today, Thursday 1st December 2011 - Goroke P-12 College

Year 8’s returned on Wednesday from their camp in Ballarat where they have been
undertaking an orientation to Ballarat University. We have been connected to Ballarat Uni for
several years now – they have provided information evenings and sessions for students and
parents at the school, helping prepare them for what is in store after students leave
secondary school. Our school has combined with a couple of other schools in the Wimmera
for this camp and stayed in the student accommodation at the university. There has been no
cost to the students thanks to the financial support of the University of Ballarat. Thank you
to Ms Aldridge, Michele Mulraney and Brian O’Leary for their organisation and assistance
over the 2 days.
Concert preparations are well underway for the end of the year and hopefully by the
16 th December some of our rock and roll dancers will be well practiced and less likely to
injure themselves as they have been doing in rehearsals.
A reminder about next year’s parent contributions and booklists. Parents will have
noticed that the booklist requirements have been reduced. The school is relying more and
more on Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and therefore there is less
dependent on exercise books, scrap books, folders etc. As a result of this increased
dependence on technologies, however, parents will see an across the board increase in ICT
charges on their parent contribution list so that all students in year 5-12 can have 24/7
access to their own laptop as well as have the unit regularly replaced every three years.
Today was the last official RE session for the school and the students had the
opportunity to send our RE teachers off with a wonderful farewell. Many thanks to Barb and
Jenny for their ongoing commitment to the education of our children at Goroke P-12
College and to all of the religious education teachers who came before them. We have been
very fortunate to have had some wonderful instructors in our school – all on a volunteer
basis and all committed to sharing the affirming values of their faith. Many thanks Jenny and
Barb. We will miss you both.
This week we also received some sad news from Keith McCarron, our instrumental
music teacher. Keith has been teaching music in a number of schools over the years but
eventually only chose to continue in our school because of his commitment to our music
programme and the dedication of the children involved. Keith has informed us that he has
been diagnosed with lung cancer and will not be able to teach for a while. He spoke to the
students on Wednesday and it was with a heavy heart that he told them he would be unable
to return in 2011. Keith is hoping that he may, depending on tests, treatments and surgery
options undertaken between now and next year, return. Whilst he is away, we will be trying
to find a temporary replacement music teacher to ensure that students have some continuity
next year. This is a tough time for the McCarron family and we wish Keith and his wife
Lorraine all the best. The band will still be performing on Concert Night and have given their
promise to Keith that they will try their best with their new ‘assistant’ conductor Kylie
Charlton.
Joy Forbes
The library will be closed for borrowing purposes from
today, Thursday 1st December 2011