Faculty News

Careers News

MICHELLE MASCARO

Career Advisor

Important Year 12 Dates to Remember

Change of Preference (COP) Appointments with Mrs. Mascaro in the careers office

Available:

Friday 13th December    8.30am -  11.00am

Monday 16th December   9.00am –   3.30pm 

Tuesday 17th December  9.00am –   3.30pm

E- Counselling COP Appointments Available:(MMascaro@oakleighgrammar.vicv.edu.au) 

Wed 18th December - 2.30pm-5.30pm

Thurs 19th December - 9am – 3.30pm

Swinburne Information Evenings

Thinking study? Think Swinburne Info Evenings. 

Wantirna Information Evening – on early education, trades and Diploma of Nursing

When: Tuesday 26 November

Time: 4.00pm – 6.00pm

Hawthorn Information Evening – course advice for every level of study

When: Wednesday 27 November

Time: 4.00pm – 6.00pm

Register for either event at Swinburne Information Evenings

Tax File Number

Year 12 students are reminded yet again that they cannot enrol in a CSP (Commonwealth Supported Place) university course next year without a Tax File Number (TFN). Students who do not have one are reminded to apply for a TFN online, and have their identity verified through an interview at a participating Australia Post office. To apply, and also to find out about participating Post Offices, visit TFN Application.

Low Income Healthcare Card for Australian Students

Once you have finished school you are no longer a student, and you may be eligible for a Low Income Health Care Card. This card gives access to a range of concessions, not only on some health care items, and possible concession fares on Victorian public transport services, but also on a range of other goods and services if you are on a low income.  

In particular, some TAFE and other short courses offer discounts for cardholders. You may also be eligible for public transport concessions (note that if you are studying interstate you are not eligible for public transport concessions in Victoria).

Eligibility for a Low Income Health Care Card is based on YOUR income over the previous eight weeks. As long as your income is less than $4488 over that period (or $561 per week) you should qualify. You will maintain the Low Income Health Care Card as long as your income does not exceed $5,610.00 (or $701.25 per week) in any eight week period. It is highly recommended that all graduating Year 12 students consider applying for this card once the exams are over. 

Visit Low Income Healthcare Cardand find out more. 

Study Assist

Students are encouraged to browse the following link, as the website provides information to students about Australian Government assistance for financing their tertiary study. There is very useful information on study loans, how one pays back those loans, scholarship opportunities, etc.  A useful PDF titled 'Beyond School Study Guide', published in September last year can also be found at - Beyond School Study Guide. Visit Study Assist.

Class of 2019

I look forward to seeing you all at your change of preference appointments in December. In the meantime, I wish you all the very best in your exams, and as Audrey Hepburn said, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I am possible.”  

Chaplains Corner

FATHER GEROGE ADAMAKIS

Parish Priest

On the 16th of October we had the service of the Divine Liturgy of

our Senior and Middle School. I would like to thank Father John Mawal, a parent of our School, who took part in the Divine Liturgy, and gave me the opportunity to conduct our School Byzantine Choir. Our Choir chanted vividly and beautifully for our students and staff. It is a great pleasure to see our students now having the Divine Liturgy booklets following the service, and are able to understand the service more deeply.

On the 23rd of October was the celebration and Feast Day of St Iakovos, the brother of our Lord. Blessed Feast Day to His Grace our Bishop, Iakovos of Melitoulpolis. Our students had the blessing to attend the Divine Liturgy of St. Iakovos at South Melbourne, to wish His Grace for his name day, they received his blessing and also our Eminences Archbishop Makarios blessing. The service has a very unique style, and is one of the ancient services in history.

May Lord Almighty give His Grace strength for his next exciting role in Queensland. May the Lord grant His Grace many years!

The Service of St Iakovos (St James)

The Divine Liturgy of St. James is among the oldest Eucharistic services in continuous use. It is the ancient liturgy of the Church of Jerusalem, and is attributed to the Apostle James the Just, the Brother of the Lord. It is often celebrated in Eastern Orthodox Churches on the Feast of St. James (October 23).

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the liturgy is now generally only celebrated on the Feast of St. James, on October 23rd, and only in some parishes and monasteries, particularly in the Jerusalem Patriarchate. Two different rubrics are commonly followed; the Slavonic liturgy linked to in full below is celebrated in the traditional manner, ad orientem, on an altar behind the iconostasis, in a manner similar to the contemporary Syriac Orthodox use.

In the Greek-speaking Orthodox communities, such as in the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the liturgy is commonly celebrated in a very different manner, with a temporary altar erected in front of the iconostasis, and the celebrant conducting the liturgy versus populum. This version is frequently celebrated with a variety of priests and one bishop, in order to convey the idea of the re-enactment of the Last Supper.

