PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

SCHOOL CAPTAIN STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

Congratulations to Ruben Stein-Fooks (Year 11) who was elected as the student representative on the captain selection panel. 

I wish the panel members all the best as they make decisions about selections of school captains for 2023. 

EXAMINATIONS 

Stephen Gniel, the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) came to visit this week and met with staff and students. We discussed a variety of issues and he observed a chemistry exam in action. 

Steve was so impressed with both the staff and student work ethic and the tone of our school. It is indeed something of which we are all very proud.

JOCELYN PLATE

This week we sadly farewelled our school nurse Joc Plate. She was a valuable member of our school community and had been here since 2003. 

Her funeral was indeed a celebration of her life, and the reflections were indicative of the contribution Joc made to many. Her family has been touched by the numerous messages of condolences.

May she rest in peace. 

INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING

Monash University acknowledged our school‘s work with training teachers. We see this as a contribution to the system and host many placements. 

Two of our staff were in fact recognised at a ceremony for making a significant impact on these initial teacher educators (ITE) during their placements. 

Congratulations to Adrian D’Ambra and Matthew Shaw for their positive impact. 

Persefoni Apostolellis organises these placements, and I thank her for her professionalism and dedication. 

MIP’S

Interviews have been undertaken by the student management and careers teams for all Years 10 and 11 students to confirm their 2023 subject selections.

This work is so crucial to ensure students choose subjects where they can excel and help them into their career pathway beyond school. 

800 interviews over three weeks is a very time consuming job.

Kate Jobson has been instrumental in organising and overseeing this process and I thank her for her diligence and dedication. 

Many student managers and careers advisors were involved and this teamwork is magic to see.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE DAY

Our next professional practice day is Wednesday 23 November. 

Exams for Years 10 and 11 students will continue on this day - especially for students with clashes and also for students who have missed an exam. 

Otherwise, staff will be working on curriculum development and assessment and students are to complete work that will be posted online. 

REMEMBRANCE DAY 

Each year on November 11, Remembrance Day, we mark the date in 1918 when the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. It was the end of the First World War.

The day originally commemorated the 330,000 Australians who served in this war, and the more than 60,000 who died, but has since become a day to remember those who have served, died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts. 

Today is Remembrance Day 2022, and we held a minute silence to honour, recognise and remember all veterans, including those who served in WWII. We also acknowledge the sacrifice made by families on the home front.

Thank you to Martin West and the following students who performed at the Bentleigh RSL to commemorate, where we laid a wreath on behalf of our school: 

JJ Braithwaite (Year 9), Michael Liu (Year 9), Tonya Mikhaylova (Year 10), Khiem Tran (Year 8), Amelie Villella (Year 9), Olivia Capurro-Martinez (Year 9), Adele Finn (Year 9) and Vincent Song (Year 9).

VICTORIAN CRICKET 

Congratulations to Senin Seymour (Year 10) and Lewis Sellenger (Year 11) who have both been given a contract with the Victorian Cricket Association. 

What an absolutely incredible achievement. We wish them all the very best success.

WORLD KINDNESS DAY

World Kindness Day is celebrated this Sunday 13 November. I share this video that was created by Lani Hammam, Hannah Foran, Gisele Hennequin, Ilya Zyuzin, Karleen Han, Manasi Deshpande, Harry Mills, Helen Chen, Ananya Jha, Mischa Kong, Georgia Foran, Laura Wharton, Ben Mizrahi, Jack Carrafa, Sabri Bayanta, Sam Bajracharya, Evan Grenda and Produced by Myles Kelemen (Class of 2019).

I thank the community for the kindness they continue to share.