Term 1, Week 9
Designed for Learning
Recently, all parents and caregivers were sent an update regarding our new uniform change-over timeline.
The letter outlined some of the key benefits and purposes of our school uniform, which our school community all agreed were important. These benefits included reducing peer pressure, fostering identity, and instilling pride in and respect for the College and its values.
Of course, if you’ve ever asked yourself the question “What will I wear today?”, you also recognise that a school uniform simplifies this daily decision, and turns the focus back to the many important tasks that take place during each school day. Throughout the review process, we have sought to ensure that our new uniform will comfortably enhance learning, and is appropriate for a wide range of schooling activities. As you would appreciate, this is not a simple task, but we look forward to unveiling the completed uniform during Term 4, as we begin an exciting new chapter in the life of Cedar College.
Around the Campus
In this issue of CedarNews, our Cedar Pastor reminds us how good Easter really is, we rewind all the exciting action from both the High School and Upper Primary Sports Days, find out about High School Harmony Week, and learn about the increasing number of teddy bears that have been spotted around the Junior Primary and High School recently!
We pray all of our families have a safe and meaningful Easter break,
Mr Peter Thomson, Principal
December 2024
Saturday December 14 – Sunday January 26
- SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Tuesday December 24
- Christmas Eve
Wednesday December 25
- Christmas Day Public Holiday
Tuesday December 31
- New Year's Eve
January 2025
Wednesday January 1
- New Year's Day Public Holiday
Thursday January 16
- 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Get Ready Day!
Sunday January 26
- Australia Day
- Week 1 >>
Monday January 27
- Australia Day Public Holiday
- STUDENT FREE DAY
Tuesday January 28
- Students return for Term 1
Friday January 31
- New Student ID Photos
Friday is so Good
Understanding Good Friday – the most good thing that ever happened.
Let the Games Begin
The Cedar Torch brings an Olympic flavour to Upper Primary Sports Day.
Game On: Sports Day Fun!
Gould emerges victorious as High School Sports Day goes down to the wire.
Harmony Week
Students unite for freedom, respect, fairness, democracy and equal opportunity.
The Front Page
Friday is so Good
What’s so great about Easter? Four days off? Family time away somewhere? Hot cross buns and chocolate? Sacred moments connecting with our Creator?
Week 9 News and Notices
Public Holidays – Term 1
Friday March 29 – Good Friday Public Holiday.
Monday April 1 – Easter Monday Public Holiday.
Sports Day Badges
Thank you to the many families who ordered Sports Day badges recently.
Unfortunately, a problem with the badge machine has meant that some High School orders, and all of the Upper Primary orders, have been delayed. We hope to have the problem rectified shortly and will fulfill all orders as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
Canteen – last day of Term 1
Please note that lunch orders will not be available on the last day of Term 1, Friday, April 12. The Canteen will be open for snacks only on this day.
Absentee Notification
It is important to always notify the College if your child will be absent from school.
Parents/caregivers can use the student absentee email, which can be accessed via the Cedar Portals menu on our website. Clicking the link will open an email, prompting for the required information.
If required, the Front Office may phone, email or send a text message to confirm the absence.
Primary School 80s Day
Students in the Primary School are invited to take part in the 80s DAY on Friday April 5 (Week 10).
For a gold coin donation, students may come dressed in 80s-style clothing, or wear a funny wig! (no cropped skirts/tops or open-toed shoes)
The Primary School Prefects will present prizes for the best dressed in each class. All money raised will go toward supporting our Compassion sponsor children.
Canvas and Portal Login changes
Please be aware that we will be introducing new login procedures for both Canvas and the Parent Portal in Term 2.
These changes will streamline the login procedure for both portals, enabling parents/caregivers to utilise their own email addresses or existing third-party sign-in credentials. Further information will be sent to all parents/caregivers when the new facility becomes available.
High School Learning Conversations
The High School Learning Conversations are scheduled for Term 2, on Monday May 6, from 3:30pm-8pm. These Conversations will be held in F-Block, in various rooms. Parents and Caregivers will be emailed booking instructions in Week 1 of Term 2.
