TERM 1, WEEK 11

12 APRIL 2019

(08) 8521 2400

www.gdc.sa.edu.au

dl.0774_info@schools.sa.edu.au

Barnet Road, EVANSTON SA 5118

“respect, generosity and excellence for self, everyone and the environment”

DIARY DATES

TERM 1 Friday 12 April

Last day of Term 1

Early dismissal 2.15pm

TERM 2 Monday 29 April

First day of Term 2

Tuesday 7 May

Class Photo Day R - 6

Wednesday 8 May -15 May

Operation Flinders

Thursday 9 May

Class Photo Day 7 - 12

Friday 10 May

Class Photo Catch Up Day

Year 12 Senior Formal

Year 11 & SCS Career Expo

Wednesday 15 May

Immunisation Day

1st Visit - Year 10’s only

Tuesday 21 May

Immunisation Day

1st Visit - Year 11’s only

Monday 27 May

Governing Council @ 7pm

Monday 27 - 31 May

National Reconciliation

Week

Friday 7 June

School Closure

Pupil Free Day

Monday 10 June

Public Holiday

Queens Birthday

Monday 24 June

Governing Council @ 7pm

Monday 1 July - 5 July

NAIDOC Week

GAWLER & DISTRICT COLLEGE B-12 COMMUNITY VOICE MEETINGS

Date: Term 2, Week 4: Thursday 23 May

Term 2, Week 8: Thursday 20 June

Time: 9:00am, for a 9:15am start

Venue: Gawler & District College B-12 Nunga Room

To plan and discuss 2019 projects and upcoming events.

Any further information please phone Wally or De (8521 2400)

WELCOME FROM THE ABORIGINAL EDUCATION TEAM

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On behalf of the Aboriginal Education Team at Gawler & District College B-12, we would

like to welcome you to the first newsletter for our ATSI community. You will find some

exciting events and great participation by our students in this and future newsletters. We

are very excited about the opportunities that this year will bring for our Aboriginal students

and we are looking forward to working together for the remaining three terms of 2019. In

this edition we have also included information about our first community voice meeting

and the minutes are attached on the back page.

Last year we had twelve Year 12 students complete and attain their SACE certificate. This

is the highest number of Aboriginal students we have had in a Year 12 cohort and we are

very proud of their fantastic achievements. We would also like to thank the families,

teachers and all members of the community who helped them achieve their goals. This

year the focus of the Aboriginal Education Team will be on student learning, attendance

and community involvement.

Introducing our Aboriginal Education Team:

Aboriginal Community Education Officers: Wally Aguis and De Barth

Aboriginal Education Coordinator: Shareen Sami (Replacing Layla Clarke who is on leave)

Aboriginal Education Teachers: Scott Merriman, Caitlin Hilliard and Kerryl Dale

APAS Tutors: Leonie Eames and Ayla Barth

Head of Middle School: Liz Rankin

Thank you for taking the time to read; we are all looking forward to working with you

throughout the year.

AMY LEVAI TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP

Congratulations to Neisha R who has won the Amy Levai

Teaching Scholarship; a grant available for Aboriginal

students who are interested in teaching. Neisha has been

heavily involved within the Aboriginal and wider

community, involved in programs such as NAIDOC Week,

Adelaide Fringe and AIME’s Got Game. She has also been

involved in teaching Aboriginal cultural workshop programs

to primary school children. Her involvement in a range of school and community based

programs was reflected by Susie Stevens, Project Manager, Workforce Strategies, People

& Culture, who presented Neisha with the scholarship.

Further congratulations to Neisha who has been given the role of Year 12 Student Voice

Representative at Gawler & District College. Students who are part of the SVR will have

the opportunity to positively influence their learning and school community through

meetings with school leadership, teachers and peers. Well done, Neisha!

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 1, Week 11 2019 Page 2

WELL DONE

NEISHA!

WORKABOUT CENTRE

The WorkAbout Centre is a Government initiative that supports students in

gaining their drivers licence (Learners Permit), undertaking hair and

beauty courses and training certificates (e.g. White Card). Students who

are looking to develop these skills are encouraged to discuss this with the

ABED team.

HEALTH CHECKS

Once again, the Gawler Aboriginal Health Team are offering on site

Health Checks at Gawler & District College. The team will be putting on a

BBQ and meet and greet to answer any questions. Date to be advised

and notes will be sent home.

NASSSA FILMING

On Tuesday 9 April a group of senior students participated in filming

“Acknowledgement of Country” which will be used on the NASSSA website.

This was a great opportunity for our students to be involved with important

projects as well as feel connected to their land and culture.

WELL-BEING PROGRAM

Yoga Sessions/Managing Anxiety

On Wednesday's between 9am - 10am Year 7 to 12 female students

have the opportunity to attend yoga/wellbeing sessions. The sessions

are being facilitated through Jasmine Hornby from Bend and Mend.

Students also attended a “Managing Anxiety Workshop” earlier this

term. Students travelled by bus to the Yoga studio in Gawler where

the workshop was facilitated by Trish from Stillness Speaks.

COMMUNITY VOICE MEETING

On 21 March GDC B-12 held our first

Community Voice Meeting for

2019. Meetings are planned twice a

term on Thursdays at 9am in Nunga

room (Week 4 & Week 8). Flyers

confirming dates will be sent out

the week prior. We encourage

everyone to attend for greater

community involvement which we

believe will result in better learning

outcomes for our students.

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 1, Week 11 2019 Page 3

The SAASTA students had a visit from Port Adelaide Players Aidyn

Johnson (Current Player) and Wade Thompson (Former Player)

Story courtesy of the

Bunyip Newspaper

COMMUNITY VOICE MEETING MINUTE

Gawler & District College B-12 Term 1, Week 11 2019 Page 4

Meeting: Community Voice Meeting

Date of Meeting: 21 March 2019 Time: 9:15am

Minutes Prepared By: Shareen Sami Location: ABED Room

Meeting Objective

To gain feedback from our community about what we can do to improve outcomes for our students.

Attendees and Apologies

Attended: Shareen Sami, Kerryl Dale, Wally Aguis, parents & caregivers Apologies: De Barth & Liz Rankin

Agenda and Notes, Decisions, Issues

Topic Discussion

Tutoring Shareen/Kerryl: Updated parents on APAS Tutoring and AETs.

AIME Program Shareen/Wally: Spoke about AIME – to start Term 2. Wally: AIME program is becoming difficult in terms of running after school.

WorkAbout Centre Shareen: Spoke about the WorkAbout Centre program and how it is very beneficial for

senior students.

Homework Centre Waiting on budget allocations from department. Hope to start during Term 2. Kerryl: Spoke about the reasons for running it during the day for both primary and

secondary students. Will be looking for volunteers.

Questions, Concerns &

Feedback Parents concern are that things in terms of process are becoming difficult for them. Parents are looking at doing Mural in front of room as they get confused coming on

site.