NEWSLETTER 13
Term 2, Week 4
May 12, 2017
The end is nigh
May
Fri 12 - Term 2 Fees due
Fri 12 - District Cross Country Yr 7-10
Mon 15 - Mother's Day Chapel Primary
Tue 16 - District Cross Country Yr 3-6
Thu 18 - L4L Urban Day #1
Thu 18 - Readiness Assessment Day
Foundation 2018
Fri 19 - Yr 3 Melbourne Aquarium
Sun 21 - Working Bee #4
Thu 25 - School Photos
Wed 31 - Whittlesea Cross Country
Yr 3-6
June
Thur 1 - L4L Urban Day #2
5-7 - Secondary Exams
Thur 8 - L4L Urban Day #3
Fri 9 - Pupil Free Day
Mon 12 - Queens Birthday Holiday
13-16 - Arts Festival
Thur 15 - Art Evening
Thur 15 - ASV Soccer Yr5-6
Thur 15 - L4L Urban Day #4
19-23 - Festival of Faith
Thur 22 - History Exhibition
26-30 - Yr 6 Camp
Tue 27 - Parent Teacher Interviews
Thur 29 - L4L Urban Day #5
Fri 30 - Last Day Term 3
July
Mon 17 - First Day Term 3
Thur 20 - State Cross Country Yr 3-6
Thur 27 - Yr 6 Canberra Info Night
Fri 28 - Yr 3/4 Hooptime
Principal's Editorial
Stephen Hawking, a world-renowned theoretical physicist, who suffers from motor
neurone disease, recently went public indicating that we only have about 100 years
to colonise a new planet … or die. A few years ago he sounded the alarm bells for
colonies on either the moon or mars, however Hawking is not on his own. Elon Musk,
the billionaire entrepreneur (Tesla, SpaceX and a half dozen other companies) has also
stated we should not dither around in planning to occupy another planet.
The temperature on the moon ranges from a rather warm 123° C down to a cool -153°
C, but I guess if you take the average, it not too bad. Although there is that matter of the
place having no air to breathe, which could spoil the party. Mars on the other hand can
reach a pleasant 20°C at the equator during the day but the all round average is -60° C
and once again the lack of oxygen is a major drawback and will keep real estate values
down.
It’s interesting that we now have scientists and businessmen talking about the end of
the world and what the next chapter might look like. Historically it was people from the
church that proclaimed, “The end is nigh.” However recently Hollywood seems to be
fascinated with this theme also. Before 1950 there were just four films that featured
something to do with the end of the world but note how things begin to change
following this:
1950-1959 – 12 movies
1960-1969 – 23 movies 1980-1989 – 35 movies
1990-1999 – 35 movies
2010-2019 – 71 movies (and still counting!).
1970-1979 – 35 movies
2000-2009 – 63 movies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apocalyptic_films
With so much interest in how the planet may end, it’s worth pausing for a moment and
reflecting on where we get our information from, how reliable it is and what our options
are to consider. Nearly 2000 years ago Jesus’ disciples asked him directly “What will
be the sign of your coming and the end of the world?” and Jesus’ response is recorded
three times – in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
Scholars have a name for the study of the end of the world – it’s called eschatology. It’s
from the Greek (apologies to those who have seen My Big Fat Greek wedding – but it’s
true!) ‘eschatos’ – last and ‘ology’ – study of, and the Bible has much to say about this
topic.
Despite what others have said, I don’t believe the Mars or moon options are really
worth considering (the climate would really have us all complaining!) and I’m sure that
no one would seriously suggest that the Hollywood versions are a credible and reliable
piece of data. The Bible on the other hand makes some pretty big claims – it is the
only book that has the audacity to predict the future and then the uncanny habit
of getting it right.
It’s worth a thought, or maybe it’s worth a read.
Mark B Vodell
Principal
www.gilson.vic.edu.au
Phone: 03 9717 7300
370 Bridge Inn Road, Mernda, VIC, 3754
Our Mission Statement
The Value for Week Five
Through excellence in education to
develop people of integrity and
Christian character.
DISCERNMENT
Our Vision
Nurture for today. Learning for tomorrow.
Character for life.
Discernment is the ability to show good insight and judgement.
“The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things – the power to tell
the good from the bad, the genuine from the counterfeit, and to prefer the good and
genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.” Samuel Johnson
“Who is wise? Let them realise these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand.
