From the Principal

Dear parents, friends, staff and students,

During the week the Board AGM was held on Wednesday evening and prior to that we had a number of meetings with Board Directors to work together on various aspects of the College Strategic Plan. We are indebted for the work that the Board does under the leadership of Mr Bill Raeside, the Chair of the Board, and the generosity of the Directors who work for the benefit of the College. The broader community of support, depth of expertise and dedication to the College continues to enrich our College.

Once again Mount St Benedict College were the overall champions of the Broken Bay Cross Country with many of our students selected for the New South Wales CCC Championship. It appears that at every Assembly we are being handed yet another sports trophy for our cabinet. Well done to all those involved.

College Tours were held on Thursday morning with our Year 9 students acting as tour guides. There is a lot of interest in our College and the opportunities that are available for our students. Our focus on the education of young women to make a difference in the future became evident to our visitors as they interacted with our students. I received very positive feedback from the parents about our Year 9 tour guides and once again they described our girls as confident, articulate and empathetic young women.

The Year 10 Parent Teacher Evening occurred on Tuesday evening and was an important opportunity for discussion and feedback in the process of choosing subjects for the senior years. On Wednesday our Year 10 girls met with Year 12 to discuss what senior school and study is actually like from a student’s perspective. The next date to put in your diary is the Tuesday 10 June where you will have the opportunity to book into different information sessions and learn about the details of the senior courses from the teachers.

In the newsletter this week the term dates have been published for students for 2015. In your planning please ensure that holidays are booked within the term breaks to ensure students are present and do not miss school days.

As we continue our journey in partnership let us reflect on our responsibility in the way we work together:

To awaken another to life
Is to give the ultimate gift.
To awaken the other to laughter
Is to give freedom from fear
To awaken the world to human community
Is to make the world one
To awaken the other to the glorious complexity of life
Is to enable them to grow up
To awaken the other to hope
Is to make every tomorrow a gift
What better gifts than these with which to face tomorrow.

From God speaks in Many Tongues
Meditations with Joan Chittister

 

Ms Jackie Duncan
Acting Principal

 

 

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 RSVP here

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Term Dates 2014
Term Two		Tuesday 29 April - Friday 20 June
Term Three		Tuesday 15 July - Friday 19 September
Term Four		Tuesday 7 October - Friday 5 December

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Term Dates 2015
Term One		Wednesday 28 January - Years 7, 11 and 12 return Thursday 29 January - Years 8, 9 and 10 return Wednesday 1 April - Term ends
Term Two		Monday 20 April - Friday 19 June Friday 5 June - Staff Development Day Monday 8 June - Queen's Birthday Public Holiday
Term Three		Tuesday 14 July - Friday 18 September
Term Four		Tuesday 6 October - Friday 4 December

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Mission News

Next week we look forward to a very busy and engaging week of activities as we focus on the theme of “One World Week”. This week has been equally busy with planning and preparations for the week ahead. On Thursday in Homeroom all students received a “One World Week” sticker for their planners. This provided an opportunity for Homeroom mentors to outline the various activities that are planned and to encourage students to take part.

Each day of One World Week will focus on a different theme including; respect for our world, freedom from poverty, freedom from oppression, our responsibility and making a better world. Throughout the week learning activities will take place in classes and additional activities will take place during lunch times.

On Monday, at lunch, a chalk mural will be created in the Undercroft as well as decorations on the pillars and a graffiti wall inviting students to respond with their ideas of what respect for our world looks like.

On Tuesday the Hall Courtyard will be the scene for an intriguing game connecting the humanitarian and environmental issues faced in our world today.

Wednesday is our College Assembly Day where once again One World Week will take centre stage. Homerooms will receive a plant for their room and the One World Week art exhibition will be unveiled.

Wednesday is also the day of our Social Justice forum where hundreds of students from MSB and about ten other schools will gather for a key note address, workshops, small groups and a panel discussion. Human Rights lawyer Jessie Taylor is the guest speaker for this evening.

On Thursday classes will have the opportunity to view the works in our One World Week art exhibition created by Year 9 Visual Art students under the direction of Mrs Nicola Murray. Lunch time will see the focus turn to our rubbish and the painting of our garbage bins to help get the message out about our need to be responsible for the waste we create.

