Teaching & Learning
Calling all Former SOC Students!!
Interested in joining our Alumni Community? We would love to hear what our former SOC students are up to! Fill out the following online form: https://forms.office.com/r/JakrRiSTFm if you are interested in sharing!
Schools Clean Up Australia Day 2023
Students from SOC sustainability club joined students from all around Australia to participate in Schools Clean Up Australia Day on Friday 3 March.
Students walked around the school collecting rubbish.
In the Sustainability club we have discussed why it is important to collect rubbish. Dropped litter, especially plastics, go into the gutters through drains and, with the wind, often ends up in the ocean. It is frequently eaten by birds and animals, including whales, dolphins and turtles, who mistake it for food. Plastic not eaten breaks down over time but does not decompose. It eventually breaks down into tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics. These microplastics are eaten by fish, making their way up the food chain until eventually, they are eaten by us.
Members of the sustainability club were delighted that there was a lot less rubbish to collect compared to last year. Well done SOC!
We hope that members of the SOC community continue to be aware of the dire consequences of dropping litter and of the importance of using bins.
THE SUSTAINABILITY CLUB MEETS EVERY FRIDAY AT 1.15 IN A2. SNACKS PROVIDED!
ALL WELCOME.
Alison Jones
Sustainability Club Facilitator
Australian International Avalon Airshow
Representatives from SOC were extremely fortunate to attend the Avalon Airshow this year due to our connection with Monash Tech School and the Oakleigh Education Plan. Students that demonstrated interest in the aviation industry were invited to attend the day with 2 staff members on Friday 3rd March. The day started early with students arriving at the bus pick-up point out front of the Robert Blackwood Hall inside the Clayton Campus of Monash University at around 6.45 am. From here we were bused to Avalon Airport and arrived at the gates at around 9 am for a full day of tours and immersion. For those of us on the ground, the day was a sensory overload of technology, trade stands and a plethora of career opportunities.
The show was an eye-opening experience that we were very lucky to be a part of. We were treated like VIP guests, had priority entry, and a tour that only a select few were privileged to attend.
Despite being a long day with our arrival back at Robert Blackwood Hall at around 5pm, it was an unforgettable experience. Huge thank you to Aviva Mulloy and the SOC students who made the day a wonderful experience.
Steve Kuruc
Learning Specialist: STEM
GTAC and Renew Stem Cell Medicine Excursion
On Friday 10th March, Mrs Vrettos and some of her keen biology students attended the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC) which is Victoria’s leading source of Life Sciences learning and education.
GTAC provides an innovative and collaborative educational environment in which Victorian students and educators access life science expertise through engagement with practising scientists. Upon arrival, we were given a mini-lecture and introduction to the truth about Stem Cell research and its applications. Scientists spoke of their journey, and experiences and shared their successes. Students were greeted with some light refreshments before meeting up with scientists in an up close and personal Q&A session.
This was then followed by 5 interactive experiences inside a classroom/laboratory setting whereby students participated in some genetic activities to gain further understanding and depth in alignment with their curriculum studies.
Steve Kuruc
Learning Specialist: STEM
Celebrating Greek Independence Day!
March 25 has a special meaning to Greeks around the world as it is a double celebration of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) and Greek Independence Day. To mark the occasion, we take a look back at the history of this significant day.
The Annunciation of the Theotokos (Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου)
On March 25 every year, the religious event of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is celebrated. The day celebrates the moment when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Panagia and told her she would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God.
On this day, anyone with the name Evan or Evangelia celebrates their name day.
Greek Independence Day (Η Μέρα της Ανεξαρτησίας)
The Empire of Byzantium ended in 1453 when its capital, Constantinople (now called Istanbul), fell to the Ottomans. Since then, Greece was under Turkish rule and for the next 400 years, deprived of their human rights.
Over the years, many attempts were made by the Greeks to gain their freedom, but they were unsuccessful. From the 18th century, Greeks living or studying abroad got more organised and dreamt of the liberation of the Greek people and the creation of the New Hellenic State.
Finally, after 400 years under Turkish rule, on March 25, 1821, Bishop Paleon Patron Germanos raised the flag of the Greek Revolution at the Monastery of Agia Lavra.
From that moment on until 1830, Greeks all over Greece started to fight for their freedom and were able to finally free themselves from their conqueror.
March 25 is an official public holiday in Greece and Cyprus.
South Oakleigh College and the students studying the Greek language marched in the parelasi honouring their ancestors with pride and maturity, who with their struggle and sacrifice freed the Greek nation from centuries of slavery.
