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Last Friday represented a milestone in the current school year with our Year 12's having their last formal lessons, culminating with a breakfast with the staff. Unfortunately for them the weather was not favourable for an outside BBQ or farewell on the school oval. However just like many things this year with a bit of reorganisation we successfully had breakfast in the Home Ec room and students did their usual parade around the parking bay at the stadium. Many of the Year 12’s have been returning this week to complete final assignments or meet with teachers as they undertake revision in preparation for their final exams. We wish them all the best as their high school studies come to an end and look forward to hearing about their next achievements.
In latest staffing news Jordan Smith has accepted a Technology Coordinator position at Mid North Christian College starting in 2021. Whilst this is an exciting opportunity for him we are very disappointed to be farewelling him.
We can announce the Deputy Principal for 2021 is Stephen Bosch which now means we need to fill the Middle School Coordinator position for 2021.
In the next few weeks we will be looking for nominations from the current Year 11’s for the student leader positions for next year. I encourage all Year 11’s to consider this opportunity and to think about how they would like to make a difference to the school.
Our changerooms/toilet block is starting to take shape and we look forward to hearing soon of a completion date.
Plans are currently underway for our end of year Presentation Evening. With the current restrictions in place we are looking at options to ensure we can celebrate the achievements of all our students on this prestigious evening. Please look out for further details in the coming weeks.
Port Augusta Kayaking
The Stage 1 Outdoor Education class left for the Pt Augusta Aquatic Centre on the 13th of October for 3 days. Throughout the duration of the camp the students developed their paddling technique, rescue skills and packing for multiple day journeys. The students were required to plan their food for the duration of the camp and cooked their evening meal on Trangias. A highlight for me was the development of the student’s skills from the first day of the camp to the last. A massive thank you to Mrs Davis for coming along and to Mr Martin for getting us there safely. Looking forward to many more adventures to come!
Luke Bartlett Outdoor Ed Teacher
In Year 10 Home Ec, we have been studying a Certificate 1 in Hospitality, which has introduced students to the world of VET and also working in the industry. For our unit on Work Effectively with Others, the students have been working in groups to host a Coffee and Cake Day each week for 3 weeks - the last of these days was on Wednesday of Week 3. It has been great to see the students develop their skills in making coffees and they have provided some tasty menu options. The coffee and cakes have been sold to staff at Gladstone High School, Gladstone Primary School and St Joseph's Parish School and we would like to thank them for their support. Their orders have kept us super busy but we now have some very capable baristas as a result.
On Monday the 19th of October, the Year 10 students made their long awaited trip to Adelaide for the annual Careers Camp after it was postponed earlier in the year. The teachers that attended the camp were Miss Edge, Mr Palmer and Miss Kerr. Whilst the camp ended up being one day shorter this year as a result of the postponement, we certainly made up for it in our jam-packed schedule!
After an early departure, we headed to Defence Force Recruiting. Whilst we were greeted with a long list of requirements upon our arrival for COVID-SAFE purposes due to the size of the organisation and it was a little daunting, the session was very informative and showcased a wide range of career options in the Defence Force. Students were then able to attend one of 3 afternoon sessions, followed by dinner at Fasta Pasta.
On the Tuesday, the students went to Regency TAFE or Tonsley TAFE for campus tours and the afternoon session saw everyone visit the zoo. We were fortunate enough to speak to a number of people from a range of career fields at the zoo, including a zoo keeper, a groundsman, someone in media and publications and a person from the education centre. This session really enlightened us to the fact that there are so many career options that relate to working with animals, beyond the obvious ones. They also provided us with some really helpful suggestions that would benefit people looking to pursue a career with animals/at the zoo. We finished the night with a BBQ for tea and a bowling session, which saw Miss Kerr impress everyone with her amazing bowling skills.
The final day consisted of a visit to Flinders University, where we participated in a campus tour and were able to experience what it would be like to be a law student for a short session. We then headed out to Mawson Lakes for a visit to the Planetarium and were fortunate enough to speak to a lecturer in space from the University of South Australia. At approximately, 5:30pm, 20 very exhausted students arrived back in Gladstone/Crystal Brook, with a new perspective on the many career and study options available to them.
In Week 2 of Term 4, the Year 11 students undertook their annual work experience placement. Whilst most of our students chose to do this locally, we did have some travel as far as Victor Harbour, Whyalla and Ceduna to do this - an impressive effort. Placements were undertaken in a range of job fields, such accountancy, wildlife conservation, childcare and education and various trades. The students returned to school with a better understanding of what it would be like to work in the field they visited and this will then help them to make some informed decisions as they approach their final year of schooling. We would like to thank the many businesses that hosted our students - it was particularly generous given the extra restrictions and pressue that COVID-19 has put onto workplaces so we are really appreciative!
