October News
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Principal's message
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Year 12 end of year events - save the dates
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Exam Timetable
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Learning and teaching initiatives
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AST 2021
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Monthly Awards
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SHLiRP - Sexual Health Lifestyles & Relationships Program
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YOUR CAREER - What's next for you?
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Makerspace
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Library
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Academic Excellence Program Feature - Grace Tate (Year 11)
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Congratulations Emily Pease
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Spotlight on staff- Suzy Shelton
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Instrumental Music Program representatives at UCSSC Lake Ginninderra
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Mulligans Flat Excursion - Year 12 Biology
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ABC Canberra and Year 12 Media
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Health & Wellbeing students take part in the "Solve the Outbreak Challenge".
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Automotive Technology
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Outdoor Education Term 4 2020
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Sports Development 2020
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Swing Into Life
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Girls Football
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Boys Football
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Basketball Boys
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Thursday Intercollege Sport
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'Lake United' Breakfast Club
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Considered a career in Policing?
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Be COVID Safe when returning to school
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Saver Plus
Principal's message
Welcome to Term 4 - a busy time for students and staff with not long to go in the teaching period and final assessments. We wish students well in the lead up to the end of this year.
Congratulations to all of our students both personally and academically this semester. Our staff and students continue to take up the opportunities across the College notwithstanding the varied changes due to COVID-19 restrictions. Students are engaging in purposeful learning, participating in extra-curricular and cultural activities, and succeeding in local sports events.
Lake G Chill 2.0 commences Monday 26 October with a continued focus on health and wellbeing. Thank you to staff and student organisers who have contributed. All students are strongly encouraged to connect with different people and try learning something new!
SHLiRP -Sexual Health Lifestyles & Relationships Program is a simple and convenient health education, information and testing program to promote young people’s sexual health and wellbeing. The Program is a partnership of Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT) and the Canberra Sexual Health Centre (CSHC) brought to ACT public secondary colleges with the support of ACT Government funding. This program is running this year starting Monday 26 October. Please see their flyer below for further information.
Yesterday our 2021 Learning Support Unit students joined us for their transition visit from the high schools. For one student this meant catching the bus to school for the first time. The student arrived unsure of what to do and where to go. Thankfully two of our year 12 students Garry and Mani realised she was lost and walked her to our office staff. What a great example of school spirit, so kind and thoughtful.
The College continues to plan the many remaining events as this challenging year draws to a close. All students and staff have demonstrated great resilience and adaptability and have achieved so much throughout 2020. We look forward to sharing the successes of our Year 12 cohort at Graduation, to our Year 11’s becoming leaders as they enter Year 12 and to welcoming our incoming Year 11’s in February 2021.
Year 12 end of year events - save the dates
End of year events provide opportunities to celebrate student successes, milestones and to wish our graduands well for the future.
We thank the school community for assisting us to continue to meet, and comply with, current health advice. As a result, the end of year celebrations will be for students only except for the Special Awards event.
- Formal 6.30-9.30pm Thursday 26 November at UCSSC Lake Ginninderra
- Special Awards 9.30-10.30am Wednesday 16 December at UCSSC Lake Ginninderra
- Graduation 11.00 -12.30pm Wednesday 16 December at UCSSC Lake Ginninderra
- Breakfast and Final package check for ALL Year 12 students (T and A) 9am-10:30am Friday 4 December at UCSSC Lake Ginninderra
The formal is a celebration for our Year 12 cohort. The College is finalising details including theme, catering, photography, decorations, and dancing to create a special evening and memories for the year 12 students. For community wellbeing we are unable to have arrivals. Parents/carers will be requested to drop off their child in a designated 'drop and go' zone. Parents/carers are encouraged to remain in their vehicles when dropping off/collecting students from this event.
Graduation - Special awards will be presented to students in a range of categories. Families of recipients will be notified, along with details of how to register one family representative to attend.
Students will be awarded their ACT Senior Secondary Certificate at Graduation. In 2020 Graduation will be livestreamed for families so that they may share in this event.