Friday will feature the Fair Trade stall, the final day of the One World Week art exhibition and the interactive puzzle activity in the Hall Courtyard.

Throughout the week, students will be encouraged to hand in old mobile phones for recycling.

It promises to be a very busy, exciting and worthwhile week. I would like to acknowledge the work of the Environment and Social Justice Portfolios for their work on this event and also to thank their mentors Mr David Greenwell and Mrs Donna Dempsey for their energy and commitment.

In four weeks’ time we will have our annual celebration of Mount St Benedict Day. This is always a wonderful community day as we celebrate the Feast of St Benedict. As usual we will begin the day with the celebration of Eucharist in the College Hall. Fr Paul Durkin, Pastor of St Agatha’s at Pennant Hills will be the presider at this liturgy and we look forward to welcoming Fr Paul on this occasion. As we now have space in our hall to welcome parents and other guests we would like to extend a warm invitation to members of our extended Mount St Benedict Community to join us for Eucharist and afterwards for some morning tea. Eucharist will commence at approximately 9.15am, guests are asked to be seated by 9.00am. Morning tea will follow between 10.30am and 11.00am. To ensure we have adequate seating in place and to assist us with catering for morning tea we ask that guests RSVP through the College website by Monday 16 June.

Please click here to RSVP.

Mr Paul Lentern
Assistant Principal - Dean of Mission

Curriculum News

From the English Department

It has once again been a busy semester for the English Department. As 2014 makes the first stage of Australian Curriculum implementation for Year 7 and Year 9, we are implementing new units of work in those two year groups. Next year it will be Year 8 and 10 that will be launched for the first time and so we are also busy writing new units of work that we hope will inspire and challenge our students.

One of the most interesting and challenging units of work that we have embarked on this semester is a shared unit of work with the Religion Department in Year 7, focusing on the concept of identity. It became evident that both faculties were working on units that focused on the self, Religion through introducing students to the traditions of St Benedict and the Good Samaritan sisters, and English through biographical and autobiographical writing, through a study of Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin. While the content of both these units was very different, we saw some comparable themes and ideas and hoped that students could be encouraged to think about the overarching concepts in both, and thus enhance their understanding. We will be hoping to further consolidate this joint-teaching next year, and will be considering the possibility of a joint assessment task. Year 7 are now studying The Princess Bride, by Rob Reiner, and considering the role that fairy tales play in exploring recurring aspects of our culture.

Year 9 have started an exciting new unit of work for the Australian Curriculum, exploring one of the Cross-Curriculum priorities, Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia. Year 9 are studying a range of different types of texts, such as memoirs taken from Growing Up Asian in Australia edited by Alice Pung, visual texts such as “Eric” from Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia and documentary texts such as Kylie Kwang’s My China and Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta. The diversity of experiences represented in these texts is significant and students have been encouraged to relate these experiences to some of their own ancestors in exploring how Australia has been enriched by multiculturalism. We also hope to read of the experiences of the Good Samaritans in Japan after Hiroshima, as they went to assist all those who suffered the atrocities of World War II.

Our senior classes are similarly engaged, as we strive to finish the Year 12 course. Advanced English is continuing with Julius Caesar before embarking upon a close study of the poet, Gwen Harwood, whilst Standard English is studying the World War I poet Wilfred Owen before concluding their course with Educating Rita by Willy Russell. They are also looking forward to seeing Strictly Ballroom at the Lyric theatre next month. 2015 will also mark the beginning of a new HSC text list, so we will be writing new units of work for Year 12, something that we are looking forward to.

Overall, it is a very busy and exciting time for us, where we are writing, refining and evaluating our units of work. We hope that the courses we construct for your daughters are engaging and academically rigorous. Please ensure that your daughter spends time reading every day - it is a vital part of our programs here and your daughter's ongoing success in English and all other subjects, as reading stimulates the imagination, allows your daughter to acquire new information and develop a critical, sophisticated vocabulary.

Ms Melinda Kearns
Head of Department

Year 8 Parent Teacher Interviews

4.00pm - 7.30pm
in the College Hall
Monday 26 May for Year 8 Classes 1 to 4 only and
Thursday 5 June for Year 8 Classes 5 to 9 only.

