17 March 2016

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Hello everyone,

Haven't we had some interesting weather in the last 2 weeks? The humidity has been something many of us are not accustomed to. The weather leading up to and on our Athletics Carnival in particular made preparations for and participation in the Carnival just that little more challenging.

Congratulations to Renee Thamm and the team of staff who supported the students to compete in the best possible manner. House trainings conducted during Pastoral Care time and Physical Education classes continue to be important for students to do their best. The oval preparation was an important part of that work and again many staff were out after school to help. A full report on our Athletics day follows. We now move on to the MNSEC Athletics Carnival in Jamestown next Wednesday.

Year 8 Camp was held at the Aquatics Centre in Port Augusta in Week 5. Well done to students and staff on an excellent camp. A report from the camp, - including many photos is part of this newsletter.

As a school we are highly dependent on buses and therefore bus drivers. Our bus driver group is decreasing and will continue to do so over the next year or two. Having investigated Driver's Licence Classifications the rules are:

• To get a LR Class of licence a person needs to have held a Class C (car) licence for at least one year. The LR qualification is needed to drive our small yellow school bus, carrying 24 students.
• To get a MR licence it is the same as the LR minimum ie a Class C licence for one year. The MR licence is needed to drive our larger yellow school bus which carries 44 students.

There may be some in our community who are interested in becoming a bus driver and already have the driver qualifications listed above. The driver qualification is one part of the requirements of driving a school bus. If you are interested in becoming a bus driver please ring the school and ask to make an appointment to talk with me.

The Student Leaders Induction Assembly was held today. Congratulations to each of our young leaders, your students, on accepting the role of a leader. House Captains, Vice Captains and Junior Captains were also acknowledged today. A report and photos will be part of the next newsletter.

Please remember that tenders for our excess furniture and equipment close at 5pm today. The flyer was an attachment in the last newsletter.

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Thanks to those of you who have already subscribed to this platform.

Denise Higgins – Principal

GOVERNING COUNCIL

Governing Council met Tuesday evening. Scott Watson has filled the Chairperson position for the next 12 months – congratulations Scott. Governing Council would like to inform you about the sub- committees and the members who are part of the committees;

• Agriculture – Fraser Smith
• Canteen – Sonya Wilsdon
• Celebrating Student Success - Monika Jackson and Bev Hennessy
• Ewert Oval – Robyn Kelly
• Finance – Stephen Duffield and Kathryn Hansen
• Fundraising – any Governing Council Rep
• Grounds and Facilities – Fraser Smith
• SFRSC (Stadium) – Scott Watson

Parents, students and community members are welcome on these committees. The Governing Council Representatives reports back to Governing Council at each meeting. If you have any suggestions regarding subcommittees please contact the relevant Governing Council Member. All other Governing Councillors and their positions were listed in a previous newsletter. Governing Council would appreciate help with fundraising – ideas and workers please. Upcoming events include Laura Folk Fair Biscuits, Rocky River Sports Day in the Canteen and later in the year we are organising the sale of wood and mulch after the trees are removed / trimmed.

The BBQ raised more than $500 at the Athletics Carnival – many thanks to all those who helped on the day. Any queries in regard to Governing Council or its role please contact any one of the Governing Councillors.

Robyn Kelly
Governing Council Vice-Chairperson

GOVERNING COUNCIL – THANK YOU

The GHS Governing Council would like to thank the following people for their help on the BBQ and in the Canteen Friday at Sports Day.

Ned Kelly
Kathryn & Levi Hansen
Sonya Wilsdon
Merrilyn Smith
Julia Wardrop
Catherine Combe
Toni Ashby
Chook Harslett
Nina Cousins
Lyn Russell and
Janet Ewans

We also gratefully appreciate the BBQ that we were able to loan from Platinum Ag, Crystal Brook. Thanks to Ben Hook & the team.

Many hands made light work on the day, thank you.

Robyn Kelly
Governing Council Vice-Chairperson

GLADSTONE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS DAY

The Gladstone High School Athletics Day was once again a huge success. A full report from Athletics Day as well as MNSEC Athletics will be in next fortnight's newsletter.

Good luck to all students who have been selected in the MNSEC Athletics team to compete in Jamestown Wednesday 23rd March!

Renee Thamm

YEAR 8 PORT AUGUSTA AQUATICS CAMP REPORT

Mr Bosch, Ms Murrie, Mr Richardson, Ms Baynes and 29 eager students were away at the Port Augusta Aquatics Camp from Wednesday to Friday during Week 5. The purpose of the camp was to get to know each other better, learn new skills and develop team working skills.

When we got to Port Augusta we unpacked and had lunch. The activities we completed over the three days were kayaking, snorkelling, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and orienteering with instructors Simon, Wendy, Drew, Megan, Jared and Steve.

On Thursday night we went down the street to Big W, Sportspower, Intersport, Coles and Woolworths (for lollies which Mr Richardson hated). We also worked in small teams to play a simulation game called 'Survival' where most of us were lucky enough to survive a small plane crash in snowy Northern Canada.

Another reason we went on Camp was to elect our Year 8 Student Leaders. We decided that the skills our leaders required were; honesty, leadership, kindness, communication skills, empathy, confidence, responsibility and many more. After nominations and a short speech we elected Emily Ashby and Will Smart.

On behalf of our Year 8 group, we would like to thank our instructors, our parents and caregivers for allowing us to go and donating food, the teachers and Mr Bosch for planning the event.

Emily Ashby, Josh Clements and Palika Blanch

SSSSA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

On Tuesday 8th of March, 9 students from Gladstone High School attended the SSSSA Swimming at the Aquatic Centre in Marion. The MNSEC team consisted of swimmers from Booleroo Centre District School, Quorn Area School, Jamestown Community School and Gladstone High School. The swimmers competed in Division B, and competed against Cornerstone, Glenunga, Scotch, St Ignatius, St Michaels, CBC, Loreto, Pulteney, Walford, St Mary's and Blackfriars.

Our swimmers were competitive again this year. Everyone swam well against the Adelaide schools that have facilities to train all year round.

Overall the girls came 4th and the boys were 9th, this placed us fifth overall. The Gladstone High School students results were as follows; Chloe Smart – 6th Open 100m Freestyle, 3rd 50m Freestyle,7th 50m Backstroke, Hannah Watson – 6th 50m Butterfly, 4th Backstroke,2nd 50m Breastroke, 3rd Freestyle, Alice Jackson – 6th Backstroke, 9th 50m Freestyle, Ben Treasure – 3rd Breaststroke, 8th 50m Freestyle, Aynsley Samuel – 3rd 50m Backstroke 3rd 50m Freestyle, Emily Smart – 5th Freestyle Tahlia Chapman – 1st 50m Breastroke, Chelsea Chapman-McInerney U16 Freestyle relay and Adam Jackson- U15 and U16 Freestyle relay. Thanks to Vanessa Watson for time keeping on the night.

Congratulations to all the Swimmers.

Julia Murrie

ROCKY RIVER SPORTS DAY CANTEEN HELPERS REQUIED

Rocky River Sports Day (Combined Primary Schools Sports Day) is being held on the Gladstone High School oval on Friday 1st April. This is a fundraiser for the our canteen so if you are available to help any time between 10:00am and 1:30pm, please phone Janet the Canteen Manager on 8662 2171 at Gladstone High School with your preference of time.

COMMUNITY NEWS

ADAM JACKSON MENS NATIONAL HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS FUNDRAISER