Exam Timetable
Learning and teaching initiatives
Members of the college executive team have participated in two recent professional learning activities which will improve their capacity to lead change and have a positive influence on student learning.
On 15 and 16 September, executive teachers from UC Kaleen and UC SSC Lake Ginninderra learned new skills to coach others in an intensive workshop provided by Growth Coaching International. An additional benefit of the workshop was the achieving of closer ties between the leadership teams of both schools which are expected to increase the effectiveness of transition activities into the future.
The annual conference of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) was held online 30 September to 2 October. The appropriately named theme for 2020 was “Leading Successful Learning in a Changed World” and attendees were exposed to a range of speakers whose experience combined with our own experiences of this year will influence the shape of teaching at the college. International speakers included Michael Fullan and Mary Jean Gallagher both of whom have worked with ACT schools and so had relevant experience on which to base their presentations.
AST 2021
The school facilitates AST related activities throughout the school year. Students seeking university entry via the ATAR pathway engage on Monday afternoons (H Line) from 3:00pm – 3:40pm in a series of workshops led by staff from the school community.
Workshop topics and presentations may include the following:
- Introduction; The Question the AST Writers Love
- Underlining Questions
- Critical Numeracy
- Image Questions
- Science / Process Questions
- Comparison of a Poem / Painting
- The Hardest Question on the AST
- Writing Styles / Debate on Writing Topics
- AST Rules and Hints
- Return of the Trial Exam
- Trial Dates
During each end of semester exam period there is a trial of all three AST papers after other exams are completed.
AST Dates for 2021:
Tuesday 31 August Short Response Task / Multiple Choice Task
Wednesday 1 September Writing Task
BSSS Website: http://www.bsss.act.edu.au/home
Contact Information:
AST Support Officers: Jenny Hanson & Louise Schmidtchen
Certification Officer: David Stone
Year 11 Co-ordinators (2020): Susannah Morrison, Will Hotchkiss
Monthly Awards
August & September 2020
The winners of the award are: | |
Archer Johnson (English) | |
Emily Pease (Math Apps & Biology) | Hilton Tobin (Contemporary English) |
Kevin Gonzalez-Klapp | Kristy Wetton (Ancient History & English) |
Matt King (Outdoor Recreation) | Southerly Jones (Ceramics & Literature) |
Nominated students: | |
Alana Benson (Math Apps) | Anton Barasic (Psychology) |
Amy Cooper (English) | Bianca Blacksell (English) |
Ayesha Nazir (Disability & Aged Care) | Chloe Edwards (Exercise Science) |
Billy Greber (Human Biology) | David Coolahan (Biology) |
Cristabel Gonzales (Exercise Science) | Furqan Al Qowi (EALD) |
Deanna Gifford (Drama) | Grace Wright (Specialist Methods) |
Giselle Thorley (Modern History) | Inge Schmidt (Exercise Science) |
Ilana Tabulutu | Jacob Smith (Literature) |
Jack Rixon (Outdoor Recreation) | Jazmyn Michie |
James Magnussen (Modern History) | Laura Coan (English) |
Jordan Lindsay (Essential English) | Liam Heffernan (Essential English) |
Lauren Wise (Chemistry) | Madi Gavin (Outdoor Education) |
Lizzie Newman (Literature) | Richelle Webb (English) |
Max Van Den Boogaard (Literature) | Ryana Debbrama (Literature) |
Ruby O'Meara (Legal Studies) | Sarah Clements (Ancient History) |
Tahlia Ingram (Essential English) | Zeal Moses (Student Community Group) |
SHLiRP - Sexual Health Lifestyles & Relationships Program
YOUR CAREER - What's next for you?
The School Leavers Information Kit has been developed to help you understand the education, training and career opportunities and pathways available to you in 2021. Transitioning from school can sometimes be challenging and COVID-19 has presented some additional challenges. The aim of this kit is to help support you in making decisions about your next steps after leaving school and to equip you with resources to be better informed about your education, training and work options.
