It gives me great pleasure to welcome our students and families back to school for the final term of 2017.  Term 4 is always a busy term but it is also an important term for our senior students as they work their way through their final assessments and prepare for life beyond McGuire College.  I encourage all of our senior students to value their remaining time with us and to seek every opportunity that they can find to harness the support and encouragement of their teachers throughout their final weeks of 2017.  Remember, that your results at the end of the year are directly related to the effort and endeavour that you have and continue to apply towards your school work and studies.  Our Principal Team wishes you every success for a positive end to your school year.

School Improvement

Each year the College develops an Annual Implementation Plan that guides our improvement efforts and for the last few years this has been guided by the Department of Education’s Framework for Improving Student Outcomes.  In 2017 our improvement efforts have been focused around Building Practice Excellence and Building Communities.  Initiatives and programs that have been linked to this improvement effort include our Senior Years reporting afternoons, establishment of engagement activities linked to STEAM, eLearning, Reading and SEAL, broader community involvement and an ongoing focus on building the capacity of teachers to enhance student achievement in literacy and numeracy.

Our recent review findings have been shared with staff and College Council  and will shortly be published in more detail to our College Community.  The review process involved students, staff and parents having an opportunity to provide our College and our reviewers with a clear sense of where we have achieved success over the past three years and where we still have scope for improvement.  Over the next term our Leadership Team will be working with staff, students and College Council to write a Strategic Plan for the next four years that ensures McGuire College can continue to grow from a good school to a great school.

Student Attendance

A timely reminder to all students and parents that attendance at school is important.  We want each student to be able to make the most of their learning and their time at the College, in order for this to happen, all students need to be attending school regularly.

Our attendance data for the first two weeks of Term 4 is reflected below and unfortunately no Year levels have been able to meet our 90% attendance target.  We look forward to this improving over the remaining weeks of the year.

Student Leaders for 2018

It has been wonderful over the past weeks to spend time with our potential student leaders for 2018.  Our selection panel have spent time reading applications, speaking with and listening to our potential future leaders and what a privilege it has been.  Each young leader that has nominated for a College Captain role in 2018 has highlighted for us the rich and diverse talents and abilities that we have within our student cohort.  We look forward to announcing our successful candidates early next week, so stay tuned.

I encourage you to take the time to listen to what our students are looking for in their 2018 leaders by visiting our Facebook Page and viewing a great video put together by Year 8 student, Luke Fitzsimmons with the support of our media teacher, Mr Cosimo Rando.

Kind regards

Brad Moyle

Principal

On Thursday 12th October, McGuire College sent 7 students to the annual Hume Region athletics carnival in Albury. All of our students represented the College with pride and distinction and there were some fantastic results achieved. Whilst not all students achieved their best results on the day, it is still a wonderful achievement to have made it to a regional final and we should be very proud of their performance and effort. Having seen the standard of the winners, I am confident that with some practice next year we have a number of potential state representatives on our hands. A special mention must go to Zaillie Dempster and Queny Fonoia who both won bronze medals in their respective discus events. Well done girls.

Interschool Sports

Wednesday 18th October saw day 2 of Junior Summer sport and the last official day of interschool sport for 2017. McGuire had teams in year 7 and 8 competing in Volleyball, Clay Target Shooting and Tennis. Our year 7 girls tennis team dominated their competition to go undefeated throughout. A fantastic effort from Zaylee Newham, who didn’t drop a game all day, Hannah Bilney, Olive McKenzie and Emmalyne Bacon.

Our clay target team had a very successful day at the Shepparton Sports Shooters Club in Dhurringile.

There were a number of encouragement awards won as well as Brianna Nimla-Orr taking out the Top Gun Girl award. Well done everyone.

James Griffin.     Sports Coordinator

At 6.00 am on Monday 18 September 44 students and 4 teachers from the 4 BTA schools assembled at the bus stop at Shepp High to depart for an unforgettable 11 day tour of the “Highlights of the Red Centre”.

Amongst the excited students about to finally embark on the much awaited trip were 11 well-prepared Year 10 McGuire College students: Blake Brewer, Emily Burns, Michael Coonerty, Daemonette Curran, Zoe Lyle, Brody McKinley, Caitlyn Morris, Koby Parker, Anita Pringle, Conner Stewart and Sean Ryan.

