greenwood grapevine

GREENWOOD GRAPEVINE
Greenwood College — An Independent Public School 79 Coolibah Drive, Greenwood WA 6024
http://www.greenwood.wa.edu.au
admin.greenwood.college@education.wa.edu.au
Ph. 9243 9200
Fax: 9246 2456
ABN: 31 997 963 629
2014
Awards
Night
Winners
Left: Anji Tao - Academic School
Dux 2014 and Honours Society
Winner
Above: Vocational School Dux 2014 winner
Joanna Starr
Left: Honours Society Winners — Jessica Evans,
Edris Hosseini, Rachelle Knox and Kun Li
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 1
Principal’s Message
“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.” Arthur C. Clarke
Reflection
This final newsletter of 2014 prompts me to reflect on the myriad of events and activities of
the year gone by. I am sure the Year 12 and Year 8 parents and students particularly, will
join me in marvelling at how quickly time passes. The current Year 8s were reminiscing
about their own induction day at the recent Year 7 and 8 induction days and many seem
to find it hard to believe a whole year has gone by. Our Year 12 students too, even though
many are really ready to leave school, find the thought daunting, insisting it only seems like
yesterday when they were little Year 8s. It has been an extraordinarily busy year as we all
continue to offer our students the very best in terms of experience and opportunities. Next
year as we grow to 900 students, I am confident we can continue to maintain what I
Mrs Joanne Harris
believe is an excellent service to our community. We are extremely fortunate here at
Principal
Greenwood to have such a high calibre of staff and students. Our teaching staff are
extremely professional and dedicated individuals who really work hard to bring out the
best in our students. Our ancillary staff such as our Chaplain, Psychologist, Education Assistants, IT and office staff all
band together to support and endorse our culture of a respectful and caring community.
Pride
Most impressive is the courteous and friendly nature of the majority of our students. Visitors to the school will always
comment on the positive atmosphere that seems to pervade the school. Also contributing to this is the generous time
provided by our parent groups and school volunteers.
Thank you
We recently held the volunteer‘s morning tea. Many thanks to all those who attended and well done to the parents
and volunteers who were specifically recognised for their contribution. It is testimony to a number of our volunteers
that they continue to generously give of their time even though they no longer have students at the college!
To our wonderful parents who make up our numerous organisations such as the Dance parents, Music parents
Volleyball parents and the P&C, our heartfelt thanks for your tremendous support and contributions throughout the
year. We rely heavily on these very active groups to support our students and enhance the already highly successful
programs across the college. Particular thanks to Greg Grundy (P&C president), Adam Davies (P&C treasurer) and
Sandra Serafini (P&C secretary). The P&C strongly support college initiatives such as Student of the Week as well as
providing specific financial support for small projects eg: cameras, new electronic school sign (should be installed by
beginning of next year) and library furniture. Sandy Elliss and her band of untiring supporters have meant that students
and parents can efficiently purchase uniforms through the college uniform shop. Your efforts have been much
appreciated!
Review
A few weeks ago we underwent the Independent School Review which occurs at the conclusion of the first three
year cycle as an IPS school. The review process is extraordinarily rigorous and is conducted by an independent group
of reviewers. We were fortunate to have Dr Steffan Silcox and Mr Keith Newton come into the college for 2 ½ days.
They were involved in interviewing staff, parents and students, visiting classrooms and asking lots of questions around
our self review processes and college performance. A report will be generated that is submitted to the Director
General of Education Mrs Sharyn O‘Neill and the Minister for Education Mr Peter Collier. The report will also be
available for public scrutiny on our college website. We have not received our official report yet but the brief
discussion at the conclusion of the review indicated we will receive an excellent one!
College Board
The College Board is an enormously important group within the college community. The board has now come to the
end of the first cycle and next year will commence our 2015-2017 cycle. Sincere thanks to all those staff, parents and
community members who have contributed so much as board members: Board Chair Brett Tooker (Public Prosecutor
and former student), Andrea Mitchell (MLA), Professor Lynne Cohen (ECU), former Board Chair Darren Moncrieff
(Cobham airways), parents Kevin Starr, Grace Burnside, Sandy Elliss, Greg Grundy, Mary Bell, Charmaine Anderson
and staff David Mayes, Terry Dunn, Murray Williams. Thanks also to Liz Hunt board /college liaison officer.
We are now calling for nominations for our next School Board and I would urge any parents interested to complete
the nomination form that has been distributed by email and given to students at school.
Incoming Students
It was especially enjoyable to meet our 2015 Year 7 and Year 8 students at their recent induction days. They had the
opportunity to experience a diverse range of activities, many of which were designed to show the different types of
pursuits they can participate in within a secondary school. We also were mindful of providing these incoming students
with the chance to engage in the specialist programs they may have opted for. Both days were highly successful if
the beaming faces I saw are anything to go by! Within these two year groups alone, students came from 54 different
primary schools so the induction was a real chance for students to make some new friends. We were all very
impressed with the high standard of engagement and behaviour from these two groups and look forward to
welcoming them back next year! Many thanks to the 7mate and 8mate students who greatly assisted in making these
new students feel right at home!
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 2
Principal’s Message cont.
Drama
Well done to the Year 9 and Year 10 drama students, the two plays they performed recently were virtually a sell out and
thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. I was very impressed with the hidden thespian talents of many of our students, an
entertaining performance all round!
Farewell
Lastly this time of the year brings some sadness as staff leave us. Two of our extremely long term people are retiring. Mr
Geoff Heasman has been in public education for 39 years, 20 of those years at Greenwood. As the Head of the English
faculty Mr Heasman has been an inspirational leader who has cherished traditional educational values and standards
and mentored his staff to produce outstanding student results in English subjects.
