Teaching & Learning

Beginning Of Term 4: 

Teaching and Learning 

What’s Up SOC

 After 26 episodes and 180 minutes of footage, the “What’s up Soc” podcast for 2024 has come to a close. 

A big thank you goes out to all the students and staff who contributed.

Congratulations to the podcast team for a successful first year, Stacey Maskas, Ella Hayes, Genna Windsor, Greg Acciarito, Antosha Babiy, and Athanasius Tuavia.

We are on the lookout for next year's podcast host to build upon the fantastic success we had this year. Students are encouraged to submit a one-minute podcast to Stacey and Ella, via compass keep a look out for details. 

The winners for next year's podcast team to be announced at the awards ceremony in December. Please contact the TV club if you need assistance with recording your podcast. All entries must be in by 22 November 2024.

Philip Clark

Theatre Manager 

Year 12 Final Assessments 2024 

In Week 1 of Term 4, our first group of VCE-Vocational Major graduates had their final assessment for Unit 4 WRS – a celebration of their Work-Related Skills, an exhibition called “Employable Me”. The T3 classroom was decked out, with each student hosting an exhibit table displaying evidence of their employability in their chosen field. Many industries and occupations were represented, from beauty to small business, construction to animal care, performance arts to health & fitness and more! 

All staff and Year 7 students were invited to the exhibition to observe the displays, participate in the interactive activities and ask questions of the VM students. 

The students were very enthusiastic and curious visitors, given the Year 12 copious opportunities to demonstrate their employability skills as well as answer many questions – preparing them well for the world of work. 

In Week 3, during their important SWOT-vac period, several Year 12 students also travelled out to La Trobe University, Bundoora, to attend the “Exam Cram” revision lectures for English, General Maths and Legal Studies, run by ATAR Notes. The students also received tote bags of free goodies, had opportunities to take campus tours, as well as sample student life by visiting the library, getting lunch and take in the atmosphere around the Agora (which is a lot busier than ours at SOC!) This will all help our wonderful Year 12s prepare for their upcoming exams. 

Jacinta Marlborough

Year 12 VM and Legal Studies Teacher 

Diwali Celebrations 

Diwali, the Hindu ‘festival of lights,’ is celebrated in South Asian countries such as India and Nepal, as well as by the diaspora of these communities in countries like Australia.

At school this year, we decorated the whole foyer with paper lanterns that we folded and glued LED tealights, artificial marigolds and fairy lights. The most fun part was making a rangoli with roses in the downstairs foyer. 

Thank you to Abigail, Advika, Alexis, Cate, Salena and Ruby for helping to make the paper lantern decorations.

Thank you to Arsh, Eliza, Ishaan J, Isabelle, Jacob, Mika, Stephanie and Uotani for helping to prepare the sweets.

We will be giving out Motichoor Ladoo and Rasgulla at lunchtime and playing cultural music from a playlist that we curated for today.

We wish you a very happy Diwali!

From Aku, Chiratthmee, Drishti, Ida, Liyah and Samadhi.

Homestays for International Students Needed 

We are seeking homestay families living in our local school community for students traveling here from overseas in 2025. These home-stays would be long-term, with homestay providers receiving a weekly payment of $400.

Homestays are more than just a room to sleep, they offer the safety, security and welcoming environment of a real family.

Homestay families go through strict screening and monitoring processes by the Department of Education. New homestay providers would participate in an interview with school representatives, as well as home visits by a school representative. 

Every member of a homestay household over the age of 18 years of age would also need to obtain a Working with Children’s Check card.

If you would be interested in becoming a homestay provider for our school, please send your expression of interest to sarah.crespo-liu@education.vic.gov.au  

Sara Crespo - Liu

International Student Co Ordinator 

National Youth Parade

On Sunday of 13th October our students studying the Greek language took part in the National Youth Parade in honour of His-All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to celebrate the establishment of Australia’s Greek Orthodox Archdiocese centenary. Our students were very proud marching whilst being exemplary role models of our school’s values.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed His All-Holiness to Australia.

“Australian society is enriched by our diversity—it is one of our greatest attributes,” the Prime Minister said.

“The Greek Australian community is a vibrant part of Australia’s identity, involved in business, public service, politics, the arts and sport.”

“It is a joy to celebrate the centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the contributions of the Greek community to our nation.”

We congratulate all our students who supported our school through their participation in this special event and we look forward to representing our school again in the future.

Dimitra Maniatis

LOTE Coordinator

Mobile phone recycling at South Oakleigh 

Many of us have discarded phones sitting in our drawers at home. Instead of your old phone taking up space you can bring it to school to recycle and help the environment at the same time!  

SOC is part of the mobilemuster program and a collection point for mobile phones.  

Why recycling mobile phones matters 

Mobile phones are made from many materials, including precious metals. 

If you recycle your phone there is less need for mining these metals.   

The critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla has lost 77 percent of its population in the last 20 years, due to degradation of its habitat, because of mining the minerals used to make mobile phones.  

