From Bluff Road

WELCOME BACK TO TERM THREE

It has been an absolute delight to commence the term with the rebirth of the College Production, which in 2022 is The Addams Family. After two and a half years of being unable to involve our College Community in this magnificent process, it has been awe inspiring to attend rehearsals and see our students of all ages and interests deeply involved in acting, singing, dancing, music, staging, sewing, painting, lighting, sound and so many other tasks in preparation for this long-awaited season of performances. These students have committed at least two week nights a week and a day every weekend (even more for Leads) this term to bringing this performance to life. Keep your eyes out on Compass for information regarding ticket sales and don’t miss this wonderful College event. Thank you to our amazing staff and team of volunteer alumni and parents who have been putting in countless hours to bring this together.  

Sandringham College has a long history and reputation for being a supportive environment for all students. Our aim is to inspire and empower young people in our school community to help achieve their full potential in an inclusive and supportive environment. Everything we do underpins our College Values, and the school community works collaboratively to ensure these essential values are upheld and maintained to a high standard.

Whilst the discussion around strict uniform policies is ongoing, it is important to remember that above all else, a uniform creates equity for all. No matter what circumstances, socio economic or cultural background our students come from, they all have equal right to a fulfilling education. Wearing a uniform can create a sense of belonging, school pride and avoid disparity. There is also evidence that it reduces bullying, due to the equity it provides. We encourage all members of the community to support this philosophy and the sense of school pride that comes with wearing the uniform correctly. We are also very much attuned to student voice and agency. We are currently seeking out and listening to student opinions on areas such as beanies and jewellery to ensure that we are considering all views and the changing needs of our college community. Students who wish to have a say on some of these issues should speak to their Year Level Leader, Student Leader representatives or attend some of the forums being held throughout the term. We look forward to these rigorous and passionate discussions!

REPORTS

Student’s reports were published via Compass at the end of last term and we hope that you have had a chance to discuss these together as a family, celebrate successes but especially review and discuss what we can learn from any areas that may need attention. Encouraging a Growth and Positive Mindset is essential to success and progress and builds resilience in our young people. After two difficult years where student learning was interrupted, submission of work was sporadic and quite challenging for some students, homework expectations were relaxed. Consequently, some students have struggled to deal with the return to expectations of normal school academia. As the year progresses and the return to normality ensues, we would like to urge all families to encourage their child to attend Study Club (Homework Club has been renamed) on a Wednesday after school in the library to ensure they complete all coursework, gain support and assistance with ALT preparation if needed and complete Homework tasks, all to a higher level. 

In semester two, any student who does not achieve at least 50% in a task will be required to attend a Redemption session in order to achieve a pass in that task. More information regarding the Redemption Process will be published in the next newsletter.

At the end of last term, our fantastic Library staff held a Chess competition between our budding Chess Masters to determine the best player at each year level. Chess is extremely popular with many students at our College and it was fantastic to see the degree of skill and expertise that many students have with this wonderful game. The game of chess is an excellent educational tool. Studies have shown a strong correlation between learning to play chess and academic performance, but it also is a lot of fun!  Special thanks to Librarian Kerri Deegan who inspired students to compete and oversaw the process. Results are available in the Library section of this newsletter. 

NAPLAN

Results from the 2022 NAPLAN will become available in August. Once we receive these results, they will be posted directly to you at home. These results not only allow parents/carers and educators to see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time and against national standards, they can also assist teachers by providing additional information to support their professional judgement about students’ levels of literacy and numeracy. We look forward to receiving this data and using it to help support both individuals and the school programs into the future.

SUBJECT SELECTIONS

Subject selections for year 9 to 12 in 2023 have now closed. Now comes the very complex task for our timetabler and College Principal Amy Porter of devising a timetable that best meets the requests and needs of all of our students. It is quite a difficult task and takes a long time to develop. Once this is in place, students will be contacted if there are any clashes or subjects unavailable and other choices may need to be made. Students who have selected subjects outside of school recommendations may also be contacted to discuss this with both the parent and student to ensure an informed decision is being made. Students and their families who would like to  discuss subject pathways and options are encouraged to contact Careers Coordinator Debra Hanlen Debra.Hanlen@education.vic.gov.au , Head of Sub School Cody Gunn or Campus Principal Vivienne McElwee for an appointment. 

SPORT ACHIEVERS

Congratulations to our wonderful elite athletes Johanna, Indi, Keely, Archie and Ameya for their amazing success in their respective fields of sport. They are another great example of where determination and a positive mindset can lead.  Please refer to the sport section of this newsletter for more information about our success in sport. 

We always love to hear about anything of interest involving our students, whether it be sporting achievements, volunteering or community involvement so that we can celebrate these together as a College. Please pass on anything of interest to your Year Level Leader or myself.

Vivienne McElwee

Campus Principal