College Uniform

After much deliberation the CSC Leadership Team decide that our new process for managing uniform will be introduced at the beginning of 2019. Basically students will be expected to “arrive in full school uniform or change into uniform before attending class.” The College will have one dedicated location where students can borrow uniform from for the day. Families that require financial assistance to purchase uniforms should contact the College Wellbeing or Administration Team. Students who repeatedly arrive at class out of uniform will lose privileges, such as attending school excursions, camps, sporting days, SRC and will not be eligible awards.

Distance Education Centre Victoria for 2019

Students wishing to re-enrol in subjects for 2019 should have received information on how to complete this process. Students wishing to enrol in new subjects at DECV (Distance Education Centre, Victoria), for 2019 must adhere to the following process;

Complete CSC Distance Education application form, with signatures from Mentor Teacher and me. (forms should be collected from and submitted to the Assistant Principal).
Complete online enrolment form through DECV. Pay CSC for the units wishing to be studied, $80 per unit ($160 for the year). Once the payment has been received by CSC, final approval will be given and the student will have access to the course materials.

Victorian School of Language 2019

Student in Years 7-9 wishing to study a language not offered at CSC must adhere to our policy. “Students wanting to study a different language via distance education, which is not offered at CSC, must complete a minimum 6 month trial period, during which time they will continue to study French or Indonesian, completing their additional language at home. If a successful trial period has been completed the student may replace their CSC language with their distant education language. An individual’s progress would be continually monitored and reviewed every 6 months.”

Students wishing to enrol in new subjects at VSL (Victoria School of Language), for 2019 must adhere to the following process;

Complete CSC Distance Education application form, with signatures from Mentor Teacher and me. (form should be collected from and submitted to me).
College will complete online application form.
Parents will receive email confirmation from VSL and are required to make payment directly to VSL before student will have access to online material.

Changing of Subject for Semester 1 – 2019

The last day for student being able to make change to their Semester 1 timetable for 2019 will be on Mentor Interview day, which is Wednesday 30th January, 2019. There has been ample time provided for students to consider their pathway, seek teacher and parental input to decide on their selections for 2019. Through the Step Up program students are already two weeks into the 2019 curriculum, therefore making changes in 2019 would disadvantage the student and create additional teacher workload. Exemptions would only be allowed due to extenuating circumstances, and would require a parent / student meeting with me.

Year 11 course expectations

CSC’s expectation is that Year 11 students study 6 subjects, which equates to a full timetable. This expectation is based on the following rationale;

Provides breadth with each student’s course, which maintains greater study options when moving into Year 12. As a general rule we often see substantial career pathway changes in the senior years of education, therefore keeping more options available is strongly recommended.
Supervising students from a human resource management perspective, becomes unsustainable if Year 11 and 12 students have incomplete timetables.
Having a full complement of subjects enhances time management skills, which is obviously transferrable into Year 12 and life after school. Having study periods, or free periods from a student’s point of view, is often counter-productive, as many students are unable to use this time effectively for the duration of the school year. This generally does improve for students in Year 12.

Exemptions can be sought through demonstrating one of the following;

Clear articulation of intended career pathway and if this involves additional education, provide specifics of the course, which should include pre-requisite subjects. This would be followed by a student and parent / carer meeting with myself and the student’s mentor teacher to discuss options in detail.
Due to extenuating medical conditions, for which medical certification would be required.

The overall intent of CSC’s Year 11 study expectations are designed to support students to achieve their best and allow them to reach their desired career choice, whilst maximising use of resources within our College.

Changing of Subject for Semester 1 – 2019

The last day for student being able to make change to their Semester 1 timetable for 2019 will be on Mentor Interview day, which is Wednesday 30th January, 2019. There has been ample time provided for students to consider their pathway, seek teacher and parental input to decide on their selections for 2019. Through the Step Up program students are already two weeks into the 2019 curriculum, therefore making changes in 2019 would disadvantage the student and create additional teacher workload. Exemptions would only be allowed due to extenuating circumstances, and would require a parent / student meeting with me.

