21 September 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

I recently read an article about reading that really resonated with me. It highlighted the importance of reading aloud to our children and how early in their reading journey we stop doing this. The article made me reflect on how my relationship to reading has influenced my children.

Many children will comment on how much they love the bedtime ritual of a story and on reflection I remember the plead for “just one more story…” I remember thinking this was a ploy to delay the lights out and sleep, but on reflection was it to extend the closeness generated by this shared reading time in our otherwise busy lives? Perhaps not!

However, the research seems to demonstrate that the earlier we pull out of the shared reading relationship with our children, the earlier our children pull out of their own reading relationship.

This got me thinking about what we can do to rekindle the importance of reading in our daily interactions with our children.

Here’s what I came up with:

1. Display what you read – books don’t belong only in special quiet places, have all the things you read on display around the house. You may even create an accidental reader!
2. Buy or borrow together – make a trip to the library a regular part of your routine or when out shopping browse your local bookshop, comment on books you have read when you see them on display. You may be surprised with a request to buy or borrow a book!
3. Share your reading – read aloud an interesting part of your book or a section of the news, comment on a new or interesting word you come across. Ask them about what they are reading. This helps demystify reading and may help encourage reluctant or shy readers.
4. Have book will travel – take a book with you wherever you go and read when you have some downtime. Show that reading is fun or relaxing. Curl up with a great book on the couch and share how much you enjoy the opportunity. Encourage your children to join you with their own reading material.
5. Normalise reading – show how reading is important to everyone. Librarians, teachers, students, mechanics, lawyers, doctors, architects, athletes . . . everyone reads. Talk about all the different kinds of reading material that exists, cookbooks, manuals, online magazines, blogs and comics. This will help breakdown the idea that reading has to be long and difficult.

You may have a whole lot of other ideas; feel free to share if you do. What is important is that we take every opportunity to encourage our children to read with us for as long as possible.

Literacy makes learning limitless!

A final thought from one of my favourite quotes - “Walk ten thousand miles, read ten thousand books” Chinese scholar-walker Gu Yanwu (1613-1682)

Happy Holidays

As this is the last newsletter for the term, I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday period. I’m sure you are all looking forward to warmer weather and sunny skies! Year 12’s are nearing the end of their academic journey and will need to utilise this time to consolidate their year’s work – study hard, with a little down time thrown in.

I will be on leave for the first three weeks of Term 4 and Sonia Pringle will be at the helm as Principal. Be sure to contact her with any queries you have during my leave and drop by and say hi!

See you all in Week 4, Term 4.

Kathleen Hoare
Principal
Governing Council News

GOVERNING COUNCIL REPORT

The Bus Zone continues to be improved. There will soon be “10kph” signs installed to ensure safety of students using the area. Governing Council and the school are looking into getting some shelters for the area also, to provide shade for the children whilst they are waiting for buses.

Fundraising continues to be at the forefront of our thoughts but is very difficult without the support of parents and caregivers of children attending Gladstone High. Despite several calls for assistance, we have had no support from the school community. We are looking at holding a raffle and would appreciate any help that can be given. Please contact Brooke (0409096997) or Kathryn (0438363123). We understand we are all busy but without your support we cannot contribute towards improving the school grounds.

On a brighter note, Governing Council have voted to contribute $5000 towards the quadrangle upgrade. This will potentially purchase some outdoor furniture, depending on what the children decide!

Governing Council continues to support your child’s education. Please contact a member if you have any queries or suggestions!

Let’s make GHS great!

Kathryn Hansen - GHS Governing Council Chairperson 2017

FAST 5 NETBALL CARNIVAL

On the 19th September the majority of Year 10 students participated in the Fast 5 Netball carnival held at the Gladstone stadium. We competed against Jamestown, Orroroo, Peterborough and Booleroo in different rounds. These rounds depended on the results of each game. Our team 'Gladstone 1' had a very successful day, winning all games up to the Grand Final. Unfortunately, we were unable to win, losing by 7 points to Peterborough. Overall the day was fun and it was great to participate in a new school event.

Rachael Hodgson and Tahlia Chapman

SSO TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

On Monday September 4th, 80 School Support Officers from across the Pirie Portfolio (Port Pirie, Mid North and even further such as Hawker in the Far North), came together to engage in some quality Training and Development hosted by Gladstone High School.

Our two key speakers for the day presented relative and informative information with some light humour relevant to our roles in schools which can be quite entertaining at times.

