Another GREAT Week @ FHC Week 4 Term 4

Important Dates 2014

 

Year 10-12 Presentation Evening - Thursday 27 November
Last Day of Year 11 - Friday 28 November
Second Hand Book Sale - Wednesday 3 December
Last Day of Year 10 - Friday 5 December
Year 7 2015 Orientation Day - Tuesday 9 December
College Assembly: Thursday 11 December
5 Session Day
Year 7-9 Presentation Evening - Monday 15 December
Last Day Years 7-9 - Tuesday 16 December

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 4 Term 4

We began the week with Andrew Fuller, world renowned psychologist, delivering a presentation on unlocking adolescents potential, to our parents. We also opened our Art Gallery and recognised the students who have art work displayed in it as well as celebrating our successful musicians from the Royal South Street competitions.

Our Duke of Ed participants went to Wilsons Prom for a hike, departing in the torrential rain, and ending the week in brilliant sunshine. From all accounts the students had a fantastic hike and the weather was kind to them for most of the time.

This week we also saw our Year 12 students start their VCAA exams. We began with English and a cohort of nervous and immaculately presented Year 12 students entered our exam centre knowing there was no more they could do in preparation. We believe that our staff have laid the foundations and developed them as best we can. We have established our expectations and now it is up to the students to achieve their best possible result. VCAA actually conducted an audit of our exam centre practices and left us with a glowing report on the structures, routines and processes we have in place and the quality of our students throughout the exam.

On Friday this week, our Year 7 to 10 students were fortunate enough to experience a presentation by Cultural Infusion on the story of our Anzacs. It was a riveting play that brought home the history of the Anzac spirit and the horrors of war. Local Member of Parliament Neil Angus also came to the show and he along with all of our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

As always the week was filled with great opportunities for students. The week rounded out with a free dress day around the theme of Halloween. Students and staff dressed up in a wonderful array of costumes. It was a terrific way to end another great week at the College.

Year 10 Living Science

Students in Year 10 Living Science wrapped up their unit on the structure and function of the Brain by creating plasticine models of the brain.

Some amazing models were created, super impressive given their one period deadline.

The models are on display in S-Block for the next few weeks.

Scrimmage Report







 

Last Saturday Dane, Lucas, Homme and Liam represented Forest Hill College in our first Robot Scrimmage held at Emmaus College. The boys faced some challenging opponents from other schools all of whom were senior students and had much more sophisticated machines, this did not discourage our junior students who were able to demonstrate high level skills and ability to overcome the limitations of their underdeveloped robot putting on a show that eclipsed the battle of David and Goliath. The students involved said they had an awesome time at the scrimmage and they learnt a lot about the competition that will prepare them for the VEX Robotics Nationals in November.

Year 8 & 9 AcE Maths Excursion

On Friday 17 October 2014 the students from Year 8 and Year 9 ACE Maths classes went into the City to discover the mathematical wonders in and around Swanston Street. From the geometrical shapes of Federation square, to the tessellations at RMIT to the massive cone in the Melbourne Central shot tower, students learnt about the maths that is all around them. A great time was had by all!

Ms Tsigas and Mr Heaton




MCG and National Sports Museum Excursion

On Monday 20 October 2014 the Year 7, 8 and 9 Developing Sports Leaders went to the City and got a tour of the MCG, followed by a visit to the National Sports Museum. Students enjoyed the “Game On” exhibit where they played with cricket, football and netball interactives. It was a great day for all students and teachers too!

Mr Blowers, Ms Romanis, Mr Heaton






Year 10 Crime & Punishment

On Monday 20 October 2014 the Year 10 Crime and Punishment class visited the Melbourne Magistrates Court and the Old Melbourne Magistrates Court. Students were able to observe actual cases and see first hand the operation of the Magistrates Court. Cases observed included traffic offences, assault, theft and drug offences. In the afternoon students visited the Old Melbourne Magistrates Court and participated in a mock trial dramatisation on culpable driving. Students were allocated roles and able to stand in the dock, sit in the Judge’s chair or join in the crowd in the public gallery. Students felt the tension and drama that was played out during thousands of hearings in this iconic court.

 

Maths Talent Quest Ceremony at La Trobe University

On Thursday Sascha and Braeden from Year 7 and their mums met Ms Tsigas and Ansul from Year 9 at La Trobe University to receive their Distinction awards for their entries into the 2014 Maths Talent Quest.

