Happy Christmas

Today We Farewellled Year 12 2013

The stage setting evolved


After formalities, the Year 12 class of 2013 was presented to us.



And though it was raining outside
a sea of bright umbrellas
sheltering
parents
primary teachers
primary students
awaited

Revolutions Class of 2013

GL33 was the meeting place for the Revolutions class of 2013.
Once again, an exciting bunch of crazy characters who had fun as they ploughed through the detail of the French and Russian Revolutions.


Indy + Taylor + Nancy - an awesome trio.


O those cheeky smiles.

 
It has been a great year.
May you all push those boundaries and do the very best you can in your final exams.

Somerset Novella Writing Competition

SOMERSET NATIONAL NOVELLA 
WRITING COMPETITION
The competition is open to ALL current secondary students attending school in Australia.
Entrants must be under 19 years of age as at date of close of entries
 Friday 6 December 2013.

Summary of Conditions
Length of Novella should be no less than 6,000 words and no more than 10,000 words.
Each entry must be typed, double spaced on single sided A4 size sheets of paper.
Pages must be numbered.
 Please ensure that each entry is carefully proofread before it is forwarded for judging.
Please note that the entrant’s name must not appear on the work itself.
Each entry must be submitted online.
Entries will not be accepted without full payment of $20.00
Entries by facsimile, mail or email will not be accepted.

Further details of this competition may be found
HERE

Update on Camp Rock

On Thursday 12th September, the following students performed in Schools on Stage
and took out the Best Song Award.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL

ALDEN, Matthew	NICHOLLS, Maddison
ANNING, Stacy	O'DONNELL, Amber
BADAR, Alexander	ORRELL, William
BARYLA, Rebecca	PANDAZOPOULOS, Nathan
BASTIAN, Ruby	PEARCE, Rachelle
BEAGLEY, Rachelle	PIKE, Becky
BROWNE, Lauren	PROVAN, Kyle
BULTE, Karla	QUALIZZA, Ryan
CARTER, Ebony	RICHARDS, Celeste
CHAPMAN, Samantha	SCHULZ, Brittany
COMERFORD, Keely	SHIELS, Brielle
COWBURN, Brodie	SYMONDS, Morgan
CURTIN, Brady	THOMAS, Harmony
CURTIN, Ryan	WALLACE, Jordyn
DAMASO, Nicole	WRIGHT, Isla
DUNSTAN, Sarah
EADES, Abigail
EDWARDS, Chelsie
GARRICK, Marcus
GREENALL, Aaron
HARRIS, Bradley
HEWSON, Sophie
KLEIDON, Monique
MALLINSON, Imogen
MARKS, Samantha
MAUND, Maddison
MCGIVERN, Jessica

Role Playing in a Persuasive Oral

Sarah Dunstan of 10A 
presented the following, moving persuasive oral as a role play.

 At the age of two, Carly Fleischmann was diagnosed with severe autism and an oral motor condition that prevented her from speaking. Doctors predicted that she would never intellectually develop beyond the abilities of a small child. Although she made some progress after years of intensive behavioural and communication therapy, Carly remained largely unreachable. Then, at the age of ten, she had a breakthrough. While working with her devoted therapists Howie and Barb, Carly reached over to their laptop and typed in "HELP TEETH HURT."
This is Carly's journey toward self-realization.
(These introductory words are an extract from Carly's blog.)


I am Carly and as long as I can remember I’ve been diagnosed with autism. I have always been treated differently in the mainstream system. All ‘strange’ people have. I do want to know, whose fault is it? Whose fault is it that I don’t get the same rights as others? Whose fault is it that my opinion gets looked over? Whose fault is it, mine or yours? I am not able to talk out of my mouth. My thoughts seem so clear in my head but once they get to my mouth they are all jumbled up. No matter how hard I try I can’t get my brain and mouth to work together. This means I am classified as non-verbal but I have found a way for my voice to be heard.

 The best way for me to communicate is by typing on my computer. Because I lack the skills to do something as simple as holding a pen I use one finger to type on my Ipad. I do know a little sign language but it is easier for me to type. Being able to spell out what I want has been a breakthrough in the autistic world. I used to think I was the only kid with autism who communicates by spelling but last year I met a group of kids that communicate the same way. In fact some are even faster at typing then I am. It was amazing for me to ‘talk’ to people that understand and appreciate me. This is a big deal for me because at my mainstream high school it’s hard for people to get to know me. They always get scared off when I’m stimming. This is when I try to make noise myself that will block out all the other sounds around me. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when too much is going on and I need to block everything out so I can focus. Some people think I am being rude when they are talking and I start stimming, but really I’m just trying to make what they are saying clearer so I can understand them better. I also find it incredibly hard to look at people for a long time.

