ICS CLLEE EWSLETTER - clubrunner.ca · • a number of our student bands performing at the brilliant Hackett Community 50th Anniversary Celebrations • the return of our UAV team

www.dicksonc.act.edu.auPh: (02) 6205 6455 | Fax: (02) 6205 6462 | E: [email protected]

DICKSON COLLEGE NEWSLETTER

From The Principal

Arts

English

ESL

Foundations

Hospitality

Humanities & Languages

Nov 2013

Monday 18 November

Farewell Assembly

Wednesday 27 November

Year 12 Breakfast

Tuesday 17 December

Year 12 Formal

Thursday 19 December

Graduation

Library

Mathematics

P&C / Board

PE

Science

SIEC/Refugee Bridging Program

Student Wellbeing Centre



From The Principal

Welcome to our new look and feel DC newsletter! Thank you to Mark Bishop, Mikaela Danvers and Pene George for the design (and execution) of what we hope will be an easy to navigate, photo-packed and interesting new way of delivering information to you all. Please note also that we will do a special ‘Farewell Newsletter’ in December.

On Monday, I was fortunate to attend the opening of the National Museum of Australia’s ‘Come Alive Festival of Theatre’ at which a group of extremely talented Dickson College students performed. The students had been asked to develop a performance which responded to artefacts within the museum and our students chose the Eternity Gallery as their inspiration for a powerful and moving commentary on the many forces which shape our futures. (http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/eternity/home)

I was, as I have been on many occasions since starting here at Dickson College, overwhelmingly proud of our students for their incredible attitude to their learning and to each other, their talent and their genuine commitment to having a positive influence in the world.

As we move into this most exciting time of the year during which our Year 12s prepare to take their next steps in life out of the college and our Year 11s, to ‘step up’ to their Year 12 responsibilities, I hope that they too will feel proud of their many achievements to date and continue to strive to be leaders of their communities and life long-learners.

The past weeks have in fact been awash with community achievement here at DC with staff, students and our local community undertaking a large number of activities! These include (but are not limited to – there really are too many to list!):

• a hugely successful trip to China

• a wonderful visit by our sister school in Japan, Nara University Senior Secondary School, including some fabulous hospitality by Dickson families who hosted students

• the awarding of a number of certificates of excellence in mathematical competitions to DC students

• the first ever winning of the ACT Senior Secondary Schools Cricket Championship (check out the enormous trophy in the foyer!)

• DC Arts staff being invited to curate the Teacher Quality Institute art collection (which features many artworks by DC students)

• DC students along with the student executive from across ACT public schools, coordinating the third Youth Coalition meeting for the ACT



• a number of our student bands performing at the brilliant Hackett Community 50th Anniversary Celebrations

• the return of our UAV team from their outback adventures

• a highly successful (and very delicious) restaurant lunch arranged and catered by our hospitality students

• students all across the college completing assessment tasks and juggling the many demands of young adult life (hats off to you all!)

• staff supporting their students and each other to finalise assessment, to keep the many extra-curricula activities happening and to continue to smile, laugh (and walk!) together (we are very fortunate to have you on the DC Team and hope you had a great World Teachers’ Day!)

• our Board and P&C supporting the entire school community in so many ways despite the very busy lives each member has (we are grateful and sincerely request that others consider volunteering to support our fun and fabulous P&C!)

I look forward to writing my final newsletter for the year in our Special Farewell Edition next month. In the meantime, during this very busy (and sometimes stressful) period, please remember that there is support available for all students at DC (no problem too big or small!) so do not hesitate to call or drop in to Student Services at any time.

Kerrie Heath Principal

FormalYr 12 Formal Tickets on sale

$125 per ticket at the front officeDate: 17/12/13

Time: 6.30-11pm

Drug and alcohol free eventPick your own table of 10 first in

best dressed.Please write down any dietary

requirements when you purchase your tickets.

Any questions ask Daniel in PE or Student Services

THE COSMETICS CLASS

IS SELLING SOAP!

FRIDAY 8TH NOVEMBER

@ LUNCH IN CANTEEN AREA

$$ RAISED FOR WORLD VISION ‘LIFE CHANGING

CHRISTMAS GIFTS’ APPEAL



CarparkDear carpark users, as the year pushes on, more and more of our students are getting licences and driving vehicles to school. So it’s timely to remind everyone of the following important rules.

• Keep to the carparks, parking on the grass is illegal.

