Principal’s Message – Week 8 Term 1

Welcome GHS Community,

Recent & Coming Events

Parent/Carer Information (Open) Days

Earlier this week we ran our information sessions for students considering enrolling in year 7 in 2023. We ran three sessions on each of the two afternoons/evenings and each was very well attended. An important feature of our sessions is the high level of involvement by our senior students who either provide entertainment or act as guides. My thanks to all students and staff involved. If parents/carers were unable to attend but would like to do a tour of the school, please contact the Admin Office and we will let you know when a tour is happening.

We look forward to meeting the prospective year 7s at the Orientation days later in the year.

Athletics Sports

The winner of this year’s athletics sports will be announced on Monday 28^th March. My thanks to Sonia Kinsey for her organisation and well done to all students who participated and supported their peers. It was a great day despite the patchy rain throughout the day.

COVID Report

Numbers of student’s quarantining have remained relatively constant throughout the last few weeks. At this stage approximately 25 % of students have been required to quarantine. Similarly with staff, the numbers have been low but nevertheless sufficient to cause challenges in maintaining the continuity of the program given that replacement teachers are in short supply – see note below.

Wanted – Any former or retired teachers with a current VIT registration (or happy to re-register). We are in great need of qualified teachers to assist us through this challenging period. If you are interested in doing one or more days a week of Casual Relief teaching we would love to hear from you. The pay rate is $63.86 per hour for a minimum of 3 hours or $383.16 per day (gross) plus super.

School Council Elections 2022 Update

I am pleased to advise that- at the close of round two of nominations, we have four parent/carer nominations for the four vacancies. I therefore declare the following people duly elected to the Geelong High School Council.

• Paul Henshaw
• Rachel Olson
• Jo Dahlstrom
• Tariro Kokerai

Thank you to these people for agreeing to be a parent representative on council. The first meeting of the new council will be at Geelong High School, Thursday 31^st March 2022 at 5.00pm

Glenn Davey

Principal

VCAL Intermediate

The VCAL Intermediate class headed off to The Gordon to talk to tradies and learn about construction sites. The students completed practice interviews and received feedback on their resumes. It was a great way for the class to start to network and secure their future pathways.

Brennon Reusch

VCAL Teacher

On the 10th and 11th of March, the Yr 8 Digital Technology class went to the Geelong Tech School to undertake a program called ‘Virtual X’. The program saw students telling a story in VR, using a drawing program called ‘Tilt Brush’, which allows users to draw, paint, sketch or sculpt in 3D.

The program drew so much interest that our Principal Glenn Davey and Assistant Principal Andrew Mcconchie came along to check it out.

Yr 8 Digital Technology is a term long elective at Geelong High, which runs as part of our STEM program. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) represents the fastest growing industry across the world, with many jobs currently unfilled due to the lack of people trained and/or skilled in this area.

The world is a different place, with many people describing our current period in time as the “digital age” or the “technology revolution”. Jobs in the STEM field are paid very well and allow skilled employees to work anywhere in the world. Students with interests in this area have the world at their fingertips.

The GHS STEM program includes Digital Technology in year 7 and year 8, then many options moving into the middle school and VCE. We have strong partnerships with many organisations, including the Geelong Tech School, Deakin Uni, Biolab and many more outside of Geelong as well.

Being exposed to a natural disaster, either directly through lived experience or indirectly through the media, stirs up various feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety and frustration. Communities and families around Australia have been touched by the recent floods in NSW and Queensland with many still coming to terms with what has happened. While others are rallying together to provide much needed moral and financial support.

As the clean-up continues, families are faced with the real presence of the disaster. Dealing with their emotions and providing support to their children and teenagers. How well young people cope, or manage any trauma, will depend on specific risk factors in existence before, during and after the event. It is vital to talk and listen to them to help them process their feelings.

Parents and caregivers need to remain vigilant in monitoring their children during this time and check in with them regularly. They may be distressed by images they have seen either physically or through social media and news reports. Young people may exhibit or experience a wide range of emotional reactions and it is therefore important to reassure them that what they are feeling is considered normal.

This Special Report offers a number of strategies to help support families during this time of recovery. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://geelonghigh.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-flood-support-recovery

Around the world, people are saddened and devastated by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Both adults and young people alike are feeling the stresses of war from afar as they experience fear, frustration and helplessness. The 24 hour news cycle has shown us upsetting images raising many questions, especially for our young people, about what is happening.

Parents and caregivers need to be guided by their child’s curiosity. There is strong evidence to suggest that having a supportive discussion about a stressful event in a developmentally appropriate way, can actually decrease distress. It’s best to “name it, to tame it.” This will also combat any misinformation to which they have most likely already been exposed to through social media, pictures or video clips.

Children need to know that they are being taken seriously. So it is recommended that you don’t avoid the difficult questions. Ensure you address their questions honestly and sensitively. With less life experience than adults, young people may need help navigating news about this crisis. Use this is as an opportunity to model and encourage compassionate views towards fellow humans, regardless of distance or circumstance.

This Special Report offers guidance on how best to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://geelonghigh.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-conflict-ukraine-au

Career News 23 March 2022

Report online harm

eSafety helps Australians prevent and deal with harm caused by serious online abuse or illegal and restricted online content.

This includes cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse and image-based abuse (sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without the consent of the person shown).

esafety.gov.au

Parent resources

Downloadable resources to help you start the chat about online safety issues and strategies with your child.

On this page:

• Videos
• Books
• Information sheets
• Audio files
• Family tech agreements
• Activities
• COVID-19 advice

Report a complaint about serious online abuse or illegal and restricted online content.  You can follow a few easy steps to help you choose the best report form.

REPORT NOW

The booking link for this event is: https://whiteswansoundandyogabookings.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php