Dear GT Online Students and Teachers
Happy New Year and welcome back!
A special welcome back to all our returning students, and a very special welcome to those of you who are new – we are very happy to have you as part of the GT Online team. I know that this will all be a little strange to start with, but I'm sure you will quickly get the hang of online learning. I would like to also welcome some new teachers. Mrs Garbutt has joined the Humanities team, Mr Strain in Mathematics and Mr Fuhrmann has returned to teach in the Science program.
I hope that everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday with family and friends, and had a good chance to recharge your batteries ready for a busy year ahead.
The start of a new school year is such an exciting time to meet new people, reconnect with friends and reflect on your goals for the coming year.
SABA classes will begin later this week for some of the older students and next week for others. Some lesson timetables are still being finalised. I am going to use SABA or SABA Classroom to refer to your online lessons. I think we are all fine with the change in name from Centra to SABA Classroom - so I'm going to drop Centra. For new students, if you see any reference to Centra - it just means SABA.
Check Moodle for messages from myself and your teachers regarding timetables, lessons and work to complete for this week.
For our new Year 7 students, I am currently organising some times to do some training sessions in Saba Classroom with you. I will send you a message when I have the times worked out.
The GT Online program is very proud of the achievements of all its students and I hope that we will continue to see outstanding results in coursework as well as national competitions this year.
Here are some ideas on how to approach this year in a way that will help you meet your goals and get the most out of the program to achieve your potential.
Make the Most of Your GT Online Experience: The beginning of the school year is an ideal time to set your priorities for the year ahead. As you do this, I hope you’ll consider what you want your GT Online experience to be. I hope that you will fully engage in our online community by actively participating in online lessons, asking questions, interacting with your teachers and fellow students, working hard to meet all course requirements and seeking help when you need it. Make sure you check Moodle everyday for important messages from your teacher or myself.
Cultivate an Environment of Inclusivity and Respect: Though the courses may be online, appropriate classroom behavior is still expected . Respect for fellow classmates and teachers is as important as ever. As an online student, it is very important to maintain a high level of online etiquette, or netiquette. Working online can be challenging as you overcome the lack of nonverbals cues when communicating. Your language can easily be misinterpreted in written communication, so recheck your comments before sending a message or posting to a discussion forum, to ensure that they will not offend others. I hope you’ll take advantage of these opportunities to build an inclusive, respectful online community.
I have attached a document with some Netiquette guidelines for you to print off and there is also a link to a video you can watch during this first week. I know it is on You Tube, so you may need to wait and watch it at home. https://youtu.be/HSnH5nQNAeY
Strive for Integrity in All You Do: Be respectful and responsible in everything that you do. Do what you say you are going to do. The basics of academic integrity are simple: Credit your sources, act with honesty during tests and exams and do the work that is assigned to you. If you have any issues, speak openly and honestly with your teacher.
Take advantage of the wisdom and experience that your teachers have to offer you: They have committed themselves to your academic success, and they want to see you accomplish your goals, whatever they may be, and achieve the success that you are all capable of.
I am excited about the year ahead and look forward to catching up with you all at camp next term (May 23 - 27).
If you ever any questions or concerns I can help with, please contact me.
Have a wonderful start to the school year
Ms Christensen
GT Online Coordinator
PS - If you have read this message to the end, please send me a message to say hi and let me know