• Drive slowly and defensively, visibility is limited

• If you scrape or bump another car leave your name and a contact number on the vehicle and tell the front office

• If you witness an incident contact a staff member ASAP

Dress CodeA gentle reminder to all that Students that appropriate clothing at college means…

• They meet safety requirements in practical areas

• They are respectful of all our college community (no offensive language, images or signs)

• Dress for school not the beach, cover up be Sun Aware

• Footwear is compulsory at all times



In just a few short weeks I’ll be retiring from teaching. I’ve had a wonderful time teaching at Dickson College since 2005. I’ll miss all the friends I have made in the job, the contact with young people who have kept on challenging me and kept me young, and just being involved with the wonderful place that is Dickson College. Thank you to everybody I have taught, worked with or just chatted to. I have had a wonderful career in teaching, and can recommend it to anybody who has the time and commitment that I think is essential. Here is my story.

I started teaching in 1970 with a Science Degree from Sydney University. My first appointment was to Orange High School, and I stayed in Orange for four years. During that time I taught Geology, Physics & Chemistry, as well as junior secondary science. I was one of the teachers who trialled a new system of discovery-based science teaching called ASEP, Australian Science Education Project. I ran Geology excursions all over the local area, to Broken Hill, and to the NSW south coast, as well as going on the NZ trip with my favourite class. I also played my cello in the local Bach Society, sang in the choir, and played for several musicals. It was a happy time, but there was much adjustment to be made, leaving home and living in a country town on my own. I also bought a horse, which I agisted with a farmer in exchange for teaching his children to ride.

In 1974 I returned home to Sydney for a year and saved money to travel overseas. Some things don’t change. During that time I taught at Killara High School. Early in 1975 I travelled to the UK, following my roots. After travelling for six months I started teaching at King Harold School in Waltham Abbey, just outside London. I stayed there for eighteen months, but was not happy during that time. I was lucky enough to find a different job with the British Council which was situated close to Trafalgar Square in the centre of London. This organisation delivered, among other things, the aid provided to

developing Commonwealth countries. I found the work interesting and satisfying, especially the way I could start the day with a full in-tray and go home at 5 pm with the tray empty. This was so different from teaching, and allowed me to have a social life that had eluded me before. During the next couple of years I met and married my husband.

In 1978 we decided to move back to Australia, and once again my parents provided the accommodation, this time for the two of us, and not long after that for the first grandchild as well. We lived with them until 1981, when my husband got a job in Canberra where we have lived happily ever since. I became a counsellor with Nursing Mothers Association, now called Breastfeeding Australia, and that is how we met people and made friends. I had eight years being a mother at home, but I did do some relief teaching during this time. That made me realise that teaching in Canberra was a much better deal than it was in the outskirts of London,

Thank you and goodbye.


DICKSON COLLEGE NEWSLETTERand was worth pursuing as a career.

My first permanent appointment in Canberra was to Lake Ginninderra College, in its second year of existence. I stayed there for 16 years, teaching mostly Physics and Chemistry, as well as some General Science classes. I had spells doing Careers Counselling, organising Work Experience, and being a Year Coordinator. I organised excursions to Sydney, Lucas Heights, Central Western NSW for Y11 Science, and to Woodlawn mine. Horse riding camps in the Brindabellas were part of the R unit program and I ran about four of them. One great privilege was to drive the bus for an excursion to Lady Musgrave Island in Article the Great Barrier Reef, for the Outdoor Ed class. We had 3 extra days in Bundaberg waiting for a cyclone to pass so that we could catch the boat to the island. Sea-sickness on the crossing afflicted many people, including me, but being on the reef made up for the discomfort.

In 1993 the whole family moved to Bridgwater in the UK as I had a position as an Exchange teacher in Bridgwater College teaching Physics to A Level. That was a challenge for me. This time in the UK gave my children the opportunity to experience their British heritage and to get to know their extended paternal family. When I returned to Lake I became

involved in the AEU sub branch and as a Councillor. My commitment to the union has continued from the early days of my career when the fight was for equal pay for women teachers.

In 2005 I was fortunate to be able to transfer to Dickson College, which had the advantage of being closer to home. I became more involved with Assessment from that time and was eventually appointed as Executive Teacher Assessment and Certification in 2008. After being threatened with closure in 2006, Dickson College has gained a new lease on life and has become the dynamic place you see today. It is a wonderful place to work. The staff are happy, enthusiastic and very professional. The students are lovely and I have enjoyed working with them both in classes and in my office in the Student Wellbeing Centre. The community has supported Dickson College, and I think we also have reached out to the community. I’ve enjoyed talking to parents in many situations and share in the joy that watching your children mature into young adults can bring. I wish you all the very best for the future.

Lynne Bean



The ARTS at DC have a very hectic schedule, full of end of year performances, exhibitions and excursions. Our students always represent us well – they are superstars! We look forward to seeing you at as many events as possible as we celebrate coming to the end of a very successful 2013.

Natalie Wiles-Deane Executive Teacher

Arts Excursion to SydneyThirty students from Contemporary Art Practice, Textiles/Fashion, Photography and Media Bridging Program attended an excursion to Sydney on

Friday 25 October, with an early morning start and late finish, there were many sleep-ins Saturday morning!

