Senior School

SHARON FRAME

Head of Senior School

Navigating the demands of Senior School can be tough under normal conditions but add in remote learning a week before semester examinations and the VCAA GAT, and the level of difficulty increases exponentially. 

The lessons learnt from 2020 have resulted in changes to our teaching and learning practices. Students are supported by teachers experienced in, not only their own subject areas, but more importantly, in the delivery of the curriculum both in the classroom and via remote learning. We are aware of the additional stress students may be feeling at this time and will work with each individual and their family to achieve their full potential.

Rather than dwell on the negatives, we should celebrate what a fantastic semester we have had. Students have achieved personal bests in a number of areas including sport and academics. We have celebrated achievements in the EISM, at our sporting carnivals, in academic competitions, success in interschool debating and triumphant wins in the League of Legends to name but a few. We have all come to appreciate the presence and involvement of others in our day and the meaning of respect and kindness. In short, we have all become better, more resilient, caring and capable individuals. We are stronger, and the school theme for this year, ‘I can. We will’, sums up appropriately the determination and commitment demonstrated in Semester 1.

Stay safe and enjoy each other’s company.

ANDREW PHILLIPS

Year 12 Coordinator

Well, we find ourselves back in lock-down for the fourth time in a little over a year. No doubt, many students will find this disheartening; however, as I said to the Year 12 students before we left, this challenge is actually an opportunity. Oakleigh Grammar has shown that our systems are pressure tested and our results last year speak for themselves. In some ways, this provides an advantage to our Year 12 students, who can seamlessly transition into a robust and proven online platform. Classes are continuing as usual and, although some changes will have to be made regarding SACs, we know that we can deal with this, as we have done it all before. 

Last week we had a guest speaker, Darren Pereira from Success Integrated, present to the Year 12s about ‘achieving your best’. His words seem very timely now, and his messages about positive self-talk and time management are even more relevant and important, given the circumstances we find ourselves in. I hope all of you are staying safe, and remember that if you need any help, please reach out to your Year 12 Mentor, or any member of the Pastoral team for support. I hope to see you back at school in the very near future.  

MANOJ PATEL

Year 10 & 11 Coordinator

Years 10 and 11

Term 2 has been a busy one, with students preparing for their examinations, and VCE students completing their Unit 1 or 3 studies. While academic achievement is always a major focus, our Pastoral program this term has provided some growth opportunities.  The focus was on two key areas; Acknowledgement of Students and Academic Progress and Direction.

In Week 4 of Term 2, students were recognised and received “I Can. We will” awards for their contributions to school life during Term 1. Congratulations to  the following students:

Year 10 - Muhammad Al-Amin,  Duncan Bain, Samuel Esson, Ethan Karkanis, Athena-Maree Sergakis and Satya Yellamelli.

Year 11 - Paul Apos, Maya Hadad, Helena Kassabian, Penny Pantoulis, Tiah Menelou and Mia Sidiropoulos.

The second focus for Term 2 was definitely more academic-based with Year 10 students sitting for the Morrisby test and both Years 10 and 11 heading to the Career’s Expo at Caufield Racecourse. This was an excellent opportunity for Senior School students to gain exposure to companies and careers in fields in which they may have an interest, or of which they may not have heard before. 

Our Year 10 and 11 cohorts participated in a workshop in Week 6 run by Success Integrated. The workshop was titled “Achieve your B.E.S.T” and it provided a good framework for students on how to study effectively, and simple yet effective techniques to avoid procrastination and study smarter, not harder. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and students had a good time. 

Following the decision to review the use of mobile phones and have students leave their phones in their lockers during the day, it has been refreshing to see a marked improvement in student engagement. Several students have been handing in their devices daily and the evidence is very clear that the absence of a mobile phone does correlate to better engagement in class and fewer distractions. While students are working remotely or during study times, I encourage you to assist your children in their engagement of the task they are completing by having a safe place for their devices to remain so that they may benefit maximally from the education task they are completing. 

As we continue to live in a time of uncertainty, it is imperative that we remind our students that help is always offered to those who need it here at Oakleigh Grammar. Students and parents are reminded that we are here to support in whatever capacity we can. Do not suffer alone and do not suffer in silence. If there is anything we can do to assist during these uncertain times, do not hesitate to reach out to me, your Home Group teacher or even our School Counsellor, Fiona.