Additional to our school community’s celebrations for March 25, South Oakleigh students further showed their love and passion for the Greek culture by dancing Greek traditional dances on Harmony Day. We congratulate these students for exhibiting exemplary spirit and showcasing their impressive Greek dancing skills.
A huge thank you to Mrs Vrettos for planning the day - students had a memorable experience that connected their coursework to the real world.
Dimitra Maniatis
LOTE: Greek Head of Learning
An Evening with the Beatles
On the 24th of February, the Music Department hosted “An Evening with the Beatles”, which was a huge success. The evening featured many of South Oakleigh’s talented musicians, loads of classic Beatles tunes, and a conversational interview with special guest and childhood friend of John Lennon’s, Michael Hill.
Michael was very gracious with his time and entertained us all with his stories of Lennon’s antics through primary and secondary school. Michael Hill offered captivating insight into his early life, how it may have affected the path and most notably, the music that The Beatles went on to create. This was a very interesting and valuable experience, particularly for our music students, who got to play many of these famous songs with a more personal appreciation for the artistry. We’d like to thank Michael Hill again for his time, anecdotes and for the copies of his book “John Lennon: The Boy Who Became a Legend”.
In honour of our guest Michael Hill, the music department assembled a range of Beatles songs played by different ensembles. Led by the VCE music class on the night, The James Dumic experience, Classical ensemble and Choir all got involved! Hits like Imagine, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, and Twist & Shout were played. Playing songs and listening to our peers playing was a genuinely great experience. Our joy and passion for music radiated into the audience and Michael, who was also having a really good time. After a fantastic night of performances, we finished the show with every music student playing All You Need Is Love. It was a truly fantastic experience, and we'd love to thank Michael Hill again and the music department for putting the show together.
Griffin Morgan
Your Performing Arts Prefect
Genna Windsor
Your Student Representative Council President
Melbourne University Girls Programming Experience
On the twenty-fifth of Saturday, I went to Melbourne University for the girl’s programming network opportunity. The girl's programming network was challenging. First of all, there was an orientation. In that, the staff (who were volunteers) introduced themselves to the girls. After that, we were assigned rooms to code in.
The topic was to create a game of tic-tac-toe in coding, which was more challenging than I thought! We had to think if all the possibilities of where the Xs or O’s could go after going in on the first move. After what had seemed like three hours of challenging codes on a computer screen, we finally had lunch. For lunch, there was refreshments, pizza, fruit, chocolate and more! After an hour of exploring the university everyone was called back to code more! But before we went back to coding in front of a computer, we played a game in the orientation room about tic-tac-toe. After that, we went back to try and understand more Python code. After two more hours of mentors teaching us lessons, it was finally time to come back home. Overall it was a fun experience and I felt like I had a better understanding of Python code and the computer.
Deeva Makwana
Year 7 Student
Recycle your batteries at SOC
SOC has joined the Batteries 4 Planet Ark recycling program. All members of our SOC community are invited to recycle their batteries – a Planet Ark recycling box is available outside reception.
In 2019, Australians purchased enough AA-equivalent batteries to stretch around the earth 2.3 times. By 2050, battery sales are expected to rise so much that this will increase to 36 times.
Batteries are made up of both valuable and hazardous materials. More than 95% of the materials in batteries can be recycled. Recycling your batteries will ensure these materials are used again, often to make new batteries.
All batteries pose a potential hazard, containing harmful substances including mercury, cadmium, and lead. These chemicals can be dangerous if they are mixed with other types of waste in garbage or recycling bins. When batteries are sent to landfill the toxic chemicals inside them can leak into the soil and waterways, threatening wildlife and human health. (Parent Ark)
Please recycle your batteries in the Planet Ark recycling box outside reception.
Alison Jones
Sustainability Club Facilitator
Riding on bike lanes, paths and footpaths
Footpaths and shared paths:
- On a footpath or shared path, you must:
- Give way to pedestrians
- Keep left unless it is impractical to do so
- Slow down and ring your bell when overtaking.
- Children under 13 can ride on footpaths. Medical exemptions may apply.
- Bicycle riders aged 13 years or older can only ride on footpaths if they’re accompanying and supervising a child under 13.
- Bicycle riders aged 18 years or older can ride on the footpath if they have a child in a child bike seat, or pedalling on a hitch bike.
- A rider 18 years or older may ride on a footpath with a rider 13 years or older if the younger rider has a medical or other exemption allowing them to ride on the footpath.
- You can’t ride on a footpath where signs or road markings indicate it’s not allowed (shared bike paths can be identified by a painted bike or pedestrian on a sign or the path).