The excursion began at Sculpture by the Sea, the weather was perfect to showcase the artworks between Bondi beach and Tamarama. Half the students participated in a photographic workshop whilst Jane Gillings, one of the exhibiting artists, spoke to the remaining students about her artwork. Students were then able to view the remaining artworks along the promenade. We then headed off to the Museum of Contemporary Art to have a tour and workshop of the ‘String Theory’ exhibition which was contemporary Aboriginal art using fibre and textile techniques. The final destination was White Rabbit Gallery which showcases contemporary Chinese art and again we had a tour of the Gallery by current tertiary art students. The day, although long, was very inspiring for all the students to see contemporary visual arts in so many different mediums. Every venue we visited the organisers were very impressed by the students from Dickson College, their behaviour and interest in the arts. Hopefully, this will be an annual event. A big thanks to Ros Phillips and Kristy Mack who also attended.

Jill PettiferArt Teacher

ARTS



DramaA packed semester 2 has seen Drama classes involved in creating several fantastic pieces of theatre for community events. On Monday 28 October the Devised Theatre class performed at the National Museum of Australia’s “Come Alive” Festival of Museum Theatre. Their piece explored the museum’s Eternity gallery with four separate stories woven together by the tale of Arthur Stace’s chalk drawings around the streets of Sydney in the 1930’s.

The Actor and Director class performed at the Northside School Spectacular “Boundless” at Lyneham High on the 4th and 5th of November. This piece, “A History of Theatre in 10 Minutes”,

was first performed at our Arts exhibition in term three. We then reimagined it after a NIDA workshop on our Sydney excursion. The piece was directed by Heidi Margrie and Geneva Schofield and was full of imaginative theatrical devices, heaps of energy and great ensemble work.

At a classroom level, the Acting for Film and TV class has just about finished shooting their short films working with the Media Process to Production class.

A big thank you to all students, particularly the year 12’s who are wrapping up, who have put so much time, energy and creativity into Dickson Drama.

Chris Zuber Drama Teacher



Writers’ Camp 2013On the 18th of September, 40 of Canberra’s best young writers from across three Colleges descended on Birrigai for three days of lectures and workshops designed to improve their writing.

Now in its fifth year, Writers’ Camp 2013 brought together Dickson, Narrabundah and Tuggeranong Colleges, three of Australia’s largest publishing companies: Allen & Unwin, Giromondo and Pan Macmillian, Paperchain Bookshop , award winning bands and authors from across Australia so as to encourage and develop student writing and future writing careers.

Day one started with Pat Grant, one of Australia’s leading graphic novelists. Pat spoke about the development of his critically acclaimed graphic novel “Blue” and offered advice on how to get started in the publishing industry.

Christie Thompson followed Pat and she dissected her new novel “Snakebite” and gave a particularly honest account of her experience in pursuing and gaining a publisher and how to earn money as a writer.

Alice Grundy and David Henley closed out the afternoon with a fascinating talk on both the publishing industry and life as a writer. Alice is an executive at Giromondo Publishing and was able to talk the students through the ins and outs of the other side of industry such as how to find an agent

and where to get noticed. David, Alice’s husband, gave a wonderful presentation on his debut novel “The hunt for Pierre JNR” and his journey from graphic designer to multi-book deal author with one of the world’s largest publishers, Harper.

After dinner, Rosie Stevens from Canberra’s own writing collective “Scissor, Paper, Pen” engaged the students in a number of writing activities so as to give them ideas and direction in their plotting.

Triple J award winning bands “Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens”, “The Ellis Collective” and “Burrows” then played for the students in the hall.

At midnight, I presented my “How to Write Horror” workshop. This workshop was the only optional workshop on camp given the nature of the content but students walked away unscathed and with a better understanding of horror fiction.

English


DICKSON COLLEGE NEWSLETTERDay two was all about editing. Dr Tony Eaton, head of Creative Writing at the University of Canberra and author spent two hours teaching the students how to thoroughly edit their own work in preparation for publishing. This workshop proved an absolute highlight with many students remarking that they had never learnt so much in such a short time.

Marion Halligan, one of Australia’s most well-known authors and nominee of the Miles Franklin award then spoke about her book “Valley of Grace”. This proved to be a very insightful discussion with students offered a rare glimpse into the writing process of a seasoned and highly decorated author.

On the morning of day three, students were given three hours to put the finishing touches on a piece of writing which they had started on camp during a workshop or seminar. All students then had their work edited by “the helpers”, a group of former students who have all become published authors and have pursued writing at University. These “helpers” stayed at Birrigai throughout the duration of camp and constantly conferenced ideas with the students during free time.

Once the pieces were all edited, students were summoned to the lecture theatre where they each read their piece out loud. The calibre of work produced was phenomenal.

