Dear families,

It has been an extremely busy fortnight here at Altona College with our Year 11 students completing exams and attending a Step-up Program for year 12. Today they attended a final assembly before concluding their year. It is expected that our students are involved in work experience or have employment in the final weeks of the year. Year 10 students will undertake a step-up program this coming week prior to completing the year on Friday December 2nd. All other students complete the academic year on Tuesday 20th December.

Last Thursday evening was a wonderful celebration for our class of 2022 with a valedictory dinner held at Seaview in Williamstown with family, friends, and staff. Our 2022 College Captain Basmala Koko along with Vice Captains Hana Smailbegovic and Edwin Palma spoke proudly of their time at the college and the interactions and support they had been provided with over their years from staff and peers. There were certainly a few tears shared when Edwin spoke of his family journey to find a new life abroad and the sacrifices his parents and grandparents made to ensure he was fed, clothed and had access to education. As a leadership team we are extremely proud of our students who exemplified our values and were everything we could have hoped for in a graduate. The former students, now young men and women treasured the time with their friends and staff, chatting laughing and sharing memories whilst their parents and friends waited patiently until they were ready to depart. It was truly a very special evening for us all.

The primary community will celebrate the end of the year with the Year 6 Graduation and Xmas Soiree on Thursday 8th December. The team is collecting donations for Spot Prizes for our student hosts to award to some lucky attendees on the evening. Last year our amazing community members and local businesses donated goods and services vouchers, and gift cards from various large retailers. Any donations of this kind will be greatly appreciated. The team have organised food trucks for catering on the night. Key dates for our Year 7 to 9 students including Step-up and Activity Day are included in the Compass calendar.

This week has been a hive of activity with the creation of Jubilee Walk from the new entrance on Civic Parade. We have installed bollards depicting our three values: Innovation, Integrity and Respect along with an avenue of trees. All students were involved in planting trees both adjacent to the path and around the boundary of the college. Parent volunteers were also in attendance to support the college event providing much needed help on the day. Our students expressed great pride in the work they were undertaking whilst raking mulch and planting and were pleased to be asked to help. The result is a welcoming entrance which they will walk through every day when entering from Civic Parade or alighting from the school bus. Our wider community will certainly notice the new environment when attending the voting centre in the gymnasium on the weekend. This project received funding from the Australian Governments’ Planting Trees for the Queens Jubilee program. This grant was to provide shaded areas for students and contribute to our effort to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The college council contributed an additional $5000 for mulch and other materials. Hobson’s Bay Council kindly donated the tree guards and stakes to provide support for the younger plants. On behalf of the students and staff I extend my sincere appreciation to Mr. Michael Sperling who applied for the successful funding for the project and our gardener Mrs. Sarah Moore who have both worked tirelessly to see their vision come to fruition. We will be holding an official opening next year with the unveiling of a plaque to honour the Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The tree planting event truly bought our whole community together on Wednesday.

December is fast approaching with only a short three and a half weeks remaining. Our primary students have been sending letters to Santa whilst our secondary students are focusing on exams and step-up programs. Primary students will meet 2023 teaching staff on the state wide Year 6 to 7 transition day on Tuesday 13th December. Please note: We are still appointing some primary teaching staff and hope to have the team in place by the 13th.

We have some staff who are exiting our college at the end of 2022 and I acknowledge their contribution to our growing community.

Mrs. Emma Barger Transfer to Newport Lakes Primary School

Ms. Esther Zhang End of contract

Dan Kasperovic Leave 2023

Curtis Judge Fulltime Carranballac College

Last Friday we farewelled Ms. Simone Mathews who has taken a promotion position at Manor Lakes P – 12 College. Simone has been at the college when Altona P – 9 opened initially in the role of Laboratory Technician. Our families would know Simone’s presence in the administration office over many years or the friendly voice on the end of the phone. On behalf of the college community, I extend my sincere appreciation to Simone for the enormous contribution she has made to the former Altona P – 9 community and now Altona College. We wish Simone nothing but success in the years ahead. Simone is currently undertaking daily organisation to support us until a replacement is secured.

Julie Krause

Principal

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