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Students Georgie and Kuzi won Miss Naidoc and Mr Naidoc
(Pictured with Indigenous Cultures and Languages Teacher Eli Archer)
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In this issue:
Upcoming Events
Principal's Report
Student Notification
Music Night
TEDxYouth@Canberra 2022
NAIDOC Week - School Art Competition
Pride Month
The Shelf Life (News from Dickson College Library)
Textiles and Fashion
Former Dickson College student Zoe Cuthbert wins Silver
Student Absences
2022 School Satisfaction & Climate Survey
Student Engagement Information
SHLiRP (Sexual Health, Lifestyles & Relationships Program)
The Street Theatre - Warehouse Circus Presents Elemental
Rights in ACTion
School to Work (National Disability Employment Conference)
Winter Walk to School Week
DC Hoodies and T-Shirts
ACT with HeART
Carpark Etiquette
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Upcoming Events:
18 August, Thursday - Moderation Day - no classes except SIEC students
(Secondary Introductory English Centre)
18 August, Thursday - Year 12 AST Trial
22 August, Monday - Pupil Free Day
26 August, Friday - Wear it Purple Day
29 August, Monday - SHLiRPS (Sexual Health, Lifestyles & Relationships Program)
30 August, Tuesday - SHLiRPS (Sexual Health, Lifestyles & Relationships Program)
5 September, Monday - Year 12 AST Information session - line 3
6 September, Tuesday - Year 12 AST
7 September, Wednesday - Year 12 AST
8 September, Thursday - Pupil Free Day
9 September, Friday - STEM Crossline Testing
12 September, Monday - STEM Crossline Testing
15 September, Thursday - Public Free Day
(Dickson College Internal Assessment Moderation)
16 September, Friday - Public Free Day
(Dickson College Internal Assessment Moderation)
23 September, Friday - Last day of term
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Principal's Report
Dear Students and Families,
I know it is customary at the beginning of the school term for Principals to write that things are going smoothly. However I will not pretend the last couple of months in our school have been easy on the staff, students, or myself. I will say though, we are doing everything we can to ensure students and staff are supported at this difficult time and we are receiving great support from the Education Directorate. I thank you for your understanding and patience as we resolve issues in a timely fashion.
One of the challenges has been the Prohibition Notices applied by WorkSafe ACT on two areas of our college. I am pleased to say the notices (as per my email communication this week) have been lifted and we will have students and staff back using upstairs N Block very soon.
For every cloud there is a silver lining…I am pleased to inform our school community a number of Infrastructure Capital Works (ICW) projects are already/will be commencing promptly at Dickson College. These Capital Works are:
- Full roof replacement for Dickson College
- Works will start soon on the toilet block near the library
- Work to complete the full roof replacement will take several years
- New round of possum proofing has occurred
- All known entry points have been blocked at night when possums are outside of the building
- New possum boxes have been placed in trees around the college
- College will receive additional funding to replace existing lifts
- College will receive a new Bike Shed for students to use
- Shed will have storage for scooters and a repair/pump station
- Development Approval for overflow car parks has been given. This includes new lighting for the carpark and additional disability spaces at the front of the college
- Work on the Antill Theatre
- Including new seating, lighting, and carpet.
Over the recent school holiday break new HVAC systems were installed in the Drama room and upstairs A Block (A14).
In ACT Schools today we are celebrating the role Principals play with Principal’s Day. I must say I laughed out loud when I saw the message and picture on the new digital sign (also installed in the recent school holiday period) today. It has been thirty years since I graduated with my teaching degree and I have worked in ACT Schools for most of these years. I was inspired to become a teacher by a teacher. I was inspired by School Leaders to become a School Leader, as I never really imagined myself as a Principal. However, I have to say despite all the challenges, highs and lows, I love the job, it is never boring, and providing service to our students and the ACT community is the reason I stay in the role and in Public Education.
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Regards,
Craig Edwards
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Student Notification
Please be aware that a member of the Dickson Community has a life threatening anaphylactic reaction to aerosol deodorants. Please ensure aerosols are not brought to school, roll-ons are acceptable if deodorant is needed.
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Music Night
Towards the end of last term, the music students presented an exciting evening of music in the Semester 1 Music Night. The beautiful lighting, created by Micah Chubb, with the fabulous sound, also thanks to Micah, was a perfect setting for this two-hour evening which featured the many talents of our music students. With music ranging from classical solo violin and bassoon, through to big band Jazz, as well as rock groups playing favourites by Toto and New Order, the repertoire performed reflected the diversity of musical tastes from our students. Supported by a dedicated team of back-stage students, including technical help and photography, the evening was truly a celebration of the musical talent at Dickson College. Congratulations to all who performed; it was a spectacular night, and we are both so very proud of the students.