The National Career Institute’s (NCI) School Leavers Information Kit has been especially developed to help you at this time and includes:
● Resources to support you to make decisions about the right career and pathway for you to get there post-school;
● Information on work and education options such as university, vocational education and training (VET), apprenticeships, volunteering and community service;
● Tips and resources to help you update your resume and apply for jobs;
● Resources outlining government funding support and subsidies available to you.
The NCI has also set up the School Leavers Information Service. This is a free support to help navigate the School Leavers Information Kit and the NCI’s Your Career website as well as an opportunity to engage with a personalised career guidance session with a qualified career practitioner for up to 45 minutes. You can contact the service by phone on 1800 CAREER (1800 227 337), by texting ‘SLIS2020’ to 0429 009 435 or by email at schoolleavers.nci@dese.gov.au.
You can visit the School Leavers Information Kit at www.YourCareer.gov.au/school-leavers-support.
If you have any questions regarding the information outlined above, please reach out to the college’s Transitions and Careers Officer (TaCO) Fiona Chester, email: fiona.chester@ed.act.edu.au
Makerspace
Library
As we head towards the end of the year the staff in the library are keen to ensure that students are gaining the support that they need.
The staff in the library will:
- help find resources
- help with referencing (in-text and lists)
- show you how to access the resources on the Lake Ginninderra Library website and library system
- create and organise a timetable to help gain the most out of your off-class lines
- discuss and help with strategies to assist in maximising study time
- assist with the drafting process, including applying teacher feedback
and more...
Come and talk to us!
Academic Excellence Program Feature - Grace Tate (Year 11)
My name is Grace Tate, and I am currently studying a double major in Art at Lake Ginninderra College. I am a member of the Academic Excellence Program. I may be in year 11 now, but art has always been my favourite subject. Though I doubt my earliest Kindergarten creations were much to look at, the feeling of making art remains the same to me and drives me in my study of the subject even to this day. Creating art is not fast. It's sometimes tiresome and often frustrating. However, all these things also make it so beautiful to do. I love making art because in art, nothing is definitive. When I write words or make graphs, there is what is there in ink, and then there is what is not. I guess that is to say that art writes in feeling, and sometimes that is the only language that can be spoken to a moment in time. Outside the classroom, I predominantly work in watercolour, as well as designing and making clothes as a part time hobby. When I’m not creating various items I enjoy outdoor adventure sports to get some much needed vitamin D into my system after so many hours inside. Below are some of the projects I have been working on recently, I hope you enjoy.
“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word―excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.” ―Pearl S. Buck
Work by Grace Tate
Congratulations Emily Pease
We congratulate Emily Pease who was recently drafted to the GWS Giants AFLW team. Emily has been a part of the Lakers Sports Academy over the last two years and worked tirelessly to achieve her academic and sporting goals. We wish her all the best.
Spotlight on staff- Suzy Shelton
Suzy is our laboratory manager, supporting our science teachers and students. She works behind the scenes setting up practicals and ensuring that the prep room and laboratories are well stocked and organised. She has been with us for 3 years and enjoys helping staff and being a member of the science faculty and support staff teams.
Fun facts: Suzy has lived in Canberra for over 30 years, moving here from Cooma to attend ANU. She worked at CSIRO Entomology prior to having children. Now that her children are independent adults, she and her husband are enjoying the freedom to pursue interesting hobbies. They are currently planning for some multi day hiking in Tasmania. Suzy has an adventurous spirit and has tried wild caving, abseiling, bungy jumping and scuba diving. She also enjoys stand up paddle boarding, photography, spending time in the garden, cooking and reading murder mysteries.
Instrumental Music Program representatives at UCSSC Lake Ginninderra
UCSSC Lake Ginninderra students Audrey Helliwell (Senior Concert Choir), Gena Wade (Senior Concert Band), Ashlea Nissen (Senior Concert Band & Senior Jazz Band) and Jessica Philipse (Senior Concert Band and Senior Concert Choir) were selected by audition for the ACT Instrumental Music Program in 2020. This is the equivalent of ACT representation in Music. These ensembles are made up of students selected from ACT public high schools and colleges and represent the Directorate and the ACT Government at functions in Canberra, interstate and overseas. Congratulations to these students for their selection and representation at such a high musical level!