Mrs Bev King has been our wonderful canteen manager for 26 years. She has worked tirelessly to maintain the excellent
standard of the canteen in terms of operations, service and product. Bev has been remarkable in her ability to create a
positive and welcoming atmosphere whilst adhering to the highest standards, she will be sorely missed. We are
extremely sad to see these two valuable staff members leave but I am sure you will all join me in wishing them all the
best for the future.
2015
Lastly a reminder that school finishes for students on Thursday 18 December and resumes on Monday 2 February 2015.
A number of important dates for 2015 have been included in this newsletter (see below), please note particularly the
School Development or pupil free days for next year as well as the open parent reporting days. Our full calendar will be
published on our website which is currently being revamped.
I would like to sincerely wish all members of our Greenwood College community a happy and festive season and staff
and students a well—deserved enjoyable holiday!
School Information Calendar for 2015 (Dates may vary)
2015
Term Dates
School Development Days
(Pupil Free Days)
Public Holidays
Term 1
Mon 2 Feb—Thurs 2 April
Thursday 29 January
Friday 30 January
Monday 2 March
Friday 3 April
Tuesday 31 March
Reporting Parent Open Day
Students early closure 12.30pm
Parents welcome 12.30-7.30pm
Term 2
Tues 21 April—Fri 3 July
Monday 20 April
Wednesday 1 July
Reporting Parent Open Day
Students early closure 12.30pm
Parents welcome 12.30-7.30pm
Term 3
Tues 21 July—Fri 25 Sept
Monday 20 July
Term 4
Tues 13 Oct—Thurs 17 Dec
Monday 12 Oct
Friday 18 Dec
Greenwood College
December 2014
Monday 27 April
Monday 1 June
Page 3
Student Services Summary
Mr Williams
Student Services Manager
Year 9 Co-ordinator
You know it‘s almost holiday time when you start hearing Christmas carols on the radio and spot homes in the suburbs
with Christmas lights adorned everywhere. Hence this is my final newsletter article for 2014.
2014 Attendance Competition Results
Drum roll please……………………………………..and the winner is;
Year 12 (92.34%)
Year 8 (91.57%)
Year 10 (90.08%) followed by Year 9 (89.52%) and Year 11 (89.21%).
Well done to the Year 12 group. Historically, Year 8s have always had the best overall attendance average, but this
year, the 12s are in front…just.
100% Attendance Students
Wow! Imagine going to school every day of every week of every month. Well, the following students did just that. What
an effort.
Ye{r 8 – Minjeong K{ng, Rhys Wooll{rd, T{yl{h Smith
Ye{r 9 – S{umya Patel, Emma Brockett, S{kura Koy{ma
Ye{r 10 – Aid{n Pover
Well done guys.
Year 12 Dinner
Tradition at Greenwood College was broken by Ms Hollis yet again when the Leavers‘ Breakfast was changed to a
Graduation Dinner. On Thursday 13 November, 63 students and 24 staff attended an evening of awards and
goodbyes at the Joondalup Resort. Pre-dinner drinks were served on the terrace before staff and students were
escorted into the dining room. All students except two had finished their examinations and were ready for leavers‘
week/jobs/travelling/playing on the computer etc so the evening was relaxed and informal. A number of staff
presented awards and Mr Ward was the hit of the evening with his sharp sense of humour. Students mingled with staff,
each other and a good time was had by all that attended. Greenwood College would like to wish the 2014 Year 12
cohort all the best for the coming years and our parting last words are ―don‘t be a stranger‖.
Huge thanks to Ms Hollis who was brave enough to break with tradition and do something different this year. It was
clear by the number of students present that she is respected by her Year 12 group. Well done Ms Hollis for organising
such a great evening!
End of Year Fun Day - Adventure World
On Wednesday 17 December, students from Years 8/ 9 & 10 will finish the year off in the best possible way by enjoying
a fun day at Adventure World. We do this each year because it is so popular with students and staff. Only students
with ―good standing‖ will be allowed to attend. The cost is $40 which I know is pricey, however entrance fees plus the
cost of travel to and from the venue, mean the cost has to be set at that. I do encourage/urge students to bring their
own food and drink. Adventure World‘s food prices are very expensive.
Parent letters and consent forms are available from Student Services. I would appreciate an honest appraisal of your
child‘s swimming abilities when completing the consent form. Adventure World is a big place with a large body of
water. If you are in doubt as to your child‘s ability, please note this on the form and swimming assessments will be
conducted.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 4
Student Services Summary cont.
Student Services Planning Day
On Wednesday 3 December, the entire Student Services Team met to discuss what went right, what went not so right
and what we can do better for 2015. The opportunity to meet and chat with such a large group of people is
invaluable. We didn‘t spend too much time on the negatives. That can be a trap. We discussed our successes and
found solutions to problems. There were a few innovative ideas uncovered which will be in place for next year. As
always, our priorities will be Attendance, Behaviour and Pastoral Care.
7mates/8mates
It is now very common knowledge that Year 7 student students will be in secondary schools as of next year. There are
already a handful of secondary schools which have had 7s on site for many years, but in general terms, this is a new
concept for most high schools. To make sure the Year 7s and the Year 8s are especially looked after, we have trained
up 25 students from Year 9 to act as 7mates and 8mates. Liesl Mahood from YouthCare and our very own Mrs Kristy
Hart spent two days in mid-November at Ern Halliday Camp School, delivering a program to up skill these students in
how to work with and offer support to the 7s and 8s. The two days were extremely successful and put into great effect
over the two transition days held on Monday 1 December (Year 6) and Tuesday 2 December (Year 7). I would also like
to thank Ms Kristy Fenner for her outstanding work in planning the two Transition Days and attending the 7mate/8mate
training days and also Ms Hollis for her support also. And thanks to the Year 10 students who assisted with the Year 7
Transition Day.
