Assistant Principals
From Mrs Stathatos
The term has begun with excitement. We enter this period of the year ensuring that we make arrangements to finish well while simultaneously preparing for 2019. Increasingly we are looking to the resources of the Department of Education to support us in the changes that we make from year to year. In particular, the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes in the Education State outlines an improvement cycle which provides a structure to the thinking around any change management process. It is a useful guide as we strive to make changes for improvement rather than for change sake. Here is a link to the Department’s website which explains the cycle.
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/management/improvement/Pages/improvement-model.aspx
I was delighted this week to see the real joy in all of the faces of my Year 7 students when I gave them an opportunity to express their learning through visual representations. Following some heavy learning and application of French grammar and sentence structures to describe family members and pets, their happiness in using les crayons de couleur-coloured pencils, les taille-crayons, sharpeners and les gommes- erasers, to apply their understanding was refreshing. I had the good fortune to witness students’ artistic ability as well as the feedback that they enjoyed the activity. The drawings in this edition are from Jenny Tha Chin Par.
PHOTOS
The GANAG lesson schema is being made visible to students by a number of staff through Compass which increases student connectivity to their lessons and allows for greater ability to review and revise work. Here are a few examples of what students see on their Lesson Page for a subject:
GOAL -Learning Intention:
Access prior information:
New information:
Application:
GOAL Summary- Success Criteria:
MATHS
Goal (learning intentions)
* Students will know how to find the point of two straight line graphs by solving simultaneous equations graphically.
Access prior information:
* Solve the equations by working backwards:
2x + 5 = 7;
x/5 - 3 = 4;
x/3 + 2 = 5;
(a + 7)/4 = 2;
3(x + 2) = 9;
* Substituting in values:
v = u + at. Find t when v=16, u=4, a=3.
P = 2(k + 2m). Find b when P=60 and m=10
New information:
* Finding the point of intersection by graphing.
* Show those who have a Classpad how to do it using the Classpad features.
* Click on the following link for a detailed lesson plan: Lesson 3 - 8E.pdf
Application: Activity: 8E 1a, b, c, 3a, b, c, 4a, 7
Goal Summary -Success criteria (review goal): students can find the point of intersection of two straight line graphs by solving simultaneous equations graphically. Exit pass: put 2 graphs on board; ask for intersection.
SCIENCE
Goal:
Students will develop an understanding of proteins and the solubility of vitamins due to their structure and functional groups
Access Prior Knowledge:
Past exam question on lipids
New information:
Proteins:
- formation of peptides and the peptide link
- primary, secondary and tertiary and quaternary structures and their bonds
- water soluble versus insoluble vitamins
Apply new knowledge:
Worksheet 34 and 37
Goal Success:
Students should have a good understanding of vitamins and proteins, including amino acids.
The Parent Citizen and Teacher Association, PCTA, held its second last meeting for the year a fortnight ago. The dedicated members of the committee are preparing for the upcoming information night for the 2019 Debutante Ball. Current Year 10 students who are interested in knowing the commitment to this event are to attend the information night with members of their family. The importance of attendance at this information night is stressed as all the key people who are responsible for the co-ordination and running of the ball are introduced. The information night will take place on Thursday November 1st at 7pm in the college library. The PCTA has discussed new ventures in 2019 and would welcome new members to the team. Please let the President of the PCTA, Tracey Howell know via email if you are interested.
The Art and Technology show is on next week and the whole Ringwood Secondary College community is invited to witness the wonderful work of our talented students and staff. Added to this the celebration day for Year 12 students who will have their final lessons on Monday and then celebrate the end of formal schooling before the intense study and exam period. We wish students the very best at this time and look forward to seeing them and their families at the Valedictory Dinner on Friday 23rd of November. Finally, we will welcome guests, students and teachers, next week from our Indonesian Sister School and thank Jessica Lundie and the host families for ensuring that their stay will be enjoyable.
Eleni Stathatos
Assistant Principal
From Mr Barut
EXAMS ARE NIGH AND TRANSITION BEGINS
As I pen this newsletter report, Year 12 of 2018 are working through their final school days, before Swot Vac begins in earnest.
