March 2021 Newsletter
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Principal Message
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Dates for the diary
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Director-General Katy Haire Visit
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Parent Teacher Interviews
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Partners in Learning
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Automotive Program and the Green Shed
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Another slant on poetry - Yr 11 Literature
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Television Stars in the Making
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Hospitality Spotlight
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The Mousetrap: Call for Props and Costumes
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Outdoor Education and Recreation
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Sport Articles
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Celebrating Student Achievement
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Fundraising for Year 12 Formal and Breakfast Club
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Clean Up Australia Day
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International Women’s Day 2021
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Staying Safe in, and around, the school
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Students Making Connections
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Lake United Breakfast Club
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National Schools Constitutional Convention
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Teacher Librarian
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AE - Academic Excellence Program
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Student Community Group (SCG)
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Staffing News
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Our Community Supports
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Saver Plus
Principal Message
The start to the year has been very busy and productive. A term full of excursions and incursions, guest speakers, new R units for students to enjoy and school wide activities to help students connect and make new friends.
On Monday 29 March students look forward to Lake Day, markets and activities, including Lake Idol a showcase of student talent involving our school community!
Congratulations to our ACT Award Winners:
The Capital Chemist and the Public Education Foundation, Scholarships - Claire, Emma, Bailey
Country Women's Association (CWA) scholarship winners -Matthew and Dakodah
National Schools Constitutional Convention -Ellen in Year 12 selected to attend the to be held in Canberra 24/25 March at Old Parliament House
Like to help your child with study and assignments?
You are invited to ‘Partners in Learning’
Session details: 4:00pm-5:00pm Wednesday 28 April 2021
Location: Library UCSSC Lake Ginninderra
Tips for learning in College, general advice including information on the ACT Scaling Test (AST)
The College’s library refurbishment plans are nearly finalised, and work will begin mid-year. We will keep you updated with options for relocating study spaces whilst work is being undertaken.
The College continues to focus on our School Improvement Priorities to increase student’s problem-solving skills by enhancing students’ critical and creative thinking skills to solve problems.
At our assemblies I have been posing a question for students to answer.
The first question was "How Does An Owl Fly So Silently?" (Check out the answer and video below!)
The second question was posed by a student and this week’s question was “Can a formula one car drive upside down? Explain.”
I’ve been inundated with responses so may have to select a winner out of a hat!
Thank you all for your support of our Clean up Australia Day event. The school took part in a cleanup of the local community and students and staff wrote up personal pledges to make a difference for the environment.
The College is participating in the ACT Education Directorate approved and Australian Research Council Discovery funded research project with the University of Western Sydney. The project is interested in how young people recognise, understand, and represent aspects of gender equity.
Open Night- Enrolment/Information Evening for prospective students 2022
Parent Teacher Interviews
- Face to Face Parent Teacher Interviews, 4:00pm- 6:00pm Tuesday 20 April
- Online Parent Teacher Interviews, 4:00pm - 6:00pm Wednesday 21 April
As the hybrid version of Parent Teacher night/s was a successful pivot last year so we are following the same idea this year for parents/carers. If you have any thing you’d like to discuss regarding your child’s welfare or learning please contact classroom teachers and year co-ordinators in the first instance – we are here to help.
Please enjoy the autumn break and holidays and look forward to seeing you back in Term 2.
Dates for the diary
Parents and Citizens Meeting
6:00pm Tuesday 30 March
For more information please email: lakegpandc@gmail.com
Parent Teacher Interviews
- Face to Face Parent Teacher Interviews, 4:00pm- 6:00pm Tuesday 20 April
- Online Parent Teacher Interviews, 4:00pm - 6:00pm Wednesday 21 April
Enrolment for 2022 Opens
6:00am Tuesday 27 April 2021
Partners in Learning Workshop for parents/carers - Study tips to help your child succeed
4:00pm - 5:00pm Wednesday 28 April
Open Night- Enrolment/Information Evening for prospective students 2022
6:00pm - 8:00pm Tuesday 18 May
The Mousetrap Production
In the Watson Theatre for four performances between 20-23 July 2021
Student Artwork - Tivien Andrews-Homerang
Director-General Katy Haire Visit
Director-General Katy Haire visited UC SSC Lake Ginninderra in Week 3. Principal Melissa Planten and year 11 students showed her around the school.
