Geelong Baptist College Newsletter No. 36 Thursday 20th November 2014

Primary Principal: Trudy Knol Secondary Principal: Neil Wetmore

DEVOTION - THE LESSON OF THE HULA HOOP

By Julie Ackerman Link

One of my favourite childhood toys is making a comeback—the hula hoop. My friend Suzi and I spent hours on the front lawn perfecting our technique and competing to see which of us could keep a hoop circling our waist longer. This year I relived that part of my childhood. While sitting in a park, I watched as children of all ages and sizes tried their hardest to keep hula hoops from falling to the ground. They twisted and turned with all their strength, but despite their exertion the hoops landed on the ground. Then a young woman picked up a hoop. With hardly any motion, she moved it smoothly and rhythmically up and down from her waist to her shoulders and back to her waist. Her success depended on strategic movement, not vigorous motion. In our spiritual lives, we can expend all kinds of energy trying to keep up with others in service to God. But working to exhaustion is not a virtue (Gal. 6:9). Before feeding thousands of people with only five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:38-44), Jesus called His disciples away to rest, proving that He doesn’t need our frantic exertion to accomplish His work. The truth Jesus taught His disciples, He wants to teach us: Quiet obedience accomplishes more than wild activity.

Help me, Lord, not to compare myself and what I do with others. May I serve where You want me to serve and do it in Your strength.

I love You and give myself to You. Jesus wants willingness, not weariness.

http://odb.org/2014/10/10/the-lesson-of-the-hula-hoop/

COLLEGE NEWS

WORKING BEE – Final One for 2014 The next Working Bee will be held on Saturday November 22nd. This is our last one for 2014 and allows us to prepare for Orientation Day the following week. Please mark this date in your diary and come along to assist. We look forward to your contribution and support in making a difference in and for the College. We will start at 9.00 am and will finish at lunch time. Morning tea will be provided. Please contact the College to register your attendance so that numbers can be confirmed, allowing for works to be

planned and for morning tea to be catered for appropriately.

PRIMARY PRINCIPAL’S PATCH

REMINDER - PRIMARY ORIENTATION DAY: Friday November 28th As previously outlined, at Geelong Baptist College, we recognise the importance of providing a positive and smooth transition for all our new students.

On this day, all Primary students from Foundation to Year 6 will have the opportunity to experience their 2015 class and teacher/s. This includes our current Year 6 students who will experience a half day Year 7 Orientation and receive a taste of ‘moving into Secondary’. Students will be in their 2015 classes from 8.45am to 1.05pm. After lunch, students will return to their current 2014 classes. All new students will be invited to attend and are asked to bring along a snack, drink and hat.

MERITS AND PIZZA LUNCH / MOVIE PASSES

As we rapidly come to the end of the year, students are reminded to come up to the office to have their merits recorded. We do have a number of students ready for their rewards of pizza and / or movie passes. However, there may be more students out there equally deserving, who have not yet handed their merits in. Please do this promptly.

Students will have the opportunity to hand their merits in until Friday November 28th. Please take note of this date, as late merits will not be accepted, as we need to order the movie passes and organise the pizza lunch.

The pizza lunch will take place on Tuesday December 2nd.

SECONDARY NEWS

Exam week is over and our secondary students have been working hard to ensure a good academic finish to the year. Students have had a rigorous week of studying and consolidating their learning. While the exams are over, in a range of subject areas and for all students, the work that they conclude over the next few weeks is essential to ensure that the hard work they put in during the academic year is not undone. All students are encouraged to work hard right up until the last day.

The extra rest during Report Writing Day, for those students who gave it their all during the exams, will certainly have been welcome. While report writing relating to comments is all but done, grading and results will not be completed and inserted until all coursework and assessments are completed just prior to the conclusion of the term.

DRAMA NEWS

Our Year 8 thespians have been enjoying preparations for their upcoming production of "King Midas and the Golden Touch" . After reading a version of the well known Ancient Greek myth, they were then given the task of writing the play, followed by its stagecraft, rehearsal and performance. At this stage, the class has completed the first stage of the mask-making, which involved copious quantities of slippery Vaseline and dripping wet plaster bandages applied to their own faces by another student, which then, when dried, was gingerly lifted off. Meanwhile, the rehearsal has begun with lines learnt and blocking underway. Everyone is welcome to attend the performance which will be held on the M block stage very close to the end of term. Gold coin donation for tickets. No bookings required. Any queries, please contact Ms Dober.

Further to this, the Year 8s have also been studying Commedia dell'arte, another masked drama form. Whereas Greek tragedy is reliant upon scripting, deep and, well, tragic, Commedia is quite the reverse. Here is Jesse Orlov dressed as the stock character Arlecchino whom you may recognise from the Joker in a pack of cards. Commedia was sixteenth century Italian comedy from which a host of characters originate today. Besides the Joker, The Three Stooges, Jim Carey, Mr Bean, and Mr Burns and Homer from The Simpsons all owe their existence to the Commedia legacy: improvised, physical, two-dimensional stock, comedic characters. Jesse and others seen in the background, have enjoyed earning commendation for clowning around (for which they may receive admonishment in other classes!)