Bookings for Year 8 will be held over two nights to meet the needs of parents. Please ensure you book into the correct session based on your daughter's class.

• Year 8 classes 1 to 4:

  Online bookings will close promptly at midday on Sunday 25 May.

• Year 8 classes 5 to 9:

Online bookings will close promptly at midday on Wednesday 4 June.

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The online booking system will be the only way to make appointments and only parents will be supplied with their username and password, although it is envisaged that parents will liaise with their daughter in this appointment process.

Parents wishing to make appointments after the advertised close off will need to contact the College.

One of the new innovations with this online booking system is that the class teacher can not only request interviews with particular students but can communicate this directly to the parent. In this way the Parent Teacher night provides another opportunity for the teacher to address any learning outcomes with the student.

The College has made this move to an on line system for the following reasons:

• It better empowers the parents to make appointments with their daughter’s teachers;
• There is less of a likelihood that the form will get lost, misplaced or not be utilised; and
• Students and/or teachers will not be required to chase each other in attempt to make bookings thereby arguably increasing valuable learning time.

As in previous years the following expectations or arrangements remain such as:

• Students are to attend in school uniform with their parent(s);
• A chime will ring every six minutes with a visual digital display of the time indicating a change to the next teacher; and
• The aim of the evening will be:
• An opportunity for parents to meet their daughters teachers and continue to foster positive relationships between parent, student and teacher;
• For students and parents to be given valuable feedback on their learning so the student can set goals for the next Semester ;
• For discussion of ways in which the teacher and parent can work together to support the student in her learning; and
• For students (and parents) to develop an objective concept of their capacity and abilities.

Please contact the College if you are experiencing difficulties or would like further clarification.

Mr John Muskovits
Assistant Principal - Dean of Curriculum

College News

Wrap with Love

Once again, Hornsby Library is hosting a “Neighbourhood Knit In” on Friday 1 August, from 9.00am - 1.00pm.

For the past few years Mount St Benedict has been represented at this event and delivered a load of completed wraps or squares for the Wrap-with-Love project.

Many members (staff, students, parents, grandparents) of our community have been knitting already, but I now urge everyone to make an effort to contribute to this worthy cause. As I have said many times, if each girl knitted just one square we would have the makings of thirty complete wraps. What a wonderful effort that would be! I know that some people have knitted multiple squares already, and in some cases individuals have already produced whole wraps, which is truly marvellous. The count at present is thirteen wraps and we still have over two months before the Knit In.

Last year saw a record number delivered, but I am hopeful that this year we can reach that magic total of thirty. Girls who have knitted squares are invited to attend the Knit In.

Please see me for details and a permission note.

With the onset of cooler weather, what could be cosier than taking up needles and wool and creating some squares?

Happy knitting!

Mrs Gail Davey
Wrap-with-Love Coordinator

YMCA NSW Youth Parliament

On Sunday 13 April, I set out on my journey to YMCA Youth Parliament Camp at Vision Valley. The first day I arrived by myself, alone, scared and anxious - I knew nobody. Within a few minutes people started introducing themselves to me and we were friends instantly. The Camp was about meeting my committee and starting our first draft of our bill. My committee ‘Environment and Heritage’ has decided on a Bill making a piece of legislation about ‘sustainable infrastructure’. Deciding on our topic was quite easy, but then breaking it all down into different compartments was much more difficult. As an example , the ‘infrastructure’ is split into Residential, Commercial and Public. My committee of nine people splits into Sponsors and Refuters of the Bill, I am a sponsor which means I am trying to pass the bill through Parliament, whilst the refuters are disagreeing or making amendments.

By the third day I had already created lifelong friends - we all had a common ground and that was to try and fix and change society in the most beneficial and positive ways possible. The food was great, nachos first day, roast and veggies plus a hot breakfast every morning - what else can you ask for! Throughout the next holidays I will be travelling to camp Yarramundi for six days, and going to Parliament House NSW for four - six days to put forward our bill and change or make a law. I will produce and perform two, two minute speeches. One for the Bill and the other about a problem or issue facing the Epping society today in which I believe is a strong issue and I that I will take to Parliament.

