Secondary School News

Headstart News

Giles Mercers, Year 11, has successfully completed his Structured Workplace Learning and secured himself a School Based Apprenticeship. Giles will be undertaking a Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology. Headstart has set Giles up with a great employer and a pathway to help him achieve his goal of becoming a Mechanic. 

Headstart and Altona College would like to congratulate Giles on this huge achievement and wish him all the best as he completes year 12 in 2024 while undertaking his dream apprenticeship! 

Well Done Giles

Beach Education Day

VCE Health & Human Development

In term 3, the Health and Human Development students had the pleasure of experiencing parenthood with our simulation babies. The students demonstrated commitment to their duties as parents, utilising their emotional and social supports both within and outside the College.

Here are a few interesting quotes and pictures from the students after their experiences! 

“Never become a teen mum!” – Christina

“I’m not having children anytime soon!” – Taleea

 “Ask for advice or give it to someone to babysit if you need help” – Sameria

“It wasn’t hard, it was just annoying!” – Melisa

“Never underestimate your ability to use both hands and fully sleep through the night!” – Jonah

“I’m blaming the baby, I couldn’t study!” – James

“I was so paranoid, I couldn’t sleep!” – Megan 

“That thing just screams. Annoying, but still nice. Felt like I needed to protect it!” - Maria

“I was fine with the baby, I knew what I was doing. [Someone] told me to put it in the microwave!” – Kaylee

“It was alright, he’s okay!” – Joseph

“Don’t do what I did and leave it in a car for a bit of food!” – Harrison

~ Ms Newton ~

Year 10 - 11 Road Safety Day

On Thursday the 9th of November, the year 10 and 11s had a day out at the TOYOTA Centre of Excellence in Altona. Over the course of the day, the students participated in a range of workshops including but not limited to the topics of:

• Exploring the personal risk factors that affect being a passenger and driver
• Exploring strategies to help neutralize mindset to reduce risks when behind the wheel
• Investigating crash factors such as human and environmental factors
• Exploring challenges faced by other road users 
• Investigating speed and safe stopping distances

Overall, the day was received well by the students and teachers, with all students engaged in the workshops, as well as having the opportunity to get behind the wheel of some very fancy cars! We send our appreciation to RYDA Road Safety Education and Toyota staff for the day. 

~ Ms Newton ~

Year 12s 2023 – CONGRATULATIONS!

WOW! What a year for our year 12s this year. Over the last few months, the year 12s have been a part of several events to celebrate their final year of schooling. Such events included the Year 12 ReCharge Day, Year 12 Celebration Day at STRIKE bowling, Year 12 final assembly, Year 12 Graduation Breakfast and finally the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony.

We would like to say farewell to our year 12 cohort of 2023 and wish them all the very best for their future endeavours. Here are some snaps to celebrate them.

~ Ms Polglaze and Ms Newton ~ 

HAMPER FOR HOPE

VCE-VM Personal Development students are committed to helping those who experience food insecurity in our community. After learning about food insecurity and the effects this has on people's health, lives, and wellbeing, we have partnered with the Salvation Army to create 'Hamper's for Hope'.

Each bag will have 8-10 items that will be delivered to families around our community to help alleviate some stress this coming holiday season. 

We also hope to be able to put something special in each bag for extra cheer (packet lollies, biscuits etc)

We are committed to this project and doing our part for the community this holiday season, in the hopes we can support those living with food insecurity, and have committed to 25 'Hamper's for Hope' on behalf of Altona College.

Donations are welcome for all members of our community and can be dropped off in the main office in the tubs provided.

We thank you for your ongoing support of our projects and our commitment to helping those in our local area

Bank First Curriculum Garden

Altona College was awarded the Bank First Teacher Initiatives Program Grant earlier in the year, the garden was designed by students from Years 7–12 along with our gardener Sarah. Together they worked to create a space that promotes the evolution and classification of plants within the school community.  Below is the image from Bank First's Annual Report featuring some of our students 

Secondary School Immunisation catch-ups

Secondary school immunisations are provided to students to reduce their risk of contracting preventable diseases and some cancers. Health advice regarding immunisations recommends students receive the following:

Year 7

· Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine (one dose)

· Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (one dose).

Year 10

· Meningococcal A, C, W, Y vaccine (one dose).

There are a number of students in years 7 to 12 who may have missed these important vaccines. This puts students at an increased risk of illness.

If your child missed out on their school-based vaccinations, please speak to your GP or local council immunisation service about how they can catch up. 

To check if your child is due for any vaccines, refer to their immunisation history statement on the Australian Immunisation Register, using your MyGov account. If your child is aged over 14, they may need to access their immunisation history statement themselves, through their own MyGov account or the Medicare mobile app.

New HPV vaccination resources to assist young people with disability

Young people with disability should have the same access to preventive healthcare and immunisations as everyone else. Vaccinations can be stressful, and there are sometimes unique barriers for people with disability.

Cancer Council Victoria, in consultation with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Scope Australia, has developed 3 resources to improve the vaccination experience for young people with disability and their parents and carers:

Help your child with disability get the HPV vaccine (fact sheet)

Supporting your child with a disability with vaccination (videos)

Preparing for school vaccinations (social story).