newsletter 31 - mk0asvmultisitevc63s.kinstacdn.com · of the hp-pan rural school, yangong city...

Term 4, Week 1 October 11, 2019

Myanmar Principal's EditorialBack in 2005 those of us here at Gilson College began to reflect on how our College had been richly blessed over the years. In mid 1996 we had been voted for closure, however that action was delayed and as we took our challenges to the Lord our circumstances began to change.

When the finances began to improve it was felt that we should begin to focus on how we can help others and so we began the process of looking for an international mission focus. Shortly thereafter I was approached by a couple of businessmen who asked whether we were interested in assisting and supporting an orphanage in Myanmar.

In 2005 the first trip to Myanmar took place and since then we have continued the relationship with Hope Orphanage and since then added to the list of people we help. There is now a second orphanage (Peace) as well as three schools that we financially support. Furthermore we fund around 20 teachers in villages around the country and change lives.

Each year we take a team of students into Myanmar and this year 34 of us made our way into south-east Asia and spent time embedded in the school helping students acquire English language competency. This is a long road and a journey that will take some years. Our first supported school in Yangon has grown from 300 to 650 and has received funding for a new building via the Seventh-day Adventist global offering. Now we are assisting another school in the countryside and we’ll try to get more information out to you about this.

It is also appropriate that we thank our school community for the many ways that people have taken on our project and assisted with fundraising. From parents (and friends of parents) we have had many people show the true spirit of generosity and we know that the people who receive the help appreciate this greatly.

A big thank you to the students who went on this year’s trip – you were fantastic. I know that the impact you had was significant – read the attached letter from the Myanmar students to you!

As I have previously said if we look at all of the suffering and problems there are in the world we will be overwhelmed. However I equally believe that to stand by and do nothing is a weakness. Rather we simply choose where we can help and then set about making the world a better place. We do it one step at a time. I also believe this does not go unnoticed by our Heavenly Father. You may remember Sir Winston Churchill’s comment where he stated “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

It’s worth a thought.

Mark B Vodéll Principal

October

December

November

Term 4 Fees due (4% discount)Working BeeYr 7&8 ASV BasketballYr 5&6 ASV SoccerInterhouse DebatingYr 7&8 SSV Girls Table TennisYr 4 Legoland ExcusionYear 12's Last DayL4L BuangorYr 3&4 Cricket CompYr 9 Real Industry Interviews Yr 12 VCE Exams Begin

Fri 11 -Sun 13 -Tue 15 -

Wed 16 -Wed 16 -Thur 17 -

Fri 18 -Fri 18 -24-25 -

Thur 24 -Tue 29 -

Wed 30 -

Primary Awards NightYr 8 L4L Intro HikeSecondary Awards NightClean Up DayFun DayLast Day term 4

Term 4 Fees duePupil Free DayMelbourne Cup HolidayYr 9 ExamsF & Yr 7 Orientation Day #1Remembrance DayL4L BogongSecondary ExamsFoundation Orientation Day #2Yr 12 DeregistrationWorking BeeFoundation Orientation Day #3Pupil Free DayYr 12 Camp L4L Info & Presentation NightYr 3&4 SSV Cricket

Tue 3 -Tue 3 -

Wed 4 -Mon 9 -Tue 10 -Tue 10 -

Fri 1 -Mon 4 -

Tue 5 -7-8 -

Thur 7 -Mon 11 -

12-20 -13-19 -

Thur 14 -19-21 -

Sun 17 -Thur 21 -

Fri 22 -25-28 -

Thur 28 -Fri 29 -

NEWSLETTER 31

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 2 General News

PATIENCE What is Your Mission?This year the Year 10 my*mission team visited SEAS (South East Adventist Seminary) for the first time since overseas service trips began 13 years ago for Gilson College students.

Once again The people of Myanmar significantly touched the team of volunteers from both Gilson College campuses and Henderson College. For the team of 28 students, (5 teachers and 1 Chaplain), in every way it has simply been an exceptional learning experience.

