Good morning and welcome back to the 2021 school year. It is a real joy to be back on site. The staff have been meeting together throughout this week for our professional learning week and we have been amazingly blessed and encouraged from some great devotional programs, professional learning opportunities and times to plan.

As you would be very familiar with, we are still in some uncertain times regarding COVID-19 and information will be coming out over the next few days. I am going to share with you a little of what we will be planning, but we are aware that there will be government meetings that will be held throughout Friday and probably still into Monday, so please, if you could just keep your app handy so that you'll be getting that up-to-date information and we'll be communicating to you if there are any ongoing changes.

In the first instance, however, we are letting you know that our orientation program for Kindergarten, Year 7 and for those new to the school in Junior School will be occurring. There will be details on the specifics of how to come to the school pick-up and drop-off zones, so rather than go through it now, I'd really encourage you to read those details well and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact Wendy Boase, contact the school and we'll get you connected with the right information.

The thing I'd like to share with you now is perhaps a little insight that came through one of those devotion sessions that we've had together as a staff. We were encouraged to be encouragers and the definition of encouragement perhaps struck a different chord to one that I'd thought about previously. We were inspired to build up courage in others, that being an encourager is to build others up in their courage as well. I thought what a great thing to think about in a school where we are trying to encourage our children and young people to have a growth mindset, to try new things, to face new challenges, to even have permission to fail, but to try again recognising God has given us gifts and abilities to be used for his glory. But sometimes in the practice stage of that, we actually can do things in a way that we want to modify later. So, I hope that I can share with you that encouragement.

We are ready to embark on all that the Lord has for us in 2021 here at Covenant. We know that there will be changes, there will be things that come about that perhaps we hadn't expected to occur in a particular way. But the one thing we know for certain is that God has a plan and a purpose, and we are part of his plan and purpose. He's a God that wants to be known, so we can have confidence in that as we partner with you with the leading and guiding of your children and their education. We hope that we can continue to uphold those values and teach, with the truth, that the Bible is God's word, that it is something that is trustworthy in a world of change. Thank you.

Melissa Brown

I get some amazing welcomes from my two-year-old son. As I arrive home from work, his unbridled joy bounds out through my front door and into my arms. It takes at least the next half hour of cuddles, wrestles, tickle fights, games and "love you’s" before he feels like he has sufficiently welcomed me home. It’s my own home, and I already feel pretty welcome there, but that effusive joy fills my heart. No matter how the day has gone, his loving welcome is just so good.

One of the wondrous joys of knowing our great God is being welcomed by him. His welcome is like my son’s: warm, loving and joyful. Our God welcomes us to his new creation, but even more wonderfully, he welcomes us to his presence. Our God welcomes us to himself. And to build onto that joy, our God welcomes us in the face of our failures. Despite our dirty clothes and disappointing smells, our God comes straight in for the cuddle. He will pay the ultimate price, he will go through anything to welcome us.

That’s the sort of welcome I am hoping to emulate, in some small way, as I welcome students back to school for 2021. I am looking forward to giving the joyful, loving welcome that the scriptures encourage us to, "…welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." Romans 15:7. All of us here at Covenant have been meeting and thinking this week about how to welcome you and your children as Christ has welcomed us, for the glory of God. I hope we can do justice to our plans and bring you some of the joy of a good welcome. It is so, so good to have you.

Grace and peace,

Jason Marriott

Welcome back! Our teachers have missed you guys. We feel thankful to God for the rest and quality time we have been able to enjoy but we can't wait to see all of your happy faces, ready for another fantastic year. How excited are we? Watch this! 

Term 1 is just around the corner. We have loads of information to make your child's transition back to school easy. Find all you need to know in the one place. Click here! For more general information go to Helpful Information under the Community tab on our website. 

The current COVID-19 guidelines for Covenant are very similar to those in place during Term 4, 2020. These include:

• Kiss & Drop zones are still to be used at all times to drop off/pick up students. 
• Only essential visitors are permitted on-site and all visitors (including parents) must sign-in and out at the Office using the QR code. All visitors must wear masks and enter the grounds via the Dell Street entrance.
• At all times, visitors must be aware of and maintain the appropriate physical distancing, health and hygiene measures.
• Students should not attend school if they are unwell. This includes even minor flu-like symptoms. Students who are absent or sent home due to flu-like symptoms need to be tested. Please advise the school if your child is being tested. Children must remain at home until they return a negative COVID-19 result and are symptom-free.

We are looking forward to a smooth transition for all of our students, especially those beginning a new stage of their education journey. To facilitate this, the orientation program for Kindergarten and Year 7 will be held on Wednesday 27 January 2021. 

The orientation program for new students in Year 1 to 6 will be held on Wednesday 27 January 2021 from 1.30pm - 2.45pm. Full school uniform to be worn. There is no orientation for new students in Year 8 to 10.

