Connections 2014 Summer Edition

2014 ISSUE 2

CONNECTIONS An ELTHAM College Publication

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CONTENTS

CALENDAR

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40 Years and Beyond

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The Eloquence of the Spoken Word

FEB 8

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Learning in Depth revealed

FEB 18

Year 12 Soirée

FEB 19

Excellence Assembly

FEB 22

Early and Junior Years Welcome Picnic

MAR 10

Years 5-12 House Athletics Carnival

MAY 16

ECCA Trivia Night

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Senior Years -That little bit extra Meet the newest big thinkers at ELTHAM ExECS - 40th Celebrations

FEB 2

Early and Junior Years Welcome Morning Tea Music and Performance Centre Foyer, 8.45am

Year 7 Welcome to Middle Years BBQ Middle Years Sails Area, 12pm

Swipers Gully Restaurant, 6:30pm

Sports Stadium, 11am

Eltham Lower Park, 11am

Doncaster Athletics Track

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Class of ‘04 - 10 Year Reunion

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Class of ‘94 - 20 Year Reunion Class of ‘84 - 30 Year Reunion

MAR 17

House Music Evening

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Class of ‘13 - 1st Reunion ExECS - Sporting Clubs

MAY 2

Open Day

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Swipers Gully Feature Recipe Foundation News

MAY 9

Year 10 and 11 Formal

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ECCA - Supporting ELTHAM Checking in with friends

MAY 14

Teddy Bears Picnic

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Technology - Stephen Heppell

MAY 20

Year 12 Soirée

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Connections Magazine supporters

JUN 13

Year 12 Dinner Dance

Eltham Community and Reception Centre, 7pm

Hamer Hall Arts Centre

ELTHAM College 9.30am

The Manningham, Bulleen, 7:30pm

ELC, Prep and Year 12

Swipers Gully Restaurant, 6:30pm

Ashton Manor, Diamond Creek, 7:30pm

CONNECTIONS

Editorial

40 YEARS AND BEYOND “In 2015 we hope to provide more options for critical thinking in the areas of literacy, mathematics, science and design.”

As our 40th year draws to a close we can celebrate the significant growth in the College.

One of the most exciting elements this year has been the growth in technology and student involvement in design; especially the design of learning and recreation spaces. In 2015 we hope to provide more options for critical and innovative thinking in the areas of literacy, mathematics, science and design. This will nicely complement our strength in the performing arts.

A 2009 report from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) in the United Kingdom identified six major ways in which schools and other organisations can help create an ‘innovation culture’ with our young people. NESTA feel an innovation culture will develop the skills young people require to be “successful innovative employees, employers and citizens of the future”. The report reflects many of Charles Fadel’s work on developing the 4 C’s” of Creativity, Critical thinking, Communication and Collaboration.

The NESTA report identified a number of avenues where we can help develop an ‘innovation culture’. They feel schools should provide opportunities for young people to promote a positive lifestyle and innovative ideas through the use of media in all its forms. Further, we should develop ‘Innovation Toolkits’ aimed at young people to provide the process and structure to support them to develop innovations. Our students should be provided with access to networks that support young innovators. Adults who work with young people should be equipped to support innovative ideas. Most importantly we should provide ‘spaces’ and ‘places’ to support young people’s innovation. ‘Spaces’ can be opportunities or challenges, both within the school curriculum and outside formal education, that enable young people to exercise their problem-solving, open-thinking and teamwork skills on issues that they identify as important.

This edition of ELTHAM College Connections highlights current and future opportunities for the students to create and innovate.

I wish all members of the College community a safe and happy holiday season.

Mr Simon Le Plastrier Principal ELTHAM College

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Noah Rostan, Oscar Geerts and Liza Kelly

CONNECTIONS

Feature

THE ELOQUENCE OF THE SPOKEN WORD The art of public speaking has always been highly regarded at ELTHAM. Cath Howard, one of our Junior Years teachers, shares her thoughts regarding this inspiring and powerful medium.

