SENIOR SCHOOL
IMPORTANT DATES
Thursday 19 and Friday 20 May
VCE Theatre Studies Production – She Kills Monsters (7 pm)
Tuesday 24 May
VCAL Information Session
Friday 3 June
Staff Professional Development Day - Student FREE DAY
Friday 10 June
Completion of Unit 1 & 3 Coursework
Monday 13 June
Queen’s Birthday
Tuesday 14 June
Staff Professional Practice Day - Student FREE DAY
Wednesday 15 June
Year 11 Exam Week (15 to 17)
Thursday 16 June
Instrumental Music Mid-Year Concert (6.30 pm)
Friday 24 June
End of Term 2 - 2.30 pm Finish
VCE Move to the Library
With the ongoing building improvements, the VCE Study Hall and Coordinators Office have now moved to the Library.
The Library is OPEN throughout the day and we encourage all Year 11 and 12 students to utilize this space during their Study Periods for private study and small group work. A reminder that students should not be eating or bringing their bags into the Library.
The Coordinator’s Office is also NOW located in the back of the Library. As always, our door is always open, especially with VCE Units 1 and 3 coming towards their close, students may be feeling a little overwhelmed. Students should make the time to drop into our office and have a chat with any one of the Coordinators. We will be able to help with strategies to improve their focus and organisation, help reduce anxiety and point them in the right direction if we cannot help.
The KITCHEN is now OPEN!!!
With the temperature dropping outside, the VCE Kitchen has been very much missed since the move over to the Library. However, we are very pleased to announce that the kitchen has now returned and is OPEN for all Year 11 and 12 students to use!
The kitchen is now located in the Supper Room next to the Library. Students are welcome to use this space to heat up and cook their food, however, please remember:
- It is a small area so once you have finished organising your food please move outside.
- The Supper Room is also being used as a classroom throughout the day, so it is important that you take pride in the area and keep it clean.
- It will only be OPEN during lunchtime.
Year 11
Health and Wellbeing Day
Tuesday 10 May
The day started with two guest speakers. The first of which was Heather Ellis, who came in to talk about her story of living with HIV. She spoke about the importance of safe sex and how medication and regular STI checkups are needed if your sexually active. She also talked about her travels around the world and the books she has written to inspire people with HIV to travel the world.
The second speaker to come in was, Liam Twomey, who is a paralympian. He spoke about his early years of growing up with cancer and having to amputate his leg as a child. He talked about being a young teenager and not being comfortable with his own body, and suppressing that feeling with alcohol and various drugs. His actions and habits tore away many relationships with friends and family, so he woke up at the age of 21 and decided to change his life around. By changing his mindset and outlook on the world, he went from being at his lowest point with no athletic ability, to becoming a paralympian and being the most mindful he has ever been. From being miserable and thinking he wasn't enough because of his amputated leg, Liam practiced gratitude and mindfulness and has since been able to mend relationships with family, find healthy friends, travel the world as a competitor and train for the triathlon in the Paris Olympics. He now presents many talks and shares his story with the world.
The rest of the day consisted of a range of activities that Year 11 students were able to choose from including; Cooking, STEAMWorks, Drumbeat, Mindful Drawing and PE Games. I chose to participate in the protein ball and smoothie session which was extremely fun. The smoothies were delicious and the protein balls were amazing.
The following session was a 'Respectful Relationship' session which all students participated in and was separated between boys and girls. The girls session talked about body positivity and how we should stop focusing on the opinions of others and feel comfortable with ourselves, it also brought out the friendship between girls and how we are able to rely on one another when we are not feeling the best.
The last two periods were the lake walk. This was the most enjoyable session in my opinion, it was nice to finish a day of school walking around Lillydale Lake and talking with your friends.
Overall, the day was a great experience. It was nice to have a day to forget about the stress that VCE can sometimes bring and have a fun day with your friends at school. The day helped provide a nice reset to get back to studying hard for VCE.
Grace Cole I Year 11 Captain
Year 12 Stress Workshop
On Tuesday 10 May, during their IPT sessions, all Year 12 students participated in a ‘Science of Stress’ workshop. They covered areas including the types and effects of stress, our bodies’ physiological response to stress, the types of stress and how to manage them and the importance of having self-care strategies.
Thanks very much to the Wellbeing Team and those that participated in this day- keep practicing those strategies every day!
Have you noticed someone doing a good deed? It is time to reward them!
We are wanting to spread some positivity throughout our community and acknowledge those students who do things in their day to day that show kindness. For this reason, we have posted a Google Form on both the Year 11 and 12 Google Classrooms where students and staff are able to nominate someone who has done something positive in our community.
It could be something as little as paying a compliment to a fellow student that makes them smile, or helping out a member of the public after school. Whatever it is, if you feel it is worth acknowledgement – let us know!
All students who have been nominated will go into the draw to win a prize at the end of each month.
VCE Coordination Team