and Early Learning Centre

Email: office@burdekincc.com

2-12 Melbourne St, Ayr QLD 4807

Phone (07) 4783 5552 Fax (07) 47835926

www.bccollege.net.au

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Newsletter 4 — Thursday 28th March 2013

End of Term 1

Thursday

28th March

at 11am

Term 2

Commences

Tuesday 16th April

(pupil free day on

Monday 15th April)

From the Principal’s Desk

Andrew Evetts, Principal

IS GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOL FAIR?

As this is our last newsle-er for the term and the hot topic for both par/es

leading into the next elec/on is Educa/on I thought it appropriate to share

some thoughts on Chris/an Educa/on. The curriculum content laid down

by the state government is taught from a perspec/ve, in our schools, in which knowledge and

understanding are embedded in a belief in God who is the source of all meaning and purpose in life.

Our students take their place in society as competent, confident ci/zens who are able to make a

construc/ve contribu/on because of the sound educa/on they have received.

Not only do we deliver a sound educa/on, it is cost- efficient and compared to most schools

(government and non-government) is cheaper per student to operate. We receive about 65% of our

income from governments and 35% from fees and fund-raising. Government schools receive almost all

their income from governments (less than 4% comes from fund-raising voluntary contribu/ons and

sponsorships). So, is our Chris/an school overfunded? No. On average, you and our school save the

taxpayer more than $5,000 per student on the cost that would be incurred if your child a-ended a

government school.

So, why is government funding needed for my child to a-end a Chris/an school? Good ques/on.

Because it costs over $10,000 per child to run even the most basic school- well beyond the capacity

of most parents to afford alone.

Because our Chris/an school is contribu/ng to the economic, social, moral and spiritual capital of

the na/on.

Because you pay taxes towards compulsory years of schooling- a core responsibility of

governments.

Because parents have a right to choose their school as an expression of their responsibility to school

their child.

There are 32,512 students a-ending Chris/an schools throughout Queensland alone. These Chris/an

schools save the government $169 million a year. Government funding for our schools is more than

fair, it’s a bargain for governments and taxpayers and we must ensure that it is not reduced or

removed. This year alone the Newman government has cut funding across all sectors of educa/on. This

accounted to a loss of $295 per students this year. This doesn’t sound like much when you talk per

student but this added up to a loss of $41,000 for our school this year. A quite significant amount of

money. I share these facts with you, our parents, so that you are able to par/cipate in the public

debate that will take place leading into the next elec/on.

At the Burdekin Chris/an College we are blessed to have parents who fill the caps where needed and

con/nually help us to develop and improve the school.

Enjoy your break.

Yours in Christ

Dates for your CalendarDates for your CalendarDates for your CalendarDates for your Calendar

Queensland state term dates - 2013 (College Term tba)

NB: The first day of each term is usually a Pupil Free Day. The last day of each term

usually finishes at 11am.

March Thursday 28th March—end of Term 1—school finishes at 11am Friday 29th March—Good Friday

April Friday 5th April —non-school art work and written work needs to be in at Eisteddfod office

Tuesday 16th April—Term 2 commences Monday 22nd April to Thursday 25th April—Year 7 Camp

Thursday 25th April—Anzac Day—school will be marching

June Friday 21st June —end of Term 2—school finishes at 11am

July Monday 22nd July —ELC Photos

Tuesday 23rd July—School Photos

Queensland term dates - 2013

Term Dates Length

Term 1 Tuesday 29 January - Thursday 28 March 9 weeks

Term 2 Tuesday 16th April - Friday 21 June 10 weeks

Term 3 Monday 8 July - Friday 20 September 11 weeks

Term 4 Tuesday 8 October - Friday 6 December 10 weeks

Congratula/ons to Nonna Rose on the

birth of her first grandchild, a li-le girl

Gracie Kathleen. Gracie is the daughter of

Rose’s son Anthony and his wife Emma

Giardina.

Year 2—Story Circle Time—21st March

Term 1 Thursday aJernoon

CraJ Clubbers with Mrs Watson

ELC Easter Bonnet Parade

Wacky Wednesday

Happy Easter from the Preppies

Kindy/Pre Prep

Jayne Orchard, Director & Kindy/Pre Prep Group Leader

ELC

We have been learning about the k/c sound. We all made a kite and flew them outside. We put on some

rock’n’roll music and played pretend guitars and danced.

