General News

Cedars Year 10 Community Service Week Launched

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:44:00 GMT

Cedars Year 10 students get hands on for a good cause

While Year 10 books are packed away for 2009, students from Cedars Christian College are out and about for their third annual community service program. With projects as varied as participation in Wollongong City Council’s Bushcare program, disability housing support and helping at Parameadows school, the students have an opportunity to give something back now that exams are over.

The Program’s coordinator, Brad Kelly says that the community service week has been a successful part of the schools program for the past three years. “Students are keen to get out, test their skills in a new and challenging environment. We want to instil values of service, hard work and giving back in our students.”

Mr Kelly said that it was not hard to find community groups to partner with. “There are just so many needs out there, and our students are discovering for themselves that for them to give a little bit can make an enormous difference for someone else.”

The community service program, which runs from Monday 16th November to Wednesday 18th November, will end with a fun day on Thursday so students from the various projects can come together and share their experiences.

HSC Yr 12 Examination Timetable for 2009

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:38:00 GMT

Go to Senior College News to find the 2009 HSC Examination Timetable

Cedars Partners with WEA

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Cedars Partners with WEA

There has been publicity in recent weeks about the new venture between Cedars Christian College and WEA.

Cedars has offered the use of their cooking facilities to enable WEA to start up their cooking classes once again.

CEO of WEA, Gareth McKeen:

"Even before the interest in the TV show 'Masterchef, WEA were often asked when were we going to bring back cooking classes. Unfortunately we were unable to locate a kitchen suitable for teaching cooking despite trying local schools, serviced clubs and even private catering venues. When Cedars Christian College offered their kitchen we didn't hesitate as it is an excellent, clean and modern facility.'

WEA cooking classes will commence in Term 4 this year and will initially be Saturday workshops with the aim to offer additional classes in 2010.

Julie Reynolds, Principal of Cedars comments:

"Our College is very pleased to be able to support the WEA in this new venture. We value our connections with the wider community and look forward to this partnership. Cooking is a creative pursuit and we are very pleased to be able to support the WEA in their programs. We know that our wonderful facilities will provide a great base for some culinary creativity."

Cedars Receives $2 million Grant for Multipurpose Hall

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:06:00 GMT

We are very excited to announce to our school community that we have been successful in our $2 million grant application for a multipurpose hall and are in the process of submitting our development application to Council. The Cedars Leadership Centre will enable our community to meet together for sporting, cultural, musical and community events and will be completed before the end of 2010. The Cedars Leadership Centre will be a wonderful asset for our school and for our community.
We are able to embark upon this project because of the generous funding from the Federal Government as part of their Building the Education Revolution program. We are very excited that the Government has targeted education as one of the key sectors in their stimulus package and that our school will benefit from this exciting initiative.

Swine Flu Information for Parents

Wed, 27 May 2009 23:54:00 GMT

28th May 2009

Dear parents

As you are aware the human swine influenza has continued to spread internationally and is now gaining some momentum in Australia. We have been following the advice of NSW Health and refer also to advice from the Director-General of Education.

The incubation period of human swine influenza is thought to be up to seven days. People can be infectious with influenza for up to 24 hours before they will develop any symptoms. This means that people who are infected could unknowingly spread the virus.

To limit the potential exposure, NSW Health has advised the education department to take steps to exclude staff or students who may have been in countries that have had community or school transmission of the virus.

Currently the countries are Mexico, USA, Canada, Japan and Panama. This list will be continually revised. This 'exclusion' approach would mean that students or staff members returning, or arriving, from a country affected by human swine influenza would be instructed to remain at home for seven days (the maximum incubation period) following their travel before returning to school.

This will allow time for any illness related to that travel to develop, and for prompt assessment and treatment to commence. If they remain well after seven days they can return to school.

To limit the risk within our school community we also advise any student or staff member who has contact with someone diagnosed or suspected of having swine flu that they contact NSW Health for assessment and support. We also request that they contact the College and that they remain at home for seven days before returning to school.

NSW Health also advises that anyone with flu-like symptoms should stay away from school until their symptoms end, so they can recuperate and to prevent the spread of illness to others.

It is important that we all cooperate with these strategies. The primary objective of NSW Health is to delay and limit the spread of human swine influenza within the community. This is a very important strategy in the effective management of the current influenza threat.

A confirmed case of human swine influenza in a student or staff member who has attended school while infectious would result in that school being identified as a 'school of interest'. NSW Health would investigate each case identified and decide what to do based on the level of exposure to individuals in the school. Appropriate mitigation actions may include placing close contacts into home isolation with antiviral treatment, increased social distancing at school, or partially or completely closing the school. Partial closure could mean closing just a class or year group.

NSW Health would not make any decision to close a school lightly, and would fully consider the social support issues an unexpected closure may create for some families.

We must also remember that good hygiene practices can minimise the spread of infections. Simple precautions that prevent catching and spreading influenza include
·   covering your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze;
·   washing your hands after contact with soiled tissues or any contact with nose or throat discharge; and
·   stay at home if sick.

If you would like more information about human swine influenza, please read the NSW Health website at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/swine_flu.asp. You can also contact your Doctor or the Public Health Unit for the Illawarra on 02 4221 6700.

Please contact the College if you have any concerns or questions regarding this information.

Cedars Receives $200,000 Grant

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:24:00 GMT

$200,000 Grant - Building the Education Revolution

We received wonderful news on Monday, 6th of April, from the Australian Government that we have received a grant of $200,000 for minor works within our College. Over the next few months students and parents will begin to see a number of special projects springing up including the refurbishment of shade structures, outdoor areas, small building projects and other amenities. High on our agenda is the provision of shade sails and an improved play area and safety fencing for our Junior School. We are grateful to the Federal Government for their decision to invest in the infrastructure of our school.

We are also working on a grant application for a multipurpose hall for our College. We will bring more details to the community as they are confirmed.

UOW Campus News - Featuring Cedars

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:33:00 GMT

Cedars Christian Colleges new leadership team is featured in the latest edition of ‘Campus News’ - a quarterly publication by the University of Wollongong. To take a look follow the link below and see page 8.

Campus News

Don’t forget our Summer/Autumn edition of Cedars Profile Magazine is out now, to take a look click on ‘News’ and then ‘magazine.’

Victorian Fundraising

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:57:00 GMT

Cedars has managed to raise $3500 for Flinders Christian Community College in the Gippsland region of Victoria where many families are suffering in the wake of the fires. The money will go to those who have lost their home and other possessions, while messages of support have also been sent to encourage those who have feared for their lives and experienced loss.