Weekly Wrap
Week 4 – Term 3
Welcome to week 4. This week we have been collaborating with staff from Mt Pleasant Road Primary School on effective teaching strategies for Year 6 and 7 students to ensure a continual trend of academic growth occurs through the transition from Year 6 to 7. Both schools are committed to positive education, and the development of a growth mindset in students. What was evident was the quality of learning that takes place when students have a strong sense of self efficacy and are willing and supported by the class environment, to take risks in their learning.
This week our Deputy Prime Minister Jack Baker presented me with a Constitution and Bill of Rights for FHC student Parliament. This document was an extensive piece of work, and I wanted to take this opportunity to recognise his leadership in this, and the broader work of Student Parliament in driving positive change at the College. It was only two years ago that Student Parliament led the removal of restrictive curriculum choice rules through the Year 9 and 10 course selection process, a change that many students are experiencing very positive outcomes as a result of. This week the Herald Sun contacted the College about our Student Parliament, as they had a keen interest on how we capture student voice. We believe very strongly that our College is leading the way in this space, and are justifiably proud of the work our students do in Parliament across the year.
As you would be aware, Forest Hill College has a partnership with the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. (MITS) MITS has been in operation now for 4 years and has developed a new educational model to provide choice and opportunity to Indigenous students from remote and regional communities across Australia. An initiative by dedicated individuals within the education sector and the Indigenous community, MITS receives Department of Education funding as a registered school, and is also be supported by its Partner Schools and many donors
Each year, 22 Indigenous boys and girls (around Year Seven age) come to live at the MITS boarding house in the Vaucluse, Richmond. They to go school inside the Richmond Football Club, where they study a curriculum focused on numeracy and literacy, delivered by MITS’s teachers. MITS provides a warm home-style environment that celebrates culture and understands the challenges of transitioning from a small community to a big city. At the end of their MITS year, our students move into scholarship positions at Melbourne Partner Schools. Throughout their MITS year, students spend time at their Partner Schools, providing genuine transitional learning for both student and school. Forest Hill College is the only State school with a partnership with MITS. When the MITS students attend their new partner school, the students live with a host family, who get fully funded through Abstudy to provide a home to an indigenous student. We are in the process of identifying 2 new host families for 2020.If you are interested in becoming a host family for 2020, please send me an email on d.rogers@fhc.vic.edu
This week our teaching staff all continued their action research work, designed to assist them develop deep understandings and proficiency in highly effective teaching strategies. As you may be aware, the teaching staff have a “game plan” for want of a better term. We have identified 17 teaching strategies that we know make the key positive differences to student learnings. These strategies are our “game plan, and are underpinned by research. They have been led by Mr Grant and Mr Innes in particular. They have a high impact when used. Teaching staff at FHC research and become expert in these. They are provided time during their week to participate in this research. We are very proud of their growing expertise and we are gaining DET recognition for this work.
This week on Wednesday, our Sport and Recreation students assisted Glendal Primary School conduct their athletics carnival this week. Sport and Recreation is a VET subject our College offers and will form a key part of both VCE and VCAL options at the College into the future. Our students were well prepared to provide excellent assistance, and were greatly appreciated by the Glendal community. Sport and Recreation as a VET subject prepares students well for future employment in the sport industry, either in sport administration or coaching/ umpiring.
Our Academy students found the going tough this Wednesday. Instead of their usual sport training sessions they participated in the second “Tough Mudder” competition we have held. On a cold and frosty morning, we saw some exhausted students return from training. They enjoyed mixing with students from other sports,, and the opportunity to inject some variety into their week of training.
Many of our Netball students participated in interschool competition on both Monday and Tuesday. Whilst our netball academy is new, and developing, they have an infectious enthusiasm that will see it grow into the future. Their performances were excellent, and they represented our College, as you would expect, with great pride and professionalism.
Have a great weekend.
David Rogers
Sport around FHC
Victorian Weightlifting Schools Competition
Victorian Weightlifting Stadium
26th July 2019
We had two students participate in their first ever weightlifting event after only a handful of training sessions in the weeks leading up to the event. Jackson Tinker (year 12) completed his six lifts (three snatch and three clean and jerk) with a total scoring weight of 95kg whilst Noah Tarenidis (Year 12) accrued 100kg from his six attempts. Both students should be commended for their commitment to training and willingness to get involved in a new program being offered at FHC.
The next round is scheduled for Friday 13th September, we hope to take a bigger FHC contingent and come away with the Schools Championship trophy.
Interschool Sport
Victorian Schools Netball Competition
This week was a jamb-packed week of netball for the students in our Netball Academy. On Monday we took our junior team (year 7’s and 8’s) along to the Netball Victoria Schools Championships held in Knox. They had the opportunity to compete against a number of schools in a round robin event. It was a great event with some strong competition as many other teams were predominately made up of year 8 students. The girls did really well implementing some of the skills and strategies learnt during our academy sessions.
EMR Netball: Year 7 Girls
Wednesday saw our year 7 team take part in the SSV Eastern Metropolitan Region Competition after winning through the Division round undefeated earlier in the year. The girls were travelling along nicely until injury hit meaning no substitutes for half of the day. All players put in a great effort but after a long week of netball, started to run out of steam. It was a great effort by all to make the semi finals and play some great netball right up to the final whistle.
EMR Netball: Intermediate Girls
Our Year 9/10 Netball team are competing today in the EMR Finals at the Waverly Netball Centre. We will provide an update on their performance in next week’s wrap.
A reminder for all students and families that consent for Interschool sport events will close one week prior to the competition date.
Sports and Performing Arts Academy
Tough Mudder
Week 4 saw the second edition of the FHC Academy Tough Mudder Course. Students were placed in teams and presented with 10 different and difficult physical and mental challenges to be performed as quickly as possible to accumulate points throughout the allotted time. A great change to the regular training schedule for all students, the question now is when will the Tough Mudder #3 happen?
Student Performance
Tom Smith (Year 10 – AFL Academy)
Tom has been selected in the U16 Victorian State Squad. Congratulations Tom, your efforts in training during academy and away from school have allowed you to perform at an exceptional level. Good luck during your time with the squad.
Term 3 Sport Calendar
Term 3 – Week 7
Tuesday 27th August – Year 9/10 Mullum Division Sport (Basketball, Hockey, Table Tennis)
Term 3 – Week 8
Friday 6th September – Basketball Academy – Nunawading District Primary Schools Umpiring
Friday 6th September – Year 7 Mullum Division Sport (Basketball, Hockey, Table Tennis)
Term 3 – Week 9
Thursday 12th September – Mullum Division Athletics
Friday 13th September – Weightlifting Victoria Schools Championships
Term 3 – Week 10
Monday 16th September – Year 8 Mullum Division Sport (Basketball, Hockey, Table Tennis)
Academy Pre-Selection Morning
Our next Academy Pre-Selection morning is fast approaching. Students and prospective students for 2020 are invited to attend and try out for their Academy of choice.
Bookings are essential and can be made through our event on Trybooking.