The 7mates and 8mates students will spend more time welcoming the new 7s and 8s early in Term 1 next year,
including days at The Great Escape water slides at Hillarys.
2015 Student Council Team
Voting was completed earlier this term and the results are in. I am very pleased to announce the Student Council
Team for next year.
Year 9 – Myri{m Ouldely, H{yden Shillito. Year 10 – Emilie Bell-Tentori, G{vin Anderson. Year 11 – C{rys
Hunter, Isha{n Bhatia. Head Girl – Jessica Laden. Head Boy - Brend{n Burnside (pictured below with Principal
Joanne Harris). The voting was extremely well supported by all students this year and the results were very tight. The
Year 7 and Year 8 Student Councillors will be
selected early in 2015.
Thank you to all 2014 Student Councillors who
will not be a part of the team next year, for your
outstanding commitment to the role and to your
year groups over the past year.
As I sign off on my last newsletter article for the
year, I would like to wish all staff, students and
families a very Merry Christmas, Happy New
Year, a safe and enjoyable holiday and I will see
you back here in 2015.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 5
Raylene Shipham
Chaplain Chatter
Chaplain
Direct line: 9243 9237
I cannot believe that this is the last newsletter for 2014! The older I get the faster the years seem to go by.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our newly elected Student Councillors for 2015. I am really
looking forward to working with you in the New Year.
Student Services have been spending the last few weeks preparing for the intake of two year groups and we have
established mentors for both our Year 7s and 8s called ―7 mates‖ and ―8 mates‖. Our upper school have embraced
this opportunity to be involved and assist our incoming students.
Mr Williams and I attended the Mayoral Prayer breakfast with our Year 10 and Year 11 Councillors and we had the
wonderful privilege of hearing from Father Chris Riley who heads up ―Youth Off The Streets‖. He really inspired me to
think about showing love in action to everyone regardless of culture, race or religion. We were all touched by his
message.
Congratulations to all our Year 12s who have finished and have graduated. We have been able to farewell them with
their graduation ceremony and a beautiful dinner at Joondalup Resort. We wish you all the very best as you enter into
a brand new season in your lives.
Christmas is a time of showing and receiving love and I thought it would be appropriate to share an article about how
to do this in a practical way. I read this book many years ago and it really revolutionised my way of thinking and
relating to people. I hope that it assists you with your children in a practical way as you start thinking about Christmas
and gifts. It is often the little things that make a big difference.
Love Languages and Your Teen
by Dr. Gary Chapman
To find Dr. Chapman's free quiz, go to Love Languages and Your Teen.
Visualize that inside every teen is an emotional love tank. When the teen's love tank is full — that is, she genuinely feels
loved by her parents — the teen can make her way through adolescence with minimal trauma. But when the teen's
love tank is empty, she will grapple with many internal struggles and will typically look for love in all the wrong places.
Therefore, discerning your teen's love language is essential.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 6
Chaplain Chatter cont.
Here is a brief description of each of the five love languages.
Physical touch
Hugs, kisses and tender touches are given in abundance when a child is young. However, some parents feel more
awkward about touching as their child enters adolescence. If a teen's primary love language is physical touch, those
appropriate touches are no less important during the teen years than they were in the earlier years.
Words of affirmation
Using words to encourage and affirm is at the heart of this language. When a toddler is learning to walk, we stand just
two feet away and say, "That's right! Come on; you can do it." And when that toddler falls, we encourage her to get
up and try again. Why do we forget the power of affirming words when kids become teens?
Quality time
This love language involves giving your teen undivided attention. For some teens, regardless of what you're doing
together, nothing is more important than when a parent gives focused attention.
Mindy's primary love language is quality time, and at 17 she still feels secure.
Giving and receiving gifts
Some parents speak this language almost exclusively and are often shocked to find that their teen does not feel loved.
Although gift giving is not the love language of all teens, gifts speak loudly for many.
Acts of service
Parents are continually doing actions designed to assist their kids, but if these acts of service are to be expressions of
love, they must be done with a positive, caring attitude.
Few things are more important for parents than discovering and speaking their teen's primary love language. The teen
needs to receive love in all five languages, but focusing on the primary love language will fill the love tank much faster
and more effectively. Consider your teen's love language. If his language is not obvious, my online assessment quiz
may help you. To find this free quiz, search "Love Languages and Your Teen" on ThrivingFamily.com.
Dr. Gary D. Chapman is the senior associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., and the author of
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers.
This article appeared in the December 2012 issue of Thriving Family magazine and was titled "Speaking the Right Love Language." Copyright © 2012 by
Dr. Gary Chapman. Used by permission. ThrivingFamily.com.
I wish you all the very best for the Christmas season and rest and restoration for when we return to
yet another busy year in 2015.
Raylene Shipham
Chaplain
Direct line: 9243 9237
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 7
Congratulations!
Students of the Week
Congratulations Tanya Johnston (Year 11) for gaining
the top mark in the class on the Excretory System test
and the Health and Smoking assignment (for Human
Biology). The way that Tanya has included in text and
end of text references is to be highly commended.
Well done to Rory Becker (Year 8) for his helpful, calm
and compassionate manner in assisting a staff
member caring for a student requiring First Aid.
