16 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

On Wednesday 15th March an assembly was held to induct the 2017 Gladstone High School Student Leaders.

My expectations of Student Leaders are high. I have high hopes for all leaders, like all our students here at GHS; who are among the best and brightest any community has to offer.

Students Leaders in our school have all long been tasked with the responsibility of representing the student voice in our school. Why is this important?

Student voice should be the loudest and most listened to voice in our school. This is your place, this is your future, and there are no do overs on growing up. You can’t go back and do it again.

I have a challenge to our leaders this year and that challenge is to increase your voice. I want to know how you feel about coming to school here. I want to know your dreams and aspirations for the future and I want to know how we can help you get there.

It is important that as leaders you model how important learning is, because after all learning is what we do here!

But alongside of that is the importance of taking responsibility for your own part in the learning conversation.

Student leadership is not just about representing the school at important events, at assemblies or leading meetings about what you want at lunch and recess.

Student leadership is about inspiring others to be better and helping others to lead. My job as leader of this school is to nurture that leadership potential in all of you, in your teachers and in each and every student who enrols here.

What do I think are the keys to this?

1. Listening
2. Doing what you say you will do – following through
3. Not just doing your best but aiming to be amazing – ordinary is not good enough.
4. Standing up for what you believe and not being afraid to say it and live it.
5. Helping others to be amazing too.

By doing these things, we can all be leaders everyday

One of the hardest parts of being a leader is drowning out the other voices, the people who want to hold you back, the people who don’t like change, the people who are afraid or don’t understand.

Let me tell you a little story about the other voices.

Once there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a vertical race. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd gathered around the tower to see the race and to ostensibly cheer on the contestants.
Honestly, no one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. There were whispers and mutterings like:
"Way too difficult!!"
"They'll never make it to the top!"
"The tower is too high!"
"The frogs are too small and weak!"
And true enough, after an initial spurt of energy, the frogs began collapsing.
The crowd continued to yell:
"No one's gonna make it!"
More and more of the tiny frogs fell prey to exhaustion and gave up.
But ONE continued climbing higher and higher and higher...
This one wouldn't give up!
Finally, to the disbelief and amazement of the crowd, that one frog reached the top!
The other frogs were stunned. More than just stunned. They were embarrassed. It turns out that none of them actually believed any one of them could make it to the top. So how did that one little frog complete the feat with his small webbed feet?
Well, it turns out that the winning frog did not listen!

So what we can learn from this story about leadership?
Leadership is about influencing others to do things willingly.

As leaders of students, your teachers remember who each of you are every day and they strive to encourage your hearts and minds - not by striking fear into them but by listening and helping you grow and develop. A true leader encourages the hearts of their people to carry on by showing genuine acts of caring, saying kind words and encouraging all to push on to reach the shared goal. If you can make sure that you are clear and stand strong on your beliefs then you learn to not listen to the negative voices. Make sure that your words and actions are the same – lead by example by doing and saying, in this way we can all be leaders.

On this note, I would to congratulate all our Student Leaders on their appointments.

Continue to strive to do your best and work with the school to make it even more amazing.

Kathleen Hoare
Principal

2017 GOVERNING COUNCIL

On Tuesday 14 March we held the AGM for the GHS Governing Council.

I would like to thank all the parents who attended the AGM and continue to support our school as either members of the council or as members of our general parent community.

We successfully filled four of the six vacancies on council and are continuing to seek support to fill the remaining two positions. If you think you are able to support the student community of Gladstone High School as a councillor please let us know through the Front Office.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Council members for their service to and support of the GHS community. Many of our councillors have served more than one term and have been involved in significant fundraising, volunteering and committee work during their time on Council. The school would not run without their support.

Thanks to Robyn Kelly, Monika Jackson and Bev Hennessy.

We welcome as returning members of the Council, Catherine Combe, Stephen Duffield, Scott Watson, Scott Crawford, Fraser Smith, Sonya Wilsdon, and Kathryn Hansen. Finally we welcome our newest member of council, Brooke Hodgson.

If you wish to consider nominating for Council or have any matters you would like addressed please feel free to contact any of the 2017 Governing Councillors or myself.

Kathleen Hoare
Principal

2017 Grape Harvest

The 2017 Grape harvest began in earnest this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. All students helped with the harvest of approximately 3 ½ tonnes of grapes. The grapes were then shipped off to our partner winemakers Stonebridge Wines in Sevenhill ready for the beginnings of the GHS 2017 Shiraz. A portion of the grapes are reserved here at school for the Year 11 Chemistry class to undertake their own in house wine making process. Big thanks to all our community partners, staff and students who supported this year’s harvest.

