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HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS BY KEEING YOUR DISTANCE. REMEMBER DO NOT SHAKE HANDS OR EXCHANGE PHYSICAL GREETINGS. WHEREVER POSSIBLE STAY 1.5 METRES APART AND PRACTICE GOOD HAND HYGIENE.  1.5M TOGETHER CAN HELP STOP THE SPREAD AND STAY HEALTHY.

Dear Families,

Welcome to Week 6.

The new initiative regarding how our students 'Flourish' began this  week.  Our experience of COVID and online teaching and learning in 2020 has offered wonderful learning for us all, particularly how our students engaged with the many opportunities that were available and what they enjoyed undertaking: what allowed them to flourish. 

The numerous surveys we conducted with our students over the year have shown us the many ways they engaged with different projects, focused learning, sporting and creative arts activities and when offered choice.  In an attempt to extend the concept of "Flourish", we surveyed Year 7 students this week regarding many aspects of their lives. 

Over the next six years we plan to track the girls through their secondary education, in order to see what it is they are enjoying and what it is they wish was a little different. We are hoping to get a glimpse into their hopes and dreams and their achievements and/or disappointments.

This 'tracking' may also continue into their years beyond school as they become Alumni members.  

It will provide a snapshot of who they are now and who they are into the future. It will also assist us enormously as we contemplate what it is that we are offering (or should be offering) that allows our girls to flourish.

It is anticipated that this survey will be undertaken by all Year 7 students (and as they progress through the school) into the future.

2022 Central Australia Tour

In 2022 we are proposing a tour to Central Australia for 80 girls in Years 10, 11 and 12.  An EdSmart information slip was sent to the relevant parents last weekend. The dates for the tour are Thursday 30th June - leaving by bus at 1.00pm. The tour will take in Coober Pedy, Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Watarrka, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Daly Waters, Mataranka, Cooinda (Yellow Waters) Kakadu and Darwin. The group will fly out of Darwin on Tuesday 12th July at 12.30am and arrive in Melbourne at 5.15am on the same day. This promises to be an exciting addition to the camps program here at the College.

Year 7 Community Conversation 

Year 7 parents are invited to a Community Conversation on Thursday 17th June at 7.00pm (see the flyer below).

Community Conversation topic - How is your daughter going - socially, emotionally, academically?.

Community Conversations are a communication strategy for all school communities.  The concept emerged from the Catholic Education Office Melbourne Family School Partnerships initiative with the support of Dr George Otero from the Centre for Relational Learning in New Mexico.

 Dr Otero’s experience in this work provided a basis for the development of an approach to Community Conversations suitable for an Australian context. The Family School Partnerships initiative was developed and informed by evidence from Australia and overseas. 

Amongst other findings, this research emphasises the importance of engaging families in learning, building social capital, and strengthening relationships between all members of the school community. A Community Conversations approach can provide a process to enable such relationship building.

The process involves having intentional and inclusive conversations between members of the community, in which participants listen to each other, in order to understand and explore what is important to and valued by that community.

Community Connections

The Year 10 tutoring program has commenced with St Joseph's, Springvale Grade 3 and 4 students. Twenty-seven girls are undertaking this program every Tuesday after school for Terms 2 and 3.

The relationship with the Springvale Hub is ever developing. This week all Year 7s had intended to attend Reconciliation Week activities, including First Nation dancing and story-telling workshops and various art and sporting activities. These have been postponed until NAIDOC week later in the year.

The College is supporting St Frances de Sales with its annual production and the movement of their props etc for the two nights.

A number of students will be performing at St Anthony's also for their Catholic Family Week celebrations.

Best wishes for the coming week.

Loreto Cannon

AP: Engagement, Operations, Transition