James (Iakovos) the Apostle, Brother of Our Lord

According to some, this Saint was a son of Joseph the Betrothed, born of the wife that the latter had before he was betrothed to the Ever-virgin. Hence he was the brother of the Lord, Who was also thought to be the son of Joseph (Matt. 13: 55). But some say that he was a nephew of Joseph, and the son of his brother Cleopas, who was also called Alphaeus, and Mary his wife, who was the first cousin of the Theotokos. But even according to this genealogy, he was still called, according to the idiom of the Scriptures, the Lord's brother because of their kinship.

This Iakovos is called the Less (Mark 15:40) by the Evangelists to distinguish him from Iakovos, the son of Zebedee, who was called the Great. He became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, elevated to this episcopal rank by the Apostles, according to Eusebius (Eccl. Hist., Book II: 23), and was called Obliah, that is, the Just, because of his great holiness and righteousness. Having ascended the crest of the Temple on the day of the Passover at the prompting of all, he bore testimony from there concerning his belief in Jesus, and he proclaimed with a great voice that Jesus sits at the right hand of the great power of God, and shall come again upon the clouds of heaven. On hearing this testimony, many of those present cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David." But the Scribes and Pharisees cried, "So, even the just one hath been led astray," and at the command of Ananias the high priest, the Apostle was cast down headlong from thence, then was stoned, and while he prayed for his slayers, his head was crushed by the wooden club wielded by a certain scribe. The first of the Catholic (General) Epistles written to the Jews in the Diaspora who believed in Christ was written by this Iakovos.

On Monday the 28th of October Junior School students will be attending a Church Service. 

Hellenic Culture

NATASHA SPANOS

Hellenic Culture Coordinator 

Students in LOTE

The LOTE department take part in different competitions every year. These competitions help students to improve their language skills, but also to learn different aspects of Hellenic Culture. On Sunday the 13th of October, the “Greek Speaking Festival 2019” took place. The competition is organised annually by the Modern Greek Teachers Association in Victoria. It provides opportunities for students to extend their skills in poetry recitals and public speaking. Entry in the competition supports student learning Greek, by providing further opportunities to learn and practice their language skills. 

This year, five students from our

School participated with some outstanding results. A big congratulations to Sotiris Bakalis from Year 7, who came first in the Years 7-8 Poetry Recitals Category, and to Arthur Millaras from Year 10, who came first in the Years 9-10 Poetry Recitals Category. Well done to all students who took part and represented our School.

Our Year 4 and Year 8 students participated at the annual “Australian Hellenic Memorial Student School Competition”.  The aim of the competition is to explore Greece during both World Wars. Congratulations to all the students who participated, and especially to the following students:

- Allegra Kourkoutzelos (Year 4) - 1st in Year 4-6 Category.

- Dimitra Stafylidou (Year 4) winning Encouragement Award.

- Jasmine Micallef (Year 4) winning Encouragement Award.

- Georgianna Petridis (Year 8) winning Encouragement Award.

- Ethan Karkanis (Year 8) winning Encouragement Award.

Year 6, 7 & 8 students participated in the 9th Greek Student Film Festival. The groups created four short films. The topic for this year’s competition was “A Compass”. Participants were encouraged to interpret the topic as creatively as they wished, in a film no longer than five minutes. 

The Greek Student Film Festival offers students the opportunity to use the Greek language in creative and innovative ways, whilst simultaneously encouraging the preservation of Greek culture. This year we had two winning teams! Congratulations to Elias Koskiniotis, Yiannis Romanidis, Alexander Diakoumis, Alexander Korlos and Nicholas Papageorgiou for coming first in the Primary School Category, with the film, "A treasure from the past!". Also, we would like to congratulate Mary Alexopoulos, Nikki Ballis, Mattea George, Anastasia Kaniadakis, Kristina Pezos, Victoria Tsiloulis and Stephanie Kakaras from Year 6, for achieving second in the Primary School Category, with the film, "An adventure in the forest!". Special thanks to Mr Harbis for his technical support. Congratulations to all students for the outstanding achievements!

Feast Day of St. Iakovos

On Wednesday the 23rd of October, the Orthodox Church celebrated the Feast Day of St. Iakovos the Apostle, the brother of our Lord. SRC members and Middle School Leaders accompanied by Mrs Sideris, Mr Damatopoulos and myself, attended the Divine Liturgy at St Efstathios Church in South Melbourne. Students had the opportunity to meet with His Grace Bishop Iakovos and wish him a Happy Name Day, on behalf of our School Community. 

Student Representative Council

NATASHA SPANOS

SRC Coordinator

Oakleigh Grammar students always support community events. Dozens of community members, including a number of our students, attended a public education event on dementia, held at our School on Sunday 22nd of September. The joint initiative of Fronditha and the Hellenic Medical Society of Australia (HMSA), brought together a panel of medical experts and service providers, to share their insights on the disease, on a day marking the conclusion of Dementia Action Week (16-22 September).

