Welcome to the 2021 academic year. It is a privilege to welcome many new students and their families to our school this year and of course to see all our existing students back too. We are all glad to see the end of 2020 but we start optimistically but carefully into 2021 with COVID restrictions remaining fairly much as they were for Term 4, 2020.

Our HSC results saw us maintaining our results in line with the past year and I will put out a more detailed report on them shortly. Our top ATAR score was 97.1 and 4% of our students achieved a Band 6. The majority of our students were in the Band 4/5 range and we had the highest number of early entry offers to university we have ever had.

I will also be publishing a report on our School Improvement Plan for 2020 and presenting our Plan for 2021. Thank you to those who took part in the Flourishing Schools survey last term. The report on that is out and will be available on our website shortly. It has been helpful as we put together our School Improvement Plan for this year.

Our Secondary School Japanese teacher, Mr Charles Wheeler has left us for a new role and we are reviewing languages across the school this year. Thank you to Mrs Michelle Mitchell who will be taking the Year 10 Japanese class. There will be no Year 7 Japanese this year, as we plan for what to do in Year 8, 2022.

In Primary, we welcome Mr Chad Sneyd into Year 6. Chad worked as a casual in our Primary School last year and is a welcome addition to our team. Mrs Fay Davis is still recovering from knee replacement surgery and Mr Joseph Oldfield will be filling in for her for much of Term 1. He is well known to us as a casual teacher. We also farewelled Mr Matthew Cohen, our Director of Teacher Development, who has taken a more senior position in a school in Port Macquarie. We will be working to replace him during this year.

A new year is a great opportunity to make a fresh start and we are optimistic about the progress we can make at GPCC this year as we work together to ensure our children have the best opportunities to grow and be well equipped for life in all its fullness.

Phillip Nash

Principal

Mrs Nicole Smith | Head of Primary

Welcome to Term 1, Week 1, 2021

Welcome to all of our families both new and returning to the College for the 2021 school year. Starting school can be both exciting and daunting for many students. Whilst school is a safe place it is also a place of routine, constant learning and high social interaction. Please be aware that when your child returns home each afternoon, they may need some time to unwind or process all that has happened in the day before they are willing to talk. Going for a walk or swim and sharing a snack is a great way to allow your child to settle into the afternoon.

Welcome also to Mr Chad Sneyd who will be teaching Year 6 this year. Mr Sneyd is a keen sportsman and has taught at the College over the past two years. We are excited to welcome him to our Primary team.

New start time Primary school day begins @ 8:45am

At the conclusion of 2020 it was decided to change the start time for Primary School to be more in line with the Secondary School. This change of time will mean the school day for both Primary and Secondary will begin at 8:45am. This will also allow for a 15 minute exercise and Crunch and Sip time during the day to increase the physical activity for our students during the day.

COVID Restrictions

Last week the Principal emailed out the most recent COVID restrictions for schools. Please ensure you read carefully the different information about this throughout the year. Some points pertinent to Primary include:

• Students suffering any symptoms such as "fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of taste, loss of smell" should be COVID tested and may not return to school until the school has sighted the negative test result.
• Parents are still not permitted on site unless visiting the Uniform Shop or the office. For those with children starting in K-2 this year, you may take them up to the classroom or meeting point on the first day, but we prefer they are dropped off at the bottom of the hill near the MPC after that. Social distancing must be maintained while dropping off or picking up students each day.
• Parents or adult volunteers helping with essential school activities such as religious activities, specialist support or services and essential curriculum activities may enter the school property after signing in at the College office.

New Car Park / Kiss and Drop

Whist it was our intention to begin the new school year with the use of the new Kiss and Drop area for students in K-2, we are still awaiting final Council approval to use this infrastructure. We will continue to keep you informed and would like to thank you for your ongoing patience.

New students and Kindergarten Students for 2021

I would like to welcome the 40 plus new Years 1-6 students, along with the youngest members of our College community, the 58 Kindergarten students and their families to GPCC. We feel so very blessed to be able to share with each of you in the education of your students. We hope that you feel welcome and a part of our wonderful community.

Meet the Teacher Night – Tuesday 2 February – Two sessions

“Meet the Teacher Night” is an opportunity for you to meet your child’s teachers and to hear about the structure, routines and events specific to your childs grade that have been planned for this year. We are planning to hold these sessions on Tuesday Week 2, providing we are permitted to meet together.

This year, if permission is given to meet together on site, there will be two sessions for Primary “Meet the Teacher Night”. Grades will meet all together and teachers will take time to explain the routines and expectations of the year ahead. This is also an important time for you to connect with other parents in your child’s class and build community. Please note this is not a time for parent interviews as these will be held later in the term. For your diary the times and sessions are indicated below. Please note more correspondence around location and restrictions will be provided once the newest guidelines are released.

