Year 10 -12 Community

Indigenous Garden and Yarning Circle

The VCAL Foundation students created a space where people can get together to talk in natural surroundings.  The space features individual rock gardens surrounded by native shrubs. Central to this is our yarning circle, which is a large compacted gravel circle with log seating and a fire pit for ceremonies.  We separated the area from the other vegetable gardens by adding some fruit trees. 

To complete this project, the students researched plants and liaised with Karyn at the GenU Nursery so they could create their own gardens which included many edible species of plants.  Kath Ozog and Barney were also on the team.  We were fortunate to be able to use some of the rocks from the school construction site and large branches from a tree that had to be cut down.  Barney’s trailer made moving them a possibility. 

We have been given permission from Judy Dalton-Walsh, a traditional owner of the Wadawurrung country, to use the word ‘Gobata’, which means ‘Hello’ as the name for our garden area.

Year 10 Art students are helping to create our sign and graphics.  Mr Ellson in the GITTC Engineering team, will work his magic to cut these out of steel.  We’re hoping to add some planter boxes for herbs and a mural in 2023. 

Year 10 News

Algebrafest

One of the most controversial subjects at school has always been Algebra. It is loved or hated - is a breeze or a tornedo. So in order to turn on the positive, Mr Cooper designed an Algebrafest.  Students were encouraged to bring ‘good vibes only’ into the classroom which overflowed into the schoolyard with the phrase ‘Yay Algebra’ being heard at lunchtime and recess. The idea behind AlgebraFest was to create an environment where students could experience learning algebra in a fun and collaborative way. Mr Coopers class were seen completing regular, different tasks so that nothing became stale. Rich games and investigations were the norm to allow the students to collaboratively solve problems they would have normally struggled with. There was no suffer or study in silence either! In keeping with good vibes - they were even heard enjoying different themed playlists through the day to keep spirits high. The results saw a higher attendance to the class and a higher morale around a topic that can often induce anxiety in students young and old. Plans are already in place to take AlgebraFest23 to more classrooms. Watch this space!

But what did the students think?

‘It was a more interactive way to learn something that would challenge us if we just did worksheets, but having games made it easier and more fun.’ – Mikaela 

‘Having music played in class made algebra more enjoyable to learn’ – Kaylee Jade 

Just a little piece of insight - you can see that the students can now write directly onto desks. 

This furniture is increasing across campus and operates like a whiteboard.

Insight into careers

On Tues 18 Oct several students visited a Barwon Health Medical Facility to learn about the allied health industry and all the jobs that are needed after being seen by the Doctors and Nursing teams in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, aged care facilities and outpatient wards.

Aleena, Roqya, Jasmine, Elizabeth, Kisile and Shee Paw of Yr 10, and Sha Har Nar of Yr 11 had the opportunity to speak with patients who use allied health professionals and assistants to improve the quality of their own lives. . . .these included - physios, speech therapists, counsellors, carers and support workers, community liaisons, occupational + recreational therapists, purchasing staff, business managers and many others 

The girls also had the chance to use some of the equipment,  and joined in activities designed for patients who have impairments to see how the help from allied health personal can make these tasks easier. 

The day was very interesting to see just how much work these other people do, but whom we don’t immediately think of when we talk about careers in the Medical and Health industry.   

For more information about some of these roles and responsibilities, and how you can build your own career in the Health Industry as an allied health professional – please see Ms Parcell in the Careers Centre.

The Finishing Line -Year 10

As we move into our final 3 weeks, a strong finish is within arm’s reach. It is really important that all Year 10 students must:

• Ensure all work tasks and assessments are completed to a high standard
• Lockers have been vacated and left clean for next year’s Year 10
• Return all resources that have been borrowed from the library
• Familiarise yourself with the final assessment deadline - 16/11/22

To our Year 10 community parents

During week 8 (21/11/22 – 1/12/22) we encourage families to reflect with your child/ren on how their year has been in preparation for their VCE or VM step-up program. We encourage you to celebrate with your child the success they have achieved in 2022 and discuss what they believe has contributed to taking positive steps to make improvements across the year as well as utilise the celebration of success to make improvements to areas of need to ensure they ‘get off on the right foot’ on their senior pathways journey. 