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Students involved in Music Night:
Emma Ariston, Keamanee Byrnes, Xanthe Campbell, Fergus Carol-Millican, Jessie Cole, Claire Coleman, Jarell Cubarrubia, Nex Dahms, Phillip Edwards, Isabel Ellmers, Connal Fenemore, Wren Flemming, Lily Geach, Nathanial Griffin, Mila Haydon, Emil Hays, Nate Heasman, Thomas Heather, Jesse Hudson, Jaran Latona-Phasuk, Brandyn Lee, Isla Marker, Fiona Medway, Samira Moore, Nate Murray, Sophie Murray, Jasper Newbury, Kael Nolan, Ta’isz Paku, Noah Palethorpe, Josiah Rea, Oscar Rickard, Charlie Roberts, Caleb Rose, James Rowntree, Martyn Swann, Sally Thow, Minh Khoi Tran, Aidan Tscharke, Ben Willacy, Anthony Yau, Arky Vogt, Naikang Wang, Remi Yokoyama, Flynn Zeylmans Van Emmichoven
Sandy France - Music Teacher
Rod Harding - Executive Arts and Events
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TEDxYouth@Canberra 2022
x = independently organized TED event
Dickson College 2022 Speakers: Jarell Cubarrubia & Xanthe Campbell
Jarell Cubarrubia is a year 12 student with a passion for earth and life sciences, and science communication. Jarell is also an active member of Dickson College's sustainability group and enjoys playing instruments in a variety of different musical ensembles. He hopes to pursue a career in the natural sciences in the future.
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Xanthe Campbell first started music at a young age, developing her sound while playing piano. After releasing her first original song “Tomorrow” on Soundcloud, she then auditioned for The Voice Australia and became a Semi Finalist - setting up her career in the music industry. Her versatile tone, established vibrato, and artistic style makes her a unique artist to Australia.
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NAIDOC Week - School Art Competition
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Aunt Cath presenting Dickson College student Wren Fleming with 3rd place for
years 10 - 12, held at The Discovery Museum at The Rocks in Sydney.
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Wren with her artwork, the subject of her piece Dickson College Student Issy Maynard
Craig Edwards - Principal
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Pride Month
Dickson College students and teachers celebrated Pride Month in June with rainbow topped cupcakes and a chalk wall. Hospitality Café students included the colourful cupcakes as part of their regular coffee service which were in high demand and provided the perfect compliment to coffees and hot chocolates. Messages of pride and inclusion were invited from the whole school community as students belonging to the LGBTQIA+ Group (Plus Group) and allies assisted with the smooth running of activities. This year’s theme is “Be Brave, Be Strong, Be You” which is about being your authentic self and empowering each other.
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Liz Gladwin - Business and Economics Teacher
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Textiles and Fashion
Students have successfully completed upcycled projects using wool textile items and cotton denim. Some of these items are now in the Limelight exhibition at M16, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith, from 28 July to 14 August. Limelight showcases visual arts excellence from ACT public education students, ranging from early learning classrooms and specialist schools through to year 12.
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Upcycled wool textile items created from jumpers, dog blanket, M J Bale jacket and skirts. Techniques also include – weaving, knitting, crochet, embroidery and applique.
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Jacket by Poppy and Jeans by Natalie
Upcycled cotton denim jacket with graffiti style applique and cotton denim jeans with inserts
Jill Pettifer - Textiles & Fashion Teacher
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Former Dickson College student Zoe Cuthbert wins silver!!
Congratulations to former Dickson College student (Year 12, 2018) Zoe Cuthbert for winning a silver medal for Mountain Bike Racing at The Commonwealth Games!
Please click on the link for the story Zoe Cuthbert wins silver at Commonwealth Games
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Student Absences
You can notify us of your student’s absence(s) several ways.
- Send an email to DicksonC.absences@ed.act.edu.au with these details:
- Student’s Name
- Date(s) of Absence(s)
- Time of Absence (if not full day)
- Reason for Absence
- Respond to the unexplained absence notification sent by SMS at the end of the day.
Please note, our system relies on entering times to explain absences. If you notify us that your student will arrive late or after an appointment, we cannot enter the explained absence as you have not specified a specific time. On those occasions, simply respond to the unexplained absence notification at the end of the day or when your child has returned to school with the times they were absent.
