Foundation

In Maths, we have been exploring 3D shapes in our environment and learning to identify shapes such as cubes, cylinders, spheres and cones. The children have enjoyed finding these shapes around the classroom and discussing where we might see them in everyday life. This unit of work culminated in designing and making rockets using cardboard boxes and cylinders. We hoped you liked their creations.

A friendly reminder that each Monday a new set of at least 4–5 readers/word cards are placed into your child’s reader bag to practise at home until the following Monday. If you could please sign which book/s your child reads each night, it would be greatly appreciated and helps us keep track of the books they have read.

Library day is every Friday. Please remember to return library books each week so your child can borrow a new book to enjoy.

Thank you for your continued support!

Mrs Tanya, Classroom Teacher

Year 1 & 2 B

Mrs Torney, Classroom Teacher

Year 3 & 4

It has been a busy and exciting couple of weeks for our Grade 3/4 students as we took part in both Cross Country and our Winter Sports event! We were incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and determination shown by all students throughout both events.

During Cross Country, students challenged themselves to keep going, encourage their peers, and give their best effort from start to finish. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces crossing the finish line and celebrating one another’s achievements. BBQ lunch was yum!!!!!!

Our Winter Sports event was another fantastic experience, with students eagerly participating in a variety of activities and team games. Whether they were competing, cheering on classmates, or trying something new, students represented our class beautifully and demonstrated excellent teamwork and resilience (especially given how freezing it was!)

A big thank you to our families for your support, encouragement, and help in preparing students for these events. We are so proud of the positive attitude and school spirit shown by everyone involved!

Mr Campbell & Mrs Gleisner, Classroom Teachers

Year 11

How is it already Week 4? The term is flying by, and there has already been plenty happening around the College.

A big highlight last week was Cross Country, and it was fantastic to see so many of our students show up, dress up and participate! The energy and involvement across the day was outstanding. It was also great to see some of our Year 11 students running alongside some of the Foundation and Grade 1 students. Never underestimate the example you set for our younger students — your leadership and encouragement make a real difference.

A big thank you also to our VM students, whose help is always greatly appreciated. From the set-up and pack-up of the Deb Ball stage and decorations, to assisting with Cross Country, your willingness to jump in and help wherever needed does not go unnoticed. Your contribution to the school community is outstanding.

It has also been fantastic to see our VM students continuing to do well in their work placements. These opportunities provide valuable real-world experience, help build confidence, and develop important workplace skills. The positive feedback from employers has been great to hear, and we are very proud of the way students are representing themselves and the College. Keep an eye on upcoming editions of the newsletter to see more of what our students have been up to in their placements. Once again a huge thank you to Robyn with her hard work in this space!

As the term continues, we begin moving into more assessments and start preparing for our End of Unit Exams. This is the time to stay organised, keep on top of your work, and make sure you are asking questions when needed.

Make sure you are touching base regularly with your teachers, especially if you’ve missed days of school. Staying connected helps make sure you don’t fall behind.

And don’t forget — the Push-Up Challenge begins soon! It’s a great opportunity to get active, support mental health awareness, and contribute to a fantastic cause. Every push-up counts!

Mr G’s Study Tip — Ask Early, Not Late

One of the best habits in VCE is asking for help early.

If you don’t understand something, don’t wait until the week before a SAC or exam.

Ask questions in class
Use study periods wisely
Catch up with teachers during Homework Club

Small questions answered early save big stress later.

“Successful students aren’t the ones who know everything — they’re the ones who ask when they don’t.”

Mr Gretgrix , Homeroom Teacher

Year 12

Year 12 Reflection:

Being a parent/guardian of a student in secondary college is hard as you navigate the jungle of hormones and emotions, friendships and breakups, and life choices. I know I had tough times as well as wow times as a parent and now as a grandparent. It’s hard to know how to get through it successfully to enable your child to experience success. I came across this article by Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia’s leading psychologists, and thought it was worth sharing.

Late April in Australia is the stretch of the year nobody writes about. The Easter eggs are gone. ANZAC Day is behind us. Term 2 has just begun — the longest, darkest, grindiest term of the school year, with no public holiday between now and June, the afternoons getting visibly shorter, and a quiet exhaustion settling into the back seat of every car at 3:15pm.

This is our third child's last year of school. I am acutely aware of how few of those car conversations I have left. Which is why this week I want to talk about the four words I have stopped saying at the school gate — and the small swap that has, slowly, rebuilt the bridge.

For years, I asked the same question every afternoon, the moment our daughter slid into the passenger seat.

"How was your day?"

Now what could possibly be wrong with that phrase? It’s an open question. It’s well-intentioned. It’s what every loving parent in the country is asking right now in a thousand school car parks. And — I am sorry to be the one to tell you this — it lands in the teenage ear like sandpaper on sunburn.

The teenage brain at 3:15pm is depleted. They have spent six hours performing — academically, socially, emotionally. Their cognitive reserves are at their lowest point of the day. "How was your day?" asks them to summarise, evaluate, and report on six hours of complexity in a single sentence. The only sentence they have the energy to produce is the one that closes the conversation.

Fine.

So I stopped asking it. Instead, I now ask one of these:

What surprised you today?
Was anyone kind to you?
Funniest thing that happened?
Tell me one thing. Anything.

These questions are smaller. They are specific. They do not ask for a verdict on the day; they ask for one moment from inside it. And what I have learned, over many years and three children, is that one specific moment is almost always the door that opens onto the bigger conversation.

Sometimes the answer is nothing. That's allowed. Silence in a car is one of the great parenting environments of our age — no eye contact, the road doing some of the work, the radio filling in. But more often, the smaller question gets a real answer. And once the door is open, you can walk through it.

A note on the season. If your child is more tired in May than they were in February, they are not failing. They are paying interest on the year. Term 2 is when teachers quietly tell us that motivation flatlines and behaviour wobbles. Earlier bedtimes, more morning light, slightly less talking in the car. That's the brief.

So this week, an experiment: try the smaller question. Once. See what comes back.

And if you are doing the pick-up alone, in the rain, with a child who has not made eye contact since they got in the car — I see you. We are doing the most important and least visible work in the country.

And finally — a teenager's translation guide

For parents who would like to know what their child is actually saying.

What they say What it means

"Fine." Please stop talking.

"I dunno." Please stop talking.

"Yeah, nah." I have an opinion but cannot be bothered defending it.

"It's a vibe." I cannot explain what I mean and I do not want to try.

"Slay." I am still in the car. Please continue driving.

Mrs. Barker and Mrs. Woodman , Year 12 Homeroom Teachers

Student Leadership Council