2024 has started very well at Epping Secondary College, with all year levels having their return-to-school assemblies, and the school utilising these to allow all students to meet our new principal, Michael Rathborne.

Some year levels are already underway with their own year level lunchtime activities, with the 12s having a picnic on Monday February 5, and the general feel around the school is very positive and respectful.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Epping Secondary College has now officially launched its Uniform Menu.

Students are able to wear items all year round from the Everyday Uniform section, and items from the Sports Uniform section only on days when they are participating in a sport class or activity.

The aim of introducing a Uniform Menu is to disassociate from seasonal and gender-based uniform items, instead allowing students to feel comfortable in items of their choice from the Menu.

Some items are advertised as male or female fit, in allowing for the opportunity to purchase items based on body shape, as opposed to gender.

Some items are advertised as male or female fit, in allowing for the opportunity to purchase items based on body shape, as opposed to gender.

EPPING SECONDARY COLLEGE’S INDIGENOUS DESIGN 2024

Following consultation with students, staff, parents and carers over a two-year period Epping Secondary College has moved from the school’s white everyday short-sleeved polo shirt and light blue sport short-sleeved polo shirt to new designs that proudly incorporate an indigenous design specifically commissioned to represent Epping Secondary College and the land our school stands on.

It was very heartening to see students across all year levels wearing our new short-sleeved polos upon our return to school, with a large representation of the new shirt visible in our Year 7 cohort particularly.

ARTIST – BAYLEY MIFSUD

Commissioned to undertake the school’s new indigenous design, Bayley Mifsud is a proud member of the Peek and Kirrae Whurrong people of the Maar nation from South West Victoria (Warrnambool).

Her Aboriginal name is Merindah-Gunya meaning “Beautiful Spirit” in Peek Whurrong language, which was gifted to her through ceremony by her parents and Elders.

Bayley has a passion for community development, diversity and self-determination as well as continuing the gift of storytelling through her artwork.

Bayley now lives on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm (Melbourne) and has lived a large portion of her life here.

Her great granny Mary Clarke was a Bunurong woman. Bayley was taught Aboriginal art at a very young age, by her Elders at the Brambuk Cultural Centre in the Grampians in Victoria.

Epping Secondary College’s indigenous design, as explained by Bayley Mifsud, with artist’s sketch:

The design on this uniform represents the school, the two key elements being the land it is on, and the students. There is a meeting place, symbolic of the school itself.

There are six shapes included in the meeting place which represent the six-year levels.

I have also included a water line (in yellow) and added in the dots to symbolise the spiritual and physical connection that the school has to the land it is on.

Water is a key element in the country, and it was important for me to include this.

The dots in the meeting place show the students' connection to the school.

NEW UNIFORM ITEMS

• ESC’s white short-sleeved polo shirt will be replaced with a new short-sleeved polo shirt, available from Lowes.

Lowes Plenty Valley has sold out of outgoing white short-sleeved polos in sizes 12 and 14 medium and large.

Students who do not have an existing white short-sleeved polo shirt to wear can now purchase the school’s new everyday short-sleeved polo shirt.

• ESC’s blue sports short-sleeved polo shirt will be replaced with a new sports short-sleeved polo shirt, also available from Lowes Plenty Valley.

• ESC has launched a new long-sleeved fleecy pullover, as an additional uniform item.

•ESC will be launching new everyday girls’-fit shorts and will let our community know as soon as these arrive.

•Please note: Lowes are discounting the current blue sports short-sleeved polo top to $10 and have a 20% sale on white buttoned sleeved shirts.

Uniform item changeovers in schools are a lengthy process. The change and/or addition of these items at ESC has taken almost two years, in consultation with students, staff and parents.

Please be aware that there will be an extended changeover process as students transition from what will become the school’s old-style short-sleeved polo tops, every day and sport, to the new style.

The beginning of 2024 will have a strong emphasis on all Epping Secondary College students attending school in full uniform- which may consist of items from the school’s outgoing uniform choices or new items, as they are introduced.

For reasons of engagement, community and safety, the most important thing is that all students are in Epping Secondary College uniform, including black school shoes.

In the event that a student does not have adequate uniform, the school will do everything to assist with this, by way of State School Relief and/or by utilising the large range of spare uniform the school has collected – thanks to donations from our parent/carer community, which we are very grateful for.

STUDENT MOBILE PHONE USE DURING SCHOOL HOURS

From Term 1, 2020 a new mobile device policy was introduced across all Victorian government schools.

The policy means mobile phones, and other devices including airpods and headphones brought to school by students must be switched off and stored securely during the school day.

The aim of this policy is to provide:

A safe environment to learn without inappropriate mobile phone use (including cyberbullying) or distractions.
Greater opportunities for social interaction and physical activity during recess and lunchtimes.

The use of technology is important, but the risks and benefits from its use need to be managed.

In emergencies, parents can contact their children through the school office.

A small number of exceptions exist related to this policy.

These exceptions will only be available if a mobile phone is essential for a student in:

Managing a health condition.
Classroom learning.

Teachers may, if absolutely necessary, grant a classroom-based learning exception. Other exceptions are managed by the school principal.

In supporting this policy, a safe school and learning environment, and Epping Secondary College’s Code of Behaviour, any student who is found with their mobile phone, airpods, headphones or any other banned device at school during school hours and refuses to hand this over to a staff member will receive one day external suspension.

Students have been made aware of this in their first assemblies.

In relation to students who are found to have their device during school time, and who do hand their device to a staff member upon request, Epping Secondary College’s policy regarding devices states:

If a student uses their device at any point when they are not permitted, the following steps will be followed:

1st Offence – device handed to the member of staff and to be collected from the Front Office at the end of the day by the student (logged onto XUNO).

2nd Offence – device handed to the member of staff and taken to the Front Office to be collected by a parent/guardian of the student (logged onto XUNO, Office staff call home to inform).

Any repeat of device misuse will result in processes and sanctions at the school’s discretion put into place.

The school has started this year with a very strong student management focus on the school’s mobile device policy, including the use of airpods during school time.

Staff will regularly and routinely scan the school yard and classrooms, confiscating both phones and airpods if these are visible without explicit teacher permission.

CANTEEN

Students have commenced 2024 lining up to purchase items from the school canteen under the new shade sails that have been installed in front of the canteen.

This has resulted in a decrease in crowding in the enclosed section of the canteen where students are served.

We ask that all parents/carers ensure their children have access to a bank card or cash in order to make canteen purchases, as mobile phones are not permitted to be used by students on the school grounds during the school day.

Already the canteen area is a safer environment.

Kind regards,

Annette Spence

Assistant Principal

Positive Climate for Learning

Respect Resilience Care