Dolphin Ambassadors Program

Our Role as Ambassadors

Since March this year Harshini, Lihanza, Isa and I have taken part in a program known as the ‘I sea, I care’ program run by the Dolphin Research Institute. As ambassadors of the institute we attend bi-weekly programs which have included learning the importance of reliable scientific research, collecting this research (surveying dolphin sightings from Mornington peninsula), and presenting a successful and appealing presentation. We were also given the opportunity to take part in a dolphin swim which involved snorkelling with dolphin and seals. We are currently working on a project to educate our peers on the negative effects of single use plastics and easy alternatives to the damaging products. The program has been an incredibly enjoyable experience and I urge all Year 9 students to apply for the upcoming opportunity to take part.

Vihanga Liyanage - Year 10

What we learnt during the program

The ‘I sea, I care’ program was heaps of fun but it also taught us some important skills. During the program we learnt the different types of oceanic animals living in our seas and possible threats that may harm them and how to reduce these risks. We also learnt how to undertake a survey professionally and what to do with the data collected and how to present it. We learnt some helpful skills, such as how to undertake a presentation and how to work together as a group to make a successful item. We will get an opportunity to present our knowledge about threats to marine animals and the environment and how to prevent them to others by presenting in front of an assembly and in front of primary schools. I would definitely recommend anyone contemplating this program next year to take part as it is an exciting program which helps you lighten the stress of school while learning important skills and gaining insight on environmental factors.

Lihanza Ekanayake - Year 10

Swimming with Seals

On our second session with the Dolphin Ambassadors Program, Isa, Lihanza, Vihanga and I had the wonderful chance to go out to Sorrento Pier and view dolphins from a close distance, and to go swimming with seals. We were each given wetsuits and snorkels and then were taken out to the open waters by boat. On the boat ride, many dolphins were spotted however we were not able to go swimming with them due to the conditions in that area. We, along with other high school students and some primary school students, were taught how to use the snorkels and then soon after were taken to the seals' location. We got into the water and were able to swim close to the seals and observe how they behave in a natural environment. We also had the chance to look at stingrays swimming across the ocean floor, which was really fascinating. After spending time with the seals we then went to waters that were closer to shore and we were able to look at sea plants and find seahorses camouflaged in them. Overall, we all enjoyed our time out in the ocean observing marine life and although it was a little bit cold, it was a memorable and educational experience.

Harshini Sekaran - Year 10

Boat Surveying

On our third ‘I sea, I care’ excursion, we went to Schnapper Point, Mornington to learn boat surveying skills and to try and spot some dolphins. It was a beautiful sunny day and we got the opportunity to develop our knowledge regarding binocular use and surveying. We got to act as though we were real scientists and fill out a variety of tables at different times during the day, relating to the number of boats both in and off shore. We were taught how to spot a dolphin and some of the key things to look for when doing so. After being out for quite a while, we were taken to a community centre where we planned and discussed our future presentations. Here, we furthered our knowledge about some of the issues affecting the local marine life such as single use plastics. This was a very enjoyable experience for all of us as, while learning skills we otherwise wouldn’t have, we were granted a relaxing day out in the sun, right by the sea.

Isa Risal - Year 10

Japanese Sister School Visit 2019

We are excited to announce that we are currently looking for families who are able to host a Japanese student from our sister school in Japan (Chosei High School) for one week from Wednesday 28 August.

If you are interested, please click here to complete the expression of interest form by Friday 17 May.

For further information please contact Mathew Delaney by email at mathew.delaney@nossalhs.vic.edu.au

ありがとうございます！(Thank you!)

Earn & Learn Stickers

Nossal is participating in Woolworths Earn and Learn again this year. From now until the 25th June, you can get one sticker for every $10 spent at Woolworths. From the start of this week there will be a collection box at reception for stickers, then at the end of the promotion, our school can choose from a range of educational resources (the more stickers, the greater value of resources).

So if you shop at Woolies, please ask for your stickers and bring them in to school!

Duke of Ed Bronze Award Winners

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an international program which empowers students to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world. Students are required to learn a new skill, be physically active, contribute to the community and participate in an adventurous journey.

Congratulations to the following Nossal students who received their Bronze Award certificates at the Leadership Assembly on Monday 6 May:

Nethmi Pelmadulla, Shenali Hewage, Marcus Lai and Dinithi Perera

Important notice relating to student safety

Recently I attended a site security meeting at Federation University attended by representatives of the university, the Medical Centre, InSight Education and our school.

One of the major concerns raised was the potential danger to pedestrians, (especially Nossal students) as they walk to school from Clyde Road. There were two components to the fears expressed.

The speed of cars along Sir Gustav Nossal Boulevard
The number of students walking with their heads down, listening devices through headphones, oblivious to vehicles.

Recently a speed advisory board was positioned along the roadway leading to our school. While in operation, staff at Federation University reported that vehicular traffic travelled at a slower speed than it currently is now that the speed board has been removed. It is a major concern and due to a number of near misses closer to the university, Victoria Police are going to be contacted to see if they will attend and issue infringement notices along this gazetted roadway.