Tony Eaton then returned and closed out camp

with a Q&A. This proved to be another highlight with students quizzing Tony about many of the skills which they had been taught during the course of the camp.

Special thanks must go to our wonderful sponsors: Allen & Unwin, Pan Macmillan, Giromondo and Paperchain Bookshop as well as all of the authors, helpers, bands, Birrigai staff and teachers who made this year’s camp the best ever.

Toby Grundy

English Teacher


DICKSON COLLEGE NEWSLETTERESL

HOMESTAY HOSTING- AN ENRICHING OPPORTUNITY

Dear Parent /Community Member,

I am writing on behalf of the International Student Program at Dickson College to request that you consider being a homestay host. Our international students leave their families to come from many regions around the world, and a safe, friendly home environment is essential for their well-being. The students are aged between16 to 19 years. The main requirement for a homestay host is to provide a friendlyhome environment for the student, including a bedroom to themselves and the opportunity to practise their English. If you are in a position to offer a young person this valuable opportunity you will be reimbursed $260.00 per week, a payment which is not considered income. In 2014, the amount will increase to $280.00.

Our students come from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Europe. They study with us for up to two and a half years and we strive to ensure that students are placed in homes that are best suited to both host family and student alike. A homestay experience offers wonderful benefits that result in long term friendships with the student and their overseas family. If you are in the position to participate in our homestay program please contact the Homestay Manager at the International Education Unit on 6205 9194 or at [email protected]

Yours faithfully

Kerrie HeathPrincipal

October 2013



The Foundations students have enjoyed following Jenny’s progress through the USA using the iPads. They are learning to find an address using google maps and then find a photo of that address. They also used the iPad to work out the time and weather in the city where Jenny is staying. All students sent Jenny an email message for World Teacher’s Day and were thrilled to receive a reply.

Jarrad and Hayden have both been working at ‘Branch out café’ on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays this term. Both of the boys have been gaining valuable work experience in the hospitality industry. If you would like to go and visit the boys and enjoy a nice coffee, Branch out Café is located at 2/80 Beaurepaire Crescent, Holt and is open 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday.

The rest of the class has been focusing on the huge life step of moving out of home and the steps and challenges involved. By the end of the term each student will have a book they have put together themselves on the’ ins and outs’ of the process.

Students are preparing for work experience placements.

We have had two students nominated for Personal Achievement Awards at this year’s Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards. Agau and Hayden will attend the Awards dinner in November with family and Dickson College staff.

Students are preparing for Work Experience later this term. A variety of Canberra businesses including Guru, Hoyts, Blockbuster, TAMS, Koomarri and Yarralumla nursery offer places for a student .

The students have really enjoyed the art and photography unit this semester. They have gained a good insight into the world of an artist by learning a broad range of art techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, sculpture and photography. Through learning these techniques students created artworks from a large autumn tree covered in snowflakes sculpture, photographs using the elements and principles of photography (with their new digital cameras!) as well as coil and slab pots in ceramics. The students have produced some inspiring art that has been displayed around the school and in the front foyer.

Kylie Lambert Foundations for Independence

Independent LivingThis semester students have been learning about accommodation and developing skills to cook independently. Over the last three weeks, they have also been preparing desserts for Majura Restaurant. They made sugar and spice

shortbread sticks and mini passionfruit cakes.

Mel Cook Hospitality

Foundations for Independence



BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCEStudents in Year 12 Psychology have been extending their studies into the benefits of giving, by participating in a Secret Buddy program. Each week the students bring in a gift for their secret buddies. They can buy a small gift, make something, give a card with a compliment in it, write a poem or anything else they can think of. The options are endless! This week, the students were given a Secret Buddy Challenge – which is to provide their gift for the week without buying anything! Each week is like Christmas as the buddy gifts are given out. Students have reported that they are getting as much joy out of giving

the gifts as they do receiving them. In the picture below are 3 students with their gifts: Laurence and his fake moustache, Alex and his homemade brownies, and Lara with her musical Christmas tree toy.

Infancy to Adulthood:It’s been just over a month since Betty and Ben took 20 students on an epic adventure into Melbourne for a Psychology excursion! We got to do a lot of exercise as we walked from our accommodation (Nomads Backpackers Hostel) to University College where the amazing ex-Dickson College student, Lydia Brodie, gave us a tour of residential life at the University of Melbourne. We then took a tour of the University of Melbourne and enjoyed lunch at bargain prices at the student union food court! In the afternoon, we walked to

the Melbourne Museum for Psychology exhibition, The Mind: Enter the Labyrinth where the students got the opportunity to get hands on with mood

pods, the Ames room and dreaming beds! After an early dinner, we went to watch ‘King Kong: The Musical’ at the Regent Theatre where we were blown away by the incredible puppetry and spectacular choreography in the production.