It has often been said that the average adult fears public speaking more than death. Yet those brave souls who have stood tall before their peers know the power of soaring oratory to lift hearts, give courage to the weary, honour the dead, and inspire feats of ingenuity and bravery.

Indeed they can move nations, and in so doing change the course of history. Churchill’s ‘We shall fight them on the beaches…’ buoyed the spirits of the British people at their darkest hour, while ‘…we happy few…’, presented with such passion by Henry V at Agincourt, is still—600 years later—a model for half-time pep-talks given to modern warriors on the sporting field.

The famous ‘I have a dream…’ by one of history’s most famous orators, Dr King, continues to inspire all who yearn for justice and peace.

For some reason, however, Australians shy away from public speaking. In an article, The Power of Speech published in The Age (August 7 2004), Sally Warhaft wrote: ‘Australians do not consider theirs an oral culture. Talk, we believe, is a substitute for action rather than a catalyst for it...Where we must speak in public at all, it is considered best to be low key, sometimes to the point of dreary monotony’. Of one markedly dull parliamentary performer she wrote: ‘No one ever seems to listen to what he says, and even after a few minutes, he gives the impression that, since he started speaking, amoebas have evolved into vertebrates, crawled out of the ocean, stood upright, and invented the wheel and the atomic bomb.’

Such a scathing assessment could never be given in reference to the young speechifiers whose voices ring out every year at ELTHAM College, when students from Years 3-12 participate in a public speaking competition that keeps an audience (ranging in age from 7 years to adult) moved, motivated, enlightened and entertained.

The fine tradition of public speaking at ELTHAM began nearly thirty years ago as a House Competition. At around the same time, the Carson family joined the school and Christopher (class of 1989) and Siobhan (class of 1990) took the competition to new heights. So breathtaking was their eloquence that when they left the school their parents donated a trophy in their honour. On many occasions, Chris and Siobhan enthusiastically served as judges for The Carson Trophy competition from 1992 until Chris’s tragic death a few years ago. More recently, the Junior Years section has been awarded the Lara McQuillan Trophy— in honour of another spectacularly accomplished speaker who dominated the competition throughout her time at ELTHAM. It is always the greatest delight for students, staff and parents to be taken on a journey of discovery by the orators of ELTHAM. Topics range from the highly factual to the completely whimsical. Over the years we have heard speeches about: The Life Cycle of The Onion; The Art of Happiness; Gravity; My Puppy; The Digestive Impact of Baked Beans; Anorexia; Global Warming; Why ‘Twilight’ is the Worst Example of English Literature Ever Written; Dust Mites; Reality TV; The Killer Coconut; Peer Pressure; Asylum Seekers; Gated Communities; The Global Financial Crisis; Deadly Creatures; and Why Weekends Should Be Three Days’ … to name but a very few.

Christopher Carson in 1989 Every speaker, from classroom competition to grand final, has known the magic of holding an audience in the palm of their hand. Every speaker (whether energetically enthusiastic or knee-rattlingly nervous) has felt a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Sometimes it isn’t until years later that we hear from students that they are grateful for the experience and practice. Perhaps they’ve been asked to give a speech at a wedding. Perhaps it’s been a eulogy. Maybe they’ve been asked to do a presentation at work, or for the local council, or simply speak well at a job interview. At some stage in our lives, all of us will be asked to stand up in front of a group of people and speak. Our John CitizenFiculiis ocusquod sus ELTHAM students are well prepared andggh we are proud of every single one of them. fomnequam ocaetrae ocrivvdssoludam

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CONNECTIONS

News

LEARNING IN DEPTH REVEALED The Learning in Depth program (LiD) was introduced to students in Year 7 and 8 at ELTHAM College at the beginning of Semester 2. LiD is an individual extended research program that develops students’ fundamental investigation skills. It enables students to engage their imagination, expand their knowledge, deepen their learning and enhance their critical and creative thinking skills.

Students and teachers work collaboratively to select a topic for each student with the overall goal being to become an ‘expert’. This includes students developing their own personal learning portfolio on their particular area of investigation.

