Term 1 WEEK 3 2019 OF 10

Year 9 Werribee Gorge

Weekly Ne ge wsletter for P olle arents, St on C udents and Friends of Gils

Gilson Gazette - 15 February 2019 Weekly Newsletter for Parents, Students and FriendsPage of Gilson 1 College Year 12 Surf Camp

Contents

general News 4 WELCOME TO MR JONATHON GILLARD...... 4 FAREWELL TO ESADORA...... 5 SAFETY ON OUR CAMPUS ROADS...... 5 TRAFFIC ON CAMPUS...... 5 GCCC ANNOUNCEMENTS...... 5

PRIMARY News 6 AWARDS NAMES...... 6 BEING ON TIME FOR SCHOOL...... 6 PARENT VOLUNTEER/HELPERS TRAINING SESSION...... 7 UNIFORM ...... 9 CONCERNS OR ISSUES...... 9 SWIMMING CARNIVAL...... 10 YEAR 5 - MATH PATHWAYS INFORMATION NIGHT...... 10

secondary News 11 THE ANNUAL YEAR 7 CAMP TO CAMP HOWQUA...... 11 VCE...... 11 UNIFORM...... 12 SCHOOL HATS...... 13 SWIMMING CARNIVAL...... 14

Page 2 Editorial - REJECTED

If you should travel around this great country called and take the opportunity to visit small towns you will find that most of them have a war memorial. It stands there as a tribute to serviceman who served or paid the ultimate sacrifice in some international conflict – maybe World War 1, World War 2, Boer War, Vietnam War, Korean War or more recently Afghanistan, East Timor and Iraq. If however you should go to the little town of Montville in there is a war memorial that is different and is possibly the only one like it in all of Australia. It gives us a little insight into the past, because there engraved on the monument are the names of all those who enlisted in the war (33 men), those who died (6 men) and those who were rejected (6 men)! Rejected? Why? The names of those listed as rejects (yes that was the word used!) were as follows: L.Swain, C.Court, T.Smith, J.Smith, C.Vining, D.Vining. Today we would view the term as harsh or insensitive but back in those days it indicated that you were courageous enough to volunteer for the war effort but had been refused the opportunity – usually because of poor eyesight, some other health concern or your family had already given sons. Others that were rejected included those whose job was deemed important for the war such as food production or military resources. All other suitable men between the ages of 18 and 44 were considered to be shirkers or cowards if they were not involved in the war effort. The shame involved was so significant that the authorities introduced a special ‘Rejected Volunteers Association’ badge which could be worn so that people would not think poorly of them when on the street or in a tram. The social pressure on young men was so intense that it was considered to be a public disgrace not to have offered to go to war and if a young man was given a white feather it was the most humiliating thing to occur. During World War One, in New Zealand, Canada and Britain they had to introduce conscription (compulsory military service) but not in Australia. It appears that Australia was made of tough material. Canada with a bigger population supplied four divisions to the war effort, while Australia contributed five divisions to France and another two for the middle east region. So what can we learn from all of this? First, we need to recognise that sometimes our offer to assist and our willingness to be involved or our first plans maybe unsuccessful. Secondly, we get an awareness of how powerful the social pressure from our community can be on young men or young women. Perhaps we need to examine Australia in the 21st century to identify what we support and then regardless of public opinion – do according to principle. That too will take courage. It’s worth a thought.

Mark B Vodéll Principal

Page 3 Mr Jonathon Gillard

general News

WELCOME TO MR JONATHON GILLARD Commencing our series of introducing our new staff for 2019 is Mr. Jonathon Gillard who has joined our Chapliancy Team. Jonathon was born in New Zealand and attended Christchurch Adventist School for the majority of his formal education. On completing Year 13, he took a gap year and learned many important new skills in a range of employment, including retail sales. However, from a very early age Jonathon always wanted to be a church pastor and felt the strong calling from God which led him to enrolling in the BA Theology course at Avondale College. Graduating successfully in 2016, he returned to South New Zealand and took up an associate pastoral role in the city of Invercargill. Whilst at Avondale College he met and fell in love with Miss Catherine Bradley and were just recently married. Jonathon thoroughly enjoys sport and not surprisingly Rugby Union is on top of a list which also includes cricket and basketball. He also knows some very good magic card

