Mini School Updates

Junior School Update

Year 8 Gumbuya World Excursion

This term our Year 8's attended Gumbuya World as part of the Alternative Camp Program where students enjoyed a fun day in the water!

Year 7 Camp

Students had a wonderful time at Waratah Bay Beach Camp earlier this term, making new friends and making memories together. Students enjoyed surf lessons, beach walks and the giant swing. 

Middle School Update 

We have had a busy start to the year in Middle School. Our Year 9’s have sat their final NAPLAN with a wonderful completion rate. They were rewarded with a delicious and fulfilling barbeque – cooked by some elite Lowanna staff. Each of the NAPLAN tests help indicate student growth and areas of improvement for individuals and the school.

Our Year 10 students have started looking for their work experience placements (June 2nd – 6th) and filling out paperwork. It is exciting to hear them talking about their futures and careers that they would like to try.

Across the Middle School, we are reminding students of the processes such as having a yellow pass if you’re out of class, being in full school uniform from when you enter school grounds, staying on the school grounds during the day and finally, being prepared and on time for class. These are the expectations of all Lowanna College students and as we reach the end of a long first term, we would like to remind you of the expectations we have of our students.

We had a morning tea for all our new students last week - it was lovely to meet all the students and put some names to faces! 

Finally, we have had another great sports day – it was fantastic to see the students in their house colours having fun at the Athletics Carnival. 

Enjoy a well-deserved break and I look forward to seeing everyone back for Term 2! 

Sarah Longden

Middle School Leader

Senior School Update 

Somehow, we find ourselves with the end of term busy period upon us again. Our senior students have been busy learning to negotiate and balance the increasing work demands and the first round of SACs across all subjects. As well as the excitement of an upcoming period of rest and refreshment, there is the stress of finalising assessment pieces, demonstrating the required skills and knowledge for different subjects, not to mention all the other aspects of life including work, socialising and sports, musical or other extracurricular activities.

With Parent Student Teacher Interviews coming up at the end of term, it is a pertinent time to reinforce that the opportunity to meet as a partnership between student, parent and school is an immensely valuable experience in terms of receiving constructive feedback on areas for improvement and ensuring we are doing all we can to support students in achieving their goals. Purposeful feedback is invaluable to the ongoing learning and success of students in their studies. These conversations should form the basis of some reflection on successes this term and some goal setting for students coming into Term 2. Setting explicit goals for success and tracking progress toward achieving them is a great way to ensure that we are committed to achieving excellence. For anyone who is unable to attend on Thursday evening or Friday morning, please don’t hesitate to contact the college if you would like to arrange a time to discuss your student’s progress on the phone. Contact with your student’s teachers can also be made using the email function in the Compass portal.

Academic honesty is essential, and we encourage all students to ensure that any work submitted for assessment is their own. This includes properly acknowledging sources, avoiding plagiarism and upholding the highest standards of integrity in their studies. Using study periods effectively, attending after-school study sessions and making time to meet with teachers outside of class are great strategies to ensure that students' work is an accurate reflection of their abilities. These practices not only reinforce learning but also contribute to the development of strong study habits that will support students in their academic journey.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Attendance Award along with our RIDGE Award winners for Term 1. Attendance is a key factor in academic success, and we are proud to recognise those students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their education by maintaining high levels of attendance throughout the term. Well done to all our award recipients!

In Week 2 of Term 2, 50 of our Year 11 VCE students along with 5 staff will be heading to Melbourne to visit a variety of universities and tertiary institutions. They will also attend the 2025 VCE Careers Expo to explore, discover and learn more about the different options for potential course selections as they move towards the end of their schooling. The universities will be conducting detailed presentations about courses, benefits and supports they offer. Students will also take part in campus tours and briefings about entry requirements. The VCE Careers Expo has 150 exhibitors and students will be able to research and gain resources from the stalls. This is a really exciting event that we are ecstatic to be able to offer students and we encourage you to return consent forms to confirm your place if you haven’t already, as spaces are limited. Thank you to Kirsty and Alisha in Careers for their efforts in all the planning that has gone into organising this event.

To finish, the Senior School Team wishes you all a happy, healthy and positive Easter break with family and friends. We look forward to seeing you all return rejuvenated and revitalised for a strong Term 2.

Nicole Taylor

Senior School Leader