Thursday, 25 October 2012

Another GREAT Week 3

Dear all,

welcome to week 3 of Another GREAT Week.



Some key dates for all parents to be aware of for next week

VCAA Exams Commence Thursday 1 November

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday our Year 12 students came in a range of themed dress ups. They continued to work hard in class but spent a lot of their time reflecting on their schooling and enjoying their friendships with each other. Their conduct, as it always is, was exemplary.
On Monday we welcomed our Outdoor Education teacher, James Webb back from trekking in Nepal, where he climbed the following peaks. Lobuche East 6119m & Island Peak 6189m were the two mountains I climbed, but we did walk up a couple of smaller subsidiary peaks for acclimatization purposes including Chhukhung Ri 5550m and Kalapathar 5643m. James is planning to summit Mount Everest next year and below is an extract about his desire to summit Mount Everest.

"When I was about 10 I read my first mountaineering book and was hooked, I knew then I wanted to climb Mount Everest. I have been snow skiing since I was 5 so the mountains have always been apart of my life. I first started to seriously think about it about 12 years ago, but marriage, work, schooling and life in general got in the way. But in saying that I did lots of things that I could do to start preparing. I completed mountaineering courses, rock and ice climbing courses, avalanche safety, crevasse rescue course and back country skiing and wilderness courses. I started climbing, hiking and skiing as much as I could. I travelled the world for 19 years doing these activities, building up experience and knowledge. Mostly for fun and enjoyment, but always in the back of my head thinking of Everest. Three years ago, I then decided I was going to do it for real, before I turned 40. I knew two friends who had summited and started talking to them about how I could afford to do it and if I was qualified to be there. A year ago I was chatting to a CEO of a new company I had participated in a research information session with and jokingly said, I was wanting to climb Everest and they should sponsor me. To my surprise he loved the idea and said well why don't we? And that was it! I've since then got two more sponsors and now have completed my first expedition to Nepal. I have also acquired the services of a friend of mine who will be one of the guides when I climb next year. So everything kind of fell into place and now the wheels are in motion and my real training begins."





On Tuesday Sam, Danni, Tess and Bridget competed in the State Athletics Championships. Sam computed in the 100 meter final and placed 5th. 
Our 4 x 100 meter relay team finished 3rd in a time of 54:64. They are pictured below on the podium with their bronze medals.
We are immensely proud of all 4 girls and will celebrate their achievements formally at Presentation Night later this year.





On Wednesday, 8 of our wonderful Year 9 students volunteered to assist with the City of Whitehorse 'Bike It' program as part of their Community Service Unit for Growth. The program involved over 100 Grade 5 and 6 students from local primary schools who have participated in Bike Education programs throughout the year. Our students organised the primary school students and assisted with timing their bike rides as they manoeuvred through winding courses like 'The Slalom', 'The Figure 8' and 'The Roundabout'. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day by all and we thank the City of Whitehorse for their partnership, Victoria Police for their assistance, as well as Nerilee Rinkquest for organising this excursion. Well done to our students for their excellent effort in supporting the younger students and for the smooth running of the day. You were fantastic!The students were: Kyria  Emma Dom Stephen Danyon Callum Kuda and Patrick.


As part of Year 10 Growth, the students are raising money for Movember and WE would love you all to be a part of it! Detailed below is how you can join, set up your own account to raise funds, join the school account or just a simple way to donate to the school movember team. The students will be setting up pages during the next week so it would be great to see some teachers sign up or join the Forest Hill network! These pages will show what the students raise during their lunchtime activities planned for November 7th and as they continue to raise funds and awareness through the month of November. 
Movember & Sons is now open for 2012 and Forest Hill College is getting involved in a big way, show your Mo support too by joining the Forest Hill College Network, starting your own Movember team or register your Mo solo by following the easy steps below:

STEP ONE - Register: 

As an individual:
Step 1: Register by entering your details (name, email etc.)
Step 2: Choose the ‘Individual’ option on the following           registration page. You will then be ready to Mo!

How to register a team:
Step 1: Register by entering your details (name, email etc.)
Step 2: Choose the ‘Team Captain (Start a Team)’ option on the following registration page, you will need to have a team name ready.
Step 3: Once registered build your team by asking others to join, there are helpful links to assist you with this in your personal Mo Space page. Remember, the Mo the merrier!