There is also the importance of finding out what hasn't worked for them and this also helps with next year to avoid similar scenarios.

Having a conversation with your child about both at home and school, and trying to understand ‘how your child learns best’ and then encourage them to use this conversation as a starter with a teacher they have a positive relationship with to ensure we can best cater to our learners. In years 11 and 12 the teacher student relationship changes and naturally maturity changes the dynamics. It is one of the key elements of success.

To our students, as we round out the end of the term, PAT Testing will be completed over the next 3 weeks in Math and English classes. We highly encourage you all to do your best as the data that this testing tells your teachers shapes their teaching for 2023 to improve your outcomes.

Celebration

One of the outcomes of our new Core Values is the need to celebrate achievement. Schools can appear negative because of rules and processes to keep everything working well - but -many opportunities arise when (works at home and friendship circles too) we get the chance to recognise special achievements. The following students for various reasons were considered to be the student of the month this year.

Student of the month list

February – Lauren K 

March – Kailee-Jade Kennedy 

April – Elizabeth So Yuz 

May – Aleena  

June – Mikaela  

July – Nikkera  

August – Shee 

September – Freddy 

A great achievement for the following students with Attendance above 90%  

Skyline Foundation - Year 10 Applicants

For a number of years now the Skyline Foundation has supported Northern Bay College students as they try to work towards further education after year 12. Year 10 students are invited to apply for a Skyline Scholarship and if successful many opportunities are available to access support.

The successful students have been identified and they will be introduced to the Community at the Awards Day on 14 December.

They have under gone a very rigourous selection process which concluded with online testing and an interview.

Year 11

COLLEGE CAPTAINS 2023

On Monday 31 October our 2023 year 12 students  completed an expression of interest form to apply to the College Captaincy 2023.

• We will have 2x College captains and 2 x Vice Captains to be elected by their peers and the leadership team.

The process:

• Interested Students can fill out the  EOI  link via Compass.  These will close  on Thursday morning 3 November. 
• Students who are filling in an EOI will need to be endorsed by a staff member on their Google form before hitting submit.
• Shortlisted students will be informed and supported to prepare a speech to present to the College  during  assembly on Friday 4th November 
• The filmed speeches to be shared with the College Principal team to watch with students  in week 6 , 
• all students will vote using a  Google form 
• VCE, VCAL and AP will meet to determine the successful candidates in week 6.
• Captains will be acknowledged both personally and via Compass /socials on Friday of week 6.
• Week 7 handover from the 2022 captains will take place in a formal assembly and appoint the 2023 College captain. 
• Week 8  onwards the Captains get to work and including attending one year 8 graduation and the Goldsworthy Awards  14 December

We look forward for our budding leaders being appointed for the College!

VCAL Update

In week 2 the Year 12 VCAL students were lucky enough to visit the Energy Australia office where they participated in an 'Interview to Impress' program hosted by ABCN. This program gave the students to opportunity to learn and practise key skills required for a job interview with Energy Australia mentors. Great preparation for their portfolio interviews and real life! 

Student comments:

What was the most useful thing you learnt in this workshop?

• Learning the CAR technique
• To slow down with my talking and to take a breather before I start
• How to better myself for an interview, more knowledge on how i can answer questions
• How to appear in an interview (body language, eye contact and verbal language)
• That CAR technique structure to help with answers
• That I have to ask questions
• Answering
• Learning all the things to put in it

Reflection

Rate how you feel

Christmas comes Early

Senior VCAL students celebrated the end of their classes together with a Kris Kringle. Thank you to VCAL student leader Taylah Irving for organising. It was great fun and nice to see the thought put in to the gift giving for each other. 

Congratulations to the Year 12 Class of 2022 who enjoyed a final day of school together with fun activities and dress ups.

Shout out to Kate White for winning the Best Costume award, coming dressed as Marg Simpson!

Emma Horne & Ricki O'Shannessy

Assistant Principals, Goldsworthy Campus

Year 10-12 Stages of Learning Coordinators