YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE 

In Week 9 of Term 3 our Year 10s adventured far and wide to undertake work experience. Work experience is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore career pathways and build valuable life skills as evidenced in the insightful reflections made by our incredible Year 10 cohort.

Thrive Health Centre - Imogen Cunningham

I learnt good communication skills as you must know how to communicate with clients you don’t know as well as clients with different conditions and disabilities. I also learnt to be resilient and flexible as many clients cancel or fail to show up to their scheduled appointments.

Heidelberg Cakes - Amelia Venning

The most valuable lesson I learnt from this work experience is that it is okay to make mistakes, everyone is still learning and that voicing your thoughts is the best way to discover and evolve yourself and your workplace.

Brett Cunningham Builder - Hudson Seidel

This work experience align with my future goals because I am interested in being part of the building industry and I will carry forward the skills I learnt.  The valuable lessons I learnt was that all the little measurements are important and, if I could do anything differently, it would be to ask more questions.

Spirit of the Coorong & The Big Duck Boat Tours - Tess Cleggett

I developed a new perception of how the tourism industry works and what factors it takes to run the business, as well as a better understanding of the marine life and environment in the Fleurieu Peninsula. I also learnt interesting facts about the animals and plants from each tour. Talking to everyone on the boat also improved my social skills. These skills contributed to my growth because overtime, I became more confident to engage with people and be more involved in the tasks.

School Sport SA - Macen Taylor

It showed me that I could be interested in the sport industry and could be good at it. Some things that will stick with me for my future will be working with a team and speaking clearly. This work experience helped me realise that I can be good at things if I try to be.  

Jamestown Hospital and Health Service - Madi Clogg

My main aim was to get a feel of the available occupations within the hospital environment. I enjoy helping people and valued the time spent with each resident.  I enjoyed going for walks, cooking, solving puzzles and attending the residents meeting as well as meeting the welcoming staff, making beds, restocking rooms and following med and meal runs. A huge highlight was learning how to use the machines to measure someone's heart rate, finger pulse and prick a finger to determine a blood-glucose level. Overall, my work experience supported my opinion on my current future goals. Completing my Cert 3 in aged care next year is definitely something I wish to do before graduating and hopefully studying at University to become a nurse. 

YNLHN Laura District Hospital - Lilly Gregory

My main task was shadowing a EN nurse around the aged-care ward and my responsibilities were if the nurse forgot a towel or an item of clothing, I was able to retrieve them. My work experience have allowed me to understand that working in aged-care takes a lot of patience, communication and gentleness. The most valuable lessons I have learnt from doing work experience is how to make connections with patients and co-workers, and the importance of all health care workers, even the housekeepers and cooks

Kerin Agencies Nutrien - George Rackham

Some of my main tasks were driving forklifts and moving chemicals. Along with paddock inspections and working on the sprayer. My work experience aligned very well with my future as I want to do farming. I learnt a lot about different diseases and chemicals in my time at Kerins.

Terese Louise Beauty - Georgia Emms

I learnt more about skin types and what kinds of treatments improve it depending on what treatment they were looking for. I learnt that some treatments may impact the skin in a negative way and that it is important to keep track of the background consultations to make sure you don’t put any negative toxins on the skin layer. My knowledge about beauty therapy grew and I was able to learn what to do and what not to do when it comes to skin types as some skin you can’t put certain chemicals on as it may burn the skin itself while others are completely fine. I would like to become a beauty therapist and possibly have my own little business for it, this way I was able to see the challenges and responsibilities that come along with that.

Pirie Embroidery - Eloise Cowin

This aligns with my future career because its something that I am now considering doing in the future and contributes to the skills that I will need in order to do so. The most valuable lessons that I had learnt were the sewing skills because I will always carry these forward.

BNS Concrete - Hamish Hillyer

My main tasks were gathering information from pdf files and developing a website which contributed to the overall goals for the organisation because it helps customer get in contact easier. My most valuable lesson that I learnt wear my communication skills and my programming skills.

YEAR 12 RETREAT 

Attending the Year 12 Retreat as a staff member was an amazing experience. It was such a joy to have a few days away from school to continue building positive and lasting relationships with my homegroup. We spent our time laughing, having fun, getting a little competitive at 8-Ball, and trying new things, making sure to capture some memories on camera. My personal favourite activity was Bounce on the last day, but ice-skating was also great fun as it never fails to make people laugh as we fall over while learning. Ethan also cooked an amazing sausage, egg, and mushroom breakfast on the last day, which Jensen and I still describe as 'bloody good'. I'd like to sincerely thank Tegan Johnston, who did all the preliminary planning and Alison Johnson for all her planning and booking, and the Year 12 students for their exemplary conduct and attitude while on camp - they were a joy to take away. - Mr. Rutjens

Retreat was a memorable and heartfelt experience that will resonate with us for life. Although each day was full of many activities, the wholesome night in the cabin watching Outerbanks with the crew, accompanied by our delicious candy salad, was indeed the most enjoyable experience. Thank you to Mr Rutjens and Ms Johnson for giving up their time to make our last school camp a camp we will continue to remember. – Asia Brand

