Covie NewsIssue 9

The Qustodio Parent App provides Covenant parents with advanced controls for your child’s school laptop (plus one personal device such as their mobile phone) outside of school hours, allowing you to play an active role in your child’s digital life.

At Covenant, we recognise that technology is an essential tool for learning. The internet offers incredible opportunities for learning and connection, but it also comes with risks for children and families including:

• Cyberbullying: The anonymity of the internet can lead to hurtful and damaging interactions, affecting children's mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Exposure to inappropriate content: Children may inadvertently encounter or be targeted with explicit or violent content online.
• Excessive screen time: Unrestricted access to devices and online platforms can lead to unhealthy habits and impact sleep, academic performance, mental health, and social interactions.

By partnering together, we can empower our children to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Covenant’s partnership with Linewize

Filtering and Reporting: We already implement robust filtering and monitoring systems to protect students from harmful content, cyber threats, and online distractions. This ensures a safe and secure learning environment.

Online Safety Resource: The Covenant Christian School Online Safety Hub is a dedicated resource offering a wealth of information, including app reviews, how-to guides, and expert advice, empowering you to have open and informed conversations with your child about their digital development.

Parental Controls: The Qustodio Parent App enables you to take an active role in your child’s online journey with robust online safety features. This enables you to supervise your child’s online activities on their school-managed device outside of school hours.

The Qustodio Parent App

Qustodio extends digital visibility and management of school devices (plus one personal device) to parents, allowing parents to steer and direct their children’s online behaviours and habits.

• Manage your child’s school device outside of school hours: Take an active role in safeguarding your child’s school device outside of school hours.
• Ultra Personalised Settings: Allows you to add your own filtering rules, alerts, reports, and more to support your child’s digital needs and uphold your household rules.
• Safety Net Always in Place: The school has established a baseline of cyber safety rules across all SLP devices. You can add to these by creating family rules on all your family devices, keeping your child safe online when at school and at home.
• Filtering Content and Apps: Enables you as parents to create a safe online space for your kids by blocking inappropriate apps, games, websites or entire content categories in addition to the school's baseline set of rules.
• Custom Reports and Alerts: Provides parents with detailed daily, weekly, and monthly reports on your child’s online activity. You can also set real-time alerts to be notified immediately when your child tries to access blocked websites or engages in risky behaviour.
• Setting Time Limits: Helps you balance your child’s online time. This tool helps prevent screen addiction, preserve family time, and encourage healthy sleep routines by establishing consistent time limits and scheduling downtime.
• Protection of Personal Devices: Every Linewize Connect licence includes protection for one personal device per school student, allowing parents to secure mobile phones, iPads, and more. This step further supports your child’s online safety and wellbeing.

Create your free account HERE.

If you are experiencing any issues with Qustodio, their dedicated support team is easily contactable at myschool@qustodio.com or use the Help Centre Form.

A reminder that from Term 2, all students must wear full winter uniform. Changes to the uniform from Term 2 are shown in bold.

Kindergarten to Year 2

• All students can continue to wear their sport uniform every day.
• Alternatively, girls can wear the winter pinafore with long-sleeve blue shirt, navy socks or tights.
• Alternatively, boys can wear the blue short sleeved shirt with grey shorts or grey long pants worn with ankle length grey socks.

Years 3 to 6

• Girls can wear either the winter pinafore and blue long-sleeve blouse with ankle length navy socks or tights or the blue short sleeved blouse with either navy pants or shorts worn with ankle length navy socks.
• Boys continue wearing the blue short sleeved shirt and grey shorts or grey long pants worn with ankle length grey socks.

Years 7 to 9

• Girls can wear either the navy skirt with blue short sleeved blouse, navy socks or black stockings or navy pants or navy tailored shorts worn with blue short sleeved blouse with ankle length navy socks.
• Boys continue wearing the blue short sleeved shirt and grey shorts or grey long pants worn with ankle length grey socks.

Years 10 to 12

• Girls continue to wear the white short sleeved blouse with navy skirt or navy pants with ankle length navy socks and blazer.
• Boys continue to wear the white short sleeved shirt with grey trousers, ankle length grey socks, school tie and blazer.

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop is open:

• Monday 2.15-3.15pm during term dates.
• Wednesday 8.00-9.30pm during term dates.
• The Uniform Shop will open on Monday 28 April from 9.00am-12.00pm. No appointment necessary, just walk in. This is a staff professional development day. Students return on Tuesday 29 April.

It can be hard to stay on top of all the information. Below is some information from the past few weeks that you might need a reminder of.

'Australia My Country' Writing Competition (Years 3 to 6)

What? A writing competition sponsored by Forestville RSL sub-branch. The topic is either 'Commemorating 100 years of Anzac - an enduring Legend' or 'August 1945 - Victory in the Pacific and Returning Home from War'.