How to join a team:
Step 1: Register by entering your details (name, email etc.)
Step 2: Choose the ‘Team Member (Join a Team)’ option on the following registration page and enter in the team name you wish to join. Then you and your fellow Mo’s will be ready to grow!

STEP TWO – Join the Forest Hill College Network:

When logged onto Movember.com, simply click on the Network link  http://au.movember.com/mospace/network/foresthillcollege
and then click ‘Join this Network’.
                                                                                                                             
Once you have completed your registration you will be taken to your own Mo Space page. This is where you will find all the information you will need to have a fun and successful Movember such as helpful fundraising tips, Movember downloads, posters, Donation Forms and much more!
                                                                                              
Knowledge is Power, Moustache is King



On Thursday we fare welled our class of 2012. The assembly was a fitting tribute to a fantastic cohort of students. We were thrilled to see Burwood Heights Principal Esther Wood join an assembly audience of over 60 parents. 
The Year 12 students have worked very hard all year to achieve their goals. We are confident they will continue striving to reach their own personal best through this demanding VCAA exam period. We thank all of them for their magnificent contributions to our College throughout their time at FHC. The day finished at Leonda with their formal. The students and staff had a wonderful time together dining and dancing. Rumors abounded about the dancing prowess of both Mr Spokes and Mr Rogers. Due to the inability of the DJ to inspire either with his song choices, it appears that question will have to wait for an answer until next year.

Below in blue is an extract from our Principal Jenny Cook's address to the assembly.


"Today is one of our regular assemblies; however it is special because for our group of Year 12’s it is their last.  Today, I want to focus on our Year 12 students.   
You have, or will be, in some shape or form, reflecting on all sorts of things related to your time at school. Whilst mostly shared with or around other people, your thoughts about events, activities and situations are uniquely your own. They are very special. Treasure them!
Imagine you have a novel that you are reading. Imagine that you have read some of this novel. Part of the story has already been told. This story has already captured you.  It has already provided you with emotions ranging from high to low and everything in between. However there is more to come in the story. And you want to read more!!
Imagine this novel is your story!!  It has had many chapters but there are more to come.
What does the next page, next chapter and the other chapters beyond that hold for you??? What does moving from school hold for you?
The reality is you don’t know what the next page or chapters hold.
What I do know is that:
You have been preparing to turn the next page and step in to the future beyond school for a long time.

You need to have a belief  in yourself to take the next step.

You are well prepared. You have been nurtured by those around you, disciplined; worked with our school values and shown what it takes to be part of a community.

Over time staff at the College  have worked to provide you with opportunities to gain knowledge, communicate effectively, work respectfully, see other points of view, be able to disagree non aggressively, be honest, improve organisational and time management skills , build positive relationships and understand how to develop and maintain them, as well as many more skills.

We trust you to go forward from here as responsible young adults. We trust that you can make informed choices and make good decisions and not let yourself down by mistakes that should never have been made in the first place. We trust you will make the most of what you have and create opportunities.

Knowing all of this, then I can only say, that your next chapters should be filled with all sorts of stories. All of which add to you as a person.
Thank you for being the person you are. For sharing your actions, thoughts and feelings, all of which has added to a richer Forest Hill College."


We also announced our College Captains for 2013. Following a lengthy process it is with great pleasure that we can congratulate Tegan, Jaimee, Cindy, Josh, Daniel and Phillip. We would also like to congratulate all applicants who put their names forward for the positions. It takes a lot of courage to do so and we were impressed with the quality of all applicants.

On Friday, 7B were fortunate enough to participate in a soccer clinic conducted by the head coach of Nunawading Soccer Club. He has coached in Barcelona, Madrid and at Manchester United. The clinic was organised by Maddy and Danni as part of their Year 11 Physical Education course. They were required to identify a strategy to increase participation in sport in a demographic group. they chose Year 7 students. Following a survey of the students, Danni and Maddy then planned their strategy to increase the students participation rates. this included a soccer clinic.The students learnt a lot about the game and had a lot of fun. 





Some key dates for all parents to be aware of for Term 4


Year 10 and 11 Exams 12-16 November
Presentation Night Years 10-12 Thursday 29 November
Yr 7 2013 Connections Night Monday 3 December
College Assembly Friday 7 December
Yr 7 2013 Orientation Day  Tuesday 11 December
Presentation Night Years 7-9 Tuesday 11 December

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