Student of the Week and a $25 voucher goes to
Nikita Starr (Year 10) for generously volunteering her
time to help out her school community in many
ways.
IEC —Nycolle Paes Leme Da Fonseca and Moses Mayuom
Hello. The IEC Graduation Day is coming up on 17 December. Some of the IEC
students will be moving to different schools and some of them will be staying at
Greenwood College. Graduation has good and bad things. Bad because some of
our friends will be moving to different schools, and good because in mainstream we
will all make new friends. After our graduation ceremony all of the graduating students will be going to Xtreme Ice in
Mirrabooka. Students will have a lot of fun ice skating and for some of us it will be the first time.
We are very glad that Ms Duncan chose us to be IEC Student Councillors because we have had a good time and it
has been a great experience learning to speak in front of the whole school. We would like to thank Ms Duncan and
Mr Williams and the rest of the Student Councillors for their support and help. Finally, we would like to say goodbye to
all the students and teachers and wish everyone a happy holiday.
Year 8—Rachael O‘Meara and Tasman Tawhai
Hello everyone,
We‘re nearly at the end of 2014. This week we have seen the Year 7s and 8s coming
in for transition and it makes me realise that our first year of high school is almost
done. This term has been busy with tests and assignments getting us ready for next
year. In the next two weeks we‘re looking forward to finishing the year with some fun
activities. The Dance department have been invited to watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Science
department are taking a group of students to Scitech on the 11 December. Our final reward activity is going to
Adventure World on the 17 December and we‘re all looking forward to it.
Tasman and I are both signing off as Student Councillor‘s. We both feel like we have been successful in this role
and have grown in our leadership skills.
We wish everyone a happy Christmas and safe New Year.
Signing off for the last time, Rachael and Tasman.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 8
Year 9—Despina Koulianos and Gavin Anderson
Greetings everyone. This will be the last official newsletter for Term 4, 2014. I hope that
everyone had a fantastic school year but it is almost time to wrap up as we only have few
more weeks until school is over. We can then start our 6 week holiday, in time for Christmas
and the New Year.
This year was a wonderful time for all Year 9s and we believe that our year group grew as a
whole. We went through a lot of new things this year. To start off we experienced our Year 9
camp all the way back in February. This camp was a blast! New friendships were made which is a great outcome
especially at the start of the year.
Other new experiences that helped some year nines bond was the Volleyball program and especially the several
tournaments the Year 9s competed in. There were around four tournaments this year that the Year 9s competed in
and they did not only bring us closer as a team but as friends as well. On the topic of Volleyball, the Year 9/10/11 girls
Volleyball team left for Melbourne at 9am on Friday 5 December for the biggest School Volleyball Competition in
Australia.
We also finished our last NAPLAN test which I bet everyone was stoked about. But sadly this year it actually counted
towards the OLNA test, which we need to pass to be able to graduate in 2017.
We would also like to mention that the ―7 mate‖ program was very successful. There was a two day training ―camp‖
where 26 students attended the camp. It went very well and we need to give special thanks to Liesl Mahood and Mrs
Kristy Hart for giving up their time and teaching us how we can best look after the new Year 7s and Year 8s next year.
Lastly with a new year comes a new change. The future Year 10s will have a different Year Coordinator. Ms Hollis will
take over the responsibility of guiding us for the next three years.
Finally, we farewell Despina Koulianos who wishes to express her gratitude for the opportunity to represent the Year 9
students as Student Councillor this year and enjoyed the role immensely.
We say thanks to everyone that supported us and special thanks to Mr Williams for putting up with us this year and last
year.
Merry Christmas everyone and have a safe and relaxing holiday.
Year 10—Bella Peardon and Thomas Larkins
Hello everyone!
2014 has been a very busy year for the Year 10s. We have done many activities and social
events. Many of the Year 10s have grown and matured throughout the year. We would like to
thank our Year Coordinator Mrs Strahan for organising the social events during the year.
The dinner dance was our major social event during this year. It was our first formal event to
prepare us for our major senior school events;
the formal and ball.
During
this
year
we
have
had
many
camps,
barbeques,
excursions
and
performances.
The Dance/Drama students went on a primary school tour performing many dances and a drama play. We went to
seven
different
primary
schools,
representing
our
school
to
younger
children.
Also recently, the Year 10 Drama students put on a play over two nights called the Canterbury Tales. Well done to all of
the performers for putting on a great show!
Next year we will be preparing for challenges and obstacles including apprenticeships, exams and getting the best
score for your ATAR. Next year the Year 10s will really need to concentrate on our classes as we are no longer in lower
school and every class will matter. Senior school will be the time to achieve your goals.
Next year there will be a brand new cheerleading team called The Knights. This team will be travelling to the Gold
Coast next year to compete in the Cheerleading Nationals. We have already started training this term as we are
determined to perform to the best of our ability and represent our school in the best possible way. We will keep you
updated on how the team goes next year.
Lastly, Tom and I will not be the Student Councillors for 2015. We have both given up the role of Councillors and the
two new representatives are Ishaan Bhatia and Carys Hunter. We wish you the best and we know you‘re going to do a
great job.
I would like to say good luck to Tom who has been my partner for the past two years as he will be leaving Greenwood.
I wish you the best at your next school and thank you for everything you have helped me with.
We hope everyone has enjoyed this year.
Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year.
That‘s all from us!
2014 Student Year Book - Due to circumstances outside our
control, the 2014 Student Year Book will not be available for
collection until 1st week of school in 2015. We are sorry for the delay.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 9
Secondary Schools Tax File Number Program
Ch{nges 2015
Changes to the Secondary Schools Tax File Number Program in 2015
The Secondary Schools Tax File Number (TFN) Program will not continue beyond 31 December 2014. This
means that School TFN forms will no longer be processed beyond this date.