My brain works like a camera taking a thousand pictures at once. If I look at the same thing for too long my brain gets overloaded with pictures of the same thing and I can’t help but look away to help calm myself down.

The last couple of years have been amazing for me. I have been doing well at school and have been including in some advanced classes. I have been extending not only my knowledge but others too on the world of Autism and helping others understand. But not all are as willing to accept that the people who once didn’t have a voice now do.

I know I can’t have the same emotional connections as others can but my parents and my sister love me and I love them, just in a different way. Some define humans as people who can have relationships with others but that is not fair. I do have connections with my family, my friends, my therapists and everyone in the autistic world. It’s just not visible, it’s in my head. I can’t show you that I love them and care for them but I know in my heart that I do.

I find it so degrading when I am treated differently. I know I am different and some things need to be altered to suit me but not by much. When I am travelling on a plane everyone else can have their phones and laptops on airplane mode but I have to turn my Ipad off. The one thing I have to communicate. My Ipad is like a prosthetic limb to me not a toy. Why is it that everyone else can keep communicating and I can’t? What if I needed to warn someone that I was going to have a seizure? It’s so unfair that I don’t get the right to speak. I want … I need my voice to be heard so I can help others. All I want is to be normal and live a standard life. That is all I dream about but that is never going to happen. So I need to make the most of what I have got and use it for good, to help make a change.

My story is making its way around the globe as I and many others conquer the world of autism. I have been getting lots of emails from mums, dads, kids and people from different countries asking me all sorts of questions about autism. I think people get a lot of their information from so-called experts but I think what happens is that experts can’t give an explanation to certain questions.

How can you explain something you have not experienced?
How can you say you know how it feels?
I have always said, if a horse is sick, you don’t ask a fish what’s wrong with the horse.
You go right to the horse’s mouth.


NOTE
Carly Fleischmann is a real person.
She is featured on the website of the Golden Hat Foundation HERE.
Carly on Facebook is HERE.

Fresh Words 2013 Competition

Fresh Words 2013 is here!

Entries are open to young people who are in years 7 to 12 (or age equivalent) and who live, work or study in the City of Casey.

 This year, the competition has 3 categories: 

 Creative Writing Max 750 words. (No topic/theme) 

 Poetry/Lyrics Max 1 page. (No topic/theme) 

 English as a Second Language Max 750 words. 

(Open to students who are currently enrolled in ESL studies)

 Work will be judged according to year level: 

(i) Years 7 and 8, (ii) Years 9 and 10 and (iii) Years 11 and 12. 

 Entries close on Friday 20 September 2013 at 5pm.

Camp Rock Was a Winner

Recently, the Performing Arts Centre at Casey Grammar rocked with a talented group of  about 75 students performing in Camp Rock.
 The premiere was on Thursday 29 August at 7:30pm,
with another on Friday 30th August at 7:30pm and the final show on Saturday 31st August at 7:30pm.

I attended the Thursday premiere.


The sets, the costumes, the lighting, the music and the wonderful energy of the students were stunning.


The talented stars were Ryan Qualizza (Year 11) and Maddison Nicholls (Year 12).






But the supporting cast was brilliant.

Congratulations to all the students and to Ms Burns as producer of the show.

Wishing you all good fortune when you go to
Schools on Stage Thursday 12th September at the Hillcrest Theatre.

 

Volunteering

Just recently our focus discussion in our Pastoral Care groups was volunteering.
Many students were surprised that they were not too young to do volunteer work.
They learnt that volunteering not only helps other people, but also may help a student's chosen future career.
And it is a "feel good" thing.

Sasha Shashkoff, a Year 8 student in my Pastoral Care group, wants to be a vet and/or work with animals.
Excitedly she checked out the possibilities.

Here are her findings.

My parents and I are looking into the volunteer work at a 'Runaway Bunny Centre'
where you go in either mornings or afternoons
to feed, wash, hold rabbits, clean cages or the area
and do some paper work if lucky.
I think this will be fun and gives me something to do in the holidays
instead of sitting at home.
There is a centre in Berwick and is the closest.
My dad said we'll look into it more for the holidays.

Great Achievers

Year 8's - Kyle Provan and Eliza Guest (team = Kings Kreatures, representing the Kings Swimming Club)
- were participants in the recent 24hour Mega Swim.
The team raised $4,245.05.


