To listen & view  "Christmas 1915" - the song about the Truce at Christmas time between the soldiers in the trenches, please click on the link below.  It was one of the highlights of our Anzac Day Assembly.

Anzac 2013

VCAL – Gold Logie Effort!

We are proud of our year 11 VCAL literacy students and so are many others out there!

Last term the year 11 Literacy VCAL students visited the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E).  They were greeted by M.A.D.E staff who explained the aims of the session, which included testing the equipment and installations that are in place, gage interest, find the glitches and get a feel for the area.   In other words, road test the museum before it is opened to the public!

An ABC crew filmed the students in action, and several were interviewed. This formed the second part of a documentary about the behind the scenes of getting a museum up and running.

Last Friday on the 7.30 report (ABC television), ratings went through the roof with our students being showcased and three interviewees made the big screen as part of this ongoing documentary.  Channy Parker, Brandon Warren and Dylan Thomas demonstrated their interview skills, whilst yours truly also had a chat!

The ABC producers have asked for these students (Channy has been specifically targeted) to be made available for further interviewing and to be ‘the face’ of the M.A.D.E website in the education section.  Brandon Warren, Ebony Harris, James Meagher and Channy will be working with the ABC crew developing the documentary further and being the faces of the new website.

 I received an email from the M.A.D.E project officer (Andrea Eberts) who is working closely with our students.  The following is an extract:

‘… it really has been amazing feedback. It has been shown nationally and the link has been picked up overseas. The kids talking about the interactive activities even made Ethne (the curator who has gone back to Ireland) all teary... Fantastic PR for VCAL.  Tell them, I love them, but now everyone else does too...’

The following link takes you to the documentary.  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-12/ballarat-museum-asks-fundamental-questions-about/4626758

Well done to all of the year 11 literacy VCAL students, we are proud of you!

Gary Lumsden

(VCAL Teacher/ Coordinator)

Parents/Caregivers are advised that the school will be using Mobile phone Short Message Service (SMS) to send text messages to parents notifying unexplained absence.

 From 22 April 2013 parents will be informed by mobile phone Short Message System (SMS) each time their child is away from school.  At Mount Clear College student attendance is a high priority.  We know that students who attend regularly are more likely to be successful.   To improve our attendance procedures, we will be informing parents/caregivers about any unexplained absences for their child.  The school expects parents/caregiver to contact the school in advance if they know their child is to be absent – 5337 2024.

 From 22^nd April 2013 an SMS text message will be automatically sent to the mobile phones of parents explaining that our records show that your child is absent from school.

 The message will arrive on the phone displaying the number, “19910010“. Parents should store this number in their mobile phone under “Mount Clear College Absence” so that when the message arrives, the parent is aware the message has come from the school.  Parents can then reply, preferably using SMS, or by phoning the school Attendance Desk on 5337 2024, or by sending a diary note with their child on return. Alternatively simply press the reply option on your mobile phone when you receive a message from the school and add your son or daughter’s name, year, date of absence and the reason they are absent or late.

 If your child is absent and a reason has been provided prior to recess that day, then you will not receive an SMS.

 We believe there are many advantages for parents and the school to adopt this system and they include:

• Improved ability to reach parents. 
• Faster communication.
• Personal, Confidential & Discreet.

As part of the process of trialling this exciting new system, the school is seeking your assistance. We already have an extensive list of parents mobile numbers, however if you have recently changed your mobile number, at your earliest convenience – and before 28^th March 2013 (end of Term 1) please telephone the school on 53372024 to update your details.

 If you have a block on premium text numbers please contact your telecommunications provider to unblock this number. There is no additional cost for parents to receiving text messages from the school. Telecommunication companies will apply a standard 25cent fee for parents to reply text to the school on the 19910010 number.

 Thank you for your assistance and co-operation, we look forward to improving our communication with you.