Secondary School News

Assistant Principals Secondary

Flash…there goes the term!

Even though it has been a short term of only nine weeks, it has been a busy time with a number of school events taking place including cultural events, interschool sport, excursions/incursions, class plays, projects and many others. As Assistant Principal, I am fortunate to experience these events with students and families and it always makes me feel proud and grateful to be a member of this school community.

I have observed teachers, students and families come together for student achievement and celebration nights like the Year 8 Project where students were able to present products and demonstrate new skills from the learning process. It was wonderful to hear students reflect on relationships formed with mentors and the insights they gained from being responsible for their own learning in terms of choosing their own topic, managing their time, and preparing and delivering a structured and informative presentation to a large adult audience. Topics, to highlight a few, varied from learning an instrument, creating a zine, building a bike to making cultural clothing items!

Proceeding this, Year 8 mainstream students then undertook the Yalinguth Project which, as highlighted in our last newsletter, was the outcome of receiving a grant from Community Bank Clifton Hill and partnering with StoryScape (Yalinguth Project) so that students could learn from Community Elders about local Indigenous histories through organised workshops and a walking tour of both Carlton and Atherton Gardens. This is the first interdisciplinary MYP unit to be undertaken by our Year 8 foundation Middle Years Programme (MYP) students which provided an opportunity to connect learning across Individuals and Societies (Humanities) and Language and Literature (English) with the understandings they gained from the walking tour. A memorable part of the project was meeting in Charcoal Lane and learning from Uncle Herb who shared his local knowledge of living in the local area.

I would like to thank Pip Chandler from Story Scape (Yalinguth Project) for her vision for the project and partnership, Zoe Dawkins for her creativity in filming the project and Jason Tamiro for truthtelling and knowledge shared during the workshops and walking tour.

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Year 10 - Future Ambitions

Other term events have also included Year 10 Work Experience where students completed two weeks of work placements. These placements form valuable experiences for students in exploring career options, and gaining workplace knowledge. It builds confidence, helps students understand industry realities and ultimately prepares them for future education and employment by allowing them to test career paths and develop practical related skills.

Another important component of the Year 10 course is the Senior Pathway Interview where students present their chosen senior pathway to a panel of teachers and share the reasons behind their decisions. It is also an opportunity to highlight personal and academic achievements and set goals for future learning. This was the first year where students presented using a Portfolio which allowed students to speak to future ambitions and reflect on achievements in each of their subjects throughout the year. This Portfolio is aligned to New Metrics - an assessment method used at the senior Wurun Campus - which focuses on developing and assessing a range of capabilities such as Commitment and Communication. As a panel member, I always feel that I learn a great deal about students from the information they share about themselves. This year, I met avid readers passionate about literature, curious scientists, philosophical thinkers and highly creative and artistic students!

Our first Chinese Cultural Market led by Languages Leader Xiaoming Li and team was a fabulous success with students actively involved in planning and preparing food and entertainment stalls for the community. The student performances also added to the atmosphere. It was wonderful to see our students provide for the community in this way as an extended part of learning and fundraising event. We wish all students attending the China Trip the very best and look forward to hearing all about it.

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International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme

Lastly, I would like to update you on our International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program journey. In 2023, teachers undertook required professional learning for implementing the MYP at Year 7 in 2024 followed by Year 8 this year. Behind the scenes, we are presently planning for Year 9 implementation next year. Teachers have worked hard to plan and deliver a curriculum for students to make conceptual links across subjects with a shared language and framework which also extends to making local and global connections. In Term 4, our college will take the next step as a Candidate MYP school. This will require an IB Consultant visiting the school for two days and spending time with leaders, teachers, and parent and student focus groups in order to discuss the implementation of the program, providing feedback before we submit our application to become an authorised IB MYP school. This is a very exciting time for our teachers and students and I look forward to sharing more information in our next newsletter.

We wish you the very best for a safe and joyful break with family.

