Dear families,

It has been a welcome week of warmer days enabling our students to be outdoors and active during breaks. The lunchtime activities overseen by Shaun Mannagh, our Active Schools Assistant continue to be well supported and ensure our students are active rather than passive during the day. Yesterday the gym was a hive of activity with a staff verses students dodgeball competition with the staff being victorious despite disparity in team numbers.

Chill Out Day

Our annual Chill Out Day this week was timely, as we approach exam time, and was certainly well received by the students across the college. I had the pleasure of walking a lap of Cherry Lake with a group and thoroughly enjoyed their conversations on what was a warm and windy morning. We certainly have a lovely environment here in Altona and we bumped into parents and even picked up a family dog along the way. Students enjoyed a range of activities both onsite and offsite including pizza making, bike riding and team games in the secondary years whilst the primary students engaged in Kaboom sports and activities organised by the staff. The barbecue lunch was popular with students and staff, but the ice cream van was certainly the favourite on the day.

Class of 2022

Next week we bid farewell to the Year 12 class of 2022 on Thursday evening following the conclusion of the VCE examination period. The students will attend a final assembly on Wednesday afternoon where they will be farewelled by the students across the college. On Thursday morning we will hold a celebration breakfast where the students will dress up and join the staff in celebration. Thursday evening is our formal graduation ceremony and dinner at Seaview in Williamstown. This evening is for families to celebrate with their child and peers as their child’s secondary education concludes. It is always an emotional evening for everyone involved and as a principal I couldn’t be prouder of the young adults we will be acknowledging for the final time. On the night our school captains will address the attendees to thank their families, the staff and celebrate their achievements. A number of awards will be presented made possible through the generosity of sponsorship from our local community. We will acknowledge the recipients and sponsors in the next newsletter.

Year 10 & 11 Examinations

The next two weeks see the completion of Year 10 and 11 classes and an examination period for each of these two year levels. All exams’ dates are scheduled on Compass for ease of access for both students and families. Both year levels will also participate in a step-up program in preparation for 2023. All students are expected to be at school for the step-up program where staff will focus on expectations and planning for the coming year. The same process will then be undertaken with our current year 7 to 9 students with an examination period and step-up program.

2023 Classes and Staffing

We are in the process of constructing classes, creating timetables and attempting to finalise staffing for 2023 although, a shortage of teachers state-wide is of concern at the moment. We have been lucky to secure some casual relief teaching staff as international travel has resumed with some teachers becoming available from the UK and Canada.

If your child is not returning to Altona College in 2023, can you please notify the office this week, even if you are yet to confirm your move. This will provide more up to date enrolment numbers and assist with our planning.

2023 Information Packs

Information packs for 2023 were distributed yesterday via Compass including booklists, voluntary contributions, canteen and uniform pricelists. Payments are voluntary however as a growing school community we rely on contributions to purchase library books, sporting equipment, classroom resources and continue to improve our facilities for your child.

Andrew Fuller Event

A reminder about our upcoming Andrew Fuller evening on the 24th of November at 6.30pm. Andrew is a well-renowned clinical psychologist and family therapy with an expertise in teenagers, teenage learning and teenage behaviour. Andrew is an incredibly engaging and entertaining speaker who will be offering advice to our school community on ‘Engaging Teens in Learning and Life’. The following topics will be addressed:

Tuning up teens for great lives
How to increase motivation
Reducing anxiety
The mindset for success and how parents can create this in their teens
Resolving conflicts

We highly recommend this evening to any parent or carer of teens and tweens, especially those with children transitioning to high school in the next year or two or those who already have secondary aged students. We understand that these years can be tricky and trying times and Andrew’s knowledge, strategies and outlook may be invaluable as we wrap up the school year.

Tickets will be $5 per adults and can be purchased through https://www.trybooking.com/CDNJB

Tree Planting Wed 23rd Nov

Our new path, gate and crossing have been installed on Civic Parade. Mr. Sperling has included information in this newsletter regarding the supply and planting of trees in this area in acknowledgement of the late Queen’s jubilee. We would certainly appreciate any volunteers to assist our students at our upcoming planting day on Wednesday 23rd November.

Wishing all our families a relaxing weekend.

Julie Krause

School Events