YEAR 8 AQUATIC’S CAMP

Some quotes from the students Year 8 camp.

The thing I liked was windsurfing because it was so easy. Akasha
Out of all the activities my favourite was sailing. Hugh
My favourite activities were kayaking and sailing because I am good at paddling and sailing because it is fun and is good for teambuilding. Max
I enjoyed all of the activities but I really enjoyed kayaking. Caleb
I enjoyed wind surfing and the catamarans because it was good to always try again if you had fallen off. Samantha
My favourite activity was windsurfing because it was a challenge. It wasn’t like anything else, it was unique. Chelsea

PARENT/CAREGIVERS TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 11th April between 3.30pm and 6.30pm. Booking details will be included in the next newsletter.

LAURA FOLK FAIR BISCUIT STALL – 1ST APRIL 2017

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED

Well it's that time of the year again to pop the apron on and get baking to support Gladstone High School in one of its major fund raising events.

For new parents/caregivers we hold a fundraiser at the Laura Folk Fair selling biscuits. As we have fewer students this year your support in this event is essential to make it a success.

We would appreciate donations of biscuits or money by Thursday 30th March to the Front Office. Quantity of biscuits required to fill 2x large ice cream containers (or biscuits made up of 2kg of flour) the more colourful the better, however we are appreciative of any sort of biscuit.

Importantly, we also require people to volunteer their time for packing the biscuits on Friday 31st March from 1.30 pm in the library.

Please consider offering your time, the roster is attached. We do appreciate your help.

Contact: Merrilyn Smith 0427632354, Catherine Combe 0429866322, or
Kylie Sawley 0429029561

GLADSTONE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS DAY

The Gladstone High School Athletics Day was once again a huge success. Congratulations to the winners – Sullivan. 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, who will be competing in Adelaide on Tuesday 21st March.

Renee Thamm

STUDENT HOUSE LEADERS

SSSSA SWIMMING

On Tuesday 7th of March 8 students from Gladstone High School attended the SSSSA Swimming at the Aquatic Centre in Marion. The MNSEC team consisted of swimmers from Booleroo Centre DS, Quorn, Jamestown, Peterborough and Gladstone. The swimmers competed in Division B, they competed against Pembroke, Brighton, Scotch, St Ignatius, Tatachilla Lutheran College, CBC, Mercedes College, Loreto College, St Aloysius, Walford Anglican College, St Mary’s College and Blackfriars Priory School.

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 finished 5th and the boys were 4th which placed us fourth overall. The Gladstone High School student’s results were as follows;

Chloe Smart 7th Open 50m Butterfly, 3rd 50m Backstroke, 3rd 50m Breaststroke, 7th 100m Freestyle & 4th 50m Freestyle

Hannah Watson 6th 50m Butterfly, 3rd 50m Backstroke, 6th 50m Breaststroke & 3rd 50m Freestyle

Casey Cleggett 5th in backstroke, 2nd 50m Breaststroke 9th & 50m Freestyle,

Aynsley Samuel 7th 50m Backstroke,
Tahlia Chapman 4th 50m Breaststroke,
Rachael Hodgson 6th 50m Freestyle,
Jack McCoy 5th 50m Freestyle
Ellen Crisp 8th Open Freestyle Relay

Thanks to those Parents who supported and did time keeping for our team.
Congratulations to all the Swimmers.

JAMES TREASURE

Regional Skills Training recently held their annual Graduation Dinner on Friday, 3rd February at the Festival Function Centre in Findon. James who completed Year 11 last year, attended the night to receive his award.

CANTEEN THANK YOU

Thank you to the following volunteers who gave their time and assisted in the Canteen at the GHS Sports Day on 9th March.

Jo Duffield
Cathy Combe
Becara Hands
Kevin Brice
Tammie Nettle
Kathryn Hansen
Jody Baker
Sonya Wilsdon

Your help was very much appreciated.

Lyn Russell and the GHS Canteen Committee.

COMMUNITY NEWS

RANGERS SOCCER CLUB

Would you like to play SOCCER???

Rangers Soccer Club invites all new players and existing players to our
“Come & Try/ Registration Day”
Tuesday 28th March
Gladstone High School Oval 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
For all school aged children
(U 6’s, U 8’s, U 10’s, Primary & High School)
Coaching positions also available

For more info- Contact Tracey Cunningham P: 86622246 / 0428 314 596
E: conynghamcottage@bigpond.com