SS Newsletter No. 34, 5 November 2009
5 November 2009
Growing up online – what all kids need to know about cyberspace but what technology fails to teach them
On Thursday October 29, the Year 10 and Year 11 students attended a session with Australia’s foremost expert in the area of cyber safety, Susan McLean. Susan was a member of Victoria Police for 27 years, where she became widely known as the ‘cyber cop’. She was the first Victoria Police Officer appointed to a position involving Cybersafety and young people. Susan explained that with the explosion of cyber technology, we are also seeing a dramatic rise in the negative impact of such technology. The issue of cyber bullying, harassment and ‘sexting’ is emerging as the number one issue confronting the safety and wellbeing of young people and the wider community. Together with associated technology including 3G mobile telephones, virtual chat rooms such as Club Penguin and Habbo Hotel and the popularity of social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, today’s youth have access to and are accessible by many millions of people worldwide. Susan highlighted that teens are often not aware that their words and or photos, which may have been intended for a small audience, sometimes find their way to a larger one, often with both unexpected and undesirable consequences. Susan’s session focussed on personal online safety and information regarding:
- Popular sites for youth – fact vs fiction (MSN instant messaging, social networking sites such as MySpace & Facebook, virtual chat rooms and online games.) The good and the bad. How to minimise risks.
- Misuse of mobile telephones, digital cameras, email, MSN, blogs, webcam etc. including legal consequences and the possible criminal charges. (What is cyber bullying and harassment?)’ Sexting’ – sending and receiving explicit images and the REAL consequences.
- Being a good cyber citizen – rights and responsibilities.
For further information on Susan and her cybersafety programs, go to www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au
Olivia Tims, Student Counsellor
Secondhand Book Pool 2009
The time has come to start getting your recyclable textbooks ready to sell in the 2009 Book Pool, which runs from Monday 16 November to Saturday 21 November. Only books in good condition (and the correct edition) can be accepted. Books with torn covers, missing pages, ink scribbles, drawings and high-lighting will be rejected. Please make sure all pencil marks are erased before you bring your books to the Book Pool, and remember to include the CDs where relevant. Books must be handed in before 3pm Friday, 20 November.
The book pool will be held in classroom 103 located in the Senior School. Selling lists will be sent home with the 2010 book lists or can be downloaded from the BGS Website. Selling lists for boys currently in Year 12 will be mailed out.
You will be able to buy secondhand books on Saturday 21 November between the hours of 8.30am – 12.00pm only in rooms 103 and 104. Enter through the St. Andrews Street gates located next to the St. Andrews Church Tennis Courts and walk straight ahead. A pointer board will be located outside the gates in St. Andrews Street. If you have any queries please contact Jane James on 9521 9763 or 0421 224523 or via email jane_james@hotkey.net.au.
Ordering New Text Books from Lamont Books
Please click here to access the information on the two options available for ordering 2010 text books.
Final round of Sea Change Explorations for 2009
Boys from Year 9 have just completed their final week of Sea Change Explorations. It brings to a conclusion a very successful year of experiences for our Year 9 boys ranging from Community Service in Papua New Guinea to hiking on King Island. The breadth of experiences available, provide boys challenging opportunities in spectacular locations and give our Sea Change program a very special character.
This term we had six groups of boys with accompanying staff on different Explorations:
King Island Exploration. Hiking along the beaches, through farmland and along coastal regions provide a spectacular backdrop to our most significant Exploration where boys sharply focus on leadership and cooperation. Boys were surprised, this term, to be visited by the Headmaster, Mr Michael Urwin.
City Exploration. Five days of experiencing the City of Melbourne not only involves visits to some of our significant institutions such as Parliament and the State Library. It also involves experiencing the City in other ways such as a bicycle ride down the Yarra and walking an historical trail with Year 9 girls from Firbank Grammar.
