2 February 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Welcome to the 2017 academic year.

We have had an amazingly smooth start to the year this week. All classes are settled and running smoothly. We have been super impressed with the fabulous way all our new students have begun their year here at GHS.

The Year 8 classes have begun preparing for our first major event next week – Year 8 Acquaintance Night and we hope to see you all at 6pm on Wednesday 8 February.

I would like to share with you a quick update on our Class of 2016 Graduates.

We congratulate Tori Griggs on achieving the DUX of the school with an impressive ATAR of 91.75 and 5 A grades! In addition we congratulate Jack Flavel and Larry Klingner who also achieved ATARs in the 90’s.

Tori is heading off to Adelaide to study a Bachelor of Education, we are sure she will be an outstanding teacher. Along with Tori, 13 other student also successfully gained entry to University, that’s an amazing 58% of our students attending University – congratulations to you all. We can’t wait to hear all your news when you are next in the neighbourhood.

Here is a snapshot of the results:

92% SACE completion – 22 of 24 students
75% students achieved an ATAR, 14 of 15 students received a University offer.
97% passing grades - 18% A grades 43% B grades 36% C grades
100% passed Research Project
9 students received grades in the A band.

I am sure you will agree this is an impressive set of results – the Class of 2017 has high standards to meet!

We will publish more information about our graduates after the Dux Assembly.

Of course academic achievement is not possible without a number of supporting factors and I would like to ask for your continued commitment around ensuring your child/children:

• attend school at least 95% of the time – that means less than 10 school days absent in the whole year
• are organised and prepared for their lessons with appropriate materials
• wear school uniform to support an ethos of pride in our school community
• are willing to work towards achieving their educational goals.

I look forward to seeing you at various events as the year unfolds. I am particularly seeking support in nominations from parents to join our Governing Council. This is a great way to support and influence your child’s education. Please join us on Thursday, Week 4, at the AGM.

As always I am available at school by phone or email if you wish to discuss your child’s progress at any time.

Regards

Kathleen Hoare
Principal

NEW STAFF 2017

EMILY JOHNS

My name is Emily Johns and I have just graduated from the University of Southern Queensland. I have a passion for my subject of Visual Art and Science. I have a dog called Ruffus and a partner in Adelaide who is a builder. I feel privileged to be at Gladstone High School and look forward to being a part of the community.

LOUISE SIMMONS

My name is Louise Simmons and I am teaching Year 9 Caregroup, HASS and English as well as Year 10 English. This is my third year of teaching and in that time I have also worked at John Pirie Secondary School, where I enjoyed teaching Music and Drama; I look forward to starting a lunch time Drama club here at Gladstone. I live in Port Pirie with my husband Dillon who spends his days writing, playing and teaching music, and my dog Sasha, who spends her days sleeping, chewing on parts of our garden and running around chasing nothing. When I’m not teaching I love to watch movies, bake and decorate cakes, play netball and take part in community theatre. I’m excited to be teaching here at Gladstone High this year and I am very much enjoying getting to know the staff, my students and the community.

DAMIEN ATKINS

I have three kids Connor, Mackenzie & Phoebe and a partner Jacquie who teaches at John Pirie Secondary School. I have been working in DECD for 3 years – SSO (ICT) John Pirie 2014/15, SSO (Classroom Support) Risdon Park Primary 2015/16, Gladstone High 2017. Before starting at DECD I was a stay at home Dad for all 3 of my kids, Connor is now in Year 12, Mackenzie Year 10 at JPSS and Phoebe is in year 6 at RPPS. I love spending time with my kids, whether it’s taking them down to watch the Crows play, going on holidays or just hanging out with them. I have a Racing simulator and started a not for profit club Oceanic Sim Racing with two mates in 2012. We currently have over 1500 members worldwide including Shane Van Gisbergen Current V8 Supercar Champion, Scott McLaughlin & Will Davison. With special events we run we have raised over $15,000 for the McGrath Foundation and Kids with Cancer. I look forward to working with staff and students here at Gladstone High School.

