Wellbeing 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we reach the end of a busy term, it is important to take a moment to reflect on the significance of the Lenten season and the hope it brings to us all.

While this time of year is often associated with the sorrow of Jesus’ death, it is, in truth, a season of renewal and hope.  It offers us an opportunity to pause and consider how we can strive to be not only better Christians, but also better individuals in our words and actions.

During the holiday break, I encourage you to engage in conversations with your daughter about the positive contributions she can continue to make within the College and beyond. Challenge her to think of ways she can uplift and support others, both within our Academy community and in the wider world.

I also invite you to attend Easter services at your local parish with your daughter.  This is a wonderful opportunity to share in a reflective and contemplative space as a family, where we can encounter Christ not only as individuals but as a community.

Online Safety

With the holidays approaching, I thought it was also timely to remind parents of the E-Safety Commissioner website.  It is a wonderful resource for parents, students and teachers focusing on how to keep teenagers safe online.  Unfortunately, statistics indicate that one in five young Australians aged 8 to 17 years have been socially excluded, threatened or abused online.  I do encourage all members of the Academy community to regularly visit this website for valuable information, resources and webinars. 

The link to take you to the E-Safety Commissioner homepage is https://www.esafety.gov.au/

Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences

As per the College Calendar, Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences will be available for all year levels on:

                       Wednesday, 23 April:    9:00am – 4:00pm and 

                       Thursday, 24 April:         8:30am – 2:00pm 

Parents/guardians will be able to participate in a conference with a subject teacher via the online Google Meets platform.  Students are strongly encouraged to be part of these conferences wherever possible. 

Parents/guardians will be able to make bookings through the Compass Learning Management System.  Bookings will open at 9:00am on Friday, 4 April  and they will close at 9:00am on Thursday, 17 April. 

Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to make a booking as soon as the portal opens.

The procedure to make a booking and to participate in a conference has been outlined in an email sent to all families this week. 

In the event that you have any trouble making bookings or experience difficulties accessing the conferences, please do not hesitate to contact our IT Helpdesk. 

The feedback that we have received from families has been an overwhelming desire to continue with online conferences.  This has meant more families booking conferences than ever before.  Unfortunately, this does sometimes mean that families cannot book to see a teacher who is already fully booked.  If this is the case, please do not hesitate to email the relevant teacher for an update as to your daughter’s progress.

Changeover to winter uniform

A reminder to parents/guardians of the uniform requirements for Term 2.

Due to the variable weather conditions, students may wear either the summer or winter uniform in the first TWO weeks of Term 2.  However, the winter uniform is compulsory for all students from Monday, 12 May.  We ask that all students be respectful of the College expectations around this and wear their uniform correctly but also with pride. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents for your continued support throughout this term and for the support you offer the College and to your daughters.  I hope and pray that the Easter period is a safe and happy time for all your families and friends and I look forward to continue working in partnership with you in Term 2.

Mr Sam Di Camillo

Deputy Principal - Wellbeing & Operations

Essential Conversations

As we all know, the experience of living through the adolescent years, for all concerned, is filled with a myriad or surprises, both joyous and at other times incredibly trying and difficult. When difficulties do occur, the question “How did it come to this?” is often a recurring one, leaving both parents and adolescent at a loss as to how to make amends. 

Usually, communication is at the heart of successes and failures and learning how to do this effectively may just require changing patterns of response. 

Just recently I came across an old article which offers some sage advice.  The article “Grunts and Eye Rolls” makes for interesting and relevant reading and more importantly suggests strategies.  Just follow the link (control + click) and hopefully some relief from the usual patterns of adolescent and parent interactions may be gained

https://narrativepathways.com/grunts-and-eye-rolls-finding-a-better-way-to-communicate/

As always, if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me 

Giovina.costantini@academy.vic.edu.au

Ms Giovina Costantini

Student Counsellor