Principal- Jodie DobleCollege Council President- Phillip DwyerAssistant Principal- Mike JaremczukAssistant Principal- Estelle AlderBusiness Manager- Jayne Thompson

Emerald Secondary CollegeThe Bush Telegraph

Emerald Secondary College is a Learning Community

Term 1 - 2017:23rd March 2017 Issue 8Important Dates:

Every Thursday: Homework Club 3.20pm - 4.30pm in A7

MARCH:Sun 26: Yr 11 Central trip departs

Fri 31: School Cross Country Run Last day Term 1

APRIL:

Tues 18: First day Term 2Thurs 20: Parent/Teacher Interviews

In this Issue:• From the College Principal• From the Assistant Principals• It’s Time to Raise the Bar• Mimasaka Senior High School

Visit• Parent/Carers Wanted• School Cross Country Run• Sherbrooke Basketball “Girls

Only”• Emerald Fun Fest and PAVE

Festiaval• ParentingTeens

From the Principal:Life Long LearningAs part of our whole school literacy program, it is important that all our students read on a regular basis. We would like to ask all our families to encourage their children to read.Reading can be in the form of the newspaper, magazines or online articles as well as formal texts such as novels.

In today’s society, many students discuss with us about reading through the text messaging or SMS messaging, and whilst this is a form of reading, it displays informal conversational text types and spelling often breaking students understanding of conventional spelling and grammar.

Students are taught explicit reading comprehension skills at school and like all skills it is important to practice these skills beyond the classroom.

AnnualImplementationPlanOver the last few weeks the College Leadership team has been reviewing the 2016 student learning data as well as the results in our 2016 Student, Parent and Teacher Attitudes to School Survey data.

Although we are seeing an improvement, we recognise that we still need to develop and improve as a school.

The College Leadership team have been working hard to align our 2017 goals to ensure we continue

our improvement with a focus on student learning. Our 2017 goals against the Government’s Framework for Improving Student Outcomes are:

Building Practice Excellence• To review and develop a best practice ESC Instructional model that engages students in their learning. • To build teacher capacity to engage students and create a safe and orderly learning environment.

Curriculum Planning and Assessment• To document and implement the Victorian Curriculum across the College with ESC assessment protocols.• To raise student achievement against the State Standards in Literacy, Numeracy and VCE.

Stomach VirusOver the past few days there has been an increasing but small number of students who have unfortunately been quite unwell with a stomach virus.

The virus does appear to last approximately 24-48hours. We would ask that if your child complains of feeling unusually unwell, has stomach cramps and a headache or starts vomiting that they stay away from school. The Education Department also recommends vigilance with hygiene practices, particularly washing and drying hands before and after meals, after using the bathroom,

after nose blowing, and after any contact with any person who is unwell. Should symptoms present themselves in your child, we also recommend seeking medical advice and support.

Green ChroniclesIt has been an absolute pleasure to note the high number of our Year 7’s who have received ten or more Green Chronicles over the past few weeks. Green Chronicles are given by teaching staff for students outstanding work , achievement and effort in their studies.I met with the students this week and they all received a Principals Awards.

Congratulations to the following students:Victoria Butler, Jamie-Lee Campbell, Blaise Cosme, Michael Dance, Vanessa Dewar, Liam Dovan, Oscar

Ennis-Wert, Lia Griffiths, Flynn Handy, Stephanie Jarvis, Tommy Klaassen, Oscar Matille, Jess McManus, Brianna Menere, Ruby Pugh, Taleisha Rech-Ellery, Harvey Siwes, Emily Tilson, Charlee Tjepkema, Aiden Todd, Flynn Westworth, Riley Willis and Carly Wilson.

Facebook Page - “LIKE” our PageA reminder to our families that our College official Facebook page is now online. This is managed by College staff, and we will be using it to share with our community upcoming events, or any specific items we would like to celebrate. Please lookout for items on our FB page. https://www.facebook.com/Emerald-Secondary-College-107941602572331/

Jodie DoblePrincipal

Progress Reports are available on Compass!The first cycle of Progress Reports are now available on Compass. Students are given feedback on their Achievement, Effort, Behaviour and Organisation.

Students who have been identified as at risk of underperforming will meet with Junior or Senior Leadership Teams to offer support. The next Progress Reports will be published on May 15th. Parent Teacher Interviews are on Wednesday 20th April (first week back Term 2).

This year we are having more frequent Progress Reports so that we can quickly identify students who are underachieving in a range of subjects, and put support and interventions in place. You can keep up to date with your child’s progress, classwork and attendance through the Compass parent portal.

