WELC & International Student Report

Message from the International Coordinator and WELC Coordinator 

Westall International Student Program

We are excited to share the highlights from Term 1 of the International Student Program!

Welcome to Our New Students! We began the term with the warmest of welcomes to 28 new students from Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Saudi Arabia. It has been wonderful to see everyone settling in well, making new connections, and adjusting to their new environment. The picture below captures a special moment at our New Student Check-in Lunch, where students had the chance to meet their peers and feel more at home in their new school community.

Lunar New Year Celebration

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, we came together to welcome the Year of the Snake. Our international students engaged in various games and activities to mark this special occasion. It was a fantastic event where everyone had a great time, and we are grateful for the energy and enthusiasm that our students brought to the celebration.

As always, we are committed to providing a supportive and enriching environment for all of our international students. We look forward to continuing our journey together in the upcoming terms.

Reminder - plan travel only in school holidays

If international students are planning for school holidays, we would like to remind you to plan in accordance with the official Victorian school term dates.

Term Dates in Victoria:

• Term 1 Ends: Thursday, 28 March 2024
• Term 2 Starts: Monday, 15 April 2024
• Term 2 Ends: Friday, 28 June 2024
• Term 3 Starts: Monday, 15 July 2024
• Term 3 Ends: Friday, 20 September 2024
• Term 4 Starts: Monday, 7 October 2024
• Term 4 Ends: Friday, 20 December 2024

Travel Guidelines:

• Departure Date: Students must not leave earlier than the last day of the term.
• Return Date: Students must return before or on the first day of the next term.

Homestay students must submit their travel details to the International Student Coordinator for approval at least two weeks before departure.

For any questions or assistance, please contact the International Student Program.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Ms Summer Bao

International Student Program Coordinator

WELC Report

This term we have enrolled 25 new students to our Language Centre and we are currently running 5 classes. These groups are based on students’ English levels. Our new students have settled in well. All WELC students went on an excursion to the Yakult Factory in Dandenong. This was a wonderful opportunity to have a tour around a working factory. Students learned all about the process of making Yakult and the beneficial probiotics inside. 

They were given some Yakult to taste test. Our teacher, Mr Udara has been working with our senior girls on basketball skills recently, and this week they played a match on Wednesday against the Westall Secondary senior team. Our WELC students won 8:6! Congratulations to Sumire, May, Bella, Rena, Farzana, Lisa and Mr Udara for preparing so well and playing a fantastic game!

We are running Reading Program before school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. All Group 4 and 5 students should attend but all students are welcome. Students who come to these sessions are able to read aloud to a teacher. Reading aloud is a wonderful skill that helps reading pronunciation and comprehension.  Students are encouraged to practice reading aloud in their homes, too, to improve even more in this area. We also are running a Revision Club on Monday after school. If you would like your child to attend this session in order to have the chance to ask teachers for help or revise vocabulary words, please contact the Language Centre.

Students are only in our program for a very short time so we encourage all students to spend time at home practicing their English. If there are any questions, students are always welcome to come and talk to teachers at school.

WELC events coming up

Mon 3 March – Photo Day (Students must wear full school uniform)

Tues 4 March – Parent Teacher interviews (Students will finish school at 12:45 pm and all families are encouraged to attend the interviews).

Friday 7 March – Whole School Swimming Carnival

Thursday 13 March – Excursion to Sovereign Hill

Ms Debby Morgan

WELC Coordinator 

Westall Writing Competition!

Ms Jacqui Binder and Ms Debbie Morgan are pleased to announce our first WRITING COMPETITION FOR 2025. Please see attached flyer.

First Prize - Stationary Pack valued at over $75

Second Prize - Fidgets and lollies large bundle

Third Prize - Fidgets and lollies small bundle