7 September 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS – SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS?

Do you want to be a teacher in Victoria? If you answered yes, a new test has been introduced this year in an attempt to better identify students who are entering into the teaching profession.

What does this look like?

Universities have introduced the admission test that comes in the form of responses to a range of video scenarios that involve conflict and various levels of emotional distress. Applicants are asked to verbally respond to the scenarios. The test is designed to examine non-academic skills like ethics, empathy, communication, resilience, judgement and teamwork.

The thinking behind this is that these Social Emotional skills are an important indicator of an applicant’s suitability to the profession. That future teachers' non-academic qualities, including their motivation to teach, strong interpersonal and communication skills, willingness to learn, resilience, self-efficacy, conscientiousness, and organisational and planning skills need to be considered alongside of their academic qualifications.

Victorian Tertiary Institutions are not the only ones who think this way.

There have been many articles published in the last 10 years that list the ‘new skills’ employers are seeking.

These include:

1. Acting as a team player – this means not only being cooperative, but also displaying strong leadership skills when necessary.
2. Flexibility – this is an extremely valuable asset to employees. Those who can adapt to any situation are dependable no matter what's thrown at them.
3. Effective communication – this is paramount to almost any job.
   Communication involves articulating oneself well, being a good listener and using appropriate body language.
4. Problem-solving and resourcefulness – no matter what your profession, these skills are critical when unexpected issues inevitably arise.
5. Accepting feedback – not only accepting feedback gracefully, but also applying that feedback, fosters professional growth.
6. Confidence is key – that being said, it's also important to always have the knowledge and skills to support self-assurance. By being confident and capable, your supervisors, employees, and clients will believe in what you are saying.
7. Creative thinking – being able to come up with unique solutions or alternatives is invaluable; it drives innovation and increases efficiency.

What are the benefits of Social and Emotional Learning?

A 2017 research review found that SEL programs that focus on

• Self-awareness
• Social awareness
• Self-management
• Decision making
• Relationship skills

can promote academic success and increase positive behaviour, while reducing misconduct, substance abuse, and emotional distress for students. In addition, effective SEL programs are enhanced when schools partner with families and when they are culturally and linguistically sensitive (Dusenbury & Weissberg, 2017).

What do you think? How can we better teach our students these skills Can we measure Social and Emotional Learning? How would you rate?

Kathleen Hoare
Principal

AUSLAN AT GHS

Did you know - we have a visiting Auslan specialist working with staff and students a number of times a term.

On these days our expert Claire runs an Auslan lesson for all our Year 8’s and any interested staff.

Check out the video of our latest lesson when everyone sang Happy Birthday to our resident expert Emma!

BREAKFAST CLUB FRIDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER

I strongly believe the old saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Food at the start of the day can bring families together and begin the day in a positive fashion. If you don't eat breakfast you have no fuel to power your brain in the morning.

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day!

• Breakfast breaks your overnight fast.
• Breakfast refuels your energy stores.
• Breakfast kick starts the metabolism.
• Breakfast provides us with the energy to keep us going throughout the day.

On Friday 8th September we are holding a Breakfast Club for the students of Gladstone High School to help start the day on a positive note. We would love students to join us in the Home Ec centre to enjoy

Cereals
Muffins
Toasted Sandwiches
Pancakes
Fruit Juice

We hope to see the students there

Mr Friedrichs

STUDENTS EXPLORE STEM CAREERS

From the 17-21st of July Akasha Smith participated in the inaugural National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) STEM Explorers program.

Over 80 Year 7 and 8 students from 44 different schools were invited to participate in the program which included a week long camp, based at Mylor, focussed on exploring careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

While on the camp students visited a range of South Australian educational institutions and organisations such as the new South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Natural Resource Management Water Testing, South Australian Aquatic Sciences, the University of Adelaide and the Waite Institute, Flinders University and the University of South Australia.

Students got to try their hand at water quality testing, conducting bird and biodiversity audits, making slime and much, much more.

Students met and engaged with leading scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians and learnt about their research. They also discovered a whole range of new career opportunities.

Everyone agreed that the camp was a great experience and they would recommend students follow the NYSF so they can participate in future camps and other great science opportunities.

