GECPA Term 3

The last few weeks have been busy and not just with remote and flexible learning. I enjoyed watching the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Those athletes are amazing examples of what can be achieved through dedication and persistence.

And, as if you could miss it, Victorian students achieved strong results in this year’s NAPLAN, maintaining Victoria's ranking as Australia’s top performing state. What a positive result - especially given the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe the NAPLAN results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teachers and staff. It has also demonstrated the resilience and commitment of students and their parents and carers. Congratulations Victoria! Congratulations GEC!

We are also so close to the September school holidays! What are you up to? I am planning to use all my remaining food Entertainment Book Membership vouchers. The vouchers are valid all year long so get your copy here!… Purchasing a membership benefits you AND supports GEC with 20% from every book purchased going to the school.

While face-to-face fund-raising and friend-raising activities have ceased due to COVID-19 restrictions, don’t miss out on any upcoming online activities (who knows?) or updates: click here to subscribe

For more information about the Glen Eira College Parents Association, to attend our monthly committee meetings or to contact us: gecpa@gec.vic.edu.au

Nicole Bishop

Convenor, Glen Eira College Parents’ Association

New Gardens at Glen Eira College

National Tree Day plantings with students were planned for July with Sheereen Kindler arranging 100 indigenous plants from the Bayside Community Indigenous Nursery with a grant from Glen Eira Council. Plants include local species of small flowering shrubs – correas, everlasting daisies; poa grass and she-oak trees – for planting along the Booran Road fence and in bare garden adjoining the park behind the school.

Planting with students could not happen as planned with covid safety restrictions. Last week Angus and dad Paul; and Erin and I planted separate sections of the gardens in our 2 hours of exercise – the only lucky 2 students to be planting. Schools Tree Day organised by Planet Ark celebrates 25 years of schools plantings. Have a look at the new plants when you are out walking but please don’t walk on them! We hope they will grow well and enhance the appearance, biodiversity and enjoyment of the school grounds. Thanks to Naomi Zander for her support.

Catherine McNaughton

GECPA

Local Events

Glen Eira Youth Art Show – Online

Calling all interested artists aged 5–25 years old with a link to Glen Eira (live, work, study) to submit their best artwork to be displayed in our Youth Art exhibition, Unity in Community. Entries must be submitted by Friday 23 September at 5pm. Junior categories live Thursday 30 September: 5–9 years and 10–13 years

Senior categories live Friday 1 October :14–17 years and 18–25 years

Youth Art Exhibition | Glen Eira City Council

Victoria Nature Festival

80 events until Sept 26. Includes activities for the school holidays exploring virtually Victoria’s rich natural environment and wildlife eg. Connecting with country events, Penguin Livestream 21 Sept, Youth champions for nature info session 23 Sept Victoria Nature Festival | Victoria Together

Apprenticeships and traineeships

Wednesday 6 October 4-5pm Gary Workman from the Apprenticeship Employment Network will be delivering this workshop, and has over 20 years’ experience. If you know a young person who will benefit from developing their knowledge of the pathways and opportunities available to them through an apprenticeship or traineeship, encourage them to register now!

Living and Life Skills Series | Glen Eira City Council

Road Smart Wednesday 13 October 4-5pm Interactive online workshop with Road Smart Road Smart is an education program that helps prepare beginner drivers for a lifetime of safe driving. In this workshop young people who register will receive an interactive classroom session with a Road Smart Facilitator and a FREE in-car driving lesson with a qualified instructor. This workshop is designed to build road knowledge, skills and behaviour in young people aged year 10 and above, while supporting them to get their license.

Living and Life Skills Series | Glen Eira City Council

Beyond the Burning Film Screening

Highly Recommended and Free Wednesday 29 September, 6.30 to 7.45pmfree online screening of Beyond the Burning, an Environment Victoria film, followed by a Q&A with an expert panel. One year on from the ‘Black Summer’ bushfires in East Gippsland, Beyond the Burning explores the underlying environmental causes and emerging local solutions told through the voices of East Gippsland residents who survived the heat, smoke, and flames.

The Q&A session will feature:

Professor David Karoly, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Climate Science Centre

Morgan Koegel, Senior Campaigner, The Climate Council

Jo Dodds, President, Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action

Bookings are essential: Book here

This event is brought to you by the Cities of Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston.

How to transition to an all-electric home Webinar – Glen Eira Council

Wednesday 15 September, 6.30 to 8pm As gas prices increase and more people are looking at ways to cut their carbon footprint, the transition to an all-electric home has great economic and environmental benefits. You'll learn the steps to create an energy-efficient all-electric home, the economic and environmental benefits of reducing your household gas consumption and the best technologies for different areas of your home. Presenter: Australian Energy Foundation

Bookings are essential: Book here

The Nazis Knew My Name Maya Lee

Library authors chat Thursday, 23 Sept 7- 8 PM online free Join local writer, Claire Halliday, as she talks with author Maya Lee - daughter of Australian Slovakian Holocaust survivor Magda Hellinger, who saved an untold number of lives at Auschwitz through everyday acts of courage, kindness and ingenuity.

In The Nazis Knew My Name, Maya shares her mother's story - an extraordinarily moving memoir about twenty-five-year-old kindergarten teacher Magda Hellinger and nearly a thousand other young Slovakian women who were deported to Poland in 1942 on the second transportation of Jewish people sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Book here

Catherine McNaughton: Editor, GECPA Newsletter

Contributors: Nicole Bishop

Tessa Spanneberg

GEC College News

Valuing Success

Issue 9 · 14 Sep 2021

In this issue