If you have any opinions about bringing forth a problem in our community, that I may talk about at Parliament house, please feel free to email me at mharris@msben.nsw.edu.au

Report submitted by Monique Harris

Marist Eastwood/Bennies Years 8 and 9 Dance

A night that will go down in history.

The stage was set for Year 8 and 9 girls and boys to get down on the dance floor on Friday 16 May, and boy, did everyone step up to the challenge!

The captains with the help of teachers had been organising the night for weeks, and it was all worth it when we saw how much fun everyone was having!

The theme was fluro, and the music was bopping, there was a lot of fist pumping and crumping, and a lot of sweat as everyone gave it their all!

Everyone behaved superbly, and the Captains were impressed with the outstanding dance moves.

The night raised money for our different House causes, and we hope (and know) everyone had a great night, because we sure did!

Jessica Smith
College Captain

News from the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Department

Music Tuition at the College

If your daughter would like to commence music tuition at the College please download the following documents and return to Mr Watters.

Download Letter to Parents - Music Tuition here

Download Music - Enrolment Form here

Download Music - Instrumental Tuition Application Form here

Mr Peter Watters
Head of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Department

Maths Workshop

Mrs Denise Hillier
Head of Mathematics

Year 7 - 8 Homework Support

During Term Two and Term Three homework support will be available for students in Years 7 and 8 three mornings per week from 8.00am to 8.30am.

Students will be able to come to D202 to get help from a teacher or older student or to work on their own (for group work, please use the IRC Collaborative Space). It will be a good opportunity for students to read, finish assignments and homework and ask questions about areas of difficulty.

D202 will be open for business from Week Four of Term Two (the week after NAPLAN) until approximately Week Six of Term Three, depending on demand.

Please contact Mrs Margot Hadfield or just turn up.

Mrs Margot Hadfield
Learning Support Coordinator
T: 9980 0426

MSB Golden Jubilee

We are currently updating our archival records with the History Company in preparation for our Golden Jubilee in 2016. As a result of this process we have discovered some of our publications have been misplaced. If you are an ex-student and you have kept publications such as Newsletters and School Diaries, or have photos of significant events etc, and you would be happy to share a copy with us and/or donate it to the College please email mblackman@msben.nsw.edu.au

MSB Alumni Memories

If you have fond memories of your time at Bennies, we'd love it if you could please jot these down and email them to archives@msben.nsw.edu.au. If you have photos to go with these memories, please include. The Archives are looking for memories that we can put in a safe place to share with the future MSB Girls.

Hot topics of discussion would be:

• Food
• Fads
• Friends
• Favourite places to hang in the College.

From Student Services

If Your Daughter is Absent or Late

If your daughter is absent or late, please send an SMS message to 0418 565 982 with a brief reason.

For example 'Susan Smith Y8 sick', "Susan Smith Y8 Physio appt'.

If your daughter is attending an appointment please specify the type of appointment. The College is required by law to record a reason for absence/lateness so as to avoid a follow-up, please ensure that you explain your daughter's 'absence/lateness' when sending your SMS message. This is a text only number. Once you have sent a SMS message you are not required to send a written note. If you are bringing your daughter to school late, could you take the time to write a note in her diary before she gets out of the car. To have the ‘lateness’ explained on the day then requires no follow up.

Lost Property

A reminder to all parents to clearly name all of your daughter's personal possessions. Lost Property is displayed on the table outside Student Services. All UNNAMED items are placed here and your daughter should check regularly for anything she has misplaced. All uncollected unnamed items will be recycled at the end of term. Named items are held at Student Services and students are notified via Daily Notices. Note: All items of value are held at Student Services.

Fitness Studio - Opening hours for Use by Senior Students

 

Mrs Gill McGregor
Physical Activity Coordinator

Representative Sport

If your daughter has recently achieved outstanding sporting results please send me an email so that the College can share in her success.

 

Representative Sports Calendar - Term Two
SOCCER		NSW CCC Championships Mon 26 - Tue 27 May BB OPEN Representative Team NSW ALL SCHOOLS Championships Mon 16- Tue 17 June NSW CCC OPEN Representative Team
CROSS COUNTRY		NSW ALL SCHOOLS Championships Fri 13 June NSW CCC Representative Team
TOUCH		NSW CCC Championships Fri 3 June (wet weather backup Tue 17 June) K.Noble, B.Duncan, A.Shepherd, S.Bissett
BASKETBALL		BROKEN BAY Championships Thu 19 June MSB Senior Representative Team
ATHLETICS		MSB Carnival Mon 2 June

Another Broken Bay Cross Country Champions Title

The change to a new venue at St Ives did not stop our brilliant cross country runners coming home with the Broken Bay trophy yet again!

