Free internet for eligible families
The School Student Broadband Initiative is a Federal Government voucher system that aims to make at-home internet connection affordable for all families with school-aged children. Eligible families can access free internet until the end of 2025.
Applications need to be made by 31 December 2024.
To apply:
- Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610, from Monday to Friday 10am - 6pm (AEDT) or visit anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.
- Responding to questions that assess your eligibility.
- Eligible families will be provided with a voucher they can use to connect to their chosen participating internet provider.
- Connect before December 31st, 2024.
Community Announcements
The Alice Springs Aquatic Centre is looking for Learn To Swim teachers who are available to work school hours!
Why be a swim teacher? Being a swim teacher is a reward job!
You’re teaching important life skill to all ages and our community! Not only are you teaching a life skill you are impacting people’s lives, whether they use the skill to swim laps, keep fit or for families to enjoy swimming in their leisure time. Working at Alice springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre we have flexible hours to suit you! If you’re getting back into the work force, need hours to suit your children’s school hours or even looking to work after school - swim teaching could be for you, as we have flexible hours with really good pay!
No qualifications, no worries. We have the ability to upskill those interested in teaching Learn To Swim programs. Customer Service and Pool Lifeguard positions also available.
Hotshots Tennis
Term 3 Wrap Up
The Resilience Project & Sunrise TV visit CMS
In Week 7 CMS played host to some big names and a television crew from Channel 7's Sunrise breakfast program. This year CMS students have been taking part in The Resilience Project, practicing skills around mindfulness, gratitude and empathy to strengthen mental health and wellbeing. CMS was selected as one of 20 schools across the country to be visited this year by the Project's founder Hugh van Cuylenburg and some big names in sport and cooking.
The day started with a whole-school assembly with Hugh before breaking off into groups with some students lucky enough to head to the cooking rooms to cook up a storm with MasterChef winner Michael Welson, while others took to the oval to have a kick with Port Adelaide's Sam Powell-Pepper. In true CMS style we finished off an eventful morning with a well-deserved BBQ. Thanks to our staff, students and, of course, visitors for making it a great morning.
The segment is scheduled to air on the Sunrise morning show on Channel 7 next week, Friday 20th September, so be sure to tune in.
Year 7 Camp
Last week marked a highlight of 2024 for a lot of our year 7 students - Year 7 camp! The year 7 team headed to Ross Rover for three days of fun in the sun - walks, art, sport and well-earned sleep seemed to be the highlight for many of our students.
A big thank you to all of our year 9 helpers who helped make the camp such a success and, of course, all the teachers and adults who tagged along too.
Lucy 7.3
Before I went to camp I didn’t know a lot of people but when I went to camp the teachers put me in a cabin with a group of fun girls and now I am good friends with most of them. The activities were sport, walking, painting and making stress balls. In sport we played games that included teamwork and communication and they were mostly fun. Walking was walking up a very steep hill which made my legs burn but when we got to the top the view was worth it. Painting was either painting patterns or free painting. Stress balls were just balloons and cornflour with another balloon with holes over the top which was very messy but fun.
Camp was extremely hot so when they put on the sprinklers that was definitely a highlight and also going to sleep after a long and tiring day.
Terence 7.3
Camp this year was amazing compared to the others I’ve been to and it was a fun experience. Everyone had fun and got along. One of the highlights was the last day where everyone sat in a circle in the shade and everyone just looked so happy to be there. Overall it was a fun camp and I would go again if there was another time I could go.
Some of the other activities we had were sport and fauna and flora walks. During the walk my group spotted a perentie and it was really cool. The food we had was like burgers, chicken schnitzel and bacon and eggs. It was decent.
William 7.3 The food was great. My favourite bit of camp was when we had free time and do whatever we wanted. We could go wherever the camp was. | Sherri 7.3 |
Tanus 7.3 | Shakylah 7.4 |
Chelsea 7.4 | Teancum 7.5 |
Kayla 7.4 | DJ 7.5 |
Nathan 7.5 | Tina 7.5 |
Of course, we made sure even those students who couldn't make it to camp still got to have a great week at CMS.
Sarah 7.5
I played Kahoot and ate the food with the new people and experienced woodwork for the first time.
