DEPUTY PRINCIPAL STUDENTS

YEAR 7 COMMUNITY DAY

The Year 7 cohort celebrated their community day on Tuesday July 21 at the Mercy campus. In a challenging year, it was a great opportunity to bond as a year level and participate in some active and engaging sessions. 

The morning started with a presentation from Victoria Police which focused on student online safety and the support systems available if students needed assistance. In learning groups, the students then rotated through the planned sessions: yoga, boot camp, self-defence, Rock and Water, wellbeing, and African drumming.

I would like to thank the Year 7 students for their engagement in the day and their willingness to try new things. It was great to see the smiles on the their faces and see them move out of their comfort zone with the encouragement of their peers.  I would also like to thank our Year 9 Peer Support leaders who supported the Year 7’s on the day acting as fantastic role models, and the Year 11 VET Fitness girls who facilitated the boot camp session in the gymnasium. Finally, I would like to thank the staff and presenters who worked with the students on the day. 

The students and staff were surveyed following the day to see how it could be improved in future years. Below are some responses to the question: "What did you enjoy most about the day?"

• ‘I enjoyed having a relaxing, and optimistic day, where I was able to strengthen friendships with my peers.’
• ‘I enjoyed Yoga the most because it was calm, relaxing and I really needed to release the tension inside of me.’
• ‘All of it!’

YEAR 11 LEADERSHIP SEMINAR 

The Year 11 Leadership Seminar was held on Tuesday July 28. It was an opportunity for the 2021 Year 12’s to gain an understanding of what leadership opportunities will be available to them in their final year at the college.

The clear message to the students is that they are already leaders in our college community and undertaking an official leadership role would only enhance their leadership skills. Our Principal, Mrs Marg Blythman, began the afternoon with a reflection on servant leadership, her reflection on her own leadership journey, the importance of student voice, and what she looks for in future student leaders. Mr Greg Kluske, Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching, then spoke about his personal life journey, the road to leadership, what inspires him, and a reflection on the core values of the college. Both presentations shared the focus of their leadership: to serve the community and strive to continually improve the college.

After lunch, Ms Joelene Cappola shared her experience with public speaking and how to engage an audience. The students then moved into their respective houses to work with their House Leaders and current Year 12 House Captains. In the final session Mr Mel Ficarra lead a ‘Question and Answer’ session with the current College Captains and Vice Captains, Mrs Sophie Law, Miss Taylor-Paige Wilkie and Mr Lachlan Murdoch. It was a great opportunity for the Year 11 students to hear their reflections on leadership and ask questions about their specific roles and experiences. The College Captains and Vice Captains told how they felt 12 months ago, when they were sitting where the Year 11’s are now. They shared tips on how they balance their roles with their studies and the positive impact of both applying and now leading the college.

We encourage our Year 11 students to strongly consider applying for leadership opportunities in 2021. Attached is the Student Leadership Application booklet for your information.

Mr Heath McClaer

Deputy Principal Students