Thursday 3rd May 2018 Newsletter No. 7

Principal's Chat:

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Members of the College Community,

Have you visited our Facebook page?

http://www.facebook.com/kynetonsecondarycollege

We have lots of news about what’s happening at KSC going up on our page, and we

encourage all our parents and community to stay informed in this way. In the past

week, the items of news have included the wonderful representation of our College

by students who participated in the ANZAC Day ceremonies at Mt Macedon and

Kyneton. Another was the proud achievement of our Student Leadership Team as

the Aboriginal Flag was raised for the first time on the flagpole, for which they had

fundraised in 2017.

Our building program is progressing with the concrete down and steel going up in the new hub building, the

refurbishment in the Boomerang going well, and the new basketball courts to be completed in a month’s time.

Our annual Debutante Ball is coming up and the students are getting very excited about the opportunity to put on

their finest and show off the dance skills they have been perfecting over the past weeks. We are looking forward to

seeing the photographs from this event in the next newsletter.

We encourage all our students to aim high and do their best as the academic programs and assessment cycles

intensify in Term 2. The students in years 7 – 10 are about to undertake the first of three rounds of literacy and

numeracy testing which

will be used to help track

their progress during the

year; the VCE students

complete their first units

and have their GAT this

term and of course we

have NAPLAN coming up

for years 7 and 9.

Regards

Ms Ana Rees Executive Principal -Kyneton Secondary College

College Captains Estelle Winkelmann, Tiarna Sleightholm with

Executive Principal Ana Rees

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 2018

Monday 7th Year 10 Road Smart

Tuesday 8th

Tertiary Information Service

Interschool Cross Country

Deb rehearsal

Thursday 10th

Junior/Intermediate Girls

Football

White Card Training

Friday 11th Deb ball

Tuesday 15th Naplan

Wednesday 16th Naplan

Thursday 17th Naplan

Article From The Past

Aboriginal Flag Raising Ceremony

The Student Leadership Teams of 2017/8, last Friday

27th of April raised the Aboriginal Flag in a ceremony

involving an Aboriginal elder standing in for the

Taungurung clans and local member of Parliament

Mary-Anne Thomas.

The Student Leadership Team fundraised for the

flagpole for their school. It was with great pride that

they were able to raise the flag on this day to

demonstrate our school values of respect and

inclusiveness of the diversity all Australians. We are

all extremely proud of our students’ ongoing work in

these areas. Ben Hill

MAKING THE MOST OF

BITS ‘N’ PIECES

Victa motor mower engines, school desks and

chairs and 13 weeks of hard work have resulted

in a number of single gear, high speed, colorful

go-karts for the intermediate welding class at the

Kyneton technical High School.

Trade Instructor, Mr Andy Robertson, and his

class have combined theoretical knowledge and

many practical skills to make these fun machines.

Workshop skills such as steel cutting and bronze,

fusion and arc welding were well utilised during

the project. The building of these machines,

which could only be described as Spartan, “has

been a learning process for all involved, and

leaves the boys with a good grounding for future

related positions of employment,” said Mr

Robertson.

“A stimulating assignment such as this provides

the students with a tangible goal, and a ‘reason

for learning’,” Mr Robertson added.

The driving mechanism of the go-karts is

remarkably simple – the driving wheel is attached

to the motor, and this turns the wheels of the go-

karts around. A lever running beside the driver’s

seat tilts the engine and engages the drive wheel.

“Such an assignment also involves the learning of

the entire process; from a detailed knowledge of

welding electrodes to the physical dexterity of

‘driving the vehicle’,” he said.

Scott Midwell was at the fun end of the project

when our photographer called. Mr Robertson is

pictured assisting to start the go-kart, before Scott

“took it for a spin” around the basketball courts.

Kyneton Guardian 12th December 1986

Flying the flag

Article From The Past

KSC Student Leadership Impress at Local Anzac Day Services!

The memorial cross, Mt. Macedon

Photo: Ben Hill

Bella Connellan,

Tayla Brown &

Callum Johnston-

Withey at Mt.

