Hazel Glen College Secondary Years

Celebrations of Learning and Community

School Saving Bonus reminder and allocation to school activities

The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus (SSB) – a one-off support of $400 for eligible government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025. The SSB can be used for uniforms and textbooks until Monday, 30 June 2025. Any funds remaining after 30 June 2025, including online voucher amounts that have not been redeemed, will become a credit to use on school activities.

 

However, the credit will not be available on your family account at our school until late July. To use any remaining SSB funds to cover the cost of school activities in July, please refer to the SSB online system and allocate the funds to school activities before 30 June 2025. To learn more about the SSB online system, download the step-by-step System guide for parents and carers or watch this School Saving Bonus video. System guide translations are also available in 14 languages.

 

The Department of Education’s SSB contact centre will remain available until 30 June 2025. The contact centre can be reached by: 

Year 11 Chemistry Slime Practical 

In our current area of study in Year 11 Chemistry, our students have been learning about the structure and uses of Polymers, so they created their own polymer in the 'slime practical'. To create your own slime at home simply add 44g of psyllium husk to 500 mL of water very slowly while mixing. Add food colouring and slowly heat the mixture on low heat for 10 minutes, knead the mixture and you should have your very own slime!

ONTTC Student of the Week

Reuben M in Year 11 has been awarded ONTTC’s student of the week. This award highlights the effort and commitment that Reuben has put in over multiple weeks. They consistently follow ONTTC’s values of attending with a positive mindset towards Integrity, Growth and Excellence. They also display ONTTC's underlying values of skill development, respect, teamwork, accountability, and safety. All these values contribute to our end goal of preparing your student with Employability skills which will best prepare them for the workplace.

 

Congratulations Reuben on being recognised for ONTTC’s Student of the Week!

 

The Outer Northern Trade Training Centre (ONTTC) is a trade training centre that provides secondary school students in and around the Northern suburbs the opportunity to enrol and complete vocational training in four trades: Automotive, Building & Construction Carpentry, Electro-technology and Plumbing.

Education Week

In 2025, Victoria will celebrate Education Week from Monday 19 May to Friday 23 May. 

 

All children deserve a place to learn and thrive in. This year’s theme Celebration of Cultures highlights the diversity of our communities and the importance of every child feeling safe and welcome at school. 

 

This year, our teaching staff will sign pledges around the school that make a commitment to continuing to improve how we are inclusive of diverse cultures and perspectives. 

 

As part of Education Week, we encourage our school community to learn more about our Country and our First Nations community by visiting 50 Words Project. It is an interactive map that encourages students and families to learn 50 words in the local Indigenous language of the land that they live on.

 

In honour of Education Week, please celebrate with us below some of the fantastic work our students and teachers are engaging with this term.

What's Happening in the Arts

In Year 10 Visual Communication Design, students have just completed a character design project inspired by Shaun Tan’s The Lost Thing. We began by asking: Are children’s storybooks still important today? and explored how they continue to engage young readers through imagination, storytelling, and visual communication.

 

Students also investigated the role of the illustrator and how illustrations work alongside text to bring characters and stories to life. Using these insights, they designed original characters for a children’s book audience and explored different presentation methods.

 

Ella R created an orthogonal drawing of her dragon character, showing it from multiple angles, while Will F designed a digital book page featuring his stylised pigeon character. The project combined creative thinking and technical skills, encouraging students to tell stories through design.

What's Happening in Physical Education

In VCE Physical Education, our Year 12 students participated in an engaging practical session exploring the role of feedback in skill improvement. Using badminton-based games, students were challenged to serve while blindfolded, helping them experience the importance of intrinsic, augmented, and knowledge of results feedback. The activity provided a unique and enjoyable way for students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios, deepening their understanding of motor learning and coaching principles. Laughter, focus, and collaboration filled the gym as students reflected on how different types of feedback influence performance and learning.

What's Happening in English

High Ground, directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson is set during the 1930s focusing on a mission in Arnhem Land. The film invites viewers to question the brutal violence, atrocities and the subsequent intergenerational trauma that impacts Indigenous communities today.

