Nhill College Newsletter

As part of the celebrations for Education Week, we again participated in the very popular National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday morning.  This year's story was called 'Alpacas with Maracas', and all students were captivated by the efforts of our very talented staff as they read through - and performed - this story.  It was extremely pleasing to see a number of parents in the audience for this event.  It was also fantastic to be able to welcome the children from the local kinder on such a positive and entertaining occasion.  It is very important that all children develop a love of reading at a young age, so it is hoped that activities like this one will only encourage everyone present to go home and read a book.  Thank you to Mrs Kerber and the P-6 staff for all their efforts in preparing for the event, with a special thanks to Miss McCartney for her reading and Mr McDonald and Mr Dahlenburg, whose portrayal of alpacas will surely have the Piggery Lane Players knocking on their door soon.

The 2019 Volunteering Recognition Awards were held in Horsham last Friday night where 5 Nhill College students were recognised for services to their community.  As part of their SPARK program, Drew Schneider, Aidan Rintoule, Tom Harris, Brock Stephens and Tyler Davis attended Iona on a weekly basis last year to conduct a Footy Tipping competition with the residents.  Mrs Kate Pilgrim, from the WWHS, nominated the boys - and the SPARK program - in the Connecting Communities category of the 2019 Volunteering Recognition Awards.  Mrs Trenery attended the awards presentation and was extremely excited to accept the award on the boys' behalf.  This award is fantastic recognition for the boys for the wonderful work they did at Iona last year.  It also reflects the general appreciation that our local community has for our students as they get out and about in the many different projects undertaken through programs like SPARK and VCAL.  Congratulations to Drew, Aidan, Tom, Brock and Tyler on their award - which is now being displayed proudly at the General Office - and to Mrs Trenery and Miss Roantree for their continued support of students within the SPARK program.  Thanks also to the WWHS for allowing our students to engage in projects such as the one with residents at Iona, and to Kate Pilgrim for not only taking the time to nominate the boys, but for also coming along with Barry to present them with their award at Monday's Assembly.   

School Photos will be taken on Monday, 27th May.  Individual packs for the coming School Photos were sent home with students a couple of weeks ago.  If families have not yet checked that their personal details have been recorded correctly and returned their permission forms with payment, they are asked to send them along with their children on Monday.

At a meeting earlier in the year, our College Captains made the suggestion to re-introduce the idea of Nhill College holding a school Fete.  This suggestion was very positively received by students and discussions with staff and school council have also been in favour of the concept.  After a great deal of discussion with students and staff, it was decided that the first Friday in November would be the best time to fit a fete into our busy school calendar.  Please set aside Friday 1st November for an afternoon of fun and engaging activities that the whole family will be able to enjoy.   

If you are reading this, you obviously have access to the school newsletter.  However, some families have asked how grandparents or community members can stay in touch with the school when they don't have access to Compass.  The answer is that anyone can access the school's newsletter through the College website: www.nhillcollege.vic.edu.au.  Please advise any family, friends or interested members of the wider community, that the newsletter is the main source of information from the school and that it is available to anyone who would like to read it.  Spread the word!

• Student Free Day: Friday 24th May
  
• School Photo Day: Monday 27th May
• Greater Western Region Cross Country: Monday 3rd June
• Years 9-11 Exams: June 5-7
• Queen's Birthday Holiday: Monday 10th June
• Student Free Day: Tuesday 11th June
• GAT: Wednesday 12th June

Due to school photos on this coming Monday the 27th May, the primary assembly will be held on Tuesday the 28th May at 2.50pm in the Wimmera building. All family members are welcome to attend each week.

At the secondary assembly the weekly awards were announced where form groups are rotated each week and teachers get the opportunity to nominate students who are displaying positive habits in the classroom. All nominees are read out and two students are randomly drawn to win a milkshake voucher from the canteen. This week’s winners were chosen from Year 9. Teachers had 77 nominated candidates to go into the draw. Congratulations to all Year 9’s! The winners of the milkshakes were Jenna and Will.

Our Gotcha awards for displaying positive behaviour out in the yard during the fourth week of Term 2 were

• Casey for returning items from the sandpit
• Zahra for picking up rubbish
• Sarah for picking up rubbish
• Amelia for picking up rubbish
• Chelsey for picking up rubbish

Well done to all students who were nominated.

Students in Mrs Kerber’s Foundation and Year One class were recognised for their excellent progress in reading this week. Students are able to recognise and read the Magic Coloured Words, with some students moving onto FRY words.  Congratulations to Hseh Ku, Tori, Sarah, Braydan, Lah June and Harrison for their excellent progress.

At the end of the primary assembly, students were treated to a performance from Charlotte and Miss Bates on the Saxophone. They played Mexican Madness together. An impressive performance. Well done Charlotte. 

Today Nhill College was presented with a donation  of $1500 from our local SUPA IGA manager Steve.  IGA has continued to support Nhill College over the years, which staff and students appreciate immensely.  The donation will go towards assisting our students with their education.  

Thank you IGA.

Over the last couple of weeks both 4/5/6 classes have been learning about what it takes to be an upstander. An upstander is a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being bullied. The Department of Education have had a Bully Stoppers state-wide poster competition going on. On an A3 piece of paper, each student needed to promote upstander behaviour and the theme #ihaveyourback

The winning posters will be printed and sent to all Victorian schools. (Good luck)

In preparation, each student created their own individual hashtag promoting ‘Bully Stoppers’ which they used within their posters. Keep an eye out around the primary section where you will notice the 4/5/6 hashtag photos.

We are taking a stance against all types of bullying. So please get on board with us.

4/5/6’s 

Congratulations to the Year 9 and 10 students who have participated in the regional rounds of a state-wide speaking competition in Indonesian. Students used an online video platform to communicate with the interviewer from Braemar College. Brock, Dia, Maddie, Ruby, Sarena, Talen and Brodie from Year 10 all faced their fears and took part, while Zara from Year 9 also rose to the occasion. (Shae was well-prepared but absent on the day, unfortunately.) Other students in the Year 9-10 Indonesian class were interviewed by Bu Winda. Thank you also to Bu Winda who acted as an assessor for students from Braemar College.

The interview began with questions about their everyday life. Following this, the students had prepared a brief paragraph about their home or a friend which was memorised and presented to the assessor, who then asked a number of unrehearsed questions about their home or friend.

Dia and Zara both made it through to the state finals, to be held in the first weekend of June in Melbourne. A very big congratulations to both of these girls for this wonderful achievement! And a huge commendation to all who took part in a very nerve-wracking but invaluable experience. “One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”

Bu Kube

A list of latest model computers available from Nhill Bi-Rite and Wimmera Office Equipment has been included in this week’s newsletter for the consideration of families interested in a BYOD.  These lists contain a range of devices that will be able to support student learning – at home and at school – over the next few years.  A reminder that all students have free access to Microsoft Office, as well as some Adobe programs through their school subscription.  For families considering a BYOD, it is worth noting that electronic resources are being used more and more frequently in classes, with the College subsidising Edrolo subscriptions for all VCE students, while Maths Pathways and Education Perfect resources are also being used more extensively across Years 7-10 this year.  If you have any questions related to the College’s BYOD program, feel free to contact Mr Shrive.   The BYOD product lists can be downloaded from the link below, as well as being available from the College website.  Printed copies can be obtained from Mr Shrive on request.