Junior School News

The Junior school sprung into action again on Thursday when 206 new Year 7 students arrived for their first day of Secondary School. The students were welcomed by Mr Neal and then introduced to the staff who would be assisting them throughout the day. Once the formalities were over the students spent the rest of the morning in their homeroom groups getting to know each other and going through important information. During period 3 and 4 the Year 7 students were given their first taste of classes and then spent the afternoon enjoying some time at the Olympic swimming pool.

On Friday it was time to welcome back the Year 8 students. Everyone looked well rested and ready to take on the challenges of the year ahead. The main message for these students was that it was their time to step up and become the leaders of the Junior school, a task which they are well-equipped to succeed at.

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome a number of new staff members to Galen College and the Junior school. Mr Robert Spencer, Miss Kelly Smith, Mr Tom Anson, Ms Bernadette O’Conner, Ms Kylie Quinn, Mr Anthony Batters and Miss Hannah Banks are all new to the school and we wish them all the best for the year ahead. We would also like to wish the following staff all the best as they return to Galen after various types of leave. Mrs Kylie Fulford, Ms Gretta Norden and Mrs Rebecca Hernandez.

Another new face in the Junior school is Mr Paul Carson who is the new Year 7 Co-ordinator. Paul has experience as sport
co-ordinator, timetabler, daily organizer and Senior School Director. We look forward to working with Paul this year and wish him luck in his new role.

For those of you with students in Year 8 you will be aware that Mr Zac Fulford left us at the end of the Year to move closer to home. Over the break we got the fantastic news that Zac has been appointed as the new Deputy Principal at St Monica’s Primary School in Wodonga. We hope that Zac is as successful in his new role as he was in his 3 Years at Galen and congratulate him on this outstanding achievement.

Finally the Junior School would like to pass on their condolences to the Ackerly family on the loss of their eldest son Ed. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.

A reminder to parents on how to contact teachers via email:
firstname.lastname@galen.vic.edu.au
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Junior School News

Round 2 of camp was much more successful with wonderful weather. The Year 8 classes on this camp got to enjoy the full experience and represented Galen well throughout all activities.
    Students participated in a liturgy which involved nearly every student in one way or another. The highlight of this liturgy was the setting of the prayer focus with students bringing up items to represent things such as hands to represent team work and candles to represent the light of God. As our sign of peace students presented each other with a sheet of affirmations which also lifted spirits.
    Red faces was quite short this year with only 4 acts. In the end it was the talents of Bec and Tarni from 8.7 who prepared a poem about their homeroom that stole the show. Miss Cudini is still challenging this decision though as she believes her joke about the mushroom walking into a bar was hilarious…Just ask her! The disco was also fairly quiet. Those who did attend were blown away by the talents of Waylon Bortignon who led the dance moves and got everyone involved.
    Students joined in the opening school mass/assembly on Tuesday. At the assembly, SRC and House captains were formerly announced (see page 8 for SRC list). Students who received distinction awards for outstanding achievements in their subjects in semester 2 of 2011 were also acknowledged (turn to page 4 for list of award-winning students).
    On Wednesday, students were reminded about the importance of locking their laptops in their lockers when they are not in their classroom. It was very disappointing for the Junior School Executive to then collect a large number of laptops that had been left out at lunchtime that very same day. A letter was sent home to appropriate students and students were told that next time their computer is left out their admin rights will be revoked.
    Interim reports are due to come home next week. Please take the opportunity to discuss these reports with your student especially if they have received a not yet satisfactory in any of their subjects.
    With the end of the term approaching quickly we encourage students to keep working hard and to finish the term well.

Lauren Lee, Junior School Director

Junior School News

The first of the Year 8 Camps left Galen on Wednesday morning headed for Harrietville. With the weather that we had experienced in the lead up to the camp, it was feared that we would have to cancel the group walk. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to get through this activity, enjoyed a talk from the ladies at the Alpine Visitors Centre and a visit to Nightingales Apple Orchards.
Once we arrived at the Feathertop Chalet the heavens opened and the rain fell continuously. We managed to get through the activities that were planned and to have a reasonably good night sleep. In the morning it was clear that our outdoor activities would not be possible and the staff quickly scrambled to come up with some alternatives. By mid-morning we received news that the schools in Wangaratta were closing down and that we should start to pack up and get ready to leave. The students were amazed at the amount of water and the change in scenery over night and were very happy to get home safely.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the students and parents for their understanding and co-operation on Thursday. It was a highly unusual situation but was managed as well as possible. I know that the students were disappointed but they also seemed to understand that the conditions would not allow us to enjoy the experience and it was best to come home.
I would also like to thank the staff who were on the camp for the way they all worked together to make sure that the students, parents and school knew what was going on at all times.
Lauren Lee, Junior School Director

Junior School News

The term is well and truly under way in the Junior School. Year 8 students have been beginning to understand the new technology that has been implemented this year in the form of E-books. Many Year 7 students and their parents attended the first of the information evenings relating to the appropriate use and expectations involving the laptops. Year 8 parents have also been asked to attend a refresher session with their student in the coming week these dates can be confirmed by calling the front office.
    We would like to thank all of the parents who were able to attend the Year 7 open afternoon last week. It was fantastic to see so many of you there and we were glad to hear that your students are settling in well. Please remember that we are happy to hear from you if you have any concerns or if you have any positives that we should be aware of.
    Year 8 students have a big few weeks ahead. On Wednesday 22nd each homeroom will be involved in a seed propagation session with Ray Thomas as part of the regent honeyeater project. The students will then assist with the planting of the seedlings later in the year.
    Don’t forget Year 8 Camp begins on the 29th of February for 8/1, 8/2, 8/5 and 8/6. The second Camp will begin on the 5th of March for 8/3, 8/4 and 8/7. We are all looking forward to the adventures ahead.

