Mini School Updates

Junior School

I would like to congratulate our students on finishing Semester 1 with a positive approach to the assessments they have been completing over the last week or so.  Our Year 7’s will start their next round of electives next week, giving them the opportunity to try out either music, art, technology materials or food. I’m sure parents are looking forward to hearing about all the great things they are learning.  

Early this term we hosted our second Open Day for Grade 5 and 6 students and their teachers. It was fabulous to see so many smiling faces across the day. Primary students attended a variety of classes throughout the day and loved the music concert that our music students put on for them. We had a number of current Year 7 students volunteer to come in and support primary classes find their way around the school and talk to students about what it is like to be a Lowanna student.  I would like to thank all these students for volunteering their time and being such great representatives of the College.  

The Junior Team is thrilled that so many of our students have been recognised for demonstrating our college values.  To celebrate our student’s success, we run a weekly draw for a canteen voucher for one student at Year 7 and 8 who have received a Posi Slip in that week. We have also been able to present a number of students with Ridge Awards at each assembly. 

As Term 3 approaches, our Year 7’s will be attending a cyber safety session at the Gippsland Tech School, the Blue Edge program will commence for a select number of students, and we begin planning for our Year 8 camp at Alexander Adventure Resort in Term 4. We are also hosting our second transition day for Grade 6 students on August 16.  

Kristy Bannister

Junior School Leader

Middle School

We would like to congratulate the Year 9’s on their participation of the NAPLAN assessment, it was great to see the way you conducted yourselves during the test.

Our Year 9 students have undertaken the Morrisby Assessment program which began on the 8th of May, this is a very important first step in the students researching and planning for their future careers. The week starting July the 11th the students will have a one-on-one careers appointment with an external careers counsellor to go over their careers report. It is important that all students undertake this assessment. 

As the weather is becoming cooler and wetter, we ask that students dress to the conditions in the appropriate uniform. If a student needs assistance, they can attend the uniform exchange or please contact the Middle School office.

It was a pleasure to congratulate our Middle School RIDGE awardees, these awards are for students who continually uphold the values of the school: Respect, Integrity, Determination, Growth and Excellence. It was very pleasing to see the number of students who receive these awards numbers grow.

At our last assembly we were finally able to hand out our Captain, Vice-Captain and Homegroup Leader badges. These students will be fantastic ambassadors for Middle School.

We would like to remind students of the phone policy; all student phones need to be in their lockers turned off between 8.45am until 3pm or they can be placed in the phone lockers in the Middle School and picked up at the end of the day. If their phone has been confiscated it will need to be picked up by a parent, Students are more than welcome to use the office phone if the need to contact home.

I would also ask all students to try to achieve 100% attendance, while there are circumstances such as illnesses or family issues that are unavoidable, absences impact highly on student outcomes. If your student needs to be absent, please enter it on Compass or contact the Middle School on 51279246.

Darren Mitchell

Middle School Leader

Senior School

It certainly has been a busy Term 2, with our students participating in wide variety of events and excursions.  

The VCE University Camp took place in the second week of term. Around 100 of our Year 11 and Year 12 students attended this wonderful event where they were able to gain a better understanding of their pathway options after school. Students had campus visits to RMIT, Deakin University, Torrens Uni, Swinburne University and Monash University. They also attended the VCE Careers Expo at Caulfield Racecourse, getting to see and speak with over 100 exhibitors and universities to help to inform their future career aspirations. It wasn’t all serious, with students also enjoying a movie, some bowling and arcade games and restaurants. A huge thank you must go to the Careers team for all the planning and preparation that went into making this camp such a success, as well as the staff that attended. This event was followed up by a Tertiary Information Session at Federation University which showcased the local options for Lowanna students. It’s been great to hear the excitement and conversations following on from these events, as well as watching students plan the steps needed to help turn their dreams into reality. 

All Year 11 and 12 students have been completing mid-year exams from last Friday, June 2. These exams will give students the opportunity to assess how they are travelling with their subjects to date. The exams provide an opportunity for feedback in regards to any areas of concern as well as recognising positive steps that students have taken throughout the past two terms in their studies. 

As we round out the term, we look forward to enjoying the Senior School Formal this coming Friday. This is a great opportunity for students to dress up and celebrate the end of the mid-year exam period. We have Nathan Hulls visiting students on Tuesday June 13. Nathan is a passionate motivational speaker, entrepreneur, mindset coach and mentor. His career so far has spanned business, media, politics and community leadership. When he was just 12 years old he started his first business, mowing lawns, washing cars, doing odd jobs and selling his toys to his friends. By 21 he was doing deals, building online businesses, getting involved in politics, sitting on boards and trading foreign markets. Nathan has tasted both success and adversity, losing his mother after she suffered 3 severe strokes when he was in his early 20’s. He communicates a positive message of ‘Decisions = Destiny’ passionately and is a walking example of what it means to ‘Decide your own Destiny’. 

Finally, a reminder about our basic College expectations. All students should be in full school uniform at all times. Senior students have the privilege of being able to go to the shop at lunchtime. Unfortunately, some students have been taking advantage of this and going during recess or spare periods. I would appreciate the support of all students in adhering to these guidelines, otherwise, the policy will be reassessed. Many students also gain their licence during the year – an exciting rite of passage to adulthood. In line with Department of Education policy and to ensure the safety of our students, students who drive to school must not leave the property in their car during the school day. They are also not permitted to transport friends unless parental permission has been obtained. All students are also expected to attend school (including home group) unless they are unwell or have scheduled appointments that cannot be made outside of school time. It should be noted that in line with VCAA procedures and policy, where a student has completed all tasks satisfactorily but there has been a substantive breach of attendance rules, the school must assign ‘N’ for one or more outcomes and thus the Unit. Lowanna College has agreed that an ‘N’ can be given for a Unit if a student’s attendance for that Unit falls below 80%, thus preventing the student from ‘satisfactorily completing’ the Unit. Approved absences (illness, etc.) are not included in this figure. 

I urge all students to continue to be focussed and work hard to become the best possible person they can be – in all aspects of their life at Lowanna College. 

Nicole Taylor 

Senior School Manager