13th March 2015
Term 1 Week 7 Volume 6
A Message from our Principal..
Mobile Phones
Parents are requested to encourage their children
to leave their mobile phones at home.
Inappropriate use of mobile phones at school and
during class time can become a source of major disruption. Students
who bring their phones to school can voluntarily place them at the
front of their classroom to remove the temptation of using them
inappropriately during class time. Students found to be using their
phones inappropriately during class time will be asked to hand them to
their teachers and may not be returned until they are picked up from
the office by a parent. Students refusing to comply with a reasonable
and clearly communicated instruction to hand over their phone will not
be welcome in the class and possibly not be welcome at school.
Unfortunately inappropriate use of mobile phones can be the cause of
a variety of anti-social behaviour at school and this can result in the
disruption of the learning not only of those directly involved but of
other students and staff. It can also threaten the safe and orderly
learning environment that we wish to provide for all students. Parents
are reminded that any student can be contacted at school at any time if
there is an emergency by contacting our general office and messages
can also be delivered to them if required.
Congratulations Taine
Congratulations to Taine Pearce for his performance in the Senior Boys
Greater Western Region Golf in Ararat last Friday.
He scored an 81 scratch to finish 4th behind the winner who had a 75.
He also finished 4th with a net of 73 (8 handicap) behind the winner
who had a 65.
He now qualifies for the state final at Churchill Park Golf Club,
Endeavour Hills on May 11th. We wish him well for this next event.
Dates to Remember!
Official Opening
Trade Training
Centre
2.00pm
Parent / Teacher
Interviews
Thursday 19th
March
1.00 pm to 3.30pm
4.30pm to 7.30pm
No classes will be
run on this day
SRC
Out of Uniform Day
Friday
20th March 2015
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Ararat College Chaplaincy Committee
The Ararat College Chaplaincy Committee would like parents to consider joining their
committee. While the time commitment involved can be as big or small as you would like,
being part of this committee would provide you with the opportunity to directly assist students
and families in need. If you can volunteer a couple of hours or so of your time per term to assist
this invaluable program please contact our general office and leave your name and contact
details and someone will get back to you. The Ararat College Chaplaincy Committee Annual
General Meeting will be conducted on Wednesday 29th April 2015 at 4.30pm in our staff room.
Please feel free to come along without fear of being asked to take on an executive role (unless
you would like to).
Parent Teacher Interviews
Our first set of Parent Teacher Interviews for the year are being conducted next Thursday 19th
March. Parent Teacher Interviews provide an opportunity for parents to gain a first-hand
update regarding their child’s progress in all of their various subjects. They also provide an
opportunity for parents to ask any questions or to raise any concern that they may have related
to their child’s progress.
While our parents are welcome to contact our school at any time, the Parent Teacher Interviews
provide a unique opportunity to catch up with all teachers at once and at times that suit our
parents. Details of how to make appointments with your child’s teachers are contained within
this newsletter. If you encounter any difficulties in making appointments please contact the
general office and they will provide you with assistance. Please note that no classes will be run
on this day so students can attend interviews with their parents.
Opening of Trade Training Centre
The official opening of our new Trade Training Centre facility took place at 2.00pm today. It was
very pleasing to have so many people who had a role in its construction return to be a part of
the official opening. After a brief official opening ceremony participants were entertained by a
cooking demonstration provided by 2013 Master-chef competition winner Emma Dean. They
were also provided with the opportunity to take a tour of the facility and to join in afternoon tea
and sample some of Emma Dean’s cooking.
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Teach For Australia Program
Next Monday our school will be hosting Teach for Australia (TFA) Teaching and Learning Director
Michael Witter. Michael will be visiting the classrooms of our four TFA Associates and also
catching up with their mentors. Our school has benefitted enormously from the professionalism
and passion that Brigid Mulcahy, Jessie Ravenscroft, Nick Spinks and Matt Ward have brought to
our school. They are all highly qualified professionals that have made a conscious decision to
become teachers to help make a difference.
School Chaplaincy Film Night
Thank you to the many people that supported last Thursday evening’s School Chaplaincy Film
Night fundraising event. Special thanks to Lois Reynolds and Rick Thomas for the wonderful
work that they did in organising the night and in publicising it. Thank you to everyone who
helped out in any way on the night. A crowd of some 110 people attended the function and
enjoyed the film and provided invaluable in-kind and financial support for our school’s efforts to
assist students and families in need. The launch of the raffle of the magnificent quilt donated by
the Willaura Quilting Group also generated a lot of interest and support with a large number of
tickets being sold on the night. Tickets will continue to be sold over the next six weeks and I am
confident that the raffle can potentially raise a very significant sum. All proceeds will go directly
towards assisting Ararat College students and families in need.