The highlight of the day was our key speaker Lynne Symons who was a Principal in South Australian schools for twenty-four years.

In addition to being a Principal, Lynne has held a range of leadership roles in schools and within the department during her career.

Lynne’s work in schools is far reaching, with the huge number of students she has taught, educators (teachers and SSOs) she has led and leaders she has mentored.

Throughout her educational career Lynne has always passionately believed in Public Education and has relentlessly strived to “Make Learning Better” for all those entrusted in her care.

Lynne has always been unashamedly passionate about the right of all children to access quality education and about the very important and privileged role we as adults in schools play in ensuring this. We were very fortunate to have Lynne to share her wisdom and wit with us.

The afternoon workshop was presented by an organisation called “Clear space”. Rebecca who is a Professional Organiser dedicated to helping people lead a simpler, more fulfilled life gave us helpful tips and hints on managing paper, time and tasks at work for a more productive and less stressful work day, with an emphasis on helping those with creative personalities.

We would like to thank the Upper Mid North Partnership for funding this day, recognizing the potential for SSO’s to come together to develop and combine ideas and engage with Key speakers. Lastly and importantly a huge thank you to the Gladstone High School Canteen Committee, parents and volunteers who donated food items and their time to cater for the event as a major fundraiser for the Canteen. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive.

Tracy Smith Senior Administration Officer

ROYAL ADELAIDE SHOW

On Tuesday 5th September a group of thirty six students along with Julia Murrie, Michelle Baynes and Tony Muirhead departed for the Show, ready to compete in the cattle, Merino sheep and Boer goat competitions.

After arriving at Warradale to un-pack the bus we then headed to the show in anticipation of the animals arriving. We helped un-load the animals when they arrived and then set them up in their pens before having tea and watching the fireworks and entertainment.

On Wednesday we prepared for showing by having the animals weighed and scanned for muscle and fat before participating in the Grand Parade at 3pm. Congratulations to the goat team who won 2nd prize as the “Best Presented Team” in the parade. All of the hard work in training the animals to walk well was worth it and the new banners and signs, along with eye catching saddle cloths all paid dividends. The following day we had two goats win ribbons in their class, a 1st and a 3rd. Congratulations to all who participated.

The steers looked in good condition and were nicely groomed. The charolais steer, Yaccamoo Monte was placed 5th in his class and went on to win the “Highest scoring charolais carcass” in the hook competition. Special mention needs to be made of the personal success enjoyed by Jemma Leighton. From the 200 students who presented cattle for judging on Thursday, the top 15 were selected to participate in the “Junior Handlers” competition. Jemma went on to win 3rd place, a thoroughly deserved accomplishment for all of the effort she has put in over the last 4 years working with cattle. Well done to all members of the team for your efforts, especially Tony in his first cattle showing.

This year we took two pens of the Merino sheep, one from Ashby’s at North Ashrose and one from Ned Kelly at Huddleston. We won our first ever ribbon, placing 4th in the “Most weight gained’ by a pen of 3 sheep. Go team!

All students displayed excellent behaviour during the whole excursion, being a credit to their parents and great ambassadors for Gladstone High School. Also special thanks to Tony Muirhead for all of his hard work in collecting, feeding, looking after the animals and helping with the steers at the show. Thanks also to Michelle and Julia for again running the goat program, Hanley’s for providing an excellent bus service, Mel Guerin for clipping the steers and Bronwyn Mumford for supplying the cattle trailer and transporting the steers to the show for us.

Dean Humphries Ag teacher

On Wednesday the 6th of September we competed in the Grand Parade and came second. Before the grand parade, we spent allocated times with the goats in our free time and took care of the goats and answered any questions the public had. Georgia and Lauren

In the grand parade our school was very organised and looked very respectable. During the grand parade all our goats walked reasonably well and when they didn’t we all helped each other. Overall in the grand parade we took out second prize. Will Smart

My goat was Lorenzo he was from Wallaroo. I enjoyed my time at the show and the accommodation was nice. Alistair Venning

“Patches” walked very well in the parade, he kept to the speed I was walking and didn’t stop when he didn’t need to. He also did very well in the show ring didn’t stop walking and also came 1st. Lewis Wilson

Rex came 3rd in the judging ring. He walked well, kept up with the other goats and he behaved well. Jayden Richards

I really enjoyed walking my goat in the judging ring. I believe it was a great experience and helped my confidence. Josh Clements

I really enjoyed working with the goats and walking my goat around the Judging ring. I really liked the experience and I hope to do it again. Tommas Kirchner

EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Carlo Marrubini (Year 11 exchange student)

A very frequent question that people asked me ever since I’ve been here is: “So, are you enjoying Australia?” I felt really well qualified to answer because it means that the people I’ve met are sincerely interested in having a feedback of the time I’ve spent here.

