Principal's Report 

End of Term 3 Report

As we commence our term 3 break I would like to begin by thanking Mr Mark Picone who acted in my position whilst I was on leave, Mr George Tzimourtas and Mr Travis Knox who stood in as Acting Assistant Principals. 

I would also like to congratulate all students for their fantastic participation and involvement in many of the College programs and activities that occurred over the course of the term and acknowledge the outstanding work of all staff in delivering these opportunities for our students and families across term 3. Our programs are designed to provide opportunities for students to excel in their academic studies, and extend themselves through engagement with our co-curricular program. As you read through this newsletter, I hope that you are able to share in the wonderful achievements of our school community and see how your child has been and can be involved in all that our College has to offer.  

Whilst the majority of students will be heading into a relaxing holiday period, our VCE Unit 4 students, will be involved in our revision lecture series and working through practice examinations. Staying engaged through participating in these activities will ensure that they are ready to be at their personal best for the end-of-year examinations in October/November. I am confident that our students will make the most of the opportunities provided for them to fully prepare themselves for the final weeks of their schooling at South Oakleigh College.

Thank you to all students and staff who contributed to another successful College production - Seussical.   There was a real sense of excitement and anticipation as our students presented Seussical as this year's College production.  The Musical was presented over two nights - with matinee performances also held for our local primary school students – many of whom came again for the evening performances, together with great support from our local community. A great performance from all involved.  

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the cast and crew who did such a professional and entertaining performance with the production. We particularly acknowledge Ms. Kerryn Hornel and Mr. Adam Platenkamp as Co-Directors. We also thank Ms. Sara Neep – Vocals Director and Mr. Aidan Prewett Musical Director. 

Seussical was followed by another outstanding performance from our students in the Spring Concert as well as SOC’s Got Talent where yet again we saw a great level of participation from our young and talented students cheered on by enthusiastic support from an engaged audience. The diversity of performances was yet again a testament to the talent that many of our students display.  

Congratulations to all and a special thank you to the backstage crew and all other staff who supported both shows.  A great sense of community and pride in our College.

Debating

Over the years South Oakleigh College has taken great pride in cultivating a dynamic debating culture. 

And 2024 is no exception as weekly debating activities form a vital component of our academic odyssey, providing every student with a stage to sharpen their public speaking and critical thinking abilities. While our senior interschool competition may not have yielded any triumphs, it undeniably served as a rich source of experience and enlightenment, equipping our students with priceless knowledge and insights. 

Concurrently, our junior interschool teams are flourishing, consistently securing victories and dedicatedly refining their skills, setting the stage for them to become adept debaters. The future of debating at South Oakleigh College holds great promise, characterised by unceasing growth and achievement. 

Congratulations and thank you to all our debating students and Mr Nicholas Morlin who is supporting our students once again showcase their public speaking skills.

Attendance – Being on Time

The school is strengthening our focus on attendance and punctuality, and all members of our community play a role in supporting students to be on time to school every day. Research shows that high attendance is one of the most crucial factors in ensuring student success. As well as attending school every day, it is critical we teach students to be on time for all their classes.

Being on time matters because:

• It ensures students are prepared for learning and sets them up for success. 
• When students are late it disrupts their learning, the teacher’s teaching and the learning of others. Being on time shows students have respect for other people and that they care about other people’s time as much as their own 
• It demonstrates that students are diligent and dependable and care about their learning
• It indicates that students honour their commitments and can be trusted
• It sets a good example to others 
• It prepares students for success in the real world 

Being late just 10 minutes a day adds up to over 17 days of learning across 13 years of school! 

Missing one school a week adds up to over two and a half years of learning across a student’s schooling life.

Our attendance target is 90% for every student every day. Students and families to find out attendance percentages, talk to your Level Leader and Director of students. Are you above 90%?

If families need support regarding attendance, please reach out to the relevant Level Leader and Director of students for a meeting, so we can discuss the supports that can be put in place to strengthen attendance and punctuality.

Welcome to our newest members of the College – the class of 2029. On Tuesday 12 September, we welcomed our Year 7 2024 parents to an information evening with what we hope is the start of very positive interactions with our community.

Helen Koziaris

College Principal