Assistant Principals
From Mrs Stathatos
Impact of Gambling Unit at Year 7
There was a very positive reception by Year 7 students to the Economics and Business unit called the Impact of Gambling, which was launched this week in the Junior School Building. The unit provides the opportunity for students to deepen their financial literacy and work collaboratively with their peers. Thank you to the team of teachers who created the unit and to the Year 7 staff who are delivering it. It is fantastic to see the work the students are doing collaboratively which draws on their critical and creative thinking skills.
Instructional Model- student voice
The GANAG Instructional Model has been implemented for almost two years at the college and is used to provide consistency of teacher practice across year levels and learning areas. Feedback from students is that they like seeing their Learning Intentions and Success Criteria in their lesson plans as this information provides them with a direction of learning. Further student input is being sought to qualify what teachers and students should be doing in each stage of the model. A great deal of research has indicated that seeking student voice in the creation of tasks encourages them to think about their learning and motivates them to improve.
Thank you to the parents of the Parent Citizen Teacher Association for their presence and work in the committee. In our last meeting, parents gave feedback on the Mobile Phone policy which has been welcomed as a positive move to minimise distractions during lessons. The PCTA’s first meeting in 2020 will take place in mid February and we welcome new members.
France 2020
There was standing room only for the France Tour 2020 presentation to parents and students in the college library. It was in the year 2000 when the first trip to France was taken and I know that for language learners it has been a motivating factor in continuing their language studies. The general office is accepting deposits for this exciting trip.
Among the end of year celebratory events, the Year 12 Valedictory dinner at Marvel Stadium being one of them, there is an effort to complete final assessments and examinations and to prepare for next year’s courses. The transition program running for our middle school and senior students offers students the opportunity to meet teachers, familiarise themselves with course outlines and make a head start in their learning for 2020. Reading their new texts and jotting down key points is a great transition starter for all students.
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 Marvel Stadium was a huge success with over 750 members of the college community gathering as one to farewell the class of 2019.
The night was filled with warmth, affirmation, friendship and reflection. The College is so proud of the class of 2019 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.
Many 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 their meticulous planning and organisation of the night. This team’s immediate challenge was to move from a sinking venue to one that had stable footings!!
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, 2020, 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
The days and weeks are rushing by and in the busyness of the festive season, we often forget to thank people around us so, I would like to extend my gratitude and thank you to all our staff, students and families for supporting Ringwood Secondary College in 2019. Without collective efforts, our positive impact in providing opportunities for our students would certainly diminish and I hope that in 2020 our college community continues to foster creative talent and the growth of flourishing and thriving individuals.
I am looking forward to the next few weeks…
- Presentation Night -a celebration of many fine achievements of our students
- Orientation Day- which heralds the arrival of our new 2020 year 7’s
- 2020 Prefects camp- builds direction for our student leadership team
Year 9 Market Day
Congratulations and thank you to Virginia Watson and her team of interGREAT teachers and students for creating a vibrant bustling market day. It was wonderful to see the great variety of stalls, interesting creations and diversity of ideas.
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.
Year 9 market day
Maria Allison
Assistant Principal