Around and Beyond the school
Year 8 Bogong Camp- by Emily Hunter 8A
On Monday the 6th of May at 5.30am, most of the year 8 crew met at the bus exchange ready for a very long bus trip to attend the Outdoor Bogong School. When we got there, we got into our groups, which everyone was happy that they at least got on friend with them.
The first thing we did was wrote down our goal that we wanted to achieve by the end of the week. During the week there were a lot of challenges such as belaying, which means that the person climbing up the wall had to put all of their trust in the 3 people at the bottom. They had to make sure they didn't drop them. Another big challenge for some people was trying the food. Most of the food was just every day meals, but on one of the last nights we all tried kangaroo, which was very interesting for most people.
A really hard thing, which was really fun at the same time, was going to the snow. It was really challenging walking up big hills when it was slippery, and going in the freezing cold weather.
Everyone had a great time on this camp. We learnt many valuable life skills, like team building, self confidence, and building friendships. We are very grateful that we got this opportunity to attend the camp. Thanks to all of the teachers that came with us.
School Wide Positive Behaviour Support at Baimbridge College
Across Victoria, Primary and High Schools have been working towards reframing and renewing their policies around dealing with student behaviour. Whilst the old approach of rules and consequences has served schools well in setting expectations on student behaviour and protecting the learning environment, this approach alone doesn’t necessarily lead to a positive, inspiring environment where students take risks and work hard to be their best. Teachers often have their own ways and systems of recognising and celebrating great effort and behaviour in class, but presently Baimbridge doesn’t have a coordinated approach to teaching positive behaviours, celebrating the vast majority of students who consistently, day after day, do the right thing and do more than just follow rules but extend themselves and push to be the best they can possibly be.
That’s where School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support comes in. SWPBS switches the focus onto the positive behaviours we want in class and around the college. It sets out how all the people associated with Baimbridge College can interact and work in ways that uphold our values of Pride, Courage and Respect. It sees negative behaviours as indicators that students need help to learn the appropriate behaviours and to show the values we hold as most important. It is not, however, a package that can just be picked up and dropped onto a school; it is something that is developed over time with the input of all members of the community.
So what is it and what might it look like?
We are developing a system across the school of displaying, looking for, acknowledging and teaching positive behaviour. What you can see below is our first draft design for displaying the school’s values and the sorts of behaviours students and staff can show to uphold these values. We have already had some student and staff input and feedback on this but are looking for people’s opinions on the design, the language and positive reward and acknowledgement systems we put in place. The questions to ask are: how can we make this best represent Baimbridge? How can we acknowledge our special place in the local community and on Gunditjmara country? How do we make is resonate across the college?
As a trial run over the last 4 weeks of Term 2 we are going to have a mini-practice run to allow students and our community to have a taste of what is possible with SWPBS. We are going to focus on showing respect around the school. Students will discuss what respect means and how we can show it in our behaviour. As a practice run for acknowledgement, teachers and staff are going to be armed with raffle tickets and when they see students going the extra mile and showing great, respectful behaviours they will award the students a ticket. These will be tallied up and at the end of the term the students with the highest number of tickets will get to have a special positive behaviour lunch with the Principal.
This is just a small trial run of what is possible with SWPBS. Much more is possible. The Action Team is currently in the process of working with the SRC and other students to get their views on the sorts of meaningful acknowledgements and rewards they feel help to motivate them to be their best. We are seeking feedback from staff and our community on the ways we can shape the Baimbridge way of promoting and acknowledging positive behaviours in a way that fosters inclusivity, inspires pride and is culturally respectful for our place upon Gunditjmara country.
If you have any views or opinions that will help shape this process, please feel free to contact the college or email me : macdonald.ewan.e@edumail.vic.gov.au
Year 11 Tertiary Excursion- by Lily Brown 11A
Decisions altered, career paths changed, minds made up and horizons broadened were just a few of the things that happened on the Year 11 University trip on Melbourne just a few weeks ago.
While many of us weren’t too impressed about being at school before 6 o’clock, a quick coffee stop on the way to Geelong seemed to wake us all up. With our first destination for the trip being The Gordon, a TAFE institution, we were given our first taste in further education and tertiary studies. Many were surprised with the variety of TAFE courses offered and the pathways it has leading into university.
Deakin University, the Waterfront campus followed and it is safe to say it was by far the favourite. Many questions were asked and answered, rooms were inspected and many us pictured ourselves studying at Deakin Geelong in the coming years, well I know I did. With the residential apartments overlooked the Geelong foreshore, what was not to love?
The next stop, Richmond Football club where we learnt about the further study available within the sporting industry and, much to our surprise, we even witnessed Daniel Rioli leaving the ground.
Once we arrived in Melbourne we stepped back in time at a 1950’s inspired diner for dinner. While we all amazed at the fact the waiters were serving us on roller-skates, no one expected them to break out in dance!
While many were ready to hit the hay after a jampacked day, a few of us decided to watch the heart wrenching 5 feet apart where I can almost guarantee, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including Miss Vincent.
Day 2 included more university tours to many institutions including Monash, Melbourne, RMIT, Collarts and AIT. Each campus offered different things and visiting the big city campuses was an eye opener for us as country kids.
Free time in the city before dinner meant shopping! While navigation in the city was a struggle for a few, no one managed to get too lost while also walking away with a few bargains.
No one left dinner that night still hungry. Pizzas seemed to be flying out of the kitchen, but no one was complaining!
The last leg of our trip was in Ballarat, ACU, Fed Uni Tafe and Fed Uni Performing Arts were our first stops followed by the main Federation Uni campus in Mount Helen. By this stage we had seen so many universities we nearly could have given the presentations ourselves however we still listened looking forward to going home.
This trip opened our eyes to the many possible options after the conclusion of year 12. Thankyou Miss Vincent for your organisation and the teachers who accompanied us on the trip. It was well worth the trip and I recommend any year 10s to go next year.
CSEF
If you have a valid Health Care Card you can receive the Camps Sports & Excursions funding. Please check this link out and visit the General Office to apply. You have until the end of Term 2 to apply for 2019 funding.
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx
Can you please help??
Our canteen is in desperate need of volunteers. With limited names on the roster in 2019 (thank you thank you thank you for your contribution to our school to those who have volunteered) we are calling for volunteers.
We do not care how long you can give. One hour will be better than nothing.
Our canteen has already lost one trading day and the students miss that dearly. Without volunteers we could lose another.
If you are able to assist please complete the form below and return it to school. We appreciate anything we receive from our volunteers.