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I summarise her argument for you below:
1. Most university place offers are not made on the basis of the published ATAR
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- Almost two thirds of offers go to non-ATAR students
- Direct entry is growing with some universities bypassing the ATAR altogether
- Students often get into a course with a below the course ATAR threshold anyway.
- The ATAR is not a score
- It is a numerical ranking derived from senior high-school performance and a complex series of scaling and other adjustments
- ATARS are related to percentiles so an ATAR of 49 means the student is ranked at the 49th percentile of a cohort
- No matter how hard a student works no more than 10 percent of students ATAR rankings will be in the top 10% of rankings. That is how rankings work.
- The ATAR is linked to socioeconomic status
- Evidence points to scores being correlated with socioeconomic status and social capital
- Generally speaking students from poor or rural areas have lower ATARS than those from wealthy metropolitan areas.
- The ATAR is now used primarily as a marketing tool to an under informed public
- When university places were limited, the ATAR was more important
- With an over-supply of university places, the ATAR is used as a marketing tool to attract students to certain courses
- ATAR entry scores for courses have little relation to the quality of the course.
We could take issue with much of what Professor Devlin is saying but much of it is also worth thinking about. Many high ATAR students struggle at university often because they have been burnt out in striving to get a high score at school. At GPCC we take a much broader view of education than the HSC and an ATAR score. We consider the whole person and believe that working with parents to develop a well-balanced person, sets them up for success in life far better than focussing simply on a score.
We want our students to do well at their studies but that comes because of a happy, settled, focused person who has variety in life and a positive attitude to their own progress. An obsession with the HSC and an ATAR score does not help them to develop well and may in fact lead to a lower result in their study. There are many paths to future study – I took a very circuitous path to university having left school originally at the end of Year 10. I am now accepted into a PhD program, and I think am a reasonable advertisement for not worrying too much about a single pathway to higher study. In recent years, the planned ‘gap year’ has become popular to help school graduates pause and focus on their life purpose before diving into further study or training.
My desire for our students is that they learn who they are, work hard to develop the skills, knowledge and wisdom they need to do well in life and enjoy the journey.
Finally, I commend to you a parent seminar coming up at GPCC led by Collett Smart - ‘Parenting with Purpose – Raising Resilient Kids’ on Thursday 24 March. This character trait (resilience) will help your child succeed at whatever path they decide to follow in life. Register for your free ticket.
Principal
Our Year 2 students had the biggest surprise ever this week, when they discovered their teacher Mrs Donaldson had won tickets for them all to attend the Sesame Street Spectacular Circus at Rose Hill Racecourse. Students were amazed as acrobats flipped and tumbled, twirled and swung through the air and over and under all sorts of obstacles. A BIG thank you to Mrs Donaldson, Mrs Groonenboom, Mr Cantor and Mrs Milsom for your organisation and keeping them all safe.
National Day of Action against Violence and Bullying – Kindness Culture
On Wednesday our SRC Counsellors ran our Chapel time and reminded us of four important steps in taking action against bullying
- Say STOP, using firm kind words
- Walk away
- Tell a teacher or trusted adult
- Be an up stander not a by stander
On Friday we then dressed in orange and launched our Northern NSW Flood Relief campaign with a gold coin donation. Over the coming week we will be making cards, and establishing packs to send on a truck to schools and families in Mullumbimby and Lismore.
Parent resource: 'How to talk to your child about bullying': https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/teaching-about-bullying/talking-about-bullying
Dates for your Diary
21 and 22 March – Donations for Flood Appeal
24 March – Parent Night with guest speaker/ psychologist Collett Smart
31 March – College Open Day 4:00pm
6 April – K-12 Easter Service (no Primary Chapel)
7 April – Primary Cross Country
28 March – Big Vege Crunch week
8 April – Last day Term 1
27 April – First Day Term 2
29 April – K-6 Athletics Carnival (Mingara)
Kindergarten 2023
We will be starting our enrolments for Kindergarten 2023 shortly. If you or someone you know has a child ready to start school, why not bring them along to our Kindergarten Information Session. Details are on our website.
Pick up and Drop Off
We are fortunate at GPCC to have a large parking area and whilst there is congestion for a short period each day, it dissipates quickly. Please ensure you are demonstrating patience and kindness as you navigate this space each morning and afternoon, and demonstrate respectful behaviour to ALL those around us.
