Waves 2021

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Principal’s Reflections

I have never been one to look back at what has already passed, but rather look forward to what lies ahead – to embrace the future and the opportunities that it presents. That’s not to say we don’t learn through reflection, but I don’t see value in dwelling on the past, particularly if it is negative.

Reflecting on this unique year of schooling, rather than focusing on what we lost, let’s remember what this year has enabled us to experience. We have embraced the opportunities for connection through a return to face-to-face learning and the associated opportunities for engagement. The return to somewhat normal life here at school is welcome. Schools should be places filled with people, and one thing I will never forget is the energy that returned to our campus at the end of lockdown, something we took for granted until COVID took it from us for a while. It’s now time to move forward.

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Our CCAS community is built on relationships, the foundations of a nurturing and caring environment. We conclude 2021 with a renewed focus on the vital role these relationships play personally and for our community. Long after students have forgotten the content of their lessons here at CCAS, they will remember the people – classmates and teachers. The friendships they have formed will take forward them into the next year of life. I hope that these memories are reflected in the pages of this yearbook.

We have lived through a unique period in our history and navigated an educational journey that I hope we will never again experience. But let’s not forget 2021. There are many memories from throughout the past year contained in the following pages. I invite you to take some time to reflect on these experiences and find encouragement for the future.

Mr Tony Kent

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Lockdown Learning

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Chaplaincy

‘Jesus said, “Let the children come to me”.’ Matthew 19:14 Jesus called for the removal of barriers and roadblocks, and he threw open the doors.

CCAS is committed to this kind of openness for our children. We want our students to experience a thriving spiritual life. In our Primary Campus, joy and happiness are experienced through creative expression, classroom worships, Bible studies, sandshoe ministry in the playground, chapels, blacklight hands, glow puppetry and all manner of other creative endeavours.

Creativity is a mechanism for bringing exuberance and glee. All of this is done in the name of encouraging our students to have an encounter with Jesus.

Pr Phil Bishop | Primary Chaplain

I’ve been gardening in 2021.

I’ve been eager to see the watering process help the plants put down their deep roots so that they can grow and thrive in the garden. It takes time and patience. Like living through a global pandemic!

This year at CCAS has seen many deep roots go down into the good soil of life on the campus. From chapels to chapels online, camps to student and staff care packs during the lockdown. Chapel themes have been H.E.A.R.T. (Harmony Embrace Accept Reunited Together), Jesus: The One., #iGotChu (friendship) and Re:late (compassion for others).

Although COVID has challenged our status quo as a community, our student and staff teams have found ways to keep on telling God’s story on campus. Students and staff were invited to engage in the conversation through chapels, WOSE, Discovery Bible Reading, camps, and other opportunities to meet with and do life with Jesus, The One. Pr Leighton Heise | Secondary Chaplain

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Week of Spiritual Emphasis “Everything that You hold, You make it shine like gold.” Lyric from Gold by Apollo LTD We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to produce one Week Of Spiritual Emphasis (WOSE) in this crazy year we call 2021. Throughout the week, we explored the theme “Gold” - the concept that God is in the business of renewing, reconciling and restoring. As Apollo Ltd. says in their song Gold, “the beautiful thing you’re doing is making new things out of ruins.” What a timely reminder for 2021.

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Highlights from the week included daily visits from “The Golden One”, a miming morph-suited character who made us think about where we can find ‘gold’ in our ‘ruins’; student-led worship; “Metamorphosis”, a week-long drama performed by primary students; games and challenges; and daily messages from our interstate guest speaker, Mike Brownhill. Each year it’s incredible to witness the massive team of students and staff involved in making WOSE a reality. This year has been no different.

Many students and staff expressed interest in becoming involved in faith-based activities throughout lockdown. I am encouraged and reminded of Jesus’ mission which has become our school mission: to thrive, to make new out of ruins.

Continue renewal.

Continue reconciliation.

