Mrs Nicole Smith | Head of Primary

2020

This has been a year like no other both around the world and with in our College. In the space of two to three weeks the amazing teaching staff of GPCC reimagined how they would educate our young students remotely – planned lessons and learnt a new platform in which they would deliver lessons for the next seven to eight weeks.

We reimagined our community gatherings, excursions, and daily activities such as music and sport lessons. Students as young as five learnt how to participate in a video conference calls instead of classrooms and to upload their work at the end of each day. We supported each other, demonstrated love, patience and grace, and we did not just survive but our students thrived.

Today as we celebrate our student’s achievements in our Thanksgiving and Graduation services, I am thankful and so incredibly proud of the resilience, grit, determination, and tenacity demonstrated from both our staff and students across this year. My prayer is that you are able to rest over the break and reflect on God’s provision for you during this time. May you have a happy and safe Christmas.

Change of start time 2021 to 8:45am

Research suggests that promoting movement and activity in young children can help increase memory, perception, language, attention, emotion and even decision making. When language is combined with movement, learning increases 90 percent.

In an effort to increase the movement and physical activity in the school day we will be introducing a formal outside Crunch/Sip'n Go time for our students. This will be a supervised ten minute moving time and five minute Crunch'n Sip time scheduled for 10:00am each day.

To cater for this in our timetable we will be starting the school day at 8:45am in line with the start time for Secondary School from the first day of 2021.

Important Dates

The end of the year is quickly approaching and so it is important to note a few events that will be occurring to mark the conclusion of 2020.

8 December 2020

• Students meet their teacher for 2021/Class Party/Cleaning Day
• Year 6 Graduation Dinner @ Terrigal SLSC 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start (no parents attending)

9  December 2020

• Last day for Students - HALF DAY
• K-2 students at school for Motiv8 Water Fun Day 9:00am - 11:30am
• Years 3-6 Macmasters Beach 9:00am - 12:00pm. Students can be dropped off and picked up by parents. Please complete permission note and request a space on the bus if needed

Students not picked up will be supervised at school until the end of the school day.

Head of School Awards

Congratulations to the following students who achieved the Head of School Award for Week 8, Term 4:

Amelia H, KDL; Lucas D, KP; Amelie C, 1G; Ethan A, 1PH; Riley D, 2G; Sienna H, 2J; Chelsea S, 3B; Sophie F, 3K; Harper F, 4B; Bailey V, 4M; Eadi R, 5D; Josie T, 5H; Reigan E, 5P; Saskia V, 6D; Charlie M, 6M; Isabella E, 6T.

Silver Awards

Daniel M, KDL; Mila D, KDL; Tommy L, KDL; Nixon C, KP; Lucas D, KP; Maria A, 4B; Alana F, 4B; Hayden G, 4B; Anna K, 4B; Oliver L, 4B; Jacob L, 4B; Cameron Y, 4B; Ava D, 4B; Charli I, 5D; Zara I, 5D; Zeke M, 5D; Chase P, 5D; Eadi R, 5D; Abbey S, 5D; Madeleine S, 5D; Arabella C, 5P; India P, 5P; Mitchell T, 5P; Thomas G, 6D; Sophie V, 6D; Adam W, 6D.

Super Silver Awards

Amelia H, KDL; Alison H, KDL; Fletcher T, KDL; Mahli Y, KDL; Cooper C, 2J; Chase C, 4B; Harper F, 4B; Noah H, 4B; Samuel M, 4B; Isabella M, 4B; Zoe O, 4B; Alisa P, 4B; Michela R, 4B; Ellyanna B, 4M; Ellen B, 4M; Alyssa C, 4M; Ezekiel C, 4M; Joshua F, 4M; Fletcher J, 4M; Myah K, 4M; Seulah K, 4M; Alexandr K, 4M; Joel M, 4M; Grace M, 4M; Gussie N, 4M; Amelia P, 4M; Lillian R, 4M; Sarah T, 4M; Baily V, 4M; Ethan W, 4M; Madeleine A, 5D; Bronte B, 5D; Brianna B, 5D; Noah F, 5D; Ava P, 5D; Benjamin T, 5D; Joella W, 5D; Joel P, 5P; Jonathon L, 6D; Michael M, 6D; Samuel N, 6D.

Gold Awards

Imogen W, KDL; James C, KDL; Jamie H KDL; Olivia L, KDL; Liza D, KP; Claire G, KP; Harrison L, KP; James N, KP; Remy W, KP; Samara W, KP; Ruben D, 2J; Michela R, 4B; Jaymin T, 4B; Chloe H, 4M; Lachlan F, 5D; Callum B, 5D; Jacob G, 5D; Heeju K 5D; Harry L, 5D; Eli M, 5D; Ryan M, 5D; Victoria V, 5P

Super Gold Awards

Skye B, KP; Savannah G, KP; Bella H, KDL; Charlotte M, KDL; Lachlan F, 5D; Heeju K, 5D; Mitchell R, 5D; Rebecca L, 5H; Ayla D, 5P

Library News

Stage 2 Upgrade

Over the Christmas holidays our mezzanine area will be refurbished, this is the final stage of our Library upgrade. We currently have 350-400 students using the Library each day up from 250 students last year. This second upgrade will provide an excellent space for senior student study, for both individuals and small groups. There are three quiet study rooms with presentation capabilities also on this level.

Top Borrowing Primary Class for 2020 - Congratulations 3B

It has been an amazing year of Primary borrowing with five classes borrowing over 1000 books (1G, 1PH, 3B, 3K, 4M). These classes received lemonade ice blocks on Friday.

Our total Primary student borrowing was 16,087, just up from last year.

The average books per Primary student was 38.5. This is amazing.

Top Borrowing Students

100 Club- students borrowing over 100 books

Michela RC - 102, Adam S - 105, David S - 106, Jessica W - 106, Siena E - 109, Sarah T - 113, Danielle H - 116, Xavier R - 121, Chelsea S - 122, Callum B - 122, Alyssa C - 125, Jiya M - 134, Hamish G - 139, Ellen B - 146, Allegra N -152

200 Club- students borrowing over 200 books

Reuben H- 207

Reuben has been our top student borrower for many years. Well done, Reuben. 

Library Monitors

A big thanks to our Library Monitors for 2020. They received a little gift of thanks for their faithful service to the Library this year - Reigan E, Grace D, Sienna F and Victoria V.

Book Returns

All books should now be returned. Please send any you find at home in before the end of term. Thank you

K - 2 Scooter Safety Day 

Click on link to watch our Scooter Safety Day video:GPCC K-2 Scooter Safety Day

From all the students in Primary School - Merry Christmas