There was a wide variety of topics from electricity to fossils, planes and aerospace to rice, with different genres represented, from scientific to the creative and abstract or performing arts.

“It has been a long and sometimes stressful journey, but in the end we came through with our work completed and smiling in the face of accomplishment.”

- Ceyda Year 7

The students will continue this program through their Middle and early Senior Years’ experience.

For those who choose to continue it will lead to the VCE Extended Investigation subject studied in Year 12. The program is supported by skilled teachers who assist students to develop their abilities relating to research and presentation, which can also be applied through all areas of the school curriculum and beyond the classroom at university level.

To complete the year each student has presented their research through a Learning Expo for their families and friends.

“My topic “wool” has had me visiting different places including my friend’s farm. Now I am learning all about the qualities of lanolin.”

- Jess Year 8

Part of the learning experience has seen students interviewed by Seniors Years teachers and members of the Executive Team. This was an important part of their experience and enabled them to receive constructive feedback about their learning journey.

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Jess Hall shares the benefits of lanolin

THAT LITTLE BIT EXTRA

Greg Arnold and Helen Durham with College Captains

During 2015 we have introduced a number of additional opportunities to enhance the Senior Years program.

This year has seen the introduction of Year 12 Dinners where members of the Year 12 cohort, past students, and people who simply have interesting and intriguing stories to tell, have presented to the enraptured Year 12 audience.

One of our inspirational speakers included past student Helen Durham, who was appointed as the Director for International Law and Policy at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva in July 2014. We have also heard from many of our musician’s in Year 12 and from Scott Harris (past student) who recounted his courageous story of fighting back from a motor bike accident to achieve things he previously thought impossible. As these dinners continue in 2015 students will gain more of an insight into the exciting world around them and possibilities for the future.

These dinners provide a forum for our Year 12 cohort to hear from their peers, and others, about their aspirations and achievements.

In May 2014 we began offering our study nights for Senior Years students. These occurred every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4pm until 8pm in the Senior Library. Observations from these sessions showed that groups of students worked diligently either in study groups or as individuals. These nights will continue in 2015 starting in week 3 of Term 1.

The study nights provide students with a dedicated space to study, away from distraction, with many resources also available.

VCE Extended Investigation is a challenging Unit 3/4 subject designed to enable students to conduct a rigorous study using inquiry learning and critical thinking skills.

The research scope can be from any discipline area but it must go beyond the scope of any other VCE studies. Students undertake independent research and consider research ethics, review relevant literature and apply the conventions of academic writing, including referencing systems.

Through this study students develop their capacity to explore, justify and defend their research findings in both oral and written forms to a general, or non-specialist audience. The skills that students develop in this study are particularly transferable to any higher education course or vocational education and training program.

Through this study students develop their capacity to explore, justify and defend their research findings in both oral and written forms.

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CONNECTIONS

News

MEET THE NEWEST BIG THINKERS AT ELTHAM

Rob Flavell Head of eLearning and Critical Thinking

In 2015 we will continue to grow our thinking capacity. In the following Q & A you can find out more regarding two of our newest recruits.

1. There has been a lot of research into developing technology rich and relevant curriculum in recent years. How do you see young people using technology to learn now and into the future?

Rob Flavell joins us from Trinity Grammar School, where he has been the Director of ICT. He will now take on the Head of eLearning and Critical Thinking role at the College. Darren Smith joins us with many years’ experience in Marine Science and Science teaching in New Zealand, to take up the Head of Mathematical and Scientific Thinking position.

Humans have the capacity to be remarkable problem solvers and thinkers, but some challenges are best met with the aid of technology. Crucially however, those who have optimised their processes with technology assistance know when to step away from the screen. Learning with the aid of technology is a personal journey with no one set of answers, but it is clear that serious cognitive advantages accrue to those who are best at thinking alongside machines.

3. What ingredients are needed to build a thinking culture?

While important that teachers cultivate an atmosphere conducive to deep thought in their classrooms, cultural development demands all parts of a community to engage in practice which questions, constructs, supports, challenges, researches and represents ideas. Every lens reveals new insight.