Kind regards,

Lori Michael

Acting Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

Rachel Wood

Acting Assistant Principal Secondary

Learning Hub (formerly known as Homework Club!)

I would like to remind secondary families that Learning Hub is and excellent support available to families.

Lori Michael

Acting Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

MYP Visual Communication Design

As part of the MYP Visual Communication Design subject, Year 8 students are currently exploring environmental design. Their statement of inquiry challenges them to redesign a playground space using innovation while understanding how design choices can influence both functionality and the overall experience. They are examining the interconnections between aesthetics, sustainability, ergonomics, and user needs.

This process has involved researching playgrounds from around the world, including our local school playground, which sparked many nostalgic memories. One notable example is a playground in the city, often referred to in the media as Melbourne’s most ‘risky’ playground. Here we are putting it to the test!

After completing their analysis, students were introduced to design thinking processes, site planning, and model making. The work this group is producing is truly impressive and reflects their strong design skills and creative abilities.

Emily Jones

Arts and Technology Learning Area Leader

Message from French!

One of our students was lucky enough to go to France and shared his Parisian adventures with the class. While two of students attended the Alliance Française school holiday program. This runs every school holidays, and I encourage all students to attend one of these at least once. You get to meet students from all over Melbourne.

We have had a fabulous term learning how to talk about pass times and sports. Did you know they play AFL league in France? An Australian teaches footy to French enthusiasts. Here’s a you tube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9cGX_zbSck

In French Club, we have had the privilege of getting to use the kitchens, such a magnificent resource for our school. We cooked crêpes with limited success until the end and practice and we setting a growth mindset to master this important skill, in the last week of classes. Any French program needs to include food, so last term we had a traditional French patisserie, where students used the phrase “je voudrais….s’il vous plaît” and received pain au chocolat or croissant for their efforts.

As we come to holidays, I encourage all students to keep revising and practising their French.

As well as Alliance Francaise School Holiday programs, there are many events for parents, and this is great time to join your kids in their learning journey:

https://www.afmelbourne.com.au/events/

SBS television features many French language movies and tv series, and though not all are appropriate for kids, seeing parents interested in French culture can be source of encouragement and modelling for their succces, vas-y, alors!

Keep in mind, that I am open to supporting you in this journey, so any parents who would like to brush up their High School French, do not hesitate to contact me for Thursday afterschool classes.

Moana Kerr

French Language Teacher

Inter school sport

Sports fans! It’s with delight and excitement that I report on our futsal and Y 7/8 girls soccer teams for term 2. (Basketball happening as I write this – keep an eye out next newsletter).

Did everyone come to the events with great spirit and enthusiasm? Yes! Did everyone play their best? Absolutely! Did we win? A bunch of our games, indeed we did! Special mention to the intermediate boys who played 8 games on the day and won 4 of them – showing fantastic skill and stamina. Did our students represent our school with pride, respect, and tenacity in the face of strong opponents? 100%

While playing sport is fun, important for building our community, and a day with friends away from classes for our students, it’s a big undertaking for teachers and other staff who already manage a heavy load. A giant thank you to superstar coaches Simon Nigrelli and Hugo Robertshawe for taking multiple teams this year, to Tina Marabeliotakis for training and taking the futsal girls, to Silvana Tsipiras for accompanying and supporting almost every team, and Alina Allery for doing a great job helping out beside the field and with the photos whenever she is needed.

Go Collingwood!

Year 7/8 Soccer Girls

Year 7/8 Futsal Boys

Year 7/8 Futsal Girls

Year 9/10 Futsal Boys

Nicola Smith

Careers Teacher and Pathways Practitioner

Head Start Program

Get a Head Start with a School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs)

Did you know that students enrolled in VCE can do an apprenticeship or traineeship and get credit toward their senior studies? It’s a great way to get into a career while completing Year 12. SBATs earn a wage, receive specialised training and complete their schooling all at the same time. The Head Start program is here to help. Speak to Nicola Smith, in the careers office Rm 320 to see if this is for you!

