VCE and Careers Expo 2024
270 of our Year 11 students attended the VCE and Careers Expo at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on Thursday 2 May. This excursion supported our students in seeking information about their post school plans. There were many tertiary providers including TAFES and Universities along with employers including the police, defence force, apprenticeship groups for our students to talk to. The programme also provided information for students to complete their career action plans. Thank you to all the students and staff who attended on the day.
Generations in Jazz Competition
The Stage Band, Jazz Band and Jazz Combo have had a wonderful musical weekend in Mount聽Gambier last week for the Generations in Jazz Competition 2024. All the students enjoyed watching talented musicians at the concerts which were held on Friday and Saturday Nights. The bands made their teachers proud with their performances which showed great musicianship and they competed with more than 30 ensembles in each section from across Australia.
I am pleased to announce, that Greta G from Year 12 was chosen for the Division 4 Superband out of almost 50 ensembles, as the best double bass player. Congratulations Greta!
This musical experience would not be possible without the efforts of our dedicated and hard-working instrumental music staff who gave up their weekend to supervise our students at this prestigious competition. My sincere thanks go to Mrs Tijtje Keatley our Director of Music, Mr Kelvin Nguyen, Mrs Melissa Knowles and Mr Joseph Yu.
Parent Evening – It鈥檚 a Jungle
We were pleased to host an information night this week with Dr Brenda Heyworth as our guest speaker. Dr Heyworth is an adolescent psychiatrist and author who translates complex information to make sense and make a difference in people鈥檚 lives.
She designs and delivers health education initiatives for people of all ages, to help them understand themselves and feel empowered to change. Her enthusiasm is infectious as she brings gentle humour and practical strategies to the serious issue of mental health and wellbeing.
Her first book,聽鈥�鈥�, was published in 2012 and has sold thousands of copies through word-of-mouth. Our parent evening focussed on when children can鈥檛 handle big emotions, their instincts take over and sometimes they enter 鈥榯he jungle鈥� and come out fighting. Dr Heyworth helped us to recognise when this occurred and gave parents strategies, so they didn鈥檛 enter 鈥榯he jungle鈥�, but instead were able to lead their child out. She spoke about the importance of self-control and having a strong framework which involves the rule, consequence, and a fresh start. Thank you to Mr Paul Graham, Student Support and Resources Manager for arranging this important session for our parent community.
District Cross Country聽 聽
Our students have continued the 91福利大全 tradition of participating in large numbers in sport by their active involvement in the school cross country event.聽 It is rewarding to see our students committing themselves to leading a life of fun and fitness through participating in sport whilst also learning the life-long skills and values of teamwork and good sportsmanship.
The District Cross Country event took place on Tuesday 7 May.聽 91福利大全 performed extremely well on the day coming first overall and winning the Junior and Intermediate Shields, with over 160 students participating.
I congratulate all the students who competed and represented our college with pride.聽 Thank you to Mr Jay Newport and Mr Danny Gwynne for all their hard work in getting the team ready for this event.
Well done to the following students who finished in the top three of their events.
- 聽Daisy W – 1st in the 13 girls
- Seth J – 1st in the 13 boys
- Yun Y – 3rd in the 14 girls
- Sebastian S – 2nd in 14 boys
- Bradley C – 3rd in 14 boys
- Julia D – 3rd in 15 boys
- Hannah R -1st in 15 girls
- Hayden V – 3rd in 16 boys
- Frances SM – 1st in 16 girls
- Aisha H – 2nd in 16 girls
Our successful students will now compete at the zone level on Thursday 13 June.
Preparing for Examinations
At this time of year our students are diligently studying for their outcomes and exams.聽 It has been pleasing to see students studying in the library and VCE Centre, attending Homework Club, catching up with teachers for additional support and attending revision classes to ensure they are thoroughly prepared for their exams.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish each student all the best for their exams.聽 I am sure they will be rewarded with results that reflect the hard work that has been undertaken throughout the first semester.聽 Our learning community is proud of the way our students approach their learning, whether it be academic studies, learning a musical instrument, mastering a drama performance, or representing our college in one of our many leadership programs.聽 Our students and teachers approach all activities with great enthusiasm, matching this with hard work and knowing they will achieve success by giving their best.
Exam Dates 2024:
Year 9:聽 Monday 3 June 鈥揊riday 7 June
Year 10 & 11: 聽Monday 3 June鈥� Friday 7 June and Tuesday 11 June 鈥� Thursday 13 June
General Achievement Test (GAT):聽 Tuesday 18 June
Year 10 Work Experience
All year 10 students are expected to complete a week of Work Experience during the last week of term from Monday 24 – Friday 28 June. If students need help finding a placement, they should look for guidance on our college website as there are over 400 employers listed there.聽 For easy access to Careers Corner students can click on the link below. or make an appointment with our Careers team which comprises our Careers Manager Mr Phil Newnham and our Careers Education and Alumni Coordinator Mrs Victoria Tortopidis.
Work Experience is an opportunity to give our students:
- an understanding of the work environment and what employers expect of their workers.
- an opportunity to explore possible career options.
- increased self-understanding, maturity, independence, and self-confidence
- increased motivation to continue study and/or undertake further training.
- a better understanding of how the school curriculum can help prepare young people for work.
- an introduction to workplace recruitment practices.
- enhanced opportunities for part-time and casual employment.
- the opportunity to include the employer’s work experience evaluation in future job and course applications.
- opportunities to develop work-related competencies and acquire skills.
- the chance to ‘try out’ a workplace.
聽Source: Work experience manual for Victorian Secondary Schools
I would like to sincerely thank Mrs Tortopidis for her work in organising all the documentation required to send our students into the workplace.
School Saving Bonus
You may have seen the recent announcement of the School Saving Bonus, as part of the Victorian Budget 2024/25. We will share more information when it becomes available about how families will be able to access and use this support. This one-off support will include $400 for each eligible student to help families cover the costs of school uniforms and activities in 2025.It will be available to parents and carers of every child enrolled in a Victorian government school in 2025.Cash will not be paid directly to individuals or families. Instead, families will receive the bonus as credits on their school accounts that will help meet the costs of your children鈥檚 activities and uniforms.
Existing supports:
The School Saving Bonus support will be in addition to existing and continuing means-tested supports for camps, sports, excursions, and uniforms.
The application-based Affordable School Uniform program, through State Schools鈥� Relief, will continue to be available to families experiencing financial hardship or other forms of vulnerability and short-term crisis. This program allows schools to make multiple applications for support on parents’ behalf throughout the year if needed.
There will be more information and guidance about the School Saving Bonus in Term 3, 2024, ahead of its implementation in 2025
Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal