Assistant Principals' Update

Wellbeing and Engagement 

The final weeks of Term 3 have been filled with a number of memorable events.  At our Father’s Day Breakfast, our girls spoke about their wonderful fathers who are kind, caring, positive, energetic, and funny and who are always present for their daughters.  Our guest speaker, Mr Matt Tyler, Executive Director of the Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Services inspired us to challenge social constructions, to strive for equality and to adopt the influencer-influencer approach to gender diversity. 

Mr Bill Fitzsimons reflected on his experiences of fatherhood and highlighted for us that fathers tell ‘Dad jokes’ to connect with their children and to demonstrate to them that they matter and are loved.

Congratulations to the following students for their wonderful contributions to our Father’s Day Breakfast:

• Emma Chamberlain (Year 12) – who provided thoughtful and considered reflections on the gift of fathers and in particular on the support and guidance her father, provides her with.
• Josie Rees (Year 11), Jasmine Winter (Year 12) and Ruby Ady (Year 11) – for a moving rendition of the song ‘Hallelujah.’
• Sienna Koop, Olivia Davies, Rachel Jones, Ande Campos, Ava Busuttil, Mia Wilson, Caitlin Gellie for a fantastic performance of the Bruno Mars hit ‘Count on me!’
• Naomi Russo and Ella Allen who were brilliant hosts of this significant school event.

I was reading some material recently from parenting expert, Madonna King.  She is one of Australia’s most accomplished and award winning journalists and is the author of many books including 'Being 14' and 'Fathers and Daughters'.  She wrote about her research where she interviewed 1300 girls aged 10 – 17 years old, 400 fathers, 60 mothers and dozens of school principals, psychologists, researchers and parenting experts.  She provided her top 10 tips for fathers and daughters.

Top 10 Tips for Fathers and Daughters – Madonna King

I was in Adelaide, giving a talk on my book, Being 14, and as I was leaving a father chased me to my car, asking me how he could reconnect with his daughter and step-daughter. I hadn’t researched that, and didn’t know. That night, I decided I’d start a project that took six days a week, for a year. What makes the father-daughter relationship so magic, but fragile, and what can fathers – and daughters – do, to secure it?

These are my top 10 tips. The research, interviews and rationale are in Fathers and Daughters.

1. Love her unconditionally. She does not necessarily know that you do. You need to tell her.
2. Value her opinion. You can build her self-confidence, or crush it. As one school leader told me, fathers can be a QC in the courtroom, but should always be a father in the lounge room. How you deal with her giving her opinion will determine whether she continues to trust you with what she is thinking. Remember also that your views might have been built up over years, maybe even decades. Your daughter’s view might only be three hours old.
3. You have a responsibility to be there. Do not – despite any encouragement – take a step back. Even if she becomes prickly in puberty, stay close.
4. Pick a project to do together so that you can build memories together. This might be a sport, or park run, a love of ACDC music or a charity project. She will probably not ask to do it, so you should take the first step.
5. Do not fix her problems; that is not your job. However, listen to her. While you are doing that, also teach her to change a car tyre and a light bulb! Moreover, give her time. Too many girls said all they wanted from their dad was more time, and for him to ‘really be there’ when he’s home.
6. Do not parent by gender. She is not weaker than your son is. That means you should be ambitious for her. She does not want to be over-protected and has to learn to judge risks.
7. You are your daughter’s prime role model for men. What she sees, she will later expect in men. This is a huge power. Do not waste it.
8. Take her on weekly or fortnightly dates. It can be as simple as a coffee on the way to school. However, this is important because it allows you to develop a relationship with her, specifically. In addition, when things get tough, you still have that time each week or fortnight to talk and connect.
9. Do not think that you, as a father, offer less than her mother does. Mothers also have to learn, in some instances, to stand back and let fathers be at the front line. Mothers offer things fathers do not offer – but too often fathers underestimate their power in raising a daughter.
10. Talk. Men and women communicate in different ways. Accept that. Recognise that. Moreover, try to find a way through it. It will be worth it.

Promoting and Strengthening Family Connections

• Parent Seminar – “Celebrating Safely” – Sonya Karras

The College is pleased to announce that we have secured the services of Sonya Karras, an author, the creator of Whole New World and a leading youth issues speak.  Each year Sonya presents to tens of thousands of young people, parents, teachers and organisations providing up to date, informative and highly amusing safe partying, drugs and alcohol seminars.  In this presentation, ‘Celebrating Safely,’ Sonya will address the following topics:

• Partying today
• Ways that parents/carers can be involved in making sure their children party safely
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Safe parties at home
• Staying informed and up to date
• Resources for further information

This parent seminar aims to empower parents with a positive message and assist them in having open and honest family discussions in this complex area.  We would like to invite you to attend this event, to be held at the College Auditorium on Tuesday 29 October 2019.  Booking for this event are essential and can be made via the following Try Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=547998&

Uniform Regulations

A reminder that students will move into their summer uniform at the beginning of Term 4.  I ask parents and carers to ensure that the uniform is worn as outlined in the student planner and that particular note is paid to the dress length.  Please be aware that winter uniform items such as the College scarf cannot be worn with the summer uniform.  Students who do not wear the uniform as expected will be asked to address the matter with parental support.  Ensuring that your daughter wears the uniform correctly

Learning and Teaching 

Subjects for 2020 and Booklists

We are in the process of assigning students to classes based on the preferences they have submitted earlier in the term. In some cases, if we are unable to offer the subject or if there is a clash on the timetable, students are allocated one of their reserve subjects.

Booklists will be available to families early in Term 4 and the last date to return the booklist order to school is Friday 29 November 2019.

Students studying VCE English and Literature are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the Early English Text order. Detailed information will be circulated to 2020 VCE students soon, but the last date to place orders online is Sunday 27 October.

Trial Examinations

Year 11 students studying a VCE / VET Unit 3 and 4 subject are required to attend the Trial Examinations during the second week of the school holidays (30 September - 3 October). The results from the trial examinations will be reported to parents early in Term 4.

It is most important that students approach these trial examinations seriously and that they prepare themselves well.  Should your daughter require assistance with how to manage her time leading up to the examinations, please encourage her to speak with her subject teacher, Homeroom Teacher or Level Leader.

Semester 2 Examinations

Years 10 and 11 Examinations commence on Friday 15 November and conclude on Friday 22 November.

Year 9 Examinations commence on Thursday 21 November and conclude on Friday 22 November.

Term 3 Interim Reports

Interim Reports will be available on the Parent Portal on Wednesday 18 September. Parents/ Carers are encouraged to contact the subject teacher in the first instance if there are questions or concerns they wish to discuss.

Headstart 2020

‘Headstart 2020’ for Years 8 to 12 commences on Tuesday 26 November and concludes on Thursday 5 December.

Our aim is to have the whole school begin the 2020 timetable on Tuesday 26 November 2019. There is a lot to get ready in preparation for this to occur but we believe it provides great benefit to our students

We will use the last few weeks of Term 4 to transition students from one year level to the next. It helps to prepare the students for the following year, so that when classes commence in the new year, we can begin our teaching and learning programs in earnest.

The last day of classes for all students in Years 7 to 11 is Friday 6 December.

Carolyn Callaghan

Acting Assistant Principal:

Learning and Teaching