developed so much this year, and we would like to acknowledge all they have achieved.
A very special mention to our students and families who will be leaving Claremont College. We thank you for the many ways you have contributed to our community and wish you all the best next year and beyond. We especially would like to mention our Year 6 students. We are incredibly proud of them, and we pray they will continue to thrive in their next school, and be filled with hope, courage, wonder and joy as they enter their next chapter in their lives. We look forward to celebrating their time at Claremont College at our Valedictory Dinner this evening.
This year we say farewell to the following Year 6 students:
Ascham School - Cristina S, Illiana S, Chrisanthy T, Katherine T
Cranbrook - Bastian D, Isaac H, Max L, Hugo M, Saxon O, Nicholas P, Enzo S, Caleb S
Fort Street High - Taka M
Marcellin College - Marcus K
MLC - Victoria G, Tasha K
Newington College - Marcus T
SCEGGS Darlinghurst - Chloe M
St Andrew’s Cathedral School - Ryan E, Zara A, Gia G, April M, Simona P
St Andrew’s Lutheran College - India D
St Catherine's School - Amelie A, Stella C, Sophie D, Jade J, Sarah O, Sophie R
St Clare’s College - Tabitha A, Zara F, Billie H, Poppy QR
St George Girls High - Charisma V
Sydney Grammar - Anthony T
The Scots College - Ben V
Trinity Grammar - Nate C
We are confident that our Year 6 students will continue to be inspired and to inspire others. We will miss them. We are proud of them.
Student Leaders 2023
Recently, our 2023 Student Leaders were announced to the Year 5 student cohort. (The wider school community will be informed of the 2023 School Leaders on Speech Day.) We have been very impressed with all of the Year 5 candidates and we congratulate them on their courage and leadership that they all will find valuable as they become Year 6 Leaders next year.
MYSCHOOL Website & NAPLAN Data
Once again, the ‘competition’ between public and independent schooling was in the news this week (Daily Telegraph, 29 November, 22). We encourage you to visit the MySchool Website (https://www.myschool.edu.au/) to be reassured about how well our students at Claremont do. Our student growth is on par with or outperforms statistically similar schools, which is the data that should be most helpful for our school community. The statistically similar schools index (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA)) on the MySchool Website provides information about schools so that comparisons can be made fairly. Please do not read headlines as seen in The Telegraph this week, and believe them. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers or me.
School Reports
The Semester 2 school reports are available online today. This is a time to share and celebrate your child’s learning with your child. Please discuss the report with your child and encourage him or her with the progress that has been made. It has been our pleasure to witness your child’s social, emotional and academic growth this year, and we thank you for this opportunity.
As we prepare for Christmas:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14
Janelle Ford
Co-Principal