It's been an eventful time here at St Helena as our Year 10 students dive into the world of career exploration and academic milestones.

Pathways Week: Discovering Future Careers

Pathways Week has been a fantastic opportunity for our Year 9 and 10 students to explore various career options and gain insights into different industries. Students have been able to envision potential career paths. This initiative is crucial in helping them make informed decisions as they plan their academic journey towards Year 11 and 12.

From healthcare to technology, arts to sciences, our students have shown enthusiasm and curiosity in discovering where their passions and talents might lead them. We extend our appreciation to all the speakers and organizers who made Pathways Week both educational and inspiring.

Celebrating Success: Year 10 Formal

Last week, our Year 10 students enjoyed a night to remember at their formal. It was a spectacular event filled with laughter, dancing, and joyful memories. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Senior School team for their dedication and effort in organizing such a wonderful evening. The smiles and excitement on our students' faces were a testament to the success of the event.

Academic Milestones: Year 10 Mid-Year Exams and GAT

We are pleased to report that the Year 10 mid-year exams and the General Achievement Test (GAT) have concluded smoothly. Our students approached these assessments with focus and determination, reflecting their commitment to their studies and preparation for future academic challenges.

As we move forward, we encourage our students to continue striving for excellence in their studies and to utilize the insights gained from Pathways Week in making informed choices for their subject selections in 2025.

End of term

Students finish at 1.05 pm on Friday 28th June. Periods 1 to 4 will run as usual and buses will be available. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable break. Term 3 commences 8.30 am on Monday 15th July.

Reports

Reports will be published via Compass on the 28th of June. If you have any queries about your reports, please direct any technical queries (missing grades etc) via Askleadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au. For subject specific queries, please contact your child's teacher via email. Staff will respond when we return from the June break.

Cool at School

Our monster raffle is shaping up to be amazing! Thank you to all the parent volunteers sourcing prizes, and all the generous families and businesses who have donated. We have some incredible prizes on offer. Donations will still be taken until Week 2, Term 3 - just email Askleadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au

Tickets will be distributed in Week 5, and the raffle will be drawn in November. There will be some great prizes on offer for the student, Strive group, and staff member who sell the most tickets.

House Olympics

Our House Captains are currently organising a House Olympics to run alongside the actual Olympics from Monday 29th July to Friday 9th August. We are hoping to run a variety of activities at lunchtime across different domains. Students will have the opportunity to win house points for their house with only one house able to take out the 2024 House Olympics!

St Helena Alumni Olympian

St Helena alumni and ex school captain Jaryd Clifford will be running in the Paris Paralympics. An extraordinary athlete, Jaryd has shown amazing fortitude and determination to overcome his visual disability to excel as a long distance runner. We wish Jaryd all the best for the 2024 Paralympics.

Staff shortages

I want to update you on a current challenge we are facing regarding teacher shortages due to illness. We understand the impact this situation may have on our students and families and want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to manage these absences effectively.

Due to the ongoing teacher shortages, we have implemented several measures to cover classes, including members of the Principal team and other staff taking on additional teaching responsibilities. Despite these efforts, there are instances where we simply do not have enough teachers available. As a result, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel senior classes during Period 1 or Period 5 on occasion.

We recognize that this is frustrating and inconvenient, particularly for parents who may need to adjust their schedules. Please know that these decisions are never taken lightly and are made only when absolutely necessary.

We prioritize senior classes for cancellation during these periods for several reasons:

Transportation and Supervision: Seniors are more likely to have independent means of transportation to and from school, reducing the logistical impact of missed classes.

Independence and Responsibility: Older students are typically more accustomed to studying independently and managing their time effectively, which can mitigate the impact of missed instructional time.

Minimizing Disruption: By focusing cancellations on senior classes, we aim to minimize disruption to the overall school schedule while prioritizing the needs of younger students who may require more structured supervision and support.

We understand the importance of continuity in education and are actively working to minimize disruptions as much as possible. Our commitment to the academic progress and well-being of our students remains unwavering, and we appreciate your understanding and patience during this challenging time.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Your partnership and support are invaluable as we navigate these temporary challenges together.

Debating Club News

Since our last update, two very interesting topics have been debated.

On 23 May, Round 3 of the season took place with our D Grade team rising to the challenge as Year 7 students competing against Year 9 students from Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School. Arguing the topic ‘That Australia should implement a 4-day school week’, most students would, no doubt, be easily swayed to accept such a proposition. Our team comprised of Sritha Madapati, Joshua Davis and Matilda Bates put up a strong fight narrowly losing, having to take the affirmative stance.

Round 4 recently took place on 20 June, with our team again facing Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School, although against different students. This time, the team, comprised of Caitlin Pollock, Joshua Dworkin and Madeleine Taylor, argued the negative position on the topic ‘That all Australian elections should be held online’ and had a terrific win with Joshua Dworkin being awarded best speaker.

Round 5 will take place at the start of next term and our debaters will argue the topic, ‘That streaming services (e.g. Netflix) made the wrong decision to ban password sharing.’

From the Principal 2024

Term 2 Weeks 10 & 11 · 26 Jun 2024

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