The Program was a collaborative initiative between the South Australian Department of Education and Child Development (SA DECD) and the NYSF.

SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGE STATE FINAL

After winning the regional challenge in Port Pirie, Gladstone High School was invited to the State Championship on August the 30th at Titanium Stadium in Adelaide. We competed against country and city schools both public and private. Competing schools for the State Championship included Waikerie, Naracoorte and Cummins High Schools, Immanuel College and Temple Christian School. We didn’t win but we enjoyed and were inspired by the activities and the competition. Groups did one or two activities which were scored. Below are some of the reflections of the students.

Mr Bosch

We did two activities one before lunch and one after; the activity before lunch was Stringways and we got through 11 of 12 scenarios. This activity tested our ability to connect nodes with the least path length. The activity after lunch was Grasping with Straws where we had to make a plastic hand out of straws and try and pick up things and make hand gestures. Our group went quite well but we forgot one of the joints on the fingers. Overall the day was good and everyone enjoyed it.

Chelsea, Taylor and Deanna

Our group solved an electricity supply question where we had to supply two towns with power but only had small capacity power lines of short lengths. When we got it right all the lights turned on. In another activity we had to develop codes which were transmitted by different coloured lights. Our code was effective and we received a good score. It was a good day.

Sophie, Ellen and Emily

Our team completed Mission to Mars. For this we had to brainstorm ideas and create a suspension system that enabled a load to be carried on a model buggy across a rough surface in a set period of time.

Rachael, Bree and Teneal

Our group completed two activities Grasping Straws and Stringways. During Grasping Straws we had to create a hand using straws and strings which was able to pick up objects. In Stringways we had to join a number of nodes made of bolts on a model using the smallest amount of string.

Hannah, Aynsley and Ali

CATTLE EDUCATION DAY

On Friday 11th August a group of 15 students from Years 10 & 11 attended a Cattle Education Day at the Crystal Brook showgrounds. Topics covered included pasture nutrition, animal digestion and nutrition, preparing a stall, structure of cattle, clipping and preparing cattle for showing along with leading and showing cattle.

The day was organised by Daniel Ferme from Gumview and Gottadowell Charolais. The program was well coordinated and the students gained valuable insight into these aspects of managing cattle. For many students this was their first opportunity to take control and walk cattle in a show ring.

Around 60 students took part, travelling from various places around South Australia including Kapunda, Kadina, Wudinna, Karkultaby and of course our school.

Thank you to the various sponsors including Elders, Act Fast Training, O’Dea Electrical, Johnson Feeds, Hi Tech Solutions and Mid State Hardware, that made the day possible.

Dean Humphries Ag Teacher

CRYSTAL BROOK SHOW

On Saturday 12th August we attended the Crystal Brook Show. We took a Border Leicester ram to the show and he won 1st prize. We also took 4 steers, winning 2nd and 3rd place with the Charolais and Black Angus animals.

Thank you to Krystal Wakefield and Gracy Jones who presented the ram for showing. This ram will now go onto the Royal Adelaide Show to compete against other stud animals.

Thanks also to Jim Treasure, Rebecca Bennett, Sophie Duffield, Tilly Brock, Olivia Bunnett, Tarsh Wakefield, Jemma Leighton and Sarah McLean for showing the cattle. This was good practice for presenting animals in the lead up to the Adelaide show.

Dean Humphries Ag Teacher

ROYAL ADELAIDE SHOW BORDER LEICESTER EXHIBITS

On Wednesday 30th August Tony Muirhead took our Border Leicester ram to the Adelaide show to compete against the other stud breeders. He was joined on Thursday by the 2 volunteer students from Year11, being Tarsh Wakefield and Jemma Leighton, along with Anne Humphries. On Friday the animals were judged and we finished 3rd in our class. Tarsh and Jemma then assisted other breeders to show their sheep, with Jemma also assisting with some cattle.

On Sunday afternoon our 2 students then competed in the meat sheep judging competition with Border Leicester and Suffolk being the two sheep breeds being judged. They both tried hard but did not place in the ribbons.

After a busy 3 days of show action it was good to get home Sunday, ready to return again on Tuesday for the second showing which involves thirty five students, four steers, six Merino sheep and eight Boer goats.