BASKETBALL COMPETITION 

Community Studies is a cross-disciplinary SACE subject that allows students to investigate an area of interest to them, participate in volunteering in the community, or run events to help others. In Term 2, Year 11 students Danyl Haskell and Latrell Smith organised and umpired a lunchtime basketball competition. They wanted to strengthen their own umpiring skills, get experience in organising an event and provide a fun activity for GHS students. Below is an extract of their reflections on the experience:

Many things were successful, such as, how well the games ran, how the games were structured, and how much research we gathered. As the schedule had to be altered, it turned out successful because of the low number of teams that participated. It allowed for a more simplified game schedule/finals bracket. The games ran extremely smoothly because they were shorter to fit into the lunch breaks, and also because we didn’t have to worry about teams having many substitutions because most teams had no more than 5 people. I did improve upon my basketball umpiring knowledge and skills.

The competition that my partner and I created affected not only the people who participated but, also the people who watched. The way it affected the participants was by giving them the ability to show off their basketball skills and have an enjoyable way to spend their lunch breaks. When it comes to the people who cam and watched the games it allowed them to see what possible future competitions may be like, but also gave them the opportunity to support their friends and fellow classmates while also having something to do during their lunch break.

Kate Seidel

MNSEC FORMAL 

A group of twelve Year 11 and 12 students travelled to Peterborough to attend the annual MNSEC Formal on the 21st of June. The night was enjoyed by all, including the supervising teachers Mr Rutjens and Mr Wren, who broke into a surprise dance by the end of the night! A grazing table was provided by Peterborough High School which looked great and tasted good, and the venue looked very impressive. A digital photo booth was also set-up in the room, which proved extremely well-used by all schools and gave students the opportunity to capture memories from the night. In addition to this, a larger photoshoot section was dedicated to the professional photographer who captured some impressive shots of our school group. Overall, the 2024 MNSEC Formal was a great night for all, and allowed students to socialize with other schools in the area. We are looking forward to seeing Mr Rutjens improved moves at next year’s formal!

Max Pedler

PYJAMA DAY

On the last day of Term 2, the Year 12s organised 'Pyjama Day'. Kids showed up in their PJs and enjoyed some delicious pancakes and hot chocolates. In the afternoon, the kids watched a movie in the School Hall before being dismissed early and heading off on their holidays. It was wonderful to see the Year 12s working so well together to organise the event and the food and drinks. Thanks to all that participated on the day!

RAP 

The motto of the Road Awareness Program (RAP) is that “you can choose the risk but you can’t choose the consequence” and addresses the choice that young people have to be safe on our roads whether they are a driver, a passenger or a pedestrian. Aimed at Year 11 students, the 90 minute presentation was a hard-hitting and confronting session professionally delivered by a specially trained firefighter. The session used the stories of real-life people, with students watching graphic videos of road accidents, hearing the firefighter’s emotional stories of crash sites and listening to the personal experience of a crash survivor who had severe mental and physical repercussions after electing to get into a car with a risk-taking driver. 

The session effectively highlighted for our young people how the choices they make on the road impact others and how they can support each other to make better decisions.

RURAL DOCTORS WORKFORCE AGENCY 

In Week 1 of Term 3, the RDWA came to chat to students interested in health pathways about how students can pursue health careers and return to rural areas where health professionals are desperately needed. The presenters, Dale and Isuri, addressed misconceptions and barriers for country students who want to study medicine. This was an informative and interesting session for our students interested in careers in health.

SPOTLIGHT ON JUDY CROSBY 

Did you know that our ACETO, Judy Crosby, is also a gifted artist? She and I were chatting recently and I wanted to share her reflections on her role as a valuable member of the Aboriginal Art community:

I am very lucky to have cultural knowledge holders in my family and community.  

A lot of this networking is reflected in my art. Which I am very passionate about! 

Over the years I have collaborated with different service providers through Art and Design workshops that I have facilitated!  As many may not be aware I work across 3 Educational sites one where I mentor Aboriginal Art as part of the Aboriginal Learners Social and Emotional connection to culture. I am a member for Experts by Experience helping to voice for our mob in Health and Wellbeing at Port Pirie Regional Health Service. 

My latest collaboration recently was with the Port Pirie Correctional Service. I created artwork for their Acknowledgement of Country. The design is about the 'client' connecting with service providers and reconnecting with the community. The client's journey of rediscovery of themselves with supports of holistic healing on the lands of the Nukunu people who are the traditional custodians.

I am awaiting unveiling of another collaboration with the Port Augusta Health Service. 

I will be facilitating jewellery making in the 2024 Winter SALA in Port Pirie. Over the many years I have contributed to small and large gathering delivering workshops around art and design and the Acknowledgement of country to the wider community. 

I am very lucky to have the knowledge and skills to share so that others may embrace our culture from a different perceptive.