Continue restoration.

“We are not reformed or simply refurbished; we are made completely new by our union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 [Passion Translation] Shona Bolst | Assistant Chaplain

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Primary Campus

Here we are at the end of another year.

Though we have had significant disruptions, thankfully, the school year hasn’t all been about the negative. 2021 has been an eventful and challenging year for schools, but we are thankful that we enjoyed many of the activities and traditions that we love here at CCAS. Our sports carnivals, chapels, assemblies, excursions, library experiences, and many other calendar events were able to occur and enrich our experience. Our school community has grown even more, and our sense of values has developed through our positive behaviour program, The CCAS Way. Our students continue to amaze us as they demonstrate these values every day. What has shone through during the past year is the exceptional group of children we have here at CCAS. We thank our staff for their outstanding contributions in 2021. It has been a year where they have gone above and beyond in many ways. With the assistance of our incredible ICT staff, teachers developed and deployed new online technology platforms to engage students both at school and home. Online learning required staff and students to be more creative and diverse in their thinking and teaching. Along the way, they discovered many skills they did not know they previously needed or possessed.

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We cannot express in words our sincerest gratitude for working with such professional staff during this extraordinary year. They have remained focused and committed to our school’s mission and core responsibility, following the school values, showing integrity, respect, compassion, and persevering through the tough times. On behalf of our community, thank you!

To our parents, we thank you for your understanding, the compassion shown to our staff, your flexibility and assistance in helping us teach your children with online learning and for remaining a positive force in our community. It has been a challenging year for everyone, made more bearable because of our community’s dynamic fabric. Thank you!

Again, thank you to the students of CCAS who have endured tough times and thrived. They have ridden the journey of good times and bad and encouraged us as adults to love and live life here and now. It has been a pleasure to have you all in our school this year.

We look forward to 2022 being a positive and exciting year.

Mr Craig Davis | Head of Primary School

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Pre Kindergarten

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Kindergarten

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Year 1

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Year 2

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Year 3

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Year 4

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Year 5

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Year 6

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Secondary Campus

What do these things have in common? Shoes, socks, slippers, boots, shoelaces, gloves, cuff links, earrings, glasses, scissors, and jeans.

If your answer was, they come in pairs, then you are correct. Our school year consists of a pair of Semesters – Semester 1 and Semester 2. A pair is “a set of two things used together or regarded as a unit”. In any given year, they work together and are regarded as a unit – a school year.

But... this year has been a Tale of Two Separate (and very different) Semesters.

In Semester 1, every regular school event scheduled on the calendar happened! We had three secondary school sports carnivals – Swimming, Cross Country, and Athletics. We also had three camps - Years 7, 8 and 9. We had three regular terms of learning for our HSC students. We even got to run our WOSE (Week of Spiritual Emphasis) program in Term 1 and the secondary school musical production, Tragedie Royale, in Term 2. We happily and unassumingly went on Term 2 holidays and then, within 24 hours, found ourselves grouped with Greater Sydney and in months of lockdown and restrictions. The impact - Semester 2 was anything but ordinary.

I don’t want to focus any further on continually changing COVID restrictions and community lockdown. I feel that they have taken enough and had enough of our time, attention, and brain space. Despite Semester 2 being mainly online, our school community coped admirably well with the shift in teaching and learning.

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When October 25 rolled around, and a full complement of staff and students were allowed back on site, the celebration was reminiscent of a homecoming event. We had gone from a quiet, empty campus to one full of life, happy noise, and activity. It was so exciting to be back to normal. Excited parents were hooting their horns as they drove past the school gate and acknowledged the teachers welcoming students back. Balloons tied to the front fence were dancing merrily in the breeze and celebrating students returning to campus. There were baskets of treats with a message attached to remind students how much we missed them.

So, while we may have missed some normality in Semester 2, we are reminded of what is important. People being together in the same space – that’s what’s important. The pairing up of teachers and students in groups creates community. This pairing enhances engagement and learning. Relational maths: You + I = Us. We make a pretty good pair!