Dean Humphries Ag Teacher

NEW ARRIVALS IN THE RESOURCE CENTRE

FICTION

Roman Invasion by Jim Eldridge - Historical fiction

It's AD 84 when Bran, a prince of the Carvetii tribe, is captured by the Romans. A legion of soldiers is marching east, to build a military road. It's hostile country, and Bran is to go with them as a hostage to ensure the legion's safety ... but no one is safe in newly conquered Britain.

Vikings Blood by Andrew Donkin - Middle Secondary

It's AD 1008, and after being injured in a raid that goes horribly wrong, Tor Scaldbane is devastated at losing his chance to be a legendary warrior. But then he discovers the sagas of his ancestors - glorious, bloody battles, ancient heroes, powerful gods - and realizes that all might not be lost after all...

A New Series - All the wrong questions by Lemony Snicket - Murder & Suspense Stories

Book 1 –“Who could that be at this hour”
Book 2 –“When did you see her last”
Book 3- “Shouldn’t you be in school”
Book 4 - “Why is this night different from all
Other nights Jimmy Barnes

Working class boy – a memoir

Long before Cold Chisel, long before ‘Barnsey’ there was the true story of James Dixon Swan – a working class boy whose family made the journey from Scotland to Australia in search of a better life.

DVD’s

Hidden Figures
Lion
Paper Planes

TEACHER RESOURCES

The grapes of Math, Teaching student- centered Mathematics, English for the Australian Curriculum, Spelling it out, Food solutions Food studies Book 1&2 and 3 &4

YEAR 9 SKI TRIP

On the 12th of August the Year 9’s left for ski trip. We arrived at Mount Beauty the next day at 12:30pm and unloaded all our gear from the bus where we were staying. Then we went straight to the ski shop and fitted all our clothing and ski equipment. Before heading back to the camp we went shopping to buy food and drinks for our cabins and got lunch.

Monday was the first day we went skiing. We left for Falls Creek at 6:50am which meant a very early start. First up we had our ski lessons and learnt the basics of stopping and turning. We then went into groups with teachers, going down various slopes depending on our ability. The next day was a fairly similar day however it was constantly raining all day and we got soaked!

Wednesday was a very windy day and the ski lifts did not open until 2:30pm. Whilst we were waiting for the lift we had a ripper of a snow fight with Booleroo and Jamestown. We also went tobogganing for 20 minutes and then the ski lifts opened and we had the chance to ski two runs.

Thursday afternoon we left the mountain earlier and went back to the park and got ready to depart at 7:30pm. We then arrived at Gladstone at 11:15am and went home to sleep.

Madeline Hansen and Georgia Wegner

YEAR 9 ALTERNATE ACTIVITIES WEEK

From the 14th to the 18th of August, students who were not able to attend the Year 9 ski trip took part in alternative activities. They enjoyed a range of activities at school, including cooking, sports and board games.

They also had the opportunity to go on a range of excursions in the area, including to go and see Wonder Woman at the cinema in Blyth with Ms Hoare on the Tuesday, completing a scavenger hunt written by Mrs Simmons in the main street of Gladstone on the Wednesday and Bowling in Port Pirie on Thursday with Mr Maidment and Mrs Simmons.

Unfortunately due to inclement weather we were not able to go on excursion to Jamestown on Friday as planned, but the students enjoyed cooking for (and eating) a picnic lunch at school and continuing to play the imaginative strategy game, ‘Werewolves and Villagers’.

Overall the week was a success and was enjoyed by all who attended.

By Mrs Simmons

COMMUNITY NEWS

GLADSTONE COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL

Gladstone Community Swimming Pool 2017 AGM will be held on 20th September @ 7.30pm in the Gilbert White Centre (former RSL building). Please attend if you can to support this community-run facility. We look forward to seeing you there!

SOUTHERN FLINDERS JUNIOR WIND UP

WIRRABARA PRIMARY SCHOOL

On behalf of the Governing Council at Wirrabara Primary School, we invite you to our Cabaret and Picnic Day 28th & 29th October 2017. Our school is closing at the end of the year and we are celebrating the years here at Wirrabara. Everyone is most welcome.