Prize monies awarded by Forestville RSL sub-branch for each section will be: 1st place - $200 | 2nd place - $150 | 3rd place - $100

When? It will take place at lunchtime on Wednesday 9 April (Week 11) in the Junior Library.

What does your child need to do? Students who wish to enter must sign up with Mrs Watson. Permission notes will need to be signed in order for the child to enter.

Mrs Chapman will also be conducting a question and answer session from 12.50-1.10pm on Tuesday 8 April.

For more information please speak to Mrs Watson or click here.

Covie Holiday Program

Need to complete some PIP hours?

Wondering what PIP is? The Parent Involvement Program (PIP) gives our parents the opportunity to enjoy a hands-on role in the education of their children and an opportunity to engage with other members of our community. You can learn more here.

Current opportunities:

• A Netball umpire (badged or experience required) and a Netball/Soccer coach (experience required) for Peninsula Cup. If you are interested, please contact Jonathan Chor, via email - jchor@covenant.nsw.edu.au.
• Our Learning Support team needs parents to assist students with reading or writing during tests/exams. If you are interested, please contact Learning Support Coordinator, Sally Rofe, via email - srofe@covenant.nsw.edu.au.
• The Term 1 Working Bee is coming up on Saturday 5 April. If you are interested, please RSVP here.

Debating Team Shines in First HICES Competition Debate

Our school’s debating team recently took part in their very first competition debate, and while they may not have taken home the win, they certainly made their mark with an outstanding performance. The team tackled an incredibly complex and thought-provoking topic: “That all suitable Australian citizens should be legally obliged to donate blood once a year.”

Despite the challenging nature of the debate, our students rose to the occasion, demonstrating impressive research skills, clear arguments, and confident public speaking. In the lead-up to the debate, they immersed themselves in learning about the challenges of compulsory blood donation, the different types of blood products and blood types and the broader public health system in Australia. Their hard work paid off, as the adjudicator commended them for presenting substantial and well-structured arguments in favour of their position.

It was a closely fought contest, with both teams making compelling cases. Our speakers delivered their arguments with confidence, poise, and enthusiasm, showcasing their ability to think critically and respond under pressure. While the final result didn’t go in our favour this time, the team should be incredibly proud of their performance and the knowledge they gained along the way.

The debate was truly a team effort, with other members of the squad stepping up to take on crucial roles - acting as Chairperson and Timekeeper to ensure the event ran smoothly. Their contributions were invaluable and highlighted the strong sense of teamwork and dedication within the group.

This first debate was just the beginning for our talented debaters. They have already shown tremendous promise, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to grow and refine their skills in future competition rounds. Congratulations to the entire team on a fantastic effort—you have set a high standard for debates to come!

- Debating Coach, Mrs Fiona Newcombe

J Block is on track to open at the start of Term 2! We are so excited to see our students and teachers enjoy this transformed and modernised space.

New classrooms

Five new classrooms boast plenty of natural light, helping improve student focus, productivity and overall wellbeing.

Locker rooms

The two new spacious locker rooms over two levels are a wonderful improvement for our Year 8 and 9 students to store their belongings.

All-weather terrace steps

These spacious terrace steps, protected by a large awning, provide the perfect space to connect and relax with peers at break times regardless of the weather. The steps also act as an extended classroom space for student collaboration and engagement.

New roof

The roof has been completely replaced, ensuring durability and creating a wonderful aesthetic appeal.

Visit our Masterplan - J Block Refurbishment for more photos and information.

Earlier this week, a team of 13 Covenant swimmers competed at the Secondary CSSA State Swimming Carnival at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Many of our students had the fabulous support of parents and grandparents, and we were treated to an amazing display of superb swimming, team spirit, determination, and some inspiring results.

Many students were in multiple events, with four students who appeared in the overall top three placings time after time. Special congratulations to the following students:

• Macsen VG blitzed the field in every individual age race and swam in eight events. At the end of the event, he was named the 12 years Boy Age Champion! Amazing!! #covieproud

• Molly H was a powerhouse in her age group, often placing in the top three, and narrowly missed being named the 14 years Girl Age Champion.
• Emma V who was another standout in her age group, often placing in the top three.
• Caitlin P who swam six individual events, placed in all of them, and narrowly missed being named the 15 years Girl Age Champion. Caitlin also broke the 15 years Girls Backstroke record from 2019 as her last event for the day! Incredible!! #covieproud

Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Secondary Swimming Championships in May. We can't wait to hear how it goes!

• Molly H
• Caitlin P
• Isaac T
• Macsen VG
• David V
• Emma V

Year 3 put on our pith helmets and set off for the wilds of St Ives to explore the Ku-ring-Gai Wildflower Gardens. The grey clouds and misting rain couldn’t dampen our spirits.

The day began with an opportunity to recognise and pay our respects to those who had lived and loved this land before settlement. We recognised the significance of Country, that beyond the plants, animals and earth there was value to this place because other humans had been here.

