Back Together
Rob Weule, Year 4 Teacher & Band Conductor
Excuse me Madam…We’re on a mission from God. We’re getting the Band back together.
The Blues Brothers
God created music to aid us in our praise, honour and worship of Him and to bring others and ourselves joy and fulfilment. The learning of a musical instrument involves specific skill development that can bring lifelong pleasure. The learning of an instrument is a tool for developing a sense of personal identity, it is a T.E.A.M. activity as much as a personal activity and it enhances all other layers of learning.
Learning music provides children with the cognitive foundations for effective learning, which ultimately helps them become confident learners, ready to make the most of their education.
Dr Anita Collins (Bigger Better Brains)
Music is one of the few activities which engage the entire brain. Learning music can help students’ self-confidence, self-discipline and team work. Music helps students progress in other important learning areas such as Maths and English. Indeed, countries with a strong focus on music education tend to have higher scores in literacy and numeracy. Engaging music programs have been shown to help with attendance and can be particularly beneficial for students who are not achieving well in school. All of this evidence for music’s extrinsic benefits make a strong case for music education, but should not overshadow the sheer joy people experience making music, nor the value of the art-form itself. Music is a vital part of everyday life and school life.
Music education can help spark a child’s imagination or ignite a lifetime of passion. When you provide a child with new worlds to explore and challenges to tackle, the possibilities are endless. Music education should not be a privilege for a lucky few, it should be a part of every child’s world of possibility.
Hillary Clinton
Seven Facts About School Music… (yep these are supported by research)
- Music makes a contribution to kids’ development that no other subject can match.
- Music students are more likely to be good citizens.
- Learning music helps under-performing students improve.
- Musical training can enhance brain function.
- Incorporating music learning into other curriculum areas helps kids learn.
- Playing music improves concentration, memory and ability to express feelings.
- Australia lags behind other countries in the provision of music in school.
With these thoughts in mind, it is most exciting to be part of the Year 4 Band Program that began six years ago at Kuyper Christian School.
Here are the numbers for 2022:
- 23 enthusiastic Year 4 Musicians
- 6 Flutes
- 4 Trombones
- 3 Alto Saxes
- 4 Clarinets
- 4 Trumpets
- 1 Drums
- 1 Bass
- 1 Conductor
- 3 Instrumental Tutors
- Countless hours of home and school rehearsal ahead
- 1 amazingly supportive School Board and Principal
- A lifetime of learning awaiting
The Year 4 Band are involved with an instrumental tutorial and whole band session each week (Thursdays and Fridays) as well as being involved in regular individual rehearsal at home (thanks Band Families). We look forward to this exciting musical adventure with our Year 4 Band. Stay tuned for their first ‘public’ performance.
The Concert Band is also back after 272 days since our last rehearsal: Friday mornings, 8am in the (well ventilated) hall. We used to meet in the music room but have out-grown the space. The Concert Band just missed out on their tour last year due to COVID restrictions. We are now in the process of re-building the band after a very disrupted 2021.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Psalm 100:1-3
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Reminders
- The Parent Portal and Kuyper App will be the primary vehicle for day-to-day communications between the school and parents in 2023. The School Calendar, weekly news, event advice and other essential functions will only be available in the Parent Portal and Kuyper App. At least one parent/carer from each household where your child resides needs access to the portal or app. If you are not already using the App, or need assistance resetting your user account and password, call 4573 2999 and we will assist you to connect.
- Nurture Magazine has been sent home to each family via their eldest child. Look for an article by our very own Ruth Thompson on page 20.
- Lost Property is over-flowing. Please come and check if any of it is yours, as lost property will be discarded or re-sold at the end of the year.
- Parents are reminded to continue testing for COVID and advise us if there is COVID in their household. If concerned, we encourage students to wear a mask at school for their own and others’ protection. In line with NSW Health recommendations, we also ask that close contacts wear a mask indoors and on public transport (including the Kuyper bus) and test regularly. We still have a good supply of RAHT kits. Contact the Office if you would like some sent home.
- Reminder to parents to ensure that all fees are paid by the end of year. Contact the Office if you have any concerns.
- Families who rely on the Busways service need to know that there have been some changes to the timetables until the end of term. Use the buttons below to access the temporary timetables for Term 4.
Prayer & Praise
- Praise God that he continues in his sovereignty through all circumstances. Praise him that he is “the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17), and that he loves us.
- Give thanks for holidays, breaks and changes in rhythm. Pray for connection, peace and safety for all our families during these school holidays. Pray for connection and community to grow for all at Kuyper Christian School, particularly at Limelight!
- Pray for school families and staff families who are coping with illness and accident: Faithfull, Hill, Eastlake, Armstrong, Gubbins, Huxley, Daly. Pray for good rest, connection and healing for all our families, staff and students.
