We would like to acknowledge and honour the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which our school stands. We pay our respects to all First Nations elders, past present, and emerging.

Seniors Inquiry

We are happy to say that Term 4 started at full steam! Our Senior School students are already well into the planning stage of their Social Design Inquiry projects, which is one of the numerous benefits to our approach to Inquiry. As our Inquiries stretch to their logical end, rather than the term holiday breaks, we are able to guide the students’ focus, engagement and energies into deep learning from week 1.

Throughout last week and this upcoming week, Senior School students have been making presentations to School Leadership in order to have their project applications approved. We have received numerous letters with highly persuasive language and heard from passionate groups of students who are taking action within and around the school to make a positive change… wow - what a tremendous group of humans we have here!

Most of the student groups have identified that they require funds for their projects - often planning a fundraising activity to find these funds. We understand that parents and carers would rather we not hold a bake sale every week (don’t worry, we don’t want that either!) and so we are providing that information to the student groups, encouraging them to consider their strengths and how they might find alternative ways to raise funds. Over the coming weeks, the young people in or connected to your family may still ask for your assistance with fundraising efforts and appreciate anything that families are able to contribute.

We will be including some particularly persuasive letters and presentations in next week's newsletter.

Calling for Parent/Carer Helpers for Camp

We are looking for four parent/carer volunteers who are interested in attending one of our camps this term. We have two camps running this term: 5/6 Camp Jungai 1st - 3rd November and 3/4 Camp Rumbug 29 November - 01 December; both camps need two parent/carer volunteers.

Volunteers do not need to have children in the cohort - in fact, to maintain our philosophy of building independence, preference will be given to parents or carers from outside the cohort.

Volunteers will need to have a current Working With Children Check and be willing to follow the school’s Code of Conduct throughout the camp.

This is an excellent opportunity for anyone in education, interested in childhood development or anyone who loves some outdoor adventure! If you are interested in volunteering on one of the camps, please let us know by clicking this link.

Information about our two camps went out on Sentral last Friday and the activity will be up on Sentral for payment and permission this week.

Class Formation - Parent/Carer Input

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we are already well into planning for next year. We are looking at grade structures and have asked your children about their friendships and learning partners. Our approach to transition has evolved over the years to help our students see and utilise the strengths, strategies and dispositions they have to manage the unknowns of each new year as well as enhancing our handover process from current to future teachers.

Part of our class formation process is inviting parents and carers to provide relevant information that will help us create a positive learning experience for your child, which you can do here. If you are planning to share additional information about your child, please remember the complexity of finding the right class for our 400 students and share only essential information. Providing information about your child does not make any guarantees.

Foundie Info Night

This Thursday night is our 2024 Foundie Information Evening - a presentation on how parents, carers and incoming Foundie students can be prepared for our transition sessions in November and for the start of our school year next year.

This meeting will be online 6:30pm - 7pm. A link was sent out by Catherine Beswick (our Foundation Team Leader) please contact the school if you do not yet have the link and need it. The session will be recorded for any families unable to make that time.

Sprout

Kris Bidenko