 

As part of our text study, Year 12 students will be exploring and analysing different features of the text including characters, relationships, setting, and plot. This analysis will help them plan, edit and construct analytical writing about the explicit and implicit ideas present within the text.

What's Happening in Mathematics

Students across Hazel Glen College have been actively engaging with mathematical modelling tasks to deepen their understanding and apply concepts in real-world contexts. These tasks have encouraged learners to analyse authentic problems, make informed assumptions, and develop mathematical representations to test and refine solutions. Through collaborative exploration and reflective thinking, students are enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fostering greater confidence and independence in their mathematical reasoning.  

What's Happening in Humanities

In Year 7 Humanities, students have been learning about Economics. In one lesson, the students were exploring the different types of economies including Traditional, Market, Command and Mixed. The students worked in groups to write a parody song about it using their favourite tunes. They had to explain the concept and make their own words to the music. They accompanied it with dance and used Capcut to put it all together.  There was some great teamwork and practical demonstration of economic concepts learned

They did an amazing job!

New Tutoring Hub in Secondary Years

We are thrilled to offer a dedicated and supportive space that many of our students in Secondary Years are currently engaging with: the Tutoring Hub. Located in P-Block buildings, the Tutoring Hub is lead by: Anna Gaffney, Brittany Zahra and Danielle Brodelis. With a focus on evidence-based programs and practice, our tutors support the literacy and numeracy needs of many of our young people at Hazel Glen College.

 

Programs we offer through tutoring include: Growing Mathematically, Mind Readers (HGC Developed Program) and Macqlit. 

 

Families of students involved in the Tutor Learning Initiative and Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Strategy have been contacted with more specific information.

Term 2 Inter-School Sport Update

As we progress through a busy and exciting Term 2, our students have shown tremendous commitment and enthusiasm across a wide range of interschool sporting events.

 

To the teams who didn’t progress this time – thank you for your energy, teamwork, and the way you represented our school with pride. Every game is a chance to grow, learn, and improve, and your efforts this term have laid a strong foundation for future success. Whether it was your first time trying a new sport or just a great opportunity to get active and involved, your participation matters – and we’re proud of you all!  

 

Results So Far

  • Year 8 Girls Tennis (NMR) – Not progressing
  • Intermediate Boys AFL – WIN▸ Progressing to NMR: Monday 28th July
  • Intermediate Boys Soccer – WIN▸ Progressing to NMR: Friday 8th August
  • Intermediate Girls Netball – WIN▸ Progressing to NMR: Friday 15th August
  • Senior Boys AFL – Not progressing
  • Senior Boys Soccer – Not progressing
  • Senior Girls Netball – WIN▸ Progressing to NMR: Friday 1st August
  • Whittlesea Division Cross Country (Years 7–12) – Top 15 progress to NMR▸ NMR Cross Country: Wednesday 18th June at Kilmore Racing Track

Upcoming Sports Events

Week 5

  • Friday 23rd May (Curriculum Day)▸ Whittlesea Division Track & Field – Years 7–12

Week 6

  • Junior Girls Football (Years 7/8)
  • 7/8 Boys Netball
  • 9/10 Boys Netball
  • 11/12 Boys Netball

Week 7

  • Intermediate & Senior Girls AFL
  • Year 8 Boys AFL
  • Year 8 Boys Soccer 
  • Year 8 Girls Soccer 
  • Year 8 Girls Netball 

Week 10

  • Year 7 Boys AFL
  • Year 7 Boys Soccer
  • Year 7 Girls Netball

Student Reminder

For students who have signed up for any upcoming events, please keep an eye on your Compass and email for updates about tryouts, team selections, and event details. Communication will be shared as information becomes available.

 

Acknowledgements

A huge thank you to all staff who have coached, supervised, supported, and helped coordinate our sporting teams this term. Your time, energy, and dedication are invaluable.

To our students, thank you for your enthusiasm, teamwork, and sportsmanship. You continue to represent our school with pride and integrity on and off the field.

 

And finally, thank you to our families – especially those who have assisted with transport and supported their children’s participation. Your involvement plays a crucial role in making these opportunities possible.

 

We look forward to seeing even more great results and positive experiences as the term continues!