Mulligans Flat Excursion - Year 12 Biology
On Friday 11th September students in Year 12 biology were lucky enough to enjoy a lovely spring morning walking at Mulligans Flat Sanctuary. This excursion was organised as part of the unit Biodiversity and Connectedness. The knowledgeable rangers at Mulligans Fat were able to help the students delve into the importance of the threatened box-gum grassy woodland ecosystem and how all of its organisms are connected. Mulligans Flat is open long hours for anyone to walk, we would recommend it as a great outing either during the day or at dusk when the cute creatures like bettongs and sugar gliders come out to play.
I really enjoyed spending time amongst the native Australian environment. It was a much needed break from the urban life I live every day. It was beautiful to see the richness of species in the Mulligans Flat sanctuary. I learned that large, older trees are crucial habitats in an environment, providing nesting sites for parrots and a home for native bees.
- Imogen
I really enjoyed learning about how the wildlife interacts together and how the workers and volunteers don’t try to ‘help’ the species in the Flat. I also really liked when I got the answer right to the question about leaf litter! I learnt that parrots cannot build nests due to the shape of their beak, so old hollows in trees are really important.
- Tyler
My highlight from Mulligans Flat was seeing the bettong because I didn’t realise how big they are. I learned about how koalas aren’t actually that important in the ecosystem. Instead, digging mammals such as bettongs have a bigger role in their ecosystems.
- Bonnie
Mulligans Flat Excursion
ABC Canberra and Year 12 Media
In a continuation of the relationship between UCSSC Lake Ginninderra’s Media course and ABC Canberra, the ABC visited a Year 12 Media class during Term 3 to film a news story for Instagram about first-time voters in the upcoming ACT Election. During the class, the students heard from ABC Canberra’s Digital Editor Elise Pianegonda who spoke about the different way a news story is put together for Instagram than for the TV news. The students then played the role of interviewers as a number of their peers from across Year 12 were interviewed regarding their opinions on the election and local issues. Thanks are due to the Year 12 students who were happy to be in front of the camera, and who gave very considered responses: Cristian BARBULESCU, Tepi BELL, Maya BROE, Billy GREBER, Emma ILIJOSKI, Gilad KLEIN, Jazmyn MICHIE, Jaide TREWIN and Grace WRIGHT.
Health & Wellbeing students take part in the "Solve the Outbreak Challenge".
Students this semester have been working through the Global Health & Human Development unit, with 2020 giving us plenty of relevant content for students to study! After learning about epidemiology, and the various roles within the public health sector, students put their knowledge and skills to the test though the Solve the Outbreak Challenge found on the CDC website.
Students proved to be great detectives and made some well informed decisions regarding disease management, with some groups even beating the teacher in total points awarded!
Automotive Technology
On Thursday Week 10 in Term 3 we were fortunate enough to have Shane and Bas from Rolfe Classic BMW visit the college. Students were given access to a fully electric Mini and a hybrid BMW I8. The BMW staff gave a presentation giving an insight into the hybrid and electric car era. During the visit Bas discussed his career progression on his pathway from his initial move to Australia from the Netherlands to becoming a Master Technician for BMW. Students were also given an introduction into working as a mechanic on hybrid and electric vehicles.
Year 11 students are completing the Electrical Systems Unit and can be seen working on their lighting boards in the photographs below. This is an important step into students having an understanding of electronics and their place within the Automotive field.
Automotive Class
Outdoor Education Term 4 2020
Term 3 ended on a high note with an amazing overnight bushwalk through Namadgi National Park with the Outdoor T students. The students experienced the literal ups and downs of bushwalking in the wilderness and the different camping practices that go with it. In addition, students were able to see the recently fire-affected areas of Namadgi, contrast these with the unaffected areas, and reflect on the environmental change. It was encouraging for the future of the area to see a lot of regrowth and wildlife. Through hiking, students were able to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the bushland environment.
