NICS News Term 4
16 November 2023
From the Principal’s Desk
On Monday at 11am, students paused classes to attend a Remembrance Day assembly to remember the sacrifice that countless people have made in service to their country; and specifically, to recognise the Norfolk Islanders who have sacrificed. Cadets Ryan Buffett Cooper presented a wreath, and Callum Clay and Zachariah Pettet raised the flags during the service, and students and staff observed a minutes’ silence.
NICS is very excited for our students and staff headed to the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. We want to congratulate them for the hard work and dedication it has taken to achieve this, and we wish Rachel, Jordan, Taj and Taleyah all the best for the games.
Taleyah Jones – athletics
Taj Quintal– youngest touch football representative
Jordan Murray – youngest netball representative
Rachel Gentles – Team Manager Netball
On Monday 20 November, we welcome Julia Cullen to NICS. Julia joins us as an additional Deputy Principal for the remainder of this year, and will continue in the Deputy position in 2024. We look forward to having Julia at school next week.
If your child is not be returning to NICS in 2024, please phone the office to let us know.
Week 7 Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) Focus
This week’s PBL focus and lesson is for Primary is to “keep your hands and feet to yourself”, and for Secondary is to “stay in bounds”. Please remind students of the school’s expectations to be respectful and responsible by keeping hands and feet (and bodies) to themselves, and being in the right place at the right time.
School Concert – Aladdin
The school concert, Aladdin, is on Tuesday 21st, Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd of November. Tickets are on sale through the front office. Get in quickly as tickets are selling fast!
A permission note was sent home for students involved in the concert with details of the concert performance and rehearsal days. Please return your child’s permission note to the Front Office. There is a full technical rehearsal on Friday 17 November and a full dress rehearsal on Monday 20 November. For the dress rehearsal, students are to wear their costume, including full make-up.
Come and experience Prep – Thursday 16th and Thursday 23rd November
On Thursday 16th November, our 2024 Preps had their first in-class prep experience morning with our Prep team. The last experience morning in the Prep classroom with the 2024 Prep teaching team is on Thursday 23rd November. The session will run from 9:15am to 11am. Students will need to bring a snack, water bottle and hat.
Away for the day – mobile phone ban in 2024
From the beginning of Term 1 2024, all Queensland state school students must keep their mobile phones switched off and ‘away for the day’ during school hours. Notifications on wearable devices, such as smartwatches, must be switched off so that phone calls, messages and other notifications cannot be sent or received during school hours.
Students are being asked to put their phones away for the day to help:
- reduce distractions in the classroom
- increase face-to-face interactions between students
- promote student health and wellbeing
- reduce the potential for student exposure to negative impacts of the digital world, such as cyberbullying.
The NICS leadership team is currently reviewing the mobile phone policy, and considering ways the school can support students to keep their phones away for the school day. Parents can support their child/ren by starting conversations now regarding the benefits to having phones away while at school.
Alyson Innis
Acting Principal - Norfolk Island Central School