Teaching & Learning
End of Term 3:
Teaching and Learning
All year 7s recently engaged with a 2-day 'Design Thinking' Sprint at Monash Tech School called SUPERPSACE.
In this program, students were divided into groups and follow mission briefs that mirror operations in space exploration industries.
Students have outcomes to achieve, budgets to manage and targets to reach. They follow the Design Thinking process and simultaneously learn how to use various high-tech tools.
Students work on designing and creating a 'new age' space suit that is light years ahead of what Neil Armstrong wore when he touched base on the moon over 50 years ago.
Over their 2 days, students learnt how to work together collaboratively, share ideas and leverage collective efficacy to support team success whilst having a blast.
South Oakleigh College teachers also use Design Thinking as a pedagogical tool in our classrooms to equip our students with this industry-based approach. Students are focused on solving a 'messy' question. They define the issue, brainstorm their desires, ideate potential pathways and prototype a solution.
Have a wonderful break everyone.
Steve Kuruc
Learning Specialist STEM | OEP
Celebrating Our Students' Success in Recent Exams and Competitions
It’s been a whirlwind of exams and competitions lately, with our students taking on the challenges of the ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) and the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC). We are thrilled to report that their hard work and dedication have truly paid off!
The ICAS and AMC are renowned for their rigorous standards and the level of competition they attract. Our students approached these challenges with remarkable enthusiasm and perseverance, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements.
ICAS
To all our students who participated in these esteemed exams and competitions, you should be incredibly proud of your efforts. The commitment you’ve shown in preparing and sitting these assessments is commendable. Your hard work has truly shone through, and we celebrate every one of you for your determination and academic spirit.
ICAS Exams Special Recognition
We would like to extend a special congratulations to the following students who have excelled and achieved outstanding results in the ICAS Exams.
English:
Distinction: Matthew Alvarez, Mars Cruickshank, Adele Evans, Atharv Hiremath, Harshul Moon, Serena Shi and Fern Doyle.
Credit: Aditya Uday, Idhaant Arya, Sujal Brar, Zac Schuant, Panav Singla, Arjun Soni, Damian Brad, Jacob Gili, Tamsyn Higgins, River La, Oliver Pathinayake, Edward Whitehead and Jamie Yin.
Merit: Evan Evripidou, Michelle Tran, Madeleine Carlton, Dhruvi Chakraborty, Ishaan Jayaprakash, Deeva Makwana and Arrsh Patel.
Mathematics:
High Distinction: Oliver Pathinayake,
Distinction: Aditya Uday, Aryan Khanna, Aarav Khanna, Andrew Macrae, Maxim Mandel, Harshul Moon and Jamie Yin.
Credit: Idhaant Arya, Marcus Barrett, Sujal Brar, Ayman Chutoo, Rafael Coleman, Evan Evripidou, Atharv Hiremath, Revan Patel, Panav Premnath, Leo Rivas Turner, Panav Singla, Arjun Soni, Hongyan Sun, Aathithya Tharmarajah, Damian Brad, Dhruvi Chakraborty, Zara Chodnacar, Hazel Doyle, River La, Deeva Makwana, Arrsh Patel, Edward Whitehead, Jonathan Blyth, Fern Doyle, Pranshu Mistry, Hector Rivas Turner and Charles Trinh.
Merit: Michelle Tran, Eli Ongarezos, Ryder Rutledge, Jacob Ord, Serena Shi and Alvin Chung.
Science:
Distinction: Mars Cruickshank, Zachary Tyapkin, Hazel Doyle, Jacob Gili, Oliver Pathinayake and Edward Whitehead.
Credit: Idhaant Arya, Sujal Brar, Ayman Chutoo, Rafael Coleman, Adele Evans, Atharv Hiremath, Aarav Khanna, Aryan Khanna, Panav Singla, Arjun Soni, Aathithya Tharmarajah, Damian Brad, Chruvi Chakraborty, River La, Andrew Macrae, Owen Maisey, Harshul Moon, Aiden Robey, Serena Shi, Jamie Yin, Fern Doyle, Kallum Morris and Sher Sidhu,
Merit: Eli Ongarezos, Revan Patel, Carson Xiu, Zara Chodnacar and Arrsh Patel.
