Campus Principal Report

Life often seems bleak, especially in winter. We feel cold, we talk about it, we whinge to one another about how cold it is and often it feels like the season is going to last forever. Trust me, IT DOESN’T!

We look at the weather and we let it rule our mood for the day. I’ve never actually seen the 

weather change because we complain about it and to use the most common phrase of our time: ‘it is what it is!’

However, we always talk about it. Perhaps when we tell someone else it seems that little bit better, we are sharing our feelings. What I enjoy most is the expectation that just around the corner is a bright sunny day, that brightens our winter and tells us the season is changing again. That spring, one of the most beautiful times of the year, is coming, in fact it is here. There will be new growth, flowers, sunshine just about everything that is good about nature and the world. Nature is a wonderful thing, perhaps it places the coldest, greyest months immediately before the prettiest and most uplifting of seasons! Maybe our lives are the same.

Use this as an allegory for our lives. There are times when things seem bleak, that a ‘winter’ has fallen over our lives and emotions, when things start to get us down. When you feel like this, always look to the future, your own ‘spring’ will come. A time when things will start looking up and you will feel good again. Don’t wallow in the winter on your own, talk to people; let them into your life as they can help you get through your personal winter.  We have a great support network for people who are struggling, who feel down, who have personal turmoil. Never be afraid to share your feelings, we are here for you. We will help you see the Spring that is just around the corner. Just give us the chance! RuOK day is a great reminder to check in with those who may be going through a ‘wintery’ patch, a simple question can start a conversation, a laugh with a friend could be the start of their ‘spring’. 

Our wellbeing team is vast and has many different people that you can gain support from. Start with your classroom teacher or your Co-ordinator, but if you want you are welcome to approach the wellbeing team. Don’t let things build up, annoy you or affect what you are doing. 

Richard Hastings  

Banksia Campus Principal

Although we are coming to the end of Term 3 the number of programs and events occurring across the Campus and College do not wind down. The final few weeks of the term include significant Campus wide events.

Our Year 12 students have pretty much completed core content and are gearing up for Practice Exams and for their final VCE exams. In fact, those students studying a Unit 3/4 Language commence their formal language exams from the first week back in Term 4! So they are all about to embark on the final stretch of their secondary school journey with us. We are very proud of them and they are confidently well prepared for the exams and their future pathways because we have excellent staff who have worked very hard and have been with them throughout this journey. The Year 12 students attended their Formal, which is a highlight event for them and following their exams they will have the opportunity to attend the Graduation Ceremony held in the evening at the prestigious Robert Blackwood Hall at Monash University Clayton Campus on Friday 17th November. More information will be sent to year 12 students and their families next term. 

We have had two camps running this term; The Year 9’s have had a week in the City for their ‘City Experience’ non-overnight ‘camp’, some Year 9 students will attend the ‘Rite man Camp’ and Year 10 students from both campuses had the opportunity to attend Philip Island for 3 days. Our dedicated Physical Education Teachers spend countless hours coaching students in a range of sports for competition and recreation, it is not unusual to see students in the gymnasium early in the morning and during lunch breaks and after school with our PE staff. Sports Teams have been competing at the interschool level throughout the term, with many teams achieving outstanding success, such as the Year 7 Girls Volleyball Team who qualified for the State Final Championships, which will be held in November. 

The Music Teachers also teach students before and after school and the work they have been doing to extend the musical expertise of our students has also achieved outstanding success in the community and against other schools. We are very proud of the Acacia Senior Band who received the Platinum award at the recent Victorian School Music Festival, this award is given to bands that effectively achieve a flawless performance.  

Whilst our students are out in the community, we have hosted Primary students from a range of local Primary schools such as Keysborough Gardens, Keysborough Primary & Chandler Park Primary school at our Campus. They have enjoyed attending a number of mini-classes with our staff as we continue to develop strong, positive connections with the staff and the students from Primary schools to support transitions to Secondary School.

Please read the articles in this newsletter by our amazing students and staff about Junior School ‘History Day’ – it is always an incredible success due to the thorough planning and organisation of our Humanities Learning Area Leader and teachers. The students engage in hands on activities that provide insight into the historical periods they are studying in their Humanities classes.

We are fortunate to be able to introduce two new College wide events this term – House ‘Colour Run Day’ and ‘Yoga Day’.  Colour Run Day was managed by our Senior School House Captains and the entire school, including staff jogged around ( I am not sure if you can call it ‘running’) around the oval whilst House Leaders dusted us with house coloured powder. The event included a range of other outdoor and physically active events to encourage house spirit.  Yoga day is a wonderful opportunity for all students to receive instruction from trained yoga instructors about the health and wellbeing benefits of breathing techniques, stretching and mindfulness. We are fortunate to have received a grant to fund a range of activities that focus on developing understanding and connection to cultural diversity. We continue to ensure all students connect to our RED values of Respect, Excellence and Diversity.

Finally, thank you to al the families who have completed our Parent Opinion Survey. The feedback and reflections you provide are invaluable and help in the planning and directions that the school takes. Please note in your diaries our final Parent/Student/Teacher Evening for 2023 on Thursday 14th September 3:30pm – 6:50pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss how your child is performing and our teachers want to meet as many parents/carers as possible.

Wishing you a safe and restful Term 3 break as we look forward to warmer weather.

Warm Regards,

Robyn Hughes

Acacia Campus Principal