Facilities

The start of the year has proven to be very busy on the Facilities front. The two building sites are moving along nicely and the school community can now get a sense for how grand the Junior School building will look upon completion. Hopefully in the next week the roof install will be completed, internal framing is nearing completion and we expect to see bricklayers onsite in the next couple of weeks.

The Library has a new internal ceiling and LED lights will also be installed in the near future. It’s completion date is late March and the Junior School should be finished late August.

For parents interested in taking a more active role in the development of the school facilities please consider attending our first Facilities Committee meeting of the year on Thursday 9th March, 7.30pm, Conference Room.

Other recent works around the College have included:

Revarnishing of the hall and gym floors
Instal of Airconditioners in Rooms 809-812, IT office and VCE Study Centre/Temporary Library
Fertilising and Vertidrilling of oval and soccer fields
Painting of all student lockers including repairs
Replacement of the 500s decking carpet and recoating of decks
Painting of select areas around the school
Poetry signs redone

Occupational Health and Safety

Once again, the College is very fortunate to have Mrs Stelfox as the staff OH & S representative, who recently assisted in OH & S inductions for new staff members. In the near future we will implement our extensive Workplace Inspection program, ensuring all areas of the school are inspected every term.

Chris Salisbury

Facilities Manager

College Tours

2017 College Transition Tours bookings open Monday 13 February at 9.00 am.

Tours run for approximately 1 hour and commence at 9am, 3 mornings a week, with 1 Sat morning tour in May.

Bookings are essential. Book online only at www.trybooking.com

Open Night for 2018 prospective Year 7 students is on 26 April 2017 - no bookings required.

First Aid

Welcome back to all returning families and welcome to all of our new families and we hope that 2017 has treated you kindly so far!

Nancy Davies has returned from leave this year so First Aid is staffed by Kerrie Hausler on Monday, Thursday and Friday and Nancy Davies on Tuesday and Wednesday. The door is always open 9am till 3:30pm but you can often get us outside of these hours if you need to contact us with any concerns.

If your child is sick and needs to come home they need to come to Sick Bay, and we will contact you. This is so we can account for each and every child and sometimes a rest is enough and your child can continue for the rest of the day but if your child is too unwell to stay we will contact you.

If your child has a headache or stomach pains and needs Panadol we require a permission slip to be signed from you to allow us to give them this medication.

If we have sent you any paperwork such an anaphylaxis management forms, asthma car plans or Year 7 vaccination cards for example - please return to us as soon as possible as this paperwork usually holds vital information for your child’s care.

Immunisation Dates this year:

April 19th

June 7th

October 11th

Immunisations this year are for Year 7 students only. Please return your immunisation card (if you have not done so already) even if you do not want your child to have the immunisation. We need to register a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for every student.

On this day only, could students in Year 7 please wear their sports uniform (this is requested by the Council Immunisation Staff).

This is early notice – don’t worry we will remind you again!!

First Term always has some of the hottest school days in the year so please remind your children to be sun smart. The college has a sunsmart policy and more information can be found be following the link: http://www.ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au/publications-and-policies

Have a great First Term!

Kerrie Hausler and Nancy Davies

School Nurses

From the Chaplain

Welcome back to another year at Ringwood Secondary College and another exciting year ahead.

Some opportunities to get involved with:

I am looking for students year 9 and up who would like to volunteer their time for 1 hour a week for a homework program at Eastwood Primary School. For the past two year we have sent students over on a Wednesday afternoon between 3:30- 4:30pm to assist the Burmese community students with their homework. If you are interested please email Adam: abryant@ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au
The Annual car show is coming up fast - Saturday the 18th of March 10am - 1pm see flyer below.

Speaking of cars I had the privilege just last weekend to go to see the top fuel drag cars at Calder Park raceway.

I feel at times life is a little bit like a top fuel run. If you have experienced this yourself personally you would know exactly what I mean but for those who haven't I will try and explain the experience. This cars are incredible feats of machinery putting out around 10,000 hp - approximately 500 times higher than your average road car which does around 200hp. During a run they would travel a distance of 400 metres in approximately 4 seconds at a speed of 380 km/h. As they literally explode off the start line, behind the two cars, it can register a small earthquake approximately 2.8 magnitude and they will burn 100 litres in their run.

As a spectator your whole body is drawn into the experience as they register over 150 decibels and you feel the immense energy that the cars are producing. And, for that 4 seconds that the car goes down the line, you are out of control as the earthquake of noise rumbles down the track. When watching it your vision becomes distorted as your eyes shake and your chest vibrates from the rumble of every 1 of the 10,000 horses just hoping that they stay contained in the motor and don't try and escape throwing shrapnel everywhere.

May this year be a year that literally leaves you breathless, in a positive way, as you engage in our wonderful Ringwood Secondary community and all that it has to offer.

Adam Bryant

School Chaplain

Student Banking

“CONVENIENCE & SERVICE”

STUDENT BANKING NOW AVAILABLE

FOR ALL RINGWOOD SECONDARY COLLEGE STUDENTS

Commencing February 2017, a weekly School Banking Facility will be available for all students.

Representatives from Bendigo Bank, Ringwood Branch will be in attendance in the Wellbeing Centre every Thursday lunchtime from 1.15 pm – 1.45 pm providing banking services.

You can open a Student Account, deposit funds or simply chat to us about your banking needs.

Identification required to open an account – just a copy of your birth certificate together with a copy of your student identification.

Bendigo Bank, has a special student account with

No monthly account service fees
Unlimited free ebanking transactions
Unlimited free Bendigo ATM and branch withdrawals
Unlimited free EFTPOS transactions
Monthly interest payments

You have a choice of Bendigo Blue Debit MasterCard, or PokitPal Debit Mastercard. You can receive exclusive discounts through the mobile app just by using your PokitPal card for purchases. To be eligible for these cards you must be aged 16, alternatively the Easy Money Eftpos card is available.

This is an opportunity to start your savings now, with easy access and convenience, and begin benefitting from your school banking services provided by Bendigo Bank Ringwood, and Ringwood Secondary College.

Contact the Ringwood Branch on 9870 9244 for any initial enquiries – our staff are keen to answer any questions you may have.

We look forward to assisting students with their own personal banking.

Sue Sadler

Bendigo Bank

Branch Manager

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

ATTENDANCE LINE – 9845 7519

Messages on this line can be left at any time day or night.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION –

DAILY ABSENCES

THE COLLEGE NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED OF ABSENCES BEFORE 10AM ON THE DAY OF THE ABSENCE EITHER BY:-

PARENT APPROVAL ON COMPASS
CONTACTING THE ATTENDANCE LINE
IF YOU ARE LEAVING A MESSAGE PLEASE INCLUDE THE REASON FOR THE ABSENCE

This is particularly important for VCE students who have an 90% attendance requirement across all subjects

NB: VCE students who are absent for two or more consecutive days will normally need a medical certificate. Please contact the student’s Coordinator if you are unsure about this requirement.

Late to School

If a student will be late for any reason:

Notify the school via the attendance line where possible in the morning
Or send a note with your child
In both instances the students will need to sign in at the office on arrival.

Please Note – Students who are regularly late to school without a valid reason will be given a lunchtime detention

To ensure that we can manage the welfare and safety of the student community it is important that you respond to any SMS messages you receive in relation to morning absence notifications in a timely manner.

If you have any questions or require assistance please contact the school.

Kay Priestley

Attendance Officer

Community

Select Smiles Ringwood

Fitness Boxing

Red Earth Talent Quest

Croydon Soccer

Norwood Junior Football Club