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Friday 5th June

Report Writing Day No students required at

school.

Wednesday 10th June

GAT Exam Holy Trinity Hall

Arrive by 9.40 am

Dates to Remember!

29th May 2015 Term 2 Week 7 Volume 15

Music Solo’s Night Tuesday 2nd June

7.00pm

Congratulations to our Business Manager Sandra Jelowyi on winning a state wide award. Sandra’s win was announced and she was presented with her award at the recent Business Manager's conference in Melbourne. Sandra received her award for designing a drop-box containing role descriptions for a wide range of Education Support Staff positions with the capacity for other schools across the state to access and add to it. Sandra's innovation has, and will continue to, save schools across Victoria valuable time when preparing role descriptions for Education Support positions. Sandra's was the major award presented on the night, and as well as an impressive 'trophy', the award provides her with $5,000 to assist her to further develop her Business Manager skills.

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A Message from our Principal..

Staff Performance and Development Plans. All staff are currently preparing their individual Performance and Development Plans. Their plans will contain goals in the four key areas of Professional Practice, Professional Knowledge, Professional Engagement and Student Outcomes. All of their goals will be closely related to whole school goals contained in our current School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan. Staff P&D plans help to ensure that we are all on the same page and working together to provide the best possible education for our students. I congratulate our staff on their professionalism and commitment to our students.

Applications to Receive Funding for camps, excursions and participation in Sporting trips. The government has announced that $225 will be provided to secondary schools to assist each eligible student with meeting costs associated with their participation in camps, excursions and sporting trips. Parents/guardians MUST submit an application for the school to receive these funds. If you have not already received an application form in the mail, please contact the office. If your child is eligible please ensure that you complete the application by the 26th June. Our office staff will be happy to assist you if required.

Inter-school Cross Country Yesterday a number of our students travelled to Murtoa to compete in the inter-school cross country championships. Congratulations to all students that qualified and took up the challenge to compete at this level. Results will be published in our next newsletter.

Geoff Sawyer Principal

If you have uniform items at home which are no longer needed, but still in good condition, could you please donate these items to the school. Please bring them in to the college office where they will be passed on to Mr Stevens who will make sure they will be put to good use. This is another small way we can help support the fantastic work of College Chaplain, Phil Stevens and the Welfare Committee.

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Last Wednesday the Grade 5 / 6 students went to your school, Ararat College, for the College Expo. At the college we tried lots of different subjects such as Science, Music, and Food. We saw people having their hands lit on fire, made delicious biscuits and dressed up in Drama costumes to get our photos taken. My favourite was Science, and the Maths games with Trish. Overall it was a great day. I would like to thank the secondary school teachers who helped us, and Miss Adams for organising the visit. Written by James, Grade 5, Ararat 800 Primary School

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During term 3, the VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies class has been focusing on the modern relationship that humans have with the outdoors. We have been reflecting on how our current perspectives are vastly different from those of past generations, and these perspectives have changed the way that we behave and interact with the outdoor environment. As part of this unit, we recently had the opportunity to explore the Otways region over three days. Our adventures began in Colac, where we stopped in at Calco Timber yards. Calco were once one of the biggest licenced logging operations in the Otways region, however they ceased operations in 2005 when the then State Government re-zoned the area as the Otways National Park. From here, we travelled on to the Otways Fly and Treetop Adventures, where we had the opportunity to explore the ancient wet sclerophyll forest environment. The treetop walk itself is incredible, as it stretches out over 600m long and sits some 30m above the forest floor. This was a dramatic way to see the forest and for some of us it was a real achievement to be so far above the comforts of the stable ground. Standing next to Australia’s largest flowering tree (the Mountain Ash) was truly a humbling feeling, as we gazed up some 60m with our guide telling us that this tree is but a baby in comparison to those that have been felled in the past. Our journey through these amazing forests continued at Triplet Falls, which was once the site of significant logging operations, but since its update in 2005, it is now one of the major short walks that rambles through forest that contain species of ferns that can be traced back to when Australia was part of Gondwana. After a jammed packed day we took off to Aire River West campground, where we set up camp and met with our ecotourism guide, Mark, who shared with us some amazing stories….”its just a story” became our catch cry for the rest of the trip. With our usual early morning wake up courtesy of Mr. Ellis’ wonderful singing voice, we were up and about and took off to Mait’s Rest walking trail, where we once again met with Mark. We were introduced to another spectacular environment, where we learnt about how some early settlers used the hollowed out bases of some Beech Myrtle trees as shelter and how scientists once discovered a bacteria here in the Otways that lead to a test for pregnant women that ensures the health of their unborn child. Blew our minds, but “it’s just a story”. The weather threatened to turn bad, but we were headed to the Lorne beach, so we crossed our fingers and toes, got kitted up in our surfing gear and dared it to rain. But it never came. The surf however was perfect. Our guide Zac from Go Ride a Wave got us started and before too long we were all catching waves, even the highly uncoordinated senior members of the group. Our day finished off with a special guest speaker, Sheryl from Otway Region Environment Network, joining us for dinner back at our camp by the river. We chatted about the intense protests between loggers and conservationists that lead to the establishment of the Otways National Park, as well as chatting to Sheryl about her perceptions of why this area is so important.