The Director-General took the opportunity to learn more about the curriculum options, innovative programs and extension opportunities that challenge and support students to achieve excellence, including the Academic Excellence Program and Elite Sports Program.
Katy was treated to a special demonstration of the rock-climbing wall.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent teacher interviews for students in years 11 and 12 will be held on 20 and 21 April.
Please choose an option
- Face to Face interviews - 4pm-6pm Tuesday 20 April, at the college, in the Gym
- Online interviews via Google Meet or telephone - 4pm - 6pm Wednesday 21 April
(Please note, should you wish to have an online interview it will be necessary to use your child’s chrome book and password to their Google classroom. Students will be advised of this requirement to make their device and password available to parents.)
How to book:
Bookings using the Schools Online Booking Software (SOBS) will be available from Friday 26 March via
- The link sent with progress reports:
https://sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=878 - The link on the college homepage
- Ringing Student Services 6142 0242
Bookings via SOBS open for all options at 12am Friday 26 March
College progress reports were sent out by email on Friday 20 March to advise whether teachers have any concerns regarding student attendance or completion of assessment to date.
Student Artwork - Ella Milne
Partners in Learning
‘Partners in Learning’ - study hacks to help your child with study and assignments.
Wednesday 28 April 2021
4.00pm- 5:00pm
Library UCSSC Lake Ginninderra
- Do you wonder how best to support your students with their college study?
Our ‘Partners in Learning’ session is an opportunity for you to learn about college, ways children learn and what may work to support your child.
The session includes study tips, assessment types, some subject specific tips for example Mathematics and Science, general skills which help with all study and how to prepare for the ACT Scaling Test (AST).
Please RSVP here by Monday, 26 April.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Automotive Program and the Green Shed
The Green Shed have been great supporters of the UCSSCLG Automotive program since 2016. Each year they donate lawnmowers for our students to work on as part of our Automotive Fundamentals Unit. The lawnmowers come to college well beyond operating condition with most missing parts such as wheels and exhausts. Students complete a full tear down and rebuild bringing the lawnmowers back to working condition ready to cut grass.
This year we are aiming to go one step further with the program and donate the lawnmowers back to the Green Shed. The aim is for the lawnmowers to be sold off during the monthly charity event which is the last Wednesday of each month. The profits from these sales are donated to local charities.
The college would like to thank the Green Shed for their ongoing support. It is a very rewarding experience to see our students applying their automotive skills and knowledge in a way that directly contributes to a sustainable and socially conscious cause such as this.
Another slant on poetry - Yr 11 Literature
Year 11 Literature has closely examined the use of language in poetry by analysing ‘Home of Mercy’ and ‘In the Park’ by the Australian poet Gwen Harwood. The classes deconstructed ‘In the Park’ and then reconstructed it in groups as their own poem. Some wonderfully creative configurations resulted from changing the punctuation, rhyme, rhythm and meaning.
Television Stars in the Making
Drama students studying Acting for Film and Television were invited to exclusive workshops at the University of Canberra’s Television Studio on 19 and 26 March 2021. Second-year university film makers under the direction of Dr Susan Thwaites put our students through their paces enacting a short scene from several angles.
Firsthand experience is something that brings home many of the lessons learnt in class, with students understanding the hierarchy of the film set, the relationships among crew members, the cinematographer and director. Three hours was barely enough time to professionally cover a one-minute scene, however our students performed admirably with Dr Thwaites commenting on how professional and engaged our students were under pressure. The university student film makers are hoping to cast our students in future film projects.
Our class of budding film and TV actors are building networks and looking towards a future of presenting high quality on-screen performances.