So, when Mrs. Elmer asked me to write about the time I had here for the Gladstone Newsletter I thought that you were curious to know what I think of these eight weeks spent here… I guess so.

The school days that I’ve lived here were excellent! I cannot find any other stronger adjectives to mean that the experience I had here at Gladstone High was great. It was lovely to share the time with all the Year 11 students (who I will really miss, once back in Italy).

I loved discovering here a different way to live the school experience. In the school where I come from, for example, there are no laptops and all the work we present are hand-written.

The electives I’ve chosen were very interesting. In Biology I had my first dissection activity which I will never forget. Preparing the historical atlas for Mr. Seidel was incredibly challenging and required some really hard work by my side, but in the end I was satisfied of what I’ve done. Here I’ve discovered that you have theory in P.E.! At first I was a bit concerned about it because I was expecting just practice in the gym, but it was a very informative read about the different types of skills and learning styles in sport. And obviously it was great fun to play Badminton with the Year 11s

I’ve really enjoyed the freedom that Mr. Palmer gave us about the topics for “Writing for Publication” (Year 11 last essay) and reasoning about Intertextuality when we watched Blade Runner. During Research Project I’ve learnt how to structure a good research and how to use Microsoft Excel (that was really exciting!). Also the excursion in Adelaide for the Research Project Expo was great time spent with the Year 11s. And Mr Bosch… he’s just hilarious when he talks about Maths and Statistics!

Here at Gladstone High I’ve experienced a new way of learning, which is great! In my school in Italy, everything I learnt is written in books. While here I’ve learnt a lot of things by working at projects and working out problems linked to those projects.

I couldn’t say if the school here was easier or more difficult, better or worse than my Italian school, it’s just different… and this is basically why I came in Australia as exchange student: live the differences and enjoy them!

SPORTING NEWS

We have just had a big weekend of sport congratulations to all our students who played in Grand Final teams. Special mention to:

Football News

Senior Colts Best on Ground: Nash Macfarlane (Broughton Mundoora FC)
Tom Harslett – Senior Colts Mail Medallist (Southern Flinders FC)

Netball News

Chelsea Hombsch Best on Court H Grade (Crystal Brook NC)
Jesse Harslett Association Runner-up Best and Fairest (Southern Flinders NC)

KADINA SHOW

Krystal Wakefield recently showed with her horse Benji at the Kadina Show. Her results are:

1st Place - Smartest on parade, Hack 16h and Fancy Dress
2nd Place - Open Hack, Fluffiest Mount and Riders 10 -15 Years
3rd Place - Handiest Mount and Fancy Dress

Also recently Tarsh, Krystal and Tanisha Wakefield participated at John Pirie Secondary School Lead show. “The day was fun and we learnt many new skills” Krystal said.

2017 SCHOOL MAGAZINE

Order your 2017 school magazine now. Could orders please be placed and paid for by Friday 29th September. The magazine is currently being produced by the Year 10 media class. Cost $15.00 to be paid at the Front Office. Phone orders paid by credit card also accepted.

NEW SCHOOL JUMPERS

We have good stocks of all sizes of the new school jumper again.

YEAR 8 IMMUNISATIONS

Nurses from Southern Flinders Health will be attending Gladstone High School on Friday October 20th at 9:00am to provide the next series of school based immunisations. These include:

Gardasil (Human Papillomavirus) – Year 8 students
Catch-up immunisations for students absent at previous visits

It is important that students have breakfast on the morning of immunisations.

Since it has been some months since the previous visit, please contact Dymph Catford on 86622158 or dymphna.catford@health.sa.gov.au if there have been changes to details previously provided on the immunisation consent form.

COMMUNITY NEWS

GLADSTONE CRICKET CLUB AGM

Thursday 21st September @ 7:00pm
Gladstone Sporting Complex
Players, Parents and Supporters are invited to attend our AGM to discuss the upcoming season. We will also be discussing, membership pricing, training times and any other events that may be associated with the 2017/18 season.
Apologies can be sent to Jed Hennessy on 0407 355 113
Hope to see you all there!