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The following day we were off to the Queenscliff Marine Discovery Centre, where we caught up with staff from the Department of Fisheries to discuss all things sustainability and biodiversity in the marine environments. This proved to be more difficult than first thought, as we were captivated by all the creatures in the touch tank…. The trip finished up with a cheeky fish and chips lunch down on the docks, before we headed back home. A big thanks to Ms. Beselers and all our guides for an amazing trip.

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SRC Fundraiser – Dress-up Day and Buskers Afternoon On Friday 26th June the SRC will be holding a Movie Character Dress-up Day. All students are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite movie character. There will be prizes for the best dressed in each year level. Students not wishing to dress-up may come to school out of uniform. All students dressed up or out of uniform will be required to make a gold coin donation. All funds raised on the day will assist with the costs of Ararat College’s participation in the State Schools Spectacular. From 1pm – 2:30pm there will be buskers performing to raise additional money. Students are encouraged to bring their loose change to show their appreciation of the buskers’ performances. The SRC are seeking volunteers to busk on the day – singers, dancers, jugglers, actors. If you like to perform this will be your chance to show off and support a good cause. Anyone wishing to assist with busking on the day should speak to an SRC rep or Mrs Roberts.

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(Week 8) JUNE

Monday 1 Year 8 Footy & Netball

Tuesday 2 SOLO’s Music Night 7pm

Wednes-day

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Thursday 4

Friday 5 REPORT WRITING DAY ADVANCE TESTING

(Week 9) Monday 8 QUEENS BIRTHDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Tuesday 9 Year 7 Football & Netball Year 11 Exam WEEK

Wednes-day

10 GAT exam at Holy Trinity Hall be there by 9.40am Year 11 Exam WEEK

Thursday 11 Year 11 Exam WEEK Immunisation Catch Up for students who have missed injections.

Friday 12 Year 11 Exam WEEK School Spectacular Rehearsal St Arnaud

(Week 10) Monday 15 Year 10 Exams

Tuesday 16 Year 10 Exams

Wednes-day

17 Year 10 Exams

Thursday 18 Year 10 Make Up Exams Year 11 Biology excursion to Ecolinc

Friday 19 Year 10 compulsory Careers Day for work experience

(Week 11) Monday 22 Year 10 Latrobe Science Camp 3 day immersion program

Tuesday 23 Year 10 Latrobe Science Camp Western Victoria Careers Expo all Year 10 & VCAL

Wednes-day

24 Year 10 Latrobe Science Camp Best Practice Lunch AME VET Hospitality Year 12 Tertiary Information Session at Stawell depart at 1pm back by 3.30pm

Thursday 25

Friday 26 LAST DAY Term 2 2.30pm finish Out of uniform day

Please note that there will not be a newsletter published next week.

Next issue is Friday 12th June.