1. education
2. school

Term 2 Week 3
Foundation Phase
Year 1 - Fire Ant Incursion
Ashwina Lingana - Teacher
On Friday, Year 1 students had a very special guest; Aka the Fire Ant Tracker dog. Aka helped us to understand
more about fire ants. She has been trained to track fire ants. Aka displayed her unique skills such as untying some
student’s shoelaces! We learnt that fire ants secretly came to Australia from South America on cargo ships. They live
underground in nests where they protect their queen. Did you know that the queen can lay up to 1000 eggs per day?
Wow! Fire ants use tunnels to go in and out of the nest and can become very angry if you disturb them. When they
feel threatened they can give you a nasty, fiery sting. Ouch! That's why they are called Fire Ants.
Year 2 – Music
Kaye - Marie Bently
Students have enjoyed their music lessons
this week. They have been learning all
about what music means, and how pitch,
rhythm and beat are heard in songs. It's
exciting to listen to different types of music
and hear the similarities and differences in
the tunes. Students get excited when they
are playing listening games that focus
on these elements. They mention it every
time we hear a song.
NAPLAN in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9
Susan Hindle & Roshea Buksh: Heads of Day School
On Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 May, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in the National
Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, or “NAPLAN", as it is commonly known.
Skills that will be tested include: Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation), Reading
and Numeracy. Testing is paced over several days and includes set rest times to help students work to their
personal best.
Year 3
Year 5
Year 7
Year 9
Tuesday 12 May
Language conventions
40 minutes
Writing
40 minutes
Language conventions
40 minutes
Writing
40 minutes
Language conventions
45 minutes
Writing
40 minutes
Language conventions
45 minutes
Writing
40 minutes
Wednesday 13 May
Thursday 14 May
Reading
45 minutes
Numeracy
45 minutes
Reading
50 minutes
Numeracy
50 minutes
Reading
65 minutes
Numeracy with calculator
40 minutes
Numeracy non calculator
40 minutes
Reading
65 minutes
Numeracy with calculator
40 minutes
Numeracy non calculator
40 minutes
These tests are completed here at school and are considered just another part of the curriculum. It is important
for you and your child to know that NAPLAN is not a pass/fail test. It simply looks at what level students are
achieving in literacy and numeracy against National Standards and compared with student peers throughout
Australia.
NAPLAN cannot be studied for and students are not expected to do so. The best way you can help your child
prepare for NAPLAN is to let them know that it is just a routine part of their school program, and to encourage
them to do the best they can on the day. Please ensure your child has a hearty breakfast to prepare them for the
days testing.
Later in the year parents will have access to an individual student NAPLAN report that you can use to monitor
how your child is progressing. More information, including sample tests, is available at www.naplan.edu.au
If you have any concerns about the NAPLAN processes, please contact your child’s teacher.
Intermediate Phase
CSSAQ – Cross Country
Andrew Hourigan – Primary Sports Coordinator
On Monday, May 4, students from Years 3 – 6
attended the CSSAQ Cross Country at
Limestone Park. Teachers were very proud of
the sportsmanship and effort of all the students
as they represented our College in the
competition. Congratulations to all of the
students who qualified for this event.
Year 4 - Swimming
Jessica Buckby - Teacher
It was with great anticipation, that the Year 4 students boarded the buses for their week of swimming. The students
thoroughly enjoyed their lessons. There was some hesitation at times but with encouragement from the instructors and
teachers, students gained confidence in their abilities and became better swimmers. All students gave their best and
have developed new skills during the swimming lessons.
Intermediate Craft Club News
Margaret van Essen - Teacher
The craft club started off with lots of excitement in the air. The
student’s first craft project was to decorate funky glasses. They
had to decorate them with different materials, like sequins,
coloured paper and glitter. Their next craft project was to design
and decorate a jumping jack with coloured concertina arms and
legs. The list of projects grows as we continue each week. The
students are thoroughly enjoying the activities.
Administration of Medications
Wera Smith – Business Services Manager
Groves Christian College is committed to supporting students’ health and
wellbeing. We would appreciate parents/carers providing the school with
any relevant health information that is required to support the student at
school. This information is also collected at enrolment but needs to be
updated regularly, or if a new health condition develops.