School Council Annual General Meeting.
Our School Council Annual General Meeting is being conducted at 6.00pm next Thursday 19th
March 2015. It will be a great pleasure to welcome new parent representative School Council
members Tammie Meehan, Sue Dunn and Douglas Tosch. We still have other vacancies as a
parent representative or as a co-opted member so if you would like to join our School Council
please contact the general office and leave your name and contact details and I will get back to
you.
Geoff Sawyer
Principal.
AMEB Music exams.
It is fast coming to the closing dates for AMEB music exams. These are exams externally
assessed and run across Australia and the Pacific. Any students wanting to complete
instrumental and/or theory exams needs to let Mr Mullin know quickly. There are fees for
sitting the exams and possibly for books. A student completing grade four theory and
instrument exams above grade five are at approximately VCE standard.
Music Performance Night !
The last Tuesday of term, March the 24th, is the first performance night for music students this
year. The night will start at 7 pm (Performing Arts Centre - off Laby Street) and is for students
at all levels. A performance list will go up soon and instrumental teachers will be helping
students organise. Unfortunately this is also the sports day and with limited days available it
hasn’t been possible to swap to another day.
We hope you can join us and enjoy the talents of our music students first hand.
Steven Mullin
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Music Coordinator
What should I wear on an out of uniform day?!?!
What ever you wish as long as it’s within the following guidelines.
No thongs – suitable sturdy shoes need to be worn
No singlet’s – we need to have our shoulders covered at all times
No clothing that is inappropriate for school (Including - no offensive
language or pictures)
Please be aware that students who do not follow these guidelines will
be given a change of clothes or could be sent home to change!
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ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL APPEAL 2015
The Ararat Fire Brigade is looking for Children/Parents/Families to help with the
Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal street collection.
When: Friday 3rd April 2015
Where: Register at the Ararat Fire Station at 8.30 am
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Children will ride in a bus and be supervised whilst collecting
Morning Tea supplied
Collection will conclude approximately 1pm with lunch provided.
For further information contact Peter Cooper 0407363811
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INSTRUCTIONS TO LOG IN TO PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Log on to
http://smtool.araratcc.vic.edu.au/portal/ (do not use www)
Or
Follow the link on the school website,
home page
Parent Teacher interviews
DO NOT ENTER THIS ADDRESS INTO A SEARCH ENGINE SUCH AS GOOGLE - IT
WILL NOT FIND IT. TYPE IT INTO THE BAR AT THE VERY TOP OF YOUR INTERNET SCREEN.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Enter your log in name: (refer to letter sent home for your code)
Enter your password: araratcc
You have now entered SMT Parent Portal. On the left hand side click on
‘Parent Teacher Interviews’.
You will now see your students with their subjects and teachers listed.
You may now click on the subject/teachers you wish to meet with and choose
a time or you may select a start time to automatically book all subjects. If you
have more than one student you will need to complete this step for each student. This step will choose the best and closest time slots to the start time
you have chosen.
Once you have completed your selections you may click on the PRINT button
for a copy of your selections.
Should you wish to change or cancel these appointments you simply click on
the cross beside your confirmed booking and you will be asked if you wish to
cancel this confirmed booking. If this is correct click OK. This will then free
this appointment for another parent.
Log out at the top right hand side.
If you have any enquiries please do not hesitate to contact the General
Office.
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7
(Week 8)
(Week 9)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
16
17
18
19
Friday
20
Maria Island Trip – Anglicare
National Day of Action Against Bullying
SRC Out of Uniform Day
Monday
23
Maria Island Trip – Anglicare
9/10 and 11/12 basketball in Ararat
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
24
25
26
Friday
27
School Athletic Sports
Year 11 & 12 Basketball
Melbourne VCE Music excursion
School Social 7-9pm in Gym
LAST DAY OF TERM 1
Parent/Teacher Interviews in Science Language
Centre
Please note that Monday 13th April 2015 (first day of term 2) is a
Staff Professional Development day.
Students are not required at school on this day.
Canteen Weekly
Thursday Specials
Term 1
Each week the Canteen will be offering a special each Thursday.
Specials are all $5.50.
Singapore Noodles 19/3
Spaghetti Bolognaise 26/3
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