Primary CRU Fridays
Last week the Primary CRU Kids ventured outside in the marvellous sunshine to make creation wristbands. They used masking tape to stick flowers, leaves, nuts and bark etc to their bracelets. We learnt how to look closely at nature and not miss out on the wonderful things the “Master of Creation” has made. God’s goodness is not just in making everything but in keeping it going. Without God, nothing would exist, including us! We can remember God’s goodness everytime we look at creation.
Years 3-4 meet in Mrs Bourke’s classroom and Years 5-6 meet in Mr Turner’s classroom.
Please contact Mr Gibbins on joel.gibbins@gpcc.nsw.edu.au for more information.
Head of School AwardZahli F, KDL; Isaac H, KG; Simeon S, 1C; Amelia W, 1S; Marcus E, 1G; Anthony A, 2D; Vaaris M, 2G; Iris H, 3B; Elsie H, 3D; Harper H, 3PH; Toby M, 4B; Isabelle A, 4BK; Lani G, 5L; Tommy T, 5PC; Kaelah B, 5P; Henry S, 6MR; Oliver L, 6S; Isla W, 6T
Buddy Reading 6MR and KDL
Mr Peter McLellan | Head of Secondary
Term 1 is always a busy time in a school. We have had a lot of students and staff affected by COVID. This has made it necessary within the busyness of the term to adjust Assessment Task dates for some cohorts and subjects. I am sorry that this has not been as smooth as we would have liked, but we try to make changes that will make it fair for all students and allow us to continue to operate and meet all of our goals and requirements.
Key particularly for Years 11 and 12, is our appeal system for Assessment Tasks. If a student feels that they have been disadvantaged, they can put through paperwork for an appeal. If they require an extension, they can also put through the appeal form (Extension/ Appeal Form – Illness/Misadventure School Assessment Task Years 9-12) to request a change to the due date for an assessment task. If they are unsure of the procedure, they can make an enquiry to their Year Advisor or Class Teacher who can assist with the process. This procedure is a way of reducing stress and making sure that students are not disadvantaged.
Parent Seminar, 'Parenting with Purpose - Raising Resilient Kids' by Collett Smart
Green Point Christian College are excited to host a Parent Seminar by Collett Smart on 'Parenting with Purpose - Raising Resilient Kids'.
Venue: Green Point Baptist Church
Date: Thursday 24 March
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Tea and coffee upon on arrival.
For more details and to register for your free ticket.If you have a friend that you would like to invite you may send the link or register for them.
REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE TICKET HERE
Chapel/Life in Week 9
A reminder that ChapelLife will run on Thursday 24 March (instead of Wednesday).
With mental health being our focus in Weeks 8-10 of this term, special guest speaker Collett Smart will be addressing our students at Chapel, and later in the evening will run a Parent Seminar on “Parenting with Purpose - Raising Resilient Kids”.
Please see our Community News section for more information.
NEW DATE FOR GPCC Secondary Athletics Carnival
Our GPCC Secondary Athletics Carnival is now on Monday 28 March 2022 (Week 10) at Mingara. A reminder that this is a compulsory school event.
When: Monday, 28 March 2022
Venue: Mingara Regional Athletics Centre
Time: Carnival will begin at 9:00am and conclude at 2:30pm
What to wear/bring: House colours, sports uniform, recess and lunch
Transport: All students are required to make their own way to and from the carnival. If your child cannot make their own way to the carnival, there will be limited seating available on the College bus. Please note the bus will arrive at the carnival after the first event which commences at 9.00am.
Booking Transport for GPCC Athletics Carnival
Please log into the Parent Lounge and locate the Events named which is listed in the Events and Payments tab:
- Transport to the Secondary Athletics Carnival
- Transport from the Secondary Athletics Carnival
When the appropriate boxes are ticked, you will need to select "Accept" in the box below the cost box, and then select "Save" at the bottom of the page to complete the acceptance.
You will need to read and acknowledge the attachments, terms and conditions by no later than 4.00pm on Thursday 24 March 2022.
NOTE: For those students who are unable to make their own way to the carnival - all transport already booked via the Parent Lounge for students travelling to and from the carnival on the bus provided will remain in place.
