Around the College
College Council Report – Thursday 10th December 2015
• The Principal provided an update on the development of the College’s new Strategic Plan for 2016-2019. The Plan includes Goals and Key improvement strategies. The next step is to identify actions directed at achieving the Key improvement strategies. Recent recommendations from the School Review provide important input to the development of the Plan.
• The Council meeting dates for 2016 were tabled for information including notification of pupil free days on January 27th; April 11th; June 14th; and August 5th.
• Preliminary investigations have commenced into costing and options for a solar installation as part of the College’s new capital works program.
• The Principal’s Report to Council covered: staffing appointments for 2016; the upcoming awards ceremonies for music productions; tendering for the capital works is anticipated to be undertaken in February 2016; the College is looking forward to the VCE results.
• Report form Resources Committee - good financial result for the College as at the end of November 2015. Tracking well for the year-end financial position. Business associated with school governance (audit; financial policies; and school budget) have all been satisfactorily acquitted for 2015.
• Report from Policy and Education Committee - three policies were endorsed by the College Council: ACE (Year 7 High Achievers) Program Policy; Audio-Visual Educational Material Selection Policy; Alcohol and Drug Management Policy.
• Report from the Facilities Committee – quotes re: solar options; installation of LED lights; review of security system; planning is proceeding on the new Junior School.
• Report from RTTF – exciting programs continue to run at the facility; planning underway for 2016 enrolments; transitioning to a new name and new logo in 2016 “Ringwood Training”.
• OH&S Report – roof safety equipment recently re-certified.
• Report from Heritage and Alumni Group – the Heritage Perpetual Scholarship has been launched and the first scholarship has been awarded for 2016.
News for Nepal
Thankyou to all of the people from the Ringwood Secondary College community who helped raise the $6,700.00 that has just been sent to the World Expeditions Foundation for Shree Lokil Primary School in Nepal.
There were many generous donations from parents and students including the donated student profits from the Business Studies Market Day, Trivia Night and the sale of ice-creams, spiders and a sausage sizzle.
This money will help to rebuild their classrooms, which were severely damaged in the 2015 earthquake.
We are currently planning a trip to Nepal in 2017. The trip will be during the first term holidays.
The trip is open to students, parents, older siblings, past students and staff.
The itinerary includes two days sight seeing and shopping in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.
The trek runs for 7 days - a bus to Syabru Besi to trek the Tamang Heritage Trail. We walk through rhododendron forests, mountain villages and see snow capped mountains.
The 'Tamang Heritage Trail' is an exciting new trekking route, located between Langtang and the Ganesh Himal. A culturally rich region steeped in Tibetan tradition. The local Tamang people are some of the warmest and most welcoming people in Nepal.
Enroute, we enjoy panoramic mountain views of the nearby peaks and could soak in the natural hot springs at Tatopani.
Continuing north towards Tibet, we soak up the heritage and culture; appreciate the exquisite local architecture of the Tamang homes, a local fort and a monastery.
We then head south by bus and visit Shree Lokil School where we will spend 2 days helping with their rebuilding process. Many of the trek porters come from this poor region of Nepal and will be proud to take you to their village, welcoming your support for their school.
Project work will involve physical work that may include plastering the classroom walls, painting the school and levelling the land for the playground.
There will be an information night early February for anyone interested in participating in this excursion.
If you have any questions please email.
Mrs Christine Ross cross@ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au
Mrs Stacey Miriklis smiriklis@ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au
Attendance Matters
It was great to be able to speak with so many parents this year and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and relaxing holiday season.
Just a couple of things to remember for next year.
· Please call before 10.00am if your child will not be attending school that day
· If you receive an SMS absence notification please respond as it is important part of the College’s Duty of Care obligations and we need to ensure that a student is legitimately absent
· Year 10 students who are doing a VCE subject next year will require a Medical Certificate if they are absent on the day of that class.
Calls to the attendance line 9845 7519 can be made at any time night or day if you need to inform the school of an absence.
Kay Priestly
Attendance
LOTE
Well it’s ‘bonnes vacances, joyeux noël and au revoir’ from French and ‘Selamat hari libur, Selamat hari natal and Selamat tinggal’ from Indonesian for 2015!
We have had a terrific year in LOTE this year and I hope that all students have enjoyed the year as much as the staff has. I would like to thank the LOTE team for their effort this year. It has been a great support to me to have such an enthusiastic and capable team of staff. My thanks go to:
French-
Annie van Eeden
Caitlin May
Julie Gleeson
Mink Schapper
Indonesian-
Virginia Martin
Jessica Lundie
I would like to take this opportunity to wish students, staff and the wider community a safe and happy holiday period and I look forward to seeing everyone, fresh faced and ready to embark on a new year in 2016.
Bonne vacances!
Selamat hari libur!
Rosemary Devereux
LOTE convener, 2015
From the Chaplain
Happy Christmas I hope you and the family have a good one.
It is the season of giving. I felt particularly blessed just recently when I was celebrating my sons birthday out for dinner. As we sat down with 5 of his friends a group of 4 elderly people nearby noticed the mass of little children just about to invade their quiet meal. As one man got up we took a deep breath ready to apologise. The gentleman asked us what all the fuss was about and we explained that it was my sons birthday. He was not cranky at all in fact he was quick to go for his wallet and before we had a chance to say "don't be silly" my son was given a $10 note. The look on our 7 year olds face was priceless. For me this offered a small glance of Christmas and the spirit and intent behind the event. Christians celebrate the gift of Jesus to the earth 2000 years ago, a gift that was given to offer joy and peace in a politically challenging time and a gift that keeps on giving, still available to all.
Regardless of what or how you will be celebrating, may your Christmas be one of giving. Not giving for the sake of fulfilling a kris kringle requirement or buying something for someone else because they bought something for you, but giving yourself to others in acts of kindness and patience offering them love and joy. I hope that we can shift our focus from ourselves to others so we may experience the true essence of Christmas this year. Have a safe and wonderful break, look forward to journeying again together in 2016!
Adam Bryant
College Chaplain
Facilities report
The last few weeks of the year are always incredibly busy in preparation for the next year. Much planning is occurring around the new Junior School building and we are currently investigating potential solar installations at the College and the replacement of all old lighting with LED lights. A new double portable is due to arrive over the holiday break and Room 400, which is well past its used by date, will be demolished. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Facilities team and staff and parents for their ongoing support throughout 2015. A more comprehensive summary of all major works can be found in the recently published annual College magazine. Recent activity at the College includes:
- Servicing of all lockers
- Maintenance of the new plants on Hill St
- New storage area beneath portables
OH & S
- Roof safety equipment recently re-certified
Chris Salisbury
Facilities Manager