Mrs Tracey Bennetts | Head of Secondary School

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“Tragedie Royale” Musical Production

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Service To Others Really Matters Co. (StormCo) trips were cut short by COVID in 2021.

On Friday, June 25, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that the Central Coast would enter lockdown along with Sydney. This news was disappointing, but nothing would dampen the enthusiasm and passion of 56 students, and 13 staff determined to use their time, gifts and energy, even just for a few days.

Year 10 travelled up to Walgett, while Year 11 traversed the Newell Highway to Brewarrina. Over three days, the teams invested in a range of community service activities, including face painting, a community footy game, team bonding time around the campfire, a backyard blitz, visiting local community leaders and the World Heritage Listed Brewarrina Fish Traps.

The wave of enthusiasm for service to others in 2021 was inspirational and shows who a CCAS student is at heart: a young person of integrity, service, compassion and perseverance thriving in Jesus.

Pr Leighton Heise | Secondary Chaplain

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Year 7

Wow! What a year it has been.

Early in term one, we had a fabulous time at Year 7 Camp, where we created new friendships, deepened existing ones, tried new things and experienced God. During the first half of the year, the students settled into their new high school experience as they learnt how to use a locker, read a timetable, navigate the classrooms and adapt to their new routine.

Students also had the opportunity to learn new skills in their academic and creative subjects. They experienced Aqua Splash, coastal walks, Clip ‘n’ Climb, and ice skating for sport.

Then, COVID hit.

We moved to online learning. Some students thrived, while others found some aspects a challenge.

What a blessing that we were together again for the second part of Term 4, sharing stories, learning, connecting, enjoying each other’s company and having fun. The perfect way to end the school year.

Together.

Mrs Angela Hamilton | Year 7 Coordinator

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Year 8

2021 - what a year to remember!

Year 8 started off the year with a bang, heading off to our Year 8 camp in the second week of school. We had such a fantastic time entirely off the grid, giving students the chance to form deeper connections with each other and also having the opportunity to learn more about God during our program each night. We learned new skills - some learning to ride a mountain bike for the first time, while some also had to cook for themselves for the first time! They went foraging in the bush and eating bush tucker and had a lovely time kayaking down the Barrington River. Our year level camp at the beginning of the Term 1 started the year on a high and bonded Year 8 as a group.

Back at school, we were just getting into the swing of the second year of high school, back into our routines, and COVID-19 unexpectedly changed everything. Online learning has been a challenge for all, but I’m so proud of the way that Year 8 has shown such great perseverance in diving headfirst into online learning for the second year in a row - a much longer stint this time!

We were fortunate to reconnect with each other back at school to finish off the year, and I can’t wait to see what 2022 will bring for our incredible group of students.

Year 8, you did it!

Mrs Ashleigh Simonsz | Year 8 Coordinator 96

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Year 9

As 2021 comes to a close, Year 9 can reflect on a year that was one of the toughest of their schooling lives.

Fortunately, with the announcement of COVID restrictions, lockdowns, and online learning, students could still experience Year 9 Camp in Term 1. The horse riders were resilient and learnt the limits of their ability with their partnered animal. As always, the mountain bikers satisfied their need for speed, along with some inevitable falls. The hikers hiked 22 kilometres, demonstrating perseverance, adventure, camaraderie, real talk, emotions, and numerous challenges. Finally, the kayak group, who were isolated for their last night of camp, faced their challenges on the water and overcame them through perseverance. All these experiences helped in forging resilience, which later was seen throughout lockdown.

As lockdown hit, students experienced a new type of learning, self-directed and not teacher lead.