Years 7-10 Parent/Teacher Interviews – Tuesday 5 April 2022
Parent/Teacher Interviews for Years 7 to 10 students will be held on Tuesday 5 April 2022 in the MPC from 4.00pm to 8.30pm.
Interview times are 7 minutes with each subject teacher, and it is preferable for students to attend with their parent/s.
Bookings for these interviews will open on Tuesday 29 March 2022 at 7:00am.
Parents of students in Years 7-10 can book these interviews via the Parent Lounge.
You can access the Parent Lounge by logging in with your Parent Code previously supplied.
Bookings for these interviews will close on Monday 4 April 2022 at 4:00pm.
If you are new to the College and have not used this facility before, please contact the office to get your Parent Code. If you have not already done so, you will need to set yourself a password by following the instructions.
The easiest way to learn how to book your appointments is to watch the short video once you have accessed your account, under “School Links” tab, and select “Help Videos”. Please take a few minutes to watch this video as it will make the process much easier for you.
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.
If you are feeling unwell or displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, please stay at home.
If you are unable to attend or prefer not to if you are vulnerable to COVID-19, you can email your child's teacher to request feedback on their progress.
Year 9 Geography - Clean Up Australia Day
Mrs Erasmus' Year 9 Geography took some time to collect rubbish and create a face. It was to mark Clean Up Australia Day. In class they talked about the 'Take3forthesea' campaign and how our litter from school will eventually end up in the ocean.
The most creative creations got a prize and our playgrounds around H Block are cleaner for it.
Year 8 Science
Year 8 conducted their Heart Dissections this week. We have been studying the body systems, and today’s topic was the Heart and Circulatory System. We are very fortunate at GPCC in that we have an array of resources. Students do hands on investigations most days of the week. Up next – Kidney dissections!
Mrs Beaman
Mr David Russell
Curriculum Co-ordinator (7-12) | Student Advisor (7-12)
This week’s Careers Newsletter has information about the TAFE Youth Engagement Strategy (YES) courses on offer, the Year 10 Careers Expo excursion, a Macquarie University Talk for Year 12 on 23 March 2022, Engineering and IT webinars with UTS, Child Care career information, Sydney Uni News, Apprenticeship information, Job hunting information, and Business Cadetships.
Note especially, that UAC is preparing to open applications for Semester 1, 2023 courses on 12 April 2022.
The first three items in the General News section have some helpful information for Year 12 students about University admissions.
For more details, please see this week's Careers News or visit the Student Careers section under the "Education & Learning" menu on the GPCC website.
Mr Stuart McSwan | K - 6 Sport Co-ordinator
GPCC Sport Teams
Interested students have begun signing up for trials for certain GPCC Sport Teams (weather permitting).
- Announcements will be made at Assembly as to when this will take place over the remaining few weeks of Term 1.
Teams include:
Primary
- Years 5/6 Boys Soccer/Futsal- Mr Lambert
- Years 3/4 Soccer/Futsal team – Mr McSwan
- Years 5/6 Girls Futsal team – Mrs Buchan
- Years 5/6 Girls Netball team – Mrs Sirone/Miss Cooper
- Years 3/4 Girls Netball team – Mrs Burton
CSSA and CIS Nominations
Some of the individual CSSA and CIS Sport nominations due soon are:
Please email Mr McSwan before these dates if your child (Years 5 and 6 only) would like to be considered. They need to be currently playing in the sport and have several years experience (preferably at a Representative level):
Primary
CSSA Primary Years 5/6 Girls Netball Trials on 27 April - Nominations close Friday 8 April
CIS Primary Years 5/6 Girls Hockey Trials on 9 May - Nominations close Monday 2 May
Feel free to download the new CSSA app. The new CSSA App has been designed to keep staff, students and parents better connected to CSSA. All the important stuff for CSSA and CIS events can be with you wherever you go.
Years 7 - 12 Sport Co-ordinator
New Date for GPCC Secondary Athletics Carnival
Our GPCC Secondary Athletics Carnival is now on Monday 28 March 2022 (Week 10) at Mingara. A reminder that this is a compulsory school event.
Secondary Yearly Sport Overview Dates for 2022
Please click on link below to view dates.
