CHRIST CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL

THE BLUEY

ABN 55 063 453 350

A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE Issue No. 17 3 June 2016

FORTHCOMING DATES:- Wednesday 8 June Night of the Notables Thursday

9 June Music Soiree – 3.45pm

Dear Parents and Friends, This morning the School community came together for a poignant Chapel Service for Reconciliation Week with our special visitors Perry Wandin and Rev Helen Dwyer. All the children attended this service and had previously reflected on the message of ‘acceptance’ and our sense of identity. Mother Linda has written more about this service later in the newsletter, however, I feel that it is important to acknowledge the enormous contribution that has been made by Mother Linda and Tia D’Andrea in organising this event for us. The children also deserve a special mention for the way they embraced the significance of this service. We have a truly lovely community. As part of the events that surround Reconciliation Week, a number of students and families attended the Long Walk last Saturday. Despite the frosty and damp weather, the robust CCGS group walked into the city, led proudly by one of our Year 6 students, Jude Harrington. Jude has been instrumental in gathering support for this event which raised over $550 which he has handed to Darren Smith from Red Dust to support the community in Areyonga. Jude has also raised over $1000 over the past year and a half through various events and stalls which has also been donated to Areyonga. Congratulations to Jude for his ongoing commitment to community service in this way. This is a wonderful achievement.

Well done to the staff and children who organised and supported the Year 4 & 6 Maths Nights on Tuesday this week. Both events were well attended and there was fun to be had by all. Best of luck to our Year 6 children as they prepare for the Night of the Notables next week – I know that you have all worked incredibly hard on this project this term (parents too!) and it will be wonderful to see you on show next week. I hope you all enjoy the weekend. Sandra Holland Dear Parents and Friends, On Sunday 29th May we gathered for a combined service where ten children from the school and three from the parish were admitted to Holy Communion. It was a memorable occasion. What a joy it is to see children so inspired by sacred story that they wish to explore a relationship with God and accept his hospitality extended through the bread and wine.

Today we had a very special Reconciliation Chapel service. Perry Wandin Wundjeri elder presided over a smoking ceremony and the Rev Helen Dwyer a chaplain at Overnewton Anglican College captivated the children with an explanation of how her friend Flossy the possum needed to be accepted for who she is, a possum! The analogy with Aboriginal people was strong and clear. Our children were beautifully composed and attentive throughout the service.

Recently Christ Church hosted a visit from Year 11 and 12 students from Ilim Islamic College of Australia. Father Paul gave an introduction to the Christian faith and spoke of the significance of Abraham in both our traditions. When I joined the discussion, I spoke about my journey to ordination and the slow realisation that God was calling me to use my teaching skills in his service. We spent a happy and fruitful time together and the teachers accompanying the group are keen to encourage ongoing dialogue between Christian and Muslim students. They hope to reciprocate our hospitality at a future date. As part of their Religious Education, Year 6 will visit the Jewish Museum and a Synagogue later in the year.

I am currently gathering a group for Confirmation at the combined service in August. How would you know if your son or daughter is ready for this important rite of passage? As I have written before, we don’t have to have a fully formed theological understanding of doctrine in order to participate. Longing of the heart and curiosity are important indicators. We are all formed in an ongoing way every day that we reflect on the nature of God and his creation. God meets us in symbolic ritual. We approach them with some intellectual awareness and the action itself speaks more deeply into our knowing. So it is that we journey with God throughout our adult lives. Confirmation signals awakening and engagement rather than a state of completion. Do call or email Richard or myself if you have any questions. Blessings, Linda linda.fiske@ccgs.vic.edu.au

Art News

John Watson – Visual Art

The finishing touches are going onto our new art room signs and they should be ready to be installed very soon. Year 1 have been trying their hand at paper sculpture over the past weeks and are building some fantastic castles. I have included a little snapshot of their progress. Photos below courtesy of Michele. Reminder - Year 6 Trivia Quiz Nite - Thursday 16th June at 7pm Dear Year 6 Families, Remember to book your tickets ($15 per person, 1 child and 1 adult per family) by next Thursday 9th June for our Year 6 Trivia Quiz Nite Extravaganza. It’s easy to book on http://www.trybooking.com/LOZD Teams of 8 per table (of 4 kids, generally each with a parent) - kids can organise themselves into teams beforehand, or just join a table on the night. Any queries to Pia Di Mattina at piadimattina@optusnet.com.au

Areyonga Thank you to everyone who supported Areyonga in our recent Long Walk Fundraiser. Altogether with the lollie Jar, The Raffle and about 50 walkers on the Long Walk, we have raised over $550 for Areyonga. This money has been passed on to Darren of Red Dust, who will decide how to benefit the Areyonga community with the money we raised. I'd also like to quickly thank Leanne Brooke from the Long Walk Australia for providing our amazing raffle prizes. For those of you wondering about Areyonga, it is a remote indigenous community located about 225 kilometres south west of Alice Springs, in the Central Desert of the Northern Territory. With only about 220 people living in the community, it is quite small. Areyonga has a Primary School, where the kids are divided into 2 classes, one for the younger kids in year 1, 2 and 3 and another class for the older kids in year 4, 5 and 6. There is no secondary school in Areyonga, so after Year 6 the kids have to leave Areyonga to go to school elsewhere, or they just don't go to school any more at all. Some of our Year 6's are looking forward to spending a few days with the Areyonga community in our September school holidays, and particularly spending time with the Areyonga kids in their school. This is a very special opportunity that we have at CCGS because of our relationship with Red Dust, an organisation which works to improve health in remote indigenous communities, and they have a strong connection to the Areyonga community. We are looking forward to strengthening our friendship with the Areyonga community, and learning more about their lives, when we visit them in September. Jude Harrington

Luke Siolis (2R) – Raffle winner!

CCGS Reconciliation Ceremony

Hey, Class of 2016 - It’s your

Trivia Quiz Night Extravaganza!!

Outwit your mates in the fiercest, funniest team competition of the year! Vie for awesome prizes!

Have a laugh!

Thurs 16 June 7pm – 9.15pm in the Hall (we’ll start @ 7.15pm SHARP!) Popcorn & chips supplied BYO drink bottle & other snacks (no alcohol or phones allowed!)

Book by Thurs 9th June

http://www.trybooking.com/LOZD

$30 per family (1 child & 1 adult)

Teams of 8 per table (4 kids & 4 adults)