Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
ISSUE 11 TERM 1 2019
TERM 4 2017
NEWSLETTER
From the Principal’s Desk
Time flies when you’re having fun!
It has been another eventful term with a lot of
changes and new faces. This year we welcomed
two new staff members in Dawn and Kristin who
have enthusiastically embraced the challenges
of working at the College. In their short time with
us, they have added so much to our small but
mighty team of staff! We have also welcomed
two volunteers, Michaela and Bridget, who are
studying Psychology at university. Last, but not
least, Leanne joined us to complete her final
work placement for a Master’s in Social Work.
We are so fortunate to have volunteers who are
passionate about working with our cohort of
students.
At the start of the year, we began using our new
40-seat bus, which I know the students have
really enjoyed. The students must be
commended for treating it with respect and
demonstrating responsible bus behaviour! At
the start of next term we will commence using
our new 27-seat bus and I am sure that the
students will continue to demonstrate the same
good behaviour on this one! The purchase of
these buses was made possible by a generous
Lotterywest grant obtained by Fairbridge W.A.
Inc.
This term was also filled with plenty of
professional development for staff. Four of our
teachers are completing their Certificate IV in
Training & Assessment. This will allow them to
deliver training courses to your students.
Additionally, Maddy, Jayne and Kristin have also
attended SDERA’s Resilient Teens seminar.
Finally, Paul and I have begun training in the
Berry Street Education Model, which will
continue throughout the year. The staff at
Fairbridge College are certainly demonstrating
that they are ‘life-long learners’ and continually
looking for new ways to improve how they work
with students.
Staff are also volunteering their time to make and
sell many beautiful wares at the Fairbridge
Festival. The money collected through this
fundraiser will go toward excursions and school
camps. Additionally, the College will be selling
blue gum-nuts to raise money for Beyond Blue.
If you happen to be at the Festival (26th-28th
April), please stop by the stall to say hello!
In closing, I would like to thank the staff for
working so hard this term and going above and
beyond! I would also like to thank
parents/guardians and members of the
community who continue to support the work of
the College. I look forward to bringing you more
exciting news in the future!
Jen
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 2
From the Head of School
This term has raced by and we’re at the first holiday break already. It’s been great to see everyone again
after the long summer break, and we have welcomed several new faces into our school this term. I have
been impressed by the vast majority of students quickly settling into the school routine, and it has been
truly heart warming to see kids in classes and working hard. Our attendance is higher than it has ever been
and the productive classrooms are a great sign that student engagement is constantly improving. This is
a testament to our talented and dedicated teachers and support staff who are constantly finding ways to
individualise and engage students with such diverse needs. My thanks also goes to our three regular
volunteers who have been adding to their extensive university studies with some hands on work and
assistance around the school.
The High School and the VET school have successfully merged into one College allowing us to offer even
more opportunities to our students. Approximately 35 students in years 11 and 12 are half way through a
course in either Building and Construction, Conservation and Land Management, or Hospitality, while also
working on a Certificate II in General Education for Adults. We expect most of these students will complete
their VET qualification in two school terms, and we will run each of these courses twice per year.
We would like to thank the Village for their ongoing support and use of their facilities as we make very
regular use of the gym, pool, high ropes and archery, and are on track to start a music program where
students can use the recording studio. Our new bus is also running smoothly and students are both
enjoying their new creature comforts and treating the bus and drivers with respect. A second new bus will
be starting next term.
Paul
School-Based Traineeship
In early April, Hospitality student, Blake Dearden, was signed up to a School Based Traineeship which will
see him complete a Certificate III in Hospitality while working part-time in the kitchen at Fairbridge with
Chef Glen Foy. This traineeship is part of the Fairbridge Sustainable Employment and Life Outcomes
Initiative, which is generously sponsored by Alcoa. We would like to formally thank Alcoa for their
continuing support of our young people and the pathways we endeavour to provide them.
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 3
Lisa’s World
With the end of Term 1, it is time to reflect on the term and count the wins.
Literacy has been fabulous this term with all classes looking at City of Ember and completing a myriad of
activities around it. Compass testing was completed in Literacy and Maths, a book synopsis was
completed, newspaper activities were tackled, and pamphlets were created to advertise the City as a
historical site. We read two class novels and completed activities relating to the text as well as working
on the Certificate in General Education for Adults (CGEA).