Information about medically diagnosed conditions such as allergies, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy and other health
conditions that may require College staff to provide support to students, including administering medication and
performing health procedures, should be provided to the College. This also includes paracetamol. Additionally, any
health need that may impact on College activities such as sports, outings (including camps) should also be discussed
with the College.
Information should be provided in writing, and any specific health plans (only to be completed and signed by the
medical practitioner) should be included. Please contact the College to discuss any specific requirements.
Please inform the College Administration staff of any changes to contact details or the contact details of the people
nominated as emergency contacts.
Thank you for your assistance in this regard. All information is kept confidential and only disclosed to the relevant
staff required to supporting your child.
For any enquiries, please contact the College Office on telephone 3380 5800.
Thank you for working together to overcome the extreme weather conditions
Allan Weir – Head of College
A big thank you to everyone for working together on Friday afternoon last week to ensure everyone
was able to leave school safely. A special thank you to our staff members who worked tirelessly in the
soaking conditions to help everyone on the afternoon.
Middle Phase
Year 8 Camp
Marilyn Holden – Year 8 Coordinator
Have you returned your forms?
Just a reminder to check….
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All forms are signed and handed to Student Support
Any medication is labelled with a chemist label including students name
Make sure all personal items are named and you have the required items for specific activities
e.g. Old shoes for canoeing
NOTE: Students need to pack warm clothing, bedding as it does get very cold. Students will be
participating in evening activities.
A day in the life of a Year 9 Student
Hannah Weir – Year 9 Student
I get to school and sit in the Dome with Mr Hindle and the other students. Then
I put away my books and get what I need from my locker and wait for my
friends. We socialise and chit chat. We get to our class and then walk in and
have 10 minutes of Devotions. There is a focus question on the board and then
we start lessons.
What I find engaging in my classes:
1. Classroom discussions in English. These are important because you get to hear from one another and if you
aren’t sure about the question you begin to understand through the discussion.
2. Putting yourself into a situation of what you are learning. For example in History, placing yourself under
child labour and thinking about how it would make you feel. This really helped me understand the topic
more.
3. Having a love for learning because everything is interesting and you can formulate your ideas on life.
4. Being around different sorts of people which you interact with and this prepares you for the real world. It
does not become a fixed way of life, or a particular group of people. When you meet new people you can
strike up conversations and build friendships.
5. I like singing and being involved in Choir, and the Extension Music group because these give me a chance to
expand my horizons and to use my gifts for the glory of God.
I love that you get a lot of respect from students and staff at Groves and I enjoy the guided freedom we receive
from the teachers. We know that the teachers care about helping ensure we do our best not only academically but
holistically as well. We are not always under observation. Groves is a place where you can be yourself.
Chaplaincy
Ellen Watters – Chaplain
Chaplaincy has started off with great joy this term. Jeff and I are constantly blessed with being involved and
journeying with the students in their lives. In our Christian Life classes this term we’ve been having a lot of fun in
running our classes as a youth group. We’ve been filling our time with singing and praising God, intense group
games and discussions of topics that the students are interested in. It’s great to see the students really get involved
and take initiative in their classrooms. After our 3 great College chapels at the end of last term, we have introduced
our new focus for Term Two – the book of Acts. We are looking forward to looking into the lives of the disciples
and what it means for us now being disciples of Jesus 2000 years later. We are thankful for the joy that we have in
serving the students in our school and are very much looking forward to the rest of this term.
Senior Phase
Year 10 Digital Design and Technology
Ben Ram – Teacher
Year 10 DDT has become a partnership between the
designer and engineer. Students have chosen their
introduction to Information Technology Studies or
Technology Studies. Those doing the Information
Technology Studies are completing the Robotic
Challenges of the Green City and the Space Mission
in partnership with students involved in Technology
Studies. Those participating in Technology Studies
are researching and creating their own designs that
relate to these challenges in a “Real-life” way.
The Green City and Space Mission contains many
challenges that the students can choose from – one
from each is mandatory and they must pick one
other as a minimum towards a C standard. Students
are required to complete the same set of challenges
as partners and must negotiate with each other in
the choices that are given.
