Assistant Principals
From Mrs Stathatos
The beginning of December brings on the anticipation of the long summer holiday, rest and relaxation which is a welcome relief in the busy calendar year.
While school has 3 weeks before the final bell rings, there is a concerted effort to maintain a rigorous and engaging program in our learning spaces. The integrated study at Year 7, The Impact of Gambling, is doing just that, engaging students in core learning areas to think about aspects of financial literacy and to collaborate and create an end product. I can’t wait to see the student presentations before the End of Year program begins.
At this time, I find that encouraging students to reflect upon their learning- how much they know, what they can do – is a great exercise in having them articulate their growth as learners. It is a discussion I have had with my Year 7 French class and student responses to the question, How do you know that you have learnt a lot in French, has provided me with the following answers- I know how to talk about myself, I can describe my family, I am able to sing songs, I can talk about my pets, I can read information in French, I can say what activities I do. It is very satisfying to know that the work we have done throughout the year is contributing to an appreciation of bilingualism, and in turn, global citizenship.
Transition programs are being run while examinations are nearing the end and preparations to celebrate student achievement and endeavour at our Presentation night are being made. The Duke of Edinburgh Falls Creek to Mt Bogong expedition will return, Year 9 Bike Tour students are training, The Junior School production -Elf Junior The Musical- will entertain hundreds of people, Year 10 and 11 students will attend their Formals while student reports will become available on Compass on the 19th of December. It is full steam ahead till the end.
Eleni Stathatos
Assistant Principal
From Mr Barut
CELEBRATIONS and FAREWELLS and REPORTS
As you can see by the many photos that adorn this report, the valedictory evening that was held at Melbourne Park was a huge success with nearly 600 members of the college community gathering as one to farewell the class of 2018.
The night was filled with warmth, affirmation, friendship and reflection. The College is so proud of the class of 2018 and they are to be wished all the best in the next phase of their life, whether that includes further study, employment, travel or a gap year.
The staff of Ringwood Secondary College are to be congratulated for their input into our students, thus preparing them to take their place in the world as global citizens.
Thanks must also go to the Senior School team – Mrs Cathy Menz, Ms Emma Lim, Ms Lucy Moore, Ms Caitlin May and Mr Matthew Saunders, for all the meticulous planning and organisation of the night. Thank you to the office staff who prepared all the awards and thank you to all the staff who attended and supported the evening.
On another note, transition classes for Year 11 students going into Year 12 have just been completed and the class of Year 12, 2019, will begin their first day next year at Box Hill TAFE (Lilydale Campus) with a series of workshops that will focus on study and exam preparation, well being and health tips. Year 10 into 11 will be happening next week, after the conclusion of the Year 10 exams.
Every student, in every subject will have a task that will need to be completed over the summer holidays. The transition program establishes preparedness for the upcoming school year and allows all our students to start the year in a positive manner, willing and ready to take on the challenges that they will face.
The College program continues with all our students in Years 7-9 and they, too, have tasks to complete as teachers get ready to produce all the end of year reports.
James Barut
Assistant Principal
From Mrs Allison
Where has the year gone?
The days and weeks are rushing by and in the haste, we often forget to thank people around us. I would like to extend a warm thank you to all our staff, students and families for supporting Ringwood Secondary College in so many ways. Without this collective impact, the opportunities provided for our students would certainly diminish.
Thank you also, to my Year 12 Visual Communication Design class whose kindness and willingness to never to give up made the challenging year a positive experience.
Sun Smart
As the weather is warming up students must ensure they cover up with sunscreen and use a protective hat. Cancer Council Victoria recommends using SPF30 or higher broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen. However, sunscreen alone will not provide adequate protection against over exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Cancer Council recommends five steps to protect against sun damage during the daily sun protection times (when the UV level is 3 and above):
1. Slip on sun-protective clothing.
2. Slop on SPF30 or higher sunscreen–make sure it is broad-spectrum and water-resistant. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and re-apply every two hours.
3. Slap on a hat –that protects your face, head, neck and ears.
4. Seek shade.
5. Slide on sunglasses –make sure they meet Australian Standards. UV levels are most intense during the middle of the day. Check the daily sun protection times, available via the free Sun Smart app online at sunsmart.com.au or bom.gov.au/weather/uv or in the weather section of newspapers as a free website widget. The sun protection time shows when the UV Index is forecast to be 3 or above.
Wellbeing focus for the week…
Wellbeing Builder: Positive Self-Image
Wellbeing Element: Strengths and Emotions
Character Strength: Humility
Wellbeing Fitness Challenge: Emotions Spotting
The greatest assets we all have to be happy with healthy wellbeing fitness are ourselves and other people. How we see ourselves, our self-image influences how we want others to see us. For adolescents in particular, how they are accepted and viewed by their peer group is all important for them.
“if I had nine hours to cut down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my axe” Abraham Lincoln
Providing students with effective tools to develop a positive self-image is the sharpening part of this exercise. To do this, each week role model two Positive Personal Descriptors they want others to think of when they see them. They will need to practise the body language which shows each of them.
Make a list of positive emotions they want to feel and negative ones they want to avoid, then use Positive Self-talk to encourage themselves to accomplish what they have set for themselves to achieve and develop social-emotional resilience.
Maria Allison
Assistant Principal