Page 4 Verse of the Week “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 tricks! Welcome to the Gilson please be mindful of when College Community Mr. you are exiting the gates Gillard. during pick-up and drop off times. There are students and FAREWELL TO ESADORA parents that cross at the exit Today we farewell a gate during these times. There long-serving member of the is also a pedestrian sign at the Administrative team, Esadora exit gate to remind drivers of Gungadoo. Esadora began at this. Before moving through the College 14 years ago as the exit gate, check and re- our College Receptionist and check to ensure that there are recently became the College no pedestrians crossing. Office Manager. While we are saddened that Esadora TRAFFIC ON CAMPUS and the Gungadoo family will If you are driving on no longer be a part of the campus during pick up College community we are and drop off times, you will also glad of the opportunity notice that there is a third they have been given to lane that is normally used minister at Avondale College as an exiting lane. To ensure in . Thank you that traffic continues to flow Esadora for being an integral through this lane, please do part of the Administrative not park your vehicle in this team. God bless and all the lane, even temporarily and best in your future endeavours. please do not park in between lanes. Keeping the third lane SAFETY ON OUR CAMPUS clear would mean we have ROADS a clearway for any exiting vehicle and gives access to any The safety of our students emergency vehicle if needed. and all users of our road is paramount. If driving on campus at any time please GCCC ANNOUNCEMENTS adhere to the speed limit of • 16th February - We 15km. This ensures that you as welcome you to join us a driver can stop immediately this Sabbath at GCCC as if and when needed. Also Pr Jonathon Gillard shares

Page 5 the Word. The worship demonstrating the value of program will start at RESPECT. 10.00am followed by a time FH – Jacob Anish to relax over a hot cuppa and a snack. Life groups will FM – Martin Tasker commence straight after FR – Naomi Mesele snack and chat. Please bring 1H – Langa Nkomo some healthy snacks to 1L – Tam Luu share. • 17th February - Pathfinder 1W – Haylo James and Adventurer Registration 2C – Yosef Addis If you are interested in 2J – Safal Bansal being involved with the 2Z – Jordin Hernandez Pathfinder or Adventurer teams whether that is an 3H – Rebekkah Luca expression of interest 3R – Lucas Saad in being a Counselor or 3T – James Ring being enrolled, come 4B – Saanvi Bhanot along to Registration day this Sunday. Starting with a 4S – Ethan Biancato meeting at 11.00am. 4W – Jayden Madume • 22nd February - Pathfinder 5A – Xiran Chen Induction Ceremony 5H – Isabella Le The Pathfinder Induction 5S – Zara Woollard ceremony will be a time to introduce the new 6G – Hannah Jerez Pathfinders to the club 6H – Estefanos Dawit and formally make them 6M – Jayden Yuntar members of the club. More information to be FRENCH – Xavier Vidal announced. BEING ON TIME FOR SCHOOL PRIMARY News We would like to remind everyone that our first period of the day begins at 8:50am. At AWARDS NAMES this time, we close our gate to On Monday morning in the playground our Primary Awards Assembly and students are directed one student from each to the front office to sign in class was acknowledged for and collect a late pass before

Page 6

The VALUE for Week 4 of Term 1 will be: RESILIENCE Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. Resilient people have a positive mindset and can problem solve. They recognise that mistakes and disappointments happen but we can learn and grow from them. “Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.” Mary Holloway “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Nelson Mandela “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self- discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

going to class. Please ensure your child arrives at school between 8:20am and 8:50am, as we work together to encourage and develop responsibility in being on time. PARENT VOLUNTEER/HELPERS TRAINING SESSION At Gilson College we greatly value the help that our parents help in the classroom, on excursions and camps. If you would like to help out in 2019 it is important that you have a Working With Children Check, have signed the Gilson College Child Safe Code of Conduct and have previously attended the Parent Volunteers Helper training session. OnThursday 14th March, we will be providing a training session for interested volunteers. This will occur at 9.00am in the Year 3/4 building. Trained parents will be added to a list of volunteers that the college can call on to work in a variety of classrooms. PEP hours are available. The topics that will be covered will include: • Child Safe Code of Conduct • Confidentiality when working with students and teachers. • How to listen to reading. • How to give praise/feedback.