Hospitality Spotlight
Year 11’s have enjoyed making pasta from scratch as part of the ‘prepare and present simple dishes’ competency in their vocational certificate.
Year 12’s have just finished their unit on ‘non-alcoholic beverages’, but have less enthusiasm for the next competency ‘clean kitchen premises and equipment’!
The Mousetrap: Call for Props and Costumes
This murder mystery set in the 1950s needs some vintage costuming and props.
Do you have any of the following items you could lend/ donate to the Drama Department for our upcoming play, “The Mousetrap”?
- Skis & Ski support sticks (1 pair, 1950s)
- Ski Helmet & Goggles
- Fireplace pokers/ screens/ paraphernalia
- Firewood
- Vintage Suitcases of all sizes
- Hatboxes
- Cigarette Holders & Ashtrays, Cigars/ Smoking cases etc
- Vintage Newspapers (English/ London broadsheets)
- Coats, hats, gloves, winter scarves
- Duster and Vacuum/ Carpet Sweeper (1950s)
- 1950s dial phone, (doesn’t need to work)
- 1950s Wireless (doesn’t need to work)
Please contact Dale Thain (dale.thain@ed.act.edu.au) if you can contribute.
The Mousetrap: Upcoming Performance Dates
Performance dates are as follows for the two ensembles:
Cast 1:
- Wednesday 21 July, 11:30am & 6pm
Cast 2:
- Thursday 22 July 6pm
- Friday 23 July 11.30am
Mark the dates in your calendars!
Outdoor Education and Recreation
In the last three weeks, year 11 students have gone on their ocean trips. Snorkeling and surfing at Jervis Bay, and SCUBA diving at Bawley Point. All these trips ran smoothly, and the students saw some awesome wildlife and made some great friends. In the meantime the year 12 students did their leadership sessions here at school. They did roping sessions with Caroline Chisholm School, and year 11 students. The Chisholm students had an amazing time and got taught some very valuable skills by our year 12 outdoor rec students.
All the outdoor education tertiary students when hiking in Kosciuszko National Park. The year 12 students walked 44km over three days through the fire affected area of the Jagungal wilderness. This allowed them to see first hand the impact of bushfires. The year 11 students got thrown into the deep end for the weather was very unpredictable, including 80km winds and sleet, then the following day 17 degrees and sunny.
Sport Articles
Lakers into Intercollege Basketball finals
Lakers girls and boys basketball have both qualified for the ACT intercollege finals. The girls have been playing in the boys’ competition and had several close games. The Lakers boys had two teams – year 11 and year 12. The year 12 team went through the round robin undefeated to qualify for the finals. Good luck to both teams in the final next week.
Lakers qualify for Intercollege Mixed Oztag finals
Lakers Oztag finished the northside round robin competition undefeated and qualified for the finals to be played next term. Lakers had two teams in the northside competition; the second team finished in fourth place overall. It is the first time in many years that a Lake G mixed oztag team has qualified for finals. Congratulations to all players and we wish them well for the finals.
Lakers Cricket
Lakers had a boys cricket team for the first time in seven years and contested the ACT College 20/20 championships. Lakers played Narrabundah first and finished strongly to win. In the second game against Erindale, despite a quick fire 90 run effort from captain Ethan Fitzpatrick, the team lost this game.
Congratulations and thank you to the following students: Ethan Fitzpatrick, Milo Whittingham, Bailey Roberson, Tate O’Dowd, Ethan McNevin, Bailey Sorenson, Matt King, Jacob Booker, Miles Douglas and Chris Mecham
Lakers Mixed Baseball
Lakers were able to enter a mixed baseball team for the ACT Colleges Championships. There were only two teams on the day and a mix of baseball and softball was enjoyed by both Lakers and Erindale College. A total of eight innings were played (4 of Baseball and 4 of Softball). The scores fluctuated throughout the day and scores were tied after the seventh inning with Erindale winning the match by scoring four runs at the bottom of the eighth inning.
