Newsletter~Term 1~Week 1~2021

Renovated Classroom in C Block
College News
TERM1|WEEK1
5th February 2021


Exec Thoughts
JOEL VAN BENTUM | PRINCIPAL
Welcome
To all our families and students, welcome back to Marrara for 2021. It is great to have you as part of our community.
We are excited about the opportunities that 2021 will bring and look forward to all the learning that will unfold.
The Christmas period has been a busy on for the College with lots of things happening.
We have seen our C Block classes renovated with new carpet and walls. They look fresh and light and are really lovely spaces to be.
Our Multipurpose toilets have also been renovated. These were some of our earliest spaces and bathrooms at the college and they were due for some care and at- tention. They now look clean and fresh. We also have a new cold water filling station out the front of the toilet block.
We have also welcomed some amazing new staff over the break. We welcome:
Mr James Hughes – Transition
Miss Elkanah Foott – Year 1/2
Mrs Megan Lindsay – Year 1/2
Mrs Kirsty Savage – Year 5/6
Mr Sam Vallentine – Secondary Mathematics and Science Keziah Dimmick - Primary Teacher Aide
We welcome back to MCC:
Mrs Nicole Marsh Mrs Penny Dempster
Last week was a busy week of professional learning for staff as we continue to seek to develop our skill as professionals. It is always a privilege to participate in these weeks as I get to see the incredible quality of our
FEBRUARY
MARCH
diary dates Parent Engagement Evening
Thursday, 18th at 5:00 pm
Primary Assembly
Friday, 12th & 19th at 8:45 am
Student ID Photo Day
Monday, 22nd at 9:00 am
Whole College Assembly & Prefect Induction
Thursday, 25th at 8:45 am
Year 10 & Year 11 Trip Info Evening
Thursday, 25th at 5:00 pm
Primary Assembly
Friday, 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th at 8:45 am


teaching staff and the way in which they are committed to their craft for the benefit of our students.
Last week our focus was on how we as a College cultivate curious and courageous learners. Learners that have the confidence and willingness to dive deep in their understanding and inquiry. I look forward to seeing the fruit of this learning filter into our classrooms.
As we head into 2021, you will notice that the College has had some changes in our organisational structure. This is in an effort to ensure that we are able to remain focused on our key strategic priorities. The new lead- ership structure is as follows:
MARRARA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Joel van Bentum - Principal
• Amber Badenhop – People and Culture Coordinator
— Jeanette Francis – Year 7/8 Section Coordinator — Jill Williams – Year 9 Section Coordinator
— Liz Clarkson – EAL/D Coordinator
— Matt Aird – Year 10 Section Coordinator
— Nat Dungey – Year 11 & Year 12 Section Coordinator • Chris Garner – Teaching and Learning Coordinator
— Kay Buckland – Education Support Coordinator • Joanne Hardy – Primary Coordinator
— Megan Lindsay – Lower Primary Coordinator
— Michelle Hamburg - Upper Primary Coordinator
NT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Joel van Bentum – Principal
• Rebecca Dimmick – NT Christian College Assistant Principal • Gareth Watson – Head of Digital Teaching and Development • Gemma Riley – Cross Campus Communicator
In terms of who to contact for our parents, the first point of communication for any concern should be your child’s classroom or PCG teacher. They are best placed to help and support you for most things.
The next step would be the appropriate section coordinator for you child, they will be across anything with a whole year level impact.
The next step in most circumstances will be our people and culture coordinator, they are placed to deal with whole college concerns and challenges.
Finally, as Principal, I am available to support all our families and help ensure you find the right person to speak to.
Looking forward to a great 2021 as a College and I look forward to the adventures ahead.


Welcome to 2021! Our students had a wonderful start to the year and we are excited to see what 2021 will bring. It was great to see all our students together again at our Whole College Assembly.


Teaching & Learning Update
In Week 0, our teachers had four days together in preparation for the start of our new year and new classes. There was an excited and very positive buzz in our meetings as we worked together to go deeper in our own understanding of our theme for this year – Developing Curious Learners. Our school Executive Team has committed to supporting teachers with Professional Development and time to collaborate on ways we can intentionally create our classrooms as safe environments for students to be curious, to ask questions and to be stretched to go deeper in their learning.
We encourage parents to actively chat with your children at home to find out what they have been learning about and explore ways they can go deeper in things they are becoming curious about! We would also love to hear from you, as you hear about all your child is learning about in class, if you have any ideas to share or questions to explore the topics we are learning about even deeper then please email our teachers any time!
We hope you can partner with us in our deep hope that our students will be stretched in their learning as they start to understand more about God’s story in our broken world and how they can join together in the work of restoration.
CHRIS GARNER | TEACHING AND LEARNING COORDINATOR






Community Notices
Are you interested in playing netball in 2021?
New, or old to Darwin, looking for a great club and new friends! Senior and juniors are all welcome.
Waratah Junior Netball club welcomes all players, from beginners to experienced. Junior players’s commence at 8 years old and continue to 17 years of age in 2021.
Although we have a spot for everyone, we are especially interested in 14-17 year old’s that would love to play. Whether you have just relocated to Darwin and have played before at a different club, or you have never played at all! Experience is not necessary, just a willingness to learn and succeed, we will teach you how to play before the season starts, so grab a friend and Join in.
Our registration day will be held on Saturday 6th February 2021 and training will start mid February 2021.
If you would like to register your interest to play in 2021, please email the club at [email protected] or attend our sign on day in person.