Digital Technologies
Distinction: Ahmad Faraday.
Credit: Ayman Chutoo, Millie Mitchell.
Merit: Aditya Arora.
Writing results will be released in Term 4.
Australian Mathematics Competition
We are excited to offer our heartfelt congratulations to the students who have excelled and achieved remarkable results in the Australian Mathematics Competition.
Australian Mathematics Competition Special Recognition
High Distinction: Oliver Pathinayake, Sun Wung Lee.
Distinction: River La, Dhruvi Chakraborty, Pranav Premnath, Peter Ziannas , Darsh Pujari, Atharv Hiremath, Panav Singla, Aryan Khanna, Hongyan Sun, Revan Patel.
Credit: Leo Rivas Turner, Vrisha Thakor, Chisa Kawasaki, Sonesa Sokhorng Ung, Arjun Soni, Aditya Arora, Aarav Khanna, Aarav Chaudhary, Ishaan Jayaprakash, Jacob Gili, Arrsh Patel, Ishaan Priyadarsi, Daniel Smylianis, Kathir Elango Srilatha, Anusha Kesarwani.
Your exceptional performance in these challenging competitions highlights your academic prowess and dedication. It’s a testament to your hard work, and we are excited to see where your talents will take you next.
A Big Thank You
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our teachers and parents who have supported and encouraged our students throughout their preparation. Your guidance and support have been instrumental in helping them achieve these remarkable results.
Once again, congratulations to all our students! Let’s continue to strive for excellence and celebrate our achievements as we move forward.
Amanda Tate
English and Humanities
South Oakleigh College Debating Update - A Season to Remember
The Senior division of South Oakleigh College's debating team has had an outstanding season, remaining undefeated throughout their round except for a nail-biting final round. This season has been marked by remarkable achievements, with one of our speakers breaking the record for the highest score in the division—a testament to the incredible dedication and growth of our debaters. The team has worked hard to hone their skills, and this has truly been one of the best seasons for our school, showcasing our commitment to excellence in debating. This allows South Oakleigh College to boast of having one of the finest teams in the state.
Adding to the excitement, the annual Staff vs Students debate took place on 5th September, drawing a crowd of students, staff, and visitors. The topic at hand was the use of AI in the classroom, a highly relevant and thought-provoking issue. In a tightly contested debate, the teachers emerged victorious against the students, though both sides put forth compelling arguments. The debate not only provided an engaging discussion but also highlighted the strength and critical thinking skills of both our students and staff.
Meanwhile, our Year 8 Junior team has embarked on the Junior School's Programme, held at McKinnon High. This initiative allows our junior debaters to sharpen their skills by competing against some of the private and independent schools in the area. We are thrilled to announce that our team won their first round and successfully won the second round as well. This puts us as one of the only undefeated teams in the area and at the top of the ladder.
Additionally, we are proud to announce the establishment of debating shields for 'Debater of the Year.' These shields now proudly display the names of winners of the award from 2018 until the present day, celebrating the dedication, skill, and passion of our debaters. This new tradition aims to inspire future generations of students to strive for excellence in debating and public speaking.
Congratulations to all our debaters for their hard work and achievements this season. We look forward to seeing continued success in the rounds to come!
Nicholas Morlin
Debating Facilitator
Students’ Parliamentary Convention 2024
Over two days, on 13 and 14 August 2024, South Oakleigh College participated in the VSPP Online Secondary Schools Parliamentary Convention, our delegation comprising four students who have demonstrated an interest in legal studies and debating: Sonesa Ung, Aryan Bhasin, Elvin Joseph-Joby and Pranshu Mistry.
