Welcome and COVID-19 Update I wish everyone a warm welcome back to Term 4 and trust that your holiday break has been a good one. As a school we are all geared to successfully completing 2022, and in doing so ensuring we support the health and wellbeing of all students and staff throughout Term 4. With the VCAA examinations underway for a range of VCE students this week, it is essential that we continue to work together to keep our school community safe. Please note the latest advice from the government: From Monday, October 3 until October 14, it is still mandated that all COVID-19 positive cases remain in isolation for five days. Their household contacts must wear masks at all times indoors as well as undertaking Rapid Antigen Testing for the isolation period.
No student or staff member should attend school while unwell or displaying flu-like symptoms. The wearing of masks is not expected but still encouraged in larger gatherings. From Friday October 14, the National Cabinet has deemed that positive COVID-19 cases will not need to isolate. It is an expectation, however, that those unwell or displaying flu-like symptoms will not attend school and contact the school in the usual way.
New Online Journal Format This Journal is our first in a new digital format and we hope that it will appeal to our readers. Feedback is always welcome, but remember, we are learning as we go! Ultimately, we will be phasing out our remaining “paper” editions and moving all access to online.
Assistant Principal Vacancy I congratulate Fern Brisbane on her substantive appointment as Principal of Wheelers Hill Secondary College and wish her all the best in this exciting new challenge. Amongst our many staffing initiatives for 2023, I will be advertising for a new substantive Assistant Principal to cover Fern’s promotion. This will be conducted Statewide, with a commencement at the beginning of the 2023 school year.
Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Survey During Term 3, DET Staff and Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Surveys were conducted. Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Survey results are available, and it is fair to say, they continue to paint a very positive picture in regard to community satisfaction with our great school. Once again, I thank the 110 Parents/Caregivers/Guardians who completed this important survey. A snapshot below is for your information.
Valedictory Season Our Year 12s are embarking on the last phase of their formal schooling before they face the final examination hurdles, and what a year it has been. I am confident that they have been well prepared and that they will conduct themselves in the “Wellington Way” at all times over the next few weeks. Key features include: The Valedictory/Awards Night function will be held on Thursday, October 13. This event is returning onsite and will be catered for and subsidised by the school. Our plan is to livestream parts of it, especially where the traditional “Awards Night” Awards are presented. Watch Compass for details on this.
The SWOTVAC Tutoring and Study Program will operate in the Senior School Centre during exams. The Formal is on Wednesday, December 7. There is no provision for outside “partners”, with only WSC students from the Class of 2022 attending.
I wish our Senior Students all the best in the upcoming exams and thank their teachers for all the hard work and support given, not just this year, but over the six-year secondary journey.
Facilities and Master Plan The last parts of our Master Plan are falling into place. The new perimeter fencing was installed over the holidays, and the old International Centre has been moved onto the Oval. We plan to finish off the project this year by tidying up the courtyards and completing the landscaping at the front of the school adjacent to Police Road. It looks fantastic!
3 Way Conferences The online 3 Way Conferences on the last Wednesday in Term 3 were a success. As a process it again seemed to be well-received by parents and teachers alike – and these sorts of meetings, whilst never fully replacing face-to-face contact, will certainly be reviewed and considered for our 2023 plans.
50 Year Anniversary Planning continues to evolve! The RSVPs for the dinner with current and former staff are slowly building and current staff are starting to prepare their contribution to the “Then and Now” theme of our Family Day celebration on Sunday, December 4. Remember, you can preorder your commemorative wine glasses by accessing the QR Code in other parts of the Journal.
On Thursday, September 15, we hosted our annual Spring Concert. The night was a huge success, full of incredible performances all round.
Some of the musical pieces that were performed included “Princess Mononoke Theme”, “Flash Light” by Jessie J, “Finesse” by Bruno Mars, “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush, and more. The night was jam-packed with talent and everyone who performed did an incredible job.
There were hundreds of students and staff involved, and not just musicians. The night featured the hard work and talents of a wide variety of students, including those helping with the technical elements of the show. We had key student helpers working on the lights and sound to make the show look and sound incredible. We were practicing again with the video cameras, training students how to work with some new broadcasting equipment.
The night was hosted by the Performing Arts Student Leader team, who had announced the songs and provided entertainment and information between acts. We also had the opportunity to showcase a few solo performances. Well done to Ryan Dai, Hayley Sadler, Aysia Sotille-Roxas, Roslyn Sadler, Daniella Nikolaou, Dan Tran, Dimas Treacy, Ziyuan Liao, Victoria Nikolaou, and Lara Bui with the Stage Band. It took a lot of courage to perform for such a large crowd.
There are a few more exciting events coming up in Term 4, including the 2022 Studio Album, the 50th Anniversary Celebrations, and the Instrumental Music Gala nights. We would love to see as many parents, students and friends of the community at these events, so keep an eye out on the Compass newsfeed and come along!
Tray Driscoll-Plavins Director of Arts and Instrumental Music
For the last few Fridays, the Performing Arts Student Leadership team have been hosting “Busking Day” lunchtime performances on our outdoor stage. Students across the college signed up to perform different acts, including singing, instrumental performances and even dancing. The audience turnout for these concerts have been massive, with lots of students from all across the college coming to show their support for our lovely performers.
These concerts have proven so popular, that we are continuing them through Friday lunchtimes, until we run out of acts! So make sure to come by the West Quadrangle on Fridays to see the show.
A massive congratulations to all those who have taken the opportunity to perform already, and if anyone would like to give it a go, there are sign up sheets outside the K02 office!
Tray Driscoll-Plavins Director of Arts and Instrumental Music
In Term 3, the Junior School Leaders held a writing competition for Years 7 and 8 students to highlight their writing skills.
There were a variety of different entries, ranging from short stories to poems. It was lovely to read all the submitted works and they were all equally stunning in their own rights. Thank you to everyone who entered.
However, there were some objectively astonishing pieces, as voted upon by some students. These entries were rewarded with a Dymocks gift card.
Congratulations to Alice Rojas from 7E and V Gorkowski from 8A, who was a runner up. You both have incredible talents, and we hope you keep pursuing your passion of writing!
Tazmeen Khan (8M, Runner Up) On behalf of the Junior School Leaders
What is mental health? According to the World Health Organisation mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stress of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to contribute to his or her own community.
In Australia, it is estimated that 45 per cent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. Your mental health affects how you think, feel and act. It influences how you handle stress, how you relate to people and how you see yourself and the world around you.
There are many types of mental health conditions and disorders, the most common are: – Anxiety – Affective disorders, including depression – Substance use disorders, including alcohol use
Many factors that affect mental health are preventable and you can make a difference by eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting adequate sleep.