Book Club
Issue 2 orders are due online LOGIN (scholastic.com.au) by Wednesday 23 March. The YVCS now has their own school account. If you did not receive your Issue 1 order please email me, nvanwyk@gpcc.nsw.edu.au
Wheelers Ebooks
Students in Years 5-12 have access to thousands of eBooks 24/7 with Wheelers. Students can access books from the Library homepage or download the app onto their device - phone, tablet, iPad, laptop. Internet connection is needed to download the book onto the device but not to read the book once downloaded. Students can change the size of font and background colour to make reading easier.
Student Contributions in The Messenger
We encourage students to email contributions for the new section of our weekly newsletter, titled Student Voice. It may be a short story, a poem, service activity, an achievement or award (sporting, scouts, Duke of Ed etc). Please email to newsletter@gpcc.nsw.edu.au for consideration of inclusion in The Messenger.
Northern NSW Flood Relief in Partnership with Hinterland Christian College
Option 2: Kids pack with suggestions to include board games, card games, books, sports equipment, teddies, or craft supplies
Option 3: Bathroom/medical pack with suggestions to include soap, shampoo, hygiene products, band aids, Savlon, Dettol, toothpaste, hairbrush/ties, towels, or deodorant.
Option 4: Cleaning pack with suggestions to include mop, bucket, sponges, cleaning products, cloths, vinegar, eucalyptus oil, scrubbing brushes, and bin bags.
Parent Seminar, 'Parenting with Purpose - Raising Resilient Kids' by Collett Smart
Green Point Christian College are excited to host a Parent Seminar by Collett Smart on 'Parenting with Purpose - Raising Resilient Kids'.
Venue: Green Point Baptist Church
Date: Thursday 24 March
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Tea and coffee upon on arrival.
For more details and to register for your free ticket please click on link below.
Collett Smart is a psychologist, qualified teacher and internationally published author, with more than 25 years experience working in university, private and public schools, as well as in private practice.
Note: This seminar will not be broadcast online or recorded for later viewing. However, Collett Smart does have a number of free resources and videos available through her website for those who cannot attend.
Make Up Photo Day - with Advancedlife Photography
If your son/daughter missed the Primary or Secondary School photo date, we are offering another time for them to have their individual portrait photo taken in their formal school uniform.
Date: Friday 1 April 2022
Time: 10:00am
As this needs to be organised with Advancedlife Photography please email the office at office@gpcc.nsw.edu.au to advise if your son/daughter will be taking up this offer.
Kindergarten 2023
We have commenced enrolments for 2023 and already have keen interest for places in Kindergarten. If your child is due to commence Kindergarten in 2023 kindly apply now via our website. You are welcome to contact our Registrar if you have any questions about enrolment registrar@gpcc.nsw.edu.au.
Meet Catherine Lamey, our new Piano Tutor
Catherine has been teaching piano on the Central Coast and in various Sydney schools for over 20 years. She has taught students from early ages to adults and from beginners to the more advanced levels. She encourages students to play music just for fun, to simply enjoy learning an instrument or to set a goal through aiming for higher levels of proficiency through examinations up to AMusA level.
Music has always been a passion and an integral part of Catherine’s life, studying piano with renowned pianist Gerard Willems. Encouraged as a young child to learn piano, she realised the value of a musical education along with the power of music through developing her piano skills as a teacher, training in music as therapy and singing in various community choirs.
Catherine enjoys yoga, the many beautiful bushwalks along the Central Coast and living near the water.
Private Music Tuition and Bands are now up and running for 2022.
Please click on link below for more information: https://www.gpcc.nsw.edu.au/education-learning/co-curricular-activities/music-tuition
Uniform Shop
Monday: 8:30am - 11:00am
Wednesday: 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Thursday: 8:30am - 11:00am
Friday: 8:30am - 11:00am
For the price list and further information on ordering through Alinta please visit our website – https://www.gpcc.nsw.edu.au/enrolment/uniform
The Munchery Canteen Operations and Updated Menu
The Munchery Menu - Term 1, 2022
All students are strongly encouraged to order online. However, over the counter sales will also available.
Please visit the GPCC website for the link to The Munchery portal: https://www.gpcc.nsw.edu.au/community/the-munchery-canteen
Introducing the updated MunchMonitor Parent Portal - Launched on Friday 11 March
We’ve developed an enhanced and improved MunchMonitor offering for parents, with the introduction of our new Parent Portal.
