from the principal’s desk term 2 · similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our parent...

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TERM 2, WEEK 3 17 MAY 2019 (08) 8521 2400 www.gdc.sa.edu.au [email protected] Barnet Road, EVANSTON SA 5118 “respect, generosity and excellence for self, everyone and the environment” DIARY DATES TERM 2 Monday 20 - 23 May NAPLAN Tuesday 21 May Immunisation Day 1st Visit - Year 11’s only Monday 27 May Governing Council @ 7pm Monday 27 - 31 May Reconciliation Week Wednesday 5 June Positive Parenting Junior School Friday 7 June School Closure Pupil Free Day Monday 10 June School Closure Public Holiday Wednesday 12 June Positive Parenting Junior School Thursday 13 June Drama Performance @ 7pm Phoenix Centre Monday 17 - 18 June EXAM WEEK (Year 11 & 12) Wednesday 19 June Positive Parenting Junior School Wednesday 19 - 21 June Book Fair Junior School Thursday 20 June VIP Day Junior School Monday 24 June Governing Council @ 7pm Friday 28 June Disco Junior School Monday 1 July - 5 July NAIDOC Week Friday 5 July Last day Term 2 Early dismissal @ 2.15pm HEALTH CARE PLANS A friendly reminder that student Health Care Plans need to be updated every 12 months. If you need to update a Health Care Plan please see your local GP for the correct paperwork. If you have any queries please contact the school on 8521 2400. FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK Dear Parents and Care-providers, Since joining the Gawler and District College B-12 community I have been impressed by our students’ friendliness, helpfulness and manners as I have found my way around the site throughout the first weeks of Term 3. I have appreciated the impromptu greetings and informal conversations with students throughout this time which have highlighted for me the school values of Respect, Generosity and Excellence which clearly underpin the relationships with students, staff and families here at GDC. So far, I have addressed all students at various assemblies and reiterated my moral purpose as Principal at this site. I am driven to ensure that every student here at Gawler and District College B-12 is provided with quality teaching and learning opportunities to achieve their personal best. My role at GDC is to work with staff to develop their capacity to enact that vision to improve student learning outcomes, with a drive towards excellence. Our focus around student growth as identified in our Site Improvement Plan is around every student increasing their achievement around reading. A range of strategies is currently being developed and adopted across the site to ensure success for all of our students as an absolute priority. I urge you as parents and care-providers to support our site’s focus on reading by continuing at home to read and have your child read to you at every opportunity possible. In my three weeks here I have noted many excellent and highly experienced teachers and support staff, strong and valued traditions and finally, great relationships with the members of our community. Some highlights for me so far have included attending the Year 12 Formal. It was an absolute pleasure to attend this event, meeting a number of Year 12 students for the first time. Helping out with our Junior School, Mother’s Day stall was equally exciting for me, enjoying the opportunity to meet some of our parents and caregivers as well as our junior students. Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the positive relationships we have developed in our community. I look forward to meeting with more students in relation to supporting their learning journeys, supporting their continued growth in improvement. Kind regards, Angie Michael Principal

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Page 1: FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK TERM 2 · Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the

TERM 2, WEEK 3

17 MAY 2019

(08) 8521 2400

www.gdc.sa.edu.au [email protected]

Barnet Road, EVANSTON SA 5118

“respect, generosity and excellence for self, everyone and the environment”

DIARY DATES

TERM 2 Monday 20 - 23 May

NAPLAN

Tuesday 21 May

Immunisation Day

1st Visit - Year 11’s only

Monday 27 May

Governing Council @ 7pm

Monday 27 - 31 May

Reconciliation Week

Wednesday 5 June

Positive Parenting

Junior School

Friday 7 June

School Closure

Pupil Free Day

Monday 10 June

School Closure

Public Holiday

Wednesday 12 June

Positive Parenting

Junior School

Thursday 13 June

Drama Performance @ 7pm

Phoenix Centre

Monday 17 - 18 June

EXAM WEEK (Year 11 & 12)

Wednesday 19 June

Positive Parenting

Junior School

Wednesday 19 - 21 June

Book Fair

Junior School

Thursday 20 June

VIP Day

Junior School

Monday 24 June

Governing Council @ 7pm

Friday 28 June

Disco

Junior School

Monday 1 July - 5 July

NAIDOC Week

Friday 5 July

Last day Term 2

Early dismissal @ 2.15pm

HEALTH CARE PLANS

A friendly reminder that student Health Care Plans need to be

updated every 12 months.