Covid19 Absence Notifications
If you are advising a positive Covid-19 case, to assist with School Operations reporting, please provide the following details:
- Student Name
- Contact Details – phone number and/or email
- Positive Test Date
- Type of Test – either RAT or PCR
- Date of First Symptoms
- Last day attended College
We kindly request that you email through the ACT Health declaration or a copy of the PCR results to DicksonC.absences@ed.act.edu.au. This information will be held confidentially within our system for the purpose of offering supporting documentary evidence, if required, for assessment resits, adjustments or estimates.
We prefer you to email or SMS details rather than phone. If you phone, we will request you also email the absence details as we require this information in writing.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Student Engagement team by email DicksonC.studentadmin@ed.act.edu.au or DicksonC.absences@ed.act.edu.au.
Student Engagement Team
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2022 School Satisfaction & Climate Survey
Each year, the Directorate surveys all parents and carers, school staff and students in Years 4 to 12 about their experience of public education. The 2022 School Satisfaction & Climate Survey will be available online from 19 August to 9 September. The survey results will help us to continue to make quality informed decisions about how to improve our school. No personal identifying information will be provided to any school or college.
- For each child in their family who attends an ACT public school, parents and carers will receive:
- An email about the parent survey, including a link to access the survey.; and
- A letter about the student survey outlining the reasons for collection and privacy provision for the data
If you do not receive the survey invitation, please check your Junk email folder; if it is not there, contact the school and you will be provided a survey link. If you do not have an email listed with the school, please call the front office and alternative arrangements will be made.
The Parents and Carers Survey will be available online in other languages: Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Urdu, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Bengali, Spanish, Telugu, French and Italian. Respondents can select their preferred language when they start the survey. A shortened paper-version of the Parents and Carers Survey is also available in the following 5 languages: Dari, Dinka, Farsi, Karen and Mon. These surveys are available at the Front Office.
For the results to reflect the opinions of our whole school community, we need as many parents and carers, staff and students as possible to complete the survey. Your feedback is important, and we hope you will take part.
For more information, visit: https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/school-satisfaction-and-climate-survey
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Student Engagement
Please see below a list of supports for students and families at Dickson and in the ACT community. If you are experiencing difficulty please come to Student Engagement and see one of the Engagement Advisors, we are here to support you.
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SHLiRP : SEXUAL HEALTH, LIFESTYLES & RELATIONSHIPS PROGRAM
HEALTH INFORMATION SESSION: Monday 29 August online
CONSULTATIONS and HEALTH INFORMATION:
Monday 29 August and Tuesday 30 August 2022
What is SHLiRP?
SHLiRP is a simple and convenient health education, information and testing program to promote young people’s sexual health and wellbeing. The Program is a partnership of Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT) and the Canberra Sexual Health Centre (CSHC) brought to ACT public secondary colleges with the support of ACT Government funding.
- Canberra Sexual Health Centre is the ACT Health sexual health clinic based at Canberra Hospital. https://www.canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/services-and-clinics/services/canberra-sexual-health-centre-cshc
- SHFPACT is a nonprofit community organisation which provides healthcare and education services in the field of sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing to the community. http://www.shfpact.org.au/
CSHC and SHFPACT are committed to the provision of accurate and relevant information on sexual and reproductive health and access to high-quality clinical sexual health services.
SHLiRP has been successfully delivering health education and an opportunity for on-site sexual health screening in ACT secondary colleges for 18 years, with the support of students, parents/carers and teaching staff.
Regardless of when young people decide to begin having sex, accurate and relevant information about sexual health issues is important to lifelong health and wellbeing. Information about blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis & HIV/AIDS, which can also be transmitted by non-sexual means, is also important for prevention. Australian research shows that approximately half of students in college years are, have been, or plan to be sexually active. SHLiRP aims to provide a service that is relevant to all young people for their current and future sexual health.
What will the health education session cover?
All students will have access to a SHLiRP health education presentation during class time that covers sexual health information relevant for young people. Topics include:
- Sexual decision-making
- The importance of consensual intimate relationships and what constitutes consent
- The normal, healthy diversity of human bodies, including genital appearance
- The potential distorting effects of pornography on body image and relationships
- Common sexually transmissible infections (Chlamydia, Herpes and HPV/wart virus) and blood-borne viruses (Hep B & C, HIV/AIDS), and their prevention/treatment
- Emergency contraception
- How SHLiRP works and why students may want to participate in a consultation
- Access to services in Canberra
What happens during a consultation?
