From the Office
School Council Report
Meeting with the Architects
On Monday 10th September, School Council met with the Architects - Clarke Hopkins Clarke.
Wayne presented the School’s Master Plan that was developed a few years ago to bring everyone up to date. On the original planning, Stage One was the Junior School and Senior School Buildings but when the budget was completed, there was not enough to complete the two so it was decided to bank the excess funds for a later date and concentrate on completing the Junior School first. In May, we received further funding of 5.5 million, which gave us a budget of 6.4 million.
Stage Two looked at working on the STEM building – this would be a two-story building. It would incorporate new science rooms, canteen area and a central plaza area. The costing for that was approx. 8 million, which we don’t have enough to do. Rather than building something that isn’t exactly what the College wanted, the decision was made to concentrate on the VCE and Senior School Building and to delay the STEM building until the next funding is obtained. It will be placed where the current 100’s are located which also include the Careers, Middle School and International Wing. There are 4 rooms within that area which will also be lost.
The building that is envisioned is a split-level building, giving 9 classrooms internally as well as office space, kitchenette and large collaboration spaces within the centre. There will be a bridge that will link the new building to the Ringwood Training Centre. The architects are working on lots of light being able to be used in the design.
The design would be similar to that of the Junior School Building, allowing for a continuity within the school, using poly carbonate roofing for the covered area which promotes light. The materials would be the timber, possible different shade to the brick work used. Discussion was had on the huge area available for further solar panelling to make the building cost effective.
Car Access
The College is strongly looking at removing the car access into the centre of the school, currently the Quad is used for parking but with the Master Plan, this would be removed, opening up the centre area to a plaza style. The basketball courts located on the Rosewarne Lane side could be then used for additional parking on events such as production etc.
Next Steps:
Schematic Plans would be presented to the DET which would take approx. 8 weeks, when the DET give the go ahead to progress to the next stage. Building Tender could possibly be early 2019, with the build to start late term 2, 2019 taking approx. 12 months to complete.
Other Council Business
NAPLAN:
In our additional meeting on Wednesday, Council were also able to analyse and celebrate this year’s NAPLAN results. Particularly impressive was the increase in relative growth across all of the different assessment areas in both the top and bottom ends.
Careers Education:
Council were informed about the initiative to focus on the importance of Careers Education right from Year 7. By 2020, it is anticipated that there will be a plan to look at how this money is spent in schools. Details of these programs are now beginning to emerge and 2019 will be viewed as a transition year.
Policies:
The following policies have been revised and updated. These policies have been circulated amongst staff and are now being actioned:
- Curriculum Framework Policy
- Homework Policy
- Sun Smart Policy
The Policy and Education Committee are now conducting an audit for policies to be reviewed in 2019.
Facilities:
A lot was discussed in regards to facilities work around the College. This includes:
- Replacement of damaged eaves for room 413A
- New pin boards for Food Technology
- New air conditioners in the RT main office and managers office
- Installation of RESPECT sign down the side of the library
- Construction of screening wall for waste bins
- Installation of access ramp to Student Services
- Replacement - high bays RT Engineering
Jessica Lundie
School Council Member (DET)
Ringwood Training
See details for the upcoming Welding short course
RSC Work Futures EXPO 2019
This month has seen many advances in our work; after discussion with Mr Phillips, we have included Year 9 students as this is the year they will start Work Experience activities. We believe that following this Expo these students will see a wider choice of places for their work experience. Some of these companies already offer that, but perhaps not so well known to the students.
This invitation now covers Years 9 to 12. An opportunity to have all these organisations in one place at the same time gives our students a great chance to make direct comparisons between organisations.
We have confirmation from 4 large companies and 6 service organisations, including Victoria Police and Defence to make presentations at our EXPO 2019. These companies represent most of the 7 Clusters of the new workplaces. We are waiting for responses from some others.