If you need to update a Health Care Plan please see your local GP

for the correct paperwork.

If you have any queries please contact the school on 8521 2400.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents and Care-providers,

Since joining the Gawler and District College B-12 community I

have been impressed by our students’ friendliness, helpfulness

and manners as I have found my way around the site

throughout the first weeks of Term 3. I have appreciated the

impromptu greetings and informal conversations with students

throughout this time which have highlighted for me the school

values of Respect, Generosity and Excellence which clearly

underpin the relationships with students, staff and families here

at GDC.

So far, I have addressed all students at various assemblies and reiterated my moral purpose

as Principal at this site. I am driven to ensure that every student here at Gawler and District

College B-12 is provided with quality teaching and learning opportunities to achieve their

personal best. My role at GDC is to work with staff to develop their capacity to enact that

vision to improve student learning outcomes, with a drive towards excellence. Our focus

around student growth as identified in our Site Improvement Plan is around every student

increasing their achievement around reading. A range of strategies is currently being

developed and adopted across the site to ensure success for all of our students as an

absolute priority. I urge you as parents and care-providers to support our site’s focus on

reading by continuing at home to read and have your child read to you at every

opportunity possible.

In my three weeks here I have noted many excellent and highly experienced teachers and

support staff, strong and valued traditions and finally, great relationships with the members

of our community.

Some highlights for me so far have included attending the Year 12 Formal. It was an

absolute pleasure to attend this event, meeting a number of Year 12 students for the first

time. Helping out with our Junior School, Mother’s Day stall was equally exciting for me,

enjoying the opportunity to meet some of our parents and caregivers as well as our junior

students. Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where

learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the positive relationships we

have developed in our community. I look forward to meeting with more students in relation

to supporting their learning journeys, supporting their continued growth in improvement.

Kind regards,

Angie Michael

Principal

Page 2: FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK TERM 2 · Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the

JUNIOR SCHOOL We are vigorously into our Term 2 learning. Classes are engaged in explicit literacy lessons involving Guided Reading,

Reciprocal Reading, Jolly Phonics and Daily 5 rotations.

This term our focus will include the promotion of regular reading at home.

Your child's reading experience is much more than the reading book which comes home from school. Reading is happening

all the time in our classrooms and in our school. It is taught in specific reading and English lessons, but children are practising

and using their 'reading' constantly across all subjects too. Parents can support this 'reading journey' through regular reading

at home. Reading to and with your child every evening for at least ten minutes can make a dramatic difference to a child's

achievement within school.

First Aid

This week all children Reception - Year 6 have participated in a First Aid course facilitated by

Leah from St John SA Ambulance. This course covered first aid topics including unconsciousness

and the collapsed casualty, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED, bleeding and shock. It

aims to provide an elementary knowledge of first aid and to encourage all children to gain

further knowledge and training in first aid.

We received such positive feedback from the presenter. Leah was so impressed with our

children and school. She said it was one of the most positive experiences that she has had in the

Northern Suburbs. The staff and children were friendly and welcoming.

There are a range of fact sheets available online to basic first aid procedures. They are regularly

updated and align with the current edition of Australian First Aid (4th edition, 7/2011).

www.stjohnsa.com.au/how-we-help/public-access-resources/first-aid-fact-sheets

We are all looking forward to another exciting term of special events. As highlighted in our Junior

School newsletter, we are planning to :

celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime with a special recess treat,

Blue Building are attending ‘Possum Magic’ excursion at Barossa Arts & Convention

Centre,

JS Parent Biggest Afternoon Tea Cancer Council fundraiser,

Positive Parenting Workshops,

Book Fair,

VIP Day,

Special Term 2 lunch,

End of term Disco.

It’s going to be another great term in the Junior School.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR UNIFORM SHOP

Hambours are our nominated supplier and a representative is at the college three days a week

during school term to assist with fittings and ordering.

