Teachers at Andy’s farewell drinks last night were delighted to be served by Andrea…
Andrea has been working at Don’s for about 5 months now, first working in food preparation and then moving to her current waitressing job. Andrea prefers her current role as it’s a bit less stressful than in the kitchen, and she has the added bonus of having plenty of opportunity for English practice.
Andrea found her job simply by dropping her resume in and chatting to Clyde, the owner – proving that there’s no better way to find work than getting out there and visiting lots of shops!
Thanks for looking after us, Andrea – it was a great night.
(The Don is a great little bar, by the way. Take advantage of their $10 pizzas, grab a beer and watch the surf rolling onto Bribie Island. Just lovely!)
After 17 months of service above and beyond the call of duty, Andy is leaving us to travel around the world.
So, it is with much sadness and a great deal of envy we say goodbye and ‘bon voyage’ to Andy and his lovely family. Oh, just one more thing Andy, send us a post card or two. We’ll miss you.
After class on Friday I was glad to see two ex-Global students, Aki (left) and Kyohei (right), walk into my office.
Kyohei, has been working in Bundaberg for 3 months and was working 7 days a week in the peak time. He was picking capsicums and tomatoes in the hot summer sun. He stayed in a share house with Yan and Jennifer (also former Caloundra students – now picking in Stanthorpe, Queensland) and had a great time especially at the pub on Friday night because Friday was pay day.
Aki is living in Brisbane at the moment. Today he was in Caloundra looking for work and has been promised a job in February, so we should see more of his smiling face at the campus.
After the success of the Tri School Shield Soccer Competition in December, we have been approached by the Caloundra Shelly Park United Football Club. Their president Chris McCormack sent me this message:
To the students at GV Caloundra,
This year we will have 1st and 2nd division teams. There will be 11 teams in the Division 1 competition and the same number in the Division 2 competition. We have gained the talents of a coach who has had international experience in the UK and America. He will be running the seniors program.
We also run teams in a very strong Ladies competition.
We are looking for players of all ages and in particular for the 1st and 2nd Division Mens and Womens teams.
Sign-on days will be Saturday 31st January 2009 10am to 2pm
Sunday 1st February 2009 10am to 2pm
Thursday 5th February 2009 5pm to 8pm
Saturday 7th February 2009 10am to 2pm
Sunday 8th February 2009 10am to 2pm
If any of you want to attend please bring your passport and a passport size photo of yourself. An Australian Driver’s Licence is also OK.
If you have any question I can be contacted on the following numbers:
Work 5491 1422 Mobile 0422824638
I look forward to meeting some of you on sign-on days.
Regards
Chris McCormack
President Caloundra Shelly Park United Football Club
This Friday is the last school day before Australia Day and we want to know how much you know about the country you are living in.
You will be divided into teams to play against each other for an AWESOME AUSSIE PRIZE.
We will have questions (some easy, some more difficult) in the following categories, so use the next few days to read up on everything Australian:
Australian Geography
Indigenous Animals and Plants
Famous Aussies
Australian History
Australia’s Sporting Culture
Aussie Slang
Australia’s Best Coastal City – Caloundra
Remember there are lots of great activities happening on the Sunny Coast and Monday 26 of January is a public holiday. Classes resume Tuesday, 27 January.
If you have never been to Australia Zoo then this could be an ideal day for your first visit.
John Williamson, the famous Aussie musician who was a friend of Steve Irwin – Crocodile Hunter, will help locals and international guests celebrate Australia Day on January 26 at 10:30am. You will also find kangaroos to pat, koalas to cuddle and of course crocodiles to stay away from.
A HOME AMONG THE GUM TREES sung by John Williamson at Australia Zoo
I’ve been around the world a couple of times, or maybe more,
I’ve seen the sights, I’ve had delights on every foreign shore,
but when my mates all ask me the place that I adore,
I tell them right away.
Give me a home among the gum trees,
with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two, a ka-kangaroo.
A clothes line out the back, verandah out the front,
and an old rocking chair.
You can see me in the kitchen cooking up a roast,
or Vegemite on toast, just you and me, a cup of tea.
And later on we’ll settle down and mull up on the porch,
and watch the possums play.
Give me a home among the gum trees,
with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two, a ka-kangaroo.
A clothes line out the back, verandah out the front,
and an old rocking chair.
There’s a Safeway up the corner, and a Woolys down the street,
a brand new place theyve opened up where they regulate the heat,
but I’d trade them all tomorrow for a simple bush retreat
where the kookaburras call.
Give me a home among the gum trees,
with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two, a ka-kangaroo.
A clothes line out the back, verandah out the front,
and an old rocking chair.
Some people like their houses with fences all around,
others live in mansions, and some beneath the ground.
But Me, I like the bush, you know with rabbits running ’round,
and a pumpkin vine out the back.
Give me a home among the gum trees,
with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two, a ka-kangaroo.
A clothes line out the back, verandah out the front,
and an old rocking chair.
