by Rosina Fotia, Principal

Welcome to Term 3. Given the forced interruption, the term has started very smoothly. The College did have to cancel the Mid-Year Music Concert but has managed to find an alternative time for the Year 10 Formal. Disruptions aside, the focus on teaching and learning is quite evident online and in the classroom.

Learning Focus

Literacy and Numeracy priorities remain a focus for staff. This term, staff will look to increase the number of ways in which student voice and agency can be used in curriculum design and in teacher feedback. During SELF, students will reflect on their Semester 1 results and will be asked to identify personal areas of strength and areas for improvement. For many students, this will inform their decision-making process as they begin to consider career options and nominate their subjects for the 2022 school year.

NAIDOC Week

This year the College celebrated NAIDOC week during the first week of term. NAIDOC 2021 invites the nation to embrace First Nations cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage, and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians.

This year’s theme is Healing Country. Healing Country means finally resolving many of the outstanding injustices which impact on the lives of our people. It is about hearing and actioning the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples which are the culmination of generations of consultation and discussions among our nations on a range of issues and grievances.

Students at the College have respectfully participated in structured lessons around this theme and ran a sausage sizzle, with funds raised being donated to the Cathy Freeman Foundation. This foundation supports Indigenous students to experience their full potential in schools across the country.

Thank you to Ms Draper-Nagas for her leadership of the First Nations Program.

Duke of Ed

Congratulations to the following students on achieving significant award status with the Duke of Edinburgh Program:

• Trak Buller Silver - Award
• Bella Theophanous-Maddison - Silver Award
• Gemma Giambalkaris - Bronze Award
• Katlin Ganya - Bronze Award

The Duke of Edinburgh Program is an internationally recognised program which encourages young people to explore their full potential and help equip them for life and work through participation in community service, learning a skill, physical activity and participating in group overnight journeys and expeditions. This program develops: confidence, resilience, determination, leadership, planning, problem solving, communication, creativity, adaptability, capacity building and leadership; qualities that the College and community have identified as pivotal to success in adulthood.

Thank you to Ms Rayner for her leadership of the Duke of Edinburgh Program.

Morrisby Report

Despite the lockdown, Year 9 students have successfully commenced their Career Insights interviews via WebEx. My Career Insights is a program aimed at helping students to better understand their strengths and interests, to inform their subject selections for senior secondary school and beyond. It is available to all Year 9 students in in Victorian government schools. Students have completed the assessment during SELF classes and met one on one with a qualified careers professional employed specifically for this program. This is the third year of this program and it’s wonderful to see the unique skills that every student identifies through the Career Insights Program. This information is available to students for life via the login they have created. We look forward to hearing from students about their learning now that we have returned onsite.

Independent Reading

A reminder that the Independent Reading Program is an integral part of the Literacy Program at the College. For 20 minutes every day, students and teachers from Years 7- 10 read independently in class. The choice of reading material is up to each individual. The benefits of reading are far reaching and include:  Improvement of literacy skills  Mindfulness  Increased understanding of self and others You can support your child’s reading by discussing reading with your child and ensuring they have access to appropriate reading material in the home.

Music Camp

In lieu of the annual Music Camp, this year students in the Music Program participated in two days of music workshops on site. This alternative proved very popular with staff and students. The workshops provided opportunities for students to explicitly work on improving their technique, work and practice in small and large ensembles as well as perform in front of peers. Congratulations and thanks to Chris Ferre and the Instrumental Music Staff on their commitment to the success of this program.

Weather Station Launch

The College is pleased to announce the launch of its own “Weather Station”. Situated in the Sustainability Hub, the weather station provides readings on temperature, rain, wind and humidity. It can be accessed by all members of the community and will be used as a data source in many of our classes. Check it out at:

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/IMELBO2771

You can select between Fahrenheit and Celsius with the F/C toggle switch, accessible by clicking the gear icon on the top-right.

Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Opinion Survey

Our school is conducting a survey to find out what families think of our school. The survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education and Training that is conducted amongst a sample of randomly selected families (previously known as the Parent Opinion Survey). It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, student engagement and experiences of remote and flexible learning. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.

All responses to the survey are anonymous. This year, the survey will be conducted from Monday 19th July to Sunday 22nd August. The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the fieldwork period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. Last year we used the survey results to direct staff priorities related to student voice and agency and to increase the scope of activities designed and led by the SIRC (Student Interact Representative Council).

We value your feedback and encourage you to take the time to complete the survey.