How students can apply for a TFN from 1 January 2015
The Australian Taxation Office in partnership with Australia Post is making it easier for individuals to apply
for a TFN.
Students can now apply for a TFN online and have their identity verified through an interview at a
participating Australia Post office.
Applying online is the fastest and most convenient way for students to get a TFN. More information on
applying online can be found at ato.gov.au by searching for 'QC27248'
Students who are unable to visit a participating Australia Post office will need to complete the application
form Tax file number - application or enquiry for individuals form (NAT 1432). More information about
lodging this form can be found at ato.gov.au by searching for 'QC22604'
The ATO will continue working with teachers to educate students about tax and superannuation. The
curriculum resource Tax, Super & You is a free, easy to use, online educational resource aligned to the
school curriculum of each state and territory. This resource can be accessed at taxsuperandyou.gov.au
In the coming weeks we will provide more information by email on how students can apply for a TFN and
the educational services we can provide. In the meantime if you require any further information you can
phone 1300 130 282 between 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
Scholarships for 2015
Mr Dunn
IEC Deputy
Scholarships to help families with children in secondary school are now
available for 2015.
The Department of Education coordinates scholarships that provide financial
support to eligible children in secondary schools to help with their studies.
Applications for a number of these scholarships are now open for next year
(2015) and close on Wednesday 31 December 2014.
Further details and application forms are on the education.wa.edu.au
website . If you do not have access to the internet, please let the front office
know and we can send you the details or you can come in and collect them.
0407 087 450
Parents are reminded that
they can advise the school
of their child’s absence by
SMS.
Failure to contact the
school will result in your
child/children being
marked as UNEXPLAINED on
their attendance record.
sms
Punctuality/Absentee
Greenwood College recognises that punctuality and regular attendance at
school is a major factor affecting student academic success and building
positive habits for their future. The College therefore adopts a zero tolerance
approach to unexplained absences and lateness to school. Students who are
late to school without an acceptable reason provided by parent note, phone
9243 9200 or SMS 0407 087 450 to the school will be placed into lunch
detention. Late students MUST report to the relevant Deputy Principal or
Student Services Manager to explain their lateness and receive a lunch
detention notice. Teachers will not allow late students into class without a
formal late note.
Mr D M{yes—Deputy Princip{l
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 10
Mrs Kington
Library 2014
Libr{ri{n/Teacher
Another busy and exciting school year is coming to the end. The Library staff has worked hard to make the Library a
vibrant and a comfortable place for students and staff to work and relax.
Some of the more visual changes included the new modular seating and Opac - search terminal stands made
possible with a generous contribution from the P & C.
The Library was opened before school and at lunch time when students were able to participate in both recreational
and educational activities. Activities included playing chess and Uno, reading magazines and books, catching up on
the latest news reading newspapers, plus homework and socialising.
After school on Mondays and Wednesdays the Library was open for students who wanted help in both mathematics
and other school work.
Students work has been displayed throughout the year and changed
regularly to keep it fresh and interesting. This has included work from
several departments and has showcased the many talented students
at our school. For instance, the photo right sees our current library
display of Ms Peroomal‘s Year 8 Society and Environment students
showcasing their colourful paper models of ―My Suburb/Ma
Banlieue‖.
Worldbook online was successfully trialled this year which has enabled
students to use this online encyclopaedia to research from home and
school.
The Library staff wishes everyone a good, safe and relaxing holiday.
The uniform shop will be open for students on
Frid{y 30 J{nu{ry 2015 from 10{m—3pm.
This is a ―once only whole day event‖
so m{ke sure you write it in your di{ry.
Please remember the uniform shop only t{kes CASH.
et!
rg
o
f
t
n’
o
D
Staff Emails
Joanne.Harris@education.wa.edu.au
Principal
Jeffrey.Pohara@education.wa.edu.au
Deputy Principal (Upper School—Years 11/12) Academic Issues
Terry.Dunn@education.wa.edu.au
Deputy Principal (Intensive English Centre/International students)
Greg.Bowdell@education.wa.edu.au
Manager Vocational Education, Training and Career Advisor
Murray.J.Williams@education.wa.edu.au
Manager of Student Services, Behavioural Attendance, Pastoral Care
Pam.Armstrong@education.wa.edu.au
Head of Learning Area—Society and Environment
David.Martin1@education.wa.edu.au
Head of Learning Area—Maths
Guy.Evans@education.wa.edu.au
Head of Learning Area—Science
Brenden.Guard@education.wa.edu.au
Head of Learning Area—Physical Education
Sarah.Smith3@education.wa.edu.au
Enrolment Officer and General Enquiries
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 11
Police Rangers at Greenwood College
A Police Rangers unit has operated at Greenwood College for more than fifteen years. Over
that time the police officers running the unit have enabled many students to develop their life
skills and so become more effective members of the community.
At a time of parental dismay at the anti-social behaviour of some young people, the work of
the Police Rangers provides a useful way of channelling young people‘s energies in a positive
direction. Important ideals of loyalty, duty and service are central to the ethos of the Rangers.
There are many recreational activities provided by the Rangers and they have been arranged
so that students can proceed at their own pace. Some of the activities involve drills, radio communications, navigation,
community service, leadership training, camping and physical challenges.
Membership of the Rangers is open to all students in Grades 7 to 12. No fees are payable, although a small contribution is
requested to cover the cost of the Big Camp which last year was held in Coral Bay.
