Senior School News 

Year 11 Business Management 

The three Year 11 Business Management classes may not have been able to physically visit Victoria’s second most popular tourist business due to the CoVid restrictions but they were fortunate to participate in a most informative ZOOM session with the owner and creator – Leanne Neeland.

Leanne outlined her business background to students - she has been an entrepreneur since leaving school, running many different businesses and earning herself the 2008 Telstra Business Woman of the Year in Western Australia. 

The concept of mixing chocolates with the winery experiences in the Yarra Valley has been a huge financial boost to the area and developed the concept into a thriving business since it opened in 2012. This is just one of three chocolaterie stores operated by Leanne (Mornington Peninsula and Great Ocean Road).

Some areas Leanne spoke about that fitted into content studied this year by students included

• Structure of ownership the business has (Pty Ltd – partnership)
• Restrictions/permits and planning necessary to establish and run a business
  (building in a “green wedge, culturally significant impacts, sewage and water, etc)
• Obtaining financial support to establish business
• Market research (visits to WA, Japan and USA to view other like businesses)
• Employment, training and rewarding/sustaining the 220 staff employed 
  (including a trip to Europe to interview and employ chocolate makers)
• Management structure (there are at least 6 different managers to deal with aspects of the business – Chocolate making, Packing and Quality, Showroom/retail, café, Grounds, Accounts and administration)
• Marketing (none spent to advertise directly in the community but in 2019 $250,000 in “free” samples to customers plus packaging, uniforms, etc)
• Having a point of difference in your product (including sustaining change and development)
• Corporate Social Responsibility - contributing back to the community.
  (a percentage of all sales from their “Bush Tucker range” is given to the local indigenous community to sustain and promote their cultural heritage via an Arts and Well-being program including things such as beading and carving. The “Bush Tucker” chocolate bars showcase native ingredients and packaging designed by local indigenous artists.
• Impact CoVid 19 has had on the business and how they have attempted to sustain staff and revenue using on-line sales (which had not been a major component of the business beforehand and extending their some of the recent ”festivals” length with these sales)

The experience did not end with the ZOOM presentation. When the students returned to the classroom, they were able to sample some of the products available at the business.

Student Feedback - Su Su Leeding 

The chocolate factory zoom was a great learning experience. It helped me to have a better understanding of the risks that come with starting and operating a business, as well as an inside view to a business owner's life during these harsh times of COVID-19, and how they adapted. In addition, it taught me the importance of perseverance during the establishment of a business.

Sampling of chocolate feedback

Chilli flavour was too hot

You can actually taste the different flavours

They are so different in texture and taste

Really creamy

The ”nibs” are not nice

Trevor vanden Driesen 

Year 11 Business Management Teacher

Welcome back Year 10s 

Year 10 coordinator, Stephanie Grant,  welcomed back her Year 10 cohort with a lovely video: 

VCE Wellbeing Resources

Reinforcing the excellent resources provided by the KSC Wellbeing team is a number of free webinars run by psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg. These are available to VCE student and their families free of charge here https://sites.google.com/education.vic.gov.au/nevr-year12/webinars?authuser=0

Below is a list of key contact email addresses if specific assistance or guidance is needed:

Attendance: Zaiga.Bendrups@education.vic.gov.au

VCAA, Assessment and Exams: Conor.Sheehan@education.vic.gov.au

General Year 12 Inquiries: Michael.Harte@education.vic.gov.au

General Year 11 Inquiries: Michael.Kyrkou@education.vic.gov.au

Pathways, University Information and VTAC: Karen.Riding@education.vic.gov.au

Wellbeing and Student Support: Michael.Oaten@education.vic.gov.au

Year 12 exams 

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has released the 2020 exam timetable for all Year 12 exams. Students and parents/carers should carefully read through the timetable available here at the VCAA website.

 https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/Key-dates/Pages/VCE-exam-timetable.aspx

The VCAA has also announced that students will receive their Year 12 results on Wednesday 30 December this year. First round university offers through VTAC will be made to students on Thursday 14 January. 

Celebrating Year 12  

On Friday 30 October we will be celebrating our Year 12 students.  Attached is a running sheet of the days event. Also, as we are filming the day, we will require consent from parents.  There will be an event  on Compass to enable parents to provide consent. 

Security at work 

The College is in good hands. Our resident security officer is busy patrolling the grounds  and inspecting access points. Apparently this young fox has taken residence under our senior school building. 

Conor Sheehan               

Director of Learning: Senior School