Assistant Principals

From Mr Barut

THE NEW SEMESTER

What an exciting semester is about to unfold!

On Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, the mid year awards were presented to students in the Junior School and the Middle School respectively. Congratulations to all the students that received awards at the ceremony that was attended by parents and carers. Further, students whose work habits where outstanding across all dimensions, were recognised.

We must acknowledge the hard work of all our House Co-ordinators who set the tone on high expectations and, of course, all the teachers who taught the subject matter, gave feedback, marked and reported on the outcomes.

Students are encouraged to achieve their personal best at all times and the College is committed to the ongoing academic, social and well being of all our students.

We are half way through the school year and planning has already begun for 2018. Students from Year 8 to Year 11 have been mentored and counselled about their subject selection for next year. Input data deadlines are fast approaching and we ask parental support in having conversations around potential pathways with your daughter/son. Please log onto Compass and check dates around the timeline of events. Please don’t forget that our Careers team is available to assist all out students.

The Year 12 cohort are busy, busy, busy as they enter their final full term of secondary schooling. Please support our young people in the lead up to the exams, as they will be under pressure to learn and revise, and indeed, monitor stress levels at this time. The Senior School Co-ordinating team is always available to clear the path and assist in any way possible.

WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT

Last weekend two of our staff members were recognised by the Minister for Education, James Merlino MP, for 45 years of service to Victorian Public Education.

Congratulations to our College Principal, Michael Phillips and recently retired RT Centre Manager, Joe Pollock on their outstanding contribution and commitment to Victorian Public Education. It has been exciting ride from those very first years in the classroom in the 70s and throughout a career of rich and colourful years, to a vastly different world that is 2017.

To Michael and Joe, you should both be proud of the difference that you have made and the influence you have had in shaping the lives of thousands of young people in this time.

On behalf on the entire Ringwood Secondary College community, we extend our warmest congratulations to you both for your astounding leadership and commitment to state education.

James Barut

Assistant Principal

From Mrs Allison

Community support is the backbone of our educational progress and Ringwood Secondary College is very fortunate to have such wonderful support. The Music Association one of many parent groups supports our music program by actively raising funds throughout the year to purchase musical instruments. Most recently, a Chocolate Drive was launched with chocolates distributed to families participating in the music program. Boxes are still available for distribution, so if you are able to sell a box or two please contact the general office on 9870 2002.

The Strength Switch

Parents often focus on correcting a child weaknesses but starting with their strengths is a more effective strategy. The University of Melbourne, Positive Psychologist Lea Waters, in her recent book ‘the Strength Switch’, encourages parents to flick the strength switch to build resilience, self-esteem and optimism in their children. Waters has seen how this approach enhances self-esteem and energy in both children and teenagers and how parents find it an exciting and rewarding way to raise them.

This book contains many practical suggestions and specific techniques to interact with your children, demonstrating as to how to discover their strengths and talents, use positive emotions as a resource, build strong brains, and even how to deal with problem behaviour and talk about difficult situations and emotions.   A worthwhile read!

http://www.the-strengths-exchange.com.au/strength-based-parenting.html

Wellbeing Focus

This week’s wellbeing focus is: Compassion

(Living by Giving)

This term’s character strength focus is: Gratitude

(being aware and thankful of the good things that happen and taking time to express thanks)

“Research from Stanford University on compassion, which included the input from Dr James Doti and the Dalai Lama, has revealed that the more people give of themselves to help others benefit and shine as people, the less they focus on the negatives in their lives and the more they focus on the positives; the more they give the more they live”.

Sir Winston Churchill alluded to this is by saying, “we make a living by what we get, but live by what we give.” Living by giving to build your and other peoples’ wellbeing fitness is a proactive way to boost our self-esteem. Research also indicated that people who adopted compassion by wanting to do selfless acts of kindness (altruism), showed less anxiety and more positive attitudes to life. With a growth mindset, people will have better health and more meaningful and harmonious relationships.

By focusing on building students’ self-esteem, they can feel good about themselves which has a flow on effect so they are happy in themselves and motivated to learn. Students who possess a healthy sense of self-esteem usually do positive and good things to help others.

The act of compassion is a very powerful mechanism for personal growth and community wellbeing. Be mindfully on the lookout for opportunities to do acts of kindness for others, when others do them and when you receive them yourself.

 A little quote to think about…

‘the way your heart goes, is the way your feet go’

Maria Allison

Assistant Principal