We have begun unpacking the new Graduate Profile with students in Secondary School. Last week in Chapel, Will Richards focused on having a Godly character. The reality of characteristics of a Godly character, reflect back on what we need as individuals and as communities to cope with the messiness of life. That is a relationship with Jesus through which we are changed from the inside out so that we are authentic in our love, care, compassion, forgiveness, honesty, etc that we live in our relationships with others. This is core to what we do as a Christian school and why Christian education offers so much to those who come to our school.

Parent/Teacher Interviews for Years 11 and 12 - Tuesday 25 February from 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Do not forget to book your sessions for tomorrow's Parent/Teacher Interviews for Years 11 and 12.  This is a great time to catch up on how your child is doing in their various classes.

For Year 11 parents, it will be a time where you can get a perspective from your child's teachers about the expectation and workload for their subjects. For Year 12 parents, you can get an idea as to how your child has progressed in the first term of their HSC year.

Bookings opened to parents last week and can be made through the Parent Lounge portal of TASSWeb. 

As with all our interview processes, if you have difficulties or do not have access to the internet, please call the office and we will assist you. 

Year 7 Meet the Faculty and Teacher Night - Tuesday 3 March 7:00pm - 8:30pm

On Tuesday 3 March we will be holding a Year 7 evening in the MPC where you will have the opportunity to meet Faculty Co-ordinators and teachers of your students. The aim is to help you understand the expectations of different subject areas and get to meet your child’s teachers.

It is an opportunity also to get an overview of the different subject areas that your child will study from the Faculty Co-ordinators.

GPCC Secondary Swimming Carnival -  Friday 28 February 2020

The GPCC Secondary Swimming Carnival is this Friday at Mingara Leisure Centre (12-14 Mingara Drive, Tumbi Umbi). The carnival will begin at 9:00am and conclude by 2:30pm.

Students are to wear their sports uniform, House colours and bring morning tea and lunch.

All students are asked to make their own way to and from the carnival.

If students do require transport, a bus will leave the College at 8:30am and return to the College by 3:00pm. Students need to sign up for this bus at the student window located at the back of the Admin office.

The carnival is a compulsory school event and if your child is not attending, please contact the College Absentee line (4367 9950) explaining the reason for their absence.

Year 7 Camp

A 4 hour trip in rain and mist did nothing to dampen the spirits of the eager Year 7 students last week.

119 students came to Deer Park at Port Hacking, and were kept busy for three days with stand-up paddle boarding, high-ropes (scary), water slide (highlight), rock climbing, sailing, Christian Discovery, movie night, fishing and raft building.

The children had opportunities to serve and support one another at meal times, during activities and even when homesickness struck. With the weir open on Friday, we bussed our way home in just under three hours, and a good time was had by all. Special thanks to Mr Crawford, Mr Haines, Mr Hook, Mrs James, Mr Kastelan, Mrs Kratochvil, Mrs Nihill and Mr Wheeler for the way in which they cared for and looked after the students during the camp.  Mrs Rochford

Year 7 Reminder

Year 7 immunisations are on Wednesday 26 February from 8:45am.

If you have not returned your child’s immunisation card to the office, please do so asap.

School Musical

Rehearsals have now commenced at lunchtimes and after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

A schedule will shortly be sent home for parents to do their planning for the coming months of rehearsals.

“Beauty and the Beast” will be held the last week of Term 2 in the MPC.

Invitation for Student Contributions to The Messenger

The College has moved to Schoolzine for the weekly newsletter, The Messenger. This platform gives us much more flexibility in what we can include and allows for contribution of articles and stories from students alongside the regular sections. We would love to invite students to be the reporter of the week (or month/term).

Students are invited to write a story or article of approximately 350 words and can include images or video.

Topics could include :

- an area of interest from within the school, such as a subject or project you are working on and what you are learning;

- an area of interest from beyond the school, like something you have done through Church or sport or on a holiday;

- a story or poem;

- or another suggestion that we can approve once requested.