Macedon Estelle Winkelmann & Tiarna Sleightholm

speak at the Kyneton ceremony

Year 9 & 10 Outdoor Ed Camp

At the Mt Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service, Callum Johnston-Withey,

Tayla Brown and Bella Connellan braved the cold autumn morning by

being in place for their duties by 5am. Callum this year read an excerpt

providing a 'soldiers voice' from a Somalian peacekeeping mission 25 years

ago. Tayla and Bella were a part of the wreath laying party, their presence

ensuring that our school was represented as part of the official ceremony.

At the official ceremony in Kyneton, Estelle Winkelmann and Tiarna

Sleightholm read 'the Ode' and were also a part of the wreath laying party.

Well done students, you set a fine example and did a sterling job showing

your respect and representing our school!

Ben Hill

The location of camp was beautiful and was such a lovely

place to spend time for our Year 9-10 outdoor education

camp. Kooyoora State Park has so much heritage attached

to it, and those people whose ancestors lived there still

visit to do their thing. There were lots of trees, and no

trace of humans to be seen. There was also Melville Caves

and an amazing climbing/abseiling area next door.

Kooyoora was only 12km west of Inglewood, which made

it just on an hour and a half drive there from school.

Some of the hiking was a struggle but it was made up for

with the amazing views that were supplied. The best view

hands down had to be right on top of Mt Kooyoora itself.

The best thing of all was the relief felt when you got to the

top of the mountain and you got to set up camp and

watch the sun set.

We all learnt so much from this experience from the trees

growing back after being stuck by lighting or fires to star

constellations in the sky such as Orion and Taurus, even

how to find south using the southern cross. It was so

much fun in the end when you think about it, sleeping out

under the stars on top of the mountain and getting to

watch the sun rise on the last night/day was an amazing

way to top off the whole camp.

Catherine Williams 9M

“Thought Sport”

The game that brings the best out of all who

participate, chess…….wow the points were close

between three of the four teams that participated in

the annual 2018 “Thought Sport” play off. All day long

there was about 0.5 the difference between Coliban

and Baynton with Campaspe romping in toward the

end of the day so that there was only 0.5 point

difference between three of the teams.

The final scores were Coliban coming in at third place

with a score of 11.0 Campaspe and Baynton tied at

first place with a score of 11.5. Players that scored

well for their respective teams included:

Lucas Abdel-Sayed (Campaspe) Justin Prendergast (Baynton)

Sean O’Connell (Baynton) Luca Weller (Coliban)

Joshua and Luke Riley (Coliban) Lenny Vincent (Lauriston)

Thank you to all the participants – win, lose or draw -

for making it a fantastic day.

Mr Richard Donker

Athletics Sports 2018

Mr Hill: “Now, I expect all competitors to take this seriously!”

Guest Speaker – Forensic Scientist Dr. Henry Roberts

On Friday, 27th April, Dr. Henry Roberts presented to

some year 8, 9 and 10 students about the fields of the

forensic science, uses and techniques for analysing DNA

and shared a case study that he worked on.

Students were interested and were asking different

questions of Dr Roberts.

Kaleb asked, “Are they like black lights?” when Dr.

Roberts was explaining how the crime scene division

use different lighting techniques to reveal evidence

which are not visible during initial observation.

Hannah inquired, “can a person be identified from a beer they have been drinking? while Dr. Roberts was talking

about the five phases involved in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and how an important part of the process was

reconciling the information from the mortuary and ante-mortem information so that families may be notified.

Caitlin asked, “has there ever been a mix up with the species variety?” after Dr. Roberts had explained about the

important role the forensic botanist has in examining and estimating the amount of illegal cannabis.

Talesha wanted to know, “how often are forensic scientists called into court?” Dr Roberts said that he had to attend

court around once a week to present evidence.

On behalf of the staff and students, we would like to thank Dr. Henry Roberts for his time and willingness to share

his vast knowledge with us.

Cindy Bradford

Science Learning Area Leader

Hello from the Library!

This is a short article today to tell you about our exciting

Book Tastings! We have had Years 7 & 8

English classes come to the Library’s

Book Café, to try a new way of choosing a

book. Various types of books are placed

on each table place and students are given

5 minutes to start reading the book at their

seat. They then have a minute to write a short

description about the book on their Book

Menu. The books are passed around the table,

and the next 5 minutes of reading begins. The

students then have another minute to describe the

next book. This continues until they have ‘tasted’ five

books. At the end of the session the students are given

time to borrow any of the books that they have enjoyed reading. It has

been a fun activity and the classes have enjoyed trying books that they might

otherwise have not pulled off the shelf. We hope that it has encouraged the students

to try new genres that they may have thought they wouldn’t enjoy.

