In this issue

Get ready to be transported into a world of pure imagination as Northpine Christian College proudly announces its upcoming theatrical extravaganza – Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical! 🎉

The Magic Behind the Curtain

This enchanting production brings to life the beloved tale of Charlie Bucket, a young boy with a heart of gold, and the eccentric chocolatier, Willy Wonka. Adapted from Roald Dahl’s timeless classic, the musical promises to be a delectable feast for the senses, filled with whimsical characters, magical moments, and, of course, plenty of scrumptious surprises.

Casting the Spell

We are thrilled to share that the cast has been selected, and a talented ensemble of 62 Primary and Secondary students will grace the stage, each bringing their unique flair and energy to this magical performance. The dedication and enthusiasm of our students promise to make this production an unforgettable experience for everyone in the audience.

Show Dates and Times

Mark your calendars for an extraordinary journey into the world of Willy Wonka! There will be five chances to witness this spectacular production, with shows scheduled from Saturday, July 20th, to Sunday, July 28th. Be prepared for an evening (or afternoon) of laughter, excitement, and, of course, a touch of sweetness.

• Saturday, July 20th, 7:00 PM
• Sunday, July 21st, 1:30 PM
• Thursday, July 25th, 6:00 PM
• Saturday, July 27th, 7:00 PM
• Sunday, July 28th, 1:30 PM

Tickets on Sale Soon

Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this magical journey! Ticket sales will be announced in the coming months, so keep an eye out for the golden opportunity to secure your seats and join us in celebrating the creativity and talent of our Northpine Christian College students.

Prepare for a world where dreams come true, and imagination knows no bounds. We can’t wait to see you there, cheering on our extraordinary students as they bring Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to life!

Mrs Cindy Sykes
Drama Teacher & Musical Artistic Director

The year has only just started and we’re already marching full steam ahead to our first concert of the year ‘Vocal Sounds’ on the 25^th of March!

This concert will feature all of our wonderful singers across multiple choirs as well as some choice performances from students in our vocal department.

Come along for a night of wonderful musicians and spectacular performances and support the members of the Northpine music department with a Gold Coin Donation to help raise money for new instruments.

Callum Kennedy
Co-Curricular Music Coordinator

From everyone in our Chaplaincy and Well-being Departments, we would like to say Happy New Year and welcome to Term 1, 2024! We are so excited to start this new year with you! With a new year, comes exciting new changes and we would like to introduce our Chaplaincy Team for 2024.

The Northpine Chaplaincy & Welfare Department is currently a five-person team comprised of two full-time Chaplains (Pr. Shaun Lieder & Pr. Gerrard Price), two part-time Chaplains (Pr. Sharyn Harrington & Pr. Francis Pule), School Counsellor (Mrs. Keah Wheeler), and our Refresh Church Pastor (Pr. Sarah Redman).

Our role at Northpine, alongside the school’s leadership team, is to oversee the pastoral care and spiritual development of our students, parents, families, and staff. Our aim is to help create an environment where our community can grow and learn in every facet of life. Particularly with our students, we aim to support them as they journey through life’s ups and downs and provide opportunities to develop a relationship with Jesus if they wish to do so. Our team is also here to support all our families in whatever way we can so please don’t hesitate to reach out!

We are looking forward to meeting you and getting to know you.  We can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2024!

Keah Wheeler (School Counsellor)

I am excited to be joining the team at Northpine Christian College as your School Counsellor. I bring with me varied experience working with adults, young people, and families, particularly those healing from trauma. I have also had the pleasure of educating at a college level, teaching and supporting those who are the future counsellors in our community. I am a registered counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and my qualifications include a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Graduate Diploma in Counselling. The passion I will be bringing to the school is to support the students, teachers and wider school community with their mental health and wellbeing, both through initiatives across the school and providing 1:1 support to students and their families. I strongly believe that the social and emotional wellbeing and skill development of children and young people provide a solid foundation for their learning, engagement, and ability to thrive at school.