Indigenous Storytelling
For the past three weeks, Year 8 have been doing an English unit on Indigenous Storytelling. We have re-visited the NAIDOC theme of “Blak, Loud and Proud: Keep the fire burning”, and considered concepts of identity, racism, connection to Country and deep listening. Students have engaged with stories from Indigenous leaders such as Matika Little, Adam Briggs, Tui Raven, Elder Bob Randall and Dr Miriam-Rose Ungumer Baumann, and have created posters based on their research of a famous Indigenous person of their own choosing.
We were also lucky to host members of the Rubuntja family at school on Wednesday 11 September. Local Artist Marlene Rubuntja along with her daughter Vanessa and Gurindji man Winton Splinter came to school to share part of their story and to help students create their own artworks. The Year 8 boys painted in response to stories from the local area, while the girls created woven sculptures with Marlene’s expert guidance.
The visit was a great success and students enjoyed both the stories and the hands-on activities greatly. Year 8 would like to express their thanks and gratitude to Marlene, Vanessa and Winton for their time, to Mr Gordon Mallard for his valuable assistance and especially to Ms Delean Holtze for the time and hard work she put into planning, organising and co-ordinating the day.
Year 9 VET
Year 9 students have been participating in vocational training at CDU this week. They’ve been learning what its like to work as a hairdresser, in a beauty salon, or in a sheet metal workshop. All students have been enjoying the experience of adult-education at the university campus and are learning key skills to help them in a range of fields. In the sheet metal class, students have been creating their own toolboxes. In the hair and beauty program they have been learning a range of techniques and styles and practicing these on each other. Even Mr Gill got a much-needed makeover!
Engineering & Construction
Meanwhile, students taking on the Engineering or Construction streams in vocational education have also been kept busy. Engineering students have crafted their own camp ovens while the Construction team are hard at work improving the CMS facilities by building a shade structure for outdoor classes near the school oval.
Transition Day
Week 6 saw our year nines head over to Centralian Senior College to get a taste of what's to come next year. Our students made a great impression on their future teachers and tried their hands at a range of different classes and experiences.
Back at CMS, we welcomed year sixes from local primary skills to come and get to know what CMS is all about. A great time was had by all and we look forward to seeing them back for year 7, 2025.
The best bits so far
We asked some of our year 8 students to reflect on what they've enjoyed most this term and here's what they had to say.
Design and Tech was pretty fun; doing sport is fun (soccer, badminton). Alyce, 8.3 | |
I like Mr Morrison’s classes, because it is fun! Jillian, 8.3 | |
I enjoyed the money game in Economics. Brayden, 8.3 | |
We had roo tail during NAIDOC and munched out on some noodles. Te Awatea, 8.3 | |
I made new friends. I loved when CMS got to go to the movies. Chelsey, 8.3 | |
The grossest bit in Science Lab was the lamb’s heart, but it was fun & interesting. Aisha, 8.4 |
GUTS Dance
Students have been putting their best foot forward all term, working hard to master dance moves with the team from GUTS dance. We can't wait to see what they have in store for us at Alice Can Dance in Term 4.
Duke of Edinburgh
Our year 9 Duke of Edinburgh students rounded out a term of community service by gaining their First Aid and CPR certificates at St John Ambulance. We hope our students are as proud of their achievements as we are of them.
CMS Radio
Don't forget to tune into CMS Radio on 8CCC Community Radio (102.1FM) each Friday afternoon from 5 to 5:30pm. CMS students step up to the mic to bring you stories, podcasts and music selections from the CMS community.
CMS Radio: 8CCC Community Radio 102.1FM, Fridays 5:00 - 5:30pm.
Stars & Clontarf
Clontarf rounded out a busy term with a camp for some of our young fellas while Stars came together for some footy and a health-focused morning tea to finish off a great Term 3.
Stars
Stars AFL carnival
Our Stars students participated in an AFL carnival with all Central Region Stars Academies. Despite the heat, they showed great effort and perseverance throughout the whole day.
The students also had the chance to mingle and forge new friendships with participants from other Stars programs.
Well done to all our athletes for their dedication and sportsmanship!