4. Why is it important to encourage students to be lifelong learners?

Equipping students to be life-long learners is essential to thrive in an ever changing world.

5. What does the e stand for in eLearning and what is meant by “Critical Thinking”?

2. How has the work of educational thinkers such as Dr Charles Fadel and Professor Stephen Heppell (and others) influenced you?

eLearning is a funny, made up word. For me, the ‘e’ in eLearning is silent – it’s all about the learning.

Dr Fadel has helped me think more about the relevance of what we teach in the 21 century; to ensure learners are prepared for the changing world in which we live. Stephen Heppell, Seymour Papert and Bret Victor to name a few have pushed me to constantly think and rethink pedagogy, how we construct knowledge and what environments are best suited to cultivating the best atmosphere for teaching and learning.

Critical thinking is an essential skill: it empowers us to be discerning as we evaluate all that comes before us and that which we seek out. It ensures the knowledge we construct is considered and not flippant.

6. What are you reading at the moment?

I’m always reading Wired Magazine and myriad of other journals of that ilk. I usually have a novel on the go and at the moment this has taken the form of a comical telling of Australia’s history by David Hunt: Girt.

Darren Smith Head of Mathematical and Scientific Thinking

1. There has been a lot of research into developing technology rich and relevant curriculum in recent years. How do you see young people using technology to learn now and into the future?

I think that it will be about using technology to form connections: to connect with new information, new people, new places. In our global society we thrive on the sharing of information, on collaboration and cooperation – and modern education needs to reflect this. I believe that one of the primary goals of education is to prepare young people for an uncertain future. One thing we can be certain of is that their future will be technology-rich and therefore their education needs to be rich in technology too.

Our young people already embrace technology – we need to tap into their creativity in finding novel ways to use it for learning.

2. How has the work of educational thinkers such as Dr Charles Fadel and Professor Stephen Heppell (and others) influenced you?

Both Charles Fadel and Stephen Heppell like to challenge the orthodoxy in education – and I resonate with that. They are both passionate about redesigning curricula and classrooms to meet the needs and skills of 21st century learners. I think that transformational educational thinkers make us stop and really think about education: about what we are doing and why we are doing it, and remind us that we should regularly ask ourselves if what we are doing as educators still represents best practice as our learners’ needs change.

3. What ingredients are needed to build a thinking culture?

Curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to engage with the unfamiliar; a safe learning environment where success and failure are equally respected and valid; and the tenacity to hang on and persevere when one is outside one’s intellectual comfort zone.

4. Why is it important to encourage students to be lifelong learners?

We live in an evolving society where many of the challenges of tomorrow are likely to be ones that we cannot even conceive of today. Our everyday lives are shaped by the advances of those who had the foresight, ability and skills to look at something in a new way; to see emerging opportunities and new ways of realising them, or to look at old problems and find novel ways of solving them. That is, they learned: they used their curiosity, creativity and past experiences to think of a way forward, to make progress. Being receptive to new learning helps us gain the tools by which we can adapt to our ever-changing environment and meet the new challenges that our future will present us all with.

5. What role does Mathematics and Science play in a contemporary learning environment?

Mathematics and Science together provide the skills and knowledge to describe and explain our world (and beyond). They also provide the means to better it !

Technology – the application of science and mathematics to solving problems – is advancing at an incredible rate and learning in this field is an educational priority for the majority of developed and developing countries.

In a modern learning environment where technology is a focus, there is a need to look more widely than just Science and Mathematics.

We often hear of people being labelled as ‘left brainers’ with an affinity for maths/science, or ‘right-brainers’ who are stronger in the creative arts. Yet the reality is that we all have the potential to develop both aspects and we should nurture them equally. The STEAM model (Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics) is emerging in response to the need for technological innovation, creativity and imagination. Mathematics and Science will continue to be essential learning areas, but be a part of a wider, more seamless learning experience that ignores labels and celebrates creativity across all curriculum areas. These are exciting times indeed!