Alternatively, you can purchase all items from Hambours Uniform Shop, Monday to Friday: 9am

to 4.30pm, 2 Wilson Street, Royal Park, Phone: 8447 2077 and online at www.hambours.com.au

and click on the Gawler & District College logo.

School Uniform Shop is open:

Tuesday 8:15am - 9:15am

Wednesday 8:15am - 10:15am

Thursday 1:30pm - 3.00pm

Shop online for 5% discount at http://gawlerdc.hambours.com.au

Now Available: Junior School Fleecy Jumper, $45.00 Sizes 2 to 16

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 2 Week 3 2019 Page 2

Page 3: FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK TERM 2 · Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the

MIDDLE SCHOOL It has been a busy start to the term. Early on we welcomed Ms. Michael to our school at a Middle School Assembly. It was

great to hear about Ms. Michael and her vision for the school.

Year 7 and 9 students have begun NAPLAN testing. This year we have participated in the online NAPLAN program. Due to

the great preparation work by our IT team, this process has been smooth and free from disruptions. This week, students

have completed the Writing and Reading tests, next week they will complete Language Conventions and Numeracy tests.

It has been great to see so many of our students adopting a positive attitude towards these tests and doing their best.

Our Year 7 and 8 cohort have been busy reviewing their Term 1 reports and setting SMART goals for the rest of this term.

Year 9’s will undertake this process in coming weeks. Please ask your students about the goals they have been setting and

discuss their Term 1 results with them. All remaining Term 1 reports were handed out in Week 1, but if you are yet to receive

it, please contact your child’s home care teacher.

This week we have also seen members of our Student Voice Committee visiting Year Level assemblies to talk about issues

that are affecting our school, particularly around facilities. They spoke clearly and confidently to the student body and their

message was very well received by their peers. It has been wonderful to see these young people taking such an active

role in making improvements to our school community and culture. Well done SVL!

Liz Rankin, Head of Middle School

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 2, Week 3 2019 Page 3

https://www.facebook.comgawlerdistrictcollegeb12/

Page 4: FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK TERM 2 · Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the

LEARNING SUPPORT TEAM

Exploring Post School Options

The transition from school to further study, work or other options is an important period for young people, especially for those who

need a little extra support. To assist students with this transition students in Years 10, 11 and 12 have been exploring pathways as

part of the PLP and Research Project. As part of their studies, a small number of our Year 11 and 12 students attended the

Careers Expo at the showgrounds on Friday 10 May. They found this to be a very valuable experience and they were able to

pick up loads of information.

In addition to this, on Wednesday 22 May, all of our senior students in Learning Support will go to the Positive Futures Expo. This

annual event is a great source of information for students, parents and carers as they plan

their future. I would strongly encourage parents to attend this expo if they able to. For more

information, see flyer included in this newsletter.

Roslyn Conboy, Learning Support Senior Leader

Student Reflection, Maritime Museum Excursion

On Tuesday 9 April, we went to Port Adelaide to visit the Maritime Museum. When we

were there, we went on a Port River cruise on the Police Launch Archie Badenoch. It was

interesting and I was in the group that saw a dolphin on our cruise.

Some of the students climbed the Museum’s lighthouse but I did not climb it because it

was windy and I thought it was too high to climb. I stayed at the bottom and read

information about the history of the lighthouse instead.

In our different groups, we looked at the museum’s exhibits and learnt about what it was

like for those who travelled from England to settle and live in South Australia. It was fun

because there were many interactive things to do and learn about adventures on the

seas.

Everyone enjoyed the excursion.

Theo, Year 10 Student

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 2, Week 3 2019 Page 4

A MESSAGE THE ARTS DEPARTMENT

At the end of Term 1 Ms. Tyler and Ms. Cale took their Media Arts

classes Years 10 and 12 on an excursion to the City. The focus of

the excursion was looking at the 2018 Nikon Walkley Press

Photography Exhibition at the State Library which introduced the

students to a specific style of photography. Students also had

the opportunity to take photographs through the Botanical

Gardens; the students much appreciated the change of

scenery for their photographs. While the weather was interesting

with dust storms and rain it was a fantastic day and students had

a blast.