K,1,2 classes will meet at 5:30pm - 6:20pm

Years 3,4,5,6 classes will meet 6:30pm - 7:20pm

Swimming Carnival – Years 2,3,4,5,6 - Friday 5 February at Mingara Aquatic Centre

Notes regarding events and bus will be emailed out to you over the course of this week.

Mr Peter McLellan | Head of Secondary

Welcome to a New Year at Green Point Christian College. The beginning of a new year at school gives us all a time to reset our goals and mindsets for developing the motivation to thrive over the coming year.

Our focus this year is that in all we do we are TOGETHER in our community to achieve our best in all aspects of schooling. Together we help each other to develop the characteristics of the Graduate Profile. We need to work in community to help each other, as we need each other to face the challenges we all face in a typical school year.

Being together requires each of us - teachers, parents and students to buy into what we as a community can achieve together. This then puts a responsibility on each of us to see the value and worth of everyone else in our community and to be kind, caring and helpful to anyone in our College. This is the higher purpose of life - to bring hope and joy to others before ourselves. 

COVID Restrictions

Last week the Principal emailed out the most recent COVID restrictions for schools. Please ensure you read carefully the different information about this throughout the year. Some points pertinent to Secondary include:

• Students suffering any symptoms such as "fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of taste, loss of smell" should be COVID tested and may not return to school until the school has sighted the negative test result.
• Parents are still not permitted on site unless visiting the Uniform Shop or the office. Social distancing must be maintained while dropping off or picking up students each day.
• Parents or adult volunteers helping with essential school activities such as religious activities, specialist support or services and essential curriculum activities may enter the school property after signing in at the College office.

Wednesday 27 January 2021 - Years 7, 11 and 12

Years 7, 11 and 12 begin their year on Wednesday 27 January 2021 at 8:45am. Please arrive early and meet outside the MPC.  

New students in Year 11 - please go to the table set up outside the MPC and meet your Year Advisor, Mr Newell who will look after you.  

All Year 7 will meet Mrs Rochford outside the MPC and proceed when invited into the MPC with all of Years 11 and 12 for our Welcome Assembly. 

Thursday 28 January 2021 - Years 8, 9 and 10

Years 8, 9 and 10 begin their year on Thursday 28 January 2021 at 8:45am. Please arrive early and meet outside the MPC.

New students in Years 8, 9 and 10 - please go to the table set up outside the MPC and meet your Year Advisors - Mr Oppel (Year 8), Mr Haines (Year 9) and Mr Wright (Year 10) who will be there to look after you. All Years 8, 9, and 10 students when invited will enter the MPC for our Welcome Assembly.

A reminder that Applications are due to Mr Michael Street in the HSIE Staffroom by the end of the school day on Monday, 1 February 2021. 

For more information, please email Mr Street: michael.street@gpcc.nsw.edu.au

This week’s Careers Newsletter has information about an upcoming UAC information session for current Year 12 students. 

For more details, please see this week's Careers Newsletter or visit the "Student Careers" section on the GPCC College website.

Mr David Russell

Curriculum Co-ordinator (7-12) | Student Advisor (7-12)

Nathan Lambert  |  K-12 Sport Co-ordinator

Welcome back to our students for 2021. We are looking forward to another great year of sport at GPCC.

Dates for our GPCC Sporting Carnivals are listed below. 

Please click on the link below to access all other dates for Representative Carnivals, Gala Days, Team Gala Days and Individual Sporting Trials.  

Dates for your Calendar

PRIMARY

School Carnivals

Friday 5 February                               GPCC Yrs 2-6 Swimming Carnival (Mingara)

Friday 12 March                                 GPCC K-2 Swimming Carnival (Peninsula Leisure Centre)

TBC                                                      GPCC Primary Cross Country Carnival (Hylton Moore)

Friday 23 April                                    GPCC Infants and Primary Athletics Carnival (Mingara)

SECONDARY

School Carnivals

Friday 26 February                             Secondary School Swimming Carnival (Mingara)

TBC                                                      GPCC Secondary Cross Country Carnival (Hylton Moore)

Thursday 18 March                            Secondary School Athletics Carnival (Mingara)

Jessie Blackwell (Year 8) 

Jessie Blackwell competed at the All Schools in December 2020 and rang a PB in the 400m, she placed 5th in the State (61.53). She was 18th in 200m (out of 53).  Congratulations Jessie. 

Farewell to Steve McCarthy

Following our final newsletter for 2020 we said farewell to Stephanie (Steve) McCarthy who retired after over 25 years’ service at Green Point Christian College.

Pictured at our staff breakfast, Steve shared about the vision for the school being raised over dinner in the 1980's, and how the first class was launched in 1982 including two of her children.

Steve began working for the College in May 1995 and fulfilled a number of roles during her tenure including PA to the Principal, Registrar, and more recently as Development Officer overseeing a number of functions in Administration.