The next day, we went to visit the Cunningham Dax Centre where we were given a tour of artworks from artists who were suffering from a mental illness and produced works as part of their art therapy. After the tour, an inspirational mental health advocate told us her life story with mental illness and we were all left amazed at her resilience and strength.

After the visit to the Dax Centre, we took a quick trip to the Melbourne Zoo and had a lot of fun watching meerkats, meeting the new baby elephant and walking through the butterfly house. All in all, it was a fantastic excursion.

Since the excursion, students have been working hard on their oral seminars where they have chosen a research

Humanities & Languages


DICKSON COLLEGE NEWSLETTERtopic related to Adolescence to Adulthood and present to the class in the form of a role play. So far there have been some original and creative ideas for these role plays where some even dress up for their role! It has certainly added a touch of fun to the standard oral presentation!

In Sociology, the students are in the middle of performing their oral seminars. They are engaging with the topics – which they could choose themselves – and are delivering imaginative, thought-provoking presentations. Next up assessment-wise is the exam in Week 16. Better start revising!

Teachers in Behavioural Sciences are Conor Bendle, Betty Chant, Lia Mckerihan, Ben Godwin and Erica Brown.

HISTORYBlood, Lust and Persecution We are studying Elizabeth I’s reign and looking at the various conflicts which arose at that time. As well, we have had interesting discussions about Elizabeth’s personal views about marriage and religion.

We have a final assessment item to be done during exam week, a document test (20 %)

Roman EmpireStudents have been busily studying the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty. From the Dacian Wars to Hadrian’s Wall to the Marcomannic Wars the emperors Trajan, Hadrian and M. Aurelius have been the focus for the class. On the 8 November students will have an opportunity to visit the ANU

Classics Museum for a guided tour by Dr Paul Burton from the Classics Faculty at ANU. This will be a great opportunity for students wanting to study Classics at university

International RelationsWe are looking at the end of the Soviet Union. We had a speaker from the Embassy of the Russian federation, Anna Kovach, on the 23rd of October. She spoke to the class about Glasnost and Perestroika and answered the questions prepared by the students.

Teachers of History are Ben Godwin, Jason Abela and Christine Mya.

GLOBAL STUDIESStudents in ‘Our Democracy Your Choice’ have been working hard on their essay assessments in the library. They have also been learning about the voting system and political parties by studying contemporary issues in Australian politics. Students have been faced with questions why do political parties form and why is there often a dichotomy of power in democracy. They will also have the opportunity to form their own political parties in weeks 14 and 15 and think about the varying levels of influence they have to Australian politics.Teachers of Global Studies are Ben Godwin and Graham Hansard

LEGAL and BUSINESS STUDIES Business and Legal students are finalising their research assignments and preparing for the end of term test which is just around the corner. It has been a busy year with markets, debates, conventions and of course the Mock Trial win. To all of our students we wish you a safe and happy holiday. For our graduating year 12 students we wish you all the best for the future and remember every step is the first step to where you want to go, you just might not realise it at the time.Business is taught by Leica Burt, Erica Brown and Graham Hansard. Leica and Liz Ahern teach Legal Studies.


DICKSON COLLEGE NEWSLETTERGEOGRAPHY2020 VISION SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT

In 2010, the ACT Government committed to rapidly reducing our city’s greenhouse emissions by the year 2020 by 40% on 1990 levels or about 60% from current levels. By adopting this target, the ACT has placed itself in a pace-setting role for the nation. If this target is enthusiastically supported by the ACT community there is no doubt we can meet it!

The Centenary 2020 Vision Sustainability Project aims to engage the imagination of young people and involve them in planning for their future. It is

about new sources of energy, different modes of transport, new approaches to food and different ways of thinking about our world. Importantly, it is also about children and youth being optimistic about their future - a great way to celebrate Canberra’s Centenary!

For two days in November 2013 (2 and 6 November 2013) representative students from schools across Canberra will present their ideas on how to meet our emission reduction target and achieve a more sustainable Canberra to each other and to our politicians. School representatives will deliver their findings and proposals for action in a five minute presentation to the Parliament of Youth and to the ACT Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell MLA.

This year we have had four student papers selected to be presented at the Parliament. Two of our current students, Andrew Palm and Ella Nelson-Lee will be presenting their papers on a Light Rail Network and Energy Efficiency. And two of our 2012 graduating students, Kate Mulvaney and Sam Sautelle will be having their papers on Urban Planning and Solar Electricity presented via proxy by Justin Bailey and Ella Nelson-Lee.

We also have several students who have been shortlisted as finalists in the 2020 Vision: Imagining a Sustainable Canberra Competition.

