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A very warm welcome to 2022 for all of our families. This year we have been so excited to welcome all of our year 7 and 8 students as they start their time at Gladstone High School. Whilst it has been a very different beginning of term it has certainly been very busy with the year 7, 8 and 12 all here for face to face and all of the delivery lessons happening for the year 9-11’s. I would like to acknowledge the incredible cooperation of all of our students both at school and online for being prepared to follow all of the expectations that are in place.
We are very excited to have some new staff join our team: Nathan Gillard – Year 7, Design and Technology and Maths, Fletcher Wren –Science and Maths, Scott Watson – English, HPE, Research Project and Digital Media, Max Rutjens – Maths and HPE and Hannah Pech – Student Support.
Congratulations to our graduating class of 2021. It has been exciting to hear what these students have gone onto already. Many are enrolled in university courses, have continued their apprenticeships or already working. Chelsea Hombsch was our Dux of 2021 with an ATAR of 86.35. We are delighted to report 64% of the grade from our Stage 2 subjects were A or B’s.
Current restrictions that are in place for the first 4 weeks of school have meant some significant changes to our calendar and planned activities. Our DUX assembly is now on hold and we will consider other options to celebrate Chelsea’s achievement. The GHS Swimming Carnival is cancelled in Term 1. We are considering whether we may run this event in Term 4. MNSEC Swimming will also not occur, however, representing MNSEC at Adelaide Swimming is likely to still occur with the date changed to term 2 for this event.
We are continuing to plan for activities to resume in Week 5 and will keep you updated through the newsletter and Facebook as soon as we are able reschedule/run certain events.
Thank you to the parents who indicated in the consent booklets their availability for volunteering in the canteen. If you didn’t fill in any details but would still be willing to do just one day a term please call the school and let Phillipa know.
Tyler Hogan - Principal
In welcoming back, the year 7, 8 and 12s, we are still looking forward to the 9, 10 and 11's returning in week 3. The year 7's and 8's are quickly settling into the new school environment and the Stage 2 students are getting their first taste of the workload and organisation that is required in their final year. The 9, 10 and 11's are having (hopefully) only a taste of online learning. As parents there are few things we can do to help students adjust by looking at their learning space, daily routines, goals and progress.
I have adapted some tips from this website. https://childandfamilyblog.com/how-parents-can-support-learning-at-home/ I hope they are helpful.
- Learning Space
- Find a space in your home that can be used every day for distance learning.
- If the space is shared, create a cardboard or cloth separation to minimize noise and distractions.
- Offer your child the chance to decorate this space to feel welcoming (draw a sign, bring a favourite pillow, etc.).
- Make sure the space includes essential learning materials. For example, paper, pens, pencils
2. Daily Schedule and Routine
- Know your child’s timetable, on Sentral and make sure they know their responsibility to log on to Teams and at what times
- Ensure your child knows how to ask questions
- Make some snacks for breaks or leave suggestions for your child to eat
- Keep regular sleep times.
- Goals & Progress
- Together with your child, set behavioural and work expectations and review them daily.
- Teach your child to use a timer to stay focused for a period of time. Start small!
- Managing Frustrations
- Model simple calming strategies: counting to 10, taking deep breaths, a short break.
- Help your child describe the problem and express their feelings (I feel…, when…).
- Together, come up with a potential solution and connect it to previously set expectations.
- Explain how the child’s behaviour is linked to consequences. Set gentle and firm limits.
- Closeness & Connection
- Start each day discussing what subjects online your child has, and what they expect to do and achieve
- At the end of the day discuss what was achieved, any difficulties and what they hope to achieve tomorrow
- Create opportunities for your child to share their worries and provide reassurance.
Stephen Bosch - Deputy Principal
Hi, my name is Max!
I am excited to be teaching at Gladstone High School this year. Up until now, I have only taught at primary schools, and have spent the last five years teaching year 4 and 5 at Crystal Brook Primary, which is where I attended school as a kid. I am excited to be back with some of the same students I have already had the pleasure of teaching, as well as meeting all the other amazing students and staff.
My hobbies and interests include: listening to music (lover many different genres), gardening, hiking and camping, playing video games, and learning all about science and the natural world. The subjects I will be teaching this year are PE and Mathematics. I am extremely passionate about mathematics and hope to be as helpful as possible to all students in this area.
I am wonderfully grateful for the opportunity to teach at Gladstone High, and look forward to seeing what the year brings.
Max Rutjens
Hi, I am very excited about joining the Gladstone High community this year! I've been a Laura local for 14 years now, and I completed by teaching degree back in 2008, with a focus on early childhood. Since then I have worked in various roles around the community including coordinating the Laura playgroup and working at Gladstone and Georgetown school.
Over the past 10 years I have spent most of my time chasing after my 5 kids, who range in age from 4-10.
I have a passion for children's health and wellbeing and am excited to have the opportunity to work in a classroom support role this year. In my spare time I love to look after my ever growing collection of indoor plants, spend time being active with my kids, and running! I'm currently training for my first marathon in May!
I will be at the school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and look forward to getting to know everyone!