There are only seven girls races run at these Championships and MSB runners won four of them!

Congratulations to

• Jemma Gallagher 1st U13
• Elly Gallagher 1st U15
• Kirsten Simpson 1st U16
• Natalie Tobin 1st U18

These girls have also qualified for the NSWCCC Championships to be held later this term at Eastern Creek

• Olivia Kalocsai Y7 2nd U12
• Sophia Sloan Y7 6th U12
• Jessica Smillie Y7 5th U13
• Capri Vidler Y8 3rd U14
• Courtney Harkin Y8 6th U14
• Chelsea Brackin Y10 6th U15
• Sophie Cann Y10 6th U16
• Giorgio Populin Y12 2nd U17
• Emily Bray Y11 4th U17
• Emily Michell Y12 3rd U18
• Kerilee Coote Y12 2nd U18

Thank you to Mrs McGregor for fulfilling our marshalling duty and yet again to our parents who always take a keen interest in all of our competitors, not just their daughter.

Here is a report from some of our Y7 runners at their first Broken Bay carnival:

Cross Country Report

On Friday 16 May, MSB went to St Ives Showground for the Broken Bay Cross Country Championships.

Everyone had a great day and were very successful in their races. Good luck to all of the girls who have qualified for CCC and well done to everyone who participated.

Thanks to Mrs Grant, Mrs McGregor and all of the parents for making this day possible.

Rebecca, Jess, and Sophie (Year 7)

Representative Sports Dates next Week

• Monday 26 May - OPEN Rep Netball Call Backs in the Hall (Mrs McGregor)
• Tuesday 27 May - Year 7 Rep Netball Call Backs in the Hall (Lily Vidler)
• Wednesday 28 May - U15 Rep Soccer training on the Oval (Mr Campbell)
• Thursday 28 May - Intermediate Rep Netball Call Backs in the Hall (Mrs Rowland)
• Thursday 28 May - Senior Rep Basketball Training on the Convent Courts (Mr Young)
• Thursday 29 May - U13 Rep Soccer Training on the Oval (Natalie Tobin)
• Thursday 29 May - Year 9/10 Rep Touch Call Backs - after school (Mrs Hickey)

MSB Athletics Carnival Extra Events

The MSB Carnival will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, Homebush on Monday 2 June. The 1500m and Triple Jump events are held early in the morning of the Carnival.

The 1500m will be run in divisional groups (Junior / Intermediate / Senior), then times separated to determine spots for the individual ages on the MSB team) and the Triple Jump will be an Open event as it is at Broken Bay level.

Please note that 12 year old girls (as of 31 December 2014) are NOT eligible to compete in the Triple Jump.

Any student who signed up for these events and is catching the early bus on the day will need to arrive at the College undercroft area by 7.50am as the bus will leave at 8.00am SHARP.

Students wishing to travel with their parents will need to bring a note advising Mrs Lewis of this and place it into the Cocurricular slot at Student Services prior to Monday 29 May.

Hurdles and Walk event nomination sheets will appear on the Sports Noticeboard following the carnival.
The carnival will serve as a selection carnival for the Broken Bay and NSW Knock Out Teams Championships.

 

Mrs Karen Grant
Representative Sports Coordinator / Physical Activity Coordinator

Co-curricular Sports

North West Secondary Schools Tennis Challenge

On Saturday night, MSB had its largest ever team play in the North West Secondary Schools Tennis Challenge at Pennant Hills Park. We had nine pairs play across eleven divisions and came away at the end of event with some great results.

Congratulations to all the girls who played and were exemplary representatives of the College.

We hope to have you all back again next term.

The results were:

• 1st place in Division to Sarah Assaf and her partner from Cherrybrook.
• 2nd place in Division 10 to Zoe Mayoh and Alexandra Ryan.
• 3rd place in Ddivision 10 to Gabriella Aston and Sabine Spiller.
• 3rd place in Divison 11 to Kate McDonald and Kimberley Spencer.

