College News
Kowree Sports Day F – 6
What an absolutely fantastic day was had by all at the F – 6 sports last Wednesday. With all the local primary schools coming together (Balmoral, Goroke, St Malachys, Apsley and Edenhope), it was celebration of noise, competition and it was a spectacle to watch. Too long has it been since we had a gathering of that size due to restrictions of recent years. I walked out of the main building to check out the sports - noise, competitiveness and the excitement that was evident, it put a smile on my face. Events ran until the very end and schools had to rush off to get students back to their respective schools for pick ups/bus runs etc.
A big thanks to all who organised the day, helped with events and ran canteens or those who came along and simply supported their children. It was a huge success!
Interim reports
Just a heads up for parents, we are looking at upgrading the school report system and we are going to start by introducing ‘interim’ reports in term 4. The thought process behind this is we are looking to continue to build communication across the learning environment and a big part of that is feedback through the reporting process. We aim to have visual interim reports that are easy to understand and they would go halfway through each term. This would then cut back the amount of information needed in end of semester reports. We will seek feedback from students and parents after our 1st round to see what you think.
Auslan
I was asked to do a classroom observation in Miss Pearson’s class which was Year 7 Auslan. I had never attempted sign language before, but by the end of the lesson I was really engaged and conversing with ‘other’ students using Auslan. It’s the language we use in our LOTE program and one that really engages students (and teachers 😊). As you could imagine there was a lot of movement involved, students were highly engaged and enjoying the activities that Miss Pearson rotated within the class. Below was a fun activity where students had to ‘sign’ a short sentence while others were asked to interpret. It involved making a web with a roll of wool, - students had a ‘ball’!
Safety for all in our Learning Environment
Below you will find information which is new for schools and it outlines how everyone, students, parents & staff can be protected if there is aggressive behaviour (emotional or physical), brought into the learning environment. I’ve rarely seen it happen here at Edenhope College thankfully, but it’s my duty to advise our community of protective measures. If you have any questions on the below department information or ever feel unsafe please contact me at the school.
Schools are positive places of learning where everyone has a right to a safe and healthy learning environment. Schools are also workplaces, and school staff deserve to work in an environment where they don’t feel threatened or unsafe.
From Term 3, 2022, the School Community Safety Order Scheme (Scheme) will come into effect in all Victorian schools. This Scheme allows principals and other authorised persons to issue ongoing or immediate school community safety orders that place limitations on the way certain parents, carers or other adults who act in a harmful, abusive or threatening way behave towards staff, students or others in the school community. Click here for more information about the Scheme, including a short video that provides an overview of the Scheme.
This Scheme provides a range of safeguards for people who may be subject to an order and their child. For example, before issuing an ongoing school community safety order, an authorised person must consider the person’s response to the notice to issue an order and how an order may impact their child. Orders can only be issued as a last resort option if it is the least restrictive option to address the behaviour. To read more about the protections built into the Scheme for parents, carers and other adults who may be subject to an order (including information on appeal rights), access the Department’s website.
Everyone at school, particularly staff and parents/carers, play a role in making school a better place for learning and work. The Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy outlines the shared roles of parents, carers and school staff in creating a positive environment for learning.
Our mutual objective is to support your child’s education. To do this, we ask that feedback and complaints are both constructive and respectful. Parents are reminded to follow the school’s complaints policy or process or the Department’s Complaints Policy if you wish to raise any constructive and respectful feedback.
You can find the Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy and other resources to build a positive relationship with our school community here.
Wellbeing Day
This Friday 9/9, sees years 7 – 10 students off to Kaniva for a full day of wellbeing workshops. The local shire (with Kaniva school), has kindly helped put the day on and we want our students to have the opportunity to continue building their awareness to the stresses they have been exposed to over recent times. It is important that we all look after ourselves and as I explain to students, be a bit selfish at time and take time out. You’d notice (parents), we all seem busier and we don’t seem to have that time to relax, but it’s important that we ‘make the time’. So there is my challenge to you to find family time, or your own personal time on a regular basis. I tell college staff the order things should be in one’s life is family, health & work. You can’t separate the 1st two but work is 3rd. If you get the first two right then you are happier, healthier and you work a lot better, - so get to it!
Flinders 10 day Hike/camp
Five students from Edenhope College along with two from Goroke were given the opportunity to hike 126km through the Flinders ranges as part of an initiative driven/supported by local police sergeant Darren Ferluga. The camp is run by Operations Flinders group and Darren coordinates local students to attend. He also raises the money to allow the students the experience. Thank you Darren, at $4,000 per student we appreciate all you do to facilitate this trip to happen. Also a big thanks to Bruce Ryan who went along as a student mentor. In the next Whytalla we’ll have a full camp update.
Stadium
Great to see the progress of our new stadium ceiling, by the start of term 4 we will have all work completed. Thanks to local contractors Will Power, Ron Crabtree Painting and Horsham builder Duane McLean for the work they’ve done. Doesn’t it look good.
Trevor McClure
Principal