Students are encouraged to be available to meet with their teachers and parents/caregivers. In some circumstances, the interview may begin with just parents/caregivers and teachers, and end with the student being present as well.
Winter Uniform Reminder
Now is the time to check your child’s winter uniform requirements.
Due to the introduction of the new uniform in 2025, some items and sizes may be in short supply for the remainder of the year. Please consider your child’s needs in conjunction with the new uniform roll-out timeline.
The Uniform shop will be open from 9am-4pm on Monday April 29 (Student Free Day).
Most uniform items, including winter uniform, are available via the Qkr! app. Please first select a delivery method to ensure that your order is placed correctly, and you will be notified when the order has been fulfilled.
Please remember to name all uniform items clearly, as this provides the best chance for lost items to be returned to students.
Street Parking Reminder
If you utilise any street parking around the property for drop-off or pick-up, please respect the driveways of the community around us and do not park across driveways or block street access in any way. This includes the Cedar College internal Kiss&Drop road as traffic needs to remain moving from Navigator Drive.
For those with older children, please consider if you can pick your child up 10 minutes later to help reduce the traffic impact at pick-up times.
Dogs on School Grounds
Please note that for the safety and hygiene of the College community, dogs are not allowed onto the school grounds at any time. Thank you.
PlayStart Soccer
PlayStart Soccer Classes at Cedar College – Term 2 Afterschool
PlayStart Soccer classes are all about FUN! Our after-school sessions will be held on the school oval on Thursdays starting May 2. (Week 1). PlayStart Soccer’s 8-week program is for Reception to Year 3 children who want to learn new, and improve existing, skills.
Families who register before May 5 will be entered into a competition to win a family pass to the upcoming Matildas v China game! Register online at Playstart by selecting your school.
For further information, call Andrew on 0401 410 465 or email [email protected]
Easter Services
Friday March 29 & Sunday, April 1, from 10am
Join us at CityReach Oakden for our very special 10AM Good Friday service, At The Cross which will feature a Gospel presentation, music and testimony. Hot cross buns and coffee to follow.
You are also warmly invited to our Easter Sunday service at 10AM, where we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and witness some baptisms.
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids and a BYO Feaster Picnic on the Gazebo lawns following the service. We hope to see you at both events!
Calendar Information
TERM DATES
Term 1, 2024 – Tue 30 January – Fri 12 April
Term 2, 2024 – Tue 30 April – Fri 28 June
Three-week break between Terms 2 and 3
Term 3, 2024 – Tue 23 July – Fri 27 September
Term 4, 2024 – Tue 15 October – Wed 11 December
UNIFORM SHOP
Regular opening hours during term:
Monday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Wednesday 3pm – 5:30pm
Thursday extended opening hours:
TERM 1 – Weeks 1 – 6, 3pm – 5.30pm
TERM 2 – Weeks 1 – 3, 3pm – 5.30pm
TERM 4 – Weeks 1 – 3, 3pm – 5.30pm
PRIMARY ASSEMBLY
Our Primary School Chapels and Assemblies are held on Fridays at 8:50am.
Assemblies can be attended by invitation from the involved classes, and parents/caregivers are welcome to attend our fortnightly Chapels.
Parents/caregivers are able to sit in the allocated chairs at the back of the Auditorium.
Primary School News
Let the Games Begin!
On the 22nd of March, the Upper Primary held their annual Sports Day, with a special Olympic theme inspired by the Primary Sports Captains.
The day began in the auditorium with an opening ceremony, where Mr Austin, Mr Jackman, Mr Rowe, Mrs Ziebarth and Mrs Robinson performed an interpretive dance to pump up the crowd!
Opening Ceremony
Sports Captains Liam and Isaac announced Ava as the winner of the Relay for Compassion. The Relay saw Mrs Robinson retrieve the Cedar Torch from New Zealand, before it completed an epic journey through the College, with Principal, Mr Peter Thomson, completing the final leg on Sports Day. Ava lit the torch and cauldron to a huge cheer from the crowd.
