newsletter 07€¦ · • always be considerate of women, children, and older people. • be too...

Term 1, Week 7 March 15, 2019

George Washington Carver Principal's EditorialA tall, slightly bent black man stood on the railway platform. His shoes were muddy and his trousers too big. With his battered wooden case he looked like one of the poorest of the working class Afro-Americans.

In a frail voice he called out, “Porter, can you help me?” The porter, with his smart uniform, turned to see who had called. “Sorry pops but I’ve been sent to pick up some big shot from Alabama. He’s a world famous scientist and I don’t want to miss him.” Before the old man could muster a reply the porter was gone searching through the crowd.

Speaking to no one in particular, the old man said “I hope he doesn’t waste too much time looking for the big shot from Alabama” and with that he smiled to himself as he struggled to carry the case to a waiting taxi.

The trip from the railway station led straight to Capitol Hill where the man with the muddy shoes and the battered wooden box was to speak to the Congress or as we would say in Australia - the Parliament. Yes, that’s right, Dr George Washington Carver the world famous scientist from Alabama had come to show the politicians what could be done with peanuts and the sweet potato and in his box he had hundreds of products that he made from them. Everything from milk to paint!

He had 8 virtues or standards that he used to give to his students: • Be clean both inside and out. • Neither look up to the rich nor down on the poor. • Lose, if need be, without squealing. • Win without bragging. • Always be considerate of women, children, and older people. • Be too brave to lie. • Be too generous to cheat. • Take your share of the world and let others take theirs.

On his grave was written, He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.

What an opportunity one porter missed that day in 1921 when he went looking for the ‘big shot from Alabama.’ He should have read the second virtue. Instead he missed the opportunity to meet and spend time with the man that did more for the economic development of the southern states than anyone else.

"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king." 1 Peter 2:17

It’s worth a thought.

Mark B Vodéll Principal

March

April

May

Working Bee #2Girls Interhouse VolleyballNMR Swimming Yr 3-6Yr 11-12 ASV Senior VolleyballP&F meeting 9amYr 9 ASV RogainingYr 5 Camp Yr 10 CampSecondary NMR Swimming Yr 5-6 SSV T-Ball CompYr 8 SSV Volleyball/Tennis

Sun 17 -Mon 18 -

Tue 19 -Tue 19 -Tue 19 -

Thur 21 -25-27 -25-29 -

Wed 27 -Thur 28 -

Fri 29 -

Open Morning 9:30- 10:30End Term 1Good FridayEaster MondayTerm 2 StartsAthletics Carnival Yr 3-12Anzac HolidayTerm 2 Fees due (4% discount)SSV Cross CountryP&F meeting 6:30am

Term 2 Fees due (4% discount) Working BeeSSV Cross Country Yr 3-6L4L Urban DayMothers Day BreakfastTerm 2 Fees dueFestival of FaithSchool Photos L4L Urban DayTerm 2 Fees due

Tue 2 -Fri 5 -

Fri 19 -Mon 22 -

Tue 23 -Wed 24 -Thur 25 -

Fri 26 -Mon 29 -Apr 30 -

Fri 3 -Sun 5 -Tue 7 -

Wed 8 -Fri 10 -Fri 17 -20-24 -

Thur 23 -Fri 24 - Fri 24 -

NEWSLETTER 07

www.gilson.vic.edu.auPhone: 03 9717 7300370 Bridge Inn Road, Mernda, VIC, 3754

Our Mission Statement -Our Vision -

Our Motto -

Through excellence in education to develop people of integrity and Christian character.

Nurture for today. Learning for tomorrow. Character for life.

Nihil Sine Deo - Nothing Without God

Value For Week 8 General News

OptimismOptimism is a disposition or tendency to look on the more favourable side of events and to expect the most favourable outcome. It is the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller

“Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress." - Nicholas M. Butler

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

PB4L Focus I communicate positively with others; I use positive language.

Adventurers & PathfindersNext Adventurers 'adventure' is Saturday 16 March, 2-4pm, at Eltham North Adventure Playground. Family club for kids 4-9 years. Email your interest in joining to [email protected] or speak with Sandy or Mrs Bergmann.

Next Pathfinders camp is 15-17 March - Water Ski Camp at Lake Eildon [email protected] 10-15 years.

Golden Rule Week This week students at Gilson College- Mernda celebrated “Golden Rule Week” where we learnt about what is means to treat others with kindness and respect. Today, Senior Constable Shannon Batten- Youth Resource Officer from Epping came to visit. He spoke to the Primary students during assembly this morning and took workshops for older students throughout the day. In Year 5/6, students discussed what bullying looks like and how we should be ‘Upstanders’ for others. Year 7/8 students workshopped how to keep yourself safe online and what the implications might be if you are not. Years 10/11/12 learnt about Respectful Relationships, Consent and the legalities surrounding these topics. All students received a special wristband which says, “Bullying. NO WAY! TAKE A STAND TOGETHER. Students are encouraged to keep wearing their bands to remind them to be kind in all situations and to take a stand against bullying and violence.



New House NamesThe school felt it was time for an update. The school's vision was to name the houses after significant SDA individuals/families that have made contributions towards education or other mission. After a vigorous process two names have been selected for our houses. Red in now known as Corliss and Blue is known as Barnett.

