6 September 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principals Report

Congratulations to Daniel Seidel on being appointed Deputy Principal for 2019 -2024. We still have a number of leadership positions to fill for next year, which will then be followed by contract teaching positions as we determine the areas required.

We have welcomed Sonia Pringle back for the remainder of the year as Deputy Principal after the last 6 weeks at Risdon Park Primary School.

I will be taking leave for the last 3 weeks of term. During this time Sonia will be Acting Principal.

Yet again the last 2 weeks have been filled with a variety of activities involving students from a range of year levels. The Royal Adelaide Show has certainly been at the forefront of activities at the school. Congratulations to the students for the time and effort they have put in with the sheep, goats and cattle. However, a huge acknowledgement must go to Dean Humphries, Kim Zohs, Molly O’Dea and Julia Murrie for all of their organisation in making this event happen. Thanks also to Bronwyn Mumford for transporting our cattle.

In breaking news Congratulations to our Cattle Team on winning the Best Presented Cattle Team by a school and also to the Goat Team for 2nd place in the Grand Parade. An amazing effort.

Renee Thamm and I have concluded the subject counselling meetings and appreciated the efforts by students and their families in making subject selections for next year.

Rowan Ramsey School Community Award

We are seeking nominations for this award in 2018 to be presented at our Presentation Night. Nominations are open to a staff, parent or community member who has ‘gone the extra mile’ dedicating and volunteering their time and skills for our school. If you can think of a person worthy of this award please complete (by Tuesday 11th September) the nomination slip or send me an email (tyler.hogan451@schools.sa.edu.au) detailing their name and the reasons for the nomination.

Sacred Stone

On Friday 14th September the band Sacred Stone is coming to GHS to perform. The theme is "Fear v The People: A Discovery of Hope”. Using music they will discuss different elements of fear, with a focus on anxiety and mental health, and share personal stories and experiences of what has helped them in their journey. They are part of the Schools Ministry Group. The performance is based on values and will have no Christian content as part of the show.

As our students have not completed a form earlier in the year regarding Christian Seminars this will be an opt-in session. Students will have the option to attend on the Friday morning. If you do not want your student to attend please let the school know before Friday 14th September with a note in their diary or by text, otherwise the decision will made by individual students.

Tyler Hogan
Principal

Knockout Netball

On Monday, August 27, the Year 10 girls competed in the Knockout Netball finals held at Priceline Stadium in Adelaide. After a valiant effort, unfortunately we didn’t come away with the chocolate. Thank you to Kathryn Hansen for umpiring the day and to the parents who attended.

Tamisha Roberts
KO Netball Coach

A note from the Student Counsellor

TEEN SLEEP HYGEINE

Are you wondering whether your own child, or a child you know is sleep deprived? Ask these two questions:

1. Does your teen have big weekend sleep-ins?
2. Is he/she very difficult to wake up and get out of bed on school mornings?

If the answer to either or both of these questions is ‘yes’, then you have a sleep-deprived teen on your hands. Big weekend sleep-ins represent ‘catch-up sleep’ from insufficient sleep on weeknights. Difficulties getting out of bed on school mornings reflect a lack of sleep and possibly a late body clock.

The effects of sleep deprivation go way beyond simple tiredness, resulting in multiple physical and mental health problems. This long list of flow-on effects from sleep deprivation includes:

• Impaired classroom learning
• Mood and behavioural disturbances
• Increased risk-taking behaviours
• Emotional fragility
• Poor food choices
• Reduced sport performance
• Lowered self-esteem
• Poor coping with stress
• Reduced school attendance
• Elevated risk of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation

Practical strategies to follow to improve sleep health in teens:

Step 1. Have a chat about the power of a good sleep routine.

Sit down and talk with your tired teenager about sleep. Sleep is a low-priority activity and is poorly valued by most teenagers. Therefore, just having a chat, in itself, can help create the opportunity for an increased amount of sleep time.

Step 2. Establish a pre-sleep routine.

Suggest a couple of routine relaxing activities in the thirty minutes before bedtime. Going to bed immediately after undertaking brain-alerting activities, such as studying or gaming, means that the brain is not in the mood for sleep, and so thoughts race through the brain after lights out. Sleep is then hard to achieve and this may induce further worry and anxiety, resulting in more wakefulness and so on.

Step 3. Retrain the brain.

This is simply that bedtime and lights out occur at the same time. This means avoiding undertaking any activities in or on the bed that are not related to sleep, eg. Phone use.

Step 4. Avoid having digital devices in the bedroom.

Ideally, devices should be turned off and placed on their charger pre-bed. To avoid the strong temptation to use the device at night, the device should charge in a location away from the bedroom.

Information taken from Nurturing Young Minds Ed. Dr Ramesh Manocha

Kate Cameron
Student Counsellor

MNSEC Formal

MNSEC Formal Photos can be accessed through the following link. Please contact the photographer if you wish to purchase any.

password: FORMAL2018

Library News

New arrivals in the library.