Page 7 Farewell to Esadora Gungadoo. The Administrative team with Mr Vodell, Mr Farquharson and IT Manager, Mr Kukolja

• The Essential 5 of reading and how students learn to read. • How to ask good questions. If you wish to secure a place in the training session or would like more information please email Damon Lawty at damon.lawty@ gilson.vic.edu.au

PB4L: Positive Behaviour 4 – (Mental, Physical, Social and Spiritual) - Learning At Gilson College we foster a culture where respectful, responsible and resilient behaviour promotes excellence in a Christian environment. With this in mind the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) program is founded on building positive behaviour through intrinsic engagement rather than external motivation. The numeral four is used to represent the importance of all four areas of learning and personal development: Mental; Social; Physical; and Spiritual.

Page 8 • The PB4L program at hat is part of the summer Gilson College centres around uniform and must be worn three core values from which during recess and lunchtime. all other behaviours radiate; We have our SunSmart No Hat Responsibility, Respect and – No Play policy. Resilience. • The behaviour CONCERNS OR ISSUES management program If you do have a concern focuses upon identifying or question about your child or and acknowledging positive the school, the following steps behaviours to reinforce and will assist you. encourage them. • FIRST - contact your • While mistakes child’s teacher. In most can always be made, situations your teacher will be consequences for poor the main point of contact at behaviour choices will be used school if you require further to encourage students to learn clarification of an issue or a from their poor choices. concern. • The expected • The next point of behaviours are outlined on contact is the level leader. our PB4L matrix, and will Foundation – Miss Shalyce be explicitly taught. Please Howard (shalyce.howard@ note that we have added an gilson.vic.edu.au) expectation for when travelling on our school buses. Students Year 1 – Mrs Maree Lawty are to keep their electronic ([email protected]. devices, ie phones and ipads au) in their bags. They are not to Year 2 - Mrs Sue Johnson be used whilst on the bus. ([email protected]. We encourage our students au) to interact with each other. Year 3 – Miss Shannon Research has shown that we Holmes (shannon.holmes@ need to limit the amount of gilson.vic.edu.au) screen time our students are Year 4 – Ms Angie Sharma exposed to. ([email protected]. au) UNIFORM Year 5 – Miss Kaisha Hats Harders (kaisha.harders@ Please note that the school gilson.vic.edu.au)

Page 9 Year 6 – Miss Kimberley Muller ([email protected]. edu.au) • Next, the Deputy Head of Primary, Mr Lawty by phone or email ([email protected]), may be able to assist you if you have concerns you wish to discuss and feel they have not be resolved at the teacher/level leader level. • Head of Primary, Mrs Delvin, is available to support in any discussion once teachers/level leaders have been contacted. Appointment can be made via the office or via email (raelene. [email protected]) outlining the purpose of the meeting. • Head of Campus and Principal appointments are made via the office. However, it would be assumed that the teacher, Level Leader, Deputy and HOP have been spoken to before going to this level. We hope this clearly outlines our communication expectations and processes. Our teachers are there to assist you and will often provide you with the most specific answers for your questions regarding your child. Always speak with your child’s class teacher first. For the full version of Primary Communication Process, please go to the Documents section on SEQTA SWIMMING CARNIVAL On Wednesday 20th February we will be having our swimming carnival for selected students. Over 70 students will compete in a variety of different races to see who will represent Gilson College in the next level of competition. If you would like to assist on the day please contact the office (PEP hours will be issued for parent helpers). If your child has been selected to participate in the swimming carnival, please complete the permission form ASAP, which was sent out via ‘parent paper work’. YEAR 5 - MATH PATHWAYS INFORMATION NIGHT We will be holding a Maths Pathway Information Night for parents of Year 5 students on Wednesday 13th March at 6:30pm - 7:30pm in the 3/4 building. Please note that attendance to this event is expected if your child is in year 5. Attending this information night will allow you to be eligible for one hour in the Parent Engagement Program (PEP). At this information night we will explain