The Rangers meet at Greenwood College on Mondays during the school year from 4.15 pm to 6.15 pm. Inquiries should be
directed to Tessa Morawski on tessa_morawski@hotmail.com or mobile 0430 383 603.
Secondh{nd Uniforms
Uniform Shop
The Uniform shop has a range of second hand items for sale at a
discounted price. Please help by donating any unwanted or outgrown uniforms you may have to the Uniform Shop. The Uniform
Shop is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 8.20—8.45am. All
donations are gratefully accepted.
Secondhand Books
The Greenwood College Melbourne Tour Volleyball Fundraising Committee will
again be taking second-hand books for sale. A letter will be sent out shortly, with
any books that are for sale to be returned to the office. These books must be put in
a plastic bag along with the form supplied in the letter, listing all the books you wish
to sell. Details will also be supplied in the letter regarding where and when secondhand books can be purchased for the up coming Year 11 and Year 12 students.
If there are any further queries, please contact Sharon McGorlick on mobile
0403 125 285 after 6pm or at mcgorlicks@gmail.com.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 12
Dance and Cheer News
Mrs Merrin
D{nce Teacher
Cheerleading
On 8 and 9 November, the Greenwood Titans competed in the CUA Stars ‗n‘ Stripes Nationals. They were both very
long days for all involved starting at 7am and finishing up at 9pm. However all members of the team worked very hard
and came out with excellent results.
Senior Lyric{l Solo- Amy Fletcher 1st place
Second{ry Jazz Duo- Melody Fricker {nd Amber Rollo- 2nd place
Second{ry Lyric{l te{m- 1st place
Second{ry Jazz te{m- 2nd place
Second{ry Hip Hop te{m- 5th place
Second{ry Level 2 Cheerleading te{m- 2nd place
Well done to the Greenwood Titans of 2014. You had an excellent year with very successful results in all competitions!
The Cheerleading program at the college recently held auditions for next years‘ teams. With the growing popularity of
the program we will now have two cheerleading teams, The Greenwood Titans and The Greenwood Knights. Well
done to everyone that tried out for a team, we had 55 students attend and only 20 places on each team. The calibre
of students was very high this year and we look forward to having two very strong teams in 2015. The Knights have
already started training for next year as they will be heading off to compete in the National Championships in June
next year.
Congratulations to all students that gained a place on a team for 2015!
Parent Support
On Saturday 22 November the parent support team participated in a stock take of all of the costumes and
accessories in the Dance department. There was a great turn out which meant the stock take was completed in
record time. Thank you to all those parents who helped out your support is greatly appreciated.
I would just like to thank the parent support team of 2014 you have been a massive help to the dance department
with sewing costumes, making head pieces, selling raffle tickets, organising sausage sizzles, making hampers,
volunteering for stocktake and a range of other jobs. Your support throughout the year is greatly appreciated and it
gives the students enrolled in dance more opportunities and better facilities. I look forward to working with you again
next year!
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 13
On behalf of all the staff at the Home Economics Dept,
have a great Christmas and holidlay break.
Home Economics
Christmas Recipes
Christmas Shortbread
Ingredients
3/4
cup pl{in flour
2
tbsp. castor sug{r
100g butter
1/4
tsp. v{nilla essence
2
tsp. rice flour
Method
Set over at 160 degrees.
Sift flours, add sugar and rub in butter. Add vanilla essence. Work into a stiff dough with a kitchen knife. Turn onto a
lightly floured bench top and knead well.
Divide mixture into two. Roll each piece into rounds—1 cm thick and the size of a saucer. Pinch edges. Using an egg
slice, lift onto an oven tray. Mark each round into 8 pieces halfway through dough and decorate with a fork.
Bake at 160 degrees until pale fawn colour 20-25 minutes.
Cool on cake cooler. Decorate with icing when cool.
Apple Christmas Tree Parcel
Ingredients
1
sheet puff pastry
20g
sult{nas
1
gr{nny smith {pple
1/2
tsp. cinn{mon
1
tbsp. castor sug{r
Method
Preheat oven to 210 degrees.
Grate apple and squeeze out excess moisture. Add sultanas, cinnamon and sugar.
Cut 2 x Christmas tree shapes into the puff pastry sheet.
Place one piece of pastry on baking tray and carefully pile the apple mixture onto the
centre.. Leave a 1cm border of pastry free around the whole tree.
Place the second piece of pastry on top, press edges with a fork and glaze with egg and milk mixture.
Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
Sprinkle with icing sugar when cool or glaze with icing.
Mrs Aylene Lawrance
Year 8 Morning Tea
Home Economics
During the past three weeks, the Year 8 Home Economic students had to organise,
prepare and host a tea party for their parents/guardians.
Each student had to make an invitation for a special guest. Students made sausage rolls,
cupcakes, pizzas and scones for their special occasion. On the actual day, each student
had a specific job to make
the party a success i.e.:
heating the sausage rolls,
whipping
cream
and
setting up the drinks. As you
can see by the photo, it
was a complete success!
All the guests agreed it was
delightful and the food was
delicious. Everyone left with a smile.
A special thanks to the guests, taking the time to come
and enjoy the tea party and be hosted by the Year 8
Home Economics class. Congratulations to the Year 8s
for working well together as a team. Well done!!
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 14
Volunteer Awards Morning Tea
Greenwood College is very fortunate to be supported by many hard-working volunteers who
contribute across the school. Our Greenwood College volunteers truly enrich the school
environment, and are involved in a variety of areas - by sitting on the School Board, coaching
volleyball teams, mentoring students at risk, helping out in the canteen, uniform shop, sewing
dance costumes, contributing to school committees, hosting visiting students, attending
school camps and organising fundraising activities. We would be lost without our volunteers!