Steve has retired to spend more time with her growing family of grandchildren, and to travel enjoying more of this beautiful country our God has provided.

Thank you Steve for your service, faithfulness and dedication to the ministry of GPCC over four decades!

We look forward to hearing more from you in 2022 when we celebrate our 40 Year Anniversary.

Blessings from your GPCC community.

New Entrance Way and Carpark Opening

GPCC is still waiting on the final occupation certificate before we can operate the new driveways and access the new P4 carpark. We envisage this will be very soon but do not want to make any promises about an exact date.

As soon as we have the all clear we will notify the College community and provide updated instructions on traffic flow for morning drop off and afternoon pick-up of students.

Thank you for your patience in this matter, and we are trusting it has all been worth it as we enjoy the additional options for the year ahead.

Transport NSW Guidelines

Please click on link for the latest transport information: 

https://transportnsw.info/covid-19/covid-19-what-you-can-do#accordion-use-a-face-mask-content

Uniform Shop

Normal Operating Times

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday during the School Term:

8:30am - 11:00am

(Closed Wednesdays)

Afternoons by appointment only.

Contact (02) 4367 9954

gpcc@alinta.com.au

Munchery News

We are looking forward to seeing all the children returning to school. We will be open with the full menu available from Wednesday 27 January 2021. 

The Munchery have been approved to operate following the COVID-19 restrictions. 

The Munchery is open for business every day from 8:00am – 2:00pm and accept lunch orders from students and staff across the counter and also electronically.  A comprehensive, healthy selection of food is available for Recess and Lunch.

Lunch orders can be placed online each morning prior to 8:30am.

The Munchery have partnered with Munch Monitor (www.munchmonitor.com) to provide an online ordering and payment system. Parents access this system by browsing the Munch Monitor site at https://www.munchmonitor.com 

Username: greenpoint

Password: munch2251

Book at EXTEND for 2021 (Before and After School Care)

Parent Lounge Details

The College has a legal requirement to keep our records up to date. 

Please review your details on Parent Lounge to ensure that all your information is correct. This includes medical information on your child/children (only complete the immunisation question if your child is not immunised).

Please note: Should you require both parents/carers to receive SMS notifications, please tick the appropriate boxes.

Green Point Trader

Tutoring by Cody Battle (ex School Captain 2020)

Top Score Tutoring is a locally based tutoring service run by graduate Cody Battle that specialises in achieving the top score for your child. The subjects available include Year 7-10 English, Maths and Science, as well as Year 11-12 Biology, Chemistry and Advanced, Extension 1 and 2 Maths. Click on link for more details.

https://www.facebook.com/Top-Score-Tutoring-103447685069212/

Year 7-10 Secondary Uniform Items For Sale

Boys uniform - Short sleeve white school shirts sizes 14 and 16 $12.50 each; School ties x 2 $10 each; Long pants size S mens $25 each;

Girls uniform - blouse with logo - red piping size 14 $12 each;

Unisex items - School sports cap OSFM  $10 each; School bucket hat size M $10 each; PE shorts size 10 $15 each; PE shirts size 14 $10 each; PE shirt size 18 (as new) $20 each; PE tracksuit pants size XS, S and M $20each; PE sport jacket size M $35 each. 

Phone: Katrina: 0439 492 637.

Coast Shelter Restaurant

Green Point Baptist Church

Sunday Worship Services at GPBC

24 January 2021 “God’s Heroes of Faith” (Hebrews 11) 

Please pre-book your seat here for our 9:30am service. Book with this link:

https://www.trybooking.com/BNWAF 

We also have a 6:00pm service geared up for our youth and young adults - no need to book in for 6:00pm.

New sermon series commencing 31 January 2021 - “Testament”

Bookings open for the 9:30am service from 3:00pm Sunday 24 January. Book with this link: https://www.trybooking.com/BNWAG

No need to book for the 6:00pm service.

Website: www.gpbc.net.au           Facebook: www.facebook.com/greenpointbaps/

Coming up this week

Wednesday, 27 January

Students commence Term 1 (Years 1 - 7, 11 and 12)

Thursday, 28 January

Students commence Term 1 (Kindergarten and Years 8 -10) 

Dates for Your Diary 

Tuesday, 2 February

Primary Meet the Teacher Night 

Friday, 5 February 

Primary Swimming Carnival (Years 2 - 6) at Mingara Aquatic Centre

Term Dates 2021

Term 1, 2021

Wednesday, 27 January 2021 for Years 1 - 7, 11 and 12 

Thursday, 28 January 2021 for Kindergarten and Years 8 - 10

to Thursday, 1 April

Term 2, 2021

Tuesday, 20 April 2021 to Friday, 25 June 2021

Term 3, 2021

Monday, 19 July 2021 to Friday, 17 September 2021

Term 4, 2021

Wednesday, 6 October 2021 to Wednesday, 8 December 2021