Students soaked up the differences and the treasures from the people and the culture of the HP-Pan rural school, Yangong city school (AYAS) and the Peace orphanage. Each departure made an indelible imprint of the power of service and humanity. It is simply contagious and too precious to only report in one article!

Therefore, each newsletter for Term 4 we will continue to share a little gem from this memorable experience.

Patience is the ability to endure hardship, difficulty or inconvenience without complaint. Patience emphasizes calmness and self-control. God demonstrates patience with us.

"The Lord is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love." - Numbers 14:18

"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew." - Francis de Sales

PB4L Focus I walk inside; I am patient.



Last term Mrs. Wilson attended a Dyslexia and Technology professional development seminar in preparation for Dyslexia Awareness Month. From the 1st October to the 15th November, you may notice Australian landmarks lit up with red lights. This is the ‘Light it Red for Dyslexia’ campaign, by the Code Read Dyslexia Network.

The Code Read core values are to create a better future where people impacted by dyslexia are:

• Acknowledged through early identification, understanding and inclusion

• Supported with evidence based teaching and access to assistive technology and accommodations

• Empowered with equal access to opportunity (codereadnetwork.org)

Statistically between 1:10 – 1:5 children have some form of Dyslexia. That means in a class of 25 there would be at least 2-5 students affected by Dyslexia. As a parent of a child with Dyslexia, Mrs. Wilson identified that the biggest emotional rollercoaster was identifying why her child was not effectively learning in the manner she was being taught, and then understanding how she needed to be best supported in her education.

It is an ongoing process, a huge amount of students report it takes around two and a half years until families feel they are finally moving forwards. Early identification and team work are the key to help any child with Dyslexia.

Below is a process that is recommended to any parent who thinks their child may have Dyslexia. There are also many websites to visit for extra information, and resources out there that will help. Mrs. Wilson is also happy for a car park chat if parents need one. Mrs. Wilson’s daughter Freya has designed and produced a ‘Dyslexic Awareness’ ribbon to help promote Dyslexia awareness this month. If you would like to support her cause, there are ribbons for sale at Reception. If you would like to support the Code Read Dyslexia Network, with the important work that they do, donations can be made through getonboard.raisely.com ‘Rosanna Golf Links Primary School’. All money donated on this website goes towards Code Read Dyslexia Network and is a tax deduction.

Advice to Parents and Guardians with regards to Learning Difficulties1. You know your child better than anyone else. If in your gut you suspect something is

affecting their learning, talk to their classroom teacher and the teacher in charge of learning support at school. Your child’s learning is a team effort.

2. Contact SPELD and get testing done. Some testing for Dyslexia can be done before the age of 8, which will give an indication and direction with how to help. (See also Australian Dyslexia Association website below) Some testing will need to be redone at the age of 8, with the remainder of the testing. Make a special day with your child on these days. It will be draining for them.

3. Get onto Learning difficulties Australia to find a tutor near you. If the tutor is not a good fit, try another. This is long term. A non-qualified learning difficulties tutor will not benefit your child, and your classroom teacher is unfortunately not a specialist in every learning difficulty. But your tutor from LDA is as close as you can get and they will help your classroom teacher. Your tutor is an important part of your team. They will be with your child for the long haul.

4. Ask your child how they best learn. And from the above steps, you can make a plan with your classroom teacher/tutor/psychologist on how to teach/help your child learn.

5. Celebrate your child’s successes whatever they are, and encourage them to use the unique way in which their brain as a Dyslexic works.

6. It’s ok as a parent to be overwhelmed with information and to not know what to do. It will be an emotional roller coaster that may not calm down for a couple of years. You may not know if what you are doing is the right thing, but YOU WILL create a team set up (school and professionals) around your child, which will help them to own their Dyslexia.