The tireless efforts and dedication demonstrated by these generous people were recognised
at the annual volunteers morning tea, held in the college library on Tuesday 18 November.
Volunteers enjoyed delightful food prepared by the canteen staff (thank you canteen staff!)
and had the opportunity to unwind and share their stories and reflections on the year.
Ms Kristy Fenner
Public Relations
Officer
Congratulations to the following recipients of the annual Volunteering Awards -
Volunteer Appreciation Awards
Bev Wilson (pictured left) – For dedicating m{ny ye{rs
volunteering at the school c{nteen.
Irene Di-Rosso (pictured below left) – For dedicating m{ny
ye{rs of service through volunteering at the school
c{nteen.
Jo Connor – For dedicating m{ny ye{rs of service
through volunteering at the school c{nteen.
Sandra Serafini – Being a proactive member of the
p{rent Music committee, assisting in the uniform
shop {nd Secret{ry of the P&C.
Zoe Hendrie (pictured right) – For tireless volunteering in
the
D{nce
department.
Zoe
helped sew m{ny costumes, cut
out
costumes,
org{nised
the
drinks for the Bunnings s{usage
sizzle {nd made {ll the h{mpers
for the choreogr{phy night. She
{lso assists with helping in the
c{nteen at d{nce events.
Julian Pearsall - Being a proactive
member of the Music committee,
helping to rep{ir, tag {nd test
v{rious school {ppli{nces, active
member of the P& C {nd sh{res
his expertise in the Robotics
club.
of
service
through
Mentor of the Year
Liz Fisher (pictured right) – Continuous emotion{l {nd academic support for a
Greenwood College student.
Thank you to all of our volunteers - your contributions to Greenwood College have been invaluable
and will continue to be, sincerely appreciated. We wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and look
forward to seeing you again in the New Year.
Mrs Griffin and her Care Group 8C1
would like to spread festive cheer
and merriment to all… Have a safe
holiday.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 15
China Visit 2014 (Part II)
Mr Dunn
Intensive English Deputy
Four Greenwood College teachers travel to China for exchange activities with our Sister School. The report part two
continues our journey….
Jinling High School displays a number of inspirational messages
throughout the school. Many of them are quotes taken from the
famous Chinese philosopher and teacher Confucius. Confucius's
principles had a basis in common Chinese tradition and belief. He
championed strong family loyalty, ancestor worship and respect of
elders by their children. He also recommended family as a basis for
ideal government. He espoused the well-known principle "Do not do
to others what you do not want done to yourself", an early version of
the Golden Rule.
These virtues that are proudly displayed and embraced by the staff
and students at the school. The sense of fairness and caring for each
other was evident whenever we interacted with students and staff.
Whilst they seemed to work hard and endured long hours, they
remained cheerful and engaged. This was quite obvious when we
were invited to the students‘ karaoke competition.
The finalists in the competition sang a wide variety of Chinese pop
songs and were enthusiastically applauded after each
performance. Towards the end of the competition a hush came over
the audience as it was announced that as a special treat the
Australian guests were going to join in and sing a song themselves.
We were quite unprepared for this and my mind went blank trying to
think of a song I could sing. We are not performers and were put on
the spot. Fortunately Mr Bowdell rose to the occasion as his
colleagues pointed in his direction to ‗take one for the team!‘
Mr Bowdell was superb, as he had the audience clapping along with
him and all without any musical backing. Well done Mr Bowdell, you
saved us and represented our school with distinction.
Changxing Jinling School is an Art Specialist school and we saw
students and staff involved in a variety of artistic pursuits. We saw
many Art styles ranging from traditional Chinese ink calligraphy and
prints to portrait painting.
The area around Changxing was surprising in that it bore all the signs
of a developing and industrialised economy and also retained many
of the cultural relics of Chinese Dynasties that have appeared and
disappeared through the ages. Changxing was the home of the
Chen Dynasty and the Emperor resided within the palace complex
shown in the photos here. It was fantastic to see the importance
placed on preserving ancient artefacts for future generations to
appreciate the long and rich history that has influenced life in China
all the way through to the modern age.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 16
China Visit 2014 (Part II) cont.
About an hour by high speed train is the old
capital of China, Nanjing formerly known as
Jinling in Jiangsu province. We were fortunate
to complete a day trip to Nanjing. As we drove
into the city centre we could see the remains of
the old city wall still prominent in the city. We
wandered
through
some
spectacular
waterways and gardens and finished the day
with a visit to the memorial museum to the
victims of the Nanking massacre. This museum
was particularly moving as it serves as a notice
to all about the brutality and lack of humanity
that war brings. The sculpture at the front of the
museum was full of emotion, depicting a
mother holding the lifeless body of her child trying to escape the
invading Japanese army.
We travelled to Beijing after our visit with Jinling school where we met
Mrs Armstrong who was on holiday at the time in the capital. Mrs
Armstrong is an authority on China and a devoted fan of its history
and culture. She had prepared a full programme of sightseeing in
Beijing and was eager to share her passion for China with our group.
With a twinkle in her eye she told us to be prepared to be amazed.
Amazed we were! We had a driver and a guide and were primed to
see the iconic sights of Beijing on a very tight and full schedule. We
piled into our transport with great expectation and experienced one
of the daily wonders of Beijing immediately. A massive traffic jam that
extended behind and in front of us for many kilometres. Our first
lesson, Beijing is one of the most populous cities in the world!
After breaking free of the jam we travelled towards Mutianyu, one of
the points of entry to see the famous Great Wall of China.