Women’s health week morning tea
Last week Stars students and staff held a morning tea to celebrate Women’s Health Week. Gillen Stars students were also in attendance as well as special guest Cherisse Buzzacot.
Cherisse spoke about her experiences in midwifery, emphasizing the importance of understanding the female body. She encouraged students to ask questions and seek knowledge. She also discussed the various career options available in the field of midwifery and healthcare, inspiring many to consider their future paths.
Clontarf
Don't forget!
Term Dates
Term 3 finishes next Friday, September 20th. We wish all our students and families a relaxing and enjoyable two week break and look forward to seeing all our students back at school on Tuesday, October 8th.
Holiday Activities
Alice Springs Town Council we be putting on its usual array of activities for young people to enjoy over the Spring school holidays. From basketball, boxing and mountain bike riding to music, Lego and craft, there's a little something for everyone. Check out below for a full overview of what's on.
Facebook - Keep up to date with all our news and updates
Head on over to ‘like’ our Facebook page to keep in touch with school news, highlights and achievements of our wonderful students. We encourage people to like and share our posts.
Please read the terms of engagement before posting comments.
Werte, Hello!
And just like that, we find ourselves arriving at the end of Term 3. The year is absolutely flying by! Term 3 has been packed with many exciting events.
Our future Year 7 students visited for their transition day, while our Year 9 students had the opportunity to explore Centralian Senior College. It was a fantastic experience for everyone involved, allowing students to meet their future teachers and ease any concerns they might have about moving to a new school next year.
Our Year 7 students have just returned from their camp at Ross River, where they had a fantastic time hiking, playing sports, and engaging in team-building activities. It was a memorable experience for both students and teachers. We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the camp a success.
The first VET block commenced this week for our Year 9 students. In total, thirty students were able to get a taste of tertiary studies in Salon Assistant, Retail and Engineering Pathways at Charles Darwin University. Our students had a wonderful time and enjoyed experiencing learning in a different setting.
In the second half of this term, we’ve been working on fostering a culture of reading for pleasure. Enjoyable reading not only enhances critical and creative thinking skills but also introduces new ideas, improves concentration, and boosts vocabulary and writing abilities. To support this, each year level is now dedicating one Home Group lesson per week to quiet reading. To support this initiative at home, consider asking your child about the books or stories they’ve been exploring in class.
Lastly, we want to extend our congratulations to everyone who has been involved in team sports over the past few months. With several semi and grand finals taking place recently, we are incredibly proud of your dedication to your teams and the sport.
Thank you to everyone for helping to make this term so great!
Emma Forrester
Year 8 Assistant Principal
Important dates
| Tuesday 17 September | Year 7 & 9 Immunisations |
| Friday 20 September | Last day of Term 3 |
| Monday 7 October | Staff Professional Development Day |
| Tuesday 8 October | First day of Term 4 |
| Monday 4 November - Friday 8 November | Year 9 VET |
| Thursday 5 December | CMS Awards Night |
| Tuesday 10 December | Year 9 Formal |
| Thursday 12 December | Last day of Term 4 |
Stars Update
The Stars and Clontarf teams at CMS have been busy as usual this term providing our students with community and character-building experiences both in and out of school.
Stars
Some highlights from Term 3 in Stars have included year 7 students learning to make the classic Chinese street food Tanghulu — candied fruits! — during contact time, a sunrise walk at Emily Gap and an action-packed Stars V Clontarf on the basketball court.
The next big event for Stars is next week's Central Region Stars AFL Carnival taking place at Albrecht Oval on Thursday August 29th. A team of girls with attendance of 80% or over will be taking the field.
Upcoming
CMS Open Night
CMS will be holding an Open Night next Tuesday August 27th for parents/carers of year 6 students. Open Night will give families an opportunity to take a tour through our learning spaces with principal Glenda McCarthy and meet the leadership team in a Q&A session.
CMS Open Night: Tuesday August 27th, 5:00 - 6:00pm
Jersey Day
This year CMS will be participating in Jersey Day on Friday August 30th with students and staff encouraged to wear their favourite jersey to school to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. No matter if it's Pioneers, Rovers, Westies, Souths, the Brothers Rugby Team, Wallabies, Storm, Rockets, Dees, Magpies, or so many more, everyone at CMS is encouraged to wear their team's colours next Friday. Plus, Mrs France and the team will be preparing a free breakfast for all student's starting from 8am!