The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them.” Hosea 14:9
Our Motto
Nihil Sine Deo - Nothing Without God
General News
Working With Children Checks
Secret Family Password
Just a reminder to ALL parents who wish
to do any work or join College activities,
you MUST hold a current Working With
Children Card.
Every Family Should Have a Secret Family Password
www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
home/applications
> ‘Apply for a Check’
> 'Apply in Victoria’
and follow the prompts.
You would be asking for a ‘Volunteer’
application which will only cost you the
price of an official photograph.
Holding a current WWCC is now a
requirement for all schools in Victoria.
Term 3 Fees
Finalisation of your Term 3 school fees
was due today. If you still need to attend
to this matter please do so early next
week. Many thanks
School Photo Day
Thursday 25 May. Photographers arrive
at 8:30am for an 8:45am start. Please
ensure your children are at school on
time. Full Academic Winter Uniform
must be worn on this day. Students need
to be looking their best - clean, neat, tidy
uniform - correctly worn.
A secret family password (or special magic word depending on the age of the child when
it is first talked about to them) is one or two words that everyone in the family knows. It
should be something simple so that it can be easily remembered but not something as
obvious as the name of your dog or cat. It is to be used when someone is picking up the
children whom they have never met or can even be used when it is someone they know
but wasn’t expecting to be picked up by them.
There is no certain age for a parent to begin discussing a secret family password with
their child. It should be determined more by the child’s ability to keep the word a secret,
not even sharing it with their best friend. Any time a parent and child might become
separated even though it might be unplanned and only for a minute or two, a child
can be at risk of being abducted. How many times has a parent “lost” their child in a
store and panicked? What was their fear? Having a secret family password will help to
protect that child from leaving the store with a person who was going to “help them find
mummy and daddy”.
The secret family password can only be used once. After it is used, a new secret family
password needs to be chosen.
One afternoon a 6th grade girl was walking home from school when a man in a car
who she did not recognise pulled alongside of her and told her to get in. He said that
her Dad got hurt at work and her Mum was at the hospital with her Dad and had sent
him to pick her up and bring her to the hospital. She asked him to tell her the Secret
Family Password and he told her! He was someone who worked with her Dad whom
she had never met.
A nine-year-old girl was walking home from school when a man in a car who she did
not recognise pulled alongside of her and told her that there was an emergency with
her Mum and to get in the car. She asked him what her password (“magic word”) was
and when he didn’t know it she ran away as fast as she could. To this day, 25 years
later, she still vividly remembers running away.
Exert from SEYA (Home Safety Education)
www.gilson.vic.edu.au
Phone: 03 9717 7300
370 Bridge Inn Road, Mernda, VIC, 3754
Keeping Children Safe
’
The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum is based on two themes:
’
• We all have the right to be safe.
• We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust.
The themes are delivered to students through four focus areas that increase in
complexity as they age:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The right to be safe
Relationships
Recognising and reporting abuse
Protective strategies.
In the next few newsletter's we will look at these themes in more detail. This week we
will take a closer look at the focus of the theme: ‘The right to be safe’.
The right to be safe:
Children and young people learn about the various feelings they might have in different
situations. They are taught about the external and internal warning signs that help them
recognise a situation where they may be at risk of harm.
Secondary students’ chapel with a Mothers’ Day
Secondary students’ chapel with a Mothers’ Day
emphasis will be held on Monday 8 May.
Adding to the learning at home
Parents/carers play a very important role in child protection. There are a number of
topics you can discuss with your child at home that add to the focus areas being taught
at school and preschool.
Teach your child about their right to be safe:
• Monitor how your child is feeling and if they are showing any warning signs. Physical
signs can include tensing muscles or sweating. Emotional signs can include crying or
out of the ordinary behaviours. Other signs can include not wanting to undress or
being scared to be home alone.
• Discuss safety in a range of settings, such as shopping and medical centres, and
identify safe places to be.
• Develop an emergency plan for possible situations. Teach them what to do if no one is
home after school, if they are lost in the shopping centre, if someone offers them a
ride home from school or a person online wants to meet them.
• Develop a secret family password to be used when someone is picking up your child
whom they have never met or when it is someone they know but weren’t expecting.
• Ensure they know how to use the phone and who they can ring in an emergency.
www.gilson.vic.edu.au
www.gilson.vic.edu.au
Phone:
9717
7300
Phone:
0303
9717
7300
370Bridge
Bridge
Road,
Mernda,
VIC, 3754
370
InnInn
Road,
Mernda,
VIC, 3754
Contributions from our Parents
and Friends
There is a small band of quiet workers
quietly making things happen around the
school.
