Another GREAT Week- 11

Calendar dates

Term 1, 2014

First Day of Term 1, 2014 - Thursday 30 January 2014
College Assembly - Thursday 30 January 2014
Year 12 Deakin University Study Experience - Monday 3 February - Tuesday 4 February
College Photos - Thursday 13 February
Year 7 Instrumental Music Demonstration Day - Friday 14 February
Year 7 Parent Connections Night - Tuesday 11 February
Year 7 Camp - Wednesday 26 February - Friday 28 February

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 11 of Another GREAT Week

Forest Hill College VCE Results 2013

8A Growth

This week 8A students finalised their Challenge-based Learning projects on Child Poverty in GROWTH. Students were challenged to raise our community awareness about what we do to combat child poverty around the world. Students in groups organised a range of activities to meet this challenge including a jelly-bean guessing competition raising money for World Vision, a second-hand book sale raising money for Room to Read, a Down-ball Tournament raising money for One Laptop per Child, a petition calling for an end to the practice of child brides, providing assistance with the collection of food for needy families for Christmas and a collection of toys for the Kmart Wishing Tree.

Students learnt about organisation, team-building and reflection at the same time as learning about the power they have to make a difference to the lives of others.

Impact CD Art Mural

On Tuesday Impact students completed the Art CD Mural by drilling and mounting it to its final resting place on the wall in the breezeway through to the Senior Courtyard.
Students got involved in drilling and bolting it to the wall. A big thank-you to Mr Beveridge for his guidance in the construction phase and Joe the Maintenance and Grounds Keeper for assisting students to mount it to the wall.  

Congratulations to all of the Impact students involved. It looks fantastic!

World Challenge Borneo Report

Week 3

Day 16 - 21 I was unable to take my Internet device into the jungle, so I have compiled the five days into a trip summary.

Well we wanted a challenge and that's what we got. Heat, rain, mud, leaches, insects the size of small animals, tree roots, rivers, dirty smelly wet and unwashed clothes, is just a snap shot of what we faced. But, despite the hardships and difficulties the kids came out of it happy, proud and somewhat surprised that they actually enjoyed it.

Day 1 of the trek start easy enough on a cement road. A couple of kms down the road we turned off and crossed a suspension and entered the village farm or rice paddy fields. Sounds easy enough, but where there is rice there is water and where there is water there is mud. Almost immediately we had victims of the mud. Shoes became caked in mud, which made them slippery and before we new it we had muddy legs, bums and bodies. It didn't improve as we entered the jungle. Bugs, insects and leaches were attracted to is like moths to a flame. Wet under growth, rain and river crossing made everyone wet. It was impressive though to watch the guides construct bamboo bridges, which made it possible to cross the wider, deeper rivers. Their tool of trade, the machete, was put to constant use. 6 hours after beginning we arrived into camp. Wearily the kids tried to learn how to put up hammocks in the rain and with lots of help it was completed fairly quickly. Dinner was rice and chicken curry, and then after a quick de-leaching everyone was in bed by 7pm. Yes you heard right 7pm lol.

Day 2 wake up call was 6.30am and yes it was still raining (guess that's why they call it a rainforest). Breakfast can only be described as ..... terrible, and putting wet muddy clothes on again and packing up in the rain is always a challenge. We were away by 9am and again we faced another 5+ hour day battling mud, leaches and now steep hills. Steep up hills followed by steep downhills soon turn to muddy paths that were super slippery and falls were common, usually to much laughter. River crossings were plentiful and when the rain let up, unfortunately the leaches came out in force. Luckily though when we arrived at camp it stopped raining, so we could set up camp in the dry. There was a nice shelter that we cooked under and had a nice dinner of spaghetti and tomatoes. Once again we were all in bed very early, but no one was complaining about the extra sleep.

