Another GREAT Week 6

Dear all welcome to week 6 of Another GREAT Week.

Some Calendar Dates for the next few weeks

Division Swimming Meet Tuesday March 12
Full College Assembly Thursday 14 March
VCE Biology and Chemistry Ecolinc Excursion Friday 22 March
Parent/ Teacher/ Student Interviews Tuesday 26 March

This week we welcome our students from across the College. For the first time we have sent the link to our Blog to all our students email addresses. Last week we had 615 people read the Blog. In total we have now tipped over 10,000 page visits to our Blog.

There are many great resources and opportunities around Forest Hill College to support students in their learning. Below is a brief snapshot into some of them that took place through this week.

A visit to Breakfast Club on Tuesday morning saw 4 volunteers and 17 students from a range of year levels eating breakfast and socialising. For 50 cents students come and enjoy each others company and a hearty breakfast prepared by our volunteers and Ben Stephenson every Tuesday and Thursday morning before school in the College Canteen.

Homework Club runs every Thursday afternoon from 3:20 pm until 5:00 pm. This week over 25 students attended on a very hot afternoon. Mr Chen, Ms Hood, Ms Bowen-Jones , Kanako Fitzgerald and 4 volunteers from Deakin Uni worked with these students on their homework. This hard work will pay off for these students, and our thanks go to our dedicated staff who make the time to work with their students outside of class hours. Often in the Study centre our VCE teachers are engaging with students during study periods to enhance their learning. At FHC we are always looking for that edge to help our students achieve their own personal best.

College Production audition advertisements began appearing around the College this week. Auditions are being held from Tuesday next week and we look forward as always to a fabulous performance.

The College Library is undergoing a bit of a facelift. During term 1 the library will be focusing on the physical space. A new book display has been updated,  excess tables and chairs have been removed to create space, the relaxed reading area has been reconfigured and  the newspaper presentation has been refreshed.Tidying in the courtyard has commenced. Tree trimming and bench painting has been scheduled. The fish pond will be re-established for a trial period complete with fish and lilies.Using the outside wall noticeboard as a communication tool to promote library opening times and activities. The painting of the foyer has improved the first impression of the library. Library monitor positions were advertised and 17 applications were received. Interviews and appointments will be made in early March.The Principal’s Reading Challenge was developed for Pre VCE, VCAL and VCE students and will be launched in conjunction with the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge early March.The library is a popular space outside of class times. During the lunch break students use the space for various activities such as study, reading, games and socialising; we are also open before and after school. On Thursday of this week we had 63 students using the Library at lunchtime.

Division Swimming Team. Preparations are under way for our Division Swimming Team. They have their Division swim meet next Tuesday March 12. A strong team of 44 students has been assembled and we wish them well for next Tuesday. Thanks to Ms Treloar for the preparation work with the team.

Year 7 Transition Day. On Wednesday this week Mr Cutler ran a transition day for all Year 7 students. The day consisted of a number of team building and "get to know you" activities. 
During their first session the Year 7 students played a range of wacky games that fostered team building and  required students to step outside of their comfort zone and get to know other students whom they may previously have not interacted with. Games such as "Drop the Lid", "Evolution", "Human Knots", "Pictionary" and Group Wrap" kept that students challenged.

Competing in an "Amazing Race during the second session, required students to run around the school and complete a number of different challenges in the shortest amount of time possible. The challenges ranged from completing a sudoku to making and flying a paper plane.
 Session 3 involved the use of "Zorb Balls" featured in the photo below.

Lunch was  BBQ prepared by our fabulous Wellbeing Team, followed by a Peer Support session period 4. All in all a fantastic day was had and our thanks go out to Mr Cutler, Mr Innes and the Wellbeing Team along with all of our staff who contributed on the day to a fabulous Transition experience for our Year 7 students.