Some students excelled, completing the work in three days, allowing for a four-day weekend. Others got the job done by lunch and had the afternoon off. Some students struggled and worked well past school hours to complete the work. Whatever category our students fit during the lockdown period, we acknowledge the pressure on both students, parents and guardians. With the return to school, we were happy to welcome our students back. It was great to see Year 9 back on campus and in the classroom. Next year, we look forward to the hope of a more ‘normal’ year as the students enter Year 10. It has been an honour and pleasure to lead the group this year alongside their incredibly amazing roll teachers.

We are so proud of them!

Mr Sam Sirilo | Year 9 Coordinator

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Year 10

Year 10: the year of getting your L’s, going on a StormCo or Europe Trip, followed closely by the Snow Trip. There was much excitement at the commencement of this year, with so many rites of passage ahead. Students gathered in the library, greeted each other with enthusiasm, had their first combined roll call, collected together all their books and equipment, then set off to class.

Term 1 was full of classes, assignments, sporting events and social activities.

One of the highlights of Term 2 was the secondary school musical production, Tragedie Royale. Many of our Year 10’s were involved in the show. The musical and comedic talents of Lilly Weir, Charlie Taylor and Jess Kamphuis were on display in their starring roles.

Phrases on the nightly news such as ‘limousine driver’, ‘delta variant’ were largely ignored as the excitement of the musical, the busyness of an end of term assessment schedule and the preparations for StormCo took our attention.

Students who had signed up to StormCo headed off at the crack of dawn on the last Friday of the term, ready for a week of ministry and fun, only to return home three days later. Lockdown had begun.

Term 3 started with a sudden return to online learning; some students took to online learning like the proverbial ‘ducks to water’, while others struggled.

Highlights of online learning included waking up at 8.30 am, attending online roll call in an Oodie, surf sessions before school, and Mrs Lovell’s imaginary Snow Trip with her roll class, complete with weather reports and trips to the medical centre!

Term 4 heralded a return to the classroom - mostly greeted with excitement, particularly the prospect of being with friends all day, five days a week. Students were heard exclaiming that they had missed their teachers! Some were even excited about the relative ease of classroom instruction and accessibility to teachers.

As the restrictions continued to ease, Year 10 looked forward to celebrating the end of Year 10 with activities such as ‘The Great Race’. Students look forward to a catch-up Snow Trip next winter.

It’s been a wild ride for our Year 10’s this year, but we are proud of their resilience, positivity, resourcefulness, perseverance and love for one another.

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Mrs Julie-Ann Allum | Year 10 Coordinator

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Year 11 & 12

School is an interesting place.

There are so many moments that seem so big as we grow up. As we look back, we truly get a perspective that puts things in their proper place and shows us what to value. This year has certainly had its twists and turns. At times it may seem that we are just rolling around for another year. Nothing could be further from the truth!

This year has had so many false starts and unfulfilled promises. Missed exams, skipped assessments and an entire term spent interacting predominantly online.

But life goes on, and perspective teaches us that we only have reality, regardless of what we hope and dream might happen.

This year has taught us that we can teach, learn and connect in different ways and regardless of what the universe throws at us, there are always incredible opportunities to discover. I am so proud of our Year 11 and 12 students this year. They have faced challenges that no other group has experienced.

They have shown themselves to be incredibly resilient and proved that they could adapt - quite possibly one of the skills they will have in spades.

Despite all this, the senior students of 2021 will be remembered. I can hear it now, “Hey, remember our senior year? We didn’t even go to school for half the year!”

Having said that, as the teacher who has the privilege of caring for this group, I am (and I can’t say it enough) incredibly proud.

As my 29th year of teaching comes to its conclusion, I can honestly say that I have never met an unremarkable student in all that time, and this year is certainly no exception.

All the best, seniors of 2021. I pray that you find your way, find the best you, and carve a path of joy for you and those you love. Regardless of what life throws at you, may you see the opportunity that it creates and flourish.

Mr Paul Glasbergen | Year 11 & 12 Coordinator

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Portraits

Pre Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Staff

Central Coast Adventist School ccas.nsw.edu.au