The Victorian Students’ Parliamentary Program (VSPP) aims to provide opportunities to support the civic learning and active participation in democratic processes of all Victorian students through local, state and national parliamentary programs and in-school activities. The VSPP is funded by the Victorian Department of Education (DE) and coordinated by the National Curriculum Services (NCS). The VSPP consists of a range of events, including this Students’ Parliamentary Convention. Students learn through participation in informed, parliamentary style debates on a range of topics affecting Australia's democracy. The topic of this Convention was “Should technological advancements, such as AI, be incorporated into the classroom?”
Schools from all sectors can opt-into the program. The other schools our students got to discuss and debate with included Girton Grammar, Suzanne Cory High, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Doncaster Secondary, Viewbank, Werribee Secondary, East Loddon, Upwey Secondary and Surf Coast Secondary Colleges.
Here is what our delegates had to say about the experience:
“It was a great experience to be a part of, I enjoyed speaking to new people and learning from others. It was captivating to hear opinions of the same topic in different perspectives and really enhanced my view on things.” (Sonesa, Year 10).
“The Parliamentary Convention was a great opportunity to be a part of because it was amazing to hear the people from other schools from around Victoria's opinions and concerns with something that will be a major thing in our future lives.” (Aryan, Year 9)
“The convention was an amazing opportunity for me and it was really intriguing to learn about different people’s perspectives on AI. It was great to discuss about AI which will affect our future a lot. Overall it was a really fun and engaging task.” (Pranshu, Year 9)
“The convention was an epic opportunity for me as I was able to really learn more and have a deep dive into Parliamentary Debating. I was an amazing event which allowed us to connect with different people around Melbourne and really have a taste of the actual task. I personally enjoyed it and hope I get to do it again.” (Elvin, Year 9)
Students interested in participating in future Parliamentary Conventions (either online or in person), should contact me via Teams chat or email.
Jacinta Marlborough
Legal Studies Teacher
Cafe Catering
Year 10 Café Catering students recently took on an exciting challenge in their Food Truck Assessment Task. As part of this engaging project, students applied design thinking to develop their own unique food truck concept. This involved not only creating a visually appealing truck design but also carefully considering a target audience, a creative menu, and the overall experience they wanted to offer customers.
Students were tasked with preparing a signature dish that they would hypothetically sell from their food truck, showcasing their cooking skills and imagination. Throughout the task, they navigated various design constraints, such as budget, time and equipment limitations, while keeping their evaluation for success criteria in mind. The project allowed students to combine practical culinary skills with creative and critical thinking. It was a fun, hands-on learning experience that gave students a glimpse into the world of food offerings from a food truck.
Noor Jenkins
Food Technology
Year 7 Japanese -Puzzle Activity
Students in the Year 7 Japanese Advanced class were joined by two international students earlier this Term. As part of their show of gratitude towards our school, they gifted the Advanced Japanese class a Totoro-themed puzzle set. In Week 9, Ms Chen and the students finally had the chance to collaborate with each other to solve the puzzle during class time once they were finished with their assessment tasks. While, as pictured, they didn’t manage to solve the puzzle, they certainly enjoyed the opportunity to unwind after another busy term of studies.
Year 8 Japanese -Cities of Japan
Students in the Year 8 Japanese Beginners and Intermediate classes have been learning about Japanese cities for Term 3. For their CAT, they were tasked with scripting and recording a podcast outlining the results of their research, discussing key landmarks and a possible travel itinerary for their assigned city. Some students, like those pictured from the Beginners class, used the professional-grade equipment in the TV Studio to record their scripts.
Bonnie Tynan
Japanese Head of Learning
International Students Term 3 Review
International Student Lunch
We drew Term 3 to a close with our International Student Lunch on Monday the 16 of September to celebrate the end of term, as well as the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Chinese tradition, this is also known as the ‘Moon Festival’ where the full moon symbolises family reunion and people celebrate by eating moon cakes and admiring the moon when it is at its fullest. Many countries celebrate their own variations of the Mid-Autumn Festival, including South Korea’s Chuseok, Japan’s Tsukimi and Vietnam’s Tet Trung Thu.
