19 October 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Welcome back for Term 4. As with all other terms, I’m sure this one will fly by with a variety of learning opportunities on offer. One such opportunity was the Me to We trip to India that occurred in Week 10 of last term and the first week of the holidays. Eight of our students accepted the challenge to visit a developing country and not only experience the culture but made worthwhile contributions to the local community. A full report and photos will appear in our next newsletter.

This term is also significant for our Year 12 students as they embark on the exciting, and somewhat scary, adventures of finishing their secondary schooling and begin the next stage of their lives. Formal lessons will conclude next Thursday, however students may still be completing final assessment tasks and some of them will have exams, which brings a new set of stressors.

The SACE Board offers the following advice to students for managing exam pressure:

• Develop good study habits – devise a study plan, set aside a quiet study space and take regular breaks
• Eat and sleep well – eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep and exercise daily
• Use friends – study together, discuss exam topics and test each other
• Speak to family and friends – tell them how you are going and let them know when you need quiet time
• Recognise stress signals – discuss concerns with family and friends, speak to teachers, take a break

Reach Out.com also offers advice for parents to support their teenagers through everyday issues and tough times. They offer the following advice for your child while waiting for Year 12 results:

• Avoid discussing potential results before they are released as speculation about ‘good’ or ‘bad’ results isn’t helpful

• Stop worrying what other people might think of your child’s results and avoid comparing your child’s results with other family and friends and appreciate individual success

• Recognise signs of stress in your child and offer support if needed

• Most importantly, don’t panic if the results are not what you’d hoped for as there are many alternative options available for university degrees and employment

More advice on supporting your child can be found at the following link:

As the Year 12s embark on their next great challenge, from the safety and routine of school to the uncertain expectations of Uni or work, I’d offer the following advice: Change is a good thing; embrace it. Accept offers as they arise. Take safe risks. Think things through and make the right decision for you. Talk to others if you need it. Step out of your comfort zone. However, above all, stay true to yourself and what you believe in. You are at a very exciting point in your lives. Enjoy every minute of it.

I am excited for all of the learning opportunities this term holds for students as we continue with our learning program until the very end of the year. As always, I encourage parents to contact me at the school if they have any issues or concerns or would like to discuss any aspect of their child’s learning.

Sonia Pringle
Acting Principal

SCHOOL BASED 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 8662 2158 or dymphna.catford@health.sa.gov.au if there have been changes to details previously provided on the immunisation consent form.

SIGN FOR YOUR SAUSAGE DAY

On Wednesday 1st November we will be holding a ‘Sign For Your Sausage’ Day at school. Students will be asked to use Auslan to ask for a sausage, which will be provided for free if you sign. There will be posters around the school with instructions how to ask in Auslan – or if you aren’t sure, you can ask. If you do not sign (or attempt to sign) the fee will be $2.00 for a sausage in bread, which will be donated to the Deafness Foundation.

The Sign For Your Sausage day coincides with the National Week Of Deaf People. The week is designed to raise awareness of Deaf People and to celebrate their community, language, culture and history.

We will also be selling Butterfly Badges for $2.00 each. All of the money raised goes back to the Deafness Foundation, which aims to improve well-being and promote equality for all deaf people by focusing on access, awareness, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

MATERIALS & SERVICES CHARGES 2018

Please find attached the Materials & Services Fees charge for 2018. If you have any queries please contact Sue Foulis – Finance Officer.

They will be presented for approval at Governing Council meeting on TUESDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2017.

DRESSED MEAT BIRDS

Gladstone High School has dressed meat birds for sale at $4.00 per kg. Please contact the school on 8662 2171 or call to the front office to arrange collection and payment.

APPLIA SPRINGS EXCURSION

Year 8 students travelled to the Appila Springs picnic ground and looked at information, at the grounds, to find answers to multiple questions. They explored Appila Springs identifying local animals, birds and insects. Students also were able to make a connection between content learnt in the Rocks topic and rocks that were prominent in Appila Springs. They explored the concepts of weathering and erosion, looking at where they could see this occurring at Appila Springs.

Miss Thamm Science Teacher

YEAR 11 FOOD & HOSPITALITY PARENT DINNER

The Year 11 Food & Hospitality Parent Dinner was held at Gladstone High School on the evening of 27th September, with the students presented a wonder meal which was enjoyed by all.