Jacqui Edge
Senior School Coordinator
In Year 8 Art, students have been developing their drawing skills. One of their double lessons used the "Thinking through Drawing" resource from The Art Gallery of South Australia, and students had choices of a wide range of open-ended tasks that asked them to consider ways of drawing or documenting, and new ways of using tools.
In Year 10 Visual Art, students analysed work by Badger Bates (Barkandji People) who makes linocuts surrounding stories and understanding of the Barka (Darling River). They then used reference photos from Trove (https://trove.nla.gov.au/, a free online resource with collections from national libraries, museums, galleries and archives) of the Rocky River to inspire their own linoprints whilst connecting to our local landscape and ecosystems. Students considered balance between positive and negative space, as well as the impact of their mark making. They also applied various inks, printed on a range of surfaces, or experimented with hand-colouring after they were hand-printed.
- Badger Bates, Barkandji people, New South Wales, born 1947, Wilcannia, New South Wales, Life coming back to Moon Lake, Wilcannia, 2011, Broken Hill, New South Wales, linocut on paper, 72.0 x 42.7 cm (image), 90.8 x 57.8 cm (sheet); Acquisition through Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art supported by BHP 2019, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, © Badger Bates, photo: Alexandra Rosenblum.
- Rocky River. , 1905.
Year 8 & 9 Tag Rugby in Physical Education
Currently within Physical Education, the Year 8 and 9 students are practising their techniques and tactics within tag rugby. I am impressed with all student’s willingness to try new skills, where they have strongly developed their game play, teamwork and leadership skills. The students have demonstrated a fantastic attitude towards the sport so far and I am excited to see how they can further improve their skills in the upcoming weeks and implement them at the MNSEC Tag Rugby Carnival.
Eden Caputo
SAASTA Lunch 20th October 2020
The Year 12 SAASTA students were required to organise and host a SAASTA community lunch. The objective of the lunch was to inform the local Indigenous community of the benefits and purpose of the SAASTA program. Dylan Davenport and Andrew Horace were hosts of the event along with Mr Norton as a quest speaker. School leadership, parents, and Year 8/9 students attended the event and gained an insight into the experiences and benefits that Dylan and Andrew have received from participating in the program.
Students and parents were given the opportunity to inquire about the program and were provided with physical examples of their learning. Dylan and Andrew also created a 92 slide PowerPoint presentation that included images of their experiences over the past 2 years.
The SAASTA program incorporates sports, art and culture and identifies how these concepts can be intertwined. The program allows students to meet some Indigenous Australian role models such as Andrew McLeod, Sam Powell-Pepper, Karl Amon, and different respected Aboriginal elders from various local communities. The valuable connections that are made through the SAASTA program are life-long, not only providing cultural support, but also future job opportunities.
Andrew Horace
“While attending the Nepabunna trip in 2019, we were treated to a once in a lifetime experience of swimming in the Nantawarrina Springs, which was my favourite part of the trip. The water was crystal clear, and we acknowledged Akurra, the creator and guardian of the waterholes in the Flinders Ranges.”
Dylan Davenport
“The SAASTA program aims to set young Indigenous students up with job opportunities and assist them to learn about their culture and identity. This has helped me tremendously through my final years of schooling, as I have been provided with opportunities that other students will never get.”
Every year on the last day of Term 3 as a school we hold a Fun Run along the Heysen Trail into Bowmans Park, and this year on this day we planned a Crazy Colour Day to raise money to improve the school grounds including new basketball rings, more outdoor furniture and outdoor exercise equipment. Due to inclement weather on the last day of term we had to postpone the Colour Run and held it on Tuesday of Week 2.
Students and teachers dressed in white and all gathered on the school oval for a run and to get sprayed in colour powder
We had set a fundraising target as a school of $4000 and in the end we raised a total of $4,176. Congratulations to Max Hollitt who individually raised $683 and to Mr Palmer’s homegroup 8B who collectively raised $1,550.
Anyone who raised at least $10 gets to choose a prize. The more money raised, the better the prizes! Prizes have been ordered and will hopefully be here before we know it.
We would like to congratulate everyone who participated in this event, by fundraising, running in the colour run, taking photos or supporting their peers. We hope to make this an annual event at GHS, and make it bigger and better each year. (PS. Year 11‘s will get to have their own personal colour run as soon as possible, weather permitting.)
Are you female and interested in playing football?
Contact Jacinta Huxtable 0419 810 369 or email jmhuxy@gmail.com
Teams: Under 17s (girls between 12yrs & 16yrs) -- Seniors (Women over 16yrs)
Matches played at Crystal Brook Oval Friday Nights
No need to find a team - we can sort you into a team
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