Congratulations and thank you to the following students involved: Mackenzie Miller, Alyssa Fisher, Caitlyn Hitchins, Hayley Macdonald, Caitlin McIntosh, Brennan Kovacs, Lachlan Wright, Miles Douglas, Ethan Fitzpatrick and Milo Whittingham
Lakers collect the Beach Volleyball triple crown in consecutive years
Lakers sent a large contingent of students to contest the Colleges Beach Volleyball Gala day held at Lyneham. Lake students played in great spirit and Lakers teams finished as winners in all three divisions. Congratulations also to our Sport & Rec class led by Bec McNamara who administered the tournament.
Girls Pairs winners - Holly Uren & Emily Heintzelman
(Runners up Ella Schabort & Cassie Dodd)
Boys Pairs winners - Kiefer Sinclair & Euan Rochford
(Runners up Kaia Clarkin & Chandler Leydon)
Mixed 4s winners - Kirby, Keeley, Bailey, Nic & Ethan
Next term, Lakers are planning on sending our best players to the National School titles. We have great confidence for the National titles and we wish all students involved good luck.
Lakers League Tag Runners Up
Lakers entered a strong and athletic girls league team in this year's ACT Colleges competition. The girls had three wins in the pool rounds to progress to the final where the girls fell short losing to Erindale.
Congratulations and thank you to the following students involved: Ruby O’Meara, Anabelle Yariyari, Jedda Brim, Annabel Scott, Cynthia Hamilton, Lola Fletcher, Susan Sanft, EJ Norris, Hayley Macdonald, Mieke Schmidt, Inge Schmidt, Megan Gouge, Lily Godding, Kody Donnelly and Paige Slater
Lakers Rugby League 9’s Champions
The Lakers contested the ACT College League 9’s championships in March and for the first time, the competition was held at NSWRL HQ in Bruce. Most of the team were year 11 students. Lake won both of their pool round games in wet and slippery conditions progressing to the final against Gungahlin College. In a strong team effort, the Lakers scored the first try in a topsy turvy game where Gungahlin scored the next three of the next four tries. In the final minute Jordan Valter ran hard at the line and released a nice ball to Alamu Toomata to tie the score. Although the game finished in a draw, the Lakers were declared winners as they scored the first try.
Congratulations to the following students: Josh Melville, Alamu Toomata, Hamish Sanz (c), Ong Oung, Matt Nugent, Kayan Watterson, Toby Balshaw, Zac Haycraft, Tui Georgievki, Jordan Valter, Matot Matot, Kaya Irfan, Jamieson Norris, Volkan Irfan and Ethan Lawrence.
Congratulations to the following students:
- Alissa Jordaan and Jaydon Page who have both run qualifying times for the Tokyo Paralympics. Great achievement!
- Dyson Daniels, Jack McWilliams, Alex Toohey and Tyrese Proctor who all represented the Australian Boomers Mens Basketball team in a qualifying game against New Zealand last month.
- Alison Francis, Cameron Pender, Che Peters, Alex Toohey, Bowyn Beatty, Will Nichols and Lachlan Smith who were all selected in the U18 ACT Basketball teams to contest the national championships at Werribee next month.
- Isobel Borlase (SA), Nyadiew Puoch (Vic), Joshua Hughes (QLD) and Tyrese Proctor (NSW) who were selected to represent their states at the U18 national championships in Werribee.
- Josh Carter who was selected in the U18 ACT boys hockey team to contest the national championships next month
- Toby Balshaw, Lola Fletcher and Cynthia Hamilton who represented the ACT at the national Oztag championships last month.
- Lily Stratford who won a gold medal in track cycling at the NSW state championships
- Brennan Kovacs who will attend Australian Softball camps next term
Growth of Lakers Sports Academy
Over the last 10 years the Lakers Sports Academy has grown immensely in numbers and quality and will continue to evolve and support representative student athletes in our community.
Celebrating Student Achievement
Monthly Excellence Award:
The award recognises individual students excelling and demonstrating significant growth and dedication in a subject.