City of Ember is a post-apocalyptic story of an underground city and the challenges presented as the
members try to find a way out of the city after 214 years. The students had some great discussions on
ethical decision making and did a fabulous job of creating their own city with all the elements of
government, education, law and community. Some of their efforts will be on display at the end of year
exhibition.
Our younger students spent some time looking at texts, producing a synopsis of their chosen text and
completing a lovely display based around their book. This was also used in the CGEA work assessments.
We dove into the local newspapers to investigate what has been happening in our community and the
students chose an article to highlight and explain to the rest of the class.
Students also found time to work on their CGEA booklets which have been restructured. This restructure
means that the students can gain Statements of Attainment for individual units that they complete. These
will be awarded at the presentation night in December. I am really looking forward to presenting these to
acknowledge the hard work that the students are putting into their Literacy.
I have been so impressed this term by the student’s engagement in long term projects. The City of Ember
work has taken us all term to get through and, although we did have little breaks with different activities,
overall the students were very focussed and willing to knuckle down and get the work done. So a big pat
on the back to all the students for ‘getting the job done”!
Now, we have the Fairbridge Festival to look forward to and a two week break before we are all back on
board for Term 2 and another opportunity to improve and move forward in our learning.
Lisa
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 4
Introducing…
Leanne - Hi my name is Leanne and I am a student with the University of New England and I am
excited to complete the last phase of my Master’s of Social Work degree with the students at Fairbridge
College.
So a little about me…. For the past 10 years I have lived in a remote town with my family in the Pilbara.
As much as I am grateful to be a Mum, I decided it was time to give myself a gift of education to see
where it would take me. So, in my 30’s I returned to school completing my high school certificate, gained
entry into university and completed my first undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Psychology (Science)
and then proceeded to complete my Bachelor of Health Promotion….now, years later, I am seeing the
end, with the completion of the Master’s degree.
In such a short time I can see that this placement will develop the skills and build my capacity as a
practitioner. I am blessed to be surrounded by educators that have years of invaluable experience and
are willing to share their diverse knowledge and expertise to enhance my own learning. But most insight
from the lived experiences that they have to share.
Dawn - I have found my first term at Fairbridge to be one filled with excitement, challenges and lively
students. I start each day with breakfast club. This has grown in popularity and gives everyone a chance
to chat and catch up before starting classes.
My previous role was 2 years at a college in the city and, prior to that, I worked for the TAFE in the Pilbara
region for 8 years. I must say I am enjoying the countryside, wildlife and scenery of Fairbridge.
Kristin - First term at Fairbridge done and dusted! After two weeks of living in WA, I was given the job
at Fairbridge and it has already made me feel so welcome and grateful to be a part of this team. It has
been an interesting term filled with tie-dye, mural creations, ceramics and all the other random tasks that
have been thrown my way since starting at this incredible workplace. I have learned so much about
building rapport and having a genuine relationship with students.
A little bit about me… I have a Bachelor of Music and I majored in song-writing and Jazz music. Once
completing this I went on to study teaching and furthered my area of study to History, Ethics and Creative
Arts. I have worked in all different types of schools including performing art schools, private schools and
now a CARE school. I also run a music team with my Husband in Mandurah. I am looking forward to what
the rest of this year has to offer at Fairbridge College.
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 5
STEM with Shane
First term back for 2019 in STEM and we hit the ground running after much rest and relaxation. This term
we have covered the topics of graphing, means and geometric reasoning within the Years 7 to 9 curriculum.
Our knowledge and skills in graphing allowed us to successfully identify and change variables in our
experiments during ‘Fortnightly Science Friday’. Moving then into means, median and mode and how to
interpret them into percentage, fractions and decimals. From there we jumped over into the world of shapes
defining terms, breaking down the parts of shapes, categorising triangles and practicing guessing whether
we would be using the arch, circle or square door today.
In our fortnightly experiments we have covered different chemical reactions finding out what happens when
we use household items to create some fun reactions. One of our first tasks was to summon the fire snake
out of the bicarb and sugar mixture. This experiment set off in flames and slowly gave birth to this black
coral snake like figure growing out of the bowl. Our next big task we tried to make some elephant
toothpaste. By combining some hydrogen peroxide with a catalyst (yeast) we were able to make a big,
colourful, foamy mess erupting upwards. We will continue expanding and exploring our scientific minds
next term when we move into another field of study.
