Haven Happenings - St Edward`s College

Haven Happenings
165 Serpentine Road Terrigal 2260
Phone: (02) 43216490 Fax: (02) 43675197
Term 2
From the Director
Hi Folks,
Firstly, I would like to welcome you all to our first
Quarterly Newsletter, "Haven Happenings" We
have been toying with the idea for a while and here is our
first effort .
We have had record numbers of students this year,
beginning with 30 kids on the books and twelve on the
waiting list at the start of Term one. Our Golf Day in
March was a huge success with special thanks to Ken
Pearceson and the crew from Breakers Country
Club. Peter Mc Pherson, John Strong & staff again gave
their energy and enthusiasm to ensure the success of the
day.
Over the Christmas break we were able to complete a
massive renovation giving us three large teaching areas.
Led by Board members Laurie Smith & Peter Mc
Pherson, a band supporters, sponsors and tradesman. We
have also been able to purchase a second bus (25 seater)
at the right price. A huge “Thank you” to Dr. Michael
Slattery and ST.Edwards College for their assistance with
the purchase. This Term has seen a variety of activities
and excursions for our students. Reports and photo's of
these are following;
Tree Tops
What a great day we had at Tree Tops. It was a bright,
sunny day and the students were in a happy mood. Tree
Tops is situated in the Ourimbah National Park and is a
wonderful location. When we arrived, we were given our
equipment, which included, head gear and harness.
Once on the course I was in the first group and being up
so high was great fun and you could hear the excitement
in the student’s voices as they yelled backwards and
forwards between each other. Annie did a great job
helping students from the ground.
Dallas and I were the only ones that did the black run
(over 16’s only). Once we got up there it was very high
and scary and both Dallas and I wanted to go back, but
we couldn’t get down so we had to go through the course.
The flying fox was huge and great fun. What a great
finish to Term 1. Thank you to all the students and staff
who came, let’s do it again.
Wendy Kokegei
Aboriginal Studies Excursion
On Monday 7th May 2012, students went on an
excursion to the Bulgandry Story Site Woy Woy.
Students took part in a smoking ceremony, which
involved gum leaves being set alight to create smoke.
Students then walked around the fire through the smoke
to revitalise and cleanse themselves, as per Aboriginal
Friday 29th June, 2012
tradition.
Our next stop was the Bulgandry Story Site at Woy Woy,
where students were shown Aboriginal rock carvings, retelling stories from our past.
We then returned to Green Central for a Bush Tucker
Morning Tea, which consisted of damper, scones and a
variety of jams made from local Indigenous fruits and
plants, such as bush passionfruit and strawberries.
After morning tea we went to Somersby Falls to look at
where the local Aboriginal tribe sharpened their spears
and tools at the top of the waterfall. We then walked
down the falls and students were shown the Okra used in
traditional ceremony for body painting and for art.
Students loved this the most as they were able to expend
their energy and explore their natural surroundings!
Marianna Toller
Food Technology
As the Semester draws to an end, so does the end of our
revamped Food Technology course. All students have
embraced it, and made my job very enjoyable. The
students have learnt the hygiene that is required when
they cook; we see the benefits of this every day when
they prepare their own lunch. The students have also been
able to use vegetables and herbs from our own garden.
My goals for the students are to be able to shop on a
budget, cook, and grow for themselves. This has all been
possible due to the support from the sponsors at The
Haven. Next semester the students will learn how to
plate meals, how to use appropriate manners at the dinner
table and also what cutlery to use when they are out at a
restaurant with their families. Big thanks to Michael,
Marianna and Steph for their help and advice in making
this possible.
Annie Lynn
Pelican Touch
This is the second year students from The Haven
Education Centre have been invited to the indigenous
touch football tournament. In 2011 students were
commended by the organisers of the event for their
behaviour and sportsmanship, this year their behaviour
and spirit was no different.
Competing against students far older than themselves, the
Haven students showed a lot of courage and performed
well in the first two matches. Liam Hennessey was
outstanding in organising the team and encouraging those
students that needed guidance on the field. After the first
two matches the boys were able to use their charm and
sweet talk two representative girls form Berkley Vale to
play for the Haven. This lifted the teams’ confidence and
we won the last two matches! Courtney Birch and
Thomas Pittman were outstanding on the day.