The trip was certainly memorable, educational and most enjoyable.

In the 11 days we travelled 6,010 kilometres by coach and along the way we saw, walked and experienced the beautiful and unique Central Australian outback and landscapes.

We slept in tents and camped in the bush and at various camping grounds including Burra, Kings Creek Station, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock Camping ground and also spent one night in an underground camp at Coober Pedy.

We visited the Alice Springs Desert Park, saw a Bird show and learnt about Australian snakes and reptiles, visited the Royal Australian Flying Doctors, rode a camel, trekked and climbed the equivalent of more than 60 floors in Watarrka National Park and around Kings Canyon, swam in Ormiston Gorge, trekked the spectacular KataTjuta, touched and walked around Uluru and so much more!

Memorable indeed!

Our students named the following as standout highlights:
- Uluru!!!!
- swimming in Ormiston Gorge,
-the Bird Show at Alice Springs Desert Park,
-the “Garden of Eden” at Watarrka National Park,
- finally sleeping on a bed in Coober Pedy and
-meeting and making new friends.
 

Thank you to Sandy Gunn for organising the trip so meticulously to ensure its success.

Congratulations and thank you to Blake, Emily, Michael, Daemonette, Zoe, Brody, Caitlyn, Koby, Anita, Conner and Sean for being such excellent representatives of McGuire College. I commend you on your participation, cooperation and behaviour throughout the trip. Well done!

Mary Calandro

Students from 7D participated in an ASELL workshop on Monday. They were joined by teachers from McGuire College and other regional schools who were learning about ways to engage students and address scientific concepts through hands-on investigative learning.

Untidy Towns is a highly anticipated coming-of-age novel from Kate O’Donnell, an exciting new voice in Australian YA.

Seventeen-year-old Adelaide is sick of being expected to succeed on other people’s terms. She knows she just has to stick it out at school for one more year and then she will be free. Instead, she runs away from her fancy boarding school back to her sleepy hometown to read and dream.

But there are no free rides. When Addie’s grandad gets her a job at the local historical society, she soon finds out that it’s dusty and dull, just like her new life. Things change when she starts hanging out with Jarrod, a boy who seems full of possibilities. It turns out he’s as stuck as she is. Addie realises that when you want something in life, you have to do something about it.

A heartfelt story about love, friendship and finding your own way.

One girl. One boy. A friendship that could save them both. Good-girl Kat knew drinking alcohol at school would have serious consequences. To protect her friend from being expelled, Kat lands herself a term's worth of detentions. Inside the detention room, she meets a strange boy whom obsessively draws dark pictures and covers his head with a grey hoodie. Little does she know, the hoodie hides a dark past ... An unlikely friendship forms between Kat and the boy in the hoodie. When she discovers a sinister truth he’s been hiding, she somehow feels compelled to help him—but at what cost? How much is she willing to risk in order to keep him safe?

The Boy in the Hoodie is a real, unforgettable story about how friendships can bring healing, fade scarring and open new wounds all at the same time.

by Emma Grey

Seventeen-year-old Kat Hartland loathes Unrequited, the world's biggest boy band.

She's 100 per cent immune to 'perfect' singer Angus Marsden and his unfailingly predictable lyrics. Show her the anti-fan club ... she wants to be its president!

Just give her a proper musician. Or maybe the seriously hot med student who rescued her on the train. Ideal formal partner, right? Ideal everything. 

But when Kat comes face to face with Angus Marsden himself, things start to get complicated. Throw in a deranged female singer, an enraged fandom, final exams, a part in a musical and a mum who just doesn't get it.

The stunning new novel from award-shortlisted Lisa Heathfield, author of Seed and Paper Butterflies. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places, Lisa Williamson, Sarah Crossan and Sara Barnard.
 

Rita and Lo, sisters and best friends, have spent their lives on the wing - flying through the air in their trapeze act, never staying in one place for long. Behind the greasepaint and the glitter, they know that the true magic is their circus family.
 

Until Lo meets a boy. Suddenly, she wants nothing more than to stay still. As secrets start to tear apart the close-knit circus community, how far will Lo go to keep her feet on the ground?
 

Flight of a Starling is a heartbreaking read with an important message.