Papua New Guinea (Community Service) Exploration. At our sister school, the Martyrs’ Memorial School in Popondetta boys constructed modular shelving in the staff area where previously books had just been stacked on the ground. Boys thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the local children.
SCUBA Exploration. By the week’s end boys have become qualified SCUBA divers with their Open Water Dive Card. Starting in a pool and graduating to diving in Port Philip Bay, this Exploration has proven to be most popular.
Tall Ship Enterprize Exploration. The tall ship ‘Enterprize’ sails on Port Philip Bay and gives boys the opportunity to experience life on board a nineteenth century sailing ship.
Community Exploration. One of the highlights of this Exploration were the days spent entertaining, and interacting with intellectually disabled young people from Bayley House, close to the school in Middle Crescent. Our boys took small groups from Bayley House to the movies and along with our Sea Change Artist in Residence, Peter Sullivan (Music) entertained them with musical items.
Graeme Harris, Head of Year 9
Lost/Missing
Two VCE folders with English texts Fly away Peter and Maestro inside and Further Maths texts plus a pencil case with a calculator inside went missing after school on Wednesday 20th October. Also, lost was a Canon camera at the Valedictory Dinner towards the end of the night. All these items belong to David Willcock. Please phone 95923313 or 0410 645 254 if you have seen them or found them.
Ute Full of Food
A reminder you that our last Ute Full of Food for St. Mark’s Fitzroy will be held tomorrow. It is our Christmas collection, so any little Christmassy food that could be included would add to our collection. Of course the basics like pasta, pasta sauce, rice, tinned fruit and vegetables (preferably with ring pull-tops), biscuits and breakfast cereal are still necessary items. Could I ask you all to support this worthwhile cause? It can only be successful if the whole BGS community support it. Don’t forget that Brighton Grammar is now the largest single supplier of food for St. Mark’s and they will have to wait at least four months before our first collection in 2010. Povety doesn’t take a Christmas holiday. Monty Stephens
From the Careers Centre
This year’s University of Melbourne Chancellor’s Human Rights Lecture will be presented by the Honourable Stephen Charles QC (Former Judge, Victorian Court of Appeal). The lecture will examine the potential effects of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights on criminal law and procedure from the perspective of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Convention has had a major impact on European criminal law and procedure. Stephen Charles QC will consider the likely impact of the Victorian Charter on issues as diverse as legal aid, cross-examination, jury bias, and laws dealing with terrorism and bikie gangs.
The lecture will be held next Tuesday 10 November at 6pm, in Theatre A of the Elisabeth Murdoch Building. This lecture is FREE and open to the general public. Bookings at www.unimelb.edu.au/public_lectures
Rowing
Rowing training next week for Year 9 boys will be as follows:
Gym from 3:45pm – 5.00pm Monday and Wednesday
Yarra River from 4:00pm – 6.00pm Tuesday and Thursday.
Saturday 14 November from 7:30am – 10:30am.
The boys are to catch the 3:52pm train from Middle Brighton Station to the Yarra on Tuesday and Thursday.
Simon Gadsden, Director of Rowing
From the Rosstrevor and Senior Parents Group
Annual General Meeting
This meeting will be held on Tuesday 10th November at 1.00 pm in the Graeme Simon Gallery (Upstairs in the Rosstrevor Hall). Everyone is welcome. Please bring a small plate to share as the AGM will be preceded by a light lunch. The Committee positions of Secretary and Vice President will need to be filled. So if you think you would like to 'get involved' we'd love you to put your hand up. Please don't hesitate to contact either Phoebe Willcock on (wezzigon@hotmail.com) or Jane James (jane_james@hotkey.net.au) if you have any questions.
Christmas Lunch
All parents are cordially invited to join us for our Christmas lunch at Humble House, 11 Church Street, Brighton, on Friday 27 November at 12.30 p.m. The cost is $26 per person including a glass of wine. Please respond to Fiona Hardgrave on 9592.0699 or 0415.558.858 by Friday 20 November.