Outside of my work, my family and I are enjoying exploring the North Brisbane area after relocating from Northern NSW and I spend much of my free time pursuing creative projects, being out in nature and relaxing.

Francis Pule (Chaplain)

Greetings to my Northpine Christian College Community! I’m Francis Pule, hailing from the windy Wellington, New Zealand. With my Samoan and Tongan roots, I bring a vibrant heritage and a life full of joy alongside my wife Jennifer, our four wonderful kids, and our champion grandson, Tobias.

As an Avondale College alumni, class of 2001, I’m eager to infuse our community with an energy and passion for Jesus. My journey has taken me from the cool climes of Tasmania, where I spent seven enriching years, to the sunny vibes of South Queensland, adding up to 15 years of invaluable chaplaincy experience. Now, I am currently the pastor of both Maroochydore and Innovation Seventh-Day Adventist churches.

Exciting times ahead at NPCC! I’m joining your chaplaincy dream team (part-time), ready to add a splash of Pule sparkle every Wednesday. I’ll be dedicating my time to nurturing our Early Learning Centre and uplifting staff wellbeing.

When I’m not on duty, you’ll find me immersed in music, passionately supporting the NZ All Blacks, and cheering on the Warriors and Dolphins (NRL). As a die-hard Qld Maroons fan, I’m all about team spirit! My ultimate mission is to spread joy and share the uplifting message of Jesus with everyone. I’m thrilled to embark on this adventure with you in 2024. Together, let’s make it an unforgettable year!

Gerrard Price (Chaplain)

Hey Family & Friends of Northpine!

I’m super excited to be starting my second year here with you all. I started at Northpine last year during Term 2, focussing predominantly on Chaplaincy in the Primary School and it’s been such an adventure so far! Before Northpine, I worked in various places including 7 years as a School Chaplain at Henderson College in Mildura; I can truly say that God has been good to me!

I am Samoan/New Zealander but I have spent a lot of my life in Melbourne before ministry. I love playing different sports (especially volleyball & netball), singing and playing music, and I have a love for videography and editing.

I have a passion for sharing Jesus with young people and nurturing them to be the best version of themselves that they can be. This year I hope to continue to be a positive role model in our community and to help foster an environment for our Northpine family to grow their knowledge and love for Jesus. Bring on 2024!

 Sharyn Harrington (Chaplain)

Hi Northpine Community, I’m Sharyn! Our family moved to Northpine in 2017 from Sydney.  After serving 3 years as a Pastor at our Refresh Church, I had the amazing opportunity to join the Chaplaincy Team here in 2020. As Chaplain, I’ll be working four days a week primarily across the High School and look forward to connecting with students and families alike!

Outside of work, I enjoy being outside, exploring new places, a good movie, spending time with friends and being with people.  I am an avid Greater Western Sydney Giants (AFL) supporter – go the Giants!

I love a new year anticipating all that the year holds and wish you and your family a wonderful 2024 here at Northpine. Know you are welcome to connect with chaplaincy at any time.

Shaun Lieder (Chaplain)

Greetings! Pr Shaun here!

I’m super grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve the NPCC staff, students, and families as a full-time Chaplain. I’m a proud New Zealander and outside of school I love to go camping, fishing, 4WD on the beach, and just chilling with my family and friends. I look forward to continuing to connect and support our young people who desire to know God and help them reach their potential!

Sarah Redman (Refresh Pastor)

After working as a Northpine chaplain for the last nine years, 2023 brings a shift in focus for me as I serve our community as Refresh Northpine Community Church Pastor. I love our Northpine community and have seen my own four sons thrive here, three of which have graduated. I am passionate about caring for people and helping everyone see that they are valued and loved. I trained and worked as a teacher before stepping into chaplaincy and then completing my Post Graduate Degree in Theology.

