Events

Covenant's new outdoor amphitheatre near the shade cloths was officially opened last week. Three of those responsible for its construction - Tim Maddrell, one of our parents, John Theobald and Bill Joselin - were interviewed and honoured for their work. Head of Junior School Wayne Morton gave the following speech and explained the naming of the area.

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"I came back from holidays. I went to work in my air conditioned office but you were out here working with the sun beating down on you. I sat down at my desk to read emails, on my comfy chair, but you were slaving away with your muscles building sawing hammering. I arrived at 9am and left at 3pm (it was my holiday after all). And you were here when I arrived and still here when I left.

I must say they look fantastic, they must have been hard to build. Now I searched in the Bible for a reference to steps and this is what I found…
"A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps."
Mr Maddrell what thought did you have to give to the construction of these steps? ... I guess that makes you a prudent man.

Do you think that this is what the writer of the Bible meant when he wrote this? I wonder if the steps that the wise man should give thought to… are not these steps as beautiful as they are Mr Maddrell but I wonder if it is the steps he takes in his life,
-    decisions he makes  
-    the places he goes
-    the things he says

Maybe, Mr Maddrell because of the construction of these steps,
-    the games we play,
-    the assemblies we have
-    the memory verses we learn
-    and the lessons we hold here
I am hoping that they will help all of us  to give thought to our steps, God’s thoughts to our steps … and so be wise.

Mr Maddrell thanks for building these steps.
Mr Joselin thanks for building these steps for us
Mr Theobald thanks for building, and planning for the steps to be built."

Mr Theobald then had the honour of cutting the ribbon before kids moved up on to the steps for the naming of the steps.

"Suggestions for the steps included
-    Big England
-    Mount Zion
-    Covie Lovie Steps
-    The Giant Bean Stalk
-    Stairway to the handball courts (sort of rolls of your tongue this one)
-    The Spanish Steps
-    The Cauldron
-    Down Under
-    The big Green steps
-    Little Oz
-    The apple steps
-    Aussie Stadium
-    The Steppy Steps

And the winner is….  COLOSSEUM

Named after a great work of architecture (another one)
Named after a place that was a central meeting place in Rome – central meeting place
A place capable of seating 50 000 people – seats all of Junior School
A place where gladiators performed for the crowd – speech giving
A place where games were held - handball
A place used for both entertainment and learning – sport and assemblies
A place where Christians who stood up for Jesus, were so committed that they were fed to the lions – Christians meet in lines"

Well done to all involved. I am sure we will enjoy this space for many years to come. Additional shade cloths are also planned.

Welcome to 2009. Welcome back to our existing families and welcome to all the new families joining our community. With nearly 800 students from preschool to Year 12 this is our largest year ever. Enjoy taking a glimpse at just some of the days activities.

The morning started with new students meeting their buddies who will help them settle in. Thank you to all the buddies for the role you play. We are grateful.

Covenant is as much a school for families as students. Suzanne Bennett and her amazing hospitality team put on a delicious morning tea for new families. It was a good chance to meet new or old friends.

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Head of Junior School Wayne Morton welcomed students and parents. Students were introduced to the new teachers and found out which classes they were in.

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Year 7 is the largest ever with many new students joining in. Enjoy these photos of senior students.

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For Transition it was a great day of play - but maybe a bit tiring for some!

With students and staff on leave Covenant Christian School at Belrose is a hive of activity.  John Theobald, our maintenance manager, has done an amazing job directing a variety of building and renovation projects. Some have been large projects and some less obvious. John and his team have been putting in long hours in the holidays to create an improved learning environment for both our students and staff. Thanks to all those who helped including some in our own school community Tim Maddrell, Bill Joselin and Garry Bourke. Enjoy seeing some shots of the changes. 

• • Terracing of the front entrance bank so it will be more useful as an education facility. (This has been an incredible amount of work but will be well used for years to come) 
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  • Three more synthetic grass areas to improve the sporting and seating areas around the school
  • Upgrade of the school staffroom to make it work more efficiently for the increasing staff numbers
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  • Updating of the dull foyer to make this a more welcoming area for new families plus renovating the adjoining staff bathrooms

In addition, we are actively working with a company towards a new and improved wireless solution that will provide the coverage and reliability we need now and as we prepare for future laptop trolley programs for students.

