newsletter issue: 1906 3rd may 2019 phone: 5428 3691 web ... · community. our haplain, arb davis,...
TRANSCRIPT
NEWSLETTER ISSUE: 1906 3rd May 2019
Phone: 5428 3691 Fax: 5428 4018
Web: www.gisbornesc.vic.edu.au
Email: [email protected]
Gisborne Secondary College values respect, diversity, innovation and achievement. Through a wide range of learning opportunities, students develop fulfilling and independent lives.
From the Principal
It has been a great start to Term 2, with our School Captains delivering excellent readings at both the Dawn Service on Mt Macedon, and theGisborne Anzac Day ceremony. I was very proud of Laura, Will, Hakim and Maegan, who had put a lot of preparatory work into developing expressive and moving performances of diary and letter excepts from a nurse and soldier returning home to Australia from WW1. On the Wednesday before Anzac Day, the Captains also managed our Anzac Day assembly, with special guests Dr Frank Donovan, Robin Funston (President, Gisborne and Macedon Ranges RSL) and RSL member Tony Francis. This year, Frank sang a very powerful song Safe Behind the Wire by John Schuman, and Alex Vincent played the Last Post and Rouse flawlessly on the bugle. As always, it was a moving ceremony for everyone.
Mobile Phones Policy
We are two weeks into our new ‘Phone-Free GSC’ policy, and I am pleased to report that it is going very well. Russell Wigginton has been monitoring the number of phones handed in to the office since day one and keeping data on the students who are not complying and we are seeing a decline in both, which is very pleasing.
I asked for feedback from teachers:
‘Noticed in both the yard and classrooms - students are talking to each other, not sitting beside each other and looking at screens.’
‘In I block last term we could see as many as 80 kids inside at lunch time even on lovely days, most on their phones. During the last 2 days this has halved and those that are in I Block are congregating in large groups of approx 20 kids (huge change) sharing lunch and conversation. ‘
Vice-Captains Maegan and Hakim at the
Gisborne service
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
‘It is really nice to walk towards students who say 'hello' rather than have their heads buried in their phones. We have had a total of 3 students at lunch time over the last 2 days that have had to hand in their phones, that is fantastic for the size of our cohort.’
I feel that the new policy is working well. I believe from what I have noticed so far that the students are definitely more engaged with the classroom activities. It is also great to see that most students seem happy to comply.’
‘I think it’s a great policy and haven’t had any arguments when asked to send to the office. I think the key is that everyone is on board and guidelines are very clear’
‘No overall negatives in terms of behaviour, possibly some more student talk but this seems to be easier to negate then constant mini interruptions from the phones.’
‘It feels different in the yard and the classroom. In the yard I see more students speaking to one another. By the end of the last term I would walk past groups of students who were sitting together in groups. Each child was using his or her own phone. In the classroom I can give more time to teaching because I am not asking students to put their phones away.’
What are your thoughts at this stage? I am interested in what you, as parents and carers, can observe about the impact or effect of this policy. Email me at [email protected]
Next week I will start getting feedback from students about their experience.
There’s an interesting podcast called ‘How the iPhone rewrote the teenage brain’ on ABC Radio’s Conversations: follow this link: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/david-gillespie-2019/10986686
Year 10 Assembly
On Tuesday, Year 10s went to the Barcham Theatre for a presentation from four ex-students about their post-school pathways. Our guests shared stories of how they overcame obstacles, and with passion and perseverance, found success. Thanks to Evyln Wilson, Cindy Wilson, Jack Kuhlmey, Damien Camilleri and Kate Trickey for giving us their time.
First City ‘RAID’ Day
On Wednesday May 1st, our Year 9 students had their first ‘city immersion day’ as part of the RAID Program. Students caught public transport into Melbourne and met at Federation Square. They then had choice of a number of self-guided tours. Those who took the ‘sports and entertainment’ tour of the city saw AFL teams Melbourne and Collingwood train, among other things. Students were excited and enthusi-astic, and their behaviour exemplary. Staff maintain a presence on these days, and are always within con-tact, but the power of this experience is that it gives students independence, self-reliance and initiative within clear and safe parameters.
General message to students
This week I delivered a message to students about my expectations around language use at school this term. I said:
‘Words have great power – they can bring people down, and this has a flow-on effect throughout the school community. Often we think of the school community as something a bit abstract and broad. But community is also right here and right now in the classrooms, corridors and yard, and the way we treat each other ripples out and has an impact on us all.
This term, we are all going to be mindful of how we use words and how we speak to each other – mindful that respect is our core value. We will not use language to hurt, to bring down or to belittle or humiliate others. We will use language to explain, give opinions, express ourselves, question, create and suggest. We will use language positively and constructively.’
I am confident that this will be an excellent term for us all at GSC.