I’m super excited to be Refresh Pastor and pray that our Campus church will continue to be a safe and welcoming place where people find Jesus, community, love and support. Refresh Church Meets each Saturday Morning at 9:45 for Breakfast and 10:30 Church Begins. Follow Refresh: Northpine Community Church on social media for more info or look at Refreshchurch.com.au.

All are welcome! Looking forward to seeing you soon!

We are thrilled to share that the Rising Suns Mini Hoopers Program is making a comeback this term at Northpine Christian College!

Commencing on Monday, 29th January, the Mini Hoopers team will be on-site from 3:15 to 4:00 pm, catering to Preps, Year 1, and Year 2 students. The program focuses on imparting fundamental basketball skills in a fun and engaging manner and will run each Monday afternoon until the 11th of March.

For the sessions, students are required to bring a change of clothes and shoes. Once school finishes students will have opportunity to get changed after school. The students will meet in the undercover handball court area (next to the oval) where a teacher will collect and walk students to the ISC.

Please find attached the program flyer and QR code for payment and sign-up. Kindly note that spaces are limited, so we encourage you to secure a spot promptly if you’re interested.

Should you have any inquiries, feel free to reach out to myself or the Rising Suns Mini Hoopers organiser, Russel, whose contact details are provided on the flyer.

Thank you, and we look forward to an exciting term of basketball learning and fun!

Oliver Gibbs
Primary Sport Coordinator

Embark on a transformative journey and set yourself apart with the prestigious International Duke of Edinburgh Award!  Are you ready to challenge yourself, explore the world, and make a lasting impact? The International Duke of Edinburgh Award is your passport to personal development, adventure, and global citizenship.

What sets the International Duke of Edinburgh Award apart?

Global Recognition: Join a community of achievers recognized worldwide for their commitment to personal growth and service.

Adventure Awaits: Undertake thrilling expeditions, whether it’s bushwalking through scenic landscapes or engaging in community projects.

Skill Development: Sharpen your skills in areas you’re passionate about, from leadership to problem-solving, which will set you up for success in any future endeavour.

Community Impact: Make a difference through volunteering, leaving a positive mark on the communities you engage with during your Award journey.

Personal Growth: Challenge yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally, fostering resilience and self-discovery.

How to Get Started:

Choose Your Level: Bronze, Silver, or Gold – select the level that suits your aspirations and commitment. (Note: minimum age requirements for each level.)

Set Goals: Define personal goals in areas like physical fitness, skill development, and volunteering.

Adventure Time: Embark on a memorable expedition, pushing your limits and embracing the spirit of exploration.

Give Back: Engage in meaningful community service, leaving a positive impact on society.

Celebrate Success: Receive global recognition for your achievements at a prestigious award ceremony.

Important Dates

Information Night and Registration: Wednesday, February 14, 7-8:30pm

Training Afternoons: Wednesday, February 28, 3:30-5:30pm; Wednesday March 6, 3:30-5:30pm and Monday March 11, 3:30-5:30pm

Training Camp: March 15-17

Join the International Duke of Edinburgh Award today and redefine your limits!

Learn more at Northpine’s Duke of Edinburgh site here: https://dukes.northpine.qld.edu.au/ or the Australian Award site here: https://dukeofed.com.au/

For inquiries, contact us at darryl.hobson@northpine.qld.edu.au or colin.wilson@northpine.qld.edu.au

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to embark on a life-changing adventure and earn a globally recognized award. Seize the moment, challenge yourself, and let the International Duke of Edinburgh Award be your guide to a brighter future!

Welcome back to Northpine Library – New Year, New Look and New Books! 😊

During the holiday break, our Library space has undergone a significant change. We would love to encourage our Community to drop by and take a look at our new space!  We now have our Primary and Secondary Deputies and College Finance team sharing a section of the library. This is an exciting time and we cannot wait to see how this transformation helps our students in their learning as well as our greater community.

All Parents are welcome to come to read a book in the library each morning before school begins. Our library opens for Secondary Students at 8:00AM and Primary students at 8:15AM. We do ask that our Prep students come into the library with either an adult or an older sibling in the morning. They are also able to loan out a book with their parents. During the week, they will come to the library with their class.

