5 May 2016

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Welcome to the start of Term 2, I am delighted to be here as your Principal for the next 5 years.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself with a little bit of my background. I have taught for 24 years in a range of schools in Adelaide. I have worked in juvenile and adult detention, secondary schools, B-12 schools, alternative learning sites and in regional and state offices. My last school was Mark Oliphant College in Adelaide's northern suburbs where I was a foundation member of the College Executive Leadership team for 6 ½ years. Mark Oliphant had a student population in excess of 1600 and a staff of approximately 150, so I am very much looking forward to working in a smaller, close knit community.

I am passionate about education and believe very strongly in public education and the need for equity of access for all children regardless of their economic or geographic circumstances.

I have been very impressed by the quality of teaching and learning I have observed in my first week here at GHS and the ongoing high academic achievement of students is further evidence of the good practice that clearly exists within the school. I am looking forward to working with staff, students and parents to continue to develop learning opportunities for all students at Gladstone.

On a personal note, I spent a great deal of my childhood living in various places between Leigh Creek and Broken Hill. Both sets of my grandparents and my parents were Leigh Creek locals for many years and I have a great affiliation with that part of the world and it was with great sadness I saw the last train on its journey to Leigh Creek recently. In essence I consider myself to be a child of the Flinders!

I look forward to meeting many of you as the Term progresses and if you wish to come in and say hi, please do not hesitate to do so. In particular, I am available to discuss any aspect of your child's academic progress that you are concerned about. Please contact the Front Office to arrange a time that suits you.

Regards
Kathleen Hoare – Principal

YEAR 8 TO YEAR 12 PARENT SCHOOL INTERVIEWS

Year 8 to Year 12 Parent – Teacher Interviews will be held from 3:30pm to 7:00pm on Tuesday 10th May and from 3:30pm to 5:30pm on Wednesday 11th May.

You can now book interviews at times that suit your family best by accessing the link displayed here

Instructions included as a PDF document to guide you when booking your appointments. You will also find a Map of the school indicating the room teachers will be conducting the interviews.

For parents that don't have access to the internet at home, at work, at a friend's house or on their phones, may send a note to school with the approximate times they require, or phone the school on 86622171. Interviews are strictly 15mins and spaces are limited. If you require more time, please contact your teacher directly to make alternative arrangements.

Parents can change their interview bookings any time prior to the closing date, by re-visiting the enewsletter link or the website. Remember to use the same name and email address used when you made your original booking. Parents wishing to change their interview times after the closing date, should contact the school directly on: 86622171

ANZAC DAY

On the 25th of April Sharni Chapman and I attended the Gladstone ANZAC day ceremony and laid the wreath on behalf of Gladstone High School. It was a beautiful ceremony and makes you realise what those soldiers and other people in the armed forces did for us a long time ago. Their sacrifices made Australia the great country it is today. I would like to thank Mrs Cameron for organising the wreath, attending with us and for bringing us delicious coffee.

Tom Harslett

ANZAC Day

SSSSA ATHLETICS ADELAIDE

On Thursday 14th April 16 students from Gladstone High School travelled to SANTOS Stadium to compete in the SSSSA Athletics Carnival. Our team consisted of students from Booleroo District School, Jamestown Community School, Peterborough High School, Quorn Area School and Orroroo Area School. This year students were competing in "A" grade division 1 which meant all events were very competitive. The team included the following students with their best results;

Kael Ambjerg-Pedersen -1st Triple Jump where he achieved a standard time, 2nd 400m, 6th Hurdles
Brody Macfarlane – 8th Long Jump
Nigel Kleinig – 5th 800m
Charlie Head – 4 x 100m Relay
Matilda Zander – 5th Hurdles, 8th in 100m
Millie Smart – Javelin
Nash Macfarlane – 2nd Long Jump, 4th in Hurdles
Jake Clements – 3rd High Jump
Taryn Kelly -7th Long Jump
Noah Zwar – Hurdles
Tahlia Chapman – 6th in Hurdles, Long Jump and Triple Jump
Will Smart – High Jump
Emily Ashby – 4th Triple Jump, 6th 200m and 8th in 800m
Elyce Malycha – 100m
Madeline Hansen – 4th High Jump
Lauren Ferme- 6th Discus

Overall the MNSEC schools finished in 8th place. Well done to all competitors thanks to Hanley's for providing the transport to Adelaide.

SOLID START CONFERENCE

On Tuesday 12th of April Judy Crosby, Kerrilyn Elmer, Phoebe Brice and I attended the Solid State Conference in Whyalla, at the University of South Australia. This Conference was for students with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background. The day consisted of people that have graduated or still currently at University completing a degree involved with the health industry, and talking about their experiences. Adelaide University and Flinders University stalls were also there, and it was great to talk to professionals about a concern, or gain more of an insight for a future degree that you may be interested in. There were interactive sessions where we walked around the University of SA to different stations and various health professionals. Overall it was a very informative day filled with inspirational people telling their stories of how they got where they are today, and it made me certain that I would like to attend university and choose a degree involved within the health industry. Our last speaker, who was the first Indigenous Nurse to graduate, spoke of the importance of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience and encouraged the young Indigenous people to never give up as they reach for their goals.

Ethan Langenberg

Solid Start Conference

CANTEEN FUNDRAISER

Thank you to the following ladies who worked tirelessly in the Canteen during the Rocky River Sports Day last term;

Janet Evans, Lyn Russell, Cathy Combe, Isa Paech & Robyn Kelly Catering for the Rocky River Sports Day is a major Fundraiser for the Canteen, and we appreciate your efforts.

GHS Canteen Committee