Inevitably, among the topics discussed at the forum was the impact of dementia not only on patients, but also their families and carers. A highlight during the event was the introduction of the children’s book, “Yiayia at the Market”. The book was created and printed by Fronditha Care's communications team. The story follows a young boy dealing with his grandmother’s changing behaviour, brought on by dementia. The book has been illustrated by the Year 10 Art Class of Oakleigh Grammar, with a contribution from the “The Hellenic Medical Society of Australia”.

Counselling

FIONA BAUDINETTE

Student Counsellor

Child Brain Development and Effective Parenting Presention

 When: Thursday 7th November

Time: 7.00-8.00pm

Where: Arrowsmith Centre

Have you struggled to understand why your child is behaving the way they are? Have you pondered what parenting strategy to try next? Have you wondered why your teenager is happy one minute and moody the next? Parenting is the ONLY job we do, without knowing quite what to do! Oakleigh Grammar invites you to the presentation that will focus on the changes in your child’s brain development at different ages. I will discuss broad parenting strategies that match this development, rather than individual strategies for each parenting challenge. However, time will be allocated at the conclusion of the presentation to discuss any specific challenges you may wish to raise. Alternatively, I am available to speak with you privately regarding any parenting concerns.

Prior to my employment at Oakleigh Grammar I was a teacher, then a specialist in the field of Dyslexia, conducting numerous assessments and teacher training and speaking engagements. I also worked as a Counsellor, primarily in Family Counselling, Adolescent and Child Development and Learning Difficulties. I have two children in their twenties, who have had their fair share of ups and downs. I bring what I have learnt from these varied roles, into my presentation. 

This workshop has been repeated due to parent request. We hope you can make it. Parent feedback after the earlier presentation included:

• “Thank you. I came away feeling like someone had just solved a puzzle. It all made so much sense and explained why sometimes my parenting is effective and other times it isn’t. Please repeat this again if possible.”
• “I just wanted to pass on my feedback regarding ‘The Effective Parenting, Development’ workshop. I have been attending several positive parenting courses, to better understand my daughter, so that we can be the best parents we can be. Your workshop was very insightful and very complimentary to what we have learned. My only problem was then trying to pass on the information to my husband. I failed miserably. Please advise if the seminar will be held again.”
• “Thank you so much for presenting this. It was very informative & helpful.”

Feel free to invite your friends. I look forward to meeting you on the 7th! Please confirm your attendance by emailing:

 Counsellor@oakleighgrammar.vic.edu.au

LOTE

Kiki Kousourakis

Head of LOTE

Hands on Language Learning

On Sunday the 13th of October, five of our Middle and Senior School students represented Oakleigh Grammar in the Student Public Speaking Festival, held by the Modern Greek Teachers Association of Victoria. This competition has been created to promote the written and spoken use of the Greek language, student self-confidence, as well as research skills and public speaking skills. We are happy to announce that Sotiris Bakalis, from Year 7, and Arthur Millaras, from Year 10, won the Recital Competition in their category. Congratulations to all the students that participated.

Greek Student Film Festival 

Sunday the 20th of October was very busy! Students from Year 6 and 7 class participated in the 9th Greek Student Film Festival. This year the Oakleigh Grammar Greek Student Film Festival entries were extremely successful, with two of Mrs Spanos’ Year 6 class films getting the first and second place in the Junior School category. An amazing effort that resulted in a great outcome.

All films had to get creative with the idea of a compass, submissions were original, and the students acted brilliantly. Congratulations to the students and their teacher for such a great result.

Pontian Student Competition

Our Year 5 Junior School students took part earlier this year in the Pontian Student Competition, and all students submitted original work related to Pontos. All students received a certificate of participation, and we are happy to announce that Sofia Koutsovalisis from Mrs Patsaris’ class received the first prize, Joseph Kontos and Stefania Bitzios from Mrs Kousourakis’ class received the second and third prize! Well done to all students for participating and supporting such events.

It is very important to recognise the effort and hard work of our students and teachers alike, in every event they participate in. Through their participation, they make connections with the Greek language and promote learning through authentic activities. Language becomes a reality when student use it to create, to explain and to promote their ideas.

Science

MANOJ PATEL

Acting Head of Science

Year 7 Jock Marshall Reserve Excursion 

The following account of the day has been written by Shanaye Whiteside of 7B:

On the 12th of September the Year 7s went to the Jock Marshall Reserve next to Monash University, to learn about different ecosystems and how they work. We did activities such as measuring the temperature of the lake, we measured the turbidity of the water, collected samples of the water to check the phosphorus, pH and nitrogen in it, and collected samples of different water bugs that lived beneath the reeds and plants that were growing in the water. We found things such as blood worms, back-swimmers, freshwater shrimp, water-boatman, diving beetle (adult and larvae) and many more. All the Year 7s fondly enjoyed this excursion, and learnt many different things from this experience.