Please contact the College if you have any questions or concerns about the Progress ReportsEstelle Alder & Mike JaremczukAssistant Principals

It’stimetoraisethebar!As Term One draws to a close, our senior students are reminded that this is not the time to drop the ball, but instead they should RAISE THE BAR of their expectations, work ethic and ambitions. Here are some tips for self-improvement:

• Set goals – aim high, do something every day to help you achieve your goals, reward yourself• Maximiseefforttomaximiseyourpotential– ‘downtime’ happens after the work is done, stop making

excuses – just do it, when you think you’ve done enough then push to do a little more• Accept that disappointment is part of achievement – tomorrow is a chance

to do better, figure out what went wrong, adjust your actions to improve the outcome next time

• Work smart and work hard – employ your best efforts each time, stay focused on the task at hand, be efficient and effective, seek feedback and clarification, surround yourself with like-minded people

• Track your progress – keep up to date with coursework requirements, record your results, discuss ways to improve with your teacher, celebrate successes

If you put in the time and the effort, you will see the results. Be unapologetically ambitious!

Senior School TeamJason Nicholas, Tanya Moran, David Carnie, Michael Nelson

Mimasaka Senior High School VisitA group of 10 students and 2 teachers from our Japanese sister school, Mimasaka Senior High School arrived on Thursday 23rd March. They have been having a great time visiting classes, participating in a variety of lessons such as Drama, Art and Cooking as well as going on Puffing Billy excursion. It’s great to see many of our students visiting them at recess and lunch and learning so much from our visitors. The Mimasaka group will be with us until the end of the term and we hope they enjoy the rest of their time at Emerald.

!!PARENTS/CARERS WANTED!

Can you help? Expressions of Interest

WeareseekingexpressionsofinterestfromParentsorCarerswhomightbeabletooffer45minutesoftheirtimetorunlunchtimeactivitiesforstudents.!Duringlunchtimeweoftenrunvariousactivitiesbutsometimesstudentsjustwantaquietareatoplayagame,orread,orplayChess!!WearelookingforParentsorCarerswhocouldcomeinduringanylunch(Monday-Friday12.45pm-1.30pm)tospendtime

inthelibrarywiththesestudentsmaybeplayingChessorcardsorsimplyreadingabookorcompletinganactivity.Justonelunchtimewouldhelp.!IfyouhaveaWorkingwithChildrencheckandareavailablepleaseemailTanyaRyder-Barnesat:Ryder-Barnes.tanya.t@edumail.vic.gov.au!To obtain a WWC (no cost) please go to: www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RUN

The last school carnival will be taking place on Friday 31st March at Emerald Lake Park. Periods 1-3 on the day will occur as normal, with lunch being moved to after period 3. Periods 4-6 will be dedicated to the running of the cross country, with a BBQ and presentations taking place back at school afterwards. A normal 3:10 dismissal time will occur, with buses running as normal. Specific information will be given to students during P.A.S.E in the last week of term.

Tom WatsonEvent Coordinator

Emerald FunFestSunday 2nd April

10am - 4pm

WWW.FUNFEST.ORG.AU

2–9 April

201740

EVENTS

OVER

TO ENJOY

Celebrating Art & Community• Lots of FREE events for all ages

• Fun & Unique cultural experiences

FREE ENTRYKilvington Drive,

Emerald• FOOD • RIDES

• STALLS • MUSIC

WWW.PAVE.ORG.AU

SOUTHERNParentzone

UNDERSTAND THE TEEN’S BRAIN

Know about Ages and Stages of teenage learning.

TIRED OF YELLING?

Getting your teenager to listen without having to yell.

DEALING WITH ANGER

Recognising the causes and triggers for anger.

RELATIONSHIPS

How can parents build a better relationship with their teens?

STRATEGIES

Discuss and share strategies that work.

DATES: Tuesdays for 5 Weeks

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 May 2017

TIME: 6pm to 8pm (refreshments provided)

WHERE: Emerald Secondary College 425, Belgrave Gembrook Road, Emerald, Victoria 3782COST: FREE. Bookings essential. (Refreshments provided)BOOKINGS: For bookings and enquiries contact:Felicity Wooden - Well Being Leader– 5968 5388 Email: wooden.felicity.f@edumail.vic.org.au or Tanya Ryder-Barnes - Inclusion Leader– 5968 5388 Email: ryder-barnes.tanya.t@edumail.vic.gov.au & Jasbir Singh at Parentzone on 0431 203 177 orEmail: jasbir.suropada@anglicarevic.org.au

PARENTING TEENSPARENTS BUILDING SOLUTIONSA program for parents, grandparents, step parents & carers.

2017

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03 5945 2000 | anglicarevic.org.au