Assistant Principals

From Mrs Stathatos

PCTA Staff Thank You Morning Tea

On Wednesday 30th May there was a celebratory morning tea organised by the Parent Citizens Teacher Association (PCTA) to thank all staff at Ringwood Secondary College for the work they do.

Here is part of the speech from the President of the PCTA, Tracey Howell:

‘We want to acknowledge your efforts in creating a learning environment that is filled with enthusiasm, commitment, perseverance and personal bests. We know these efforts continue to have a long term impact not only on the lives of the students you support and teach, but on our community as a whole. We take this opportunity to thank you for the care and respect you continually show our children’.

With the inductees, old friends, Heritage and Alumni members, PCTA members past and present, current teaching and support staff, the morning tea was a lovely occasion to reflect on the significant impact we have on the lives of the generations of students we educate and to celebrate staff who have had longevity and impact in their roles.

Our thanks go to the members of the PCTA for this event.

Opportunities for all on Athletics Day

The Athletics day, apart from providing glorious weather, keen endeavour and sportsmanship, skill and precision, endurance and much cheering for ones House, also provided students with a reason to dress up and to perform a rap song of their own. While all Year 7 students who participated in the rap competition displayed courage and creativity, Travis Hillier stood out for his innovation and daring. Travis rapped in French, a language he has begun learning this year! His tune was catchy and lively. He delivered his message about wearing ties eloquently.

Conversation in Compass

I have enjoyed using the Compass component called Conversation with students and have them reflect on their learning as part of the formative assessment before their major learning task. Here are some responses to the question, ‘What did you learn from the writing activity?’ that student responded to after correction of their work and a consultation had taken place.

I learnt how to tell the reasons why my friend likes/dislikes the subjects and when to use masculine or feminine nouns. 

I've learnt that you shouldn't put 'c'est' in when you're saying the teacher is good and how to spell teacher properly.

I learnt that 'she likes' is elle aime, with an 'e' ending for aime. I missed that for all my sentences. 

Positive Education Conference

I was fortunate to attend this conference along with 3 other staff members from the college. The consciousness around what Positive Education can look like in schools is being realised as they address and apply the basic principles of positive education to their local contexts. Highlighted were the models of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and Martin Seligman’s Character Strengths which we have adapted into our BOUNCE program.

The presenters were varied- Nic Newling, Mental Health Advocate, Dana Kerford, founder of URSTRONG, Sabina Read, The Family Peace Foundation, Professor Toni Noble, Educational Psychologist, Justin Robinson, Director of the Institute of Positive Education – but their message of hope and support for the wellbeing of students was clear.  The Workshop Rhythm2Recovery run by Simon Faulkner concentrated on music for social and emotional wellbeing.

What this workshop highlighted, as everyone participated in a group music making session, was the importance of accessible musical instruments such as drums and percussion to improve connection, expression and self- esteem. 

Many ideas were generated and will be discussed with the purpose of enhancing our wellbeing programs.

Eleni Stathatos

Assistant Principal

From Mr Barut

As the term draws to an end, the ‘busy-ness’ of college life accelerates for all our students. Notwithstanding the onset of exams, SACs, Assessment Tasks, Learning Outcomes, Homework Tasks, etc etc, our students are working hard to achieve their personal best.

Reports for parents will be published on Compass in the last week of term and what a great opportunity for all our young learners to reflect on their own learning habits and practice.

Questions to ask and reflect upon:

• Am I ‘present’ in the classroom?
• Am I easily distracted?
• Have I listened to teacher instruction?
• Am I familiar with the assessment criteria?
• Do I heed and act upon feedback?
• Have I checked my Learning Tasks on Compass?

These parameters all involve the students being invested in their learning journey – there is no point in our students coming to school watching our teachers work hard without them reciprocating! It is a shared partnership. We are working towards each other’s success.

ACROSS THE SUB SCHOOLS

Year 7 have almost completed their first semester of secondary schooling! Well done to all of them. They have some celebrations at the end of term that will involve a trivia afternoon. As I write, they are busily getting their tables together for this great afternoon.

To all our Year 7 parents, keep your eye on Compass, as the Junior School team have planned a coffee morning for parents to come in a see the school at work. The date is set for June the 15th from 10.30 until 11.30. We would love to see you there.

The Year 8 cohort have become the ‘veterans’ of the Junior School as now they see themselves as established – great to see.

Our Middle School is heading into a busy time also, as Year 10 have exams, Central and work experience and the Year 9 cohort is busily preparing for all their Assessment Tasks.

The Senior School is very, very busy as SACs, exams, revision and homework are very much a part of reality. Year 11s have exams, Year 12s have the GAT and somewhere in there the Queen has a birthday! Please ask your son/daughter about how they travelling and get involved in their school life as best as you can.

COMMUNICATION AND RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS

As stipulated previously, the College always welcomes your feedback and they are happy to assist you with any concerns that may be impacting on your son’s/daughter’s learning and well being. House co-ordinators are available for these discussions, as are the teaching staff.

Please remember, that all interactions must be respectful, measured and solution focussed, in line with the College value of Respectful Relationships.

James Barut

Assistant Principal.

From Mrs Allison

Community support is the backbone of our educational future. Ringwood Secondary College is very fortunate to have wonderful support from our parent community. The Music Association supports our music program by actively raising funds (outlined below), throughout the year to purchase musical instruments for student use.

The annual Chocolate Drive has been recently launched. Chocolates will be distributed soon to families participating in the music program. The 2018 edition of The Entertainment™ Book (EB) (cost-$70) is another fundraiser to support Ringwood Secondary College. The EB is a local restaurant and activity guide which provides hundreds of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers from the finest restaurants, cafes, attractions, activities, retailers and hotel accommodation. The membership entitles buyers to exclusive offers that are virtually restriction-free, and is valid through to 1 June 2019!

If you prefer to use a digital membership… The Entertainment™ Digital Membership puts all of the value of the Entertainment™ Book into the customer's smartphone. To order your copy of The Entertainment™ Digital Membership or The Entertainment™ Book refer to the attached file.

Mindfulness: Staff professional learning

Ringwood Secondary College was very fortunate in having Dr Craig Hassed, Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at Monash University’s Department of General Practice, deliver a workshop on mindfulness to our staff this week. Craig outlined the practice of mindfulness meditation, it uses of dealing with distractions, multitasking, communication, stress and performance and how it can enhance creativity, problem solving and decision making.

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.

Maria Allison

Assistant Principal