The children were then able to walk through the bush and identify native plants and their uses, such as natural insect repellent, disinfectant and soap. Some of the children also found some natural body paint and enjoyed a few moments to crush a variety of rocks and add colour to their hands and arms.

A highlight from the day was the chance to get up close to some native reptiles. The guides shared a story from the Dreamtime and then introduced us to a beautiful blue tongue lizard and a smooth-scaled snake.

The children reported:

"I loved the Wildflower Gardens. We learnt about banksia life cycles, water bugs and painting with sandstone. There was a fun activity where we got nets and fished for water bugs. Mr Groves offered a prize if we could identify a water scorpion. I loved seeing a blue tongue lizard and listening to the Dreamtime stories. It was an amazing day."

"The Wildflower Garden Excursion was fantastic. We went on a bush walk and ate recess on a sandstone rock while looking at a beautiful view. After that we went to a pool and got nets to catch the animals living there. We had lunch in a shed and got to taste wild plum jam. We saw so many different plants from tall scribbly gums to water plants that eat bugs."

It was wonderful to see the rich variety of God’s creation. Mrs Kalinin and I were really thankful to share the day with Mrs Ricker, Mrs Hastie, Mrs Barrett, Mrs Storey and Mrs Williams.

- Year 3 Teacher, Mr Tim Groves

We are grateful to be partnering with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) 360 Sports Australia who has a mission to share the gospel and grow disciples through sport. Their vision is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

This week some students, parents and staff from Covenant were encouraged and inspired at the FCA 360 Sports Impact event where we heard from Jim Dayhew (FCA 360 Sports Australia Director), Shaun Hart (Brisbane Lions AFL multiple Premiership winner), along with athletes, coaches and schools who are embracing the opportunity to transform the lives of athletes and coaches through sports ministry.

Shaun Hart spoke about the importance and dangers of elite athletes developing their identity in sport, and he emphasised the need and challenge to shift the narrative from a performance-based identity to identity-based performance. Our identity is rooted in Christ and this should shape our self-worth, even for high performing athletes. Once the athlete understands this, their identity directs their pathway to discovering their motivation and true purpose in life, and consequently this will positively impact on their performance in sport and life. Christian athletes and coaches have the amazing opportunity to use the platform of sport to share their testimony and spread the good news that God’s love is not conditional on an athlete’s performance. It is far more important and life-changing to accept that our self-worth and value comes from who we belong to, Jesus Christ. Elite athletes are constantly fed a message that their performance defines their value and self-worth. At Covenant we embrace this challenge to reshape this narrative and we are grateful for the work of FCA 360 Sport Australia is helping to equip our staff to do this.

Year 10 Covenant student, Imogen S, plays in the Sydney Swans U16 AFLW team, and attended this event with her mum, Rowena.

"After the FCA360 dinner on Monday night and hearing from Shaun Hart, I was equipped further to engage on the sidelines with other parents in spiritual conversations about Jesus. At Immi's most recent pre-match training for the up-coming game against the U16 AFLW Lions and GWS teams, I was able to retell and share part of Shaun's testimony with a club coach. He listened because he knew who Shaun Hart was and respected him. It was natural and effortless to talk about the difference Shaun's trust in Jesus made to him in a grand final, knowing that Jesus would never leave him or forsake him. The fear and nerves that naturally rise up in high stress events were able to be conquered in Christ. I am excited by what God is doing in our midst on the sidelines of the sporting fields across the world. It is where people gather and it is a field ripe for harvest. May you continue to keep FCA360 in your prayers as they focus on the mission field in the wide world of sports." - Rowena R, mum of Imogen, Year 10

Other wonderful ministry opportunities offered by FCA include a Parents Ministry for parents of elite athletes and an athlete mentoring program. Visit this website if you would like more information, or contact our Director of Co-Curricular, Alison Vander Straaten, via email at avanderstraaten@covenant.nsw.edu.au.

Here is a link to a recent interview with Shaun Hart and Jim Dayhew on Hope 103.2.

Five students represented Covenant and the CSSA at the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Primary Swimming Championships earlier this week.

Our relay team consisting of Ruby C, Elliot PS, Chloe R and Vida VG achieved a personal best (PB) time!

Mia C and Vida VG competed in individual events, with Mia achieving a PB in the 50m Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle! Vida achieved a PB in the 50m Breaststroke!

Well done to all our swimmers! #covieproud

Matthew Cross, our Member for Davidson in the NSW Parliament, invited our Year 12 Captains, Saskia P and David W, along with other captains from the area to a Secondary School Captains Dinner at NSW Parliament House. The event provided an opportunity for the Minister to acknowledge the important contributions that the school leaders have made to their respective school communities. As a Christian school, we value the role our government plays in life and see this as an opportunity for our students to represent our school and its values, as well as learning more about the role of responsible citizenship.