Life-Drawing Workshop, Art Gallery of South Australia

Once again in 2019 a number of Visual Arts students attended a

life drawing workshop as a result of successfully applying for a

grant from the Gawler Youth Council Youth Artist Program. The

program encourages and recognised the achievements of

young people providing scholarships to develop their chosen art

form. Congratulations to this years successful applicants Jayde H,

Ellie B, Aleesha R and Zoe T attended the workshop. A "life

drawing" is a drawing of the human figure from observation of a

live model, that is usually unclothed.

Angela Koehler, Arts Coordinator

Student Reflection, Life-Drawing Workshop

“Rob Gutteridge’s Life Drawing Workshop

was an amazing experience to further my

knowledge and skills in visual arts. The

workshop provided us with a variety of mediums and an easel to use when working on our pieces. As

we drew the nude model, Gutteridge stopped to talk to each individual and told them how they

could improve their piece which helped me feel confident. The benefits I received by going to the

workshop are that I developed different techniques such as toning and proportioning, and learning to

use different mediums. The workshop was incredible and I would highly recommend it to others”.

Jayde Hynes, Year 11 Student

Page 5: FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK TERM 2 · Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the

TERM 1, WEEK 3

15 FEBRUARY 2019 SENIOR SCHOOL

2019 Year 12 Formal

It was time to celebrate last night at the Convention Centre for the Year 12 Formal. The room was a sea of sequins, taffeta

and flash suits as this special group of young people celebrated 12 years of schooling with their teachers. A huge thank you

must go out to all of the students and staff who were involved in organising such a successful evening.

Jane Barnett, Head of Senior School

SACE: STAGE 1 Continuers Japanese at OPEN ACCESS COLLEGE

On Friday 12 April, Alice and Abbey attended the “SACE Languages Come in Day” at Open Access College. The day

started with the Acknowledgement of Country read by Mic Bradshaw (Aboriginal Community Education Officer: OAC) in

English, followed by the translation in Japanese, Indonesian and Spanish.

The theme of the day was ‘Get Together and Work Together’ and so students

and teachers got together, worked collaboratively to solve questions, talked,

discussed, laughed, enjoyed international food and learned together.

Students shared at the end of the day that they first felt "awkward to come"

but "glad to have come".

Colleen Braham, Japanese Teacher

State Theatre Company Excursion, Animal Farm

On Wednesday the 27 March, Mrs. Peters and Ms. Hallworth’s Year 11/12

English and Drama classes attended The State Theatre Company’s

production of Animal Farm. Our students always enjoy these experiences and

were amazed at the actor’s diversity with presenting an hour and a half

monologue. Both an educational and a fun day out!

Sarah Hallworth, Year 12 Coordinator & Julie Peters, Drama Teacher

2020 Year 12 Formal Fundraising Event (For current Year 11 Cohort)

Thursday 4 July (Week 10) @ 6:30pm

Reading Cinema Elizabeth (Cinema 3 with recliners)

Spiderman - Far From Home

$25 per ticket (Inc. GST) includes drink and popcorn.

Final payment to Finance by Monday 17 June (Week 8)

Raffle on the night, $2 per ticket

Please contact Sarah Hallworth (Year 12 Coordinator) if you have any

questions:

[email protected]

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 2, Week 3 2019 Page 5

“Story courtesy of the Bunyip Newspaper”

Page 6: FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK TERM 2 · Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the

TERM 1, WEEK 3

15 FEBRUARY 2019 CELEBRATING SUCCESS

GDC students follow many different pathways in life consisting of: further study, apprenticeships and employment. We also

have many sporting achievements and success in The Arts to celebrate.

Many of our former students have nominated to be part of the GDC Alumni and share their experiences with us. Forming

connections with our community has led to our current students gaining professional contacts for their Research Project as

well as career advice in a variety of fields. By celebrating GDC’s Alumni past and present achievements, provides

inspiration to our cohort, demonstrating that GDC heritage is something to be proud of.

Our first student profile features a 2009 graduate, Jessica Renaglia. If you are a former

student and would like to share your story with us, please contact Sarah Hallworth, Year

12 Coordinator at [email protected].

“I graduated in 2009 when the school was still Gawler High and in ten years I have

achieved so much! Everyone's got different skills and goals but mine were in speaking,

writing, being creative and helping people. It was hard to work out what job would

match perfectly with those skills, but right now I know I’m in it.