6. What are you reading at the moment?

I’m a huge fan of Science Fiction (go figure!)

– after all, today’s science fiction may well be tomorrow’s science fact. At the moment I am reading a sci-fi crime thriller novel called “Lock In” by John Scalzi. It is about people afflicted by a virus who are ‘locked in’ their unmoving bodies, yet able to exist in cybernetic bodies, through which they interact with the rest of the human population.

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EXECS

Events

40th CELEBRATIONS Here are just a few of the wonderful moments shared at the ExECS Associations Life Membership Awards in March 2014.

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40th Celebrations A. A great crowd of past students and past parents B. Beryl Nichols, John Burnell C. John Burnell, Keith McKechnie, David Burnell, Yvonne Burnell D. Keith McKechnie and grandaughter Holly E. Life Member recipients; Damain Bishop, Vivienne and Geo Ritter, Keith McKechnie F. Lucinda Cross, Lisa Woolcock (Burnell) G. Lyn Littlefield, Val Jones, Peter Littlefield, Les Clarke

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Reunion

CLASS OF ‘04 10 YEAR REUNION

10 Year Reunion A. Ashton Chudiak, Filomena Vecchio (Past Staff ), Emily Downey B. Dale Lyon, Hannah McIntyre, Kieran O’Brien, Brenton Dines, Russell Clark, Brent Llewellyn C. Jacob White, Daniel Kelabora, Neil Joubert, Chris Guinea, Klaus Jones D. Miranda Roediger (Marriott), Ellen Alexander- Brown, Kara Chambers, Drew Anthony E. Samuel Kent, Chris Guinea, Lee Ferraro F. Scott Wells, Ash Pow, Laura Tsakmakis, Micaela Henderson, Serenity McEwin (Chriscoll) G. Stefanie Yammouni, Karl Vreko, Hannah McIntyre, David Schultz, Miranda Markovic

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Reunions

CLASS OF ‘94 20 YEAR REUNION

20 Year Reunion A. Elisa Disher, Bec Pugh, Scott Conley, Julian Kelabora, Josh Alexander, Juanita Schulties, Kim van Hattum (Norgate) B. Karie Northcote (McIlwain), Lesa Clark C. Kim van Hattum (Norgate), Karen Docking (Edwards) D. Liz Leins (Moore), Adam Luttick E. Narelle Castellano, Harry Troedel, Emma Brooks, Shelley Campbell, Peter Munro, Robyn Kennedy (Dwyer) F. Rupert Sherwood, Ben Holland, Cameron McAllister G. Sarah Alexander, Emma Fisher, Caroline Pizzey (Burke) and Sally Kenny

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CLASS OF ‘84 30 YEAR REUNION A

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30 Year Reunion A. Caroline Ritchie (Carter), Kate Tinkler, Melanie Ramsay (Don) B. Fergus Fitzwater, Tony Floyd, Roy Solterbeck C. Kristina RobinsonCamilleri, Kyra Farquharson, Lisa Linton (McDougall) D. Russell Lath, Sally Koster (Gray), Kylee Shiel, Roy Solterbeck, Tony Floyd, Sarah Vallance, Fergus Fitzwater, Phil Kirby, Colin Leake E. Sarah Vallance, Sally Koster (Gray), Kean Selway F. Sharyn O’Brien, Phil Kirby G. Tony Deylen, Peter Stevens, Andrew Donelly

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Reunions

CLASS OF ‘13 GRADUATE REUNION

Graduate Reunion A. Daniel Winter, Isabella ReevesSmyth B. Kelly Peck, Paul Cifone, Matt Wilson, Elliot Bennie, Isabella Reeves-Smyth, Tilly Dickson, Jess Riddell, James Cross, Josh Rayson C. Marina Tidmarsh, Brooke Carlile, Matt Wilson, Emily Collett, Jess Riddell, Mark Pobjoy D. Liberty Roger, Lauren Randell E. Marina Tidmarsh, Tarah Bower, Kelly Peck, Brooke McCluskey, Gemma Cleary F. Tom Blake, Max Gibson, Maddie Dodds, Emma Tender, Connor Zikaris, Rhys Martin G. Tom Richardson, Wendy Hu, Chelsea Tomasin, Sean Robertson

