Like all our Victorian schools, Geelong Lutheran College has learned to ‘do’ school differently throughout the year. Changes to routines, expectations and ways of engagement are resulting in some very creative thinking and problem-solving on behalf of teachers, students and parents.
Year 12 Care packages
In Week 9, our Year 12 students embark on their ‘Spring into Revision’ program online for 2021. The seminar involves online sessions from Elevate about the ‘finishing line’ and the best strategies for success as they approach exams. A final mindfulness session with Beth Milner builds on the last three weeks of sessions to show students how best to use these strategies in times of stress and prior to entering an exam to calm the body and mind. Our students engage in a Q & A with past Year 12 students to ask questions and advice about how best to revise and prepare! Finally, they are given exam packages for each subject, around 15-20 practice exams with an organization folder and care package. Due to COVID, the 12s will collect their care packages this year from a drive-through setup. Each care package includes everything they need to prepare, water, stress balls, pens, clear pencil cases, snacks, a mug and cake sachet, accompanied with a letter from their teachers to help motivate them for this final journey. Best wishes Year 12s; teamwork makes the dream work!
SEMATICS (Robotics)
The College has two groups of students participating in extra-curricular robotics activities. These are SEMATICS 101 (Year 6 students) and SEMATICS 102 (Year 7-9 students and current Australian Champions for the Vic, SA & Tas region). The program is facilitated by Year 5 Teacher Jane Hollett and her husband Greg, a retired Electrical Engineer.
Both teams participate in the FIRST Lego League Challenge competition. This is a global event that involves students designing, building, and programming a Lego Technics robot to autonomously complete as many challenges as possible within a two and a half minute time frame. Teams also identify, research, and provide a solution to a real-world problem linked to the theme. These two aspects are used to help students develop many life skills.
Teamwork is a core value of the competition and teams must be able to demonstrate and articulate aspects of working together. During the year, SEMATICS 102 students have mentored the younger 101 team, sharing their knowledge and therefore broadening their own understandings. SEMATICS 102 were invited by FIRST Australia and Macquarie University to prepare and present a series of workshops for students in Chi Wah schools (12 rural schools) in China’s Fujian Province. This will be implemented and completed during September.
Currently, both teams are preparing for this year’s challenge “Cargo Connect” and are enthusiastically looking forward to participating in the competition later in the year whether it is live or virtual.
‘SPLAT Art’
The Year 1-2 students have been learning about mixtures in STEAM this term. We learned that there are different types of mixtures and explored their properties and colours.
Sometimes when we mix different substances together a chemical reaction can occur and this is what we witnessed in this particular lesson! Students mixed their own mud together in a film canister using dirt from the garden and the right amount of water (not too runny, not too thick!). We then added an Alker-Seltzer tablet, put the lid on the canister and waited for the chemical reaction to occur. The result was a spectacular explosion of mud!
After our explosions had dried, we collected more items from the garden and turned our splat art into amazing nature monsters! Keen to try it? https://muddly-puddly.com/
Les Seiffert retirement
GLC students have been blessed to have Les Seiffert teach them in the final years of his career. Les has worked in Lutheran Schools since 1976, beginning at Tarrington, included Bethania in Queensland and around Victoria.
Les has served our schools with integrity, love and dedication. The children in his care truly know the value of kindness, thankfulness and community. Les will be formally (virtually) farewelled at the end of Term 3. He will then be enjoying some long service leave in Term 4. We thank Les for his faithfulness to our schools, families and communities and wish him God’s richest blessings as he enjoys a change of pace and some new adventures.
The challenges of lockdown have not diminished the sense of community at Geelong Lutheran College as teachers and support staff continue to find ways to connect with our students and families. Our community continues to be upheld in prayer through our Greater Geelong Lutheran Community and we take comfort and strength from Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Sue Ellis
Principal