- Give thanks for our Government and those in authority. Pray that they would be led in wisdom and truth to lead our country for the future good of all. Pray that “every person be subject to the governing authorities.” Give thanks that our government has been “instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).
- Give thanks for our Board and Executive team as they interview potential new staff members. Pray for one-ness of purpose for our staff, Board, Executive team, and Association as they plan, prepare and budget for 2023. Praise the Lord for His provision to us all the time.
News & Notices
Parent/Teacher Interviews for Senior Students
Parent/Teacher interviews for Senior students will be held in the Library on Wednesday 14 September, from 4pm. Use the button below to make your bookings.
Bookings close on Thursday 8 September. Academic Reports for Senior students will be emailed to you before 14 September.
Last RAHTs
By the end of this week, all students should have received one last RAHT kit. Please use them as necessary, when symptomatic, and also before returning to school next term. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 now needs to isolate for 5 days, instead of 7, and wear a mask for a further 5 days upon their return to school. If you need extra RAHT kits, please contact the Office and we will send more home.
NSW Health advice also confirms that if a student is unwell and has any symptoms they should always test for COVID-19. If the test comes back negative for COVID-19, the student should still not return to school until either:
- they no longer have any symptoms, or
- a medical certificate is provided to the school confirming that symptoms are explained by another diagnosis (such as hay fever).
It is still important that students do not attend school if they are unwell, even if they have tested negative for COVID-19. It is also important that families follow NSW Health self-isolation and close contact guidelines if someone in their household has tested positive to COVID. If a person in your household who has tested positive cannot isolate from other family members, those family members should not attend school during the 5-day isolation period.
Premier's Reading Challenge
Every year, students from Kuyper Christian School participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure and enable students to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more, and to read more widely. The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is open to all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 10.
To take part, email Mrs Vincenti, dvincenti@kuyper.nsw.edu.au
Contact the Office if you have any questions or need some help.
Run4Bibles
Thank you to the students and families who worked hard to raise over $780 for the Bible League Run4Bibles project last term. Our grounds have finally dried out enough for us to officially undertake our run! Next Tuesday 20 September, our Secondary PASS students will host a fun run for Prep – Year 6 students from 9:15am. Primary students must wear their sport uniform for this event.
Due to the Fun Run on Tuesday, there will be no Primary sport on Wednesday 21 September. Primary students must wear normal school uniform next Wednesday.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7
Seussical Cafe
The Seussical Cafe will be in operation before each show and at Interval, selling delicious Seussical themed food and drinks. Prices are $1 – $5 and our catering team have been working hard to bring you the best and most creative treats! We are looking forward to your enjoyment.
Mosquito Alert
As a result of the recent severe weather in many parts of NSW, some mosquito-born illnesses have begun to appear. To avoid mosquito bites and prevent infection, NSW Health advises the following:
- cover-up while outside with loose, light-coloured clothing and covered footwear,
- avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk,
- apply insect repellent on exposed skin that contains DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus,
- use insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units and mosquito coils to repel mosquitos,
- cover openings such as windows and doors with insect screens,
- remove water-holding containers outside your house where mosquitoes can breed.
Flood Support Opportunity
We have all seen the devastating impact of the floods in NSW. Over 100 regional Independent schools, and tens of thousands of students who are part of our wider Independent schools community have experienced damage to their homes and have lost school equipment such as laptops, books and uniforms. They need our support.
You can directly support affected students by clicking on this link to donate to the Australian Independent Schools Fund’s (AISF) Flood Relief Appeal. All donations over $2 are tax deductable and a receipt will be generated and emailed to you automatically. The AISF has no administrative costs; every dollar donated will go directly to supporting flood-affected students and will be distributed to families promptly.
The AISF was established in 2017 by the Association of Independent Schools of NSW to provide tax deductable financial donations directly to disadvantaged students, including those needing emergency relief due to natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and storms. In 2020, the AISF distributed more than $600,000 directly, within days, to 176 families who had suffered catastrophe in the summer bushfires. A further $263,700 went directly to 76 families impacted by storms and floods the same year. This funding was delivered to affected families within days and their gratitude was overwhelming.
Thank you for reaching out to families in our sister schools in NSW and providing your support for those among us who are in need.
NAPLAN Online, Tuesday 10 May
NAPLAN Online for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will begin on Tuesday next week (10 May). All participating students will need to bring plug-in headphones. Secondary students will need to ensure that their Chromebook is fully charged for the start of the day.
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. All NSW schools will sit NAPLAN online in 2022.
Please contact the School Office if you need more information on special provisions or the process required to gain a formal exemption.
Where possible, we will arrange for individual students who are absent at the time of testing to complete missed tests at another time during our test schedule.
If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online, please contact the Office or your child’s teacher.
Additional resources: