Sydenham News 

 Year 10 Author Visitor-Demet Divaroren

Demet Divaroren; the author of the novel being studied in Year 10 English- ‘Living On Hope Street’ was a guest speaker at the college last Friday. The Year 10 cohort were treated with a stroll through Demet’s memories and personal anecdotes which related to the characters and events of the text.  The students’ questions were indicative of their interest in what she was sharing with them. The format was open to students asking questions as they occurred to them and related to what Demet was relaying. Her background and experiences resonated with many of our students which made it all the more relevant for them. Demet’s experiences as a migrant of Turkish background, her school experiences and her return to the country of her birth as a teenager together with the conflict of identity were all identifiable within the text but also relatable for many of our students.

The college were fortunate to have Demet here as, author visits are often hard to arrange during the time in which a novel is being studied.

Thanks to all the staff who helped make this happen by supervising and working with the interruptions to their classes on the day.

Ms Sue Hatton

English Specialist

Cultural Diversity Week

The Victorian Multicultural Commission has earmarked Cultural Diversity Week to coincide with The United Nations Day for elimination of Racial Discrimination and Harmony day. SRC took this opportunity to celebrate Cultural Diversity week with distribution of Japanese candies and Easter eggs, playing music of different cultures over the week and a cultural dress up day. The best dressed student was awarded with a Easter egg hamper. 

SRC students also performed a dragon/Lion Dance to celebrate diversity in cultures within our college community.

Events like these brings about awareness that we all live in a multicultural, multiracial country with citizens from diverse ethnic backgrounds and yet we are able to coexist and live in peace and harmony.

The Cultural Diversity week celebration was a great success with students participation, promoting understanding across cultures. A clear message was that we all can build bridges to trust, which in return makes Australia as one of the most successful multicutural countries in the world.

Mr Shan Mugam

SRC Coordinator

Italian Room Discovery Night

The students in the photo include Bella (7E2) Fotini (7E2) Audrey (7E2) George (7E1) and Sabrina (7E1)

Special thank you to all student helpers (those pictured above) as well as Silvana, Tahlia and Zahra, all from 8E1 for their enthusiasm and volunteering their time.  It was much appreciated.  Grazie!!

Ms Gianna Costa-Probyn

Italian Teacher

ABCN My Career Rules

A group of Year 9 students attended a session which explored careers within the NBN. Students had the opportunity to speak to a number of employees working for the NBN, across a range of areas. Students gained valuable insights into the many different career pathways with an organisation, including the variety of educational pathways employees took to get to their current job roles.

Ms Jenny Zahra

Careers Advisor/Pathways Counsellor