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Timbertop “It is not always the people who start out the smartest who end up the smartest” – Alfred Binet It is mid-winter in the High Country and the dams are full, the creeks are rushing by, the mountains are blanketed in snow and the Timbertop pastures are lush and green, with sheep, young lambs and fat cattle grazing. One of my signature character strengths is hope and I look upon all this with tremendous optimism. It means that the creeks will be running for our Term 4 hiking programme and full dams and lush pastures auger well for the coming summer season. I am also looking out my window at the construction of the fine safehaven which will have the roof added next and this adds to my optimism for a safe summer for our Timbertop community, bushfires or not. Clearly, it is very easy to apply this character strength in happy times, but one of the reasons we ask students and staff at Timbertop (and GGS as a whole) to sit the VIA Character Strengths test is to determine key strengths so that they can be drawn on in the good times and bad. There have been times where I’ve had to apply my character strength of hope and optimism when the Timbertop community is experiencing difficulties. Our students, too, must call on their key character strengths when dealing with challenges and adversity at Timbertop. Certainly, on our Winter Expeditions in Term 3, plenty of zest and energy is required to climb the summit of Mt Stirling, sometimes on cross country skis with a pack on your back. In the Units, humour and playfulness are often important character strengths in order to deal with the difficulties of living with 13 other boys or girls during the winter months when moods can be tested. One of Sandy Mackinnon’s signature strengths is also humour and playfulness, which is evident in his English and drama classes, and surfaced while conducting the Timbertop choir at the parents’ dinner during the Term 3 exeat. Of course, at Timbertop with such a rich and diverse community, we are very fortunate to have people with such a broad range of character strengths. I look at the kitchen staff, 18 18
3 for example, where character strengths such as appreciation of beauty and excellence were on display during our inaugural Timbertop Art Show. Our brilliant Catering Manager and chef, Gerald Losa, painstakingly painted and carved a set of magnificent totem poles. Geoff Riddell displayed some beautiful paintings. Graham Tie, the self-titled Baron of Barjarg, made some amazing food sculptures. Amber Harrison displayed several elaborate handmade bags and Helen Bernasconi showed some intricately woven rugs. The Timbertop Director of Student Welfare, Cameron Mackenzie, believes, as does Christopher Peterson (the creator of the VIA Strengths Test), that “Other People Matter” is the cornerstone of the field of Positive Psychology. He also believes this is essentially why Positive Education so seamlessly aligns itself with the existing goals and ideals of the Timbertop Programme. An overriding focus for students throughout the year is to develop an understanding of community and a realisation of the importance of their place within that community and its success. We challenge the students to look beyond the individual, their own personal struggles and adversities, to look at the strengths and diversity of those around them. It is refreshing, especially as an educator, to move beyond the traditional focus of schools of looking at what is wrong with individuals to exploring what is right with a community and the strengths of those who live in that community which then provides the opportunities and potential for true happiness. Kurt Hahn, upon whose ideals the Timbertop Programme was founded, spoke
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commonly about the importance of being “of service”. He wrote: “If you are ‘of service’ you will make others happy, and you will be happy too.” Timbertop purposely removes from the students’ lives what many of them believe makes them happy – and this is replaced by more fundamental things such as selflessly being of service to others without expecting a return. They learn throughout the year to move away from looking for happiness in short term hollow experiences to seeking a much more essential appreciation of their lives – how fortunate they are – through a meaningful understanding of their place within the community and that “Other People Matter”. There is no doubt that the use of the VIA Strengths test results enables us to understand ourselves better, it also enables us to use our key character strengths and not dwell on our weaknesses. This knowledge allows us to understand others and hence develop a more positive community. Roger Herbert Head of Timbertop 1. Metalwork sculpture was a feature of the Timbertop Art Show 2. B Unit boys savour the view from the summit of Mount Stirling during the Winter Expedition 3. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence... B Unit boys enjoying some winter sunshine
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Grease
Production Grease was definitely the word at Geelong Grammar School in Term 3. Over 120 Senior School students unveiled one of the School’s biggest musical productions ever as Grease took the stage from August 1-6. The show followed on from the hugely successful Annie Get Your Gun (2009) and continued the school’s proud history and commitment to dramatic and musical excellence. With songs like Sumer Nights, Greased Lightning and the finale We Go Together, Grease built a huge following around the world and it was no surprise that the production took GGS by storm. “Thanks for giving my child the opportunity to be part of such a special experience – I can’t believe he has waited until Yr 12 to participate – he clearly got so much out of it!” – Current parent “I just wanted to say a sincere thank you for putting on such a great production. I really enjoyed being a part of it all, and from the rehearsals and up to performing, it was a great experience. I can’t wait to see what next years’ production will be.” – Cast member “Grease was sensational – the range of students who produced such magnificent performances all interwoven so well. GREAT singing, great dancing, great music, so much energy and enthusiasm harnessed and coordinated to produce such a fun experience for all.” – Current staff member
As a special treat for our wider Corio community, we opened up a final rehearsal free of charge for students from primary and secondary schools surrounding GGS, as well as aged care homes, and the Karen refugee community. We were thrilled with the positive response. The rehearsal was a full house and the students were very excited to receive a Grease pack with a sticker, programme and some afternoon tea supplied. We also received some wonderful feedback. “Thank you to you and your lovely students for allowing us to come and see Grease last night. Just seeing the admiration and awe on my students’ faces was enough to make my day! They had such a great time and it has shown them what is actually possible. They are now keen as anything to keep going with drama. Hurrah! For most, it was their first trip to the theatre and I had to explain that ‘INTERMISSION’ was 1/2 time!” – Norlane Secondary College “Thank you so much for allowing St Laurence old folk and my AYCE “school refusers” to come along to see Grease yesterday. They ALL absolutely loved it. So much so that my school refusers said, “These are awesome kids. I’d love to come to school here!!!!” This is a really big statement from students who are terrified of regular school. They loved the energy and the obvious enjoyment and fun, friendship and
support that the performers had for each other. The old folks were still smiling and laughing about it all as I loaded them onto the bus. One lady said it has been the highlight of her year – Lyn Bouvier “It was brilliant to see pensioners, Karen refugees, parents and families, students from other schools, and GGS students have such a fantastic time. I loved the energy, zest, zing, and the whole show.” – Charlie Scudamore, Vice Principal I would like to pay tribute to the talent, passion and energy of the cast, crew, teachers and students behind Grease; their zeal and their fervour behind what will be remembered as one of the schools biggest and brightest musical theatre productions. Phil Bohun Director 1. Tash Remeljej (Yr11 EM) starred as the leader of the Pink Ladies gang, Rizzo, alongside Elliot O’Reilly (Yr11 Cu) as T-Birds’ bad boy Kenickie 2. Boys ensemble, led by Elliot O’Reilly (Yr11 Cu), launch into Greased Lightning 3. L to R: Anthony Bellofiore (Yr12 FB), Tom Duff (Yr12 P), Will Drury (Yr12 P), James Eddington (Yr11 Cu), Mitch Smart (Yr11 Cu) and Bayles Abercrombie (Yr11 P) 4. L to R: Portia Atkins (Yr11 Cl) and Georgie Dixon (Yr10 He) play best friends Frenchy and Sandy
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