• Wednesday 27 January – first day of school for Prep 3 day class, Kindergarten, Year 7, Year 11, Year 12. This will be the orientation day for Kindergarten and Year 7 students. Full school uniform to be worn.
• Thursday 28 January – first day of school for all other grades – Year 1 to 6, Year 8 to 10. All students will be at school on this day.
• Monday 2 February – first day of school for Prep 2 day class.

Need a last minute uniform item? There are only a few appointments for Monday 25 January 2021 left. Call the Office to book a spot. 

For a quick and easy option, order uniforms on the Covenant App via Links>MunchMonitor. All orders can be collected from the Office when ready. Learn how to set up your account here... 

Note: Unfortunately, the uniform shop has sold out of size 10 Junior sports shorts and are running low on other sizes, due to a supplier issue. New stock will arrive in 3-4 weeks. In the meantime, students who are unable to purchase sports shorts will be allowed to wear alternative blue shorts until the stock arrives. 

Keep up to date with the latest Newsletter, events, information and notifications via the Covie App. For 2021, all parents will need access to the Covie App. Returning parents can use their login details from 2020 to re sign into the app. New parents will receive the necessary Edumate credentials via email to sign in. For more information, or to download the App now, please click here to sign up! 

At Covenant Christian School there are many occasions and events where students may be photographed or recorded, including the celebration of student participation and achievement, to showcase learning programs, or to document a student’s learning journey. The safety and privacy of our students is our priority, and whilst we have previously used an ‘opt-out’ approach in regards to the use and publication of photographs and recordings of students, in line with best practice we now require parents and students over the age of 15 to ‘opt-in’. This marks a change in our process and what we require from all parents/carers. 

Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the Collection, Use and Disclosure of Images of Students policy which clearly sets out the various ways in which Covenant Christian School is seeking to collect, use and disclose photographs and videos of your child.

Here is a copy of the annual consent form that we require all parents/carers to complete. The purpose of this form is to seek your consent for the collection, use and disclosure of photographs and videos of your child. This form can be used for up to four (4) children, and if your child is over the age of 15, they are required to give their consent in addition to yours. You can withdraw or change your consent at any time by completing another consent form and returning it to the Office. 

It will greatly assist us if you could complete this form and return it as soon as possible. Students can also get a copy of the consent form from the Office. All forms may be returned by your child to the Office or can be scanned and emailed to admin@covenant.nsw.edu.au. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Privacy Officer via the Office.

Edumate Parent Portal is the best way you can update your personal details (e.g. phone, address, email). It is also the best place to update your child's details, including medical details and emergency contact information, directly in Edumate. It is most important that each individual parent logs into the portal to ensure that their own details and those of each child are correct. If any of these details change during the year, they need to be updated immediately. Can we encourage you to visit the Parent Portal now and check that your family details are correct. 

Please note the portal is not optimised for use on mobile devices. This is why we don't have it linked from the App. You will need to use a PC or laptop device in order to access the portal.

If you have any questions, or difficulty accessing the portal, please contact TechServe.

Be prepared for the new school year with our 2021 stationary lists for each year group:

• Year 3 2021
• Year 4 2021
• Year 5 2021
• Year 6 2021
• Year 7 2021
• Year 8 2021
• Year 9 2021
• Year 10 2021
• Year 11 2021

Parents please remember to update your details in Edumate by the end of February. The Australian Government has sent the following information on the collection of information for families and students. Please read... 

2021 Student Residential Address and Other Information 

The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (the department) would like to advise you that a request has been made for Covenant to provide residential address and other information as required under the Australian Education Regulation 2013 (Cth). 

The school is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the school: 

• Names and residential addresses of students’ parent(s) and/or guardian(s) 

• Student residential address (excluding student names) 

• Whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level) 

• Whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status).

The Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection (the Collection) informs Australian Government school education policy and helps ensure funding for non-government schools is based on need.

Click here for more information

Our website has a wealth of information to help you throughout the year. So, if you are wondering who to speak to about certain matters, please take a look a look at Mrs Brown’s tips on who to talk to when…

In 2021, we are anticipating the return of our wonderful volunteers to our classrooms. We value the role that parents and volunteers play in our school community. We ask that you assist the school in providing a safe and positive atmosphere by completing the Volunteers Code of Conduct every year. If you have not done so already, please complete the Volunteers Code of Conduct and return to the Office as soon as possible.

Keep up-to-date with important Covenant information every week via our Newsletter. This will be available as a push notification on the Covenant App and can also be found on our website, however it will no longer be emailed home. Featuring updates, news, staff profiles and more, it's a great way to engage with our school community and keep track of any changes that may impact you or your child. 

All Schools Athletics Championships

At the end of Term 4, 2020, four Covenant students competed against students from across NSW in the All Schools Athletics Championships. Congratulations to the following students for their efforts and training leading up the event.

• Zoe - 4th in 400m, 6th in 3000m walk (PB) and qualified to represent New South Wales at Nationals.
• Christiaan - Competed in 400m.
• Jannik - PB for 400m and 200m, 63.21 for 400m (17th overall), 27.71 for 200m (31st overall). 
• Benji - won his shot put event.