Junior School News

Welcome back to on site learning!

On Friday 22 October we welcomed our Year 7 Explore students back to onsite learning, with Year 8 Enhance students returning on Tuesday 26 October. It was wonderful to see the students – many who have grown considerably during the remote learning period.

This Tuesday 2nd November is the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday, therefore there will be no classes held for students during this time.

We hope to see all students return to school for onsite learning full time by Wednesday 3 November. We remind you that if your student is unwell and is showing symptoms of COVID to keep them home and get tested. You will need to ring the College Office absence line or record this absence on Compass chronicle. Prior to your students’ return to school they will need to provide a Negative result.

Advanced Dates:

Please note that there will be some events impacting on our Junior Students this term for your planning.

Tuesday 16 November - Year 7 vaccinations for HPV
Thursday 25 November – Practice NAPLAN Online testing (required by VCAA to test capability of internet – not reported on). More information to come.
Tuesday 7 December – State-wide Orientation Day (no classes for Year 7 students)
Friday 10 December – Final day of official classes for Years 7-9

Congratulations:

Congratulations to the many students who thrived in the remote learning environment, excelling in their studies. They showed amazing resilience and independence in their learning. We acknowledge our top 20 students below as nominated by their teachers:

Year 7

Nayab NAWROZI
Rheya GOETJENS
Lily O'SUGHRUE
Ferishta SALEM
Ashley CAPITO
Fareshta REZAEI
Emalee MITCHEM
Jerry CHEAP
Denise GIBBS
Charlotte CROCOMBE
Hussain AHMADI
Tom MUNG
Emmanuel LACOMEL
Heng XIN LIANG
Louie CAMANGA
Shabbir NABAWI
Mohammad REZAI
Dasman VAGAI SALESULU
Jamin TRIPKOS
Jhyroe TANGONAN

Year 8 Top GPA

Casey LUMM
Bahara AHMADI
Winudi WIMALASEKERE
Shaheda AHMADI
Elaha MOHEBBI
Dominic Li
Mai NGUYEN
Lucy CHHOUR
Monica CHEA
Atifa AHMADI
Carrar YUSOFY
Javid FAIZI

Top 10 Growth in GPA

Javid FAIZI
Naweed NAJAFI
Deborah PETI
Prashant MANGAL
Zahra SHAHIN
Sahil MUHAMMADI
Carrar YUSOFY
Atifa AHMADI
Carrie LY
Ali Minhaj HUSSAIN

Support for students:

Remote learning was challenging for many students and families for a variety of reasons. Some students will feel uncomfortable and anxious about returning to school, some may feel this way because they think that they are behind in their learning. Please be assured that the teaching and support staff are well aware of these challenges and have made adjustments to the Teaching and Learning Program to reduce the stress and pressure experienced by students. If you have any concerns about your student, their progress or wellbeing please contact our Wellbeing Team or the Junior School Office to discuss these concerns on 8795 9400.

Also, the Junior School is looking to run an Upskill program on Wednesdays after school for a few weeks to support students return back to school, particularly if they were struggling with online learning. The aim of the program is to help them to be better organised and build their confidence in their learning. We will be identifying students who might benefit from this program and inviting them to participate.

Laptops at school:

Please remember that Laptops are the major learning resource that students use. Access to Compass Lesson Plans and all learning materials and resources are available online. We do not require students to have textbooks for this reason. It is important that your student brings a fully functioning and charged laptop to school every day for every lesson.

If the laptop is not working, it is essential that this is taken to our IT department or to be fixed externally (if it was purchased elsewhere) as soon as possible to ensure that they are not left behind in their learning.

We have a new partnership with a provider called Learning with Technology. The school has identified 3 devices at three price points (low, medium and high) and dependant on the needs or your students. Please look at the flier below. Due to a worldwide shortage of technology, it is important that devices are ordered now to ensure that you get them as soon as possible or prior to the beginning of the next school year (if looking for a new device)