STORM-WAKE by Lucy Christopher Mid to upper secondary

Moss lives with her pa on a remote island.

The Old World has disappeared beneath the waves only Pa’s magic can save the sunken continents.

But a huge storm is brewing, promising cataclysmic changes. Soon, Moss learns to open her eyes to the truth about her isolated world...

MERCY POINT by Anna Snoekstra Mid Secondary

In real life, they are enemies. Emma the know-it-all, Michael the bully, Fabian the coward, Tessie the weirdo and Sam the mystery. Online they are best friends, with one big thing in common: they are all sure they are adopted.

When they finally meet, they are horrified to find that the people they have been sharing their souls with are the people they hate. They decide to never speak again.

But avoiding each other is difficult in a small mountain town with only one high school.

A SONG ONLY I CAN HEAR by Barry Jonsberg

Rob has a huge crush on the new girl at school.

But Rob is painfully shy and suffers severe panic attacks. How is her heart to be won? Another wonderful and heart-warming comedy drama from the award-winning author of My Life as an Alphabet.

Introducing Rob Fitzgerald: thirteen years old and determined to impress the new girl at school, but it's a difficult task for a super-shy kid who is prone to panic attacks that include vomit, and genuine terror that can last all day. An anonymous texter is sending Rob challenges and they might just help. Or not.

Beautifully moving and full of heart and humour, A Song Only I Can Hear is a delightful novel about dreaming big, being brave and marching to the beat of your own drum.

THE ART OF TAXIDERMY by Sharon Kernot Lower to Mid Secondary

A lyrical verse novel exploring love and grief and the strange and wonderful art of taxidermy.

Lottie collects dead creatures and lovingly cares for them, hoping to preserve them, to save them from disintegration. Her father understands - Lottie has a scientific mind, he thinks. Her aunt wants it to stop, and she goes to cruel lengths to make sure it does.

And her mother? Lottie's mother died long ago. And Lottie is searching for a way to be close to her.

The Art of Taxidermy is a heartbreaking verse novel exploring love and death, grief and beauty, and the ways we try to make sense of it all

WRAITH by Alexandra Smithers, Shane Smithers Lower to Mid Secondary

James can fly, though his landings need some work. However, that’s the least of his problems when he crash lands into a city in the clouds. Soon James is drawn into a race against time to find the SAFFIRE, a new technology designed to save the city from the effects of climate change. Finding his way home seems impossible but with the help of Aureole, a young girl determined to save her city, James just might be able to fly away and help save the city in the process.

Governing Council News

Have you driven past the school lately? Have you noticed the fresh new look? The school looks fantastic! Governing Council is very pleased with the results of the painting. There’s also a new bus shelter! This is something we have been working on for the last 12 months or so and it is great to see it standing. More updating and improving of the school will continue to occur over the next few months to continue to make GHS great!

Have you got a spare hour or two? Not many of us do, however the Canteen needs your help! We are catering for approximately 40 people next Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th September and are looking for volunteers to help either on the days, or to donate some baking/goods. If you would like to help out, please contact Lyn Russell at the school. This will help provide much needed funds to keep the canteen running. I’m sure your children will appreciate your input, and I know that Governing Council definitely will!

Also on fundraising, the Governing Council is holding a stall at the Gladstone Fair on October 20th. We will be selling fruit salad/strawberries and cream or ice-cream. If you can help out on the day, please let myself or your local Governing Councillor know. More information will be available in future newsletters.

We are your voice in the school. Please let us know if Governing Council can be of assistance. Our next meeting is Tuesday 11th September at 7pm. We value your input.

Let’s make GHS great!

Kathryn Hansen
Chairperson
Governing Council

Uniforms

Do you have any spare/unused GHS Uniforms? The Front Office is looking for good quality second hand uniforms to sell. If you can donate items, please contact the Front Office.

Aboriginal Education

Did you know that Gladstone is on Nukunu land?

Nukunu land is situated in the Upper Eastern Spencer Gulf of South Australia. It encompasses the Southern Flinders Ranges and the Willochra Plains to the east. Major cities within this region include Port Augusta and Port Pirie with the small townships of Quorn, Crystal Brook, Wilmington, Melrose and Jamestown.

The Southern Flinders Ranges, and particularly Mount Remarkable form the heart of Nukunu country. Of great importance to the Nukunu people is the ancestor Wapma, the large carpet snake, responsible for the forming of the Southern Flinders Ranges, the plains, parts of the coast, the creeks and waterholes.

Kawi is the Nukunu word for water and the Nukunu people hope that all will support in protecting this most vital asset and land, ocean, fauna and flora of the Southern Flinders Ranges and Spencer Gulf.

*Information courtesy of Jared Thomas.- Nukunu Representative

Uni Hub Spencer Gulf

Courses opening for enrolment in September:

• Master/Bachelor Education
• Bachelor Nursing
• Bachelor Social Work
• Bachelor Psychology
• There are others just open for EOI while we finalise industry and uni support

and register an EOI to keep informed about any courses you want to do.

Community News