For more information about Jersey Day or organ donation, please go to: www.jerseyday.com.au
| When: | What: | Cost: |
| Friday 30 August Breakfast: from 8am | Wear your favourite jersey | Free |
Year 7 Camp
Year 7s are looking forward to heading off to camp in week 8. Leaving CMS on Wednesday September 4th and returning on Friday September 6th, the team have planned a great trip away to Ross River for our year 7s.
Excursion forms
Permission slips for camp went home with students earlier this week so please check in with your young person if you haven't received one. Signed forms need to be returned to school by next Wednesday August 28th. If your child hasn't received a form, please get them to check with their homegroup teacher or contact the front office.
Last year's Year 7s exploring at camp.
Sports Report
HPE
This term, our Year 8 & 9 students are diving deep into understanding healthy and toxic relationships through engaging class activities. These lessons are designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills to navigate their social environments with confidence and awareness.
In addition, our middle school students have been making the most of our breakout spaces, participating in a variety of mental health games, Nintendo sports, and choice sports activities. These sessions not only promote physical activity but also serve as a fun way to foster mental well-being.
Our students are also developing teamwork skills through group games like gymball soccer, touch rugby, 6 pass, and volleyball. These fielding sports encourage cooperation, strategic thinking, and communication, all essential skills for their growth and development. It’s been fantastic to see the enthusiasm and camaraderie among our students as they learn, play, and grow together!
Interschool Golf Carnival
Mr Druce and Mr G took a number of students to the Alice Springs Golf Club to participate in an Interschool Golf Day at the start of August. Students play a short round of golf. Congratulations to Jayden and Rowan who won the event. Thanks to Mr Druce and Mr G for taking the students and supervising them.
Keep up to date with all our news and updates
Head on over to ‘like’ our Facebook page to keep in touch with school news, highlights and achievements of our wonderful students. We encourage people to like and share our posts.
Please read the terms of engagement before posting comments.
Community Announcements
Helping young people deal with grief and loss
Headspace will be holding an online webinar for parents and carers of young people in Mparntwe Alice Springs aiming to help parents/carers in supporting young people impacted by grief and loss.
To sign up for this free zoom session, head across and register here on Eventbrite.
Workshop with author/illustrator Sami Bayly
- Multi-award-winning natural history illustrator and author Sami Bayly finds the beauty in all animals regardless of their appearance or reputation and enjoys sharing this appreciation with people of all ages. Sami has published 5 children’s books including the much-loved series, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals and The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature. Sami’s workshops provide a great mix of education and entertainment. Sami loves to turn complex scientific terms and theories into easily digestible information that will stick with participants for life.
- Limited Capacity – Bookings essential. Book online here.
- In partnership with Children's Book Council Association - NT Branch
Date: Sept 8th 2024, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Location: Red Kangaroo Books, 45 Todd Mall
Type: Suitable for 8 – 12 years old.
Cost: $7.50 + bf
Contact Details: info@redkangaroobooks.au
Young Territory Author Awards
Entries close next week, August 27th!
Hotshots Tennis
Updates and news
Duke of Edinburgh
Our Duke of Edinburgh students have been extremely busy since returning to school this semester. On Wednesday 7th August 2024, they completed some Community Service at the Senior Citizen’s lunch at Gillen Club. Students were tasked with assisting is setting up tables, assisting Senior Citizen’s to their tables and then getting drinks for them. The students then undertook the massive task for getting 160 meals plated and out in 45 minutes. Once they set the 160th plate down, they went back to the start and started to clear. Many of the people attending the lunch were impressed by our young people and the ability to community and assist them, with some commenting that it was the highlight of their day.
Students have also completed a First Aid certificate and will be attending the Year 7 camp to complete their Adventure Camp element and Community service.
If there are any students interested in completing their Duke of Edinburgh next year, please see Mrs France.
Science and Engineering Challenge
Thirty-two of our young scientists did CMS proud in the Alice Springs Science and Engineering Challenge that saw students from the region's schools come together at CMS to put their learning into action. Competing in a series of science and engineering challenges, our year 8/9 team held their own against often older students and finished the day in an impressive third place overall. Congratulations to everybody involved!