Page 10 the Maths Pathway learning through the front office if you model in further detail, and suspect they are out of date. answer any questions that A reminder that students you might have. We will also will need to arrive at school show you how to use the at 8:00am on Wednesday Maths Pathway Parent Portal and are to meet in front of to check in on your child’s the Eco Science Centre with progress and explain what you their luggage and packed can do to support your child lunch. Please contact Mrs at home. Please ensure that Gillard if you have any further your child brings their iPad, questions. so that you are able to access the Parent Portal using our VCE school internet (the interface Year 11 and 12 can be is not usable on mobile very stressful years for many phones). If you would like students. Expectations from more information about Maths parents and teachers are Pathway, you can visit http:// high. Work load seems to be www.mathspathway.com. heavy for many. For all students wanting to do well in VCE and for secondary News parental guidelines, the following is a quotation from THE ANNUAL YEAR 7 CAMP VCAA around setting up work habits that will lead to TO CAMP HOWQUA success. This might also assist The annual Year 7 parents, who wonder about Camp to Camp Howqua is students “having done all happening on Wednesday their work at school.” th nd 20 to Friday 22 February. “Each VCE unit involves Permission forms have been 50 hours of scheduled sent out via email through classroom instruction. In EdSmart which also detail addition, it is expected that ‘what to bring’ to camp. students will undertake up Permission forms and to 50 hours of self-directed dietary requirements need to learning for each unit. be completed by Friday, 8th Satisfactory completion February. of a VCE unit is based on Please check and update successful completion of your child’s medical forms outcomes. Satisfactory

Page 11 completion of units is determined by the school, in accordance with Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) requirements.” School work is set by teachers to be completed on a regular basis This work covers a great deal of the knowledge that is required to complete School Assessed Coursework, otherwise known as SACs. A student who faithfully completes all this work is providing formative evidence that they are able to meet the skills and knowledge of the outcome. It also provides teachers with evidence of how to adjust teaching content, based on student knowledge. Frequently though students, want to know dates, and do very little work until the night before the SAC, when they may do some study towards gaining an outcome. It is important that parents support and encourage students. This can be done by: • Ensuring students have sufficient time to complete work at home • Encouraging your student to revise, complete Edrolo tasks, and homework tasks that have been given in a timely way • Checking SEQTA Engage frequently to keep up to date with what the teachers place there as student homework. • Track the feedback that teachers are providing to you about student learning through SEQTA If students and families planned time for this self-directed learning, Years 10, 11 and 12 will be far less stressful for both the student and parents, and teachers will better focus their teaching to help direct student learning in areas of weakness.

UNIFORM An important aspect of Gilson College is developing within the students a sense of pride around their appearance. While most students are proud of their uniform and wear it well, we are working towards all students taking responsibility for wearing their complete uniform correctly. As parents we are asking for your support to make this possible. Knowledge is power and we would like to empower young people to make the correct choices about their uniform. In summer young ladies are to wear white knee high socks. Young men are to wear grey socks at all time with their dress

Page 12 uniform. If they choose to If your student does not wear shorts, please provide have a hat please visit the grey knee high socks for your uniform shop to purchase one student to wear. in the next few days. Students are to wear white socks with the sports uniform. Knee high socks are sold at the uniform shop. Although these may be a little more expensive than socks you may buy in discounted stores, they have been designed and made to last. They are a very high quality sock, that does not usually lose its shape and they stay in place when worn. It would be appreciated if you could purchase enough socks for the students to have a weeks supply, so there is no reason not to have correct socks every day of the week.

SCHOOL HATS With the extreme heat and sun of the last few days, we have been reminded that Hats are an important part of our uniform for our on going health and well being. HATS are an essential part of our uniform. Each student should have purchased a hat with the sport uniforms. Every student should be wearing their uniform hat with both their dress uniform and their sport uniform for Term 1 and Term 4.

Page 13

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Page 14 Page 15 Page 16

Parents and Friends Committee

Gilson College [email protected]

Parents & Friends would like to extend a warm welcome to all new prep families of 2019 and to existing Gilson College families. We are a group of very motivated working parents who throughout the year hold many fundraising events in hope that we can raise enough money to purchase something for the school. So far, we have purchased outdoor table & chair settings so the children TERM 1 have more places to sit and comfortably eat their lunch. We also fundraise for special Icy Pole Day

events such as end of Year 6 formal dinner Colour Fun Run and student fun day at the end of the year. P & F Meeting As you a probably aware, we are all expected to fulfill a set amount of PEP hours Every throughout the year, so if you are able to Tuesday attend a meeting or participate in a fundraising event, we would notify the office of all the hours of participation. $1

Our meetings are held in OSCH and dates

will be posted in our newsletter. If you have any questions or would like to know more information, join us at our next meeting; we would be delighted to see some new faces. This is a great way to meet new parents and network with the school. We will discuss fundraisers and how you can get involved in

committee events.

FRIDAY 5TH APRIL

Page 17

Gilson College Parents and Friends Committee

This corner features updates from our Parents and Friends committee. Watch this space to learn how to get involved and meet fellow parents. PEP hours are provided for most of our activities Every ICYPOLE DAY Tuesday in Term 1!!