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Sport

OUR EXECS SPORTING CLUBS

GET IN CONTACT Eltham Collegians Football Club Contact Ron Chapman - Club President on 0410 446 614, or visit elthamcollegiansfc.com Research Eltham Collegians Cricket Club (RECCC) Contact Sebastian Fitzpatrick on 0497 839 609 or visit researchelthamcollegians.vic.cricket.com.au

TURTLES MAKE FINALS Season 2014 saw the Turtles go one step further with both seniors and reserves making finals.

The seniors having won through to the preliminary final, lost to the eventual premiers by 14 points.

The scene is now set to go one step further in 2015.

An added highlight was club captain Arron Lendaro winning the VAFA Division 2 Best and Fairest.

The club is always looking for new recruits, both seniors and reserves. All are welcome.

For more Information Contact: Ron Chapman Club President on 0410446614

CRICKET NEWS In October the Club launched Season 2014-15 with a fantastic event held at Swiper’s Gully Restaurant & Vineyard at ELTHAM College. It was a great turnout, with over 100 in attendance, enjoying great food, drink and good company.

Special guests included Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia Board members, and CEO Tony Dodemaide, local Mayor Michael Young and Councillor Ken King together with leaders from ELTHAM College. The day showcased the Club and the Strategic Plan, while providing great sporting entertainment, with legends of sport Bill Lawry, Simon Black and Danni Di Toro. Locally grown cricket legend and Club member, Adam Dale, did a superb job as host for the day. Club President, Sebastian Fitzpatrick, provided an apt summary of the event when he said, “the day provided an opportunity for the greater RECCC community to showcase their network and vision for the Club whilst encouraging supporters new and old to get behind us as we move forward”.

The Club is looking really strong with more than 150 Junior boys and girls from Miloin2Cricket beginners to Under 18’s. Seniors and Vets are fielding 7 teams this year. New players are always welcome. See the Club website for further details.

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SWIPERS GULLY

Recipe

COCOA AND CINNAMON PAVLOVA “The meringues in this recipe take me back to when I lived in London. On my way to work I would walk past a bakery called Baker and Spice. In the window were these giant meringues. I often bought one and nibbled it as I walked home. I love the sugary egg laced with bitter cocoa and cinnamon. They are simply yummy!”

- Patrick Murphy

Pavlova (Serves 6) • 200g egg whites • 400g caster sugar • Pinch of salt • 15g cocoa powder • 1tsp ground cinnamon • 1tbsp corn flour Preheat oven to 125°C and line two large baking trays with baking paper.

Sieve the powdered cinnamon with the cocoa powder.

Place the egg whites and salt in mixer and beat until stiff peeks form. Add sugar and continue to mix until shiny or sugar is dissolved. Stir in corn flour. Sieve the cocoa powder and ground cinnamon over the pavlova mixture.

Use two large spoons to scoop a large spoonful of the mixture, scoop deep to get a ripple effect of cocoa and meringue. Resist the temptation to mix the cocoa in. Drop heaped spoonfuls of the meringue onto the baking trays and cook at 125°C for 60 minutes.

Lemon Curd • Grated zest of 2 lemons • Juice of 2 ½ lemons • 2 eggs • 110g caster sugar • 110g butter cut into cubes

Combine all the ingredients together and place in a large heatproof bowl, set over a pan of slightly simmering water.

Whisk for a few moments then reduce the heat slightly and leave to cook for approximately 20 minutes (there is no need to stir continuously but do give it an occasional stir).

Once it has thickened divide into containers and allow to cool.

Crème Chantilly • 200ml thickened cream • 1 vanilla pod or 1tsp vanilla essence • 25g icing sugar Whisk the cream until it forms thick folds then stir in the vanilla seeds and the icing sugar.

