Galen Catholic College Newsletter Wednesday 17th February 2016 Issue 2 Ash Wednesday Staff and students came together in Homerooms to observe Ash Wednesday. Liturgies were conducted and Ashes distributed. Students were advised of the significance of the ashes and the commencement of the season of Lent. We are encouraged in this year of Mercy to consider our neighbors, especially through the work of Caritas and what contributions we can make towards building stronger communities. Vale, Joan Selwood Staff gathered on Monday to reflect and pray for Joan Selwood, who passed away suddenly. Joan was working in the Hospitality and Food Technology areas as an Assistant until close to the end of last year when her health deteriorated. Joan also spent many years prior to this role working in the Galen canteen and would be well known to most staff. Her three children also came through Galen, the most recent four years ago. Joan is fondly remembered as a gardener who was instrumental in planting the herb garden outside the hospitality area. The Galen community offers our deepest sympathy to Joan’s family. Galen, my place of opportunity. What’s On From the Principal Dear Parents and Guardians, Our Year 12 students are off to a flying start for their final year of secondary school. I had the privilege of attending both Year 12 retreats in their first week and then their Jumper Presentation Night last week. At each of these major • Mon Feb 15-16: 9.1 Discovery Bushwalk events the students have impressed us with their dedicated approach to the year • Tues Feb 16-17: 9.2 Discovery Bushwalk ahead. There is a genuine spirit of wanting to do well and to achieve the best of • Thurs Feb 18 - School Photos which they are capable. • Fri Feb 19-20: Production Camp • Fri Feb 19 - School Photos catch up Walking around the yard before school, at recess and at lunchtime the spirit • Fri Feb 19 - Upper Hume Snr Cricket • Mon Feb 22-23: 9.3 Discover Bushwalk across all year levels is very apparent. I have nothing but praise for our students • Wed Feb 24 - House Swim Sports in the start they have made to the year. • Thurs Feb 25-26: 9.4 Discovery Bushwalk • Mon Feb 29 - March 1: Year 11 Retreats Vale Joan Selwood • Mon Feb 29 - March 2: Yr 9 Adventure Our school community was deeply saddened by the recent death of staff Camp (9.5 & 9.6) member, Mrs Joan Selwood, following a brief but difficult battle with cancer. • Wed Mar 2-4: Yr 9 Adventure Camp Joan has been a long serving member of the Galen family with her three sons REFER TO POLICY (9.7 & 9.8) ACTIVITY THINK & REFLECT CASE STUDY • Wed Mar 2 - Upper Hume Swimming attending the school in years gone by, with her work for many years in the • Wed Mar 9 - Opening Mass school canteen and with her more recent work as a Hospitality Assistant in the Years 10-12: Period 2 new Hospitality Centre. Years 7-9: Period 4 • Thurs Mar 10 - Injections Yr 7 B/G • Thurs Mar 10 - Hume Senior Cricket We extend our deepest sympathies to Joan’s family, but especially to her • Thurs Mar 10 - ZONTA Girls Breakfast husband, Peter, and her sons, Ryan, Timothy and Lachlan. • Mon Mar 14 - Labour Day • Tues Mar 15 - Hume Swimming May she rest in peace. • Wed Mar 16 - Yr 9 Project Rockit • Thurs Mar 17 - UH Volleyball/Tennis Some more new staff • Wed Mar 23 - Parent/Teacher Evening • Wed Mar 23 - Students finish Term 1 I am happy to announce the appointment of the following two new staff • Thurs Mar 24 - Parent/Teacher Morning members to the school since the start of the year. • Fri Mar 25 - Good Friday • Mr Matthew Turnbull – teacher of RE and Humanities • Sat Mar 26 - Holy Saturday • Ms Teresa Southern – Hospitality Assistant • Sun Mar 27 - Easter Sunday • Mon Apr 11 - Term 2 begins Update on building works • Thurs Apr 14 - Athletics Sports With the completion of Stage 1A - the relocation and refurbishment of the • Sat Apr 16 - Galen Deb 1 Junior School portable classrooms - our attention is now on ensuring good • Sun Apr 17 - East Timor Arrival landscaping around the newly positioned buildings. These works will commence • Mon Apr 18 - Yr 9 Author Scot Gardner over the next fortnight. • Tues Apr 19 - State Swimming • Wed Apr 20 - Yr 11 Re-Connect • Wed Apr 20 - Upper Hume Snr Footy We are also ready now to go to tender in the next fortnight for Stage 1B – the • Wed Apr 20 - Yr 9 Night of Notables building of the new Senior School. We are exactly on target for the timeline for • Thurs Apr 21 - Yr 12 Re-Connect these works, firstly with the tender process and then with construction due to • Thurs Apr 21 - Hume Snr Tennis start in April. • Fri Apr 22 - ANZAC Assembly P.2 & P.4 • Mon Apr 25 - ANZAC Day • Tues Apr 26 - UH Snr Soccer Bernard Neal Principal For the latest Upcoming Events