Overall we would like to thank the organisers and
students for a very enjoyable day
Michael Gentle, Wendy Kokegei
HAVEN VISIT TO MAWLAND QUARANTINE
STATION - MANLY
On Thursday, 7th June we travelled down to North head
(Manly) to the Mawland Quarantine Station to learn
about the suffering of the immigrants that had to go
through there. We got to see the places they stayed and
the quarantine rooms where they washed with
camphorwood soap to move any diseases they may have
carried, some travellers died there. It was quite
interesting, we all found parts of the tour particularly
fascinating. I would definitely recommend the visit to
people of all ages.
By Sophie Wright (Student)
What a great day! I was impressed by the participation of
all students on this tour. We have some talented actors
amongst our team who represented various passengers
aboard the Niagara Ship in 1918; being the first ship to
have passengers quarantined at the station due to the
pandemic virus Spanish Flu. The students dramatized the
shower scene and the stress and anxiety felt amongst the
passengers of various classes aboard the ship and
discovered the differences related to how each class of
passengers were treated. The students visited the
hospital, the Governors house and observed various
inscriptions carved into rock from passengers of that
time. We were very proud of the students’ behaviour and
interaction by all.
Sonya Robinson
Regional Art Gallery
The recent trip to visit the Regional Art Gallery in
Gosford was an enormous success. Students viewed their
work and that from other schools. NBN television did a
story which featured our students. The Haven picked up
an award for the fourth year which was also very pleasing
for all concerned.
Thanks to Dawn, Ashlee and staff for their help with the
project.
Chris Kokegei
Vegetable Garden:
Vegetable garden is still doing well with our winter crops
almost ready for picking. The students take great pride in
looking after their individual plot.
Thanks again to NRMA and B & K Revegetation.
Michael Gentle
Ju Jitsu
One of our sponsors Tim Tyrrell approached the Haven
with a proposal to pay for our students to complete a 10
week martial arts course. At the beginning some staff had
reservations due to the physical contact involved. These
reservations were soon turned into praise for the
instructor Tiago, who showed an amazing ability to reach
out to our students and give them not only a lesson in the
art of Ju Jitsu but also in the art of life.
Thanks Tiago, I would recommend this course to anyone!
Michael Gentle
Presentation Day
The students made us proud of their efforts during
Semester 1 2012. Awards achieved during this time were
presented to individual students celebrating their
accomplishments and efforts across all areas of the
curriculum. Jamie W, Isacc, Jack V and Anthony were
fortunate enough to be given a special award for their
overall cooperation in Food Technology. Through their
efforts they will be visiting a restaurant to experience a
taste of the Mediterranean cuisine.
Sharing a meal with caregivers, students and staff was
enjoyed by all as we tasted foods from the Orient as part
of our History and LOTE experience. It was lovely to see
the boys and girls being such wonderful hosts to their
families. Sophie our talented musician impressed us with
her performance, a lovely and angelic voice shared to all.
Anthony’s autobiography elaborated the rollercoaster ride
that life takes and that there is a pot of gold at the end of
every rainbow if we try to look for it.
Thanks to all staff who worked overtime to make sure
this day a success.
Sonya Robinson
Student Rescue
During first term our students completed a swim survival
course at Gosford Swimming pool where students learnt
the skills required to keep themselves and others alive in
the water. Over the course of the first school holidays
Liam Hennessey, a student at the Haven Education
Centre, put these skills to use when he rescued a lady
from the surf who had been taken out in a rip. By the time
Liam got to the lady she was under water and
unconscious. Liam showed great courage in retrieving the
body, swimming her in on his body board 200m where
paramedics were able to bring her back to life!
Congratulations Liam you will remember that for a long
time...
Michael Gentle
Thanks to one and all for your continued support. Twelve
students have been successfully re-integrated back into
mainstream so far this year. This is amazing ! My staff
are continuing with energy, enthusiasm and passion.
Their efforts and your support have led to these
wonderful results. I hope you enjoyed reading the
newsletter and rest assured that together we will keep
"Making a difference"
Cheers
Koke
Please see some of the photos attached, for a full slide
show you can go on the St Edwards website
www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au (any feedback/comments to)
ckokegei@stedwards.nsw.edu.au