Classroom Reports
Foundation & 1
Our Late Stay/Disco was the highlight of last week. After reading 'Possum Magic', we ventured out into the Australian bush to look for some native creatures; discovering lots of koalas and wombats. Upon returning, Betty the bus driver took us on a very bumpy trip around Australia, stopping off at all the capital cities where Trina and Annette had prepared a sample of delicious Australian type treats. The Anzacs biscuits in Adelaide and pavlova in Perth were very well received. So too was the BBQ that Mr Forrest cooked us. At 6pm it was time for the Foundation children to leave us and our Grade Ones to get ready for the disco. Thanks Hayley for the flashing lights and music. Just one more song was the cry at 7.30pm. It was a great way to end the day.
Mrs Tanya Chalmers, Teacher
Year 1 & 2
What an amazing time we had at the Late Stay and Disco last week. Firstly, we had to follow Grandma Poss around Australia, eating different foods to make us visible again! Then we dressed up into our “disco clothes” and danced the night away in the most magically lit disco room!
The next day the Grade Two students visited different places around Wedderburn, finishing up with a Scavenger Hunt and Nature Walk at Skinners Flat. If only school could be like that every day!
Mrs Deirdre McKenzie, Teacher
Year 4 & 5
We're on the home stretch so keep pushing to the finish line. Over the next couple of weeks students will be applying units of measurement in practical ways to cook, make, create, and eat.
Have a wonderful week.
Mrs Carlie Turnbull, Teacher
Year 5 & 6
The school year is fast coming to an end and the Year 5/6 classroom is buzzing with excitement.
Our Year 6 students participated in Transition Day on Monday, getting a taste of what secondary school would be like. They participated in Art and Science activities, enjoyed a tasty lunch whilst having the chance to meet some of the students who will be joining the College from Inglewood P.S.
They will have another opportunity to experience secondary school life during the State-wide Transition Day on December 7th. It is rumoured that there may be some cooking involved!
The Year 5 students are preparing to step up to be leaders of the primary school, with all students encouraged to apply for a Leadership role in 2022. We are very proud of our Year 5 students and can see that they are ready to lead by example in showing our school values of Responsibility, Respect and Resilience.
Miss Amy Purkiss and Mrs Annita Steel, Classroom Teachers
Maths Pathway
Congratulations to this fortnights Maths Pathway champions.
CLASS | HIGHEST STUDENT GROWTH |
Year 5b | Ben & Nada with 100% (Cycle 15) |
Year 6 | Aihen with 133% (Cycle 15) |
Year 7 | Evan with 233% (Cycle 15) |
Year 8 | Kalais with 233% (Cycle16) |
Year 9 | Dylan with 167% (Cycle 15) |
Year 10 | Conrad & Seth with 167% (Cycle 16) |
Just a reminder that students achieving 100% growth rate each cycle is equivalent to one year’s growth achieved in the Mathematics curriculum.
Miss Emma Milne, Maths Teacher
Swimming Program
Foundation to Year 8
Learning to swim is an important skill and something that can be learnt from a young age. The College will implement a two-week swimming block starting on Monday 29th November, concluding on Friday 10th December. This year, the program will run from Monday to Friday, with qualified swimming instructors.
It is expected that all students will participate in the program.
Additional information will be provided on compass.
Year 10 Art
Yr 10 Art students have been investigating a range of Public and Environmental art styles this semester. Recently, they have responded to the art making of First Nation’s artist, Janice Peacock.
Using a range of traditional and contemporary approaches, Janice Peacock weaves and wraps everyday items such as shopping trolleys in a traditional way, blending her historical culture and that of the modern day world.
Students in Year 10 took inspiration from this way of making and combined recycled materials and frames in a creative way over a two week block.
VCAL Christmas Tree Project
Currently on display in the College Front Office.
Year 11 Celebration Christmas Lunch
To commemorate the end of exams for Year 11 VCE students and formal classes for year 11 VCAL students, a celebratory Christmas lunch was held in the Year 11 Homeroom on Friday 19 November.
Students exchanged gifts with one another and sat down together to enjoy a smorgasbord of delectable treats that included homemade pizza, red velvet cupcakes and Christmas cookies. Students took this time to enjoy one another’s company and take a well-deserved break from yet another challenging, but nonetheless rewarding, year of learning.
To end the day, students were given some parting gifts from their homeroom teacher, Mr. Church to take with them as mementos for all of their hard work and for the wonderful memories forged along the way.
Mr Rhys Church, Year 11 Homeroom Teacher
VCAL & VCE
Welcome to Week 8!
This newsletter edition brings to close the year for our Year 11 and 12 students, with our Year 11 students completing their ‘Step Up’ week and our Year 12s celebrating their Graduation Dinner last Friday together with family and staff.
The Graduation Dinner was a wonderful opportunity for our Senior students, their families and staff to gather together and celebrate. It was a fantastic evening together, providing us all an opportunity to share stories, laugh and celebrate the year that has been.
As always, many hands make light work, and we would like to extend a big thank you to all students, parents and staff involved in the preparation, set up and pack up of the event.
Year 12 Results:
Our Year 12 VCE students will receive their ATAR and Study Score on December 16. Often students can feel quite stressed and anxious in the lead up to their results; this is quite normal but there are many things you can do to help alleviate some stress.
- Keep Perspective:
High -stakes testing like Year 12 exams can put substantial pressure on you to achieve.
Try to keep your exams in context; your results don’t define you, and Year 12 results are not the only road to achievement – there are lots of avenues leading where you want to go in life.
- Use some Coping Strategies
Being kind to yourself, rather than being overly self-critical, is a helpful way to deal with academic disappointment because it helps you look at the situation with empathy and balance.
- Have a ‘back up’ plan
Goals create a sense of purpose and preparedness. Try to avoid ‘putting all of your eggs in the one basket’; have a Plan A and work towards your target, but have a Plan B, C and D too, just in case.
- Let your parents and friends know how they can support you:
Let your parents and friends know you need their support and understanding, and that well-meaning anecdotes and stories of how others triumphed over similar setbacks may be helpful down the track but not right now. Ask them to listen to what the results mean to you, and help you plan your next step.
Mrs Barker, Mrs Woodman and Mrs Sue Clay have arranged Career meetings for students receiving their ATAR, with details posted on Compass and emailed to students. During these half hour appointments we will be able to discuss their results, pathways, change preferences etc. Please email to make any changes to your appointment.
Year 10 into 11 ‘Step Up’:
Our Year 10 students will undertake their formal ‘Step Up’ classes next week, Thursday and Friday the 2nd and 3rd of December. All 2022 VCE students will have scheduled classes as outlined below:
2022 VCAL students will work with Mrs Woodman and Mr Gretgrix across the two days.
If you are unable to attend ‘Step Up’, please let staff know as soon as possible.
Mrs Barker – last day:
Mrs Barker will start her family leave this week, with today being her last day. She is looking forward to a well earnt rest before welcoming her new baby close to Christmas.
Please make sure you direct any queries or enquiries to Mrs Woodman regarding VCE, VCAL, Step Up programs, ATARs etc.
Mrs Carol Woodman and Mrs Lauren Barker
VCE/VCAL Coordinators
Compass
Don't wait for the end of semester to view your child's progress. Log in to Compass and view teacher feedback and feed forward at any time by checking out your child's Learning Tasks. Children also received regular (every 5 weeks) progress reports on their Organisation, Behaviour, Attitude to Learning and Work Completion. Learning Tasks and Reports can be found on you child's profile page.