Term 4 is looking very exciting! With the easing of COVID restrictions, students can look forward to more opportunities to participate and learn in the outdoor environment. Year 11 Outdoor Recreation students are looking forward to camping in Canberra’s beautiful bushland while practising methods of minimal impact, and also climbing at Snake Rock and abseiling at Gibraltar falls. Year 12 Outdoor Recreation students will experience the natural wonders of the NSW wilderness with a three day hike in Budawang National Park which includes some of Eastern Australia’s most incredible views! As for the T students, year 11s will extend their knowledge on the natural environment by indulging in some bushwalking in the Tidbinbilla region, while the year 12s further develop their teamwork and communication skills by participating in a high ropes course at Birrigai. Lots of exciting things to come in Outdoor Ed for term 4 2020!
Outdoor Education
Sports Development 2020
This year has posed many challenges for our elite athlete students. Most needed to find different ways to train and connect with teammates during the isolation period. Students have been provided with assessment, wellbeing applications and physical challenges to keep them engaged, active and working towards their goals.
Students have had the chance to participate in weekly exercise to develop coordination, joint mobility, strength, recovery and flexibility. To close out the year, students will engage in a competition to discover ‘Lake’s greatest athlete’. The competition is a series of physical tests that target strength, coordination, endurance, flexibility, accuracy and agility. The male and female students who score the most points in all tests will receive Lake’s greatest athlete award.
Swing Into Life
Sports Development and Outdoor Education students, together with staff, embarked on an action packed, muddy obstacle course training day to test their leadership, resilience, teamwork, fitness and strength. This is our fourth year in a row participating in the 'Swing into Life' program and our students demonstrated outstanding teamwork and cooperation to get through this demanding course.
We have now qualified for two teams to compete in the Schools Obstacle Course Challenge in Term 4. We will come up against other colleges and high schools in a battle to challenge for the prize money on offer. Good luck to our Lake G Ninja Warriors!
Girls Football
On Friday 28 August a team of UCSSC Lake Ginninderra students competed in the ACT Colleges Girls Football Carnival. The girls progressed steadily through the day with wins against Hawker college Dickson and Mackillop Colleges. The girls’ final pool game was against Canberra College, who presented the first real challenge. After a hot and tiring 4 games on uncut thick and long grass, the girls met Hawker College in a semi-final, winning convincingly. In the final, the girls once again came up against Mackillop College. The game was tight with Lake Ginninderra to score first in a strong half, where the girls dominated possession. In the second half Mackillop had more forays into the Lake Ginninderra half and scored from a deflected corner kick to tie the game. Lake Ginninderra remained composed and continued to press forward having shots hit the post and having a goal disallowed for offside. The two teams remained locked up at full time and with no additional time played in this competition the game moved to penalties. Both teams scored their first four penalties before each goalie made a save leaving teams still even and penalties now sudden death. Mackillop eventually took the title with their 8th penalty.
Congratulations to all of the girls involved:
Emma Ilijoski, Jaide Trewin, Elke Aitolu, Emmersyn Clarke, Eliza Rixon, Mackenzie Gibb, Grace Davey, Sophie Durrell, Hayley Macdonald, Jordan Donnelly, Jacqui Weinhardt, Chloe Sibley and Ruby O’Meara
Boys Football
On Tuesday of week 8 the Lake Ginninderra boys Football team competed in the ACT Colleges Football Carnival. The boys began short handed and with a loss to Dickson College. The team was now in a precarious position for finals qualification, but still keen to show their best the boys moved past Hawker College and Canberra College before holding the undefeated Gungahlin College to a draw. In the final pool game of the day Canberra College's win over Dickson allowed Lake Ginninderra into the Grand Final on points. In the final the boys were startled into action after an early goal to Gungahlin put Lake Ginninderra behind inside the first 2 minutes with the half time score being 0-1. In the second half Lake Ginninderra team tied the scores with 10 minutes remaining. In the final play of the game Jacob Booker was taken down inside the penalty area and a fresh legged James LaVella calmly slotted the penalty. The full time whistle quickly followed the the goal, leaving Lake G as 2-1 winners. Congratulations to all of the players involved: James LaVella, Matthew King, Anton Barisic, Jacob Booker, Rohan DeRuyter, Beade Priestly, Harrison Croucher, Max Mowle-Reader, Declan O’Neale, Steven Magnussen, Bailey Sorenson, Nick Katsoulis, Nathan Tokley, Will Prescott, James Stoddart and Dylan Baretto-Carbello.