The categories could focus on the 5 areas of the Graduate Profile.

Student contributions can be sent to Mrs McLarty at jmclarty@gpcc.nsw.edu.au for inclusion in The Messenger.

Central Coast Local Health School Immunisation Program

Central Coast Local Health have in the past offered a vaccination program for Year 7 and Year 10 students and this will again be continuing this year.  

The vaccinations are as follows:

• Year 7 – Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (2 dose course) and Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (dTpa);
• Year 8 – HPV and dTpa (this is a catch up program for students who returned a consent form in 2019, but missed any of the doses whilst in Year 7);
• Year 10 – Meningococcal ACWY;
• Year 11 – Meningococcal ACWY (this is a catch up program for students who returned a consent form in 2019, but missed this vaccination whilst in Year 10).

The first vaccinations for Year 7 are this week, Wednesday 26 February and consent and information packs were sent home last week. If you would like your child to be a part of this program, please sign and return the consent form included in the information pack by today to the Office.  

Catch up vaccinations will also be available for Year 8 students on that day, who returned a consent form last year but who missed any of their vaccinations. The consent form is a legal document and therefore must be completed and signed in BLUE or BLACK pen.

No vaccine will be given unless there is a signed consent by the parent/carer.

The first vaccinations for Year 10 will be on Wednesday 13 May, but will also be available as a catch up date for any Year 7 or Year 8 students who have missed earlier vaccinations. More information and consent forms will be sent out early in Term 2.

The second vaccination for Year 7 students will be on Wednesday 2 September, and will also be an opportunity for catch up vaccinations for Years 8, 10 or 11 students.  A reminder will be placed in The Messenger closer to the day. 

Year 8 Future Proofing Study Launch

This is a reminder to submit your decision about your child’s involvement in the "Future Proofing Study".

If you have not already done so, please visit the following website to view the Study Information Sheet and register your decision: https://www.fpstudy.org.au/tYzkR

The study is being run by researchers at the Black Dog Institute at the University of New South Wales, along with over 100 schools in NSW, to better understand the changes that take place in mental health from early adolescence to adulthood.

Students in the study will also trial mental health apps that may help identify and prevent symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The results of this study have real potential to inform government policy and the scientific community. For this reason, we are keen to get a good representation from Green Point Christian College.

The research team at Black Dog have their first parent webinar coming up on Wednesday 19 February at 7:00pm.

Please click here to register for the webinar if you wish to hear more about the study.

CASE Senior Space School Information Evening - Tuesday 3 March 2020

Green Point Christian College is partnering with the California Association for STEAM Education (CASE) and Actura to offer our students a world-class STEAM enrichment program designed to light the fire of inspiration in your child.

Students will experience:

• Innovation: Discover NASA technologies and visit leading commercial space flight organisations;
• Management: Manage a $600 million mission to Mars Project at Space University, Houston;
• Entrepreneurship: Learn how to introduce and fund innovation either as a start-up or within an enterprise; students will learn from the best in Silicon Valley;
• Leadership: Engage with inspirational leaders from the space industry;
• Putting it all together: Students will collaborate to solve real space industry problems in the ChallengeX project;
• Cultural enrichment: Through big atmosphere NBA and MLB sports games, visit amazing San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Houston.

CASE’s bespoke personal and leadership development program will equip your child with the critical skills they can apply now, empowering them to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Key Details

• For Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 in 2020
• Dates: 5 – 18 December 2020
• Duration: 14 Days
• Location: Houston, Texas; San Francisco, Silicon Valley, California, USA
• Accommodation: 4 star hotels
• Price: $6,950 incl GST

Price includes tuition fees, admission to program events, accommodation and meals. Price excludes airfares and comprehensive travel insurance, cost to be advised.

Please visit the website for more information and to RSVP to the Information Evening: www.actura.com.au/centralcoast