Welcome to Lake Ginninderra College's 'Orientation Handbook'

The purpose of this booklet is to provide you with brief answers to questions you may wish to ask. If you have any questions not covered in the book, ask at the Front Office or at Student Services. If they do not know, they will direct you to someone who does!

Your two years at College will pass very quickly. Don't wait till later if there is something happening that interests you. Get involved now! And remember that more than half the students are in Year 11 and they are all new too.

The key to success at College is organisation. Use the semester planner at the end of this booklet and the pull-out timetables in the centre to help you to organise your time and make sure that you keep up-to-date with homework, assignments etc. Lateness will usually incur penalties and this will make your grade/score less than you otherwise might have earned.

Good luck, and remember - when in doubt, ask!

College Aims

The members of the Lake Ginninderra College community value:

Relationships within the College are based on mutual trust and respect for the individual. Students are encouraged to be active participants in their own learning and to develop decision-making skills which will allow them to take on increasing responsibility and initiative.

Fundamental to our College is the desire to operate on a caring, non-custodial model, supporting and guiding students through the transition years from adolescence to emerging adulthood. Students are expected to respond to this different relationship with their teachers with sensible adult behaviour.

The Student's Contract

As a student of Lake Ginninderra College, you are expected to

• attend every class, Support Group and College Meeting
• treat other students, staff, visitors and College property with respect
• not smoke anywhere inside the building, including the quadrangle and other designated areas
• wear sensible clothing including appropriate footwear
• not to be in possession of, or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while attending College
• report or account for any damage to property
• use your ID card only in the authorised manner

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General Information

Student ID Card
This is issued to you from the Student Services Office at the beginning of the year. If you did not have your photo taken (and did not supply photos), you should make an appointment in the Technology Workshop to have this done (cost $5).

The cost of a replacement for your ID is $5 which is paid to the Front Office. You can have a new photo taken (see above) or you can provide four passport-sized prints if you wish.

The Library
This College Library is open from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day (3:30 p.m. on Fridays). One section of the Library is used for students to work quietly by themselves.

On production of their student ID cards, students may borrow from the Library.

Students may also book time on a computer terminal in the Library. These eight computers are connected to the Internet and CD-ROM network, and have Microsoft Office applications (Word and Excel) installed as well as the library catalogue. Students need to supply their own disks for saving or printing their work. The College has a growing collection of CD-ROMs.

In addition to books, the Library lends audio-visual equipment and cameras to Media students and has some calculators available for short-term loan.

It is expected that you will spend at least some of your non-class time in the Library each week, researching assignments, completing homework and taking advantage of the collection.

Daily newspapers and magazines are also available.

If you have any problems using the Library, please ask. The Library staff are happy to help you.

Textbooks
Textbooks are borrowed from the Library for the duration of the unit.

Photocopying
There is a coin-operated photocopier in the Library for students to use.

Computer Access
In addition to the computers available in the Library, you may use computers in the Computer Centre (directly below -- laboratories of PC-compatible computers). If a computer laboratory is unoccupied, you are welcome to use the computers without asking. If a class is in a laboratory but you can see that there are unoccupied computers, wait until you catch the eye of the teacher, and ask if you can use a spare machine. The answer will usually be "Yes". If you need help, ask one of the teachers in the Computer Centre or just ask another student.

Loan of college property
When you borrow College property, you are responsible for its safe return or payment for repair or replacement in the event of abuse or loss.

Canteen
Although LGC is nearby to a number of fast food outlets, you will still find greater variety and better value for money right here at the College. The menu varies throughout the year and includes a range of food items from low-fat yoghurt, home-made quiche and foccaccia to a variety of hamburgers and hot chips. Coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks and fruit juices are also available.

In addition, all Cafeteria profits are returned to the College and are used for purchasing equipment for student use.

A Cafeteria price list is available on the Internet. Or, as the case may be, it'll be up soon.

Visitors
Students are not permitted to have visitors at College. If you need to meet somewhere during College hours, arrange to meet them elsewhere, for example, at one of the fast-food outlets nearby.

Skateboards & Rollerblades
Students are not permitted to ride skateboards or rollerblades in the College or in the Courtyard.

Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in the College building, the courtyard, across the front of the College building or close to the doorways into the College. If you need help to give up smoking, see Student Services.

Mobile phones
Mobile phones should only be brought to College in cases of necessity. If you do have a mobile phone at College, then you must turn it off in classrooms and in the Library.

Fire Drill & Evacuation
Evacuation paths are displayed on a plan in each classroom. You should familiarise yourself with these. Students and staff assemble on the basketball courts at the rear of the College in case of evacuation.

A practice evacuation is held each semester.

Medical Assistance
If you need medical assistance, you should report to the Front Office. Several members of staff are qualified in First Aid. Please note that the staff will not give any medication (painkillers, etc.) to students.

Wheelchair Access
All parts of the College are accessible by wheelchair. There is a lift located near the Computer Centre (ground floor) and Library (first floor). This lift is only for use by those who are unable to use the stairs.

Lockers
Lockers may be hired for $5 per year plus $5 deposit on the key, refundable when it is returned. If you provide your own lock, there is no key deposit to pay. Lockers are assigned to students at the Front Office.

Don't leave valuables unattended in bags.

Lost Property
Enquire at the Front Office for lost property, and bring any found articles there.

The Car Park
Students can park their cars in the large car park on the eastern side of the College. There are reserved parking places for staff at the front of the College and in front of the Gymnasium. Note that there is a 15 km/h speed limit in the car park and infringements of this may be dealt with by the police. The College expects all drivers to exercise special care in the car parks and dangerous driving practices will not be tolerated.

Bicycles
There are two areas for bicycle parking: between the main building and the gym and on the lake side at the front of the College. These areas are in areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic, so ride carefully and use a quality locking device.

Travel Concessions
Your College ID serves as a concession pass on ACTION buses. The Front Office has leaflets issued by ACTION with information about its services. There is also a copy of the Bus Pack which you can consult when necessary.

Plane and rail concession forms are available at the Front Office.

Inter-college Sport
The Sports Co-ordinator, located in the staffroom in the Gym, organises inter-college sporting activities which are offered on 3 blocks each year. From time to time College teams also play visiting international student teams. LGC has an excellent record of achievement in sporting events.

Water Sports
A new water sports storage facility and launching ramp are available. A range of water-based activities will be offered as equipment becomes available.

Money
Although the ACT Government has a policy that parental contributions to government schools are voluntary, it is also true that the College could not function without them. They are not the 'icing on the cake' but are needed for basic running costs of our Education Program. The College needs to know what its income will be in order to organise its budget for the year so, for this reason, you are asked to either pay your contribution as soon as possible (by cash, cheque or credit card) at the Front Office, or to see the Principal or Deputy Principal to let the College know that you will not be making a contribution. This information will, of course, be kept confidential.

Many units require expenditure on consumables such as drawing paper, paint, food, timber etc. For students' convenience and to take advantage of the College's bulk-buying capacity, we arrange to supply these goods and recover these costs from students. Unit costs are also payable at the Front Office which is open for money collection between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

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How we Communicate at LGC

Course Selection

People make study choices for all sorts of reasons. Some are very sensible but other reasons, listed below, can lead you into making poor decisions.

It is important that you choose courses that suit your abilities, that you find interesting and that are in line with your aims in life.

If you feel that you have made the wrong choice of subjects, make the changes as soon as possible through the Student Programs Office.