Copperfield College News

College Principal Message 

It was a productive, but busy end to Term 1 and equally for the commencement of Term 2.  There has been an array of teacher-led activities to support our students both in and outside of the classroom. We have also offered staff a myriad of professional learning activities, namely around functionality of the recently installed digital teaching screens.

 

Student Scholarships and Mentoring Program

 

The Principal Team, the first to do so, attended the Big Brothers Big Sisters Annual Dinner in April. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides vulnerable young people, aged seven to 17, with long-term volunteer mentors, helping to create a brighter future. The mentoring program offers stability and consistency for young people in need of support through one-to-one mentoring. Each young person is matched to the most suitable mentor based on personality, shared interests and geographic location. Once a week, the mentor meets with the young person to spend time together to help build a strong mentoring relationship. We have multiple students involved in the program, from all three campuses. Our students preform musical pieces on the evening, provided artwork that was auctioned and they co-host the event. Mary Chiodo was also a panel member for a question and answer session in her role as an ‘ambassador’ for the Program.

 

We submitted 45 renewal scholarship applications for Western Chances. Western Chances scholarships of between $600 - $1,000 are awarded to young people who demonstrate high academic/artistic achievement, motivation and commitment to education or a pathway, but face financial barriers or hardship.  Items funded by the scholarships include computers/laptops, textbooks, MYKI, internet, Year 12 uniform, stationery, headphones, specialist equipment and more.  We would particularly like to highlight the following staff members who worked with students to complete renewal scholarship applications: 

  • Angelic Ferreira
  • Dimitra Neocleous
  • Jane Williamson
  • Mary Karaoglanidis
  • Mary Miller
  • Michael Horn
  • Monika Thakur
  • Nahide Dolu
  • Soula Dedes
  • Varuschcka Moodley

Curriculum Day

 

We held our College-Wide Curriculum Day earlier this term. It was opportunity for staff to reflect on the valuable work they do each day to support students, student families and each other. Our guest speaker for one of the sessions was Andrew Fuller. Andrew is a clinical psychologist who is well know for his work in education and in supporting school staff to support the learning of students. He presented on the ‘developing brain’, focussing on executive functioning; concentration, memory, planning, impulse control, emotional regulation and learning strengths. He noted that these functions, which schools play a vital role in enhancing, are predictive of academic outcomes and success in life. The Day also included teachers further developing Curriculum Maps for the subjects they teach in light of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (V2). Curriculum Maps detail expected learning outcomes (content knowledge and skill development), resources needed and assessment requirements (formative and summative) for each term. They are vital to having a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum. The Day concluded with an array of staff wellbeing activities, self-selected by staff, which was widely appreciated.

 

Member of Parliament Visits

 

We had Luba Grigorovitch, Member of Parliament for Kororoit, attend the Kings Park (KP) Campus for a meet and greet with our KP Student Leadership Team and College Captains (from Delahey). Luba undertook a tour of the Campus, viewed the contruction site for the Early Learning Centre and walked-through the current refurbishment of the Administration Building. Luba produced a 30 second video reel that was posted on all her social media platforms that highlighted her visit to Copperfield College.

 

The following day we had Natalie Hutchins, Member of Parliament for Sydenham, attend the Sydenham Campus for a meet and greet with the Campus Student Leadership Team and College Captains. Natalie attended two ‘Challenge Day’ classes on the day. The students were working on projects focussed on local concerns or areas of need, such as affordable public transport. The students spoke with Natalie about the need for a performing arts centre on the Campus. We have since provided Natalie with their written proposal. The students were inspired by Natalie’s personal story which she shared. We also spoke with her about the Be Bold Be Heard (BBBH) Program which we plan to lead in our Network of Schools. The BBBH Program is developed to empower, engage and inspire teen girls to enhance student voice, and to help to build student confidence. Our students attended the first of two forums last term where they identified an issue or area of the school that they believed needed a positive change. They are currently working on their group projects. As per Luba, Natalie promoted her visit to Copperfield College on all her social media platforms.

 

Kings Park Works

 

We are nearing the handover date for the refurbished Administration Block at Kings Park. We expect to have access to that section of the Block on Thursday May 29 where we will begin moving the office equipment from its temporary location. We expect it to be in full operation on Monday June 2. We will then begin moving the temporary Social Staffroom to its original location, which will subsequently provide access/use to the Drama Space (which is currently the temporary Social Staffroom). 

 

Morning Tea to Celebrate our ES Staff 

 

Each year on the 16th May, Education Support (ES) staff are celebrated and recognised for the extraordinary contribution they make to schools. These are the people behind the scenes that make things happen, ensuring the day to day smooth running of educational programs and the school itself. Our ES staff cover a wide range of support services that include school administration and operations (human resources, finance, facilities, grounds maintenance & daily organisers), school support services (library, laboratory, information technology, marketing, international student program, attendance & events, VASS), direct student and teaching support (classroom assistants, DI & MEA aides, food assistants, careers counselling, student health & wellbeing) and special programs such as Tutoring and Instrumental Music. To mark this occasion there was a morning tea, on each campus. Campus Principals organised to release all ES staff on duty during that time.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Michael Gruis

Acting College Principal