Weekly Update 19 june

It’s great to come across a good news story about social media in schools.

A senior high school student in Washington has disclosed at his graduation ceremony that he was the mysterious founder of an anonymous Instagram account that posted positive messages about every one of his classmates.

He says, “During the summer, I made the decision to go in and try to make everyone feel appreciated and recognised for simply being the amazing people they are. It is easy for people to be cruel over social media so I decided to make an anonymous account on Instagram that would counteract the negativity seen today by posting a picture of each student and a paragraph of what makes them great and how other people should see that too. So after 657 posts over 11 months I would like to admit I am ‘thebenevolentone3. Benevolence is defined as ‘characterised by expressing goodwill and kindly feelings’."

The paragraphs this student wrote about his classmates were positive, warm and full of detail that showed how this student had carefully observed those around him. You can read his examples for yourself if you search ‘thebenevolentone3’. What a great characteristic this is, to think of others around you in a focused and practical way.

What a contrast to students who use social media to make cutting, cruel and thoughtless comments about their classmates. Many of these students would not think of saying such hurtful things face to face but are lulled by the relative anonymity and ‘arms-length’ distance of social media. So I applaud this American student—may others follow his example.

Anne Coutts
Principal

A really enjoyable aspect of my role is to hear about the diversity of student involvement and achievement either academically, pastorally or in co-curricular activities.

Our 2015 Sports Captain, Olivia Sutton, has been selected by the Australian Olympic Committee as one of eight students in the Australian contingent to attend the 10th International Pierre de Coubertin Youth Forum in Piestany, Slovakia from 28 August to 13 September this year. The forum, organised by The International Pierre de Coubertin Committee (CIPC), will be followed by a Homestay Program in Austria. The motto of the 10^th Youth Forum is 'Riding the Wave of the Olympic Spirit'. I was particularly pleased for Olivia because of the extraordinary level of commitment and preparation required to even get to the interview stage. The activities at the forum include workshops involving art, music, drama, dance, Olympic knowledge, a variety of sports and Community Service. Students selected will be involved in the Forum program organising sports events, leading discussion groups and coordinating group activities as well as participating for the Coubertin Award. Olivia will be invited to present a report at a full school Assembly early in Term 4.

The theme of the discussion groups at the Forum will be ‘Sport has its own language, and everyone can speak it. It’s a language of hope, where anything is possible’. The value of ‘hope’ is often seen as one of the defining values or virtues. Dr Ruth Edwards in her book Challenge and Choice - Australian Anglican Schools Today, observes "that the two major motivations for parents selecting private schools were school values and educational achievement". The great Anglo-Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, wrote: “Life is no brief candle to me, it is sort of a splendid torch which I’ve got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as bright as possible before handing it on to a future generation. Life for us on earth is brief, although the opportunities are many and our task is to keep the torch burning brightly so that we can pass it on to those behind us. It will not be easy; there will be pain and hurt. It is worth remembering, however, that on the darkest night the stars shine most brightly. Hope is a periscope which enables us to see over our present problems to future possibilities. While admiring your neighbour’s lawn across the fence, do not miss the roses blooming at your own feet.”

Peter Milligan
Head of Senior School 

I was pleased to announce this week that a new partnership has been established that will support us to equip the Junior School with additional new digital technologies, with a special focus to drive  STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

I wrote in a previous Weekly Update about another partnership with CSIRO Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools program (SMiS) that has resulted in our access to highly regarded professionals working with some of our students in Dr Liber Eleutherios (Mathematician) and Dr Brad Tucker (Scientist).

This new special partnership is with the Australian 3D Manufacturing Association (A3DMA) in conjunction with Allbids.

Our focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum developments has resulted in our Junior School looking at new ways for our students to learn. Discussions with teachers and with other education professionals, have resulted in some exciting projects.

Our Year 6 Exhibition this year has a specific STEM focus, for instance and already one of our pods is being transformed as a 'MakerSpace' equipped with our very first 3D printer! A makerspace is sometimes referred to as a Fablab. They are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, often with 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more. At the Exhibition launch this week, the students and their parents were all abuzz with excitement about the possibilities of this new technology.

In order to drive an integrated structured learning program, we are asking for some assistance that will potentially help fund some additional equipment that can deliver the hands-on experiences that will up skill our students for the next digital revolution.

A recycling initiative has been designed to deliver a long-term, sustainable funding model.

Do you have any devices at home collecting dust? If you do and the device is less than 5 years old, we are collecting them to raise funds that can be used to purchase additional technology, such as 3D printers, 3D scanners, and more.

Devices that can be donated include:

• Tablet devices: Apple iPads, Microsoft Surface, Samsung Galaxy tablets, any other brands
• Smart Phones: Apple iPhones, Microsoft Smart Phone, Samsung Galaxy, any other brands
• Laptops: Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Any other brands or models
• Multimedia Devices: Apple iPods, Apple iWatches, Samsung gear, Fitbits etc

We will be very grateful for any of your donations but we are being asked that you consider the following:

1. The device should be in working order
2. Please include any relevant chargers, cables and accessories that you still have
3. Please restrict devices to the above categories
4. If you have a large amount of equipment that you would like to donate outside these categories, you are invited to contact A3DMA directly

The drop off area at the CGGS Junior School will be in Reception. We are asking our community to send in their unwanted devices and we promise to keep you updated as the project gathers traction!

This is an investment in all of our futures.  Let’s get recycling now and turn your old technology into the foundation stone of the new industrial revolution - Education.

Heather Ablett
Head of Junior School