From the Principal

State Schools Spectacular

Congratulations to all students who were involved in the State Schools Specular Mass Choir and to the students in the technical team. Once again it was a fantastic show and a fantastic opportunity for our students. Thank you to Laura Baker-Goldsmith and Sarah Mortimer who supported students throughout all the rehearsals and the performances.

All the Very Best to the Class of 2017

I can hardly believe our wonderful Year 12 students are about to commence their final exams. Although this is a stressful period of time for them I am confident that the preparation and support they have received over the past years will ensure that they are able to achieve the best results possible. This year the students initiated a film and pizza night in the PAC prior to commencing their study period. It was a wonderful evening for all involved. The following day they were farewelled with a guard of honour from the entire school before heading off to Funfields. The students looked really fabulous in their yellow and orange high visibility vests! Not to mention the two dinosaurs!

Relay for Life

How wonderful to have two outstanding students, Ashleigh Harris and Sierra Danon, supported by Georgina Peters take the lead on coordinating the GEC team – Getting Even with Cancer. It is a huge job and Ashleigh and Sierra are to be commended for their initiative. We had over 60 members of the school community on the team and so far have raised just under $5000. You can still make a donation by using the following link: http://fundraising.cancer.org.au/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=3653&team_id=42652

Health and Physical Education Week

We began the term engaged in activities to improve our understanding and knowledge of physical and mental wellbeing and how to ensure we look after both. Activities included students and staff walking around the oval after lunch and a very well attended parent / student information evening about Mental Wellbeing.

Capital Works

I am delighted that we have finally had handover of our wonderful new gym. The space has been very well received by students and staff. Work has now commenced on the Junior School and Senior School areas.

Embedding the Victorian Curriculum – Professional Learning for Staff Monday 6th November

The Department of Education and Training has provided schools with additional funding for Replacement Teachers (CRTs) to take classes to enable staff to work together on developing resources for the Victorian Curriculum which came in this year. We will use Monday 6th November (day before Cup Day) to do this work. We believe this will minimise disruption to students. Also, the Year 12 exams will have commenced.

We will run an alternate program on this day for all students Year 7 – 11.

Activities will include sessions on Cybersafety, Wellbeing, Financial Awareness and Film as Text. As students will participate in sport, they are permitted to wear the school sports uniform for the day. Year 10 students who do not have a school sports uniform will need to wear full school uniform and change into appropriate sports gear.

Many families choose to go on a holiday over this time. If you intend for your child not to attend on this day please let the General Office know as soon as possible.

Finally

Our students continue to achieve in a broad range of areas. A huge congratulations to:

Adelin Zipman in 9E who received the 2017 Spoken Word Next Generation Champion award at the Battle of Art Competition for slam poetry. This is particularly impressive considering Adelin was the only 14 year old among a group of 16-18 year olds. Her slam poems brought the crowd to their feet with a standing ovation.
Haddi El Shorbagy in 7E - an outstanding athlete. Haddi will be competing in the State Finals in Javelin, Discus and Shot Put – a wonderful achievement.
Ebony Franzi-Jones and Alexandra Vasilakopoulos from 9F who were finalists in the Write4Fun 2017 Schools Writing Competition. Their short stories were published in an anthology with all the other winning stories from across the country.

The GEC staff team enjoyed good weather and some fierce competition in Ballarat at the Teachers Games—GECs 10th year in the last school holidays. Well done to the GEC team.

Congratulations to Abe Brash who created the Technology and Arts Weeks poster and to Sean Kelly who created to banner for the Visual Arts Show which is on this week - hope to see you at the opening of this Wednesday.

Sheereen Kindler

Principal