Copperfield College News

Sydenham Campus Principal Message 

Campus Principals’ Report - Sydenham

June 2022

 

Welcome to Winter on Campus! It has been a while since we have had an entire first semester at school and we are happy to be able to do all of the things we have missed.

 

We celebrated IDAHOBIT Day with activities and events to inform students and promote tolerance and inclusion. Thank you to Sarah Pearson and Gabby DuBois for their work and support of this Day.

 

Students and their families attended the Year 9 and 10 Pathways Information Evening on Monday 23rd of May. Students and there nominated counsellors will be discussing Pathways options in the coming months. Parents and families are invited to participate in these discussions that will culminate in Course Finalisation Days in August. Choosing subjects and deciding on Pathways options are exciting milestones for students and we encourage students to dream big and follow your passion.

 

Curriculum Day continued our work on our Strategic Plan. One of the sessions focussed on student attendance and engagement. Staff participated in a number of activities, one of them on generating attendance slogans. We will be sharing a selection of these slogans via our electronic signs. Currently we have on display;

  • Be on time you will shine
  • It’s always good to see you
  • Join the 100% Attendance Club
  • School: the place to be
  • We miss you when you’re away

A second session focussed on student wellbeing, with a specific focus on creating safe and predictable classrooms. The session provided teaching staff with the skills needed to recognise mental health challenges in adolescents and to develop a greater understanding of the developing adolescent brain. The latter included the behaviours that present in the classroom as the brain develops. Consistent with the session on student attendance and engagement it concluded highlighting the importance of each student having a trusted adult at school.

 

Year 10 Exams begin on Thursday June 9th. Thank you to Mr Hasip for his organisation of the exam timetable and for the informative Team assemblies held last week. Students are now well prepared for what to expect during the exam period. Students undertaking a VCE subject in their Year 10 program will be completing those exams on the Delahey Campus. 

 

Mr Oraha has been working with the Year 10 Advance students and on Wednesday May 25th the class advanced their knowledge and skills with a Level 1 Food Handling Certificate. The certificate will play a vital role in the upcoming ‘Advance Festival’ which will take place on the 7th of June. The festival will be filled with fun activities such as a photo booth, sausage sizzle and much more. 

Our Semester 1 Music Concert will take place on Thursday June 9th at the Bowery Theatre. This is another great opportunity for students to showcase their musical talents. Thank you to Ms Conlan and the Performing Arts Team for their support and hard work in preparing students for the evening. Tickets are available from link tinyurl.com/copperfieldsem1music

 

We continue our series on ‘getting to know’ our Campus Leadership Team and we have pleasure in introducing you to two of our four Team Leaders.

 

Mr James Riccobene is the B Team Leader

I started with Copperfield in 2019 as a CRT and have since became a full-time classroom teacher. I shortly transitioned into a leadership position as a sports coordinator and most recently as a Team Leader for B-Team. 

 

Aside from my team leading role, I am a PE/Health Teacher, which represents my passion for overall health and fitness. My main role and aim of providing physical education at Copperfield College is to help students develop the competencies and beliefs necessary for incorporating regular physical activity into their lives. I like to fill up my spare time playing soccer, golf and enjoying time with friends and family. 

 

Ms Celine Chung is the E Team Leader.

I started my Copperfield journey back in the latter half of 2018 as a CRT for a week, then as a short-term classroom teacher at Kings Park Campus. When I left temporarily to take another position elsewhere, I felt a void in my heart and realised how much I missed the laughter and uniqueness of Copperfield students. So, I returned home where my official and ongoing journey began in 2019 at the Sydenham campus. It’s where I have been since and wouldn’t have it any other way. During my time at Copperfield College thus far, I have had the privilege of becoming an eLearning leader at Sydenham, in which my role requires me to find interactive platforms for students and staff to use to maximise classroom engagement. As of 2022, I took on a new challenge and became the team leader of E Team.

 

I am a passionate and dedicated teacher, who loves getting to know the students and supporting them and their interests. If the opportunity arises, I will incorporate their interests into my lessons. #YasQueen! I believe that learning will thrive in the classroom once students are connected to their environment, and this is one of my goals as a team leader to ensure our students feel more connected to their learning space.

 

Outside of teaching, I enjoy walking my furry brother, Bam, going on spontaneous day trip hikes, travelling the world (or mostly South Korea), and collecting POP vinyls. In my spare time, I like to escape reality by immersing myself in a good novel, and binge-watching series that my students recommend on Netflix or any other digital streaming platform.  

 

The daily work of being campus principals can get very busy and sometimes a little hectic. It is always a pleasure to take the time to speak with students and get a ‘pulse check’ on how they are feeling and what we can be doing better or differently on our Campus. In all of the busyness, last week we were very lucky to get some quality time with some of our Year 7 and 8 students. We invited students to a ‘Chat with the Campus Principals’. We thank them for their time and their thoughtful and considered feedback.

 

 

The end of term is fast approaching, and we take this time to remind our students and families of our Campus goals;

Student Attendance – following up absences, shared responsibility (all teachers), every class. 

 

Seating Arrangements- every teacher personalised for every class. Use of data to configure the best seating arrangements for the students in classes.

 

Actively focussing on Student Voice, Agency and Sense of Belonging

 

Pride in Our Environment- classroomsand corridors, and in the yard

 

Enjoy the upcoming break and let’s continue to make 2022 a Year of Champions

Ms Mary Chiodo and Mr Michael Gruis Campus Principals