WELC & International Student Reports

Message from the International Coordinator and WELC Coordinator 

WELC Update

Miss Debby Morgan 

WELC Coordinator

Term 3 is almost finished and it’s been a very busy term!  In the next few days we will hold Graduation to celebrate the achievement of nineteen students who will move on to their mainstream schooling.

Students who will be attending Westall Secondary College next year have all selected their subjects for next year. This was a big task involving many information sessions and chats with our Transition coordinator and with parents. We thank you for your help in guiding your children in these important decisions. I also want to give a big thank you to our Transition Coordinator, Ms Tetoros, for all her hard work in helping our students understand their options and ensuring that their selections were in on-time.

Earlier this term all the WELC students participated in the Westall Athletics Day. After this, some of our students qualified to participate in the Kingston Athletics Carnival. In early September, five WELC students took part in this event and we congratulate Abdullah, Albatool, Mingze, Safa, Taichi and Natsumi on participating.  Well done to Safa and Mingze who placed on the podium for their events!

All the WELC students went on an excursion to the Melbourne Museum on 1 September Students enjoyed exploring the history of Melbourne, including learning about Phar Lap. We also watched a 3D film at Imax on ‘Australia: The Top End” which showed a fascinating view of the beautiful natural scenery and interesting animals that can be found around Australia.

Throughout this term some students have learnt swimming at Monash University. Students have enjoyed learning new skills and we hope they continue to develop these skills so they can continue to be safe around water.

School holidays will start on Friday 18 September and school will start again on Monday 5 October. We wish all students and families a safe and happy holiday. Next term, we will get new students and everyone will be allocated new classes based on their current English level. Any time spent on English on the holidays can have a big impact on students’ skills. We encourage students to enjoy their free time on the holidays but also encourage them to practice their English by listening to the news, reading books and watching movies.

Miss Debby Morgan 

WELC Coordinator

WELC-Term 3 Excursion to the Museum

On Tuesday, September 1st, the WELC students gathered in their classrooms earlier than usual so that the Class Teachers could take the attendance. All the students were dressed in school uniform and comfortable shoes and were looking forward to travelling into the city by train.

It was decided, because of the fine weather, to stay on the train until Town Hall Station where we descended the train and walked in twos, keeping to the left on the footpath until we reached the Melbourne Museum. Students then put their backpacks on trolleys to be stored away until the end of the visit.

The first activity on our itinerary was viewing the ‘The Melbourne Story’ section. The first item to catch our eye was the legendary New Zealand-bred champion thoroughbred racehorse who became an Australian cultural icon during the Great Depression. The racehorse was standing inside a glass case, still looking magnificent. 

There were many aspects of old Melbourne to look at. 

After a short break, we ventured into the IMAX theatre where we enjoyed viewing a thirty-minute film about the Australian wildlife in 3D. 

The idea of eating lunch before visiting the ‘Our Wondrous Planet’ Exhibition was a much-welcomed break as concentrating on instructions, listening to and reading information can be quite tiring for English language learners.

There were other school groups visiting also so, at 2pm we made our way to Parliament station and returned to Westall station. It was home time and the end of a very informative day’s excursion.

Stephanie Sutton

WELC Teacher

WELC ART ELECTIVE

Recently, our Art theme was ‘Under the Sea’. Students were encouraged to create colourful underwater scenes featuring sea plants and at least three different sea creatures. They then brought their artwork to life by adding watercolour paints.

The students’ artwork is now on display in front of the WELC office in A Corridor. We

 encourage you to take a look and admire their creativity!

WELC Swimming Program

The WELC Swimming Program was a great success again this term, giving students the chance to get active, improve their swimming skills and enjoy spending time together outside the classroom. The program was delivered in partnership with Monash Sport at the Doug Ellis Swimming Pool on the Clayton campus.

Held every Wednesday during Period 4, the sessions gave students a chance to practise their swimming and water-safety skills in a supportive and enjoyable environment. Students showed great enthusiasm each week, with strong attendance throughout the program.

It was great to see students encouraging each other, trying new challenges and becoming more confident in the water. The sessions provided plenty of opportunities for students to have fun, stay active and build positive connections with their classmates.

Well done to Stephanie, Debby and Namila, who attended the sessions and encouraged students throughout the term. Overall, it was a fun and rewarding experience for our WELC students.

Namila Wanniarachchi

WELC Teacher

WELC students at Athletics Carnival

Students proudly represented our school at the Athletics Carnival on Thursday, 5 September. Eight schools participated in the carnival, with students competing in a variety of events, including running, discus, javelin, high jump and long jump.

From WELC, special recognition goes to Mingze Li, Safa Noori, Natsumi Hayashi, Albatool Alzailaei, Abdullah Alzailaei and Taichi Kawakami for winning place ribbons and participating in a number of events throughout the day.

Congratulations to all our students who participated and represented the school with enthusiasm and great sportsmanship!

Udara Gamage

WELC Teacher

International Student Program Update

1. Safe & Sound: Understanding Work Rights and Safety

As part of our Safe & Sound program for homestay students, we welcomed Kingston Youth, who delivered an important workshop focusing on work rights and workplace safety.

The session provided our students with practical information about their rights and responsibilities when working in Australia, as well as how to recognise unsafe situations and seek help when needed.

This was a particularly valuable session for our international students as they begin to navigate part-time work and life in Australia. We thank Kingston Youth for sharing their expertise and helping our students become more informed and confident members of the community.

2. Year 12 Wellness Program: Finishing with Gratitude

Our Year 12 Wellness Program has now come to a close after a wonderful series of activities designed to support our students' wellbeing, personal growth and preparation for life after secondary school.

The final two sessions provided meaningful ways for students to look towards their future while reflecting on the people who have supported them throughout their school journey.

Pathways Presentation

Our final pathways session was delivered by Ms. Lyndal Yardas, who provided our Year 12 students with valuable information and guidance about their options beyond Year 12. The presentation encouraged students to think about their future pathways and consider the opportunities available to them after graduation.

A Thank You to Our Teachers

To finish the program, students took part in a special gratitude activity. Each Year 12 student hand-wrote a personal thank-you note to one of their Year 12 teachers.

It was a simple but meaningful activity that gave students an opportunity to pause and recognise the teachers who have supported, encouraged and guided them throughout their final year. We hope these small acts of gratitude were as meaningful for our teachers as they were for our students.

3. August Birthday Celebration

We also celebrated our August birthday students this month! It was wonderful to come together as an International Student Program community to celebrate another year for our students. We hope everyone who celebrated a birthday in August had a fantastic day filled with happiness, friendship and plenty of cake!

4. Holiday Travel Reminder 

International students are required to attend school for the full term, which means you cannot leave early or return late. Please plan carefully and submit your travel details to the school for approval before finalising any bookings.

If you are considering travel arrangements, please contact the International Student Program team early to discuss your plans and ensure compliance with attendance requirements.

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact us.

Kind regards,

International Student Program Team

Westall Secondary College

Ms Summer Bao

International Coordinator