There are some plans in motion for some exciting opportunities next term which will potentially evolve into
something bigger. First, we will start a weekly science club where tasks will set to create/build/launch
various objects. The second opportunity will be a challenge to create and program an F1 car for use in an
end of term race , which will pit students against each other to see whose car will be be victorious.
Be sure to have safe holidays and I look forward to seeing all back next term!
Shane
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 6
This term the students have had the opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of the
local community and environment. They also had the chance to compare their situation to that of others.
My aim has been to assist students to better understand the community they live in and how other people
in the world live.
The topic ‘Australia Strikes Gold’ provided a study of gold rushes in Australia throughout history. It provided
the students with a background about the major finds in Australia and gave them an opportunity develop
an understanding of how a gold rush significantly effected people and changed the environment.
In Civics and Citizenship students gained some understanding of school, club/group and community rules
and why we have them, as well as finding out about the many clubs and sporting groups that exist in their
local area.
The students also looked at Aboriginal Dreamtime stories and the local Nyoongar seasons of Birak,
Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang. Students learned what each of the six seasons represent
and about the changes seen annually in comparison to the normal four seasons.
The students also learned about a variety of indigenous peoples from around the world, appreciating their
differences. Later in the year, they will learn about the issues faced indigenous groups around the world,
including land loss and diseases.
Ross
Adventures with Ross
News from the Kitchen
Our Certificate II in Hospitality class has been busy working this term on a variety of cooking units. They
stared with the essential Hygienic Food Handling Practices and then moved onto knife handling skills
with a little French terminology learned along the way.
They have all learned how easy and affordable it is to make your own pasta including a tasty sauce to
accompany it, which was a great success. We have made fresh Vietnamese rice paper rolls, beef and
chicken sausage rolls, lasagne, salads, and a variety of tasty healthy muffins. When possible, students
also spent time in the main kitchen at Fairbridge Village. This gave them the opportunity to cook in bulk
and use a variety of commercial equipment.
In week 8 of the term we went to Harvey Cheese for an informative and tasty site visit and then onto
Waroona Weir for a BBQ lunch. This excursion was thoroughly enjoyed by all!
In the last 2 weeks the students have been busy making up Spices and Rub mixes along with recipes to
be sold at the Fairbridge Festival. Week 10 had the students cooking breakfast, morning tea and lunch
for the whole College.
I feel the students have gained many life skills throughout the term and I am looking forward to Term 2!
Dawn
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 7
WOW! This term went incredibly fast! In Health and Wellbeing students learned about healthy eating and
ways we can turn unhealthy food into healthier options by adding vegetables and fruits. Everyone had
fun making healthy pizzas and burgers and even more fun eating them! Students have also been
learning about bullying and the negative effects and consequences that it has on others. A special
mention goes to Levi who created the most amazing artwork to be displayed around the school. In
Physical Education, VET students created their own Fairbridge sporting team and became incredibly
artistic when making their own logo and shirts to wear.
To help boost our resumes students volunteered at Greener Pastures where we all raked leaves along the
driveway and helped clean up the area around the new classroom. There were a few tears in the hot sun
but more importantly there were some good laughs whilst getting to hang out with the animals after all the
hard work was done. Volunteering at Greener Pastures is such an incredibly rewarding experience that
VET students will get to continue doing in Term 2. The VET cohort was also rewarded by going on a tour
of Harvey Cheese Factory where students were shown the cheese making facility and rewarded with some
ice cream and cheese tastings at the end. This finished off our Health unit as we learned all about pasture
to plate and the process that cheese goes through in order to be edible.
In English students created goals for the term, semester and year. It’s fantastic to have so many students
coming to me saying they achieved their goal, whether it be come to school every day, volunteer, find work
experience or pass their driving tests. Well done guys! I look forward to helping you all smash the rest of
your goals this year!
Work experience placements are also starting to roll out and be finalised with a number of students gaining
work experience around the village, for local construction companies, cafes and mechanic workshops.
Many more work experience options will be available during Term 2 so don’t forget to let me know if you
are interested in work experience!
Maddy
Students in the VET school are also studying for a Certificate II in General Education for Adults along with
a course in Health and Wellbeing. They have spent the term mastering mathematical concepts and
applying them to everyday situations. There have also been opportunities for local area exploration with
bushwalking and other outdoor activities. Students have been studying global news stories and
participating in healthy debates over subjects such as gun laws and increasing amounts of plastic in our
oceans. Additionally, we have been understanding and creating materials to help others understand the
negative effects of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.