Hannah Pech
My name is Scott Watson and I am excited to be teaching at Gladstone High School in 2022. I will be teaching year 10 English, Research Project, year 8 Physical Education and Digital Technologies. In 2021 I taught year 8 English and HASS at Whyalla High School, I spent 2 years at Clare High School in 2017/18 teaching English, HASS, Business and Research Project.
On a personal level, I have two adult children Joshua 29 and Lucy 27, Joshua is working as a customer service representative in Adelaide and Lucy lives and works as a nanny in the UK. In my spare time, I like to read, watch history documentaries and play online games, I have always had a keen interest in IT and am looking forward to teaching Digital Technology this year.
This is my 8th year of teaching, my career before teaching was in Sales and Marketing positions. I owned my own business for 14 years supplying National food retailers with food packaging, my largest customer being Boost Juice bars.
Scott Watson
Hi, my name is Fletcher Wren.
I have recently graduated from The University of Adelaide, completing a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Teaching. Part of my studies required I practiced teaching under supervision by successful teachers. I decided to complete this at Gladstone High School because of its reputation amongst country schools and because it suited my lifestyle to experience something new.
I was lucky enough to have this opportunity to make a good impression before 2022 and cement myself a job as an early career teacher at this school. This year I will be teaching maths, science, and agriculture to Year 7s, 8s, and 9s.
I look forward to meeting and interacting with the families of the students I teach, with the aim of inspiring, motivating, and encouraging them to succeed.
Fletcher Wren
Welcome Back - Middle School
We are excited to be welcoming our new Year 7 and Year 8 classes to Gladstone High School this week! They are having a unique start to their High School education but seem to be quite excited to have the school mostly to themselves to explore before the older students return to site on February 14.
My experience with Online Learning with our current Year 9s was very positive. While this is a challenging way to start the year, I’m sure they will make the most of it! On their first day back on site students will be assigned their lockers and given time to set these up.
You will soon start to receive communication from your child’s Home Group and Class Teachers, including their contact details and overviews of their Learning and Assessment Plans.
Homework and Diaries
Some subjects will have a structured homework schedule (ie a homework book or contract) while others will have homework set as required. This will be communicated with you and, where possible, also uploaded to the Homework module on Sentral.
We will support new students to use their school diaries to record and manage this. We ask that you support them at home by asking to see their diaries and signing them weekly. Parents and care givers can also use the diaries for communication with teachers.
Camps
At this stage, our Year 7 and Year 8 Aquatics Camps are going ahead as planned. This camp involves no contact with people outside of our school as the campsite is reserved just for us. There will be 3-4 Aquatics Instructors who are employed by the Department for Education running the activities on the water.
Assuming that no further restrictions are in place after the current directions, the camp dates are:
Year 8 – Tuesday 1st March – Thursday 3rd March
Year 7 – Wednesday 23rd March – Friday 25th March
Our Year 9 classes have traditionally participated in the Ski Trip. This has been affected by Covid-19 restrictions for the past three years. Further information about this will be shared when we have it.
Contacts:
If you have any questions or concerns, please never hesitate to get in touch with us. Generally, a phone call to the front office will allow our admin team to direct you to the right person!
If you would like to discuss your child’s learning in a particular subject, the individual teacher is your starting point.
Home Group teachers will support you and your child with questions about organisation, diaries, settling in to their class, etc.
If needed, these teachers may meet with members of the leadership team. If you have broader questions or concerns, my role as the Middle School Coordinator is to support students, families and teachers.
We hope all Middle School Students have a positive start to the year, whether they are at school or learning online.
Kate Seidel - Middle School Coordinator
Welcome to 2022! This year is beginning a lot differently to what we are normally used to, which may result in some added stress and anxiety for our students, especially the ones learning from home. Please take note of the information below that outlines my role.
If you want to chat about your student’s wellbeing, please send me an email via: kate.richardson347@school.sa.edu.au
Kate Cameron – Wellbeing Leader
Student wellbeing leaders in schools
Sometimes students need help to manage things that are happening in their lives. All schools have leaders who support a student’s wellbeing. Student wellbeing leaders can help students develop skills and confidence.
How student wellbeing leaders can help
Student wellbeing leaders work to optimise student learning. They work in partnership with:
- students
- parents and caregivers
- educators
- the broader community.
Student wellbeing leaders offer support to:
- encourage attendance, behaviour and learning at school
- help manage relationships with family, teachers and peers
- manage issues.
They also offer:
- crisis responses
- course and career guidance
- advice, support and referral to therapeutic and other support services beyond the school.
You can talk to the staff at your local school to find out what’s available.
Confidentiality
Student wellbeing leaders keep records of all conversations. They keep your information confidential. Sometimes they might ask for your consent to share your information. This is to help resolve complex problems. They will only share information without your consent if they:
- must do so by law
- are concerned about someone's safety.
Counselling services
These counselling services are based outside of school:
Governing Council AGM - Date to be Confirmed
Are you:
- Keen to see how Gladstone High School works?
- Keen to know the principal, Teachers and other staff well?
- Eager to make a difference in your child’s life?
- Keen to make a difference at Gladstone High School?
- Keen to be a part of an exciting future at Gladstone high School?
Meetings are held twice a term. For more information please contact Gladstone High School on 86622171 or Kathryn Hansen (GC Chairperson 2020) on 0438363123.
We would love for you to be a part of our team!
NOTICEBOARD