Science Week
Science Week quite literally went off with a bang last week at CMS. The science team put together a series of fun and educational lunchtime activities that served up a healthy dose of scientific principles for anyone game to get close enough. From exploding watermelons, acidic drinks and solar ovens, through to an imploding steel drum, the week saw lot of potential energy put to good use.
Check out the CMS Facebook page for some spectacular videos from the week.
Of course, students were also busy in the classroom, exploring the science behind some everyday objects.
8.1 have been learning about the electromagnetic spectrum in class this term. They've used prisms to catch the natural light and separate it into a spectrum of colours.
While 7.4 looked into the workings of a stethoscope, building their own working models from tubes and funnels.
Adolescent Health Forum wrap up
CMS hosted an Adolescent Health Forum on Wednesday 14th August. Parents heard from Radhika from Headspace, Sarah from CAWLS, Vanessa from SBPO and Roisin from Congress. All presenters spoke about some of the challenges our youth face in today’s society and how we, as parents can help them navigate these challenges. Thanks to all our presenters and parents / carers who attended.
Learning Conferences
Week 3 saw another successful evening of learning conferences at CMS, giving families an opportunity to connect with their young person's teachers and see how they're progressing this term. Strong relationships between families and schools help build a strong foundation for student success. Thank you to all who could make it on the night.
CMS Radio
Don't forget to tune into CMS Radio on 8CCC Community Radio (102.1FM) each Friday afternoon from 5 to 5:30pm. CMS students step up to the mic to bring you stories, podcasts and music selections from the CMS community.
CMS Radio: 8CCC Community Radio 102.1FM, Fridays 5:00 - 5:30pm.
Werte, Hello!
Hello, Werte!
Once again, we are celebrating a fantastic start to term. There have been many exciting events take place in the first half of term, and many more scheduled for the remainder of term 3.
Our students have immersed themselves in all things science and engineering over the past two weeks, with the celebration of Science Week and participation in the Science and Engineering Challenge. Our staff and students embraced Science Week with a variety of exciting experiments and challenges - from imploding steel drums to cooking s’mores in solar ovens. Our students should be proud of their efforts competing in the Science and Engineering Challenge placing third overall and narrowly missing out on a place at the national competition in Townsville. The year 8 & 9 students have built a strong foundation and will be hard to beat in 2025.
Our Duke of Edinburgh students continue to represent CMS with pride by supporting the recent Annual Senior Citizens' lunch. Our students served lunch to 160 senior citizens before spending the afternoon engaging with community members. Not only did these students move one step closer to receiving their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, but they also did their families and CMS extremely proud!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all students, parents & carers for supporting the new phone policy at CMS. The phone lockers have been a great addition, and students are using them respectfully to store their phone during the school day. I would also like to remind parents and carers that students are required to wear full school uniform and enclosed footwear every day. Parents and carers will be contacted to provide alternative footwear for those students wearing slides or crocs to school. The uniform comprises of a CMS polo shirt, shorts or tracksuit pants and a CMS hoodie. Plain navy non-denim shorts or pants are acceptable.
I look forward to strong finish to term 3!
Dan Lewinski
Associate Principal
Important dates
| Tuesday 27 August | Year 9 Humanities Cultural Excursion |
| Tuesday 27 August | CMS Open Night for Year 6 families |
| Thursday 29 August | STARS Central Region AFL Carnival |
| Friday 30 August | Jersey Day |
| Wednesday 4 September - Friday 6 September | Year 7 Camp |
| Monday 9 September - Friday 13 September | Year 9 VET |
| Tuesday 17 September | Year 7 & 9 Immunisations |
Adolescent Health Forum
Join us for an evening filled with discussions and professionals focused on adolescent health. Learn from experts in the field, connect with peers, and gain valuable insights on topics like mental health, growth and development, social media and the law.
Beginning in the hall at 5:30pm the evening is open to all parents of adolescents or year 6 students and will feature presentations from a range of local health and wellbeing professionals, including:
- GP
- Mental Health Worker from Headspace
- Sexual Health Team from Congress
- SBPO, Vanessa Martin
- Solicitor from CAWLS
When: Wednesday August 14th, 5:30 - 7:00pm
Where: CMS School Hall
Free event, but please register for catering purposes and to send in any questions you might have for the presenters.