Monthly Community Impact Award:
The Community Impact Award recognises exemplary behaviours demonstrated by students in their actions in the college community or in various R unit courses.
Awards - February 2021
Excellence Award
- Monthly Excellence Award recipient: Grace Tate - Visual Arts
- Monthly Excellence Award recipient: Lexie Minehan - Visual Arts
- Monthly Excellence Award nominees: Mizuki Takaoka
- Community Impact Award recipient: Izora Zaire
- Community Impact Award nominees: Remi Lello, Megan Crocker, Olivia Abraham
The Capital Chemist and the Public Education Foundation, Scholarships
Claire Roberts, Academic Excellence Award
Emma Judd, Citizenship Award
Bailey Odlum, Capital Chemist Award
County Women's Association (CWA) Scholarship
The Country Women’s Association – Canberra Day Branch (CWA) offers an annual scholarship program to assist a number of College students to continue their further education in the ACT. The scholarship program is one way the CWA aims to support and improve the quality of life for women and their families.
Congratulations to our scholarship winning students: Matthew Nguyen and Dakodah Williams.
Instrumental Music Program
Congratulations to the students listed below have been selected by audition for the ACT Instrumental Music Program’s Extension Ensembles in 2021. This is the equivalent of ACT representation in Music.
Katerina Jakab van Dooren, Year 11 - Senior Concert Choir
Jasmine Kent, Year 11 - Senior Concert Choir
Ashlea Nissen, Year 12 -Senior Concert Band and Senior Jazz Band
These ensembles rehearse each school week at the Instrumental Music Program's Centre in Kaleen. The ensembles will perform at school, community and directorate events throughout the year. Some groups also participate in interstate tours.
National Schools Constitutional Convention Representatives
Ellen Johnson in Year 12 selected to attend the National Schools Constitutional Convention to be held in Canberra 24/25 March at Old Parliament House.
BSSS Student forum Representatives
Ellen Johnson & Tuan Chu
The ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) has established a Student Forum so that young people have a voice in their education. Year 11 and 12 students from participating colleges are invited annually to join the forum. In this way, students are able to take on a leadership role within the ACT and contribute their ideas and experiences in support of the future direction of education in the senior years of schooling.
Fundraising for Year 12 Formal and Breakfast Club
Hospitality Cafe class and the Student Community Group have raised funds totalling $257.00 in Week 6 towards the Year 12 Formal and the Lake United Breakfast club.
Thanks to Anna and her classes for all the yummy baked goodness, Lane for coordinating music and the SCG for their time and contributions.
Are you a leader?
Do you like to advocate for your peers?
Do you want your voice to be heard?
Join the Student Community Group, the student forum at the UC SSC Lake Ginninderra.
SCG meets every Tuesday at lunch in C113.
Clean Up Australia Day
Thanks to all staff and students for participating and doing our bit for a great Clean Up Australia Day. Change starts with all of us and the pledges were a little personal commitment.
Australia’s waste problem cannot be solved in one day, but we as a community came together to clean up the surrounding areas of the college. In our SG groups, we cleaned the front of the fast food places (Subway, Hungry Jacks), John Knight Park, The Skate park alongside the lake edge and inside the school campus.
International Women’s Day 2021
An International Women’s Day activity was held by the Education Directorate at the Hedley Beare Centre For Teaching And Learning on Friday 5 March.
Our college group worked on a project proposal, Gender Equity Alliance with the aim to achieve:
- Championing women’s, men’s and minority rights (including LGBTQIA+, ATSI, neurodiverse communities)
- Challenging perceptions about gender identity, expression and equity.
- Changing school environments positively and empowering the education system to act on gender equity issues.
Access. Accept. Advocate.
The Gender Equity Alliance is a school-based group for students of diverse gender identities. The Gender Equity Alliance will meet during lunch breaks or recess in schools across the ACT.
Staying Safe in, and around, the school
Please continue to exercise special care in the car parks, on the roads and around entry and exit points especially in poor weather conditions.