Jane
VET News
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 8
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 9
Kristin’s Corner
In Life Skills during Term 1, wehave been exploring what it means to have a “Safe Relationship” and “Live
a Healthy Lifestyle” Many practical activities were undertaken for these areas including, an art mural on
safe relationships, cooking various healthy meals, participating in sports and completing the Beep Test.
The “Living a Healthy Lifestyle” unit allowed us to understand the food plate, learn to shop on a budget,
cook balanced meals and write up menu plans that are compliant with Australia’s healthy eating guidelines.
Keeping fit and healthy is another significant element of maintaining a wholesome life. The students
participated in multiple sports, allowing them to discover new hobbies and understand that what they put
into their bodies, can have a long-term effect on their health. Special mention to the winning volleyball
team on the day! Also, Jak B received the highest score within the Beep Test displaying his interval training
ability.
Students explored what it means to be in a safe relationship and learnt about the significance of feeling
safe and valued. The mural that they have created is going to be hung up at the College to demonstrate
what the student believe is essential in a relationship. Some of the outstanding artists that helped create a
fantastic mural included Hayley B, Lily, Riley T, Amber, Abby, Joshua L and many more. Also, in art class,
we explored the use of shapes and lines in art. A student who stood out in this area was Mischa. Our
watercolour landscapes were also an incredible part of the term and Charlie as well as Ethan created some
wonderful scenes in their work.
It was a special opportunity to use the music studio at Fairbridge this term and next term we are looking at
having regular afternoons where the students can explore their musical abilities and develop a new hobby.
Special mention to Jak H, Will S and especially Ethan for participating in this. We are hoping to move
closer to having a consistent music program at Fairbridge College.
Kristin
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 10
Jayne’s World
The “Wellbeing” team at Fairbridge has a trainee this year – Gal.
Gal is a rescue, like Dug the Dog. She had 5 different owners before she was 4 months old! A year old
now, she fits right in at Fairbridge College!
So far this term we’ve had 3 wellbeing events. The year 10's were fortunate to meet former Docker,
current Mental Wellness advocate Heath Black. Heath spoke of his life experience from troubled family,
dangerous exposure to alcohol, anxiety, ADHD, arrests, and losing everything to attempted suicide.
Heath was frank and compassionate, authentic and inspiring. We thank him for his work and we're glad
he made it through those dark times.
The National Day of Action Against Bullying & Violence was 15th March. In the weeks leading up to the
day we focussed on bullying in class discussions. We listened, and we learned that bullying isn’t always
obvious. Some people feel bullied because they’re excluded from friendship groups. Some don’t think
they’re bullying because the person they’re trying to hurt appears to be “giving as good as they get”.
We’ve a lot more work to do in this area, but we appreciate the nationwide attempt to get talking and start
changing. We encourage everyone to listen to kids when they speak about bullying. Don’t hesitate to get
online and find out more or get in touch with us.
Our most recent wellbeing event was a popular opportunity we began last year – Greener Pastures
Sanctuary Volunteering. This excursion is a privilege - to work for needy and abused animals, whilst
expanding employability skills, and tapping in to the gifts only the company of animals gives. We’ll
continue working there every month. If you’d like to come along and enjoy the benefits, speak with
Jayne.
The Wellbeing team wish you an most EGG-cellent Easter Break, and don’t forget the Peel Health Hub
on Allnutt Street is having a massive Open Day on Wednesday 17th April! 10-2. Freebies & Play!
Jayne, Dug & Gal
Fairbridge College Newsletter Term 1 2019
Page 11
30th April 2019 First Day Term 2 2019
3rd June 2019 WA Day – Public Holiday
5th July 2019 Last Day Term 2 2019
SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up to date with things at Fairbridge College!
Attendance Stars
The following students had the at least 90% attendance this term:
Blake Fitzgibbins James Hutt Zane McGlynn Bailey Buckley Ryan Scully Mischa Baff Kevin Davis Blake Dearden Joel Thorn Kasey Baines Liam Sedal Amber Harrison Liam Cathro Matthew Rochester Shayla Bishop Jasmine Hawes Riley Towns Xander Trainer Toby Webb
