Another Great Week - 9

Calendar dates

Term 1, 2014

College Council - Wednesday 26 March
Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews (Student Free Day) - Tuesday 1 April
Last Day of Term 1 (2.30pm dismissal for students) - Friday 4 April

Some useful links

FHC Website

Compass Parent Portal

FHC Moodle- Student Learning Portal

Remember you can use Compass to approve absences

Dear all, welcome to week 9 Term 1.



Feedback and Growth

By now all of our students have received their Grade Point Average (GPA) on their Interim Report. The GPA is developed through the use of a rubric that places students at certain points on a scale. The scale is linked to the College's Effective Learning Behaviours. Behind each Effective Learning Behaviour sits a set of explicit statements students need to be demonstrating to achieve. For students to show improvement they should be identifying the areas they need to improve with their teachers and setting goals around these.

Many students are disappointed that they have scored lower than they expected on their Effective Learning Behaviours GPA. Many of these are students who are accustomed to receiving positive feedback.  This year we are making a concerted effort across the College to raise standards. Students are being challenged as expectations rise. Whilst improvement feedback provides encouragement, support, corrective measures and

direction, it can be confronting if you do not achieve what you hoped for or expected. Our plan is to provide fair feedback that challenges students to strive to achieve higher. We have decided to do this to assist them prepare for the demands of VCE and to better equip them with the skills to achieve their personal best at VCE.

Evidence about the learner’s current level of skill is critical to providing improvement feedback. Please look at the rubric that steps out how we have arrived at each score and look for areas for improvement. The improvement and  strategies and tips on how to achieve that goal are found in the rubric.

In honestly self-assessing using the rubric and listening to the feedback your teacher is giving you provides guidance on how to improve.

I urge all parents to attend teacher interviews on Tuesday 1 April. I would also encourage you to ask staff about how specifically your child can make improvements to their GPA.

 

 

 

High Performance Football Program Officially Enrolling Now

The College is now taking enrolments for our Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 2015 intake into the Forest Hill College High Performance Football Program. The program offers applicants access to a full time high performance football training system, incorporating academic achievement and technical football development concurrently. The course has been designed for the provision of high level sporting preparation and comprehensive academic progression. In 2015 we will be offering only 25 places in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively. A trial date will be held on Wednesday 30 April at 9:30am. For further details contact us on 9814 9444 or fhc@fhc@vic.edu.au.

 

Congratulations to Jake M

Jake in Year 10, has been selected in the Under 16 Oakleigh Chargers squad to prepare for the Vic Metro AFL Team. He began playing trial matches this week and we wish him well as he strives to achieve his goal of selection into the Vic Metro Team.

Girls AFL

This week we had a representative from girls AFL Victoria and the AIS speak with our girls who are keen to achieve success on the football field. This year we have set high expectations for all of our sporting teams and the girls footballers are no different. We have a large squad keen to represent the College and look forward to their training and preparation for matches commencing soon.

Debating

On Thursday night the Forest Hill Debating A grade (years 11 & 12) team defeated the team from Avila in a sound 7 point victory at round one of the Debaters Association of Victoria inter-school debating championships at Wesley College.  The topic was "That the West should lift all sanctions on Iran", and our team argued for the negative.  Benjamin S was named best speaker, achieving a result of 78%, with Paul K coming a close second, and Maddie T coming third.  

Our C grade (Year 10) team also debated for the negative "That the national curriculum should seek to promote Australian values" against Avila’s C Grade Team. James B, Jack B and Noah  argued valiantly but were defeated in a narrow loss of only two points. N came equal best speaker with the opposing team's first speaker, both scoring 76%.  

The next round of debates will take place on May 1st, when we will have 3 teams representing Forest Hill College.  Well done to both teams for their great work in round 1!

 Alice Romanis and Elena Zemkalnis

 

 

Harmony Day

On Friday 21 March we celebrated Harmony Day during the morning assembly and at lunch time. The assembly began with a parade of students and teachers carrying flags from the 32 different countries that are represented in our school community. At lunch time, the Language teachers offered many fun activities for students to do in H block. These included Chinese lantern riddles, chopsticks races using M & M's, Auslan finger spelling challenges, karaoke and French petanque. Posters were placed around the school naming different rooms and spaces in six different languages. A big 'thank you' to all of the teachers in the Languages Domain - Mrs. Broadbent, Miss Roberts, Mrs. Lucy, Ms. Bowen and Madame Biront for their contributions to this great day.