REDEEMER news NEWSLETTER TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF REDEEMER BAPTIST SCHOOL Greetings to all parents, guardians and friends!

What a wonderful Easter Chapel service we had at School led by Year 12 reading the Easter story from the Gospel of John. The singing from the whole School was inspira- tional, supported so ably by our instrument group. It was wonderful that so many parents and family members could Term 1 Issue 1 share this occasion with us. April 2016

The purpose of this newsletter is to review the term that is almost over and to let you know some important dates for the first half of Term 2.

TERM ONE IN REVIEW Parent/Guardian Information Nights Your feedback on these occasions was that we have been able to convey the School expectations and guidelines in supporting learning at home. The attendance this year was very good. We see these occa- sions as vital in creating the link between School and home. The Senior Hospitality students excelled in catering for us on all these occasions. I am sure you will agree!

Module Two (Years 9 & 10) School Camp What a varied week with the most magnificent weather on the South Coast. Our students were able to complete field trips for Geography, Science, Business and Commerce, as well as strenuous activities such as climbing Pigeon House Mountain and canoeing the Clyde River from Nelligen to . One of the field trips was a visit to a dairy farm where all the cows are milked by robots! This is a new project in the Nowra district and an amazing application of current technology to agriculture. The students also had an opportunity to taste milk straight from the cow (almost!). Our Bible studies this year — centred on the Apostle Peter and his life as a follower of Jesus — point the way for our lives as (continued p. 2)

Telephone: 02 9630 6311 Email: [email protected] 2 Masons Drive, North Parramatta Facsimile: 02 9683 5338 Web: www.redeemer.nsw.edu.au NSW 2151 a ministry of REDEEMER BAPTIST CHURCH a fellowship of renewal Redeemer Baptist School Ltd ABN 62 002 650 704 followers of Jesus today. One of our key verses on camp was from 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believ- ers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” Each study began with enjoyable and hilarious activities!

Family Film Night Once again, a well-attended gathering of School families. This was an opportunity to David qualified to represent ASISSA at CIS get to know new families and catch up with Swimming Championships in 6 events: 50m continuing families. It was also an oppor- freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, tunity to view classrooms and hear from 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle, and 200m us with regard to directions for our School medley. and guidelines for student behaviour in the Samuel Kim also qualified to represent context of the whole School family. ASISSA at CIS in 50m backstroke. It was a great night for an outdoor film Congratulations to David and Samuel and screening, weatherwise, for which we were all who competed in ASISSA swimming this grateful. year! Just one concern – quite a number of families left very young children in the care of teachers beyond the 6:00pm mark. Your 2. CIS (Primary) Swimming Championships care of your own children beyond 6:00pm is David Kang was a gold medallist in the 50m mandatory. breaststroke – our first gold medal at this level! Congratulations, David! We wish David the very best for his partici- pation in the NSW PSSA Swimming Cham- pionships this Wednesday.

3. SWISSA (Secondary) Swimming For the sixth year in a row, Redeemer Bap- Sydney Symphony at Parramatta Park tist School was the winning school in this We had about 45 students involved with competition. 31 Redeemer students com- the free outdoor concert in Parramatta peted and an outstanding 9 of these were Park with the Sydney Symphony, featuring age champions: Marina Yuan, Galen Yuan, the world-famous Australian jazz musician, Mikalah Zammit, Carla Zammit, Anthony James Morrison. Bolton, Andrea Burns, Lachlan Bolton, Sha- lom Olegasegarem and Martyn Poyitt. Our School instrument group and students from Years 5 and 6 played along with the or- Congratulations to these age champions on chestra in “Basin Street Blues”, with James their outstanding achievement and congrat- Morrison on trumpet. They did well, along ulations to all 31 students who competed with about 160 other students from schools so whole-heartedly to make us the winning in the Parramatta area and beyond. team! It was an inspirational evening of high-qual- ity jazz! 4. AICES (Secondary) Swimming Champi- onships Congratulations to Galen Yuan for his gold Sporting Highlights: medallist swim in the 13 years boys 50m 2 1. ASISSA (Primary) Swimming breaststroke. An outstanding achievement for David Galen will compete at the CIS Swimming Kang, the 11 years boys age champion. Championships in 3 events: 50m breast- The Senior Girls Team has made significant stroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle. improvement through dedication to strenu- We wish Galen all the best at this high level ous training sessions, achieving impressive of competition. teamwork on the court. They won their grand final with a totally impressive 26-4 victory. Congratulations for this great term of basketball, girls!

Interested parents and guardians are always welcome to support students at the various sporting events that take place throughout each term.

Final Remarks 5. SWISSA Football (Soccer) Cup This term has also been full of many inter- We have a very keen Senior Soccer Team esting curriculum activities for both staff and who turned up to training early mornings students: Years 5 & 6 were given an inter- and weekends. They are devoted to excel- active presentation by an explorer who had lence in the game. visited Macquarie Island; Year 11 Physics We are pleased to announce that their did some practical physics at Luna Park; commitment to training paid off well and Years 7 & 8 were taught first aid by one of they were the champion team in this com- Sydney’s most experienced paramadics; petition. last Saturday 35 of our staff spent the day participating in an English professional Congratulations, boys, for your commit- development worshop, which focussed on ment and achievement! Your passion for the teaching writing skills. game is inspiring!

In closing, we trust you have an enjoyable 6. Western Zone Cricket and safe school vacation over these next The Senior Boys Cricket Team were the Reid two weeks. Year 12 students need to spend Shield champions. Once again, this team time this vacation in disciplined preparation was committed to solid training sessions for their Semester 1 examinations which and learned to work together in impressive commence in Week 2 of next term. teamwork. Yours sincerely, Congratulations on this outstanding achievement!

Jonathan Cannon Principal

7. SWISSA Basketball Championships It wasn’t all boys’ achievements in team sports in Term 1 – Basketball was the sport where the girls have achieved outstanding 3 success throughout the term. School Diary Week 1: • Wednesday, 27th April — Term 2 Chapel Service at 8:20am in Sargood Hall • All students in full winter uniform • CIS Swimming Championships, Homebush • Thursday, 28th April — Year 12 and elective Music students excursion to Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House • Kindergarten excursion to “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, Riverside Theatre • Friday, 29th April — Year 9 Geography excursion to the Blue Mountains

Week 2: • Revision Week for Year 12 • Monday, 2nd May — School Photos and Family Photos • Tuesday, 3rd May — Sports Photos • Wednesday, 4th May — Year 11 History excursion to the State Library & the Maritime Museum • Friday, 6th May — School Cross Country

Week 3: • Examination Week for Year 12 • Tuesday, 10th May — NAPLAN: Years 3, 5, 7, 9 – Language/Writing • Wednesday, 11th May — NAPLAN: Years 3, 5, 7, 9 – Reading • Thursday, 12th May — NAPLAN: Years 3, 5, 7, 9 – Numeracy • Friday, 13th May — Year 7 vaccinations

Week 4: • Monday, 16th May — SWISSA (Years 7-12) Cross Country at RBS • Tuesday, 17th May — ICAS Digital Technology Test, Years 5-10 • Thursday, 19th May — ASISSA (Years 2-6) Cross Country, Queens Park • Friday, 20th May — Richard III Symposium, Year 12 Advanced English

Week 5: • Revision Week for Years 3-11

Week 6: • Examination Week for Years 3-11 • Tuesday, 31st May — ICAS Science Test, Years 3-10 • Thursday, 2nd June — AICES Cross Country, Horsley Park • Year 12 Ancient History Pompeii and Herculaneum seminar • Year 12 Leadership Day at NSW Parliament House 4