Rachel Roberts - poster - ‘3 Degree Disaster’Chloe Sinclair - wall display - ‘4 Degrees of Separation’Jimmy Parascos, Ben Cosgrave - poster - ‘Climate Effects on Canberra’Ella Nelson-Lee - poster with overlays - ‘Impact of Temperature on Canberra’Andrew Palm - report - ‘Climate Change: Impact on Canberra’

Their entries will be displayed as part of the Festival of Young Ideas exhibition at the CSIRO Discovery Centre from 1 to 28 November 2013. Parents and community members are invited to visit the centre to view the entries and celebrate the achievements of our wonderful students! The winners of the competition will be announced at a special ceremony on Wednesday 13 November.

Graham Hansard Geography


DICKSON COLLEGE NEWSLETTERJAPANESETerm 4 began with an exciting visit from our sister school, Nara University High School in Japan. 56 students and six staff travelled to Canberra and were hosted across six schools, but came to Dickson first to say ‘G’day’ to their new sister school as of October 2012. After a student delegation from Dickson visited Nara in April this year, it was great to see familiar faces and even some host families returning the favour. A huge thank you to our 10 host families, the student buddies and all the staff who helped the visit run smoothly. For those interested, our many gifts from Nara which we have received over our years of friendship can be found in the hall in front of the deputy offices. Students enjoyed conversation exchange, the opportunity to meet their e-pals and also a shared lunch to say thanks to our buddies. We took the opportunity to officially launch our new promotional video for the Dickson College Japanese Program during the delegation’s visit. Many of our students enjoyed the annual Canberra Nara Candle Festival in Lennox Gardens later in the week, which is always a fabulous evening of culture and friendship. Japanese is taught by Nelle Mahoney.

CHINESEIn week 10 of Term 3, we set off on our amazing excursion to China. We discovered the best of China including Beijing, Shanghai ,Xi’an and Hangzhou. Over 13 days we explored China from the historic former imperial capital of Beijing

to the cosmopolitan streets of Shanghai. We also visited the fascinating Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an and explored the Great Wall. This excursion taught us a lot about Chinese culture and really helped us to improve our studies of the Chinese language. We would like to thank our teachers, Yani Tian and Michael Klinkert, who gave up some of their holidays to come with us on this trip of a lifetime! Yani Tian is the Chinese teacher at Dickson.

FRENCHAll French classes are preparing for the end of semester assessment: an unscripted oral and a writing test. We are revising grammar and learning vocabulary which can be used in the assessment items.Christine Mya is the French teacher.

LATINBoth Latin Unit 2 and Unit 4 students have been working well and are at present coping with several assessment items in the current four weeks. A good deal of linguistic work has been covered in both units, including Demonstrative and Reflexive pronouns in Unit 2, and Perfect tenses and Relative clauses in Unit 4., and students have nevertheless remained enthusiastic and in surprisingly good spirits….

Unit 2 have been working on a research assignment on Roman gods and goddesses, while Unit four have investigated Roman art and architecture. It has been a cheerful and productive semester! Anne Rose teaches Latin.



ICAS Maths and Australian Mathematics CompetitionsEleven intrepid mathematicians from Dickson College entered the ICAS Maths competition, with some wonderful results. Huon Porteous, Patrick Coric, Frank Zhang, Joshua Johnson, Chris Hone, Eric Horvat and Abera Saeed all received Credits, and were in the top third of entrants from NSW and ACT. Fran Fei and Mike Tang earned a distinction for being in the top 10%, but they were also in the top 2%, narrowly missing out on a high distinction.

Twenty courageous Dickson students tried their hand at the prestigious Australian Mathematics Competition. Olivia Ge, Katherine Edinburgh, Patrick Coric, Eric Horvat, Adam Mater, Abera Saeed and Joy Liu all performed very well, earning them a Credit. Noah Ingham, Frank Zhang, Frank Fei, Chris Hone and Yan Tang did an excellent job, and received a Distinction for being in the top 25%. Shun Zhou, Huon Porteous and Mike Tang each earned a High Distinction as their result placed them in the top 5% of all entrants. This achievement is especially significant at college level as typically entrants are the top academic students.

Five of these high achieving students prepared for these competitions through engaging with competition practice problems in the library on Thursday afternoons during tutorial hour. Their dedication was rewarded.Well done to everyone who entered.

Caroline Evers AMC & ICAS Maths Coordinator

As we enter the final assessment period of the year, we would like to encourage students to check that they have their own calculator for their test – with working batteries! Students are not permitted to use the calculator function on their mobile phones. Students enrolled in General Mathematics units should have their own scientific calculator which includes trigonometric and statistical operations. Students studying Mathematical Applications, Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics should also have their own calculator – preferably a graphics calculator. Students should not assume that their teachers will have supplies of “spare” calculators for loan outside of class time for completing assignments or during scheduled exam times. There are some limited exceptions to this “rule” and students will have been told if the Mathematics Department’s graphics calculators will be available during their tests.

