Whole School News
WHOLE SCHOOL NEWS - including WURUN CAMPUS
Multicultural Day
Collingwood College's school community came together to celebrate the colours and richness in diversity that we have at our school! Armed with a 'passport' each, students visited different 'countries' and 'places', learning about each other's culture, language and traditions. We would like to thank our beautiful families, students and staff members who have given their time, effort and resources to provide us with such an enriching learning experience.
Primary Chinese Concert
Term 3 wrapped up with the highly anticipated Chinese Primary Concert as part of the celebrations for Multiculture Day. The primary school students practiced and rehearsed their performance for five weeks leading up to the show. The concert was centred around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the second biggest festival in China. Students learned the story of the heroic archer Hou Yi and his beautiful wife Chang’e who became the Moon Goddess. They explored the history and significance of this festival and how it is celebrated in China, and presented an array of performances. These included:
- Prep, Grade 1 & 2: Singing Chinese songs
- Grade 3&4: Lion Dancing
- Class 3: a Play of the Mid-Autumn Festival Story
- Class 4: Chinese Fan Dancing
- Grade 5&6: Dragon Dancing
- Class 5: Chinese Song (月亮代表我的心)
- Class 6: Chinese Song (月亮圆)
I was very impressed by the hard work and enthusiasm that the students brought to every rehearsal, they really brought their best efforts and engaged in these activities with open-mindedness and excitement. The day of the performance was a lot of fun for everyone, with all the students supporting and encouraging each other in their acts. It was truly beautiful to see everybody excited about celebrating Chinese culture.
Danni Tzivakis
Chinese teacher Yr.3-6
ELC Events
ELC students had a fun-filled day of ice skating to build coordination and teamwork.
Followed by a visit to ArtVo, where students explored creativity through interactive 3D art.
Younghee Cho
EAL, English Language Centre Teacher
Chinese and Korean language teacher
ELC Exhibition
Our ELC students have been hard at work designing, painting, crafting and creating their own artwork, inspired by our visit to the NGV, and were thrilled to showcase their unique creations to the whole school.
Younghee Cho
EAL, English Language Centre Teacher
Chinese and Korean language teacher
Dear Parents/Carers,
This is gentle reminder regarding our voluntary Family Financial Contributions request for 2024.
Whilst Government funding is provided to every public school to fulfil the standard Victorian curriculum, it is contributions made by parents/carers that help ensure that our can continue to offer the best possible additional opportunities, facilities, and resources to develop to foster student learning and a passion for education.
With your continued financial support, we will be able to achieve this by contributing to the cost of consumables and resources that our students require throughout the 2024 school year. Any financial contributions you make will also assist in the development and maintenance of our school programs, our library and our buildings and grounds.
You can make contributions to the school at any time via Compass course confirmation, located in the top right corner of the Compass Parent Portal. You can also contribute over the phone, or in person at the school office.
If you need any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to contact us at the office by phone 9417 6681 or via email Collingwood.co@education.vic.gov.au
If you have any queries, would like to set up a payment plan or need support for any payments, please contact our Assistant Business Manager Kristina Smith.
Chris Millard
Acting Principal
Staff Profiles
Each newsletter, six staff profiles will be included to help families get to know the staff at our college. Enjoy finding out about the expertise, passion, and life experiences that our staff bring to teaching and learning at Collingwood College.
Rhonda Cadman
Wurun Careers Team
At high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career. I decided to get a job and work for a while. I was in my mid 20s when I went to University and studied Public Relations. This led to work in media and communications roles at Telstra, Department of Human Services, Corrections and then RMIT. At RMIT I realised people used the website to make career decisions! I was fascinated and so enrolled in a Careers Education course! I worked for the Department’s Career Insights program and have been at Collingwood in the Careers Team for 3 years now. I love hearing about the aspirations our students have for the future.
Bianca Maxwell
Acting Assistant Principal
As a little girl I wanted to be a teacher, just like both my grandmothers and I started honing my craft on my younger sister from a young age.