EMMA PAPARELLA

My name is Emma Paparella. I am originally from Adelaide, but moved to Port Pirie 5 years ago. I am a deaf translator and work as an SSO here at Gladstone High School. In my spare time I enjoy running, playing lacrosse and juggling.

SCHOOL NEWS

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

Our whole school photo day is Thursday 9th February 2017. Individual student order packs have been sent home and must be returned to the photographer on the day with payment. Students not requiring any photos must still bring in their envelope for scanning. If you require family photos for siblings only, the order pack can be collected from the Front Office of the school

GOVERNING COUNCIL AGM

Gladstone High School
Annual General Meeting
Thursday 23rd February 2017
Time: 7.00pm
Resource Centre - All Welcome

CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Welcome back to the 2017 school year.

As the new canteen manager this year, I look forward to welcoming back all of our wonderful canteen volunteers as well as seeing some fresh new faces.

Our school canteen relies on the support of volunteers to ensure we can deliver the highest quality food possible, every school day for students. If you have one or more days per term to spare, we would love to see you. Volunteering in the canteen is from 10.30am until 1.30pm.

For further information and requirements please contact the school on 86622171

Thanks,
Lyn Russell
Canteen Manager

P.E TOPS ORDER

To cater for all new students and to those students who wish to replace/renew shirts, we will be ordering G.H.S. PE polo tops for 2017. The house name will be printed on the back of each shirt in the relevant house colour.

The tops should be ready to collect before GHS Athletics day. A letter was sent home with each Year 8 and other new students. If you think your child requires a new P.E top, orders are available from the Front Office.

THANK YOU!

A huge THANK YOU to all those families who have so promptly paid the Materials and Services charge already.

Please do not hesitate to contact me

• if you wish to pay by instalments
• if you wish to pay by EFTPOS
• if you require a School Card Application
• if you wish to pay via Direct Debit

Thank you in anticipation.

Sue Foulis
Finance Officer

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER INFORMATION UPDATE

As a reminder to all families of Gladstone High School we would like to remind you that we produce an eNewsletter format with Schoolzine. The move to this new format has enabled us to communicate with the school community across multiple channels. It will promote and enhance our engagement with parents, students and the wider community.

We believe you’ll find the eNewsletter highly engaging, as it will provide us with a more efficient and effective means of connecting with you. The new format will allow the inclusion of video, photo galleries, online bookings, mobile app, feedback forms, calendars and so much more.

Our enewsletters are produced on a fortnightly basis and just for this first week we have sent a paper copy home with all year level students so you can subscribe to future newsletters. You can subscribe by clicking the link below or you can also download the free SZapp to receive our newsletters on your device.

You can also follow us on Facebook @ gladstonehs and follow the link for our page to our newsletter.

Limited copies will be printed and are available at the Front Office of the school or at local shopping outlets in surrounding towns.

We know how important it is to be able to quickly contact parents during emergency situations. With this in mind in conjunction with Schoolzine, GHS now provides SMS capabilities for all parents. We now have another method of quick communication for parents to use. Using our Gladstone HS – 0427708443 contact number to text message which then converts to email for our Admin team to follow up.

Our new free Schoolzine App has just been released so that we are able to quickly communicate with parents across multiple channels. We have included instructions on how to install this app on apple and android devices. Once installed you will receive notifications on the release of the newsletter which you can view and any other notifications sent to specific groups. You will be also able to use the contact form to submit communication to us and view our digital calendar on this app at any time on your mobile.

Did you know that we offer online forms?

We have school forms available on the enewsletter that you can view and print to ensure they reach you and make it back to school once they are complete.

Online eforms are a great way of ensuring that all parents receive school forms, either via our enewsletter or a newsflash via the app.

Gladstone High School has a new app!

SZapp is a great way to keep up to date with all of our latest news and information. Using SZapp will give you easy access to information such as:

• Newsletters on the go
• Latest News & Reminders
• Calendar
• Forms and Documents
• Contact Forms