Welcome back to radiant days!

We have commenced the new school year with a warm welcome to an incredible journey to our year 7 cohort and all new families at Sandringham College. We are thrilled to have you all at our College, ready to embark on the exciting adventure of secondary school education. The first weeks at a new school can be both thrilling and a bit nerve-wracking. Year 7 certainly “hit the ground running”  with locker allocation, school photos, assemblies and PAT testing all in the first few days. Navigating a new school can be challenging, but year 7 have had scheduled sessions in Step-up to help students get accustomed to organising their lockers and understand their timetables. Our aim is to empower students with the knowledge and organizational skills needed for a successful academic year and into the future.  

YEAR 7 CAMP 

Last week, year 7 headed off to Forest Edge Camp in Neerim South for three days of fun, challenges, and hopefully making new and lifelong friends. Transition camp is designed not just for adventure but also to help students bond with their teachers and peers. It's a fantastic way to kick off the school year on a positive note. The students had a fabulous time, braving 38 degree heat, foggy mornings followed by beautiful days and lots of enjoyable activities. A big thankyou to all of the amazing staff who gave up their time for this camp to go ahead, especially Ned Vasey , Prue Slingsby and Tom McInerney who spent countless hours preparing for this successful opportunity for our year 7 students. Also thank you to the year 9 mentors who also attended the camp for their incredible leadership, support and good humour. These are fine role models for our new cohort.  

COLLEGE WIDE ASSEMBLY 

What an extraordinary day it was on Friday February 2nd as we came together for our first whole school assembly since the challenging times of COVID.  The atmosphere was electric as students, staff, and parents gathered in our new, state-of-the-art sports stadium, marking a significant milestone for our school. The highlight of the assembly was the warm welcome extended to our Year 7 cohort, the Class of 2029,  all year levels united in clapping them into the stadium, symbolizing the beginning of their exciting journey at Sandringham College. We took a moment to acknowledge and celebrate our inspiring student leaders for 2024, whose dedication and commitment promise a year of positive change and leadership. The assembly concluded with an important but necessary evacuation practice, ensuring the safety and well-being of our school community. It was a day filled with unity, celebration, and preparation for the fantastic year ahead. As we returned to our Bluff Road campus, the sense of togetherness and enthusiasm set the tone for a remarkable year.  

NAPLAN 

A friendly reminder that NAPLAN will be conducted over three days, starting from Wednesday, March 13, and concluding on Friday, March 23. It's essential to recognize that NAPLAN doesn't capture all aspects of your child's strengths and weaknesses, nor does it predict their life success. However, you can use the results as insights into areas your child might consider for future improvement. 

At Sandringham College, we are mindful not to induce stress by excessive preparation or drilling for this assessment. Our students encounter the assessment style organically, ensuring they feel at ease and confident on the day.  

Feel free to openly discuss the upcoming NAPLAN assessment with your child, reassuring them that you are proud of their efforts, regardless of the outcome.  

NEW PARENT NIGHT 

Thursday February 15th was our New Parent Information Night where our parent community had the opportunity to attend Bluff Road campus and experience  “choose your own adventure” style presentations to gain a deeper understanding of how the College operates and to support their young person at home. Thank you to all those who attended and keep an eye out on Compass for more targeted Parent Presentations in the future, based on your feedback gathered on the night. Thankyou to the year 9 Captains, Roeline, Anastasia, Dottie and Jasmyn for being ushers on the night.  

STUDENT LEADERSHIP 

Under the guidance of Mr. Tim Clifton, the Student Leadership Team has kicked off the year with a wealth of enthusiasm and innovative ideas focused on not only supporting the College but also actively engaging in charitable initiatives. The team has already demonstrated a strong commitment to community service and social responsibility. Their efforts extend beyond representing the College to actively participating in charitable activities and agency work, showcasing a dedication to making a positive impact beyond the academic realm. These are incredible role models for other students at our College.  

As we move toward the second half of the term, I would just like to remind you of a few important "housekeeping" things:

Attendance matters. 

• We would like to emphasize the importance of regular attendance for your young person’s academic success. Every day of school is an opportunity for learning and growth. Consistent attendance ensures that your child stays connected with the curriculum and maintains a routine that fosters a positive learning experience. Missing school days can lead to gaps in understanding and hinder your child's progress. Your support in ensuring your child attends school regularly is invaluable in shaping their educational journey. If there are any concerns or challenges regarding attendance, please reach out to us so that we can work together to find solutions and support your child's learning.  
• Following from this, please help us help your child by not to accepting messages, calls or emails from your child during the school day requesting that you pick them up. All such communications must go through the school office, so that we can keep track of students who may be experiencing stress, social issues or are unwell. If your child contacts you privately, please don’t respond but call the office and speak with the necessary admin, year level leader or member of principal class. Your child is welcome to call from the office or we can certainly get them from class, should you need to speak with them.