Events Begin
The day’s competitions began with Relays, which was a wonderful way to start the events as a community. Teachers led the classes through the events and did an amazing job of managing so many students in limited time. They are amazing and I thank them for all their hard work!
The parents won the Tug-of-War quite convincingly against the staff, but the staff evened the score with a win in the Relay. The 100m races were the last events of the day, and many of the races came down to a photo finish review.
Mr Thomson proudly read out the final score for the last time and Gould were the victors with 1674 points, followed by Bradman in second with 1409 points, Jackson in third with 1138 points, and Laver in fourth with 911 points.
Highlights from the Day
Here are some highlights from the Primary Sports Captains and Winning Gould Prefects:
“My highlight was the opening ceremony, especially the teachers’ dance. It was hilarious and amazing.” – Liam A
“The torch relay was epic, and I loved being a part of the videos we showed in Assembly.” – Isaac M
“A highlight for me was leading my team in the Bradman chant, and I was really proud that Mrs Robinson used my idea of an Olympic themed Sports Day.” – Ella P
“I loved seeing all the students happy and cheering. They all did such a great job on the day and tried their best.” – Emily T
“Our highlight was that everyone was encouraging each other even if they were not in the same team. We are proud of Gould and the awesome effort they put in to win the day, and liked being able to give a speech to thank everyone.” – Justin L & Emily M.
Thank you to all the parents, caregivers and friends who came to support the students, and also to the High School students who did a fantastic job helping at the events.
Mrs Bek Robinson, Sports Coordinator Year 3-12
Primary School News
Opera Strikes a Chord
The Primary School recently enjoyed an enchanting performance of “The Frog Prince” by the SA State Opera, seamlessly blending classic fairy tales with the magic of opera.
The modern retelling brought a fresh perspective to the familiar story, captivating the children with the vibrant costumes, dynamic performances, and catchy tunes as they enjoyed experiencing the friendship develop between the spoiled princess and the cheeky frog.
The production incorporated classical music from Mozart, Rossini, and Bizet, which were seamlessly integrated into the narrative to enhance the story and create an enjoyable performance.
Teddy Bears Together
The following week, our Reception students had an exciting day as they joined their Year 5 buddy class for a memorable Teddy Bears’ picnic.
The much-anticipated event brought together some of the youngest and oldest students in Primary School, joined by their favourite stuffed companions. Many of the Year 5s recalled their own time as a Reception student and the joys they experienced through sharing special times with their own buddies, back when they first began school at Cedar.
The picnic, held under the shady trees of the Primary School, was a celebration of togetherness with their special bears and toys, creating bonds of kindness and friendship among the students from Upper and Junior Primary.
High School News
Game On: Sports Day Fun!
The 2024 High School Sports Day took place on the 14th and 15th of March, with a range of competitive and fun events.
As events kicked off on Thursday, records fell at the Long Jump and Triple Jump, and a record number of students competed in the 1500m. Sports Prefect, Eric Webb, opened the main event on Friday, reminding us all that we are blessed to use our abilities for God’s glory. An old favourite, Tunnel Ball, was combined with Tug-of-War, and it did not disappoint. Hearts (and ropes) were broken, as the Year 12s proved stronger than the Staff.
Here are some thoughts from the Sports Prefects:
“This year, I focused on getting around others, bringing up their spirits and confidence to not only do their best, but to remember to have fun. I’m so honoured I got to be a part of such a fun and loving community, bringing students together.” – Caitlin
“A highlight for me was the Staff vs Year 12s Tug-of-War. The Staff usually win every year, and this year the students were determined to win, and we did! We worked together, and were able to win for the first time in a long time, which was pretty cool for our last Sports Day.” – Zaneta
“I was honoured to open the day in prayer, and help lead others as Sports Prefect. As this was my final Sports Day, I wanted to participate in as many events as possible, and loved leading by example. A highlight for me was seeing records fall, and beating the Staff in both the Tug-of-War and the Relay. I look forward to coming back and competing for the Old Scholars team!” – Eric
After a huge day of competition, it was neck-and-neck between Bradman and Gould. Staff had a chance to redeem themselves in the Staff vs Student vs Old Scholars Relay, but were unsuccessful, going down to Old Scholars, Angus, Sienna, Andy, and Elaine, as well as the students’ team!