Recycling also saves energy. If phones are manufactured using recycled materials the energy required to extract and process these materials is saved. 

What happens when I recycle my phone? 

Through recycling Mobile Muster transforms the components from mobile phone waste into valuable materials for reuse. It means that fewer raw materials need to be extracted and processed to make new products. By recycling your mobile phone today, you will be helping reduce the impact on the environment tomorrow.  

https://vimeo.com/265126143 

https://vimeo.com/349554548 

Where do I recycle my phone? 

You can put your unused mobile phone/s into a recycling box in the library. They will be sent to Mobile muster and the components extracted and reused. Some of the components will be made into new mobile phones. 

Remember you should wipe your data before recycling by goingonto one of these websites: 

iPhone:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6tppaNiEHY 

Android:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RGoncGMFDM 

THE GREEN TEAM - Sustainability. 

Battery recycling is back at SOC 

All members of our SOC community are invited to recycle their batteries – a ‘Close the Loop’ recycling box has been placed outside reception. 

Batteries are made of both valuable and hazardous materials. More than 95% of the materials in batteries can be recycled which ensures these materials are used again - often to make new batteries. 

All batteries pose a potential hazard. They contain harmful substances including mercury, cadmium, and lead. These chemicals can be dangerous if they are mixed with other types of waste in garbage or recycling bins and can cause fires. When batteries are sent to landfill the toxic chemicals inside them can leak into the soil and waterways, threatening wildlife and human health. 

Please recycle your batteries in the Close the Loop recycling box outside reception. 

Alison Jones. 

Sustainability Co-ordinator: The Green Team 

Wheelchair Basketball 

This erm all Year 9 students were given the opportunity to participate in a Wheelchair basketball clinic. This linked to the Common Assessment Task that students have been completing in Health classes this term. The Sport Modification CAT required students to design a new sport that was more inclusive to people with a disability. Given the Paralympic games has also just finished, this has been a good opportunity for students to become more aware of the challenges that people face when trying to participate in sports with a disability.

Across the board students really enjoyed the challenge of wheelchair basketball and better understood how difficult it is to play basketball in a wheelchair.

Jacinta Wallace

Health and PE KLA Leader 

Brentwood Secondary College Hosts Masterclass for Victorian High Ability Students

On a bright and inspiring day, 14 talented students participating in the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP) gathered at Brentwood Secondary College for a special Masterclass in English and Mathematics. The day brought together bright minds from Brentwood, Mount Waverley Secondary College, and Highvale Secondary College, offering students an invaluable opportunity to connect, learn, and challenge themselves in their areas of strength.

The Masterclass provided students with a platform to dive deep into advanced concepts, with each participant choosing to focus on either English or Mathematics. Surrounded by like-minded peers, students engaged in enriching discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and skill-building exercises that pushed their academic boundaries. They explored topics beyond the traditional curriculum, guided by expert teachers who encouraged critical thinking and creativity.

Throughout the day, students displayed impressive respect and camaraderie, creating a positive learning environment where everyone felt valued and supported. The collaborative atmosphere allowed students to gain new perspectives and insights, making the experience both educational and memorable.

The Masterclass concluded with students expressing their enthusiasm and appreciation for the unique opportunity to learn in such an inspiring environment.

Amanda Tate

English and Humanities

Year 9 Food Studies – Cupcakes

During Week 4, the Year 9 Food Studies students got to create Cupcakes as a part of a common assessment task (CAT). Prior to baking, students used the design brief process which involved researching a variety of icing techniques, from buttercream to fondant decorations. Students completed a detailed production plan, carefully considering time management, processes and safety and hygiene considerations. Their preparation was put to the test in the kitchen, baking and designing their cupcakes. There was a great energy in the kitchen on the day, they enjoyed seeing each other’s creations and creativity come to life. Well done to all our talented young bakers!

Year 8 Food Studies - Pancakes 

In a recent Year 8 Food Studies project, students were tasked with creating a pancake stack tailored for a restaurant menu. Working with a design brief, they had to consider specific criteria such as taste, visual appeal, and unique flavours. Students experimented with various flavors, toppings, and plating styles to produce a unique pancake stack that would attract potential diners. This task allowed them to explore their creativity while learning about the importance of presentation in food service. The result was a range of delicious and visually captivating pancake stacks, showcasing each student’s ability to think critically and apply their skills in a real-world context.

Kirby Lucas

Food Technology 

10 Café Catering

For the final year 10 Café Catering Common Assessment Task, students took on the challenge of designing and creating a celebration cake. This task required them to apply both technical and creative skills as they navigated each stage of the process—from initial concept and sketching their designs to choosing flavors, textures, and decorative elements that aligned with the chosen theme. Students also needed to demonstrate their practical skills in baking, layering, and decorating, showcasing precision and attention to detail.

Throughout the task, they explored techniques for working with fondant, buttercream icing, and other decorative ingredients, learning to troubleshoot common baking and decorating challenges along the way. The completed cakes were not only graded on taste and presentation but also on their adherence to their chosen design brief and theme.

Noor Jenkins 

Food Technology