Year 12 students who purchased their own graphics calculator to use in their mathematical studies over the last two years, and who are unlikely to use it in the future, should talk to their Mathematics teacher about the possibility of selling it on to new Year 11 students next year. We have no formal arrangements for selling the calculators second-hand, but may be able to assist in facilitating the sale between students.

Michael Klinkert Executive TeacherMathematics and Data Analytics

Mathematics



Last night we held our last P&C meeting of the year and we received a detailed briefing from our new principal, Kerri Heath, about what is happening at the College right now, and some of what is planned for the future.

It is an exciting time for Dickson College, as Kerri looks at a fiveyear plan for the college.

In looking back at the P&C’s activities over the year our achievements include running the canteen and helping with the Designgate Arts and Craft Market.

Most importantly however, is that we provided a regular forum for parents to meet with senior staff from the college. This information exchange is a two way process. It enables parents to find out about what is happening at the college, and it also allows the staff to consult with parents about issues that affect your children.

At last night’s meeting one of the parents talked about how she likes to come along, so I asked her to write a few lines telling us why.

“Ever felt you’re the last person to find out what’s going on in your teenager’s school day? I joined the P&C because this was me! Now I enjoy advance notice of upcoming events, hearing the insights of the school’s senior executives and discussing everything from the canteen menu to the future directions of Dickson College. All this for the small outlay of an occasional Monday evening and my (unpressured) choice of any additional duties”.

All the best

John Rumble President P&C

P&C / BoardStudents are making great use of the library to complete final assessment tasks.Welcome to Robert Brown who will be working as a library assistant during morning sessions. The annual Library Writing Competition is underway and winners will be announced at the Year 12 Farewell Assembly on 18 November. Three $50 prizes will be awarded to the best short stories, poems, plays or other creative pieces. Winning entries will also be published in the Dickson College Library wiki and in Glyph, the English wiki. Here are the winning entries from previous years: http://dckclib.wikispaces.com/library_writing_competition

All students will receive a list of their library loans during Clubs on 11 November, as well as Clearance Forms. All students need to complete a Clearance Form and have it signed by all their teachers as well as the Library. This ensures that all resources have been returned to the college. The last day for handing in completed Clearance Forms is Handback Day on Wed 27 November. Students who have lost library books/textbooks will be asked to pay for them so that replacements can be purchased. It would be appreciated if payments could be finalised before the end of the year. Year 11 students may like to borrow books over the holidays, once they have returned all their current loans.

In October and November, our library fundraising contributed $200 to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which sends quality children’s books to remote indigenous communities. We also contributed $200 to the Salvation Army NSW Bushfire Appeal and Woolworths matched that donation with another $200.

The Library Team – Lindy Hathaway, Gary Floyd, Julie England and Robert Brown.

Library



Congratulations to the Dickson College

Cricket Team ACT Champions!!!

Outdoor EducationThe last Outdoor Education excursion for 2013 was a great success. 18 students camped out at South Durras for three days and enjoyed the surf, SUPPing and sun!

The Outdoor Education team is looking forward to a fun-filled 2014 and would like to encourage all students interested in the outdoors to visit Ryan or Brooke in the PE staffroom.

PE



Dickson College Science Faculty

Cordially invite you to attend:The Environmental Science Master Class

Symposium

Find out about our Inner North Wetlands and the research that students from our cluster have conducted in conjunction with Dr Beth Mantle from the CSIRO. A light supper and refreshments will be

served.

Date: Thursday, November 7th

Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Place: Dickson College Hall

COSMETICSThe Cosmetics class has been busy learning about makeup, skin care and sun protection in recent weeks. The girls hosted a Body Shop party to develop their awareness of product advertising and the vast array of cosmetic products available. The girls also hosted a Cancer Council Sun Smart presentation to learn more about the impact of the sun on our skin and have their faces photographed with the Sun Camera to detect any current sun damage.

The Cosmetics students have been busy making soaps that they would like to sell to the Dickson College Community to raise money for a donation to World Vision. Students will be selling the soap at Morning tea this Friday 8 November.

ScienceWe have been very busy this term preparing for our final restaurant service for 2013. Combining fine dining service and using a Halloween theme, both years 11 and 12 have worked together to prepare two mains and a dessert buffet to feed 100 people. All students will be running Majura Restaurant in week 13. In week 14, Alaine from Foodish will be conducting a workshop and demonstration to students about catering for large events. This will give all students the extra skills and knowledge to cater for a range of events at Dickson College and the community.

Hospitality



SIEC work with Rotary to donate to SamoaThe SIEC (Secondary introductory English Centre) has a history of successful partnerships and friendships with the community and with organisations that work with us to support our students.

