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Issue 104 – 24 April 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians
Welcome
I hope the recent school holidays provided you with an opportunity to enjoy some quality time with your
loved ones. It was great to welcome our students back at the start of Term 2.
We also recently welcomed some new members of staff to Braemar College. Ms Sharon Hitti has joined
the Middle School team as a teacher of Encounter at Year 8. Ms Hitti replaces Ms Ella Hopkins who has
moved into the Senior School to teach Ms Michaela Adams’ English classes whilst Ms Adams is on
parental leave.
Ms Diane Itter has joined the Year 9 Mathematics team as an additional teacher. Ms Itter will work with the
other Year 9 Mathematics teachers to support the learning and teaching program at that level, with a
particular emphasis on working with small groups of students to help consolidate and extend their
understanding of key concepts.
Ms Christina Finch and Ms Louise Turok have both joined the College as Instrumental Music Tutors,
teaching wind instruments.
Ms Finch is also undertaking a pre-service teaching round at Braemar. She will be working with Ms Julie
Paice and Mr Wade Dinning in the Performing Arts area.
Next week we will welcome Ms Stephanie Bertalmio (OC 2010) who commences a pre-service teaching
round at Braemar, working with Mr Don Moran in the Health & Physical Education area. Ms Bertalmio has
already supported our ICCES teams this year, having assisted at swimming and athletics training
sessions.
ANZAC Assembly
The College Cadet Unit led our ANZAC Assembly on Tuesday 21 April. They are to be congratulated on
their sense of reverence, impeccable presentation and timing. I would like to acknowledge Cadet Under
Officer Thomas Riley and Sergeants Lucy Harrison and Miriam Hall for training the cadets. The Last Post
and Rouse were played by Year 11 trumpet student, Tom Williams. Tom is to be commended on his
excellent musicianship.
We were joined by a number of veterans from local RSL clubs. Dr Frank Donovan, Deputy Chair of the Mt
Macedon Dawn Service Committee, was our guest speaker. He highlighted how we seem to have moved
from a “we” society to a “me” society, with reference to the ANZACs and their determination to fight for
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their country and the sacrifices this entailed. Our College Captains then presented a wreath to Mr Barry
Meldrum, President of the Woodend RSL.
On ANZAC Day the College Cadet Unit will be present at the Mt Macedon Dawn Service and will lead the
march in Woodend later that morning. A number of Year 12 students will be laying wreaths at
commemoration services around the shire and in Sunbury.
Holiday Works
During the holiday break significant maintenance and improvement works were undertaken.
The majority of the work was completed by our own talented maintenance team which equated to
significant savings for the College. Projects included:
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room cleaning
repair and replacement of sections of sewage line
creation of two additional handball courts near the oval
replacement and upgrade of dishwasher in Hospitality kitchen
creation and delineation of additional parking spaces
enclosure of corridor adjacent to Rooms G3 and G4
refurbishment of Rooms G1 and G2
refurbishment of V rooms (DEMC).
Student Surveys
The Learning and Teaching pillar of the College’s Strategic Plan 2012-2015 calls upon us to gather,
analyse and utilise feedback and data, and to continuously build capacity within the teaching staff to
maximise professional growth and performance.
Central to teachers having an effective focus on improving student outcomes is student feedback on the
experiences they are having in the classroom along the dimensions that are known to be relegated to
student learning.
Last year the College appointed Group 8 Education to facilitate a comprehensive survey to gather
feedback from students in relation to learning and teaching. The “Student Voice Feedback Questions
Survey” includes 30 questions which are grouped under Attitudes, Techniques, and Practices. Later in
Term 2, students will be asked to undertake this survey in relation to one or more of their teachers.
Students’ responses are anonymous. The data generated will be utilised in teachers’ annual review
meetings and will help inform their professional growth and development.
Extra-Curricular School Trips in 2015
Several trips have been scheduled as part of our 2015 extra-curricular program. A summary is as follows:
Destination
Lilla, Central
Australia
Year
Dates
Levels
9
22 – 29 Sept
Cambodia
10
18 - 27 Sept
New Zealand
11
Nepal – Mt
Everest Base
Camp
12
20 – 26 Sept
(tbc)
21 Nov – 10 Dec
Staff
Focus
Ms Ros Shipp
Ms Lisa Fritz
Ms Lauren Welsh
Ms Kristen Zekic
Mr Scott Murray
Ms Jan Stafford
Mr David McEncroe
Ms Liz Klusik
Mr Doug Colwell
Mr Russell Deer
Mr Matt Ellis
Ms Chloe Edwards
Service and culture
Service and culture
Adventure
Service, culture and adventure
These trips are designed to enhance the student experience, with a variety of foci intentionally appealing
to a range of personality types and interests.
An information night for the New Zealand trip has been scheduled for Monday 4 May, commencing at 7pm
in Room B3.