We had a lot of fun playing with bubbles in the water trough. We had fun one day we lined up all the stepping

stones and we pretended to be on a train. We sang some train songs, “Down by The Sta/on” was one of them.

We are loving making things for Easter. We are very excited. We are also learning the real meaning of Easter, of

how Jesus died on a cross for all our wrongdoings but then two days aJer there was a surprise—Jesus rose up

from the dead.

Hope you all have a blessed Easter.

ELC

Toni Smallman, Group Leader, Toddlers

Toddlers During outside play we have been playing in the water trough. We have been filling up

bo-les and then /pping them out again. We have also been splashing the water so it goes

everywhere and we all get very wet. One day we put the balls in with the water and played

with them, we kept throwing them out. It is lovely playing in the water as it is nice and cool

The boat is very popular with all the children wan/ng to drive it. Some of us are very

adventurous and climb up to the top of the dome. We then climb down again. We ride the

bikes up and down the path very fast – look out everyone! We have been colouring cards for

our mums and dads for Easter – we hope you like them. We have also been collaging our

Easter baskets. We have had lots of fun doing this.

We would like to thank everyone who a-ended our Easter Hat Parade on Wednesday, we

hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Meet the Staff Hello, my name is Sandra Fowler and this is my sixth year at the Burdekin

Chris/an College. I started at the college part /me as the Learning Support

Teacher which I did for four and a bit years before taking on the year 5 class

part /me in Term 2 in 2012.

I am currently the Year six teacher three days a week and also oversee the Fast

ForWord program and the students on IEP’s. My teaching career started many,

many years ago as a High School Maths/Science teacher at Ayr High.

Before coming to the college I was a full /me Mum and helped my husband,

Kent, run our cane farming business. We have five beau/ful children, two girls

and three sons, and we will also a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law come May.

Our youngest child, Jessica (pictured with us below) has just completed year 12

and leJ home to go to university.

Outside of school, I enjoy all forms of craJ work and have been involved in

running the Burdekin CraJ Spectacular for eight years. I also enjoy camping and

snorkelling when we can get away from the cane farm. I a-end the Burdekin

Uni/ng Church where you will find me most Sundays either in Home Hill or Ayr.

I have really enjoyed working with the students and all the staff at the college

over the years.

Sandra Fowler, Year 6 Teacher

RemindersRemindersRemindersReminders

School Uniforms

By the /me you receive this newsle-er we should have received the new

school uniforms we have been wai/ng for! The office staff will endeavour

to get the uniforms out to those children who have ordered and paid for

uniforms before they leave school on Thursday. If you are yet to pay for

your uniforms they will be held at the office.

If anyone is visi/ng the following Theme Parks between April

12th and June 30th please call into the office and collect some

50% off vouchers . The Theme Parks are:

• Wet’n’Wild

• Movie WB World

• Sea World

• Paradise Country

• Australian Outback Spectacular

Please do not park in the school grounds.

This is a Health and Safety issue and we will

be policing this vehemently in term 2.

Meet the Team Andrew Evetts—Principal

Brooke Vucetic—Prep Teacher

Heather Mackay—Year 3 Teacher

Fleur Vigerzi—Year 1 Teacher

Sarah Watson—Year 2 Teacher

Daniel Walsh —Year 4/5 Teacher

Chris Knight —Year 7 Teacher

Judy Kedar—Year 6 & Year 1 Teacher

Sandra Fowler—Year 6 Teacher

Ray Caine— IT & H&PE Teacher

Wally Ford—Music Teacher

Kim Smith—Teachers Aide & Library Assistant

Leeza Goon-Chew—Teachers Aide

Sandra Saunders—Teachers Aide

Ronda Downs—Prep Teachers Aide

Audrey Heppell—Teachers Aide

Joanna Ford—Teachers Aide

Paul Haller—Year 4/5 Teachers Aide

Jayne Orchard—Director and Team Leader—ELC

Toni Smallman—Team Leader—ELC

Gessie Wilson—ELC

Natasha Patterson—ELC

Raywin Mayor—ELC

Jill Sutcliffe—ELC

Cheryl Taylor—ELC

Rob Harper—Groundskeeper

Bronson Hutchen—Groundskeeper

Jackie Gudge—Cleaner

Zilya Bunakova—Cleaner

Rose Giardina—Financials (Church and School)

Fiona Christie—Reception/Principals Assistant