Those valued friends include the Rotary clubs of Canberra. Their vision of supporting youth in the local community and further afield fits well with our shared goal in the SIEC and the DC Refugee Bridging Program.

The SIEC was in need of a classroom furniture renewal - our desks were over 30 years old- still strong and functional but looking a little sad.

However we were keen to have the desks continue their usefulness in a classroom so our first thought to help us was Rotary!

We contacted Belconnen Rotary Club after hearing of a project that they were involved in sending walking aids overseas. Wal Cooper was our contact and very quickly he had a plan. Belconnen Rotary club had a contact with fellow Rotarians in Samoa. Samoa was also keen to support the distribution of these desks to a selected school in Samoa.

Using his contacts Wal organised the shipment of the desks and the club funded the transport of them to Melbourne. The SIEC students worked with the Rotarians involved in this project. The students and teachers dismantled the desks and

then together with Rotary we helped stack them in a trailer and van ready to be driven to Melbourne by Wal and his colleagues. From there they were shipped via container to their new home.

These type of collaborative projects produce a lot of winners. Our desks went to a good home where they will be used for many years to come

(and possibly have even more gum stuck under them!), we continued to strengthen our productive partnership with Rotary and our students had the opportunity to participate in a good deed to support other students in a school (and country) that could do with our help on occasions.

Francis Firebrace visits the SIECAt the end of term 3 the Secondary Introductory English Centre (SIEC) students and staff were privileged to have the company of Francis Firebrace. Francis was visiting family in Canberra and he generously gave his time to our SIEC and Foundation students at Dickson College.

SIEC / Refugee Bridging Program


DICKSON COLLEGE NEWSLETTERInformative, honest and funny, Francis Firebrace is an Aboriginal storyteller who has spent the last 25 years of his life travelling the world and spreading the message of harmony, respect and goodwill among all people.

We were very lucky to have such an inspirational man share some of his time with us.

DC Refugee Bridging Program and Companion HouseOne of our regular friends of the DC Refugee Bridging Program is Companion House. Companion House is an NGO which provides health and related services to survivors of torture and trauma, mainly asylum seekers and refugees.

In term 3 we were fortunate to have some of the wonderful Companion House counselling staff present a 6 week program to our students focusing on stress: what it is, the functions it provides and most importantly healthy ways to alleviate the symptoms and reduce damaging stress in our daily lives. Anyone passing our room may have seen us practising yoga or maybe even meditating.

Many thanks to Deb Nelson, Sam Story and Habib for their time, planning and passion.

Thankyou to Canberra Sunrise Rotary ClubAnd while we are reflecting on the kindness of Rotary I also want to publicly thank the Canberra Sunrise Rotary Club again for their continued support of the SIEC each term. The Sunrise Rotary Club generously donates a scholarship for one of our SIEC students each term at our gradation ceremony. The scholarship, which is a large box of useful school requirements such as a calculator, dictionary, atlas etc, is given to a student that has succeeded academically despite difficult circumstances.

The smiling faces in the photo say it all!

Bob Nields from the Sunrise Rotary Club with the term 3 scholarship winner Mohsen Karimi and and Corrine Cordes, SIEC teacher.

Ros Phillips Executive TeacherSecondary Introductory English Centre Refugee Bridging Program



STUDENT WELLBEING CENTRE WISHES YOU WELL!The Student Wellbeing team would like to congratulate all our graduating students and wish them the best of luck for next year and for the future.

ASSESSMENTPlease note that at the end of semester 2, late work cannot be accepted after week 16 even for very good reason such as illness, because of the requirement for teachers to enter marks into the data base by a given date. If there is any serious difficulty with this, please contact Sara Morgans (6205-6476, or [email protected]).

ATTENDANCEThe class roll data base closes also, so absence notes cannot be accepted after November 22nd. If there is any serious difficulty with this, please contact Sara Morgans (6205-6476, or [email protected]).

Spotlight on Clubs and Community The Sitcoms Club and their Giving Project

As part of the Giving Project activity this semester students from the Sitcoms Clubs and Community class (Ben’s awesome class of comedians) ventured to North Ainslie Primary School to run some activities for the Introductory English Centre (IEC) students. The Dickson College

students represented the school exceptionally. The North Ainslie teachers were very impressed by the maturity and enthusiasm of our students. The DC students ran three activities; soccer for the kindergartens, cricket for year 1 and 2, and art for years 3-6. The IEC students had a fantastic time and it was great to see smiling faces in the classroom and on the sporting ovals. Thank you to those from the Sitcoms Clubs and Community class who gave their time for such an awesome Giving Project this semester.

Student Wellbeing Centre

Documents

ICS CLLEE EWSLETTER - clubrunner.ca · • a number of our student bands performing at the brilliant Hackett Community 50th Anniversary Celebrations • the return of our UAV team