Principal's Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

It was most pleasing to hear today that some of the current lockdown restrictions will end on Thursday night. As previously communicated in the newsletter as well as in my email to parents and students last Thursday, we will be having a pupil free day on Friday 11 June, for report writing and planning for the start of Semester 2. We look forward to welcoming all students back onsite from Tuesday 15 June for the start of Semester 2 classes. I will email all parents and students via Compass our return to onsite learning guide once the Department of Education and Training has released the up to date School Operations guide to Principals.

It was unfortunate that we have had to continue with remote learning for our Years 7-10 students and understandably this has caused some concern and anxiety. However, from all reports, students have been engaging well in our remote learning program and, given our previous success in this space last year, we have great confidence that we can meet the needs of our students during this short period. It highlights the need for everyone to be so adaptable and flexible again this year and be prepared for quick transitions in and out of remote learning for short periods of time, and our students need to be ready for this as well. Our learning program continues whether onsite or offsite. 

Meanwhile our Year 11 and 12 VCE students and Year 12 VCAL students are very happy to be onsite and have settled back well into the expected COVID safe behaviours for all of our students, including: 

• Wearing facemasks inside and outside, and when commuting to and from school
• Social distancing to the best of their ability, and not congregating around the locker areas
• Remaining in their allocated areas for recess and lunch
• Staying home when unwell
• Washing hands regularly and using the hand sanitiser stations around the school
• No sharing of drink bottles or food or equipment
• Practising good cough and sneeze etiquette. Cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm/elbow or a tissue. Make sure you completely cover your mouth and nose; and move away from other people before coughing or sneezing
• Extra cleaning is in place for high touch areas and the classrooms and staff offices being used

For students onsite, our canteen is operating with a limited menu.

A reminder that our Wellbeing Team is available to support all students during these uncertain times, whether onsite or remote learning. Please send them an email to arrange a suitable time for a chat  wellbeing@mc.vic.edu.au

Cancellation or Postponement of Camps and Excursions

Unfortunately given the current lockdown conditions, camps and excursions are not permitted until further notice. Outdoor Education camps and the MEX city experience for our Year 9 students have been cancelled and our Year 10 and 11 camp to Queensland in the last week of this term has been postponed. We are hoping to be able to re-schedule this to later in the year depending on the availability of the accommodation. 

We await the updated School Operations Guide to know if our Year 12 Formal scheduled for the last night of this term can go ahead or not. It may need to be rescheduled for a night in Term 3. 

Year 8 Incursion

On Thursday 27 May, we conducted a Respectful Relationships incursion with all Year 8 students. The cohort were divided in half, with 125 students completing the workshops periods 1 and 2 and the other half periods 3 and 4. Students worked through a rotation of workshops covering gender stereotypes, developing resilience and respecting diversity. We also discussed consent, including what it is and why it is important, to help students feel confident in setting and respecting boundaries. Thanks to our Year 8 teaching team, our Wellbeing Team and the team of Secondary School Nurses from our local area who led the workshops. 

Facility Development Update

Construction has continued during lockdown. Great progress is being made with the framing for the internal staircase built and the first floor installation in process. They hope to do a lot of the welding work this week (weather dependent) while not many students are onsite. 

Years 9-11 Final Assessments/ Exam Week

This week all Year 11 students completed their Semester One final exams in all subjects during class time rather than altogether in the usual more formal set up in the school gym. Year 10 and Year 9 students are also having their final assessments/exams in class online this week. Modifications to these tasks have been made in recognition of remote learning. Formal exams for the end of Semester 2 in Years 9-11 will be occurring in November, before the commencement of our 2022 Headstart program.  The new timetable for Semester Two 2021 will be starting from next week, Tuesday 15 June, for the whole school.

Advance Notice: Parent teacher interviews for Years 7-12 will be held in week 8 of Term 3 on Wednesday 1st September. Further information to come next term.

Modified Senior School Subject Expo 

Unfortunately due to the current restrictions we were not able to hold our more formal Senior School Information Night and Subject Expo for parents and students this year. Instead, all current students in Years 9 and 10 had the opportunity to attend the VCE/VCAL subject expo online Monday afternoon between 4-6pm. Students and parents had the opportunity to book online appointments with teachers and our pathways leaders to learn more about particular subjects they may be interested in studying next year from the vast array of subjects we have for them to select from and to discuss possible pathways.  

Following the appointments, Director of Senior School, Jo Greenhalgh, and Assistant Principal for Senior School, Andrew Moffat, conducted online information sessions about VCE and VCAL in general and parents were able to have their questions answered. Students also had the opportunity to hear from Jo and Andrew in their Mentor sessions online this week. 

Students and parents will be involved in course counselling sessions with a member of the leadership team early next term where final subject selections for 2022 will be decided upon in consultation with  parents. 

Last year we conducted these appointments online most successfully and we anticipate we will do so again. Further information will follow from the Senior School team.

Sleep for Wellbeing and Academic Performance 

As students return to onsite learning, it will be critical to get their sleep cycle back into sync with the normal school day to improve learning and mental health. Sleep is food for the brain. During sleep, important body functions and brain activity occur. Skipping sleep can be harmful — even deadly, particularly if you are behind the wheel. You can look bad, you may feel moody, and you perform poorly. Sleepiness can make it hard to get along with your family and friends and hurt your scores on school exams, on the court or on the field. 

When you do not get enough sleep, you are more likely to have an accident, injury and/or illness. Sleep is vital to your well-being, as important as the air you breathe, the water you drink and the food you eat. It can even help you to eat better and manage the stress of being a teen. Biological sleep patterns shift toward later times for both sleeping and waking during adolescence. This means it is natural to not be able to fall asleep before 11:00 pm. 

Teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function best however unfortunately most teens do not get enough sleep. One study found that only 15% reported sleeping 8 1/2 hours on school nights. Teens tend to have irregular sleep patterns across the week, typically staying up late and sleeping in late on the weekends, which can affect their biological clocks and hurt the quality of their sleep.

Please read the following article for some helpful tips and a sleep plan guide you can print out to fill in to assist in evaluating and improving your sleep habits. 

Winter Uniform Reminder

I would like remind students of their responsibility in relation to uniform. The College expectation is that all students will be in the correct winter uniform, and that this uniform is worn correctly (shirts tucked in, ties done up properly) just as it would be expected in any workplace. This also means no Hoodies worn under or over your jumper.  The only year level permitted to have a hoodie are the Year 12s who have a special final year top that is approved by school council each year. Our uniform is a very important part of the image we project of our College community and therefore I expect all students to wear their uniform correctly and with pride to, from and at school. I would ask parents to reinforce these expectations at home. 

Take care, stay connected and remain safe.

Michelle Roberts 

Principal