$1

P&F meeting February 19th 2pm in OSHC

FRIDAY 5th APRIL

Page 18 POSITIVE PARENTING insights Top five strategies to improve your parenting this year by Michael Grose

The start of the year is a great time for making changes and improvements to the way you raise kids. But it’s difficult to know where to begin.

To assist with the change process we’ve carefully selected five practical strategies that will have a positive impact if acted upon. We’ve organised webinars in the first half of the year to assist you to implement each strategy.

1. Switch on your child’s strengths

Most of us have been conditioned to focus on what kids can’t do. There is a better way. The Positive Psychology movement lead by US-based psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman showed that when we can unearth kids’ strengths we are, in effect, unlocking their true potential for success and happiness. Three elements come together to make a strength and parents need to be mindful of all three: performance (being good at something); energy (feeling good doing it); and high use (choosing to do it).

Professor Lea Waters, author of the wonderful new book The Strength Switch and current President of the International Positive Psychology Association will show you how to focus on kids’ strengths in her webinar ‘Switching on your child’s strengths‘.

2. Balance kids’ extra-curriculum activities

Alongside social media and news events, being busy is now recognised as a major stressor for many children and young people. The choice of activities to keep kids busy after school hours is mind-boggling.

Having so many options is wonderful but it does place a new set of pressures on parents and kids. The cost of loading kids up with scheduled activities is that many don’t get the chance for free play, or simply ‘vegging out’ on the couch.

Parenting Ideas expert Dr.Jodi Richardson will help you find the right balance of activity for your family in her webinar ‘Balancing extra-curricular activities‘.

3. Focus on friendships

Friendships are an important part of the road to adulthood for a child or young person. Friendships can also be

We're a Parenting Ideas school parentingideas.com.au/schools Page 19 problematic. Not every child is naturally outgoing and makes friends easily. If your child has difficulty forming friendships and is worried by that, then there are many ways to approach this including: encouraging kids to spend one-on-one time with others, making extra-curricular activities fit their interests, and coaching kids to develop friendly behaviours.

The wonderful Sharon Witt will conduct a webinar ‘Teach girls to build each other up‘, focusing on friendship skills especially for parents of girls.

4. Give kids tools to manage anxious moments

Currently we have a childhood anxiety problem. A big one! And it’s mostly undetected as community understanding of anxiety is low. It’s our experience at Parenting Ideas that many parents are anxious and they don’t know it, and many children routinely experience anxiety, which goes unrecognised.

Parenting Ideas founder Michael Grose is conducting a webinar ‘Managing your child’s anxiety‘ to help parents on this challenging but important topic.

5. Develop rights of passage

Community changes have largely eradicated many traditional rights of passage, making it harder for a young person to know when they’ve become an adult.

Fortunately, many families are now creating their own to mark events such as the end of primary school, the move into the teenage years, and mark different stages of adolescence. These traditions are now becoming legitimate rights of passage for young people.

Internationally recognised expert on rites of passage Arne Rubenstein will outline practical ways you can recognise a young person’s important life markers in his webinar ‘Creating 21st century rites of passage‘.

Will anything be different this year?

Change and improvement in anything worthwhile generally comes incrementally rather than in one giant leap. We’ve pointed you in the right parenting to take this year. With our webinars we’ve made it easy to take that vital first step. Have a great parenting year.

Michael Grose Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s the author of 10 books for parents including Thriving! and the best- selling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It, and his latest release Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent children.

We're a Parenting Ideas school parentingideas.com.au/schools Page 20 CALENDAR 2019

PRIMARY CALENDAR TERM 1 2019 Week 4 m 20th FEBRUARY Swimming Carnival – selected students Week 5 m 27th February Year 1 Excusion to Werribee Zoo m 28th February Regional Swimming Carnival Week 7 SECONDARY CALENDAR m 11th march Public Holiday TERM 1 2019 m 13th March Maths Pathways Year 5 Information Night Week 4 m th nd Week 9 19 - 22 february Year 9 Camp m th 25 MARCH m 19th february Sovereign Hill Camp Year 11 VET Snorkeling m 20th - 22nd february Year 7 Camp m 22nd february Year 12 Cricket

Week 5 m 25th february -1st March Spiritual Emphasis Week

Page 21