Year 10 Recreational Studies: Lifesaving and Swimming
Louis van Amstel
Our students travelled to Gould Adams Aquatic Centre on Tuesday,
May 5, to increase their awareness of pool safety, basic lifesaving and
swimming techniques, in the context of a swimming pool. They have
two more sessions left and by the end of the unit they will have
learnt:
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Some important safety skills in the pools
The basic technique for freestyle and backstroke swimming
Some basic lifesaving techniques which can be used in emergency situations
Skills in how to react to a certain situation around the pool to maintain my safety and the safety of others
The students are looking forward to finishing this unit of work and having these skills on hand in case of an
emergency situation that they may come across.
Upcoming in Foundation Phase
Term 2 Week 4
Date
Prep
Year 1
Monday
11/5
PM Benchmarking
English
Railway Museum
Excursion
Year 2
Year 3
Tuesday
12/5
NAPLAN
Wednesday
13/5
NAPLAN
Mayes Cottage +
Kingston Butter
Factory Excursion
Thursday
14/5
NAPLAN
Friday
15/5
Term 2 Week 5
Date
Monday
18/5
Tuesday
19/5
Prep
Year 1
Year 2
Oral Assessment
English
LEM Assessment
English
Wednesday
20/5
Thursday
21/5
Friday
22/5
Art Assessment
Grandparents Day Celebration Prep – Year 3
Year 3
Upcoming in Intermediate Phase
Term 2 Week 4
Date
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Assembly
NAPLAN
Assembly
Monday
11/5/15
Tuesday
12/5/15
Wednesday
13/5/15
NAPLAN
Thursday
14/5/15
NAPLAN
Friday
15/5/15
Sports
Sports
Sports
Term 2 Week 5
Date
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Monday
18/5/15
Tuesday
19/5/15
Assembly
Assembly
Assembly
Pentecost Chapel
Sports
Pentecost Chapel
Sports
Pentecost Chapel
Sports
Wednesday
20/5/15
Thursday
21/5/15
Friday
22/5/15
Upcoming in Middle Phase
Term 2 Week 4
Date
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Monday
11/5
NAPLAN
Tuesday
12/5
NAPLAN
Wednesday
13/5
NAPLAN
Thursday
14/5
NAPLAN
NAPLAN
NAPLAN
Graphics Sketching Portfolio
Friday
15/5
English Reading Log
Social Studies Industrial
Revolution Final
Term 2 Week 5
Date
Year 7
Monday
18/5
Science Angles make a
difference experiment
Tuesday
19/5
Met East Cross Country
Carnival
Visual Art Alphabet Black and
White
Wednesday
20/5
Woodwork Name plaque
Digital Technology Quiz
Year 8
Year 9
Digital Visual Basic
Programming Woodwork
Design
Met East Cross Country Carnival
Science Rockin’
Minerals Exam
Year 8 Camp
Thursday
21/5
Year 8 Camp
Friday
22/5
Year 8 Camp
Met East Cross Country
Carnival
Dramatic Monologue
Food Technology Folio
Visual Art Folio Unit 1
Science Assignment Part 2
Upcoming in Senior Phase
Term 2 Week 4
Date
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Monday
11/5
Tuesday
12/5
Recreation Studies (Swimming
Assessment, Gould Adams Park
Aquatic Centre) [Periods 1-3]
Wednesday
13/5
Thursday
14/5
Maths B (Assignment)
Friday
15/5
English Comm.
Letter of Response
Term 2 Week 5
Date
Year 10
Year 11
Monday
18/5
Home Economics
(Practical Exam)
PreVoc Maths Assessment 3
11 Math A Assignment Due
Early Childhood Studies Toy
design and Oral Hospitality
Practical Assessment
Visual Art (Body of Work 1 )
Tuesday
19/5
MET East Cross Country
Recreation Studies (Swimming
Assessment, Gould Adams Park
Aquatic Centre Periods 1 – 3)
MET East Cross Country
Hospitality Practical
Assessment
MET East Cross Country
PreVoc Maths
Assessment #3
Wednesday
20/5
English Communication (Mock
Police Interview)
Hospitality (Practical & Theory)
Thursday
21/5
Friday
22/5
Year 12
English Communication
Email response due
Religion & Ethics (Exam)
P.E. Orienteering
Assessment/Excursion Daisy
Hill Forest
Creative Arts: Music
Knowledge Assignment
P.E. Orienteering
Assessment/Excursion Daisy
Hill Forest
Creative Arts: Music
Knowledge Assignment