Drivers, please slow down! This is an area that regularly has a lot of pedestrian traffic and it is only a matter of time before someone is struck by a car when vehicles are travelling in excess of the signposted speeds which are 10kph on the raised, shared pavement areas and 20kph on the other roadways. For the sake of a couple of extra minutes, it is not worth the risk and placing the safety of pedestrians in jeopardy.

The second concern was the number of students who place themselves in danger by not being attentive and do so while breaking the law.

Federation security reported that there is a number of Nossal students who walk through Buchanan Park and then through the university car park to go to school. Motorists in this area are looking for a car park and not necessarily expecting pedestrians to emerge from between parked cars. The footpath that runs along Sir Gustav Nossal Boulevard is where students should be walking to get to school through the university campus.

However, an additional safety problem has also recently emerged where an increasing number of students are walking, crossing roadways while listening to devices through headphones. Drivers are reporting students crossing in front of them and clearly not hearing a car is nearby.

Students look up and be alert to vehicles around you.

Students are also subject to road laws just as pedestrians are whenever they are walking along roads. At a roundabout, pedestrians must give way to all traffic. In the case of the university campus, this includes vehicles travelling through the roundabout inside the front gateway from Clyde Road. Cars entering the car park on the right, making their way towards the Medical Centre have right of way, and students should stop and give way. When lots of students stream across the car park entrance, they not only place themselves in danger, they also cause the traffic to bank up back towards the gate and Clyde Road. Just like a motorist driving faster than the speed limit along Sir Gustav Nossal Boulevard, students crossing the road at the roundabout in front of traffic, are breaking the law. For your safety and the safety of others, only walk on designated footpaths and give way to vehicles at the roundabout.

Keith Butler

Assistant Principal

Phoenix Year 12 Community Service

On Thursday 2 May, the Year 12 Phoenix cohort travelled to Puffing Billy in Emerald to volunteer and assist in cleaning up an area of the town as part of our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program in Nossal Time.

We were separated into four main groups at the start of the day in which we would complete various tasks. These included: digging holes to put posts in, carrying wooden sleepers, clearing branches and bark, and using shovels, pickaxes and rakes to dig up and flatten ground for a path. After a short break, we all came together to build the pathway. This involved transporting and laying wooden sleepers to direct the footpath, shovelling and layering various types of gravel and smoothing it down.

Although it was quite cold, everyone participated and got their hands dirty so that the path could be completed by the end of the day. Most of us in Phoenix were inexperienced with works as such, but were nevertheless able to achieve our goal using our best efforts and the help of Mr LaBrooy, Ms Bonham, Mr Hamilton, Jason Bell and the workers at the railway. Though the work was tiring and strenuous for all, it was rewarding to sit back and observe the fruits of our labour, knowing that our efforts would be seen, used, and enjoyed by the community for many years to come. It was also valuable to experience what it’s like to work outside of our comfort zones for the benefit of others, and opened our eyes to future volunteering or community service opportunities.

As the first Year 12 House cohort to participate in this as part of our SEL, we'd like to thank the teachers for taking us on this adventure to expand our abilities and qualities as individuals, and develop a versatile skill-set for similar future experiences. Overall, it was a fun and valuable experience for all of us; we hope the other houses enjoy their community service sessions too!

David Buela and Shekinah Golden

Phoenix House Captains

A Message from the Year 12 Formal Committee

Nossal High School's senior students are looking forward to the annual Year 12 Formal. This event, held at Brighton Receptions (formerly The Brighton International) is once again shaping up to be an important landmark for the Class of 2019. As one of the organisers observed,

"Being in Year 12 at Nossal is pretty stressful from growing piles of homework to having numerous SACs per week. It can be pretty chaotic in the midst of all these things. Fortunately for us the Year 12 Formal is coming up soon. It's happening on the 6 June, so we can forget about the stresses of school and instead think about buying our dresses and tuxes, and planning what we are going to do for this exciting night!!. Hopefully it will be a night which the Year 12s will never forget!"

This alcohol-free event will be enjoyed by staff and student alike. Keep an eye out for some glamorous pictures afterwards!

VCAA Stakeholder Survey

The VCAA is surveying its stakeholders to find out how it can improve its services and information provision. If you're an education professional, a student or the parent of a school student, you can give them valuable assistance by completing their survey using the relevant link below. The survey only takes 10 minutes to complete.

Student and parent survey

Keep up to date with Nossal

Are you following our social media channels?

While we post notifications on Compass, send home emails and/or text messages when important events and information need to be shared with our families and community, and keep you informed about what has happened with our fortnightly newsletter, Nossal also has a number of social media pages which we use for reminders and also to share exciting news.

If you don't already follow us though one of these, please consider joining or liking our pages and get all the reminders and news we share on social media!

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Did you know?

Did you know our newsletter can now be translated into a number of different languages? This is a relatively new feature of the software program we use and can be turned on or off using the language selector in the lower left corner of each page.

Arts/Tech News

Get your tickets to this year's production early!