This year siblings Ryan & Mia Caldwell took on the challenge of creating a new artwork at the entry to the library. We love being able to showcase the incredible skills of our talented students in our College library and we are grateful for the many students that get involved in this space!  Thank you Ryan and Mia for your beautiful artwork.

Library Lovers Day

February 14 is Library Lovers Day, but we are going to celebrate all week! This is a time to encourage reading and the importance of Libraries. During Week 4 (12^th -16^th Feb) any students who borrow extra books (outside of the normal class borrowing time), will have their names put into a draw for a special prize.

Rowena Gamborg
Librarian

Welcome back to 2024 Northpine Parents and Community!

The Northpine Music Department is kicking back into gear, and we’re excited to get some excellent music-making happening over the course of this year.

Do not fear if your child is not currently involved in music as we still have spots available for music lessons in 2024, so register your interest at https://www.northpine.qld.edu.au/school-life/music/music-enrolment/

We currently offer lessons for the following instruments:

• Piano
• Guitar
• Bass Guitar
• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Double Bass
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba
• Flute
• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Percussion
• Drum Kit

If you would like to discuss lessons at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Co-curricular Music Coordinator Mr Kennedy (callum.kennedy@northpine.qld.edu.au)

Callum Kennedy
Co-Curricular Music Coordinator

Northpine Christian College would like to offer a HUGE congratulations to Maxwell O’Leary, in Year 12!

Max is currently competing in Europe alongside his team, representing Australia in Figure Skating. Max and his team competed in the Trophy d’Ecosse, in Scotland in which they won Gold. They are now off to France to compete in the French Cup, which is a big step up in competition. We wish Max and his team all the best as they represent Australia and Northpine so well!

Clayton Richardson
Year 12 & Cocurricular Sport Coordinator

On behalf of the Parents and Friends Association, we would like to welcome all families, new and returning, to 2024!

The Parents and Friends Association is a group of like-minded parents who provide a platform to offer opportunities for families, school staff and the community to gather, explore, discuss, imagine, implement, support, encourage and journey together as we work for the benefit of the children and young people enrolled in our school.

Our Team

We would love to introduce you to this year’s team:

• President – Nicholas Wong
• Vice President – Candice O’Keefe
• Treasurer – Kerryn Knibb
• Secretary – Amanda Darcy
• Events Sub-Committee – Samantha Wong, Candice O’Keefe and Sarah Lynch

We congratulate and appreciate them all for volunteering their precious time to helping support our school community.

Volunteers Wanted!

You are more than welcome to join this team and be a part of this journey, by either coming to the friendly committee meetings or assisting in one of our many community events. There is absolutely no commitment required! Reach out at northpinepnf@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like further information.  You can also follow us on Facebook to stay updated on all P&F events as well as to connect with our community: Northpine Christian College Parents & Friends Association

Subway Day

This term, Subway Day is on Tuesday, 27 February. More details regarding ordering will be available soon.

P&F Committee Upcoming Meetings

Committee Meetings will be on the following Tuesday nights at 6:30PM in the College Library.  Everyone is welcome to join us!  Requests for discussion/agenda items must be made to northpinepnf@gmail.com. Agenda items are to be presented for discussion by the requesting member.  Our 2024 Meeting dates are as follows:

• 6 February
• 5 March
• 23 April
• 28 May
• 23 July
• 20 August
• 15 October
• 12 November (AGM)

We are looking forward to bringing some fantastic ideas and events this year to our amazing College. Make sure you look out for and grab one of our free calendars to help you keep track of what we are getting up to this year.

Northpine Christian College Parents and Friends Association

Ensembles are set to start in Week 2, starting on Monday 29^th January. With concerts coming up as early as March, it is imperative that students arrive on time, ready to rehearse with all their instruments, sheet music, folders, and other materials.