 Lauren Lee, Junior School Director

Junior School News

Its great to be back in the Junior School! A big thank you to Mr. Geoff Welch for covering me while I was away. Thanks must also be given to all year 7 and 8 Homeroom teachers as well as Miss Lauren Lee and Miss Jess Clarke for assisting student and staff concerns.

The Year 7 Overnight Camp to Melbourne has been organised for the following dates: CAMP 1 will be on the 27th – 28th October for 7/2, 7/3, 7/5 and 7/7 CAMP 2 will be on the 3rd – 4th November for 7/1, 7/4, 7/6 and 7/8

New activities included this year are a tour of Etihad Stadium and a Scienceworks Planetarium show. More information will be given to both students and parents closer to the date.

2012 Year 7 enrolment offers have been sent to 200 students. This is the largest Galen intake ever. The Yr 8 Information session for 2012 will take place with all current Year 7 students on Wednesday 31st August during extended homeroom and period 1. Year 7 students will receive the Yr 8 Brochure and subject selection sheets. There is no information evening.

The Year 7 retreat days at 15mile creek were a huge success – these days were designed for each homeroom to develop team bonding skills. The retreat days took place from the 27th July to 5th August.

Year 8 Tree planting is currently underway. At the start of the year all Year 8 students were responsible for seed propagation. They are now planting those seedlings in the Upper Lurg area close to Glenrowan and Winton. The following Year 8 homerooms will be away on their scheduled tree planting day.

8/4 – Monday 15th August, 8/6 – Tuesday 16th August, 8/3 – Wednesday 24th August, 8/5 – Friday 26th August, 8/1 – Tuesday 30th August, 8/2 – Tuesday 6th September.

Recently the Junior school had its infamous Inter-homeroom READERS CUP. Mrs. Annette Fletcher along with Mrs. Rachel Froude organised both the Year 7 and Year 8 Readers Cup during extended homeroom. A big thank you to both of them for all of the hard work and organization they put into planning this rewarding activity. Thank you must also go to Mr. Bernard Neal, Mr. Laurie Burt and Miss Vicky Bennett for acting as judges for the Readers Cup. Congratulations to both 7/7 and 8/6 for winning the READERS CUP in their year level.

We currently have the Year 7 Inter-homeroom Basketball competition in place at lunchtime. At this stage it is a very close competition.

Congratulations must go to year 8 student Tomarsh Loki for his selection in the Victorian Road Cycling team. Tomarsh will be representing Victoria at the National Road Cycling competition to be held on the 5th September. We wish Tomarsh all the very best!

Patrick Arcuri, Junior School Director

Junior School News

Year 7 and 8 students have had a very busy couple of weeks. The  Year 7 homerooms all enjoyed great weather when they attended retreat days at the 15 mile creek camp. The students were challenged by mountain bike riding and team building games. They were also able to reflect during an RE activity on their time at Galen and their hopes and dreams for the future. Thanks must go to all teachers involved for making the trips possible.

7/1 were in charge of running the prayer assembly last week. They organised some entertainment by the band Conspiracy Plan who are touring the region as part of Haworth music. The band not only provided students and staff with some great entertainment but also reinforced the message that bullying is not ok and that if problems arise there are people who you can talk to for help. Year 8’s were also lucky enough to watch a presentation of The Hurting Game which also focused on the impact on bullying in many different contexts.

Students in Year 7 were treated to an outing to the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. As always Julie Nolan, David Ashfield and all of the team managed to pull together another fantastic show.

This week is PE week and there are a number of activities for both staff and students to get involved in. Readers cup challenges also get underway this week with the Year 8’s involved this Wednesday and Year 7’s involved next Wednesday.

The Junior School also welcomes back Mr Arcuri and Ms Bellani after their wedding in Italy over the holidays.

Lauren Lee, Year 7 Coordinator

 

 

Junior School News

Students in Year 7 and 8 began Semester 2 well, by reflecting on their achievements from Semester 1. Each student was asked a set of questions regarding what they thought were the positives and negatives for them and how they could either continue to experience success or how they could improve on their previous efforts. Goals have been set for the rest of the year and students will have opportunity throughout the semester to reflect on these goals.

The inter-homeroom netball competition has been completed with 8/3 and 8/5 facing off in the final. Convincing winners in the end were Mr. Holligan’s 8/3. Year 7 students have begun their trips out to 15 Mile Creek for retreat. Reports back from 7/4 have been positive with students enjoying the opportunity to do some team building, initiative games, an adventurous cycle around the area and an RE activities. Thanks must go to all the homeroom teachers for their organisation of this activity.

Finally, next week will be extremely busy for both Year levels with many activities planned. I look forward to seeing the Junior School Students continue to strive to achieve their best and enjoy themselves.

By Lauren Lee, Year 7 Coordinator