Classroom, Curriculum & beyond

EAL and ELC News

Congratulations to Amy Ma for completing her learning in the ELC; she is now in mainstream Year 9 classes and we wish her a successful year. We also would like to welcome Wana Sornratanachai. Wana is from Thailand and very excited to be in the ELC. Her ELC Peer Support 'buddy' is Carrie Xie from Year 10.

As exams are four weeks away, it is important that all EAL students practise their speaking and listening skills. One way to do this is to listen to the news for 10 minutes four times a week to recognise what issues are relevant at the moment. This is important so that the students write better in the units on Using Language to Persuade and Listening to a Spoken Text. At the same time, the 8am to 8.30am Thursday classes are running in the ELC. These focus on analysis of media texts and all students in Years 10 to 12 are encouraged to attend.

Finally, the EAL Club takes place each Blue Wednesday lunchtime and we welcome all. At the moment, Boggle seems to be the favourite word game, so do not forget to come to Room 19 for this event.

Ms Ekaterina Xanthopoulos

ELC and EAL Coordinator

Cultivating Global Partnerships

Exploring Global Citizenship 

The rapid development of global financial markets, international trade, high speed technological advances has enabled connections beyond our community crossing borders to other neighbouring countries. Building intercultural capability and being global citizens are key to fostering ongoing International relationships.

This year three Year 11 students, Annie Zhou, Michelle Taneja from our International Student Program and local student Punyawee Liu participated in the International Student Forum. The forum aims to empower student voice to cultivate global citizenship across Victoria. They shared experiences and brain stormed opportunities available within their school and their wider community to improve with collaboration across the school community. Students courageously spoke on stage and had a wonderful experience meeting new friends. They came away with the important message that global cooperation is the key to address many issues such as poverty, war, epidemics, climate change and environmental degradation and their are obligations and responsibilities with being global citizens.

Ms Si Feng

ISP Coordinator

Pathways in Science

“So, what do you want to do after high school?”, is a question VCE students get asked day in day out with most of us answering with a shake of the head and an awkward smile. This question is the reason why, on Monday lunchtime, the Unit 3 & 4 Biology students were more than happy to have the opportunity to listen to Melissa Cafarella and hear from her about her time here at MGSC, at university, and now. She told us about her years of VCE Biology as well as the experience of working in America before coming home and settling on biochemistry and immunology at Monash University. We learnt about her current work at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service in the Victorian Transplantation and Immunogenetics Service department, as well as her dream job for the future. She helped us understand that no two people will follow the same route to a job and that our career paths will be forever changing. We are thankful to Mrs Rieniets for organising the session and most importantly to Melissa for taking the time to talk to us all, answering lots of questions and giving us ideas about Biology outside of VCE.

Grace Grimmer & Rebecca Reubenicht 

VCE Biology Unit 3 & 4 students

World Challenge

With winter approaching, now would be a great time to check out specials for some of the required kit for the expedition and training camp. Be careful to compare the warmth vs weight vs breathability vs price of different fabrics. eg. Lightweight nylon trekking pants at many stores are not that breathable so they trap heat but they also trap sweat whereas polyester fleece pants are warm and breathable but are heavy.

Hint #11: Borrow as much clothing as you can as good gear is expensive and may never be used again.

Mr Michael Warden

World Challenge Coordinator

VCE Theatre Studies

VCE Theatre Studies students will be presenting A Midsummer Night's Dream as part of their course work this year.  Details are:

• Dates:  Wednesday 23 May to Saturday 26 May
• Time:  7pm
• Venue:  Lecture Theatre, Nina Carr Centre
• Tickets:  Adults $10 /  Students $8