ENGLISH NEWS

The GBC House Debating has begun! A battle of wits between the Affirmative team, Sladen, and the Negative team, Ormond, last Monday saw Ormond the victors. The topic, That Reality TV Does More Harm Than Good was argued vehemently by both sides and found an enthusiastic audience watching. Well done to Ben Baker, Ryan Lupton and Montana Stojanovski along with Jacob Langenberg, Estelle Zaval and Joshua Brunacci (who won the Best Speaker award.) Thank you also to the teachers who coached and adjudicated. We look forward to seeing a healthy debating culture develop at GBC and encourage more students to get on board.

KWONG LEE DOW YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAMME

Congratulations to Joshua Brunacci (Year 10)

Joshua has just been awarded a scholarship for this programme run through the University of Melbourne. Joshua

is to be congratulated on this wonderful achievement, which will help him thoroughly prepare for his VCE studies

and university life following Year 12.The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program is an academic enrichment

program designed to support high-achieving Victorian and select New South Wales and South Australian border

school students. As recipients of this scholarship students receive:

• A taste of university life

• The chance to meet and connect with other students who hope to study at University of Melbourne

• The opportunity to develop leadership and community involvement skills

• Access to University resources, academics and events at the Parkville campus

Applications open again in 2015 for students in Year 10. See Mrs Findlay for details.

BOOKLISTS AND SECONDHAND BOOK SELL OFF/PURCHASE OPPORTUNITY To assist families with selling their books and having the opportunity to purchase second hand books, the College will provide a room for parents to sell and purchase from each other.

This will take place in Room P12 on Wednesday November 26th from 3.30pm till 4.30pm. The College’s role is purely to provide a venue, and will not be involved with any money transactions or purchases made.

** We do ask that all families carefully check the specific details of the books on their children’s book lists, including editions, etc as sometimes older editions can be quite different and inappropriate.

YEAR 9B MARKET DAY

Once again the P Block courtyard was open for business last Friday, but business with a difference! This year all profits from the Market Day activities are being given to ‘Operation Uganda’. Music hummed through the air and sales were brisk as Mr Reid ‘spruiked’ on the microphone, making known all the wonderful goods and activities that were on offer. Jyah’s sausage rolls were very popular due to the unseasonably cold weather, and Jake’s brownies also sold well “cos they were delicious”. Matt’s lolly tree was a big success with students trying to find that ‘lucky lolly’ and spending their money to do so. Sarah Chapman’s bracelets sold very well as did Lauren’s creative bookmarks- in fact all the students did so well to make, create and sell their products to support the work in Uganda. One of the most popular activities was Sidney and Callan’s ‘Operation Nerf Storm’. The boys did an amazing job in transforming L 4 and 5 into a gallery similar to ‘Laser Strike’, where students could immerse themselves in this game. It was a very successful Market Day and the students have nominated where their money is to be spent- a community lunch for a thousand people who will receive meat and vegetables; educational opportunities for girls who, otherwise, would be forced in to working to help support their families; educational packs for girls and boys; medicinal kits for villages…so many wonderful and needed options. A big thank you to the Year 9B students who worked so hard to make the day successful, and a bigger thank you to the GBC community who supported their endeavours through spending money at their stalls. Mrs Joy Findlay - The Edge Coordinator

2014 TERM DATES

Term 4 7th October – 9th December

Important Dates

• Friday 21st November - Ebola Fundraiser for Secondary Students - Casual Dress with gold coin donation

• Wed 26th November - Secondhand Book Sell Off/Purchase Opportunity - P12 (3.30pm-4.30pm)

• Fri 28th November - Orientation Day

• Wed 3rd December - Presentation Night (5:30pm for Primary families and 7:00pm for Secondary families)

• Tue 9th December - Reports Handed to Students

• Tue 9th December - Student’s Last Day of Term 4 (normal 3:20pm finish)

• Tue 16th December– Fri 9th January - College Office Closed

• Mon 19th January– Book List Pick Up

• Fri 23rd January– Staff Retreat– Office Closed

• Mon 26th January– Australia Day Public Holiday– Office Closed

• Wed 28th January– Year 7, 11 & 12 Student return for Term 1

• Thur 29th January– All other students return for Term 1

** More detailed information regarding the events listed above will be sent closer to their dates. **

Geelong Baptist College will be hosting five students from Meisei HS for Term 1, 2015.

This is a really exciting cultural experience for the College and all of our students will benefit from this. We are seeking families from our community to host these students (2 boys and 3 girls) who will be joining our Year 9, 2015 class for Term 1. If you are able to provide help in hosting the students please see the contact details below.

A GREAT experience for the whole family

• Students will be based at Geelong Baptist College and immersed into the College program

• Students can travel by bus to & from school

• Japanese language is not necessary

• Provide normal Australian meals

• A stipend is paid to families to assist with hosting costs

• No airport pick up/drop off

Split placement of 5 weeks may be possible

For further information (no obligation) - please call or email: Jenny on 0439 654 939 or jenny@aiiu.com.au or Lynn Smith (Regional Manager) on 0427 507 990 or 5248 5066

SPORT SPOT YEAR 5/6 SUMMER LIGHTENING PREMIERSHIP Two of the major events on the Year 5/6 sporting calendar are the Summer and Winter Lightening Premierships. On Friday 7th November our Year 5/6 students participated in the sports of cricket, basketball and volleystars for the annual Summer Lightening premiership. The best performing team on the day was the cricket team who placed runners-up in their division. Well done players!