12 November 2009

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Principal’s Perspective

It has been a busy two weeks for staff and students at the College since last I wrote. Examinations are well underway, final assessment pieces are being submitted, and the details for the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner and the Senior and Middle School Awards Ceremonies are being finalised. You should have all received invites to these culminating events for the school year, and I look forward to seeing you on these occasions.

It is hard to believe that we have less than half a term of the school year left, perhaps seeming more so for me as I have only been at Kormilda since late August. I have

focussed much energy on trying to learn about the College as quickly as possible and have spent a lot of time getting to know staff and students. I have been very conscious that mid-year is not an ideal time to introduce too much change, but at the same time it has been necessary to start planning for next year and beyond. It is inevitable that the student body are nervous about changes – I can confirm for those Year 10’s I have been speaking with that the uniform will not be changing and my personal preference for wearing a tie is not on any agenda.

One area that I have been keen to advance is with regard to student leadership. I am pleased to announce that the following students have been selected as College Prefects: Chantelle Dobunaba and Louis Durand (Captains), Natasha Bonney, Caitlin Buralli, Jack Hangan, Jack Kruger, Mitchell Mullen, Harriet Palmer, Joel Paterson, Harrison Shedden, Jaimi-Lee Tinning and Chadai Watts.

The Prefect body has been meeting regularly throughout this term and have already established close links with the SRC – a charity fundraising day planned for later this term will be a first joint effort between these two leadership teams. The Prefects have a number of initiatives planned for the coming year and I will keep you closely informed as to their progress.

An area of concern identified by the academic staff has been student adherence to homework and assignment deadlines. I am very grateful for the support of parents in ensuring that homework is being regularly done by students - every student should have some homework to do every night and it is essential to their academic development that this time is used to augment learning. In order to encourage students to plan their work appropriately it is important that they use the student diaries they have been provided with to record their work. Next year, each school day will commence with a short homeroom period during which tutors will be checking to ensure that students are using their diaries to plan appropriately – parents too will be encouraged to help their children in this regard. Ms Elsabe Bott, Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning, will write to all parents before the start of next year outlining our expectations for students with regard to their academic work.

Other developments at Kormilda continue apace. Work will soon begin on new language laboratories and on the Centre for Indigenous Culture and Spirituality. The later of these is to be named Mudowa – a generic Indigenous word meaning fish. The fish has significant cultural and spiritual connotations for both Indigenous and Christian peoples. The new VET buildings are due for completion by the end of the year and will provide unparalleled opportunities for Kormilda students choosing vocational industry pathways and NTCE candidates who may choose VET courses as part of their qualifications.

David Shinkfield Principal

Doodle for Google

Congratulations to Darcy McBean on being selected as the National Age Group winner for students in Years 7 & 8 in the recent Doodle for Google competition, and Phoebe Robinson who was selected as a finalist for the Years 9 & 10 Age Group. Pictured right are top Darcy’s and bottom Phoebe’s entries.

November

Wed 18 to Tue 24 Year 11 NTCE Exams

Fri 20 - 7pm to 10pm Year 9 Social - Theme: City Nights Cyprus Community Centre, Batton Road, Marrara

Thu 26 - 7pm to 9pm Senior School Awards Night Darwin Entertainment Centre

Fri 27 Year 7 Orientation Day

Sat 28 Valedictory Dinner Darwin Convention Centre

Mon 30 to Thu 3 Year 11 IB Exams

2010 College Captains

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On the last day of the festival, the great day, while

Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,

and let the one who believes in me

drink. As the scripture has said,

“Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers

of living water.” ’ John 7.37-38

Dear Jesus, may we thirst for

justice, may our hearts overflow

with your compassion.

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Amen.

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

This year saw the completion and opening of our new Virtual Office and four classrooms. Construction is currently being completed on VET Building Stages 3, 4 and 5. These facilities include a Home Economics/Hospitality kitchen, Music broadcasting studio, Child Care training facility, and two huge workshops with classrooms and demonstration areas. This will allow for courses in Music, Child Care Studies, Hospitality, Engineering, Automotive, and General Construction to be offered on campus from Semester 1 next year. For more information on VET Courses please contact Head of VET Mrs Jenni Smith on 08 8922 1655 or email jenni.smith@kormilda.nt.edu.au

Congratulations

Tyas Williams, Year 8, recently competed in the Australian Junior Squash Championships in Sydney, and is now ranked third nationally for U13 boys Squash. Tyas has also won three state championships this year.

Brienna Logie has been awarded a gold medal in Tourism at the recent Worldskills VET in Schools Competition.

Elisha Davies and Justine Burgess were selected as members of the NT Equestrian Team that travelled to Melbourne to compete in the Equestrian Australia Interschool National Championships.

At the recent Marrara Construction Company Awards, Kymm Villaflor was awarded the 2009 School Based Engineering Apprentice Award and Adam Phasey was named the Most Improved Apprentice.

To all of our budding young journalists who have been making weekly contributions to the Y section in Mondays’ NT News.

The 2009 Kormilda School Based Apprentices - Back Row: Adam Phasey, Dylan Lloyd, David Ougham, Kevin Luke, Damien Allwood. Front Row: Alisha McDonald, Kymm Villaflor, Emily Croydon, Anne Spillett. Absent: Johno Huddleston, Janet-Vera Farrell, Rebekah Dunn, and Kiah Peters.

Justine Burgess riding Cailin at the Equestrian Australia Interschool National Championships.

Tyas Williams, Year 8