We have sent details to prospective presenters regarding the format of their presentations, so that all those who attend on Wednesday 19th June will be able to make comparisons on the same criteria. A questionnaire was also sent asking them to consider a range of opportunities, such as whether their company offers traineeships to employees, has on-site training facilities or supports students attending tertiary education establishments. We believe employees will require additional skills in the workplaces of the future to ensure transitions from one discipline to another.
We ask if employees would be encouraged to change to another work section, or a different discipline within the company’s range of work, if they requested to attempt a new task. The way technology is encroaching on work procedures we ask if the companies embrace innovation. The Foundation for Young Australians (fya) believes technology changes are a driving force of the new Work Futures and we would like to see students able to make the best choices using these opportunities.
Before the end of this year we hope to arrange a meeting with presenters to make sure they all have the same information. We want the best possible outcome from this Expo, so our planning has to be the best we can provide to achieve this result.
For further details contact the school or the convenor, Barry Ring, at barry.ring@bigpond.com
ART AND TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION OPENING NIGHT
SAVE THE DATE!
Tuesday, 23rd October 7pm
RT Building Ringwood Secondary College
Entry by gold coin donation.
The annual Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition is fast approaching for 2018! This is an opportunity to celebrate the creative talent of our students from a variety of subjects including Studio Art, Visual Communication Design, Media, Textiles, Photography, Food, Wood and Metal.
Opening Night is on Tuesday 23rd October at 7pm in the Ringwood Training Building (RT) and we invite anyone from the Ringwood Community to attend. For this occasion, teachers have nominated students for both Visual Arts and Technology awards, and recipients will be notified shortly through a compass event.
This year, Member of Parliament Dee Ryall is our guest speaker and we look forward to welcoming her to this artistic display of student work that's spans across a variety of artforms and mediums. Additionally, there will be a representative from the Ringwood Arts Society who will be presenting one lucky student with a prize.
This year, there will be some Augmented Reality (AR) aspects to the Exhibition where artworks become interactive providing viewers with a new experience, alongside more enriching information about the artwork they are observing. Please pre-down load the app HP Reveal https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/hp-reveal/id432526396?mt=8 and create an account. In order to view student work throughout the Exhibition, please sign up to the channel and follow MissKWHrsc
This link will provide you with more helpful instructions on how to get started and deliver you with an example of what to expect https://vimeo.com/224535851
The Exhibition will also be open on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th from 9.00am – 4.30pm. Entry is upon a gold coin donation. Please don't forget to vote for the ‘People’s Choice’ upon leaving the exhibition.
We look forward to celebrating student achievements with the wider Ringwood Community.
Visual Arts and Technology Staff
Facilities
Over recent weeks the Facilities team has made good progress around the College grounds. Improvements have included:
- Replacement of damaged eaves Room 413A-This was an awful eyesaw beside the main external basketball court
- Installation of new pinboards for Food Technology
- Installation of Air conditioners in the RT main office and Manager’s office
- Installation of RESPECT sign
- Construction of a steel and modwood screening wall to hide the waste bins
- Construction of an access ramp to Student Services
- Replacement of all high bays in the RT Engineering building
- Power installation in the gym for the new floor cleaning machine
Many thanks to members of the Facilities Committee for supporting our recent Working Bee on Saturday 8th September. Several Dwarf Eucalyptus gums were planted and the 500s Hill St bank levelled.
Lots of exciting jobs coming up in the near future and planning for the new building is well and truly underway.
Chris Salisbury
Facilities Manager
Buy a Bale Fundraising Update
Thank you to the wonderful RSC staff, pre-service teachers and members of our college community who have donated to help us achieve our target of $1,000 to support our drought affected Australian farmers.
After our successful morning tea, we have now raised $1,311.80.
If you have not donated, there is still time to do so as our supporter link will remain active until the start of term 4.
https://www.buyabale.com.au/donate/?supporter_id=82931
‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’ – Helen Keller