Day 3 rained on us last night and several of the kids soon learned the importance of setting the hammocks up properly. Sleeping in a puddle is never a pleasant experience, leaving your shoes out so they become full of water, is a pain and not packing your pack and leaving it all in the mud overnight is not nice. If only they had listened to instructions the night before. More hills, more river crossings, more leaches and more mud, made the going tough. Tough conditions were made easier by the knowledge of passing the half way point. Rian, our head guide had a little surprise for us today. For the first time in two and a half days we were treated to a view at the summit of one of the hills. It also gave us a rest from mud and leaches as it was dry and open. A seemingly insignificant and unimportant event normally, was greatly appreciated by everyone. Another very long day ended at another shelter which was built into the side of a hill. Hammocks were set up a little more carefully this time, dinner was cooked by Bec of rice and tinned corn and peas (was very good). We stayed up a little later tonight as we taught the kids how to play the game 'pineapple', which was greatly enjoyed by all.

Day 4 with the only one more full day of hiking to go, there was an extra spring in everyone's step. The rain had stopped and the hiking although challenging seemed a little more open as compared with other days. Still had plenty of mud and leaches, with the odd river crossing and a nice big hill to climb up and down. The shelter at the camp site was incomplete but was built over a river, so it was a bit of a novelty. Was nice to set up dry hammocks and not worry about a wet campsite. Some washed up in the river and after dinner we all enjoyed another game of pineapple. Two minute noodles were a favourite for dinner and excitement of getting out of the jungle was fever pitch.

Day 5 our last day! Every was up early and excited to get going. What they didn't realise was that it was a four hour hike to get back to Pa'Umor village then another two hour hike to get to the longhouse we were staying at in Bario. Leaches were a plenty, mud got worse the closer we got to the village thanks to the buffalo and even had to cross a couple more rivers. It was hot and sweaty and we all stunk like we have never before. But, after four hours we reached an open field of grass and clear skies. It was like being on land for the first time in six months after being at sea. The excitement was tremendous and was only equalled by feelings of relief for finally completing the jungle trek. 30 minutes late we were back at Pa'Umor and enjoying drinks and crackers at Rian's place. Two hours later we arrived at the Bario longhouse and was greeted by Supang and a delicious dinner that felt like the best meal ever. The sun was setting as we arrived and the first proper shower in nearly two weeks was heavenly. Exhausted we slept like babies on proper beds, but proud of completing what was definitely one of the most challenging physical and mental challenges of their lives. Well done everyone!

Day 21 early morning rise and walk got us to the airport at Bario by 8.30am. Unfortunately fog delayed the flights an hour for the the first group and two hours for the second group. It was nearly 2pm by the time we were altogether back at the Miri Trail Hotel in Miri. We had lunch, washed our bodies and our clothes and rested. Some of the groups went to the shops while others slept. We ate dinner together and went to bed early as most were still exhausted from the hike.

Year 9 Metals Ironwork

The Aboriginal art inspired ironwork animals have been completed and installed in the fence at the entrance to the Southern Courtyard. Congratulations to James B and James S for their  wallaby and to Michael C and Jack B for their emu. The year 9 students have worked extremely hard and have produced fantastic results that have received widespread praise from everyone who has seen the installation.

Year 7 STEM English Launch Their Novels

Year 7 STEM English students spent three productive and exhausting weeks writing individual novels. Their stories were based on the novel "So Much To Tell You" by John Marsden, but had to be told from another character's perspective. The novels were published by Mrs Zemkalnis (Snow White Productions.) In their last English lesson, the students were presented with their bound copies.

A wonderful effort 7 STEM!!!!!

Renovation of Northern Canteen

As part of the renovation of the northern canteen for Breaky Club in 2014, many volunteers have generously put their hands up to volunteer time and expertise in this process. We'd like to say a special 'thank you' to Leanne McFarlane for her voluntary hours to thoroughly clean the facility and also Phil Taylor and Les Wood for painting the whole facility and getting the room to a place structurally where it can serve our needs. Thank you!

From all the staff here at Forest Hill College we would like to wish you A Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year!