Principal's Message
Dear Parents/Carers,
“Empowering students for learning and life”
Welcome back message and Staffing updates
I would like to welcome everybody back to Term 2 of the 2018 school year. I trust that you had an enjoyable holiday with a chance to spend time with family and friends. I would like to again extend a warm welcome to the students and families who are joining our College this term and look forward to working with you this year.
Mr. Michael Ahern will be on leave for the rest of this year and we wish him a wonderful and restful break. Mrs. Angela Green is leaving us early this term to take on a position at Kambyra College. We wish her all the very best and would like to thank her for her leadership and dedication to the Art department and for her support of all our students. I would like to welcome back Mrs. Karen Saunders and Mrs. Kylie Borchers (Careers) from leave and look forward to working with them again this year. I am very pleased to welcome to our team Mrs.Nimalini Maheswaran who will be taking Mr Ahern’s classes while he is on leave.
Finally, we are pleased to welcome Gloria Simiyu to our school. Gloria will be on placement in our wellbeing team on Wednesdays and Fridays until the end of the year. She will observe and participate in some wellbeing sessions with students. She is required to maintain confidentiality at all times during her placement. Please see Nic Bestel or Jaime Rees (Wellbeing Leaders) if you would like more information regarding Gloria’s role.
Whats happening in Term 2
We have a number of exciting events planned for this term. We are once again involved in the Lynbrook Art Competition, with the theme of Culture incorporating Peace, Community and the Environment. Our students across years 7 – 12 have been working very hard last term and submitted some wonderful and creative pieces. There was so many to choose from it will make choosing difficult but 28 of these pieces will be shortlisted and on display at Lynbrook Village Shopping Centre (in front of Coles) within the next few weeks. We encourage all families to visit and vote for their favourite piece. Please check our website for updates.
Later in Term 2, our students will have the opportunity to take part in the Cranbourne Home Art Competition to create a piece of art that depicts the City of Casey. Top ten chosen will be reproduced onto hanging banners and posters then displayed in centre and the carpark.
We have had over 150 students sign up and audition for our Showcase to be held in September this year. This will feature our School Choir, Drama Pieces, Dance etc. We look forward to showcasing our students’ wonderful talents.
We have many incursions and excursions planned, including Quantum Forensic Investigators, Technology in Science, Vikings at the Melbourne Museum, participation in the Marine Ambassador program to name just few.
We have whole school Athletics day scheduled for the 25th of May and a number of different sporting competitions in the Casey sports district. We also have a special ANZAC day assembly scheduled for the 23rd of April to honor the memory of our soldiers who fought for our freedom and for the life we enjoy today.
These are just few of the activities that we have planned for our students this term. Our school leaders will be working closely with Ms Lauren Shaw and myself to continue to work together to provide a voice for all our students.
This term our Year 7 & 9 students will be sitting the NAPLAN testing and our Year 12 students will be completing the GAT. Our senior students will also be sitting exams this term.
A very busy and exciting term ahead of us.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
On the last Wednesday of last term we had our first Parent/Teacher Interviews for the year. It was great to see parents and students meeting with their teachers, discussing their progress and how we can work together in partnership to assist our young people in achieving their very best. Ms Bendon and I met with some of our Year 12 parents and students to continue to raise expectations, offer strategies and support for these young people during this very important year in their schooling; we will continue to meet with parents and students over the course of Term 2.
Bully Zero Incursion and Staff Professional Learning
Last term we had Bully Zero Australia come out to our College and present sessions on preventing Cyberbullying to all our students in Years 7 -10; they also presented to our staff in the afternoon. Bully Zero Australia Foundation is a not-for-profit charity who provide Cyber safety programs in schools, workplaces and community groups. They are passionate about establishing a zero-tolerance culture of bullying and are committed to working tirelessly to empower, educate and prevent all forms of bullying on a National scale. Bully Zero is an evidence based bullying prevention program designed to prevent bullying from occurring in schools. These sessions were followed up by discussions in sub school assemblies. On the 16th of March, to support the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, the Year 12 VCAL students and their teachers, together with our Wellbeing team organised and ran a very successful whole school anti-bullying day This included special lessons conducted in the classroom as well as activities that our students participated in at lunchtime, such as making friendship bracelets, participating in a free sausage sizzle, signing a pledge to name just a few. It was a very successful day and many thanks needs to go to our wonderful Wellbeing team and our VCAL teachers and students.
The safety of our students both online and in our College, is of paramount importance to us. We continue to work in partnership with our parent community, our students and our staff and the wider community to support our students feeling connected and safer.
Best Practice Interviews
On Wednesday 28th of March, our Year 10 students participated in “Best Practice Interviews”. The students were required to prepare a resume and application letter and submit this to a panel. They were then asked to present themselves for an interview before a panel of adults comprised of teaching staff, education support staff, business leaders and members of community organisations. It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain invaluable experience and they conducted themselves professionally and dressed appropriately. We would like to thank panel members who gave time out of their busy schedule’s to attend and support our students
Open Night
Another reminder that our College’s annual Open night is scheduled for tonight, Wednesday 18th of April, and we look forward to welcoming prospective parents to our school and showcasing what we have to offer. The evening will begin at 6:30pm with a free sausage sizzle then 7pm in the library, with general welcome and speeches highlighting key programs and will be attended by most of our staff and a significant number of our students, including our student leaders. Following the initial welcome, attendees will engage in guided tours showcasing the many opportunities available to young people at Lyndhurst Secondary College. We look forward to seeing many families at our College this evening.
Konnie Prades
Principal