visit: www.galen.vic.edu.au Uniform Shop Opening Hours Tuesday: 10.30am - 2.30pm Thursday: 1.00pm - 5.00pm For student absences, phone: 5721 6322 Direct Line: 03 5723 8320 [email protected] Or email: [email protected] 2 | Reflections Newsletter Junior School News Wendy Chuck - Junior School Director Congratulations Year 8 Students Leaders Our new year 8 student leaders will have their first meeting on Friday 12th and will be encouraged and supported this year by Mr. Laurie Burt our student leader coordinator. Congratulations to Arif Khan, Amy Rebbechi, Breanna Arnold, Talia McLaurin, Jemmima Kealy, Rebecca Morris, Charlotte Morris, Xavier Loki and Lucy North who were elected by their peers late last year to take on this important role in the junior school. The year 7 students are currently voting to elect their student leaders and the 7s and 8s will form the junior school student leadership team. Well done to the students who have been prepared to take on this role and contribute to improving the school. I am looking forward to working with our junior leaders during the year. Wendy Chuck Junior School Director Galen Upcoming Events Galen College at Galen To find out about Debutante Ball, Swimming Upcoming Events Volunteers St. required Patrick’s Hall Wangaratta. at Galen, make sure you bookmark our for table service and Carnival! website on your kitchen duties smartphone, tablet 8.00 p.m.-­‐12.30 a.m.th and/or computer. Saturday April 16 Wed 24th of Feb Gates open at 4pm, first race starts www.galen.vic.edu.au Please contact: [email protected] at 4.30. Finshing time 8.30-9pm. Come along, support your house and enjoy a fun night! www.galen.vic.edu.au | 3 Senior School News Mick Grogan - Senior School Director Year 12 students began the year formally at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, with their annual Year 12 Jumper and Award Presentation evening, last Wednesday. Jeremy Carr a former Galen student from 2001, as special guest speaker delivered a very entertaining and engaging speech. His delivery was underpinned by the themes of; having a crack, the harder you work in life the luckier you get, you can turn things round with perseverance, carpe diem, procrastination will get you nowhere and seizing all opportunities. The old saying, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree was clearly evident, as Jeremy delivered some classic one liners that his parents would be proud of. Students were also encouraged to focus on the importance of supporting one another on their journey throughout the year. Prior to the presentation of the jumpers, the VCE academic awards for 2015 were presented, including the Dux for 2015, which was shared by Fergus Samon and Ryley Pasquali. A special bursary was also presented to Ryley. Additionally Kaitlyn Ritchie received an award from Latrobe University for academic performance and contribution to the school community. College Captains for 2016, were also officially announced. Successful candidates Will Robinson and Chloe Hancock both feel very honoured to be given the opportunity to represent Galen College as student leaders this year. The start to the year has been terrific. Year 12 Students have been keen to embrace their studies and participated reflectively and thoughtfully in the retreats held last week. Year 11 students have received details about their upcoming Camp “These new Year 12 jumpers are so COOL!” that will take place at Harrietville or Alexandra. It is important that the forms associated with this activity are completed and returned to “I know right, soooo COOL!” school promptly, please. Save the date for Galen’s upcoming 2016 Production... TICKETS Galen Catholic College Wangaratta Performing presents Arts Centre April 28, 29 & 30 at 7.30pm Sat April 30 at 1.30pm 4 | Reflections Newsletter Information for Bus Travellers • ONE TIME /TEMPORARY BUS TRAVEL 1. From the Galen front office If you are a student needing to travel on a school bus for a 2. Online at http://ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/concessions/students one-off occasion, you are able to do so, as long as it is for 3. At any VLine station (including Wangaratta Railway station) school related purposes i.e. study groups. Students will not be issued a temporary bus pass for Netball/ The Concession Card will cost $9 upon Submission, Football/Birthday Parties etc. Please keep this in mind when payable to Public Transport Victoria. requesting a temporary bus pass. If travel is required on a Public bus, you will be asked to pay Step 2 – apply for a Student Pass the nominated fee (which can cost anywhere between $1.20 Once the Concession Card has been processed, the applicant to $5.00, depending on the destination), to the bus driver.