Student Voice
Student Voice & Agency Semester I
Victorian Young Leaders: Global Youth Advocacy Forum
Students from South Oakleigh College have taken part in forums to discuss globalisation and education in the current global context. These forums support student voice and students build understanding of the meaning of global citizenship. Through several forums, discussions, and lecture style sessions our students have also explored education in the current global context. We were extremely proud of our students’ successful immersion into the program.
Stav Kantzas
Student Leadership Coordinator
On Tuesday, we were fortunate enough to take part in the Global Youth Advocacy Forum with 20 other students from several schools across Melbourne. We took part in a discussion about multiculturalism and interculturalism and also in a small course called Just Society, which taught us about being a global citizen and a bit about globalization. Overall, it was a great experience.
William D’Costas
Year 9 Student
A group of Year 9 students took part in the Global Youth Advocacy Program that is aimed to promote students’ voices, connect young Victorians with their peers locally and internationally, and enable conversations about education within the current global context. This is an important component to the curriculum. We worked in groups to conduct mini interviews with international students from China on topics around globalisation to gain insights about issues and complexities of globalisation and education. I had an enjoyable time getting to know and work with the students: It was great listening to everyone’s perspective on our topic and exchanging questions and ideas to help the students in completing their presentations.
On Monday 14 June, we attended a Keynote Presentation that was run by Professor Fazal Rizvi which focused on tensions and complexities of globalisation and education policy that have existed over the last few decades. I found this presentation very informative as it helped me to gain a clearer understanding of what globalisation is. On Tuesday 15 June, we took part in the first forum. This was an introductory lecture about globalisation and education policy directed by Satoshi Sanada and his team. We met students from other schools to share our insights and took part in High Resolves ‘Just Society’ which is recognised as a leader in the design and delivery of capacity-building experience for young people.
From this forum, I have learnt that from the government’s perspectives, globalisation is both a deliberate and incidental process. It is deliberate because there are policies that shape the type and extent of globalisation and it is incidental because there are unintended consequences of government policies, and no one can really predict how people behave and interact with each other. I also learnt what makes someone a global citizen. I have found this program very insightful, as it helped me to understand what globalisation is from different perspectives. Overall, I had an enjoyable time working with my peers locally and internationally.
Greg Acciarito
Year 9 Student
Grip Conference:
On Wednesday 26 May, Ms. Pelitidis and Ms. Hoernel, along with students across all Year levels and Houses, attended the annual Grip Conference.
This conference allowed our students to develop new skills and new ideas that will assist them to make a positive contribution as a leader within our college. On the day, our students were able to attend their chosen workshops so that they could tailor their experience to their own leadership position. Students were able to participate in electives to engage in meaningful discussions and conversations about leadership.
Stav Kantzas
Student Leadership Coordinator
End of Term Celebratory Breakfast
The SRC hosted the very successful Celebratory Breakfast to mark the end of term. We hope everyone enjoyed their breakfast, and, on behalf of the SRC, we would like to wish the SOC school community a safe and relaxing holiday.
SRC Semester I: Update
This semester, the Student Representative Council has been very successful.
The Campaigns Portfolio have raised money for the Cathy Freeman Foundation during Harmony Day, the Children's Medical Research Institute at the Athletics Day canteen and the Cancer Council during Australia's Biggest Morning Tea.
They have also collaborated with the Health and Wellbeing Portfolio to plan Wellfest Week.
The Enrichment Portfolio has introduced clubs for students to take part in, with Chess Club and Girls in STEM among the many initiated this year. The Student Voice portfolio has been working on reading habits in the school and have started making plans for next semester to act on the data they have collected.
The Sustainability Portfolio has started a Bread Tag competition between the houses. The bread tags collected go to be recycled, with the funds going towards buying wheelchairs for the disadvantaged in South Africa. Waratah is currently leading the competition, but this will continue in Semester 2.
Breakfast Club has also been running consistently throughout the year every Thursday including the Celebratory Breakfast Club on Thursday 24 June.
We'd like to thank the College Community for their support thus far. Overall, it has been an excellent Semester, and I look forward to seeing what we can do moving forward.
Genna Windsor
Secretary
Student Representative Council