Students who wish, may voluntarily attend a consultation with a sexual health nurse. Students are not required to participate. After providing some basic information about themselves, they may be offered testing for specific STIs or BBVs, which they can accept or decline. There is no physical examination.
Many students attend a consultation to ask more information about a range of sexual health issues. Many find it is beneficial to experience what going to a sexual health service is like before they are actually concerned about a specific problem. The aim of this is to promote good sexual health/behaviour now and for the future.
Many young people are most concerned about their body image and what is normal. Many students find they can ask questions of the SHLIRP team that they unsure of or are too embarrassed to discuss with their parents and can do this at the health education table, or in confidence during a consultation with a Registered Nurse.
Some students can also be tested to determine their immunity-status to Hepatitis B virus. Most students in Australia are now immunised against Hep B at birth but some students may wish to be tested if they were born overseas and are unsure of their vaccination status.
If further advice or help is needed with other health related issues, students are referred to the local relevant service.
How will students be tested and followed up?
Male participants will be asked to pass urine into a jar and/ or give a sample of blood. Female participants can pass urine or collect a painless self-inserted swab, as well as give a blood sample.
Students are notified of negative results by SMS to a number that they nominate.
If any of the tests return a positive result, the student is offered free and confidential treatment, management, follow-up and counselling.
Is it confidential?
Yes, no one except the SHLiRP staff will have access to information about students’ participation or results. School staff and parents will not be able to access this information; students are entitled to the same level of privacy of their medical information as adults.
Is parental consent needed?
Each student who presents themselves for consultation will be offered free advice and testing as deemed necessary; as long as staff are sure that each student fully understands and can give their own consent. Where this cannot be satisfactorily determined, or the young person is under 16, parent/guardian consent to participation will be sought.
What if I have other questions?
The SHLiRP team would be pleased to answer any of your questions or provide you with confidential advice. We can be contacted at:
Canberra Sexual Health Centre (02) 5124 2184
or
Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT (02) 6247 3077.
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Rights in ACTion
Yuma!
(Hello – in Ngunnawal language)
Welcome to the July edition of Rights in ACTion
It’s a big week for us – Friday 29 July we launched our survey seeking children and young people’s views about and experiences of racism in the ACT! There is some information in this month’s newsletter about the survey and also about what we have heard from the 40+ children and young people we have already spoken to about this issue. Help us break the silence about racism by spreading the word about our survey. Children and young people can scan the QR code below to answer it, or go to surveymonkey.com/r/share_your_views_on_racism. Our newsletter also contains some other ways that children and young people can let us know their views.
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Warm regards,
Jodie Griffiths-Cook
ACT Children and Young People Commissioner (and Public Advocate)
Pronouns: she/her/hers – #diversitygoeswith ...everything I do
ACT Human Rights Commission
Level 1, 5 Constitution Avenue
Canberra City ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6205 2222
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Winter Walk to School Week 2022
This year’s Winter Walk to School Week is just around the corner so it’s time to brave the cold and kick start those healthy habits by incorporating physical activity into your daily routine.
From Monday 8 to Friday 12 August 2022, we’re encouraging our school communities to walk, ride, scoot or skate to school. Winter Walk to School Week is also a great opportunity for schools to reinforce safety messages around walking while encourage their students to walk (or ride) to school.
Don’t let the chilly weather put you off just make sure to rug up before you head out! Layers are a great way to stay warm without needing a big heavy winter coat. Foggy mornings can also lower visibility so we encourage students to don a high-vis jacket or vest or some reflective straps on their bag will make the walk a little safer and ensure cars and other commuters can see them.
Walking, riding, or scooting to school is a great way for kids to incorporate physical activity into their day, teach independence all while reducing the environmental impact caused by car travel. Children who ride or walk to school are also more likely to arrive at school alert and ready to learn.
For kids who live too far from school to walk or ride the whole way, part way is ok too. Part way points are designated drop off areas within a short walking distance from schools where students can walk from if walking from home is not practical.
Learn more about traveling safely to school here: Travel safely to school - Transport Canberra (act.gov.au)
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Carpark Etiquette
Please be mindful when driving in the College carpark.
Unsafe behaviour will be reported.
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DC Hoodies and T-Shirts for sale!
Please visit the front office.
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The amazingly warm, high quality DC Hoodies are $60 and are ideal for the cooler Canberra days.
All sizes are now back in stock! XXS to 3XL.
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We have two new designs on our T Shirts.
They are $20 each or one of each design for $35.
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The old-style T Shirts will be sold for $5 - very limited stock remaining.
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