Francesca Teniswood

KSC Librarian

Library News

Science Space

Jackets

The college spray jackets and windcheaters have arrived

at the Uniform Shop.

Shorts

Size 28” 30” and 32” shorts are in production now and

should be available very soon.

N.B. If you have pre-purchased any of the above items,

it is important that you bring your receipt the night of

pick up.

The shop is open on Tuesdays from 2.30pm to 5.00pm.

Maxine

Sacred Heart College Kyneton

Tuesday 8th May 2018 11.30am – 1.00pm

The Tertiary Information Service (TIS) is a collective of

universities, TAFEs and Independent Tertiary Colleges

who run free information sessions for Year 12 students

across Victoria. TIS sessions are an essential “first step”

for picking up information and advice to help our

students plan for their future after Year 12. In August,

all Institutions hold “Open Days” which allow students to

attend campuses and further develop their future Study

and/or Training options. An “Open Day” calendar will be

distributed in early Term 3.

Each TIS event begins with a panel of experts outlining

the VTAC application process and giving students tips on

choosing a course, accommodation, scholarships, special

admissions schemes, fees and finances, and attending

Open Days.

Then students get to browse the expo, chat to Uni and

TAFE reps and collect guides and other information.

INSTITUTIONS ATTENDING

La Trobe University, Australian Catholic University, RMIT

University, Deakin University, Victoria University,

Monash University, University of Melbourne, Federation

University (University of Ballarat), Charles Sturt

University, Bendigo Kangan Institute, William Angliss

Institute of TAFE and a range of other private TAFEs and

colleges.

This event is compulsory for all Year 12 students. We

will be leaving the College at 11.15 a.m. and crossing the

road to Sacred Heart College.

Elizabeth Trembath and Kate Sims Year 12 Co-ordinators

Students in year 7 and year 9 will sit NAPLAN tests on

May 15th 16th & 17th. We encourage all students to

participate and undertake this important individual

work. Please refer to the document on the next two

pages from the department. Further information will be

provided for parents and students in year 7 & 9.

Pam Macdonald Assistant Principal

Uniform Update

NAPLAN Year 7 & 9

Tertiary Information Service 2018

We are about to begin the first round of On Demand

Literacy and Numeracy testing for our students in

Years 7 – 10. On Demand is a Dept. of Education online

test of Reading Comprehension and General

Mathematics skills that adapts its questions based on

the student's answers in order to best assess the

student on an individual level. Teachers use the data to

inform our learning programs in order to help

individuals stretch and improve through explicit

teaching of skills.

Although we have been running On Demand tests for

many years, this year, by involving students and their

parents more in the conversations around the

assessments, they are a part of our commitment to

school improvement, specifically in the area of

'Excellence in Teaching & Learning'.

Please take some time this week to talk to your child

about the importance of doing their best in the On

Demand tests. At school, we will be talking about test-

taking strategies and mindfulness techniques to help

students succeed. We have also set up measures to

ensure quiet, calm spaces are available to all students

during the test sessions. We would also appreciate it if

you could please remind your child that they need to

be bringing their BYO Device to school EVERY DAY.

If you have any questions about this process, please

contact me.

Faye Zollia

Teaching & Learning Leader

Literacy & Numeracy Testing

NAPLAN on paper –information for parentsand carers

Why do students do NAPLAN tests? The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy andnumeracy skills that are essential for every child toprogress through school and life.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, language conventions(spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

The tests provide parents and schools with anunderstanding of how individual students areperforming at the time of the tests. NAPLAN tests arejust one aspect of a school’s assessment and reportingprocess; they do not replace ongoing assessmentsmade by teachers about student performance.

NAPLAN tests also provide schools, educationauthorities and governments with information about howeducation programs are working and whether youngAustralians are meeting important educational outcomesin literacy and numeracy.

What will be tested? NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills thatstudents are learning through their regular schoolcurriculum. All government and non-government education authorities have contributed to the development of NAPLAN materials.

To give you an idea of what the tests look like, see example questions at nap.edu.au/naplanexample

How can I help my child prepare forNAPLAN? Help your child prepare for NAPLAN by reassuring themthat the tests are just one part of their school program,and by reminding them on the day to simply try theirbest. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and will provideappropriate support and guidance.