Students remember to download Wheelers ePlatform App to your own device to have access to over 1100 titles at home for free!

Select McGuire and sign in with your own login.

Faye Andrew and Dianne Steele

Many of our musicians are practising hard in preparation for the VSMF or “Bands Festival” which is on November 13 in the 4 pm session. Most instrumental players are involved , learning the instrumental parts to “Across the Serengeti” and “A Triumphal Procession”.

Concert Band rehearsals in preparation for the festival are on Monday's from 3.30 to 4.45 in the Music Room. A back up rehearsal for those who genuinely cannot attend the Monday rehearsals is on Wednesday lunchtime.

All students need to attend in order to develop an ability to play in the ensemble.

This week in Instrumental Music lessons is “No wrong notes week” and next week will be scheduled as “Play with your section week”.

Thankyou to those families who are supporting their students’ musical endeavours by enabling them to attend out of hours rehearsals etc.

On the day of the event , we will be bussing to Melbourne and returning about 9.30 p m. More detail will be published soon, including permission forms etc.

Gabrielle Ryan

Co-ordinator, Instrumental Music

Friday 27th: Year 12 final day of classes

Wednesday 1st: Year 12 Exams Commence

Tuesday 7th: Melbourne Cup day

Monday 13th:  Victorian School Music Festival 

                                 Federation Square Melb.

Monday 20th: Year 12 Early Commencement

Tuesday 21st: SEAL Showcase Evening- 4.30 - 6.00pm

Thursday 23rd: School Council meeting - 7.00pm

Friday 24th: Year 12 Final Assembly

                            Valedictory Dinner

Monday 4th: Year 11 Early Commencement

Monday 11th: Grade 6 Information Night

Tuesday 12th: Grade 6 Orientation Day

Tuesday 19th: Presentation Night - Eastbank

Thursday 21st: Euroa Pool Day

All students and parents/guardians are reminded of the procedure to follow if a student is feeling unwell at school.

Students who feel unwell should go to the General Office/Sickbay.  If this occurs during class time, students must have their student planner signed or a note from their teacher.

The staff will make the student comfortable and contact parents/guardians to collect the student from school, if it is determined that this is the best course of action.

Students are NOT to text/ring parents/guardians directly during school times to advise if they feel unwell – they must go to the general office/sickbay.

There are numerous school jackets and jumpers which have been handed in to lost property.  Students who have lost any of these items can come to the general office to collect them.

Please ensure that all items of clothing and personal items are clearly labeled  with the student's name so that  they can be returned to the right owner.

When completing the 2017 booklist families were given and option to order the 2017 College Magazine.

If you have ordered / not ordered and would like to receive a copy

a payment of $15.00 needs to be paid to the General Office by Friday 27th October 2017.

Centrepay is a free direct bill paying service available to customers who receive an:

• Australian Government Department of Human Services Centrelink payment
• Family Assistance Payment
• Parental Leave Pay

If you are interested in paying $10.00 or $20.00 per fortnight off your child’s school account with Centrepay please contact the McGuire College general office on 58589800.

It is time to start searching for the hats in the back of your wardrobes. Students are required to wear hats when outdoors in Term 4.  If your son or daughter does not have a McGuire College hat, please drop by the office to purchase one for $11.00.

Applications for 2018 State Schools' Relief uniform packages are now available to families who are currently in receipt of Camps and Excursion funding. Please contact the general office at the College for further information.

Parents who call the office to notify of their child/s absence are now required to provide a signed hand written note or medical certificate to have the absence approved.

It is important that families provide the school with a current email address so that parents can access and receive important school information (student reports, absences, accounts, newsletters).

 You can notify us by calling the office, send an email or a note from home

The Tatura Football Netball Club (TFNC) will run its 2018 Goulburn Valley League netball trials on on 9, 15 & 20 November 2017 at the Tatura Netball Courts.

15 & Under and 17 & Under from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm and A, B & B-Reserve from 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm.

Players can register online at https://goo.gl/forms/6M1ke7QshpB79WXu2

The TFNC is also looking to appoint its final coach for the coming season. Applications are welcome for, preferably, a playing B Grade coach.

All enquiries to Simon Pogue on 0417 305 637 or [email protected].