To Serve Place some lemon curd in the centre of the plate.

Place pavlova on top of the curd. Pipe some cream on top and pipe some lemon curd around the pavlova. Arrange whatever berries are in season neatly on top and serve.

FOUNDATION

News

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

A new look is just around the corner for the Foundation’s child care businesses.

During 2013, the Foundation Board determined that a new approach to the visual identity of their child care centres was required. The College Board also shared this observation.

Consequently, we engaged marketing and branding experts, Naked Communications, to assist us with developing a new look and feel.

They have now concluded their research into the industry and into our centres’ unique culture and developed a new brand and image for our Centres. We are excited to announce that The Little Flyers Learning Centres name will be officially launched in April 2015 together with a new web site and social media presence. “Flying” represents the freedom to learn, the structured risk taking, the quest for excellence and reaching for the stars, that we introduce to all our children.

During 2013, the Federal and State bodies launched the National Quality Framework for early learning centres. The framework determined a much higher standard of education and care in the child care industry and applied regulations to all centres to comply. Part of the new legislation established a Rating and Assessment programme for all centres throughout 2014 and 2015.

So far two of our four centres have been assessed and we are pleased to announce that we received the top rating for both, ‘Exceeding National Standards”.

Under our new brand name, Little Flyers Learning Centres plan to exceed national standards in all aspects of education and care in 2015 and the years ahead.

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ECCA

News

ECCA PARENTS SUPPORTING ELTHAM Highlights of events organised by the ELTHAM College Community Association (ECCA) to help the College celebrate it’s 40th year.

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TRIVIA NIGHT

RUBY GALA

MASTERWORKS

ECCA’s 40th anniversary celebration events kicked off with a 70s themed Trivia Night held in May, with nearly 200 of our current and past parents and staff enjoying a night of fun and frivolity. Guests dressed up in their 70s finest, with an eclectic mix of hippy through to disco attire.

The Centre Ivanhoe Great Hall provided a stunning backdrop for the art deco inspired theme of the Ruby Gala Dinner held in August, as guests enjoyed a glittering evening of dining and dancing. An array of founding families, past principals, parents, students and staff representing all facets of the College history joined with our current ELTHAM community to celebrate this milestone anniversary.

The Masterworks art exhibition was officially opened by Deborah Halpern in October, with a spectacular display of art, music and light all provided by artists who attended ELTHAM over the past four decades.

Table themes were inspired by 70s movies, TV shows, bands and songs, with decorations, food and drinks matching the era. The amazing display of sweet treats and outfits from the Willy Wonka team saw them take out the prize for best themed table.

Silent Auctions, games and dance-off competitions provided plenty of entertainment and a great night for all.

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The festivities proceeded with a wonderful speech by Les Clarke, giving insight into the early founding years of the College. The auctioneering talents of parent David Moxon had guests outbidding each other for the unique opportunity to secure a dinner with Simon Le Plastrier at the Principals residence, and the fabulous music entertainment had everyone dance the night away. As the evening drew to a close, some say too quickly, we all discussed what a successful celebration it had been.

Opening Night guests were entertained by high calibre musicians Phoebe Briggs - Victorian Opera (Class of 1987), Nadine Delbridge Orchestra Victoria (Class of 1988) and Hamish McGregor (Class of 1993) and the venue was transformed with an amazing external light installation commissioned by Steve Hendy (Class of 2011).

The prize for Best in Show was awarded to Ella Carey (Class of 2008) for her media submissions, and attendees at the Opening voted for the work of James Pasinis (Class of 2006) to win the Bendigo Bank People’s Choice Award - pictured centre above with event sponsors from Bendigo Bank Ringwood Lending & Investment Centre.

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Friends of Groups

CHECKING IN WITH FRIENDS Find out more about the great activities our Friends of Groups have been involved in recently.

