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Our first exam for the year 12’s will be on Monday and we wish all of our students the very best for these as they finish these final tasks over the next few weeks. The staff thoroughly enjoyed the traditional breakfast provided by the students last Friday.
Next Thursday (10th November) we will have our final Student Free Day for the year. The focus of the day will be the development of the Site Improvement Plan for 2023 and curriculum planning using version 9 of the Australian Curriculum.
We currently have a few staffing changes for 2023 and are pleased to have some current contract staff: Max Rutjens, Scott Watson, and Fletcher Wren, returning. Both Nicola Wright and Jacqui Edge are taking leave for 2023. Alison Johnson will step into the role of Senior School Coordinator, and Michael Bennett will be one of the Agricultural teachers in 2023. Luke Bartlett and Tyler Norton have accepted positions in different schools for next year to be closer to family and we wish them all the best. We hope to have our staffing organised in the next few weeks.
This week we had our transition evening for current year 6’s and their families to share information regarding the camp, curriculum and expectations. Many families also took the opportunity to purchase uniforms in preparation for the two formal school days on 8th and 9th December.
The canteen is still seeking volunteers for the remainder of the year. We would also love to have another person employed in the canteen in either a relief or part-time capacity. If you know anyone who may be interested please let the school know.
Tyler Hogan - Principal
On the Friday of Week 2, Term 4, the Year 12 Cohort gathered early in the morning to put on a feast for their teachers and themselves, to celebrate the official end of formal lessons! They were on time, worked beautifully as a team and served the meal with smiles and lots of effort. Special thanks to Samuel on the BBQ, and Bodi on Coffees, who did not stop all morning! All students then visited each and every teacher and staff member, offering thanks, handshakes and gifts; this was appreciated very much by the staff. Students celebrated together with a lunch at the North Laura, before exam preparations began. They are now finishing off major assignments and preparing for exams, an exciting, stressful and important time. The finish line is near!
Jackie McAllister - Yr 12 Homegroup Teacher
As you would be aware, COVID restrictions in Term 1 meant that we were unable to hold our Swimming Carnival before the end of the pool season. We have rescheduled this event for Tuesday 22nd November (Week 6, Term 4).
The structure of the day will be:
8:30am-11am – Buses arrive at school, regular timetabled lessons until recess
11am – depart GHS to walk to the pool (some student/house leaders will go early to set up), time to get changed
11:30am-2:30pm – Swimming Carnival Program
2:30pm-3:00pm – Supervised free time
3:00pm – Pack up, changed and waiting for buses (students will be dismissed from the pool)
Parents/carers/family members welcome!
We would also appreciate volunteers for the canteen, BBQ and timing. Please contact the school if you are able to help ?
Please note: Small children will not be able to access the children’s pool.
What students will need:
- Bathers, towel (goggles/swim cap – optional)
- Hat, sunscreen, T-shirt with sleeves to wear when not in the pool
- Water bottle
- Lunch and snacks (or money for the BBQ/canteen)
This is a normal school day and attendance is expected. There will be a range of events where noodles and other floaties are used and jobs to help with for students who aren’t keen to swim. We are planning a fun day of teamwork and community!
Students are encouraged to bring floaty rings etc for the Swim Through – a fun event including all age groups to get as many laps as possible within 5 mins to earn extra points for your house!
Sports Committee
The year 10 students travelled to Adelaide on the 25th of October. Day 1 started off with students getting an orientation of the city and some time to explore the train station and Rundle Mall. We then split into groups where students had the opportunity to visit UNISA, GHD Engineering and the Adelaide Institute of Hospitality. The students that visited UNISA were provided with the opportunity to see the anatomy labs the radiographers used to complete scans.
Our accommodation was at the Warradale Urban camp and was conveniently located five minutes from the Oaklands Park Railway Station. Throughout the camp, the students needed to organise their own transport to and from the various businesses and study institutions. On the first night of the camp, the students were treated to a delicious dinner at Fasta Pasta in Brighton.
On the second day, the students had the choice to attend the Tonsley Tafe Campus, Adelaide University and the Adelaide College of the Arts for the morning session. I attended the Tonsley Tafe Campus where they predominantly focus on trades and was extremely impressed with the facilities available. Inside the campus, they had buildings in multiple stages of development for the students to further their skills and collaborate with other trades. Students who attended the Adelaide College of Arts were given a tour of all the different facets of the specialist areas the college offers in regard to Arts. Students were then given the opportunity to visit the Jam Factory and watch glass blowing and tour the current art exhibition on the modern interpretation of driftwood.
In the afternoon, we all met at the Adelaide Zoo and students were given an insight into the jobs encompassing working in or at a Zoo. They were then treated to a Penguin Feeding presentation by one of the keepers, allowing students to see some of the requirements of the role of a Zookeeper. After the presentation, they were given time to explore and interact with the animals in the Zoo before heading back to camp. That night at camp, they had to prepare and cook a BBQ dinner for their evening meal.
On Thursday, students went to Lumination or Adelaide oval. At Lumination, they were introduced to emerging online learning tools and VR technology. Students were given the opportunity to use VR technology to ‘control’ a robot whose job it is to sort recycling materials, giving them inside experience of where this technology could potentially be used in the future.
In the afternoon multiple sessions were run, these were MTA, Adelaide TAFE and OMD Media. At MTA students were given a tour of the facilities and given information on the different courses they provide and information about time commitments and where a trade like this can take you in the future. Here students were also given an opportunity to demonstrate their current motor skills in changing a tyre in a game called Pit Stop, and able to operate some drift remote-controlled cars.
