Important information and Reminders

School Saving Bonus

Parent and Carer School Saving Bonus code distribution 

The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.

From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code.

The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more.

If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder.

Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities.  To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit School Saving Bonus | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au). A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.  

If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au

Year 12 2024

Year 12 exams have now all concluded. 

There are now only two key dates for this years graduating class. 

Valedictory dinner on November 21 is what we are all waiting for. This no doubt again, be a highlight of the year for both students and staff.

The release of year 12 results is the other date that is on all our students minds, results will be released on Monday December 11. 

Students are encouraged to attend the school to both celebrate with their peers and teachers but also to meet with the careers team incase there are any needs for change of preference for tertiary courses in 2024 and beyond.

Appointments will be made with the careers team via TryBooking system. Further information will be sent to students via Compass

Year 10 and 11 Exams

With all Year 12 Exams now having concluded, Year 10 and 11 exams are well underway. Students have been preparing hard over the last week or so and have met as a year level to ensure yet another smooth and effective exam week. This however, is a challenging time. Please see below how you can support your child during exams.

How can I support my child during exams?

Exams can be a stressful time for students and parents. Good forward planning and a balance between study and recreational activities are vital for success. 

Some example of what parents/carers can do for their child are:

• Speak with your child regularly about their school work and how they plan to study for the exam
• Check in with work they completed a little while ago and gauge what they still know, remind them that the work is likely to be on the exam
• Create a quiet space at home and support them using it, develop a routine together
• Remind students about the study skills they have learnt through pathways class, are they using some of them?
• Contact your child’s teacher if you have queries or need advice on how to study for the exam.

Families and students, please remember that:

• Students attend only for their exam, there are no scheduled classes
• If students have a morning and afternoon exam, they are required to study in the study centre during the middle exam session. Students can not go and come back again.
• Students are not permitted to order food deliveries or take away during the exam period.
• If there are days without exams, students are expected to be using some of this time for study for upcoming exams. While students can choose to study from home, they are always welcome to attend school to study in the library.

Commencement Week

Commencement for our year 10-11 and 11-12 students’ begins on Monday 2 December through to Friday 6 December. Our Commencement program is an opportunity and requirement for students to meet their 2025 teachers and gain an understanding of the courses they have chosen to study. Some work over the holidays will be set to ensure students have the best start in their final year of study. Students will not have their required textbook resources during Commencement, however the teacher will provide resources where required. It is essential that all students bring a new exercise book per subject for note taking/loose leaf paper in a binder folder and their devices fully charged each day. Attendance will be taken for each lesson and all absences must be recorded on Compass. 

Please contact our school reception on 7379 9600 if students are absent during Commencement week. Students will be able to access their Commencement timetable on Compass by the end of November.

Commencement will conclude with a celebration colour run on Friday 6 December. Students will have an adjusted schedule on this day and students are asked to wear casual clothing appropriate for the colour run. White is prefered and something that won't be missed, if it doesn't wash out perfectly. 

Second Hand Book Sale

Please find attached information on the second hand book sale. The items listed are available and will be used in 2024.

Please contact the front office if you are interested in purchasing any available second hand items.

Uniform Donation

Each year Homestead supports many students and families with uniform and other resources. As the year ends, there will be students who know they are not returning to Homestead next year, including Year 12 students. 

The college very much appreciates the generosity of our families when they are able to donate uniform items in good condition as this goes a long way in helping others. 

If you believe you have some uniform items or other resources that are able to be donated to others, please contact the front office on  ph: 7379 9600 or email: homestead.senior.sc@education.vic.gov.au

Warm regards, 

Bec Collins 

Assistant Principal

Year 12 Camp

Yr 12 Kangaroobie Camp in Princetown from Wednesday 30 April to Friday 2 May 2025.

We are pleased to announce that we are running a Year 12 three-day camp in Term 2 2025 from Wednesday 30th April- Friday 2nd May at Kangaroobie Princetown Victoria.  This camp is a valuable opportunity for students to strengthen their bond as a cohort with their peers, their Year Student Manager and other staff working within the Student Engagement, Wellbeing and Pathways team. Students will participate in team-building activities that will strengthen their resilience during their academic school year. 

The cost of the camp will be $335 per student. The first instalment for the camp will be a deposit of $85 which will be required by Friday 22th November 2024 to secure a place on the Year 12 camp. The second instalment of $125 will be required to be paid by Friday the 21st of February 2025. The third instalment of $125 will be required to be paid by Friday the 21st of March 2025.  Payment plans are available to families. Families are encouraged to reach out to the college should they need support. 

More information on the camp will be posted early next year.

Wayne Abrahams - Engagement Leading Teacher

Remembrance Day

Manasvi Donthumalla and Kemi Ilori delivered a remembrance day service to the college on November 11 this year followed by a minutes silence.

The following was read to students and staff:

Every year, on 11 November at 11 am — the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month — we pause to remember those men and women who have died or suffered in all wars, conflicts and peace operations. 

History of Remembrance Day 

In late 1918, after more than four years of bitter fighting, Allied forces finally broke stubborn German resistance and forced Germany to sue for peace. Entire nations cheered as fighting ceased and the armistice that ended fighting in the First World War took effect at 11am on 11 November 1918. 

One year later, commemorations to mark the anniversary of the end of the war were held across the Commonwealth. This day became known as Armistice Day. At the request of King George V, the people of the Empire ceased work at 11am to hold a two-minute vigil to remember the fallen. This vigil has evolved into the minute's silence of today's Remembrance Day services. 

By the end of the Second World War Armistice Day had grown from solely a remembrance of the men and women of the Great War into something larger, becoming a day to honour all those who had fallen in war. With this evolution came a change of name and 11 November became known as Remembrance Day. 

Australians continue to observe Remembrance Day and services are held at memorials, RSL clubs and schools across the country. One minute's silence is taken at 11am on this day in silent tribute to the fallen. Today we pause for one minute to remember those who have died in conflicts. 

One minute silence 

‘Lest we forget’

Well done Kemi and Manasvi on delivering a moving service.

2025 Year 10 Orientation

With another year passing by faster than the last, it is sad to see our graduating class finishing up, we are again excited however, to be welcoming a new group of students to Homestead. 

Year 10 Orientation day is Tuesday December 10. The students will have an opportunity to see their new school, receive their timetables, meet their teachers and experience a small taste of senior school life. 

HSSC will also host school tours for new families and students. We can not wait to meet our new Year 10s and their families.

Camps, Sports and Excursions fund eligibility

Below are the criteria used to determine a student’s eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF).

Eligibility

To be eligible for the fund, a mature minor of sixteen years of age or over, a parent or legal guardian of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school must:

• on the first day of Term one, or;

• on the first day of Term two.

1. Be an eligible beneficiary within the meaning of the State Concessions Act 2004, that is, be a holder of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or be an eligible Centrelink Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holder, OR
2. Be a temporary foster parent, and;
3. Submit an application to the school by the due date.

Mature minors or parents who receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with one of (a) or (b) above.

Eligibility Date

For concession card holders, CSEF eligibility will be subject to the parent/legal guardian’s concession card being successfully validated with Centrelink on 29 January 2024 and/or 15 April 2024.

CSEF payment amount

The CSEF is an annual payment to the school to be used towards camps, sports and/or excursion expenses for the benefit of the eligible student. Secondary school student rate is $250.00 per year. The CSEF is paid directly the school and will be allocated by the school towards camps, sports and/or excursion costs for your child.