John Corliss • John Corliss came to Australia in the first missionary team. • When he departed after two years, he left behind over 200 converts to the Adventist cause in Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide and elsewhere. • He returned for a second period of service in Australia, from 1893 to 1896. • An advocate of Christian education, he used means which he inherited, to educate twenty-five boys and girls apart from members of his own family. • Leaves of Hope (The John Corliss Story) - A book by Amanda Bews

Graham & Jan Barnett • Graham graduated with a diploma in 1968 and married Jan Durbridge. • A primary teaching career formed in New Zealand would be shaped in Papua New Guinea, where Graham’s pioneering work helped him develop as Seventh-day Adventist school principal, mission pilot then Mission Director of Education. He even survived a forced landing at sea. • Returning to Australia, Graham assumed principalships at Toowoomba and Rockhampton and at Bickley in Western Australia before an eight-year appointment as the Education and Pathfinder Director for the church in that state. • The cry of New Guinea still rang in Graham’s ears—with the addition of a bachelor and a masters degree, he became Dean of Education at Pacific Adventist University in 1997. • Graham’s career and life climaxed on the morning of October 2, 1998, when an errant spark caused a petrol explosion on the Port Moresby campus. Graham, critically burnt, was airlifted to Brisbane and placed into a coma from which he never woke.

Nurturing Young MindsOnline Grooming and Cyber Predators

Learning offender strategies and the types of vulnerabilities they prey on helps police detectives pick up the trail of offenders. What becomes obvious is that predators cannot be identified by their outward appearance. They reveal themselves by the behaviours they engage in online and sometimes later in person.

Five Core Safeguards: 1. Parents, take charge - when and where technology is used; what programs, apps and sites are allowable and who a child can connect with 2. Use parental controls - use monitoring or filtering programs early- consider blocking websites; setting time limits and ensure curfews; record websites visited; limit downloading 3. Stay current - know what devices can connect to the internet; when those devices are connected; where kids are going online; what programs and games are being used; who they connect with 4. Set rules and boundaries - these are not optional. Rules don’t stop them having fun; they protect them from themselves and others- they provide security. As children grow, modify rules but don’t move outside your values, beliefs, morals and ethics. 5. Communicate - This is the most important and effective safeguard against online issues. Seize opportunities when they arise- take ten minutes each day during school drop off and pick up; have a chat around the dinner table; discuss media articles.

Take home message: keep internet usage out of the bedroom and out in the open; ‘friend’ your children on Facebook; and use privacy settings.

Nurturing Young Minds Edited by Dr Ramesh Manocha pages 57-71



2019 Weet-bix TRYathlon Last Sunday a group of 11 students led by our school captains joined the volunteer group from the Mernda church to help out at the 2019 Weet Bix Tryathlon which was held at the Catani Gardens, St Kilda.

By all reports students had an exceptional time volunteering in this community event. Although it was an early morning (4:00am) start and the work of marshalling and assisting was at times tedious and repetitive, overall the experience was extremely satisfying. We are delighted that students saw value in serving the community and we are especially grateful to Opal Finau for coordinating the group effort.

"In terms of the event and the kids, it was great watching them try hard to achieve and encouraging them along the way really special. A fun morning helping with the event and being around friends ".- Joel Year 12

“The presence of iconic Australians, like Tim Cahill and Stephanie Gilmore, really was an awesome way to encourage effort in the kids. Getting down to their level and cheering them on even when they were tired showed physical and mental strength. I really thank Opal for organising us all and especially Michael for the team effort and sticking through with the task”.- Melwyn Year 12

“It was really good seeing the little ones running, cycling and swimming; fun watching the hard effort and pushing through”- Dhvani Year 12

“Giving directions, comforting a kid after a stack and helping coordinate getting on and off the bike at the right time was fun- I'd probably do it again”- Michael Year 10

For each person that volunteered on the day, Sanitarium donates $40 dollars towards a community project. These funds will be put towards the Fired Up program that many of our young people attend.

Thank you for supporting this wonderful community event.



SNR Boys Interhouse VolleyballVolleyball has taken the high school by storm this term with preparations for the Inter House matches and the respective representative events coming up.

This week saw our Corliss and Barnett Senior Boys teams compete in a nail biting match. Each set came down to the wire with both teams getting a set each before going into the final deciding set. Barnett seemed to have a slight advantage late in the set however a determined Corliss team gained some last minute momentum to come back and win the match via a recovered ball off the net.

Great job to both teams and to the representative Senior Boys team that go to Nunawading next week to compete against the other schools within the Adventist Schools Victoria system.

Year 8 CampOur Year 8 students camped at Bimbi Park, nestled in Cape Otway, along the Great Ocean Road. They enjoyed a 15 km hike through a magnificent forest with picturesque views of secluded beaches and spectacular coastlines. Groups of students were challenged to learn surfing, kayaking, mount biking, e-biking, mini golf, rock climbing, or simply appreciated the peaceful activities of beach walks and sandcastle making.

Students camped in tents and enjoyed each other’s company near the warmth of camp fire. Aside from the organised activities, students kicked footballs and threw a Vortex across the camp laughing and improving their sporting skills. Paul Gotlz, our chaplain for the week, related some of his experiences in the police force. He encouraged us to consider God, our minds, our hearts and the way we treat each other.

We had a great time away learning about God, nature, ourselves and each other.

Secondary News



www.bullyingnoway.gov.auFriday 15 March 2019

Our school community

is proud to Take a

Stand Together.


newsletter 07€¦ · • always be considerate of women, children, and older people. • be too...

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