Other projects included:

• Replacement of tired carpets in J Block
  • Replacement of old vinyl areas throughout the school
  • Refurbishment of F2 Science Lab
  • Replacement of Year 7 lockers
  • Installation of two demountables on the promised land
  • Repainting of the E5 Artroom exterior 

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Thank you to John and his dedicated team. We are grateful for your hard work!

There was great excitement at Covenant yesterday as the top carpark was taken over by a huge crane. Two new demountable buildings were lifted into place before a fascinated crowd of children and staff. Next year these rooms will be used by Year 5 classes. They have become necessary due to the growth of the school and not being able to wait for the six new permanent classrooms being built for Kindy to Year 2 classes. The demountables will free up some space for the now three Year 6 classes and the very large Year 7 group for 2009. As always everything which happens at Covenant can provide learning experiences so many students were doing drawings of the work.

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Covenant Christian School has come a long way in 30 years. Original students often wore gum boots to school and played in a creek. Over the years the school has developed significantly. The "Promised Land" or "Forts" area however is one place where good old fashioned digging and building by kids has been able to continue. Last week larger scale diggers moved in in preparation for two demountables. Many kids helped out by moving rocks and sticks in preparation for a new area.

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The changes to the "Promised Land" provided a great educational opportunity for the students to debate the merits of retaining this area. We hope you enjoy their well presented arguments.

The Argument AGAINST
 
We should not preserve the forts area because it takes up room and looks scrappy.
 
Junior School is more than twice as big as High School area. If we destroyed the space-wasting forts, than a brand new Year 5 classroom could be built and the old one turned in a much needed High School classroom. Then, there would be more room for cramped high schoolers.
 
The forts are extremely messy. They have oddly-shaped rocks everywhere and hole-ridden ground from dug-up rocks. There is barely any grass, so when it rains it is very muddy and an eyesore.
 
If the horrible forts were gone, there wouldn't be any fights over who-owns-what spade or rock. The teachers wouldn't have to sort out silly arguments, and there wouldn't be anymore bad injuries that need care by stressed-out sick bay nurses.
 
The room-wasting, bad-looking forts should pack their bags and leave.
 
The Argument FOR 
 
The forts is a special place in Covenant Christian School where kids are free to express themselves and are able to explain their minds.
 
We should preserve the forts area because on Fridays, when we are doing sport, we need to have that area. This is because there is no where else to go because of all the other groups of people doing a variety of sports who take up all of the Wakehurst oval, the school oval and the car park.
 
We have to preserve the forts area because people build relationships there by making bases and having fun trading rocks. All kids need to be able to have a chance to build bases with rocks and mud. When people come to CCS, they see the forts and also see kids having a good time, They also see relationships growing.
 
How would you like it if someone takes your favourite thing like you teddy, baby, etc? That's exactly like how people who love the forts feel.
 
We should preserve the kid's favourite playing area.
 
Also the forts area is a place where kids dig up rocks, sticks and build a fort. All the bases are competing to have the biggest, sturdiest and the best designed fort. Don't steal someone's fun away by taking the forts, but let kids have fun.
 
In the classroom, you can't teach the things that the fort can, for example, teamwork, connections and friendship.

Plans for the future development of Covenant were recently unveiled during a fundraising dinner at Miramare Gardens at Terrey Hills. It was a nice change to be told of major rebuilding in the infants department while being musically entertained by members of the student body, and amid the lure of three courses of food.

About 130 parents, staff, and supporters of the school were reassured by MC Simon Higgins that the multi-million dollar price tag for the building work wouldn't be collected then and there.

If that was the primary aim, the Covenant crew was off to an ordinary start with cost for the evening coming in at a warm and fuzzy $20-a-head.



Testimony to the popularity of the event was that tables spilled onto the balcony. And yes, that was a tent we were sitting under.

There was a donation element to the night but it was not aligned with pressure. And we were told there were two ways to donate: financially and by word-of-mouth, telling people about enrolling in this great school.

Someone said the ticket price was kept low so anyone could come to enjoy being part of the Covie community.

The important things of which my wife and I were reminded were the sense of welcoming, the feeling of community, and that this school honours the Lord Jesus Christ.

We were there for the common reason of ensuring the best future for our children and were shown a bold road map on how we can help achieve this.

Hats off to the makers of the DVD which will give parents considering the school a taste of what is on offer.

Thanks also to the Hills Flowers people for donating flowers and to Suzanne Bennett for the organisation.

Rod Bennett
Parent