From Kyle:
Where: For the MS Swimathon I swum at Casey RACE (Casey Recreation and Aquatic Centre).
The times I swam were from 12-4pm on the first day of the event.
Then I swam from 4-12am/pm the next day.
 Why: I did this event because I did it last year,
It is fun and I wanted to help people with MS.
Our team came first in our district, so we won a trophy and all of us got medals.
All together I swum 8.9 km of the 98km swim.


CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH STUDENTS
(I'm especially proud because Kyle is in my Pastoral Care group)

Year 9 and the Northern Territory

Some Year 9 students are preparing for an adventure in the Northern Territory.
As part of their preparation, they are creating posters for the sale of raffle tickets to help aboriginal students there in the Lilla community.
The above beautiful poster is by Kasini.
She has included it in her Year 9 portfolio.


Jaimee created a lovely poster in pastel tones.

The students are so excited about the trip.
Just 13 days away.

They're All Winners

RUN-A-THON Fund Raiser for Tyler Fishlock 
- Jack Lacey – YR 9R 

 Just filling you in on the final results of the 24 hour Run-a-Thon fundraiser that the Langwarrin Under 15 Blues football team held for Tyler Fishlock on the 4th to 5th of July 2013.

 Our secondary school was able to raise $412.60 for the cause
and on the day we managed to run 303km and raise $17540.64.

This figure alone is amazing but as the days went by after the event, more and more people saw what we had done and soon enough we were getting flooded with donations after donations, which included a $5000 donation from Coca Cola and IGA + Ritchie’s that was presented to us on the 4th of August.

After all donations were tallied up the sum came to a whopping amount of in excess of $26,000!!

 We all would just like to say a special thanks to all who got involved with our endeavor by donating, sponsoring or helping out on the night.

_____________

Tyler Fishlock is a young 11 year old with cancer.
He lost both eyes to cancer 7 years ago.
He has been nominated for the Pride of Australia Awards
- Herald Sun June 27, 2013
His mother Georgette published a book about Tyler's struggle.
Jack Lacey headed the fund raising at Casey Grammar.

Macbeth Performance

On Tuesday 6th August 2013, Year 11 English students experienced a lively presentation of Macbeth by the Flying Bookworm Theatre Company.


A number of students (mainly the guys) volunteered to take roles in the play.


One group loved learning how to curtsy.

 
Superb, colourful acting and fine scene explanations kept the students fascinated.

Poetry by Teachers #2

Mr Brown volunteered to supply a poem, even though he admits poetry is not really his "thing".
Here it is as is.
Are you able to give it some poetic polish?


There once was a man from cranbourne 
Who just would not take his turn.
He got slapped in the face
He hoped it would leave no trace.
And that have him a complex.

Poetry by Teachers #1

Ms Horton wrote the following poem this year


sundrenched sands, whispering winds
the champagne of my existence;
fresh air for the soul
waves crashing against the cliffs
dancing, sylph-like
elusive but attainable
the freedom of dolphins at play
the beauty of the sun signalling day
a sensual overload like a night
at the opera
a cacophony of peace and contentment

VCE Ensemble Evening

On Tuesday 28th May, Years 11 and 12 students celebrated  Drama.
Above is the Year 11 group -
Brady Curtin + Katherine Banko + Corey Ernsdoerfer -
who performed in Without Us.


Ryan Qualizza ( pictured above)
performed in Don't Eat the Brown Bacon
together with
Aaron Greenall + Samantha Marks + Svetlana Shashkoff


And above is the Year 12 group -
Matthew Alden + Rachelle Beagley + Jaymie Ellin + Victorine Ginioux + Maddison Nicholls -
who performed in Paranormal Silly Bands.


Matthew Alden, as Drama captain, hosted the evening.

The evening was a delightful banquet of
sight and sound
dialogue and silence
light and darkness
with a touch of the absurd in a challenging frame.

Congratulations to all students!
Stunning performances!

A Strange Scene...

Just recently, I was wandering Melbourne.
This is a scene I saw in Swanston Street.


Using the scene 
- noting all elements -
weave a story that represents a slowly unfolding mystery.


NOTE:
You may use the picture to head your post.
Identify that this picture appeared on Teen Waves Wednesday 22.5.13

The Me Bird

The Me Bird from 18bis on Vimeo.

Pablo Neruda's poem, "The Me Bird," is the Chilean writer's ode to a "bird of a single feather."

Brazilian design and graphics studio 18bis created a stunning layered animation that brings the short work to life.

Seek out Pablo Neruda's poem if you wish, but try to create a song or poem of your own inspired by the sequence of ideas you see flowing before you in this video.