Latest features include:
- Save favourites for each student for each canteen meal break
- Standard shopping cart capabilities – multiple orders in one transaction:
- orders can be placed per student, per meal allocation, per day and bundled in your shopping cart for one-time purchase
- Improved performance – better processing means more reliability during busy ordering times
- Responsive design - compatible for laptop, tablet and mobile devices via your web browser
EXTEND (Before and After School Care)
NSW Government vouchers for Before & After School Care and Vacation 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/ren (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 Community Notices
Terrigal Football Club
Terrigal United Football Club is looking for YOUTH FOOTBALL SATURDAY Seeking players for U15 B and C grade. (A grade Goalkeeper upon application) Born 2007 or 2008. U16 A Grade Applicants welcome to contact us for a trial.
MENS 18 SUNDAY COMP M18B Players required for Sunday morning competition. Born 2004, 2005 or 2006 - the ideal candidates will have some experience on the football pitch.
WOMENS SUNDAY COMP Female players to join our W14 teams. Born 2008/09. All levels of experiences accepted. Limited places remain in our W12, W16 and W18 teams.
Contact them via this link: https://terrigalunitedfc.com/connect-with-us/
Terrigal Wamberal Junior Rugby League Club
They are looking for girls 12 - 13 yrs and 16 - 17yrs
Call 0414 551 252 for more information
Gosford Regional Gallery School Holiday Workshops
Central Coast Chess Holiday Tournament - Wednesday 20 April
for more information download the attachment below.
Australian Red Cross - Blood Donation
Terrigal Mobile Donor Centre
Wednesday 23 March 2.00pm to 7.30pm
Thursday 24 March 12.00pm to 5.30pm
Friday 25 March 9.30am to 3.00pm
Rotary Park
214 Terrigal Drive
Terrigal
Book online or on 13 14 95.
AFL - Saratoga Hawks Recruitment Drive
The Saratoga Hawks are currently looking for boys and girls aged between 5-17 and would love to see plenty of new faces enjoy everything that playing AFL has to offer! They are targeting new participants in the local region and appreciate support from their local schools.
School Holiday Program at Umina Beach Police Citizen Youth Club
PCYC Umina Beach are running a School Holiday Program in April.
More information can be found on our website - https://www.pcycnsw.org.au/umina-beach/school-holidays
If you would like to place an advertisement in the Green Point Community Notices, please email details to Justine Collins at
Green Point Baptist Church
9:30am Worship Service
6:00pm Service
Services continue to be available online each week.
We are updating our Facebook page regularly with what's happening, so check it out: https://www.facebook.com/greenpointbaps/
Coming Up this Week
Wednesday, 23 March
No Secondary Chapel/LIFE today, changed to Thursday 24 March
Thursday, 24 March
Duke of Ed Bronze Practise Hike - Year 10, overnight
CIS Primary Swimming Championships - Homebush
NASA Questacon Zoom Incursion (20 selected students from Years 7-12)
LIFE - Years 7 - 12 (Collett Smart)
Evening Parenting Seminar with Collett Smart in GPBC at 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday, 25 March
Duke of Ed Bronze Practise Hike - Year 10
Dates for the Diary
Monday, 28 March
Secondary Athletics Carnival at Mingara
Secondary CIS Open Cricket Trials
Primary - The Big Vegie Crunch Week
Tuesday, 29 March
CSSA Secondary Swimming Championships
Thursday, 31 March
Open Day and Tour 4:00pm
Friday, 1 April
Year 8 Brainstorm Presentation
Secondary CIS Open Cricket Trials
Secondary Station Touch Football Gala Day
School Photography catchup morning: 10:00am - 11:00am
Wednesday, 6 April
K - 12 Easter Service (No Primary Chapel)
Term Dates 2022
Term 1, 2022
Friday, 8 April - Last Day Term 1
Term 2, 2022
Wednesday, 27 April to Friday, 1 July
Monday, 13 June - Queen's Birthday Public Holiday
Term 3, 2022
Thursday, 21 July to Friday, 23 September
Term 4, 2022
Tuesday, 11 October to Wednesday, 7 December