Term 3 Assessment Schedules
NAIDOC Week wrap up
In the final week of term 2, CMS celebrated NAIDOC Week, coming together as a school and a community to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Students took part in a range of activities. From yarning circles with Gordon and Aunty Pat, cooking roo tail and damper with Mrs McCormack and Rachel, sport activities with Blakdoll and Clontarf, weaving with Ms Holtze and painting with Marjorie and Tamika Williams, the students had a great time learning and exploring the knowledge of the oldest continuous living cultures on Earth. Thank you to all who came to celebrate and share with us!
NT NAIDOC Poster Competition
The NT Education Department held its inaugural NAIDOC poster competition last term, asking students from government schools across the Territory to create a poster celebrating NAIDOC week. CMS students put their heart and soul into their art, creating a collection of striking posters that explored what this year's NAIDOC week theme — Keep the fire burning: Blak, loud and proud — means to them and our community. CMS students' creative endeavours were rewarded with two prizes in the Territory-wide competition.
Congratulations to the girls of 8.7 who took top prize in the Overall Middle Years category with their painting of the black cockatoo, a liberating energy in their Arrernte culture and ‘teaches us to express ourselves emotionally and truthfully for change’.
Nyalam and Katelyn from 7.1 won the Central Australian regional award with their painting, also rich in symbols from their culture: honey ants, rainbow serpent and elders painting on the ground. Congratulations, girls!
Keep up to date with all our news and updates
Head on over to ‘like’ our Facebook page to keep in touch with school news, highlights and achievements of our wonderful students. We encourage people to like and share our posts.
Please read the terms of engagement before posting comments.
Community Announcements
| rogram | Details |
|---|---|
Free Friday at ASALC | @ASALC, 10 Speed St| Free entry to the Alice Springs Aquatic & Leisure Centre between 3-5pm. Contact: 0419 777 689 |
Bikes Mwerre | @Albrecht Oval, Larapinta | Bike riding with the team from Bikes Mwerre. Contact: 0419 777 689 |
Blakdoll Sports: Thursday | @Sadadeen Oval, Lot 8615 Stott Terrace | Come and join the multi-sport fun with Blakdoll Sports. Have a kick of the footy, hit of the softball, a game of soccer and a healthy feed. Contact: 0419 777 689 |
Blakdoll Sports: Monday | @Jim McConville Oval Softball Diamond, 58 Milner Road | Come and join the multi-sport fun with Blakdoll Sports. Have a kick of the footy, hit of the softball, a game of soccer and a healthy feed. Contact: 0419 777 689 |
3 x 3 Basketball | @Yipirinya School, Lot 7399 Lovegrove Drive, Araluen | Join the Hoopers Hopes program for a game of 3x3 and good vibes. Contact: 0419 777 689 |
ASTC Youth Zone | @Alice Plaza, 36 Todd Mall | Come and chill with us at the Alice Springs Town Council Youth Zone located in Alice Plaza. Watch a movie, play a game of table tennis or do some arts and crafts. Contact: 0419 777 689 |
Youth Skate Workshop | @Skate Park, 14 Speed St | Come and Try skating and BMX workshops. Snacks, givaways and music. Gender inclusive, all equipment provided. Contact: 0419 777 689 |
Arrernte Boxing | Alice Springs Youth and Community Centre | Come and work out with the team at Arrernte boxing in a fun and friendly environment. Contact: 0419 777 689 |
Furrever Friend Adoption Day
Alice Springs Town Council is hosting a Furrever Friend Adoption Day at the Animal Shelter THIS Saturday, 3 August, from 10am – 1pm. Animal lovers will have a purr-fect opportunity to find their newest furry family member this weekend with NO adoption fee for new pet owners with and anyone who finds a new friend on the day just having to pay a $155 lifetime registration fee 😻
We will have a FREE BBQ, hot drink & face painting for you with Shiloh, Alison Mapleson and Ceenah bringing the beautiful tunes for an exciting day!
Hotshots Tennis
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