Author: jmckay

Unfortunately there is a Year 7 group attending Colo in the final week of the term. You would have received correspondence from Mark Brackenreg in regards to this but the documents associated with the trip are listed below. With the group returning on Thursday afternoon, this makes pack up some what difficult for these boys. They have been encouraged to start taking part of their belongings home with them over the next couple of days to make the job all that easier when they return on Thursday.

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I am sure that you are all across this but the dates for Term Two are listed below. This is a nine week term with another Long Weekend along the way. It will be a fast paced term, full of assessment and compulsory events. If you haven’t already done so, can you please take note of these dates below;

Boarders return by 8pm Monday April 30

Classes Commence Tuesday May 1

Queens Birthday Long Weekend – students leave Thursday June 7 by 5pm and classes recommence Tuesday June 12

End of Term Two Thursday June 28

Next Friday, April 13, is the Parent, Student, Teacher Interviews for Year 7. You have a received a fair bit of information here on this from the Dean of Studies, Mr. Mark Williams but this is just a reminder about the day and a reminder that your son should be present with you at the interviews dressed in his Full Blues.

With the end of term fast approaching, it’s important to start planning ahead. Every boy needs to ensure that all their items are taken out of their locker (in the dorms) so that the cleaners can get in and do a thorough tidy up. Some of these lockers have a funky smell and others have been harbouring some interesting wildlife over the course of the term so it is important that all items are removed.

The boys will potentially be moved dorms next term. The Boarders will most definitely be in a different bed (quite possibly the same dorm but in a different bed and next to someone new) and some of the Day Students will be moved about.  The Full Boarders can leave a bag, pillow and quilt here over the break in the laundry/storage area in Dorm 12. Unfortunately the Day Students and Weekly Boarders will need to take all their items home with them.

Following on from last term, there will be restricted parking within the College for Winter Sport home games commencing this weekend.

During the hours of 7.30am and 2.30pm:

The Gladesville Road & Mark Street gates will be open for pedestrian access only. The gates will be closed to vehicular access for all, except staff. Ryde Road gates will be locked and the pedestrian gates will be open for access to the College. The bollards around circular lawn will be locked.

Just a reminder that we break for Easter next Wednesday afternoon. In saying that there will be no sport on the Easter weekend. In summary:

The boys finish school on Wednesday March 28. They will be dismissed around 3/3.30pm. Boarders who are not traveling via coach the next morning are free to leave at this time too.

Boarders return to school on Tuesday April 3 by 8pm. Classes commence on Wednesday April 4.

Grandparents Day will take place on May 7 2018 (week 1 of Term 2). Further information will follow on this shortly. An email will be sent to you (hopefully tomorrow) from one of the administration staff on how to book your sons grandparent(s) in for the event.

Next Friday, March 23, is the GPS Swimming Carnival. This will be at 7pm at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC). All of the Year 7 boarders and the staff will be attending the event so in saying this the normal routine for Friday night will not take place. There will be no 8pm sign out as we cannot facilitate it on that night. Day Students are more than welcome to attend the event but we will not return to the College until 9.30/10pm approx.

It is suggested that you list your sons departure at 5pm for Friday week.

I am getting a lot of questions about Lunch Leaves. Just a reminder that we are encouraging the boys to do this. As parents, you don’t have access to this form of leave in your Boardingware profile. The boys, however, do. Can I please encourage you to allow the boys to submit the lunch leave requests. They know how to do this. If you could just arrange the lunch leave and confirm with your son, then ask them to upload this that would be perfect.

Another reminder that all boys on lunch leaves must submit a request. Each individual needs to do this even if they are attending the lunch leave with another boys parents.

This week, Year 7 are focusing on Bullying in their Pastoral Care classes. The difference between bullying and banter has been discussed and the concept of a bystander was addressed. The boys have been asked not to sit back and watch bullying take place (be a bystander) and have been asked to stand up to inappropriate behaviour and report it where necessary.

Often, bullying and banter is misconstrued and with the boys in Year 7 learning their way and trying to find their place in the year group, social interactions can at times be a bit negative. Below is a link to an article that you may like to read and then discuss with your son.

http://education.abc.net.au/newsandarticles/blog/-/b/990801/spelling-out-the-b-word

Year 10 joined the Year 7 boys during pastoral time on Thursday and Friday this week and shared their strategies for dealing with inappropriate situations and bullies. They gave advice for the boys when confronted by bullies and talked about supporting one another and caring for their mates.

This focus on bullying coincides with the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence on Friday March 16. Year 7 will continue to focus on bullying in pastoral time and in year meetings for the next couple of weeks.

This Friday 16/3/18 the boys will have their summer sports photo. They will need to bring their summer sports uniform (their playing uniform) that is clean and tidy with them to school. They will get changed into this uniform at 3.30pm for their photo. The photos are taken on site. Those in swimming and water polo would have been given further directions from their coaches as to what they wear.