We celebrated with mooncakes and many foods prepared by our international students and their peers. Our current international students are from China, India, Korea, Chile, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, which made for a very diverse range of foods including dumplings, gulab jamun, and some dishes that were entirely student made:
Jenny in Year 8 organised a very efficient production line for gimbap-making. Gimbap is a Korean dish made of cooked rice and fillings wrapped in seaweed, which looks like sushi, but has a very different flavour profile.
Samadhi in Year 8, one of our new students this term, organised the making of a Sri Lankan coconut milk rice that is topped with chilli, onion and lemon.
Sovan in Year 10 coordinated the making of Nom Plae Ai, a Cambodian sweet dumpling made out of glutinous rice flour, palm jaggery and coconut.
Students of all different year levels and cultures came together and ate each other’s cooking and discussed their plans for the holidays ahead.
Year 12 International Students
We wish our Year 12 international students, Kamila and Minh, the best of luck for their upcoming VCE exams!
Sara Crespo - Liu
International Student Co Ordinator
National Gallery Victoria Field Trip
On 20th August, the year 11 Ancient History class went to see the Pharaoh exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.
We attended an educational lecture where we examined how historical objects can be used to explore life in ancient Egypt. We then were given a tour of the museum, observing a range of exhibitions that explored various themes, including the land of the pharaohs, the gods, the royal family, and their eternal afterlife.
Students were very enthusiastic to view the historical artifacts that link to what they have studied in class. This was a truly inspirational experience, and we encourage anyone else to experience the exhibit before it closes.
Adam Platenkamp
Head of Humanities
Mobile phone recycling at South Oakleigh
Many of us have discarded phones sitting in our drawers at home. Instead of your old phone taking up space you can bring it to school to recycle and help the environment at the same time!
SOC is part of the mobilemuster program and a collection point for mobile phones.
Why recycling mobile phones matters
Mobile phones are made from many materials, including precious metals.
If you recycle your phone there is less need for mining these metals.
The critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla has lost 77 percent of its population in the last 20 years, due to degradation of its habitat, because of mining the minerals used to make mobile phones.
Recycling also saves energy. If phones are manufactured using recycled materials the energy required to extract and process these materials is saved.
What happens when I recycle my phone?
Through recycling MobileMuster transforms the components from mobile phone waste into valuable materials for reuse. It means that fewer raw materials need to be extracted and processed to make new products. By recycling your mobile phone today, you will be helping reduce the impact on the environment tomorrow.
Where do I recycle my phone?
You can put your unused mobile phone/s into a recycling box in the library. They will be sent to Mobile muster and the components extracted and reused. Some of the components will be made into new mobile phones.
Remember you should wipe your data before recycling by goingonto one of these websites:
iPhone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6tppaNiEHY
Android: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RGoncGMFDM
THE GREEN TEAM - Sustainability.
Battery recycling is back at SOC
All members of our SOC community are invited to recycle their batteries – a ‘Close the Loop’ recycling box has been placed outside reception.
Batteries are made of both valuable and hazardous materials. More than 95% of the materials in batteries can be recycled which ensures these materials are used again - often to make new batteries.
All batteries pose a potential hazard. They contain 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, and can cause fires. When batteries are sent to landfill the toxic chemicals inside them can leak into the soil and waterways, threatening wildlife and human health.
Please recycle your batteries in the Close the Loop recycling box outside reception.
Alison Jones.
Sustainability Co-ordinator: The Green Team
Premiers’ Reading Challenge 2024
Another successful Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge at South Oakleigh College has come to an end.
Congratulations to all students who participated and completed the challenge. What an achievement!!
Our students showed dedication, persistence and enthusiasm on an incredible journey, delving into books from fiction to non-fiction and manga to biographies. Hundreds of books were read, registered and logged. 10 books from the Premier’s booklist and 5 personal choices. The only thing our avid readers and not so avid readers found challenging was the large range of books available to choose from. So many great books, so little time!!
Keep reading as we know the benefits extend far beyond the challenge itself and always aim to foster a lifelong love of books!!
Nancy Bastakos
Library Manager