Down to the Wire
Finally, it was time to see who had triumphed, and with just a 12-point margin, Gould was named the victor with 1638 points, followed by Bradman in second place with 1626 points, Jackson in third place with 1453 points, and Laver with 1442 points.
House Captains, Daniel and Aymee, shared their highlights:
“We couldn’t be prouder of how Sports Day unfolded this year. The atmosphere was amazing, with students putting all their efforts into every event. Witnessing the competitive spirit between all houses was a highlight of the day. The closeness of the competition kept everyone on the edge of their seats, making every point earned feel like a success. What truly stood out was the dedication displayed by each student. Whether they were racing down the track or cheering from the sidelines, each student committed to making the day memorable. As Captains, the support we received from our fellow students was amazing. It fuelled our enthusiasm and made us see the strength and unity within our House. We couldn’t have asked for a better Sports Day.
Medal Winners
Congratulations to the winners of individual age group medals:
U13 Oliver P & Anja J, U14 Kade C, Ariana T & Isabel W, U15 Alex O & Erin M, U16 Ben S & Esther L, OPEN Eric W & Caitlin W.
Mrs Bek Robinson, Sports Coordinator Year 3-7
High School News
Harmony Week
Throughout Week 8, students in the High School enjoyed many opportunities to learn about and celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity through their involvement in Harmony Week.
Over half of Australians were born overseas, or have at least one parent who was born overseas. Throughout the week, the High School enjoyed speakers from our community, old scholars, and student leaders, recognising that no matter where you come from, we’re all united by the Australian values of freedom, respect, fairness, democracy, and equal opportunity.
Students United
Here’s what some of our student leaders had to say about Harmony Week:
“Harmony week offers students a unique opportunity which allows us to talk about the rich and diverse culture that makes up our school, our country and our world. These cultures all contribute to Australian society. Harmony Week allows us to take a step back so we can explore the diverse traditions, languages and customs, and to take some time to talk to friends about their culture and what their culture means to them.” – James
“I see Harmony Week as an acknowledgment of inclusivity, unity, and diversity in our community. It is a good moment to acknowledge and value the diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs that comprise our community. It serves as a reminder that we can all live in a more vibrant, fair, and peaceful society if we embrace diversity and collaborate harmoniously.” – Aymee
“To me, Harmony Week is a celebration of diversity, but it’s also a call to action. It’s a reminder that we must constantly work to foster deeper connections between groups and remove ideas that privilege some over others. During this week, I like to have meaningful discussions with friends and family about our various heritages. If we can build on respect and understanding between all people, that is the greatest harmony of all.” – Jess
“For me, Harmony Week represents the blend of diversity, inclusivity, and the many cultural backgrounds in Australia. Harmony Week is a great opportunity to foster unity and create a sense of belonging in our school community. I hope that we can all share special parts of our culture with our friends this week and build more empathy and respect for our cultural roots.” – Kavya
Senior School News
Year 12 More Bear-able
As our Year 12 students buckle in for their final year of school, they injected a bit of fun amongst the reality of study and exams.
The Year 12s gathered together for a Teddy Bears’ Picnic, as a reminder that this year will not be a walk in the park. While Year 12 is certainly no picnic, it’s important to find moments of joy amidst the busyness of study!
Decked out in their school uniforms and armed with their favourite teddy bears, the senior students enjoyed a brief time of relaxation on the Gazebo Lawns, with picnic blankets spread out and ice creams on the go. It was a chance for them to unwind, connect with classmates, and temporarily set aside their textbooks and notes.
Bear-ly Two Terms Left
As Term 1 moves into its final few weeks, the time that our Year 12s have left at Cedar is rapidly decreasing.
While the road ahead may be challenging, events like these remind students to cherish every moment of their final year. It was a fun, albeit brief, throwback to the Reception Teddy Bears’ Picnic that many began their schooling with, and a reminder that in the midst of the academic demands, everyone deserves a teddy bear hug and a picnic break!
Previous Newsletters
Read all the news from our previous issues