7. Use the following useful sites: • Code Read Network Dyslexia https://codereadnetwork.org • SPELD http://www.speldvic.org.au • Australian Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaassociation.org.au/ code-read-dyslexia-network/ • Learning Difficulties Australia https://www.ldaustralia.org • Liz Dunoon https://www.dyslexiadaily.com/blog/hi-my-name-is-liz-dunoon/ • NESSY https://www.nessy.com • Fitzroy Readers https://www.fitzprog.com.au

8. Remember in every 10 individuals there are 1-2 with some form of Dyslexia. You are not alone, nor is your child.

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month



Working BeeThis Sunday the 13th October is our Working Bee from 8:30am-12:30pm, please register with Reception if you would like to join us or call 9717 7300.

We provide morning tea and would love to know how many to expect. We look forward to having you join us!

Victoria Teachers Games ChampionsThis past school holidays saw thousands of staff and teachers from all around Victoria descend on Geelong to compete in the Annual 24th Victoria Teachers Games.

Teachers from Gilson College joined with a couple of other teachers from other ASV Schools to compete in the Basketball Competition. The men's team went on to win the tournament yet another year in a row and the women's team finished one position higher this year by finishing in second. Great work staff!

Musicians Wanted!

Secondary students to be part of a band in our campus church on Saturday.

Meet new friends, and improve musical talent!

If interested, sign up at reception.

Dissecting Organs in ScienceYear 8 have been journeying through the human body as they explore all the organ systems that allow an organism to function.

After studying the cardiovascular system, respiratory system and excretory system, they were able to perform numerous dissections. Our students dissected and explored the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys in their journey to learn more about how organisms function.

Next stop on their quest is to the digestive system before moving onto plants.

Secondary News

Digital TechnologiesThis week during our Digital Technologies class, Mrs Twinkle Tots (AKA Mrs Maclean) taught the Foundation students the beginning concept of algorithms and how algorithms are a set of instructions given in order.

Students practiced giving clear instructions to Mrs Twinkle Tots so she could get used to the routines in the classroom. What a fun way and engaging way to learn about a complex concept!

Primary News



Dear Gilson College School Community, We will be holding the School Fun-Run as a major fundraising event this year on 19th December 2019! We’re doing it to raise much needed money for school infrastructure and resources to maintain the school academic excellence. About the Program The School Fun-Run promotes healthy and active lifestyles while helping us raise funds! It’s all about participation, with students treated to a great day as a reward for their fundraising efforts. Family support is key to our fundraising success and we encourage everyone to get involved. How Does My Child Fundraise? Firstly, go to schoolfundraising.com.au and create a student profile page. Everything to do with your fundraising revolves around this page. Once you have completed this, read through your Sponsorship Form, which has instructions on how to raise money and order prizes. Students who raise just $10 will receive a reward for their effort. The more they raise, the better their reward – don’t forget to check these out in the sponsorship form! We have educated students on the dangers of door knocking without adult supervision, and we encourage you to reiterate this at home. The best people to ask for sponsorship are people you know (e.g. friends, family, work colleagues and neighbours). Online Fundraising The easiest way to help your child raise money is through online fundraising, where students raise an average of $120. On top of raising more money, it’s also safer and easier than doorknocking and you don’t have to worry about handling money! To start fundraising online, go to your student profile page at schoolfundraising.com.au and share your online fundraising link. Getting Involved Not only can you support the school and students with your sponsorship – but you can join in on the fun! We would love to welcome parents and family members to attend the School Fun-Run. If you would also like to volunteer to help on the day, please contact me on the details below. I can’t wait to see you at our event! Ordering Prizes – ALL PRIZES MUST BE ORDERED ONLINE Prizes MUST be ordered between the 15th November 2019 and 20th November 2019. Simply visit schoolfundraising.com.au to create / log into your Profile Page between these dates. Then click on the ‘CLAIM YOUR PRIZE’ button and follow the prompts. If you have any questions, please contact the School Fun-Run team on 1800 FUN RUN and they will gladly assist! Thank you, good luck and happy fundraising!


newsletter 31 - mk0asvmultisitevc63s.kinstacdn.com · of the hp-pan rural school, yangong city...

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