In the Year 7 statewide individual category Sascha and Braeden were the two out of the four students to be awarded a Distinction.

In the Year 9 statewide individual category Ansul and another three students from other schools were awarded a Distinction.

Our students also received a gift voucher of $25 to spend at the MAV bookshop and walked away with some really cool Maths puzzles and games.

Well done to all three of our top achievers in this year’s Maths Talent Quest.

 

 

 

 Get A Head Start To VCE

 

 

 

 

 Forest Hill College Art Gallery Opening

The FHC Art Gallery was officially opened by Mr Rogers on Monday night. Budding artists, proud teachers and parents gathered to admire the artwork that now adorns the walls of the foyer. Cocktail style refreshments were served and created an air of sophistication. Enormous and sincere thanks go to our brilliant Food tech teacher, Ms Jane Boras, who capably planned, managed and supervised the year 11s in the production of the platters of tantalising food. The night was a great opportunity to showcase the talent of our students across the areas of art, hospitality and music. The music ensemble capably provided entertainment for the evening and both artists and musicians were awarded with certificates for contributions.

 

 Two of our talented artists in front of their displayed artworks (Cameron and Rebecca)

Presentation By Andrew Fuller

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Fuller’s presentation followed the gallery opening. Andrew is a renowned clinical psychologist, and sought after public speaker, who is considered an expert with adolescent issues.  The following is a summary of his presentation.

 

1.     It’s okay to love yourself! We need to encourage positive self talk and model this eg; ‘You really are a great friend by looking out for xxx”.

2.     Next time your teen is furrowing their brow and staring off into space, ask them if they're thinking dolphin or shark thoughts. Dolphin thinking can help you out and shark thinking can eat you up. Are they looking at the glass half full or half empty. Help them find the positive in the situation and to be optimistic. Eg; ‘You may not have achieved an A this time, but the hard work you put in has certainly helped you build really strong study skills. Well done!’

3.     Passion beats brains. Support your teen to avoid comparing themselves to others  and to aim to fulfil their potential. Praise effort more than ability. Tell your teens that they are geniuses but they don’t know it yet! It’s good for them to know that their parents think they are wonderful. Then focus most comments on effort. Eg; “You really worked hard at that well done!” “I noticed you really tried your best at that, I’m impressed” or “Wow, your practice seems to be really paying off”.

4.     Think about the process, not the outcome. When your teen receives a good grade or accomplishes a goal, by all means celebrate with them and praise their success, but then be sure to ask them, ‘How did you do that? What did you do to get that result?’ This will make the connection for your teen between the process they underwent and their successful outcome.

5.     Video games suck dopamine which is the chemical released in the body contributing to motivation levels, cognition and reward. Encourage your teens to do rhythmic tasks before computer games at night

6.     Incompetency extrapolation. ‘Because I’m bad at numbers I’m dumb.’ Supportive challenge your teens not to make absolute statements or to catastrophize. ‘I can’t do anything’.

7.     Share your Role Models. Tell your teens who you admire, or character traits in others that you admire and aspire to develop. Help your teens to see that they can partially shape their lives on the examples of others.

8.     It takes 6 weeks to form a habit, 2 minutes to change a mood.

       9.       Have a policy of “we fall down 7 times but we get up 8”. We all have set backs. There are     times when we all have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start again. Most of us are experts in this even if we’ve forgotten it because this is the way we learned to walk. Sucking at something the first few times you do it is the first step to getting good at it.

 

 

Gateway Build A Bike Program

A number of our year nine and ten students have had the marvelous opportunity over the last three weeks to construct bikes from parts donated by the Whitehorse Council. Under the professional guidance of Bob from the Gatewayllen organization, each student has used their skills to create their own bike. Having finished their dream project, these students are moving on to building more bikes to raise money for charitable organisations. As a final treat the students will be visiting Box Hill TAFE to explore possibilities for further training in their chosen areas of interest.

 

Paella a Winner

This week several of our culinary chefs excelled in preparing dinner for school council. Natalia B, Tayla I,Talia S and Zena Z  prepared a Jamie Oliver favourite. Chicken, Chorizo and Prawn Paella featured on the menu, accompanied by a Cherry and Hazelnut Friands with King Island double cream. Compliments flowed from the guests that night. Well done girls.