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Scholarships
I am delighted to announce the 2016 academic scholarship recipients:
Year 7, 2016:
Year 10, 2016:
Shaneela Benka, Goonawarra Primary
Thomas Shaddock, Mt Macedon Primary
Cooper Little, Braemar College
Keith Traill, Braemar College
Hannah Winter, Braemar College
Congratulations to these students. No doubt their families are exceptionally proud of them. We look
forward to helping these young people maximise their academic potential at Braemar College.
Winter Uniforms
With the onset of cooler weather, students are required to wear winter uniforms. I encourage students to
dress warmly; however, they do need to adhere to the uniform policy. The policy is available on the parent
and student portals of the College intranet.
College Restaurant – Jacksons@BRAEMAR
The Braemar College training restaurant, Jacksons@BRAEMAR, serves lunch on selected Wednesdays
and dinner on selected Thursdays during Terms 2 and 3. Our VCE VET Hospitality students prepare and
cook the meals and also gain valuable front-of-house experience in a supportive environment. Some
evenings are further enhanced with entertainment provided by our Instrumental Music students
I encourage parents and friends to join us for lunch or dinner. The restaurant dates are listed on the
College calendar and are promoted via the blog. Bookings for lunch or dinner are essential and can be
made via http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingDates.aspx?eid=59054&hs=www.trybooking.com
NAPLAN
NAPLAN is fast approaching, with the annual tests to take place on 12, 13 and 14 May. For some
students, taking NAPLAN this year will be the last time they have a paper-based NAPLAN test. From 2017
(when this cohort takes the tests again), NAPLAN will be delivered online on an opt-in basis over two–
three years, with all students to take NAPLAN online from 2019.
This is an exciting time for Australia’s assessment program as NAPLAN continues to evolve. The move
online will provide better assessment, more precise results and faster turnaround of information to
teachers and parents. I acknowledge that NAPLAN has its detractors; however, ultimately we need to
ensure our children have the foundation of literacy and numeracy in place. And if our children are
struggling or need additional help, knowing this and seeking assistance for them as early as possible is
paramount.
Strategic Direction of the College
Late last year we commenced the process of developing the next Strategic Plan for Braemar College. In
determining our future direction, and on behalf of the Board of Governors and Leadership Team, I am
inviting input from staff, parents and students. To ascertain parental feedback in relation to your
perceptions of and aspirations for Braemar College moving forward, I encourage you to join me for an
informal chat in a small group situation as part of some “coffee mornings” or afternoons to be scheduled in
Woodend, Gisborne, Romsey and Sunbury next month. Details will be communicated shortly.
Upcoming Events
The College calendar is accessible via the website: www.braemar.vic.edu.au I encourage you to monitor
this on a regular basis. Please note the following key events:
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Date
Event name
Overview
Saturday 25 April
ANZAC Day Dawn Service
Mt Macedon Memorial Cross – Braemar College
Cadet Unit.
Bus departs from Braemar College at 4:45am.
Info: Mr Drew Nicol [email protected]
Saturday 25 April
ANZAC Day Parade
Woodend RSL – Braemar College Cadet Unit.
Info: Mr Drew Nicol [email protected]
27 April – 1 May
Year 6 Exeat Week
Information has been provided.
Monday 27 April
Parent information evening:
Navigating the VCE (Year 11
& 12 parents and students)
Jackson Hall, 7:00pm.
Bookings essential via Trybooking.com
Info: Mr Paul Hopkins
[email protected]
Wednesday 29 April
Restaurant Lunch
Jacksons@BRAEMAR, 1:20pm – 2:00pm.
Bookings essential via Trybooking.com
Friday 1 May
P&F Dinner Dance
Jackson Hall, 6:30pm.
Bookings essential via
www.trybooking.com/HGEJ
Info: Tuire Karaharju-Huisman [email protected]
Monday 4 May
Information evening:
New Zealand Trip (Year 11
students and parents)
Jackson Hall, 7:00pm.
Bookings not required.
Info: Ms Liz Klusik [email protected]
Tuesday 5 May
iPad Workshop for Parents
Jackson Hall, 7:00pm .
Bookings not required.
Info: Mr Adam Clissold
[email protected]
Wednesday 6 May
Restaurant Lunch
Jacksons@BRAEMAR, 1:20pm – 2:00pm,
Bookings essential via Trybooking.com
Thursday 7 May
ICCES Athletics (selected
students)
Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park. 11:30am –
4:00pm. Highway drop-offs. Information has been
provided to participants.
Info: Mr Matt Ellis [email protected]
Thursday 7 May
Restaurant Dinner / Vocal
Hospitality Evening
Jacksons@BRAEMAR, 6:00pm – 9:30pm,
Bookings essential via Trybooking.com
12 – 14 May
NAPLAN
Years 5, 7, 9
Info: Mr Lance Ryan [email protected]
In closing…
On the centenary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli, we remember those who have served and those who
have made the supreme sacrifice for our country. At Braemar College, we are proud to support ANZAC
Day and efforts to honour those who gave so much.
Regards
Russell Deer
Principal
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