SNOW SPORTS

MUSIC

AEROBICS

Following a successful snow camp at Mt. Hotham in early July, ELTHAM had 16 students at the Victorian Interschools Championships, competing in a range of disciplines including Alpine GS, Snowboard GS, Skier X and Snowboard X. Our team had varying ability levels and tried their best against a very tough field some events had up to 200 competitors!

FOM (Friends of Music) are proud to provide parent support to the ELTHAM College music department events, including the House Music major rafe which raised funds for the FOM music awards. Each year FOM present an award to a Senior and Middle years student, and were proud to introduce a Junior award this year. The 2014 recipients were Hannah Jones, Ella Ward and Issy Rutherford. We congratulate each student on their musical achievements and hope they continue with music in the future.

In 2014 the ELTHAM College Aerobics program has continued to develop, with Junior and Middle Years students participating in the after-school sessions both recreationally and competitively.

Students have worked very hard to learn both display and competition routines and were able to perform at school assemblies, College Open Day and interschool competitions.

The weather was fantastic and students, teachers and parents spent time together supporting each other at the events as well as skiing around the mountain.

It was great to see ELTHAM College field a much larger team than in previous years and we look to build on this team and offer some training days in the lead up in 2015!

Paul Cifone, Snowsports Coordinator

FOM have had some changes in the last year and thank Louise Millar–Hoffman (President) and Llianne Edsell (Vice President) for their hard work over the last two years. Without the support of parents in the ELTHAM College community our friends of groups would not exist.

We look forward to 2015 and hope to see many more music parents become involved.

The ELTHAM groups competed against many schools from throughout the state at the Victorian AEROSkools Championships held in August and the Spring Aerochallenge in September. Not only did they have a fantastic time on stage, their results were also highly commendable in extremely competitive divisions.

Thank you to student coaches Naomi Taranto and Mia Taranto for their outstanding dedication to the development of the program.

Lauren Walton, Aerobics Coordinator

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Feature

TECHNOLOGY STEPHEN HEPPELL It truly is a great time to be involved in education. Renowned academic, Professor Stephen Hepell, joined us in late 2014 to discuss the constantly changing face of education. His visit was generously supported by the College parents association, ECCA.

As passionate educators we were pleased to host Professor Heppell at a number of informative events during November 2014.

Professor Stephen Heppell has in the last twenty years been described as Europe’s most influential academic in the field of technology and education, and a leading researcher who has amassed a vast portfolio of large scale, successful learning projects. He is a professor at Universidad Camilo José Cela in Spain and at Bournemouth University in the UK.

“Technology should be embraced and used with a breadth of imagination and ingenuity.”

Professor Heppell conducted a public forum on the topic 10 Ways Schools will be different in 2020 and then continued to expand on this concept with students and staff at follow up sessions.

Professor Heppell spoke about the astonishing speed that technology is advancing and how incredible it is that a digital device you hold in your hand today has more processing power than a computer from just 15 years ago.

Throughout the forum many concepts about ways we can build better learning were explored with Professor Heppell identifying just some of the ways the educational landscape will look different in 2020: •

Learning will be a lot more global

•

Servers and services cloud based

•

Tech will be personal, wearable

•

Students will have sight and control of their own complex learning data

•

On line learning an entitlement

•

New and emerging teaching and learning

•

Better measure of performance

•

We will know a lot more about how we learn

For those of us who are unsure of technology’s place in education Professor Heppell explains that you can liken the provision of technology to the same “traditional” tools you give your children to create and make sense of their world. You provide pencils, crayons, books and everything you can to develop their skills and their understanding, so it makes sense to give them technology as well. The trick with technology is to be active users not passive consumers. To make sure we harness the power and opportunities that developing technologies present.

“We have articulate, thoughtful and insightful students who have the opportunity to use technology for the

“We are now in the position to build

betterment of all society”

better learning.”

Learning is a forever journey. Professor Heppell understands this better than anyone. He also knows more than most about how children learn best; how schools can better serve children’s learning; and how learning has to be our single most important investment in a rapidly evolving world where change is the only constant.

Professor Stephen Heppell discussing the value of technology

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Illustration: Nerve Endings