Student Voice 

2022 Student Leadership Positions - Round 2

During remote learning, students at SOC were busy taking part in presentations and information sessions about our school’s leadership program. Students from Year 7 – 12 across all Houses are chosen to represent the student body in designated student leadership positions.  

Our students have been busy applying for these positions. Our leadership program at SOC helps develop student voice and agency by discussing opportunities, encouraging them to apply, and interviewing them for these positions. Their role encompasses many aspects of leadership but also includes a great deal of interpersonal growth and development.  

The Electoral Committee is pleased to announce the successful appointments for the following Round 2 positions:  

Sport Prefects:

Sabrina Koltsidas- Grevillea 7

Ava-Lily Bakas - Acacia 5

Hey everyone, we are Ava-Lily and Sabrina and we will be your Sport Prefects in 2022. We are so grateful to be given this opportunity and we’re looking forward to working with the Health and PE team to organise sporting carnivals and house competitions, and working towards exceeding your expectations and taking in your suggestions. Feel free to approach us at school or message us via Teams if you have any questions or queries regarding sporting events.

Performing Arts Prefects: Hi, my name's Sophia! Julia and I will be your Performing Arts Prefects for 2022! I’m really excited to help with the Performing Arts area of our school. My role will be helping out with all the performing arts events, such as lunchtime concerts, performances like South Oakleigh’s Got Talent and the Spring Concert. Fingers crossed that next year we’ll have a lot more opportunities to do in person performances, and I hope to see participation and a lot of fun in our arts community!

Sophia Donnellon - Acacia 4

2022 Performing Arts Prefect

Hello South Oakleigh College Community! I hope you are all well and are enjoying being back at school! For those who don't know me already, I am Julia Creeley and I will be one of your Performing Arts Prefects next year, along with Sophia Donnellon. For this role, I will be organising performances, maintaining events, and supporting the music and drama programs. I can't wait to begin promoting our school community in the future, while achieving extraordinary outcomes. Additionally, I am very passionate about performing arts and if you need any assistance or would like to ask a question, please feel free to ask me or Sophia and we will try our best to assist you. 

Julia Creely - Banksia 5

Peer Support Mentor: 

Hi everyone! My name is Iliana Derzotis, I am a Year 12 student next year. I will be the Peer Support Mentor for 2022! I am extremely excited to become involved in our school community. I will be assisting our new Year 7 students next year. Part of my role will involve assisting them with transitioning in our school next year and settling in as they begin their journey at SOC. I will also be working with the new group of Peer Support Leaders by assisting them with the program. If you have any questions or need any help with anything feel free to message me on Teams or approach me at school! 

Iliana Derzoits - Acacia 2

2022 Peer Support Mentor

All students are encouraged to review and apply for the Round 3 positions that are currently open. They include positions on the Student Representative Council, Peer Support Leader and Club Leader. These are great opportunities to develop transferable skills such as communication and problem solving, meet new people and make a difference in the community. More information can be found on Compass Newsfeed. 

Stavroula Kantzas  

Student Leadership Coordinator

Andrew Leap

Accademic & Student Leadership Support

Mindfulness Day

On Monday 1st of November, the College’s Student Representative Council will host Mindfulness Day, a student initiative designed to promote mindfulness and awareness on how to lower stress levels before the exam period. The S.R.C. aims to give students a greater understanding of how they can look after their physical, social, and mental health during times of stress. 

Activities: 

Art: Mandalas and Mindful Colouring can relax the fear centre of your brain and reduce the thoughts of a restless mind. Additionally, it is a great activity to do as you quietly talk with your friends/peers.  

Journaling: Journaling is an effective tool to reduce stress and plan for the day. Notebooks will be provided in addition to art resources to decorate the front covers and make them their own.  

Other Suggested Activities: Students can be suggested to create a ‘mood board’ or ‘bucket list’ for themselves to use in the process of reconnecting in person after lockdown.  

Study: Study by preparing notes and revising content that will be on the upcoming exams. 

Games: Playing card and board games is a great activity to allow you to take a break from studying, provide a momentary distraction from the content which may be becoming stressful, enabling you to gain a fresh perspective when you return as well as providing an opportunity to interact with other students. 

Physical: Physical activity helps pump endorphins, releasing the stress which may be built up from studying – going for a walk. 

Movie: This is an activity that allows students to take a break from studying, have a laugh and learn important life lessons from the scenes. Following this, a student leader with the support of a teacher will lead a discussion regarding their thoughts on the movie. 

Esther Walker & Sylvia Krozian

2022 Student Representatice Council Presidents

Year 7 & 8 Debating Competition

A massive well done to our Year 7/8 Debating Team for their effort against Huntingtower School on Tuesday the 26th of October! 

We didn't win, but we performed well and learned a lot from the adjudicator’s feedback. 

The best speaker of the night went to Angelina Manolis. 

Kudos to Abhi Karthik, Darsh Pujari, Hayley Schurr, Grisha Chernov, Gus Witter, Kyla Heyward-Davenport, Vanessa Sadjoli and Yohan Soju for debating, and Akshaya Ashok Raj Kumar, Danielle Geron and Isavella Dimopoulos for supporting their teammates. 

Year 9 & 10 Debating Club

Just because we haven’t been meeting in person, and our competition season is over, that doesn’t mean the Year 9 &10 Debating Club has not been running! 

We have been meeting every Wednesday at lunchtime for some spirited debates over Teams. 

Here is a poignant thought from one of our Year 10s, Elsie Shaddick, about toxic fan and entertainer interactions:  

“The blur between audiences/entertainers/influencers these days is really bizarre. In the past, you could never get close to someone you would see on TV and now you can 'talk' to them in things like live stream chats. This is honestly really unhealthy for both parties. This false sense of connection, also known as ‘Parasocial relationships’ with entertainers is really harmful. The audience thinks they are friends with these people on the other side of the screen and can get far too enamoured in this person’s life and think they 'know' them. This can and often is taken advantage of. On the other hand, the creator is not seen or treated as a person anymore. They are a product or an item of sorts, their own sense of self and boundaries are not respected, as if they are just a fictional character instead of an actual person with their own life.” 

Interschool Debating Competition

The Debating Club is planning to host a Students vs. Teachers debate during the week of November 15th – 19th. 

Teachers and Students: Keep an eye on Compass for an expression of interest form.  

Sarah Crespo-Liu

Teaching and Debating Coordinator