ABSENCES
If your child is late to school, could you please either accompany your child to the front office to be signed in by office staff, supply a late note, call our absence line on 5428 0899, send a message through XUNO or send an email to the school [email protected]. This allows us to mark your child’s absence if there has been a valid explanation. If your child is absent from school, The Department of Education requires a parent/carer to notify the school with a reason as to your child's absence. To notify us of an absence you can either call our absence line on 5428 0899, send a message through XUNO or send an email to the school. ‘Students who attend school are more likely to be successful at school and have better career and life choices than students who are often absent from school’
IMPORTANT DATES
7th May TIS Excursions Year 12
College Information Night 7pm Barcham Theatre
13th May WMR Inter Tennis
14th May Naplan Tests
15th May Youth Clinic
RAID Day
Naplan
17th May Naplan Catch Up
20th May Work Experience Year 10
Grade 5/6 Visits
21st May Work Experience Year 10
22nd May School Council AGM and Awards Evening
Work Experience Year 10
23rd May Work Experience Year 10
24th May Work Experience Year 10
Host family for Japanese students
Our Japanese sister school Chikushi High School is coming to GSC in Term 3 (from 27/07/2019 to 06/08/2019
We need to have host families for those Japanese students. If you are interested in hosting, please send an email to [email protected]. Students from any year level can host.
There will be an information night before the end of this term.
INDONESIAN STUDY TOUR 2019
Frances On the 7th of April a group of 13 student, Miss Ezzy and Mr Pagonis travelled to Yogyakarta, Indonesia. All the students on this trip (myself included) are currently studying Indonesian at Gisborne Secondary College. I signed up to this trip with the intent of improving my language skills and learning more about the local culture. I definitely wasn’t left disappointed. Spending time in Yogya, was one of the best things I have ever done and an experience I would recommend to everyone. Our days were jam-packed with the perfect balance of tourist/authentic local activities. Although the highlight for me (and I am sure the others would agree) was simply having the opportunity to interact with the local people. The local people can only be described as most beautiful people I have ever met. They don’t live an extravagant lifestyle or possess the newest iPhone, yet they were forever smiling, welcoming and forthcoming. They loved that we could speak Bahasa and on occasions, even impressed us with their English. I think we can definitely learn a lot from these people. I loved this trip. I wish I could go back and continue to improve my language skills and cultural knowledge firsthand. Courtney On the 7th of April 2019, I was one of 13 students who under the watchful eye of Miss Ezzy and Mr Pagonis began what could only be described as a trip of a lifetime. After a long 24 hours of travel, we landed in Yogyakarta - the ‘cultural capital’ of Indonesia. While in Yogyakarta, we were fortunate enough to watch the sunrise over Borobodur (the worlds biggest buddhist temple) and feel like celebrities as we explored the hindu temple, Prambanan. We participated in a cooking and music lessons. Also 3 language lessons. The language lessons really helped with our vocabulary and gave us the confidence to order our food in Indonesian. By the end of the trip, most of the group even happily chatted with locals. They were so excited to hear us speaking bahasa. We also visited Maliboro Market and were able to put our bargaining skills to the test. Everyone bought some cool things to bring home for their families. Some other highlights included travelling by becak and riding in neon pedal cars. All in all, given the chance I’d definitely put my hand up to participate in the Yogya study tour again. We had the best time, learnt so much and returned home with the best memories.
CHAPLAINCY NEWS
Diary Dates:
Movie night –Monday 6th May- Top End Wedding. Readings Cinema-6.30pm. See flyer for further details
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - Sunday 26th May – Helpers desperately needed-
If anyone can offer an hour or two we would be most grateful.
Please call Bronwyn Tacey 0417 028 605 to be included on the roster.
Our next meeting - Monday 27th May - 7.30pm- GSC Library- Supper provided
House of Rock Breakfast – Sat 14th Sept -
Thank you to everyone who supported our raffle during the parent teacher interviews.
The raffle winners were: Gavin Watt, Jo De Ruiter & Alex Krywula
Chocolates in the jar was won by Lydia Best with 76.
The Chaplaincy Committee holds various fundraisers during the year and assistance at any event is always
appreciated. This can be as simple as: helping at one of our sausage sizzles, helping out at our Deb Dress
Expo or helping to cater for our movie night.
New members are always welcome. Year 7 parents are encouraged to join. This is a great way to be in-
volved in the school that your child attends as well as meeting other parents and members of the local
community.
Our Chaplain, Barb Davis, provides pastoral care for students, staff, parents and families in the school and
the wider community.
If you would like to join us for any event, please phone Helen Doherty
on 0407 686 708 or simply turn up to our next meeting.
Disclaimer Gisborne Secondary College does not accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims made or information contained in the advertisements appearing in this publication, these advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by the College.
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