Year Level Leaders Report

Year 8 Leader Report

Year 8’s have worked diligently to complete term 3. We have had a series of successful events, most recently, inter-school sports where we had a number of students represent the college in Basketball, Hockey and Table Tennis. The year 8 boys table tennis won their group and are now through to the next round. Congratulations to all those who represented the college. We have also had a number of students represent the college in the Athletics divisions, which included some records being broken!

Finally, we had our college production, featuring a number of year 8’s both on stage and backstage, with the feedback being excellent about all the students who were involved.

Congratulations to all students this term, well done on your efforts in representing the school in such a dynamic range of activities. Next term we have our end-of-year exams, as well as, a head start for year 9 at the end of next term. The students have had a chance to put in their subject selections for 2024, which they will all find out after the exam period.

Enjoy a restful break, and come back refreshed for your final term of year 8.

Zane Fernandes

Year Level Leader: 8

Year 9&10 Leader Report

Term 3 has been a time of growth and learning for our students in the Middle School and schoolwide. It has been a term full of enrichment and extra-curricular events and activities that have enriched the school experience in general. Students are given ample opportunities to acquire tools for self-management and regulation in the wider school environment and in particular Mentor groups.

Our focus is to always uphold our school values of High Expectations, Respect, Responsibility, Resilience and Teamwork.

Our core school values underpin the mindset of our college and wider school community. Students are reminded to always reflect on their achievements and behaviour as a way forward in maintaining and restoring relationships and achieving personal success.

Some important College Events in Term 3 so far have included:

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
House Athletic Carnival and Interschool Sport
Well Fest Week
Subject Selection Interviews for 2024
Career Pathways and Year-Level Transition
School Concerts
Our School Production “Seussical” with very high participation from our students at all year levels.
Weekly lunch-time Enrichment Clubs
Homework Club
Term Year Level Meetings
Ongoing Wellbeing Support
R U OK Week 10 focuses on Mental Health.
Student Leadership Nominations and Voting.
The YR9 City Experience-Term 4

Welcome to Country

Further focus on Term 3 has been the Acknowledgement and Welcome to Country.

We have come to understand that “Country” is not just a place but a feeling. It holds the stories passed down by Custodians of ancestral domains. These stories continue to be told by traditional Custodians to remind us of the rich Aboriginal Culture which continues to develop our enriched cultural heritage. A deep understanding of our cultural heritage is essential for the maturity of Australia and fundamental to our Australian Identity. (Source-Control Books Productions)

“When we talk about traditional ‘Country’…we mean something beyond the dictionary definition of the word. …we might mean homeland or tribal or clan area and we might mean more than just a place on the map. For us, Country is a word for all the values, places, resources, stories, and cultural obligations associated with that area and its features. It describes the entirety of our ancestral domains. While they may all no longer necessarily be the titleholders to land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are still connected to the Country of their ancestors and most consider themselves the custodians or caretakers of their land.”

‘Being welcomed to Country means that you are talking to your spiritual ancestors and you’re saying just let this person come through. We trust that they’re not going to do any harm to this Country so do not harm them.’ — Jude Barlow, Ngunnawal Elder.

Gratitude Practices

“At times, our sense of self goes “out” and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has come to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” (Albert Schweitzer)

At South Oakleigh College, every “spark rekindled” is an opportunity to build meaningful relationships which in turn supports our enthusiasm for maintaining meaningful learning and achievement.

Wishing all students happiness and success.

Enjoy the Term Break

Phyllis Dimakakos

Year Level Leader: 9