Weekly Wrap
Dear all,
Welcome to week 2 Term 2.
This week began with a sombre commemoration of ANZAC Day, with a full College Assembly.
Lieutenant Andy Buckingham represented the armed forces in a moving tribute. The school Parliamentarians conducted the Assembly and Year 10 student, Caeden Roberts played a stirring rendition of the Last Post. Students stood silent for a minute and reflected on the sacrifices so many Australians made during war time. Following this, students were reminded that located in the Northern Courtyard, The College has a lone pine tree. It is one of few Aleppo pine trees that exist in Australia, that are a direct descendant from the lone pine tree at Gallipoli. This tree is native to the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was planted at Nunawading High school and their student leaders transported it up to its current site in 1999.
The Blackburn RSL is concerned that as the diggers get old and die, the story and legend of the sacrifice soldiers made will get lost and forgotten. The lessons from these stories help us make better decisions into the future. The gratitude that we must feel for the sacrifice they made should be forever present.
They have asked if our students would consider picking a flower from a garden on the way to school, and laying it at the foot of the tree, to show that they have spent a moment reflecting on the sacrifices these soldiers made for us. The tree is surrounded by rosemary plants that the diggers from Blackburn RSL gave us, and a small white picket fence. It has two stones with plaques at the foot of it that tell the history of this tree. The tree is now surrounded by hundreds of small flowers. Well done to our students!!!
This week I met with some student Parliamentarians, and we discussed the development of the Breakfast Club area and the state of the Canteen. They were seeking an undercover space that could provide students with a range of activities to participate in at lunchtime and recess. We have now included a table tennis table cleaned the space.
We are looking to return the microwaves to this area so students can heat their lunches for winter. The students also wanted to be kept informed about when the canteen would again open as an onsite service. I am meeting with Café Oggi in the coming week and hope to be able to make some announcements about this in next week’s wrap.
The College has made the decision to move the Basketball Marathon to Term 3, to facilitate more lead in time to the event. We discussed the use of funds raised through this event with our student leaders. These funds will be used to develop another outdoor seating area adjacent the canteen, and to further enhance the Breakfast Club space. The Basketball Marathon is a fund raiser for the Leukaemia Foundation. It has been in operation since 1973, when much loved PE teacher and Basketball devotee, Geoff Davis passed away from Leukaemia. Every year since 1973 the College has made a significant donation to the Leukaemia Foundation in his honour. Fifty per cent of the funds raised through the Basketball Marathon are donated to the Leukaemia Foundation and the remainder used on a project of the students choosing.
Next week at Forest Hill is shaping up to be a busy one with a number of excursions and sporting events. We have Senior Basketball and Soccer teams competing as well as the City Experience class going into the CBD to explore ideas of culture with the Koorie Heritage trust, visiting China Town, the State Library and Russell and Lygon Streets. We are very grateful to our teachers for organising such engaging events for our students to augment the classroom teaching and learning.
Could I also take this opportunity to remind students not to wear hats/hoods in class. If you are cold in class please alert your teacher and we can adjust heating in the area. In addition, please leave all earbuds in your locker. These can be expensive items and if they get lost or broken it can be distressing for the student. Teachers will give students plenty of notice if earphones are required for educational purposes.