A HUGE THANK YOU to those who
helped organise and run the Mother’s Day
breakfast and stall this week.
There are many, many hours of planning
and preparation that go into an event
such as our Mother’s Day breakfast and
stall.
Also, there have been additions to the
secondary students corridor such as
the couches for students to relax on,
the large chess set and the new jigsaw
puzzles available that challenge the mind
on those days when it is too wet to go
outside.
Thank you Parents and Friends for these
additional items which add variety to the
break-time options.
EAA Digital Technology
Students who have registered will be
sitting their EAA Digital Technology
Assessment on Tuesday 23 May.
Primary News
STEM in Year 6
Mr McPhee and his Year 6 students are
enthusiastic about all things science,
technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) related. This term their design
and development skills have taken an
explorative journey into the world of
house designs. Research into various
learning areas have been considered,
tested and applied- it is exciting to see the
spacial awareness developing.
Primary Swimming
Today students completed their final week
of swimming lessons for 2017. Although
its been exhausting they have grown alot
in confidence and skill.
www.gilson.vic.edu.au
www.gilson.vic.edu.au
Phone:
9717
7300
Phone:
0303
9717
7300
370Bridge
Bridge
Road,
Mernda,
VIC, 3754
370
InnInn
Road,
Mernda,
VIC, 3754
Secondary News
Inter-House Soccer Competition
This week our two Sport Houses
competed against each other with the
boys matching up on the Soccer field.
Early on in the match Red House managed
to score a goal and went into the half time
break with the lead. Part way through the
second half, Blue House tied up the match
with an excellent goal. With the end of
the match drawing near it was seemingly
going to be a draw, however Blue House's
persistence paid off as they managed
to score a final goal with less than two
minutes remaining. Red Houses was not
without their chance however as the final
seconds passed and an extremely well
placed shot at goal hit the post before the
last whistle.
All in all, the thrilling match was a positive
experience for players and supporters
alike. While Red House has dominated the
Carnival events, it seems as if Blue House
is making up the difference through the
Inter-House Competitions...
It is shaping up to be a great year of
sporting competition at Gilson College!
Navigating VCE
with a Specific
Learning Difficulty
Presented by SPELD Victoria in association
with LDA (Learning Difficulties Australia)
Date: 31 May 2017 Wednesday
Time: 6 - 8PM
Location: Swinburne University,
Swinburne Place South (SPS) 137, 1st
Floor, SPS building, Wakefield Street,
Hawthorn
Presenter: Kristin Anthian
Early Bird (ends 15 May 2017 6PM or
until sold out - limited spots): $40
General: $55 - Limited spots available!!
Workshop Overview
This workshop aims to provide students
with Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD)
including Dyslexia with information
on how to best manage their journey
through VCE. What is covered?
• What is a Specific Learning Difficulty
(SLD)?
• How do you know you have one?
• How can schools support students with
SLDs approaching VCE?
• Finding outside support.
• In school accommodation for SACS and
Exams.
• Accommodations for final exams.
• Assistive Technologies – what’s allowed
and what’s not.
• VCAA necessary paperwork – process
and timing.
• Special consideration and impact on
ATAR.
• What next?
www.gilson.vic.edu.au
www.gilson.vic.edu.au
Phone:
9717
7300
Phone:
0303
9717
7300
370Bridge
Bridge
Road,
Mernda,
VIC, 3754
370
InnInn
Road,
Mernda,
VIC, 3754
Presenter: Kristin Anthian
Dip.T(EC), B.Ed(P), PGDip.Ed.St(ECI), M.Ed(SE.I&EI)
Kristin has worked in education for 30
years. She has been employed as a Special
Education Advisor, Family Service Coordinator in Early Intervention and as a
Preschool Field Officer and Assessment
Officer. In 2014 she was involved in the
VCAA VCE special provisions review
focus groups and in 2017 on the VCAA
VCE Advisory Board for Specific Learning
Difficulties.
Kristin currently works as a private
practitioner consulting with schools, early
childhood settings and families to support
students with diverse and exceptional
learning needs. She is an accredited
Consultant, as well as Council member for
Learning Difficulties Australia (LDA) and a
former professional member of the ADA.
Kristin is passionate about employing
good evidence based practice for
students with literacy based learning
difficulties and explicit instruction, and is
accredited in a number of evidence based
approaches.