For more information on Bike Safety please visit the following link:
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/cyclist-safety/bike-rider-safety
VCE-VM Work-Related Skills
The inaugural VCE-VM class have been working hard in Work Related Skills (WRS).
For Outcome 1, the students researched several potential future career paths for themselves. They compared the advantages and disadvantages of each, including current workforce shortages and future demand; as well as investigating the various pathways available, leading to certain industries and occupations.
For Outcome 2, the students are compiling a personal career portfolio. They have begun by thinking back to their career aspirations in Year 7 and considering what has changed since then. The students have begun to re-analyse their own interests, skills and work values as well as the benefits they can gain from doing volunteer work. Over the last week, students have been interviewing a range of people in different stages of their careers to glean advice they can apply to their own career journey. We have had several guest speakers, including Mr Orologas, Mr Prewett, Ashleigh Speedie from Teachers Health and Michelle from South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter. By far the favourite guest of the students, however, was an Indian Ringneck who flew right into our classroom one day and befriended Stephanos (pictured)!
Jacinta Marlborough
WRS Teacher
Music Department Report
We’ve had an exciting few weeks since our ‘Evening with the Beatles’ event, with a wonderful lunchtime concert in the downstairs foyer for Harmony Week, and performances from four of our ensembles at Open Night. The Chamber Ensemble, the Choir, the Concert Band and the VCE Music Performance Ensemble presented entertainment in the foyer as well as open rehearsals as families enjoyed their tours throughout the Performing Arts department.
We’re now looking forward to Term Two which will include performances from our students at Hamer Hall as part of the NEVR Region concert, as well as student performances at the Oakleigh South Primary School Fete and our inaugural South Oakleigh College Performing Arts Carnival.
Aiden Prewett
Director of Music
Year 11 Legal Studies – Criminal Law
The Year 11 VCE Legal Studies class has been busy learning about the Victorian Criminal Justice System, for Unit 1 Area of Study 2.
For SAC 2A, the students are required to search for articles in the media about current Victorian criminal cases and use their chosen cases to explain the legal concepts learnt in class. Thank you to Miss Nancy in the Library for collecting up daily copies of the Herald Sun and to an anonymous benefactor for collecting up editions of The Age. We had lots of fun searching through the newspapers, discussing the articles and analysing how the media portrays crime and the legal system.
For SAC 2B, the students vote for two criminal offences they learn about. They then receive a “barrister’s brief” about a hypothetical case study, which they analyse in relation to the relevant legal principles. The analysis began with acting out the scenario, complete with a chalk outline drawn on the ground outside the canteen. Will the prosecution be able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused, Adam Apple, is guilty of kidnapping and murdering the victim, Vera Vaucluse? Over to you, Legal Eagles…
Jacinta Marlborough
Legal Studies Teacher
Amazon Website Visit: Carly Fitzpatrick
On the 7th of March, we had an incursion for DMA where an experienced lady from amazon web visited us and her name is Carly Fitzpatrick, and she is an Experienced IT Sales Professional with a history of success in Account Management & New Business Development across multiple industries.
She visited us and introduced us to topics like the Amazon web and cloud platform and the benefits all of this has for students who are thinking to go engineering in future.
What Carly talked about: After giving a brief introduction about herself Carly went to the main topics which were about Amazon web and cloud platforms.
Carly mostly talked about the Amazon web and how everything works: Amazon web service is an online platform that provides scalable and cost-effective cloud computing solutions. AWS is a broadly adopted cloud platform that offers several on-demand operations like compute power, database storage, content delivery, etc., to help corporates scale and grow. Also, the meaning of amazon web which is: AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a comprehensive, evolving cloud computing platform provided by Amazon that includes a mixture of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and packaged-software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings.
After we talked about amazon web, we moved on to cloud platforms and how it works: There are also three main types of cloud computing services: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platforms-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Choosing a cloud type or cloud service is a unique decision. uses remote servers to save data, such as files, business data, videos, or images. Users upload data to servers via an internet connection, where it is saved on a virtual machine on a physical server. Also, the meaning of cloud platforms: A cloud platform refers to the operating system and hardware of a server in an Internet-based data centre.
It allows software and hardware products to co-exist remotely and at scale.
What we liked altogether about the incursion
We got to learn more about the Amazon web and cloud platforms, we also got to know more new information that we were not aware of. Eventually got to know more, having an AWS account, educators can encourage students to learn in a real, live environment, without potential damage to any systems. Students will also be able to learn from wherever they are, which is increasingly helpful as remote-learning environments flourish. AWS can be used to drive educational apps.
We look forward to finishing our app projects:
Nivedita Agnihotri and Shiela May Inductivo