In a rare display of sunshine we were treated to an unforgettable
experience. The light on the scene before us and the sight of the wall
snaking off into the distance was a sight to behold. We spent two
hours walking and soaking in the atmosphere, imagining the warriors
of old in extremes of weather prepared to fend off the invading
Mongol armies.
Our next stop was ―The Sacred Way‖ and the Ming tombs. In the front
part of the imperial necropolises, there is a Sacred Way (or Divine
Road) which means the road leading to heaven. The Emperor,
known as the Son of Heaven, who came from Heaven to his country
through the Sacred Way, also would return to Heaven through this
road. It was lined with stone statues, both animals and mythological
creatures.
Here we see Mr Filidei (a horse enthusiast)
stopping to admire a statue along the
Sacred Way.
Wangfujing Street in Beijing are the famous
night markets. Shoulder to shoulder with
tourists and locals we were mesmerised by
the variety of gifts and trinkets on display,
but even more impressed when we
approached the food stalls set up along
the sides of the streets and alleys.
Some of the aromas made my mouth water, and some of them
necessitated a quick step past while I held my breath. There were
scorpions on a stick still alive or roasted. Snake meat, pork, chicken
and other kinds that were best to remain a mystery.
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 17
China Visit 2014 (Part II) cont.
We visited Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and The Summer
Palace over the next few days. Each site steeped in history and really
interesting to learn about as our guide showed us around. One of my
favourite photos was taken in Tiananmen Square near the
monument to the people‘s heroes. You can see the man in the
foreground looking forward, matching the forward stance of the
monument.
We left Beijing on the high Speed train for Shanghai. Another great
experience as the train reached speeds of more than 300km per
hour. Several hours later and we were in cosmopolitan Shanghai.
We stayed in the French concession which was very leafy green and
clean. Walking along the bund in Shanghai was memorable on such
a beautiful day. You can see the river and the famous Pearl Tower in
the background.
Sadly our time in China had come to an end. We had spent about
10 days in China, interacting with our sister school community and
taking in the sights. As a group of colleagues we travelled and
worked really well together, we learnt a lot and had a great
experience. We all came back with our own unique impressions of
China and its people. Personally I have since followed up with a lot
more reading about China and felt that I gained a new
appreciation for how friendly the people are and how beautiful the
country is. I hope that efforts will
continue to preserve the China of old
and the rich culture that abounds. I also
hope that the generous spirit and
cheerful nature of the people will
remain unaffected in this era of rapid
development.
Ultimately, for Greenwood College
students to experience a trip to China in
2015 would be the realisation of long
term goal. Learning opportunities
beyond the classroom and textbook
are rare and in many ways priceless. I
am pleased to say that preliminary
planning has begun. Keep an eye on
school notices early in 2015, an
opportunity to participate in such a trip
will be one of those rare opportunities
for personal development and learning
that can be life changing. As they say,
stay tuned and watch this space !
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 18
Art
Student Spotlight
Aaron Pignatiello (Yr 8)
Student Spotlight
Jordan Woodward (Yr 10)
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 19
Ye{r 11 Cubist P{inting
Amazing Art
Rylen Laraya
Rachel Parker
Taneeka Hall
Callan Avis
Tessa Zollner
Florence Baitio
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 20
Ye{r 11 Cubist P{inting
Amazing Art
Amakou Domkoc
Nathalina Gabriel
Suphakit (Earth) Bunchuai
Intishar Shaban
Natcha Chaimee
Amanda Ellis
Wachira (Dream) Boonpok
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 21
The talented Year 10 Art students have drawn on
their imaginations and dreams to create
interesting surrealist paintings….. Mrs Papasergio
Year 10 Art
Miah Harvey Draper—Jam Rolls
Tomoka Mishima—Liberty
Alyssa Batuyong—Invasion
Carys Hunter—We walk among others
Alyssa Hutchins—Messages from the Universe
Nan Sripakdee—Dream on
Shivang Patel—3 wisemen
Bogdan Rabulea—The Garden of Eden
Kim Gaunt—A Maze in the Woods
Godfrey Kenyi—City of Carter
Andy Nguyen—The Church
Maddi Uchino—A Catcher full of Dreams
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 22
Community Advertising
Need a helping
hand?
Babysitting
We can connect you with a local
university student who is
studying to be a nurse or
teacher.
Event Staff
Need someone to pass out food
and drinks at your next function.
A handy helper can also do the
dishes!
Gardening
Is it time to clean up the garden
for the Christmas season?
Handy helpers are motivated
and hardworking.
Whatever type of helper you are looking for you will find
them.
Find casual, local university students at
handyhelpers.com.au
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 23
Community Advertising
Congratulations to Florence Baitio (Yr 11) who is a
finalist for the 2014
WA Youth Awards. Her
nomination stems from her work as a youth support
worker with the Assoc for Services to Torture and
Trauma Survivors. The article above was published
in the Community Newspaper during the month of
November. Well done Florence!
Start 2015 with Confidence
ENROL NOW IN ACADEMIC TASK FORCE
JANUARY SCHOOL HEAD START PROGRAM
AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN 2015
HEADSTART FOR YRS 11 & 12
HEADSTART FOR YRS 7 - 10 AVAILABLE
syllabus overview – confidence building – refresh your understanding – study skills – essay writing
2 day courses / 6 hours per course
Jan 15 – Jan 28 2015
Venues: Churchlands SHS and Rossmoyne SHS
Enrol Now: www.academictaskforce.com.au Email:learn@academictaskforce.com.au
Please phone for further information: (08) 9314 9500
Greenwood College
December 2014
Page 24