Junior and Middle and Senior Level Leaders Report
Beginning of Term 3:
Year 7 and 8 Leader Report
Year 7
Our Year 7 students have continued to work well across all subjects this term. We encourage families to regularly check Compass to read teacher comments and track assessment progress. Staying up to date with this feedback helps ensure students are meeting expectations and receiving the support they need.
We have noticed an increase in social media issues among students recently. We ask parents to monitor their child’s technology use and have open discussions about online behaviour. Some strategies to help keep your child safe include:
- Setting clear boundaries for device usage, especially at night.
- Encouraging them to share concerns if they encounter something inappropriate or upsetting online.
- Checking privacy settings together and discussing what is safe to post.
- Reminding them that online actions can have lasting consequences.
A highlight of the term was the School Athletics Carnival, where our Year 7 students behaved exceptionally well. Even though the weather washed out some events, their participation and enthusiasm were fantastic to see.
As the colder weather continues, we remind students there are a variety of lunchtime clubs available, where they can enjoy activities such as art or games indoors. For a full schedule, students can contact Samuel Battaglene.
Here’s to Spring just around the corner—bringing sunshine, smiles, and a fresh burst of energy for our learning and activities!
Grant Bowman – Year 7 Leader
Year 8
Junior School Report
I would like to introduce myself to all parents/carers and guardians, especially to those of our Year 8 students.
I am really excited by this opportunity and am looking forward to getting to know you and your children. I have been teaching English here at SOC to year 7, 8 and 9 this year. A little more about myself. I have been teaching for a very long time (25+ years-not wanting to give my age away!!) and have recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Psychology. I am not a qualified Psychologist but am able to offer counselling. I am passionate about our students and keeping them engaged/reengaging them in their education. I have high expectations and believe very strongly in the school values, which mirror my personal values. I am firm but fair and listen to all sides of a story before making any kind of judgement. On a personal note, I have two adult children and five grandchildren (you will be getting closer to guessing my age!!). I love knitting (I donate beanies, booties and blankets to hospitals and orphaniges in Bali), writing and treasured time with family here and in Indonesia. I look forward to working alongside you all and please don't hesitate to call me via the school number or email me.
I am in the process of going through unexplained absences and unexplained lates. I will be emailing those who need to get into Compass to adjust these. If you need any help with Compass, once again let me know and I will do my best to assist.
Social media seems to be a topic of discussion of late. Please make sure you are monitoring your child’s use of social media and if you have any queries let me know. Susan McLean (ex-Vic Police and Cyber Safety expert-you may have seen her on Sunrise, she works closely with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg) has a great website that has a lot of helpful hints for you and your family.
It is an exciting time for our students as they work through choosing their subjects for 2026 and Year 9. There has been lots of positive chatter around their selections. If you or your child have any questions/queries, please give me a call and if I can’t answer, I will find out and get back to you.
Looking forward to the rest of the year, and some warmer weather!
Debbie Walters – Year 8 Leader
Year 9 and 10 Leader Report
The start of Term 3 has been a busy one, with students settling into Semester Two and hitting the ground running. It was a pleasure to see so many of our students participate in — and cheer on their friends at — the Athletics Carnival at the beginning of this term. Despite the weather cutting the contest short, both students and staff showed great enthusiasm in their involvement.
Our Year 9 students recently took part in the Reach workshop as part of Wellfest 2025, where they explored different aspects of mental health and personal wellbeing. Over the coming weeks, both Year 9 and Year 10 students will also participate in Elevate workshops, following on from their sessions in Term Two.
We look forward to connecting with as many families as possible during our Learning Conferences on Wednesday, 20 August.
We encourage you to book your appointments early to ensure you can see your child’s teachers.
Both Ms Koszty and I are also excited to see our students perform in this year’s production of Beauty and the Beast Junior, running from 27–29 August — hopefully you’ve already secured your tickets for what promises to be a fantastic show.
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us through the school.
Bill Karakousis – Year 9 Leader
Sylvia Kosztyi – Year 10 Leader
Year 11 and 12 Leader Report
Year 11
Welcome to Term 3 – Year 11 Update
Welcome back, Year 11! We hope you had a relaxing break and were able to recharge after a busy Term 2. It’s great to have everyone back and ready to take on Semester 2. This term is a fresh start—a chance to reset, refocus, and make the most of the opportunities ahead.
Formal Planning
The Year 11 Formal is coming up on Thursday, 18th September, and planning is going ahead nicely! Please make sure you have booked your tickets and organised your tables. If you haven’t yet, now’s the time. The Formal Committee is working hard to ensure it’s a memorable night for everyone.
Goal Setting & Unit 1 Reflection
Now that Unit 2 has begun, take some time to set clear goals for this semester. What do you want to achieve academically and personally? Use your reflections from Unit 1 progress flow charts—these should be completed in Mentor and returned to your teacher. Let this be the foundation for a productive term.
Careers & Future Pathways
We hope you found the recent Careers Expo useful and informative. If you’re considering a tertiary pathway through TAFE or another option, don’t forget to book a meeting with Effie, our Careers Advisor, for personalised guidance.
Study Support
Remember, Homework Club runs every Monday and Wednesday—a perfect opportunity to get extra help from teachers. Be proactive, not reactive—ask questions, seek feedback, and communicate with your teachers. The work you put in now sets you up for success later.
Let’s make Term 3 a positive and productive one!
Kasey Boxell – Year 11 Leader
Year 12
As we approach the middle of Term 3, it is important to reflect on this very busy and important period in the Year 12 journey. This term has seen students balancing SACs, successful completion of coursework, while also managing commitments outside the classroom. It has been encouraging to see so many of our students showing resilience, responsibility, high expectations, and a willingness to seek feedback to improve their performance.
The Valedictory Committee ran a highly successful and delicious dessert stall in Week 3,headlined by Mackenzie and Jazmin's Tiramisu, Stefan's Subway cookies, and Kristina's 'Frog-in-a-Ponds'. The funds raised will go towards the Valedictory on Monday 20th October - for which tickets are still available via the Compass Newsfeed through the Try Booking link. We look forward to marking this special occasion with students, families, and staff.
As we head into the final stretch of the year, I urge all Year 12 students to maintain focus, ensure they attend each class, and take advantage of the support offered by their teachers. Every lesson counts, and the effort you put in now will make a real difference to your final results.
Thank you to families for your ongoing support throughout the year to date. We are excited to see what Term 4 brings and to celebrate the achievements of our graduating class.
Blake Cochrane – Year 12 Leader