Give me a home among the gum trees,
with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two, a ka-kangaroo.
A clothes line out the back, verandah out the front,
and an old rocking chair.
Celebrate Australia Day in Caloundra with live music, roving performers, markets, food stalls, workshops, and children’s activities – there will even be a movie under the stars.
The 2009 Australia Day Celebrations at Kings Park has something for everyone and it’s all free!
A full program of events will be available on council’s website prior to the day.
Park and ride with free shuttle buses running from the Transit Centre in Cooma Terrace from 9.30am.
Council is calling for participation in these celebrations including street entertainers, buskers, food and market stalls, multicultural groups, performers and bands with an Aussie flavour and community groups to run food stalls, games and activities.
For further details visit council’s website www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au or phone council on 5475 7272.
TGIF – Thank God It’s Friday. Lately we have been having a great time on Friday afternoons. Last week it was the big Ping Pong Competition organised by Pedro. Kris from Poland was the winner, with Bikash from Nepal and Pedro from Brazil in second and third places.
Today it is a SPELLING BEE for the whole school. We will have winners for each class and an overall winner as well. We have lashed out and got some prizes for the lucky winners. So Good Luck!
Next Friday is the last school day before Australia Day (Monday 26 January) and there will be an AUSTRALIANA QUIZ with prizes. So over the next week read up on our history, sports and entertainment.
Happy New Year to everyone. We hope your year will be healthy, happy and successful.
We had a great Christmas in Europe….even though it is very cold! The snow is now about 2 feet deep outside our front door. We hear it is quite hot in Caloundra. We miss the warm weather and beautiful beaches.
We have been to a few English schools in Europe and nothing compares with our home school at GV Caloundra. It is “simply the best”. The thing I think we love the most about Caloundra, is that it is so friendly and a great place in the world for students to enjoy themselves and make friends. We have heard, via email, from quite a lot of past students from GV Caloundra and they all say it is their special home they will never forget.
We are enjoying the school we are teaching at in the Czech Republic. The people have really welcomed us and we think the students are enjoying their classes……we think!! It has been a challenge as Mark & I are the only native speakers of English. All the other teachers are Czech. They have had to accomodate us in teacher meetings etc. and speak English. A bit strange for an English College to have it’s teachers speak in English????? outside the classroom. It is really like role reversal for us. English only in the classroom and Czech only outside. We are slowly changing that as they all feel rude if they leave us out of the conversations. We have begun Czech classes…..it is quite a difficult language. So now we can relate to what the students go through trying to learn English.
We are having a great time seeing as much of Europe as we can on week-ends and days off.
We trust all is well over there and thinking of you all over the miles.
Mark & Karen (former teachers of Elementary class – GV Caloundra)
(Have attached a picture…..the botton left is our home.)
Lesley, who graduated a few weeks ago, is off to live in Biloela in Central Queensland. While she was at GV Caloundra she was in homestay. Now her homestay parents are moving 700 kilometres north to this little country town and they have asked Lesley to Join them. What a great opportunity. We will all miss her and wish her good luck.
Stay tuned for more news – Lesley has promised to send photos and news to our blog.
Alex, Luis, Jose and I want to share with you our great experience in Sydney!
We were in Sydney for New Years Eve and the fireworks were amazing! According to the news the goverment spent about 5 millions dollars on these. We think that in CBD were 2 million of people.
Of course we enjoyed all our time there and we want to recomend some places to visit:
-The Sydney Opera House
-The Sydney Harbour Bridge
-Taronga Zoo
-The Aquarium
-China Town
-The Chinese Garden
-The Sky Tower
-Shopping Centres
-Olympic Park
-The Museum
-Bondi Beach
-etc………..
Prior to the Christmas Eve Concert Bhawana our Intermediate student from Nepal came to see to ask if she could read a poem that she had written out to her friends as part of the concert. I was very touched by her efforts to write such a beautiful poem and also by her courage in front of her schoolmates.
Here is her wonderful poem:
MY GV AND CHRISTMAS
While I arrived at the first day
I was very nervous and shy
Everywhere different face depressed me
But my lovely teachers impressed me
So thank GV
As a time passed by I knew everyones
And knew that my GV is a big garden and
We are different flowers and my teachers are the best gardeners
So thank GV fiving me a chance to be your partner
Natural beauty of GV
Friendly behavior of friends
Lovely behaviors of teachers
How fast I forget my mom and motherland
Thanks GV providing me good teacher like my parents
As time past climate is hot
It is December 24 in GV
Everyone is enjoying
Everyone is dancing
Nobody is stopping
Music is playing
Everybody is saying “ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year”
Thank GV giving me a big chance to observe a great Christmas
This is your chance to make suggestions about how we can make GV Caloundra even better. Simply write your suggestion on a piece of paper and pop it in the box.
Also please feel free to discuss any problems you have or any ideas that you have with Andy. The door is always open.
Hi 