On the last day, the students travelled to Flinders University and then the Tonsley Stem Centre. At Flinders University, we were given a tour of the campus which included classrooms, accommodation and lecture theatres. At the Stem Centre, students were guided through programming a robot as well as some of the innovative programs that were being run at the centre.
Luke Bartlett - Teacher
On Wednesday 2nd November we held an information evening for the families of students who will be commencing Year 7 at GHS in 2023. We provided specific information to help make the transition to high school as smooth as possible including:
- Important dates for Term 1 (Swimming and Athletics Carnivals etc)
- Camp information and equipment list
- Curriculum and equipment information
- Uniform information and the opportunity to purchase uniforms
Thank you to all of the families who were able to attend. If you or someone you know was unable to make it, please contact the school and we will be happy to provide copies of the information that was shared.
I would also like to thank all of the Gladstone High staff who stayed late or came back into school to support this event. It’s lovely for the new Year 7 students and their families to get to know their future teachers prior to transition. Special mentions to Ali Gulin for organising the information packs, Deb Davis for setting up the library (including some lovely fresh flowers!) and Stephen Bosch, Max Rutjens and Josh Palmer for the BBQ.
We are looking forward to the two full-day transition visits which will happen on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th December.
Kate Seidel - Middle School Coordinator
Year 9 Visual Art students have been looking at Contemporary and Digital Art this semester. They have investigated digital illustrations, animation, sound art, and Augmented and Virtual Reality processes that artists can use. After building skills students produced a finished Augmented Reality (AR) artwork that are being proudly displayed on our new picture rails in the hallways!
Their work consists of a still A3 image, most were digitally rendered using the iPads, which was a cartoon version of themselves. They also created a digital animation by creating multiple frames, and exploring loops and settings of the video - The animation shows a superpower they wish they had. Finally, they created a sound file to complement their work. The files are linked to create an AR Artwork using a program called EyeJack.
Students can download EyeJack, scan the QR code next to the artworks, and their phone will then read the artwork like a QR code itself - before your eyes it comes to life and has sound!
Well done to all Year 9 Visual Art students who have challenged themselves to learn new technology and present something so cohesive!
Miss McAllister - Art Teacher
In recent weeks, Mr Rutjens’ Year 9 PE classes have participated in a short unit on Golf. We have mostly been refining our golf strokes on the oval, but with the wet weather of late keeping local golf courses in premium condition, there was absolutely no reason not to head to a course and apply our skills on actual fairways (and roughs). Students were bussed to Gladstone Golf Course and played Ambrose-style in groups of 2-5 (everyone hits and play continues from the best ball). The weather on the day was beautiful – overcast but not cold – and made for an extremely enjoyable day out. Massive thanks to Dennis Webster who is a great contact to have and a volunteer who puts in long hours for his club. He loved seeing so many young people enjoying his local course and having a good time. Many thanks also to Spog Foulis and Ali Gulin for helping organise the excursion, and to Barry Martin for transporting us.
Max Rutjens - PE Teacher
Over the last few weeks, the Ag department has been working hard to get the gardens and orchard ready for next years produce. Year 10’s have completed an assessment on how to Prune a Fruit Tree, learning the shape, structure, disease care and proper pruning techniques required for horticultural trees. Some images are below to show the student's progress while completing this unit.
Additionally, the Year 8’s have been working hard to prepare the soil in their gardens for the planting of the summer vegetables, which will be ready for harvest at the start of 2023. While preparing the soil they were learning about the importance of proper soil management and fertiliser applications. Some photos below show some produce grown by the students during the first half of the year and students using garden tools to turn the soil over and applying raw fertiliser to the gardens which is collected from the animals cared for throughout the year.
Nicola Wright - Ag Teacher
Gladstone High School submitted five Year 9/10 mixed netball teams to compete in the MNSEC Fast5 Netball tournament which took place on home soil on Wednesday the 21st of September. Fast5 Netball is an incredibly fast-paced version of traditional netball. There are 5 players on the court at all times, with both Wing Defence and Wing Attack positions being removed from the field. This creates a highly fluid and energetic game. All GHS teams performed admirably but, unfortunately, weren’t able to make the finals. Footage of Gladstone High students was recorded on the day and was used to much success as part of various performance analysis tasks in HPE lessons.
Max Rutjens - PE Teacher
On Wednesday morning we celebrated World Teachers Day with a Morning Tea to thank our teachers for all the hard work and dedication they deliver to students at Gladstone High School.
Despite the challenges of the last two years teachers bring their best to work and continue to put their students first.
THANK YOU
A wonderful small group of students and a couple of teachers/SSO’s have recently formed a GHS Book Club. We have been meeting for one lunchtime a week and discussing books that we are currently reading or want to read. We have been able to share ideas and recommendations and look forward to more discussions together to share our love of books.
Some of the books we would recommend are:
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
If you are interested in joining us, or have any suggestions of enjoyable books you have read, please let us know.
Mrs Cameron and Sarah Treasure
The M&S Charge for 2023 will be presented at the next Governing Council meeting on Tuesday 8th November 2022 for approval.
In lieu of attendance at the meeting, parents, caregivers or independent students can express their views in writing to the Chairperson of the Governing Council prior to the meeting.
Sue Foulis - Finance Manager