Basketball Boys
Lake Ginninderra entered two teams into the ACT Colleges Boys Basketball competition. The Lake Blue team comprising mainly year 12 students, gelled as a team as the day went on managing to win one of three games, a close game, against Canberra College.
Lake White was comprised of mainly year 11 students. The started slowly with a narrow win over Canberra College, but then were more convincing against Gungahlin College and Lake Blue. Lake White met St Francis Xavier College in the final and won in a close contest The boys were led strongly in offence by Will Rice and Charlie Potter, with Connor Thompson playing strong ball in the paint at both ends of the court. Congratulations to the boys taking out their first title this year.
Lake White – Charlie Potter, Lachlan Smith, Will Rice, Will Paterson, Lachlan O’Riley, Chris Mecham, Will Foley, Connor Thompson, Alastair McDiarmid, Ralph Quizon and Akoy Mayen. Coached by Amath Fall
Lake Blue – Adam Tarrant, Tapish Gurung, Irish Flores, Lachlan Paolo, Somto Nnajide, Ivan Topp, Yak Nyuon, Chandler Leydon, Bede Priestly, Tom Brake, Josh Parker Peters and Nigel Kallee
Thursday Intercollege Sport
Congratulations to our Thursday afternoon sport teams who have all qualified for finals. Our girls’ netball team dropped one game over the semester and meets Erindale in the final. The boys’ and girls’ futsal teams have also qualified for finals, the girls via the qualifying final and the boys being undefeated. Our year 11 and year 12 girls’ volleyball teams both won their semi finals and will play each other in the final. The boys’ volleyball team also won their semi final and will play Dickson in the final. Good luck to all teams as they prepare for finals over the next two weeks.
'Lake United' Breakfast Club
UC SSC, Lake Ginninderra recognises diversity and is committed to ensuring equality and equity needs are met within the college community. ‘Lake United’ project is a community run project to support our students in their college life.
As part of the ‘Lake United’ project we facilitate the breakfast club for students and staff every weekday as a student led project.
Breakfast Club timings are:
Mondays - 8.15am to 11.00am
Tuesdays to Fridays - 8.15am to 9.00am
We would love to see local organisations and community members become involved in our project to make a difference in our students’ lives.
Things you could donate:
• Breakfast spreads
• Juices and long-life milk
• Milo, instant coffee, tea
• Breakfast cereals
• Fruits
The donation drop box is in E04b (previously the Chaplain Office) or leave at the front office with a note to Breakfast Club. If you need more information about how to make a donation, please contact the front office on 02 6142 0222 or email Mali.Wijesundara@ed.act.edu.au
Join us to make a difference!
“One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, Friday
Considered a career in Policing?
Be COVID Safe when returning to school
Be COVID-safe when returning to school - School Newsletter Item As students return to school from school holidays, it is as important as ever to be COVID-safe, especially if you have travelled interstate.
If students begin to feel unwell, they should stay home from school and if they have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms, they should get tested just in case and self-isolate until they receive their results.
If you travelled interstate over the school holidays, monitor the COVID-19 website of the state or territory you visited for two weeks after returning to see if there are any new cases where you visited.
Keep up to date and follow the website’s advice about testing and self-isolation, if required.
If you had interstate friends and family visit, ensure they keep you up to date if they are feeling unwell or if there are any new positive COVID cases reported in their area.
If we keep being diligent and follow the public health advice, we can continue to keep our schools, students and staff safe.