ACARA does not recommend the use of services by coaching providers or excessive preparation. NAPLAN isnot about passing or failing, but about assessinglearning progress.

Participation in NAPLAN All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in the annual NAPLAN tests.

Students with disability may qualify for adjustmentsthat reflect the support normally provided for classroomassessments. A formal exemption may be granted for a student with significant intellectual disability and/orsignificant coexisting conditions, or for a student whohas recently arrived in Australia and has a non-English speaking background.

Your school principal and your local test administration authority can give you more information on specialprovisions or the process required to gain a formalexemption.

Will my child sit NAPLAN on paper or online?

Your child will sit the NAPLAN paper tests in 2018.

However, children in some other schools across Australia may sit the NAPLAN online tests this year. Federal, state and territory education ministers haveagreed that NAPLAN will move online over the nexttwo to three years. State and territory educationauthorities will determine when their schools move online.

As students are presented with questions that testthe same range of difficulty, regardless of whether they complete the test online or on paper, results for both formats will be reported on the same NAPLANassessment scale.

To find out more about NAPLAN Online, visit nap.edu.au/online-assessment

What if my child is absent fromschool on test days? Where possible, schools may arrange for individualstudents who are absent at the time of testing tocomplete missed tests at another time during the testingweek. Individual students are not permitted to sit testsafter Friday 18 May 2018.

NAPLAN 2018 tests timetable

Tuesday 15 May

Wednesday 16 May

Thursday17 May

Year 3

languageconventions 40 minutes ......................... writing40 minutes

reading45 minutes

numeracy45 minutes

Year 5

languageconventions 40 minutes ......................... writing40 minutes

reading50 minutes

numeracy50 minutes

Year 7

languageconventions 45 minutes ......................... writing40 minutes

reading65 minutes

numeracy60 minutes

Year 9

languageconventions 45 minutes ......................... writing40 minutes

reading65 minutes

numeracy60 minutes

How is my child’s performance measured? Individual student performance is shown on a nationalachievement scale for each test. A result at the national minimum standard indicates that the student has demonstrated the basic literacy and numeracy skillsneeded to participate fully in that year level. The performance of individual students can be compared tothe average performance of all students in Australia.

A NAPLAN report will be issued by your school later in the year. If you do not receive a report, you should contact your school.

How are NAPLAN test results used?

• Students and parents may use individual results todiscuss progress with teachers.

• Teachers use results to help them better identify students who require greater challenges or additional support.

• Schools use results to identify strengths andweaknesses in teaching programs and to set goalsin literacy and numeracy.

• School systems use results to review programs andsupport offered to schools.

• The community can see average school NAPLANresults at myschool.edu.au

Where can I get more information? For more information about NAPLAN:

• contact your child’s school • contact your local test administration authority

at nap.edu.au/TAA • visit nap.edu.au

For information about how personal information forNAPLAN will be handled by ACARA, please visitnap.edu.au/naplanprivacy

Community News

www.trybooking.com/368625

PUBLIC MEETING Sunday May 6th 5pm Old Kyneton Primary School, Baynton Street, centre of Kyneton

Creating the Kyneton and District Town Square for community use by lease arrangement with the Department of Education and Macedon Ranges Shire Council to the community cooperative, Kyneton Town Square Coop.

MP for Macedon, Mary Ann Thomas, and the Macedon Ranges Shire Council appointed consultants last November 2017 to devise a working draft of options. The three options have been published on the MRSC website for community comment.

None of the options address the Town Square model keeping the site in public ownership as Crown land leased to the community. A full proposal and costing have been submitted to MRSC by our alliance of community groups.

The public meeting is to call for next action by the community. 2,300 residents and visitors have signed a petition to keep the entire site in community hands for community use. At the meeting, the petition will be handed over to a member of the Legistlative Assembly of Victoria for the submission to the Victorian Parliament.

If you would like to interview the Kyneton Town Square Reference Group about this event, about the proposal, about the responses of the politicians to date, please phone or email me your requirements. We welcome media coverage on the day of the public meeting. Thank you.

Kind regards,

Deborah Pach 1A Lavender Street Kyneton VIC 3444 m : 0400 693 111 email : deborahpach@yahoo.co.uk

Community News