Year 11 course expectations

CSC’s expectation is that Year 11 students study 6 subjects, which equates to a full timetable. This expectation is based on the following rationale;

Provides breadth with each student’s course, which maintains greater study options when moving into Year 12. As a general rule we often see substantial career pathway changes in the senior years of education, therefore keeping more options available is strongly recommended.
Supervising students from a human resource management perspective, becomes unsustainable if Year 11 and 12 students have incomplete timetables.
Having a full complement of subjects enhances time management skills, which is obviously transferrable into Year 12 and life after school. Having study periods, or free periods from a student’s point of view, is often counter-productive, as many students are unable to use this time effectively for the duration of the school year. This generally does improve for students in Year 12.

Exemptions can be sought through demonstrating one of the following;

Clear articulation of intended career pathway and if this involves additional education, provide specifics of the course, which should include pre-requisite subjects. This would be followed by a student and parent / carer meeting with myself and the student’s mentor teacher to discuss options in detail.
Due to extenuating medical conditions, for which medical certification would be required.

The overall intent of CSC’s Year 11 study expectations are designed to support students to achieve their best and allow them to reach their desired career choice, whilst maximising use of resources within our College.

Justin Hird

Assistant Principal

Some important end of 2018 and start of 2019 information for all families….

Student Reports and Yearbooks

Reports will be available online through XUNO from 20 Dec. If you would like to collect a printed copy of the reports, please email castlemaine.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au or call 5479 1111 to make this request. Printed reports can be collected from Reception from 10.00am on the 20 Dec and then from the office at the start of next year.

Yearbooks will be available for collection at Awards Night on Wednesday, 19 December, or from CSC Reception on the 20 December from 10am .

Buy, Sell and Swap- CSC uniform and books

This year’s event, held on Saturday, 1 December was very popular with both sellers and buyers. If you missed out on this opportunity, check out the Facebook page at:

We have also scheduled another Buy, Sell and Swap morning for the end of Term 1 for winter uniform items. Look out for this event on the CSC 2019 Family Calendar available on Mentor Day, 2019.

A big thank you to Belinda Postill and other volunteers for coordinating this event. Bee’s ongoing enthusiasm run the event and invite feedback to improve is benefiting our school community. Thanks Bee. Love your work!

Preparing for 2019

Uniform Shop opening hours

With feedback received from families earlier this year in our Start of Year Family Survey, uniform supplier Beleza will be opening a pop-up store for three weeks in January in the Maxi IGA complex in Mostyn Street, Castlemaine. Opening times are:

Wednesday, 16 January 10am to 5pm

Thursday, 17 January 10am to 5pm

Friday, 18 January 10am to 5pm

Saturday, 19 January 10am to 1pm

Tuesday, 22 January 10am to 5pm

Wednesday, 23 January 10am to 5pm

Thursday, 24 January 10am to 5pm

Friday, 25 January 10am to 5pm

Saturday, 26 January 10am to 1pm

Tuesday, 29 January 10am to 5pm

Wednesday, 30 January 10am to 5pm

Thursday, 31 January 10am to 5pm

The Uniform Shop at CSC will re-open on Friday, 1 February, 3pm to 5pm.

Resource Lists

Orders for items on your child’s resource list can still be placed with Castlemaine Office Supplies throughout December and January. As this is a new supplier for CSC this year, any feedback families have on this service is welcome and appreciated. Please email castlemaine.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au with the subject “Resource supply feedback”.

Parent Payment Schedules 2018 & CSC Parent Payment Policy

CSC Reception (ph 5479 1111) will be open until 2.30pm on Friday, 22 December and will re-open at 9am on Wednesday, 23 January. Staff will be available to answer general questions, provide assistance with payment of essential student learning items and setting up of payment plans, and in 2019, assist with Mentor Day bookings.

Mentor Day, 2019

Wednesday, 30 January will be the first day back for the 2019 school year and students are required to wear the CSC uniform. On this day students will meet their mentor teacher for the year, receive their timetable and a locker and have their photo taken for their ID cards. Classes start the following day on Thursday, 1 February.

Mentor Day meetings

Information for the start of the school year will be (snail) mailed out to families the week of 7 January. This letter will include instructions on how to log into XUNO to book a meeting with your child’s mentor teacher for 2018. XUNO will open for bookings on Wednesday, 23 January and close on Tuesday, 29 January.

We finish the year with the design of the new Administration, Library, Artisans Precinct and extension of the Performers’ Precinct well underway. I am very much looking forward to commencing final stage of the redevelopment of CSC in mid 2019.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Elissa O’Connor

Business Manager

Community Events