Adam Hutterer

Head Start Program

The Learner Profile

Below are a range of ways that you can promote the Learner Profile attributes at home within the family.

A simple approach is to model and recognise. Enjoy 🙂

The Learner Profile

Inquirers	We nurture our curiosity. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and value a love of life-long learning.	Encourage your child’s interests by visiting places such as the Local/State Library, Museum, NGV… Model being an inquirer: admit when you don’t know the answers to a problem or a question and seek out answers with your child Use the internet as a tool for inquiry and have conversations around reputable sites Discuss the role of inquiry in your personal and professional life
Open-Minded	We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, and those of other people. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.	Encourage your child to try new things - food, games, places, activities… Expose your child to different festivals, celebrations and traditions Encourage your child to listen for understanding Discuss issues and consider opposing points of view and reasons
Thinkers	We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.	Encourage your child to independently think of different solutions to problems Pose different real-life problems/questions to your child Ask your child questions when they are working on a problem: Do you have any ideas about how you will begin? Tell me about your thinking How could you do it differently? What do you notice and wonder?
Caring	We show empathy, compassion and respect. We act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.	Role-model the kind of behaviour you want to see in your child: helping others without being asked, being an active listener, acting in ways to show that you care… Reflect on the actions of characters in texts (prin/audio/film) Were they kind or caring? Recognise this quality in people’s actions
Knowledgeable	We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global decisions.	Encourage your child to make self/text/world connections with what they read/view. Include first language books/films. Ask your child what they are learning at school and engage in conversations about it: Why do you think that is an important thing to know about? Encourage your child to become familiar with current local/national/global events and issues
Principled	We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.	Discuss the importance of honesty/truth Talk about global issues and fairness/social justice Encourage your child to engage in team and independent sports/games Discuss the idea of norms Talk about the importance of effort over winning and being a gracious loser
Balanced	We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives - intellectual, physical and emotional - to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognise our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.	Encourage your child to participate in a wide variety of structured activities as a balance between school and leisure Discuss what you are eating with your child - is it a balanced diet? Emphasise that boredom is okay too - good for us! Put devices away Encourage your child to take timeout and go for a walk, engage with nature or read a book (Brain Breaks)
Communicators	We express ourselves confidently and creatively in different languages. We collaborate effectively, actively listening to the perspectives of other individuals or groups.	Encourage your child to stay in contact with relatives in other parts of Australia or different countries Encourage your child to explain their thinking orally or by drawing a picture Talk about what effective communication can look/sound/feel like Have family dinner-table conversations Play a game that requires a specific communication skill. e.g. Charades
Reflective	We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experiences. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.	Review your child’s report with them; talk about successes and opportunities for improvement Reflect on sport outcomes Talk about recent events/actions and what you have learned, or adjustments you would make Set goals with your child Talk about a growth mindset
Risk-takers	We approach uncertaining with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change. We see making mistakes as a natural part of the learning process.	Encourage your child to attempt new things and then reflect on it - whether they liked it and how it made them feel Discuss the difference between being a risk-taker and dangerous behaviour Recognise the learning gains that result from risk-taking and making mistakes Talk about comfort zones and the benefits of goal-setting Share your own growth stories from taking risks

Lori Michael - MYP Coordinator

INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE (updated 4 May) - Contact Person - Marguerite Boland

Please click on the attachment below to see a list of Stringed instruments for sale. If you have an instrument for sale please email Margeurite at: marguerite.boland@education.vic.gov.au

List of instruments for sale - 4 May 2025.pdf

COLLINGWOOD COLLEGE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM

Collingwood College is online! Feel free to follow us on:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/collingwood.college/ and like us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/collingwood.vic.edu.au/ to keep up to date with everything that our school has to offer our students and the community.