Deputy Principal

PETER CUMMINS

Deputy Principal - Teaching & Learning

Year 9, 10 & 11 November Examinations

This academic term is well under way with major assessments happening now, and the semester exams just over the horizon.

Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 will be sitting their semester written examinations from Monday November 18. This is a key educational experience that is of enormous benefit to students as they progress through their upper secondary years, into VCE.

The examinations and assessments should be seen as a key learning experience, designed to enable students to test their knowledge and understanding, to work under time constraints, and to become used to the pressure associated with formal examinations.

Exam preparation and the sitting of exams are developed skills. You cannot gain these skills overnight. Students in Year 9 in particular, need to work at developing these skills as they move closer to their final year of study. Students that leave their exam preparation to the last minute, run the risk of under-performing. Serious effort does bring results!

Now is the time for students to focus on their coming examinations and work with their teachers to revise coursework, practice exam style questions, and use every minute in class to good effect. For Year 11 students, study periods are an opportunity to learn, seek assistance and make progress. The goal for every student is clearly to Reach New Heights.

PETER DICKINSON

Deputy Principal - Operations

International School Tours

As part of Oakleigh Grammar’s commitment to increasing student’s intercultural understanding and global connections, we have traditionally offered two biennial international tours – one to Greece and one to China, with a third option beginning in 2020 with the Vietnam expedition.    

We believe that participation in an overseas learning experience enables students to build their personal and social attributes and intercultural understanding, including language skills. From our tours, we seek to ensure that our students develop an enhanced sense of self and personal identity, increased independence, maturity, confidence and self-awareness, and enhanced social competence, through confronting challenges beyond their familiar environment and comfort zone. These are developed through the formal events and activities as much as through simply travelling in a larger non-family group, or in sharing meals together. Students are able to broaden their horizon and learn about the cultures, customs and histories of others, which also helps them to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of their own culture and identity. The Vietnam expedition will add significant service and leadership components. 

I recently had the pleasure and privilege of sharing in an amazing international cultural tour to China with Ashlee Scott (Year 5 teacher), seven wonderful students, and one of our parents, Spiros Bombos. On reflection, I am very confident to be able to report that all our students grew in confidence, maturity and self-awareness, and were excellent ambassadors for our School and their families.  

Whilst there are hundreds of photos to share, there were many great experiences that will be held in their memories for years to come. Some of the highlights would include our visit to our sister school, the Suzhou Pingjiang Experimental School, where the students experienced school life in China through various cultural art activities, and a lesson in badminton. In addition, visits to a silk factory, the ancient Water Town, museums and stunning oriental gardens, viewing acrobatic and Kung Fu shows, and travelling on a bullet train were all enjoyable. Beijing, with its iconic sites such as the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and Summer Palace stood out, with the added absolute highlight, climbing The Great Wall of China.

We look forward to 2021 and our next international tours.