If you would like to join one of the school ensembles, please reach out to Mr Kennedy (callum.kennedy@northpine.qld.edu.au) and he’ll help you find the right place.

Partial String Scholarship

Each year we support our budding young string players in the Primary School with scholarship opportunities for their respective instruments. This is for the Violin, Viola, Cello, or Double Bass. The Partial String Scholarship will support musicians with instrument hire for the year.

A number of our Partial String Scholarships for 2024 are already filled, but don’t be disheartened, there are still a few spots available. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our Head of Strings Ms Alexa Sheppard (alexa.sheppard@northpine.qld.edu.au) and Co-Curricular Music Coordinator Mr Callum Kennedy (callum.kennedy@northpine.qld.edu.au) if you are interested. These spots are limited by the number of available instruments, so please make sure you apply early before all the spots are taken.

Callum Kennedy
Co-Curricular Music Coordinator

With school back for 2024, we need to keep safety top-of-mind when travelling through active school zones and around our school community.

School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7–9am and 2–4pm, with some operating all day between 7am–4pm.

Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.

Children’s crossings are identified by children’s crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours.

When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:

• Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing supervisor has returned to the footpath.
• Abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.

Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.  

You can also help children become more road safety aware by:

• Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school. 
• Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths. 
• Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green ‘walk’ sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so. 
• Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older). 
• Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road. 
• Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used. 

Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.

Parking Regulations Ensure the Safety of Students, Parents, Caregivers, Teachers, and other members of the community.

The new school year is underway and we often get asked “How do my kids catch the bus” and “Am I eligible for a Bus Pass?”. To help answer your questions we’ve put together some helpful guidelines and tips to assist with your enquiries.

Catching the bus

Students will either need a “TransLink GO Card” or a “Bus Travel Assistance Card” to travel on all student school bus services.

If student/s have a 2023 bus pass, they are current until 29^th February. Some Bus Passes are still available to be collected from the Burpengary Depot.  Otherwise, a new application will need to be completed.

A friendly reminder that all KBL bus services are still not accepting cash payments for bus fares or cash for Bus Card top-ups.

1. TransLink GO Card: A payment option for school bus travel is the Translink GO Card system. If you are not eligible for one of the below transport assistance schemes, you can still get discounted daily fares by using a Go Card. These cards are available for purchase from your nearest Train Station and some news agencies provide this service.
2. Bus Travel Assistance Card:  Eligibility: There are two types of travel assistance options, “Bus Travel Assistance” which is based on kilometers and “Safety Net Assistance” which is based on concessions / pensions.
   Paperwork: If you believe you’re eligible, the correct paperwork will need to be completed either online or at our Head Office in Burpengary. We recommend you submit this paperwork as soon as possible.
   Processing: Bus Pass applications can take up to ten (10) to fifteen (15) business days for processing.
   Collection: Bus Passes can be collected from our Burpengary Depot, Monday to Friday from 8am until 4pm. We encourage all parents to visit our Head Office to avoid processing delays.

This is just a quick guide to the school bus pass system so if we haven’t specifically answered your question, please call our office on 1300 287 525 or call in and visit us at 2 Motorway Drive, Burpengary.

Lost Property Procedure 2024

There have been changes to our procedures which will affect the way “Lost Property” is dealt with in 2024:-

• If BUS PASSES are lost, parents will have to call into the Depot to have another bus pass printed
• UNNAMED ITEMS (eg: Hats, Clothing and Water Bottles) will be held at the Depot until end of term and then these items will be disposed of
• NAMED ITEMS (eg: Hats, Clothing and Water Bottles) an email will be sent to the school to notify parents.  If these items are not collected by the end of term, then these items will be disposed of
• Any items lost by a child on the bus and found will need to be collected from the Depot, if not collected on the day, then will be held for three (3) months and then disposed of once the three (3) months has expired

Collection from the Depot at 2 Motorway Drive, Burpengary will be Monday – Friday between 8am and 4 pm