I first came to Collingwood as a pre-service teacher in 2004 and fell in love with the school and have been here ever since. I love being surrounded by the creative and kind people who are attracted to this school community.
Plus working in the early years of primary school always provides me with a funny story or two to share at the dinner table.
Lori Michael
Teaching and Learning Leading Teacher & MYP Coordinator
I knew I wanted to be a teacher by the time I finished High School - I was inspired by my English teachers and the literature I was introduced to, and wanted to pass this on and remain in this environment! I have taught in a range of educational settings including regional, suburban and inner-city schools. This is my seventh year at Collingwood College - originally starting as an EAL Learning Specialist and creating the English Language Centre. I completed a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English and Linguistics - hence, I love the study of everything language and literature related! I certainly embody being a life-long learner as acquiring skills and knowledge through study and travel has been a constant in my adult life. I am passionate about teaching and learning and excited to have the role of introducing the IB MYP. Outside of teaching, I love summer beach holidays/camping, watching movies, local walks around the Yarra and family time! I believe Collingwood College is an amazing community with exceptionally kind, creative young people.
Hussein Ibrahim
Student Wellbeing and CALD Families Liaison
My main professional passion is helping those in need the most, which is why I enrolled at Victoria University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts with a Community Development major. In addition, I hold a Somali language interpreting accreditation. I have spent the previous eighteen years working in the social services field, holding positions with DHHS as a tenant and property manager, a freelance interpreter, a CALD mental health support worker, and a refugee settlement worker. I landed six years ago at Collingwood College. Due to the distance, I wasn't sure how long I would stay at Collingwood College at first. Nevertheless, day by day, I'm falling more and more in love with the school's vibrant community of students, teachers, staff, parents, leadership team, and school council, and I believe I've discovered where I want to be and will keep making positive changes (CC). I'm also observing the great impact of the positive change I committed to creating for this community. Finally, I would like to say how pleased and fortunate I am to work at Collingwood College and be a part of this incredible, varied community.
Shivendra Singh (Shiv)
ICT Project Manager
People know me as Shiv. I joined Collingwood College as the ICT Project Manager in early 2022, coinciding with the establishment of the Wurun Senior Campus. Jointly hired by Fitzroy High School and Collingwood College, I work across multiple campuses, including Wurun and Collingwood Alternative School, leading IT initiatives alongside a talented team of four. With nearly a decade of experience in IT operations spanning both corporate and government sectors, I’m passionate about creating a supportive environment for students, staff, and our community. I worked with Armadale Primary, Elsternwick Primary, and Victorian College of Arts and Secondary before working with Collingwood College. Collingwood College has a special place in my heart, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact, helping students thrive and contributing to a brighter future.
Cameron McCowan
Humanities and English Teacher
I come from a family of educators, and it has always been my goal to become a secondary school teacher. My background was in teaching English as a second language to adults, which gave me a taste of teaching but I always wanted to transition into secondary school. I completed two of my teaching placements here at CC early in the year and very quickly developed a positive impression of the school because of its incredible diversity, wonderful staff and good-natured students. I was then ecstatic to get a job teaching English & Humanities at the school. I have a great passion for developing student literacy and English language, as well as for my favourite Humanities areas of History & Geography, and I have greatly enjoyed working with students at the school in these subjects thus far. I have also thoroughly enjoyed working with a large number of our school’s growing international student community in the EAL program. Thank you to the school community and to the staff for being so welcoming to me so far, and I hope to remain at Collingwood College for years to come.
INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE (updated 27 October) - Contact Person - Steve Wu
Please click on the attachment below to see a list of Stringed instruments for sale. If you have an instrument for sale please email Steve at: fengchih.09@gmail.com
COLLINGWOOD COLLEGE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM
Collingwood College is online! Feel free to follow us on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/collingwood.college/ and like us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/collingwood.vic.edu.au/ to keep up to date with everything that our school has to offer our students and the community.