To increase security for the cars and safety for pedestrians, students are not to sit in cars or to loiter in the car park.
Motorists are reminded to give way to other road and path users when entering or exiting the school, including pedestrians on the footpath and cyclists on the cycle path.
If you use the school carpark, drive at walking speed (10km/h) and be on the lookout for children. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. https://bit.ly/school_travel
Please be aware that pick up and drop off access outside the student common area is available using the Aikman Drive entry to the College.
Visitors are required to check in at the front office during school opening hours 8:30am -4:00pm Monday to Friday.
Thank you
Student Artwork - Mizuki Takaoka
Students Making Connections
Get more from your membership of the Lake G Community!
Meet new people, learn new things by joining a group.
See contact teachers below, and connect now!
Lake United Breakfast Club
Lake United Breakfast Club supports our student community to start the day. The ‘Lake United’ project is a student-led project supporting all students in their college life.
Help to make a difference by donating breakfast food items such as:
- Breakfast spreads
- Juices and long-life milk
- Milo, instant coffee, tea
- Breakfast cereals
- Fruits
The donation drop box is in the E04b (Youth Worker 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 6142 0222.
Join us to make a difference! Thank you for the support for our students.
National Schools Constitutional Convention
Students across the nation, including from UCSSC Lake Ginninderra, will participate and discuss the preamble to the Australian Constitution at the National Schools Constitutional Convention. Working in teams, students will conduct a simulation of the legal and political processes needed to update the preamble to better reflect Australian history.
Students will be gathering virtually and at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House to work together to write a new preamble, hear from politicians and experts from the ANU, and vote on the change. It will be fascinating to see whether the student teams can get the needed double majority for their new preamble!
Student Artwork - Shabrina Iftinaan
Teacher Librarian
AE - Academic Excellence Program
The Academic Excellence Program at UC SSC, Lake Ginninderra is open to any student with motivation and a growth mindset.
AE Enrichment
Our enrichment activities began with a 3 hour Game Design workshop run by the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE). The workshop was hands-on with participants designing their own games.
- More information about the Academic Excellence program : mali.wijesundara@act.edu.au
- AE program Application Link : AE Application Link
- AE Mentor Expression of Interest : AE Mentor EOI Form Link
Student Community Group (SCG)
Advocate Change Together
The SCG is a collective of students who wish to enact positive change within their school and local community through collaboration and leadership.
Students developed the guiding principles of the group, which are:
- We show up, support each other and get stuff done
- We advocate for student voices
- We support our local community and promote sustainable practices
There has been a busy start to the term with the Clean up Australia Day, International Women's Day and the fund raising events for the year 12 formal and the ‘Lake United Breakfast club.’
Staffing News
We welcome:
Nicole Burke – Acting Business Manager
Kirk Zwangobani – Executive Teacher Commerce/Technology
Laura De Falco – Sociology Teacher
Kathryn (KJ) Shaw – Technology Teacher
Dora Chen – Chinese Teacher
Morgan Robinson – Student Services
Hnan Al Salami – Learning Support Assistant
Daniel Duranti – Learning Support Assistant
Amaya Negri – Learning Support Assistant
Gena Wade – Outdoor Education Trainee
Yanni Droulias – Outdoor Education Trainee
Student Artwork - Max Van den Boogaard
Our Community Supports
The Athlete's Foot Belconnen - https://www.theathletesfoot.com.au/
Momentum Sports & Rehabilitation - https://momentumsr.com.au/
Saver Plus
Did you know you could receive up to $500 in matched savings for your child's extracurricular activity costs?
Here's a list of the most common activities our participants use their funds for:
🗹 Swimming or dancing lessons
🗹 Instrument lessons like guitar or piano
🗹 Sports club fees like netball or football registration
🗹 School camps
🗹 Tutoring classes
🗹 Foreign language lessons
🗹 Scout membership fees
Check if you're eligible to join by visiting www.saverplus.org.au