Principal's Report

Principal Newsletter Report - Term 2, Week 5

Education Support Personnel Day

ES Staff day occurred last week so we would like to acknowledge the work of all of our Education Support Staff.

Every day, education support staff work to keep our school running, support our students to learn and our teachers to teach.  We are very lucky to have such dedicated and caring people contributing to the lives of all ESC students and families.  We thank you for your hard work and commitment.

Out Education Support Team in 2023 includes:

Sophia Blackburn       Sam Bonanno                        Jarrod Anderson

Tanya Conrad               Jemma Recchia                    Janessa Lim

Regan Rizzo                  Lynda Howden                     Peter Lupton

Louise Krionas             Michelle Thrower                Marco Angeles

Janie Murrone              Natalie Guarino                    Deanne Dober

Anab Mohamud           Shayne Thrower                  Melanee Jardine

Tony Panozzo                Sofi Sword                            Tyler Bench

Tiffany Griffith               Maree Hare                           Mona Botros

Raymond Waymouth   Maurice Sozzi                      Georgia Tziros

Eman Soliman               Stacy Itsou                            Robyn Dawson

Paula Gilby                     Gabby Renda                        Shauna O'Donnell

Hasan Atilla                   Maha Khallouf                      Nadia Tomaselli

Linda O'Shea                 Melinda Georgopoulos     Eman Sol

Ryan Molyneux             Paige Edwards                     Pina Pino

Peter Tsarouhas           Troy Allen 

National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week

National Sorry Day is on this Friday 26 May 2023, and will be followed by National Reconciliation Week, from Saturday 27 May.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023 is ‘Be a voice for generations’. It encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise.

National Sorry Day marks the anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing them Home report in the Australian Parliament in 1997. The report detailed the history of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, often referred to as the Stolen Generations, under laws enacted by Australian governments.

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Camps

Our busy camps schedule continues in Term 2.  Our Year 7 students have just returned from Camp Rumbug in South Gippsland.

Next week our Year 9 students will be heading off to Campaspe Downs.

Both of these camps offer a great opportunity for our students to develop relationships with their peers and the teachers accompanying them while enjoying the natural surroundings of the camps.  We hope that students bring the connections that form during these experiences back to school so that they can fully engage with all school activities.

Yr10 &11 Exams

Our Year 10 and 11 students will be busy preparing for their upcoming exams running from Friday June 2nd until Friday June 9th. 

These exams have been designed to replicate the experience students will encounter in their future VCE studies, offering a valuable opportunity to practise exam techniques and consolidate their learning.

We encourage students to approach their exams with a growth mindset and to apply effective study strategies. 

This includes creating a study schedule, setting realistic goals, and utilising various revision techniques such as summarising key concepts, completing revision resources provided by teachers, and seeking clarification on areas of uncertainty.

Stay well this winter.

Symptoms of influenza (flu) can hit very quickly and may last several weeks. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended from mid-April each year and is free under the National Immunisation Program for those at higher risk of complications from the flu.

Keeping our school community well

Parents, carers and students are encouraged to practice prevention measures, including:

• washing and sanitising hands regularly
• avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• staying home if unwell and consulting a general practitioner (GP) or Nurse-on-call as required
• staying up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Flu vaccinations

Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies, many of which can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.

Some people are more at risk of complications from flu and are eligible for free vaccination as part of the National Immunisation Program.

COVID-19 booster

The 2023 COVID-19 booster dose is available for everyone aged 18 and above.

Getting your booster dose remains the best way to prevent severe illness or hospitalisation, especially in people aged over 65 and those at higher risk of severe illness.

You can have your booster dose 6 months after your last dose or COVID infection.

Children aged between 5 and 17 years who are at risk of severe illness can also receive a 2023 booster dose.

You can get your next dose at your local pharmacy or GP. To find one near you, refer to the vaccine clinic finder.

Find out more

For more information about preventing flu, and immunisation, refer to:

·        Better Health Channel influenza flu immunisation fact sheet

·        Getting vaccinated against influenza.

Jared Williams

Acting College Principal