During their final common assembly, the College Principal and yours truly spoke to all our students about doing their absolute best for the next four weeks and committing to revision and their exams. In that light, we want the class of 2018 to finish with harmony, mindfulness, respect and class.
As school continues for Years 7 to 11, there will be zero tolerance to any disruption to the College program and zero tolerance for trespassing and /or damage done to the school. We make no apologies for this stance – we want to remember our students with fondness and warmth, rather for any behaviour that was discordant with our expectations.
Breakfast for all the families is on Tuesday, 23rd of October, where we will celebrate together our students’ last day…for some, FunFields will follow, for others, it is off home to begin Swot Vac.
The morning will conclude at approximately 9.30 am.
In the other Sub Schools, classes continue, learning tasks continue, assessment continues – it is business as usual.
In 2019, the College is expecting a large number of students joining us in Year 7. Transition visits to the feeder primaries will begin in earnest – Thanks to the Junior School team, Mrs Margellis and Mrs Pritchard, together with our ambassadors, who will be making these visits. We cannot wait to meet them!
A reminder to all our students and parents that Ringwood Secondary College is a uniform school and the correct school uniform must be worn every day. Students, please visit your relevant House Co-ordinator to get a uniform pass, if you are out of school uniform.
On another note, if you ride your bike to school, please, please, please, lock your bike to the bike rack that has been provided.
James Barut
Assistant Principal
From Mrs Allison
Welcome back to Term 4, a term that is always very busy full of calendared events and movement around the College.
This week we farewell our Year 12 cohort. The College wishes all students a successful and fruitful future. I do encourage every student to embrace all opportunities, to challenge themselves but most importantly to become the best person they can be. A few words of wisdom I think encapsulates the future they may create are the ‘five steps forward’ by Cam Greenwood, founder of Monsta Surf.
DISCOVER MORE
1.Set Your Compass
2.Pack Lightly
3.Step Out
4.Expect Storms
5.Keep Moving
Art and Technology Exhibition 2018
Ringwood Secondary College encourages you to view and acknowledge our talented students and their work in our annual Art and Technology Exhibition that will showcase student’s skills and talents from a wide range of the Arts and Technology subjects such as: Art, Studio Arts, Visual Communication, Media, Photography, Textiles, Wood, Food Technology, Materials, CAD and Digitech. The Opening Night will be held on Tuesday the 23rd of October at 7pm, in the RT building (upstairs space) at the College. We are very fortunate to have Dee Ryall MP as our guest speaker. Entry to the opening night is by gold coin donation and light refreshments will be served on that evening. The exhibition will also be open for viewing on Wednesday the 24th and Thursday the 25th of October from 9am to 4:30pm.
Wellbeing Focus for this week…
Wellbeing Element: Strengths and emotions
Character Strength: Bravery
Wellbeing Fitness Challenge: Looking forward and reducing tension
There will be times in all students’ school life where they experience stress and tense feelings. Recognising early warning signals enables parents and teachers to intervene to support them. Conversations around the creation and action of positive coping strategies to reduce anxiety, are effective reducers. Suggesting things, they could start doing for their signature and top supporting strengths, is a proactive approach. Through the understanding of personal strengths students can further develop their emotional literacy.
Triggers, which may become stressors, include heavy study, learning workload and lacking organisational skills; overly high expectations of themselves and from others; striving to be “too” perfect and obsessed with detail; peer group/family issues and social networking harassment. While these situations are undesirable, the reality is that they will occur from time to time. The key is not letting them intensify into stronger emotions and more serious mental health issues. The most effective way to build students’ social-emotional resilience is to teach them how to develop their own positive self-calming strategies.
- Find an activity that reduces tension or stress such as being mindful, playing sport, reading a book, walking the dog, gardening. Exercise!
- Improve time management by prioritising events or work.
- Eat well, fresh vegetables and fruit, eat breakfast.
- Go to bed early, phone off by 9, 8 hours of sleep.
- Celebrate positive achievements and increase contact with others.
For our senior students, especially the Year 12’s, the exam period can trigger tension and stress, so it is imperative that we as supporters create opportunities for release of this stress and discuss potential approaches for positive study and time management. Urge students to look forward with enthusiasm and bravery.
Mrs Maria Allison
Assistant Principal