The next challenge is set for Saturday 23 August. Dust off those rackets and get ready!

Athletics Carnival

Monday 2 June
Sydney Athletics Centre, Homebush

Our annual Athletics Carnival is fast approaching and all students are expected to attend.

What to wear

All students in Years 7 to 11 are expected to wear their MSB shorts, polo and their full tracksuit.

Year 12 students are permitted to wear MSB trackpants or navy trackpants, Year 12 jersey or College jumper.

Suitable lace-up sports shoes as per the PDHPE uniform requirements are to be worn. Rabens and vans are not acceptable footwear.

Once at the venue students are permitted to change into their house coloured attire.

Note that uniform infringements will be issued for incorrect attire.

Getting There

All students will be transported by bus to the venue. Students catching the early bus are required to be at school by 7.45am. All other students are required to be at school at the usual time for roll call. Students will return in time for normal end of day departure.

Students are not permitted to drive to / from the venue and students are not permitted to leave before the afternoon roll call at approximately 2.00pm.

Any student wishing to go home from the carnival with a parent requires a note from her parent, to be given to the student's homeroom mentor no later than Thursday 29 May.

The program will be available for download next week.

Netball Training at Pennant Hills Park

Any girls travelling to Pennant Hills Park for training on Wednesday afternoons are required to sign and return the permission note to the Co-curricular Sports box if they want to leave the school in their PDHPE uniform.

Training at Pennant Hills Park Permission Note.

Mrs Rebecca Lewis
Co-curricular Sports Coordinator

Ex-Students

Reunions

Class of 2004 – 10 Year Reunion

Organisers of the Class of 2004 Reunion have started a reunion Facebook page. Join this group at https://www.facebook.com/msb2004tenyearreunion

Class of 1984 – 30 Year Reunion

Organisers of the Class of 1984 Reunion have started a reunion Facebook page. Join this group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MSBClassOf84. Please share this with your peers.

Class of 1976 – Where are You?

If you were in the Class of '76, Anne Jackson (nee Williams) would like to hear from you. Anne is keen to start discussions on your 40 Year Reunion. This one falls in a significant year, as it is the College's Golden Jubilee Year.

If you are interested in connecting with your peers socially and/or becoming involved in starting the discussion, please email Anne on annja5884@gmail.com.

2014 MSBESA Dates

Bennies Connect

Register at benniesconnect.com, log on as a 'first time user', update your details, explore the site, network and stay connected.

Canteen

The Canteen opens daily from 8.00am - 2.00pm.

 

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers, we certainly could not provide the vast array of healthy nutritious food if it wasn't for our volunteers who give up one day a month to assist. If you would like to volunteer please click here.

Mrs Melissa Arane
Canteen Manager
T: 9980 0448

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is open Mondays between 10.00am and 2.00pm and Thursdays between 8.00am and 11.00am.

Mrs Melissa Arane
Uniform Shop Manager
T: 9980 0447

Careers

Is your daughter considering applying for university?

Over the next few weeks university information specifically for parents will appear in the Careers section.

This week: Sydney University

• Sydney University Information for Parents
• Sydney University Faculties and Schools
• Sydney University 2015 dates
• E12 Early Offer Scheme
• Flexible Entry

Next Week: UTS

Previous Weeks: UNSW, Macquarie University

Mrs Lucy Elgood
Careers Advisor

Community News

 

 

 

 

This event is usually for Microsoft staff and their children but this year you have the opportunity to attend with your daughter.

If you would like more information please contact Katrina Wong, Microsoft (katwong@microsoft.com).

 

 

 

 

May Whizz Kids Workshops close in two weeks.

Just a reminder that the Term Two workshops have been moved to Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May (originally scheduled for the June long weekend). Places are filling fast, so early enrolment is advised to avoid disappointment.

We have included the following new workshops for this weekend:

• Year 3/4 Solve the Crime!
• Year 3/4 Create your own Narrative Description
• Year 5/6 Coding and Creating a Website
• Year 7/8 The Time Detective History is NOT about – learning names, dates and facts.

For further information and to access the timetable, click here.

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