Today I work as a Radio Announcer in Tamworth. It’s pretty cool—I get to be myself for a

job, work in the community, and I’ve interviewed some pretty famous and beautiful

people.

It doesn’t just happen straight away though—I did 9 years of retail, 2 years of pharmacy and a heap of study and work

experience to get here. I graduated from UniSA in 2015 in Journalism and Creative Writing. One of the best parts of my

degree was my minor--film and TV! I wrote, directed and edited short films--even travelling to Italy on exchange for a month

where we learned about Italian Cinema (and I got to meet my family).

I’ve always thought of myself as a jack of all trades. That, and I’m a bit of an achievement junkie. Once I've conquered one

thing, I love looking ahead for something new. I've written and performed in my own stage play when I was in community

theatre, I've done voiceovers for a gaming YouTuber, I’ve mentored high-school aged students on their own community

projects and I even taught myself how to build a website (my blog and portfolio) check it out—phrasedandframed.com.

Because I'm in media all of these skills are transferrable. There are people in the radio industry who push past me but I'm not

worried because I have my fingers in many pots.

But if radio is your jam and you think you've got what it takes, then here's my advice:

Go and live life. No, really. Go and travel. Get your heart broken. Learn to play a new sport. And then when you're in your

mid 20s and you've got some stories to tell from your own unique perspective, then hit Sean Craig Murphy up at the

Australian Radio School and do your first Introduction to Radio course. You might be BIG STAR worthy, or you might need to

keep at it a bit longer.

It wasn’t all an easy time though—but that’s just real life. I’ve applied for so many jobs and never been able to get a look in,

I’ve started things I’ve never finished, and worst of all—I have had crises of personal faith. Am I good enough? Why did I

even try?

All of these feelings are part of the process, but you’ve got to trust it. Remember clichés are what they are because they’re

true. It’s about the journey, not the destination.

Jessica Renaglia, GDC Alumni

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 2, Week 3 2019 Page 6

SALE ON NOW! Gawler & District College B-12 branded socks

$2.00 Available in sizes:

13 - 3, 2 - 8,

8 - 11 & 11-14

Page 7: FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK TERM 2 · Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the

TERM 1, WEEK 3

15 FEBRUARY 2019

ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE, PIONEER PARK GAWLER

It was a privilege with great pride and pleasure that I stood tall with Jacob and Emery to lay the

wreath on ANZAC Day at the dawn service held in Gawler at Pioneer Park. As a past student it

gives me great pride to see that we can still stand together, although now both past and present

amongst our community and represent not only our generation but our school, Gawler & District

College, and a culture of honour, respect and resilience.

Lest We Forget.

Danica Richards, 2018 GDC Graduate

WORLDS GREATEST SHAVE

On Thursday 11 April students and staff raised

money for the Leukaemia Foundation by

shaving their heads or waxing their legs

during an event at lunch. Students could

donate five dollars to pull a wax strip from the

legs of those who were being waxed. Mr.

Mollart joined in the fun by shaving his beard,

we had three brave girls shave their heads

and hundreds of students come to show their

support at the event. A big thank you to Jude

McColough from Back to Beauty who gave

her time to support the event by waxing the

boy’s legs. Overall students and staff raised

more than $2000.00 for the Leukaemia

Foundation with seven shaving their heads,

one beard shave and five waxing their legs.

Josh Sanders, Senior Pastoral Care Worker

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 2, Week 3 2019 Page 7

Left to right: Joel H, Jaden

R, Josh Sanders,

Jude McColough (Back to

Beauty), Lachlan W &

Jacob C

Left to right: Sharntai W, Ali P, Helen Redford,

Jaden R, Joel H, Josh Sanders, Josh Mollart,

Zack M, Logan O, Lachlan W & Jacob C

Page 8: FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK TERM 2 · Similarly, meeting parents and caregivers during our Parent Teacher Night where learning conversations were a focus has further reiterated the

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Gawler & District College B-12 Term 2, Week 3 2019 Page 8