Dear Parents and Guardians,

Once again, we find ourselves in remote learning and although we are very good at transitioning from school to home, it presents challenges for parents, students and teachers. The wellbeing of our community, particularly our students, is as always a priority and I encourage you to contact your Year Level co-ordinators if you require any support during this time.

One of the ongoing challenges families face in lockdown is supporting their child to find a balance in the use of electronic devices. This is increased in remote learning with a necessity to provide essential learning and teaching online. Spending time with your child to understand these demands and developing a plan to find a balance is essential. Encourage your son or daughter to be active outdoors, turn off the screen or phone for an hour or two, listen to music or play a board game. Social media can become all-consuming for our students and for many an unhealthy addiction. Often things are said or implied through these social media platforms that are hurtful and unkind and the very opposite of our MSC ethos of love, care and compassion.

Provided is a link to a YouTube presentation that was held recently by the University of Melbourne on: Pre-teens and screens-encouraging healthy relationships with technology. I recommend you watch this link to further understand how you can continue to support your daughter or son to navigate this space.

https://comms.alumni.unimelb.edu.au/link/id/zzzz6122cff182686828Pzzzz576b853115a6d981/page.html

I have also included a link to a webinar next week, 30 August @ 8pm, on the topic of Tips to help families cope during lockdowns. Use the link provided to register.

https://unimelb.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_--RMj7IMTvyhZYIFCk0UiQ

On a positive note, 30 students from years 7-9 participated in the Western District Indonesian speaking competition on 30 July and all of these students went through to the State Competition on 14 July. I congratulate Aisha Harris, Year 7 who came 2nd and Arbella Colliton, Year 7 who came 3rd. A wonderful achievement. Thank you to Ms. Yati Symington, our Indonesian teacher, for her support of these students.

The school production of Embers was very well received by those lucky enough to have tickets for the Thursday or Friday night. The closing night performance (Saturday) was unable to go ahead due to lockdown. The students should be very proud of themselves, as we are, as they battled with a number of challenges during the months of rehearsals. Congratulations to Ms. Ruby Austin, Drama teacher, for her support and energy in directing the play, her first. A mighty effort! I would also like to thank the many students and staff who helped behind the scenes.

I was privileged to attend the Southern Grampians Live4Life Launch on Wednesday. This initiative is aimed at empowering the Southern Grampians community to improve youth mental health. Several Monivae students are involved in the initiative and are active crew members, along with other local secondary schools, to promote wellbeing. One of the Live4Life priorities is to provide training to students and staff in a wellbeing program-Youth Mental Health First Aid. Monivae has taken the lead in this area and has provided this training to all our staff and students for a number of years. We look forward to continuing this vital work and developing strong partnerships to support our students in this community.

Vaccinations

Monivae has receive the following information from the Victorian Government regarding vaccinations for students.

As part of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, all Victorian school students aged 16 years and above are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The Victorian Government aims to vaccinate all final year students by the time they sit their end-of-year exams. Final year students are therefore urged to immediately make an appointment to receive a vaccine by following the instructions under the heading ‘How to book an appointment’ below.

State vaccination centres have recently had their capacity increased to support Victoria’s drive to administer 1 million doses of the vaccine by 19 September.

Students completing their final year are particularly asked to book an appointment as soon as possible to support the safe conduct of examinations. As their parent/guardian, I encourage you to help them to book and if needed, support them to attend their appointment.

Final year students are asked to consider getting their first vaccine before the GAT on 9 September. In addition, it’s recommended not to get the vaccine on the day of an exam, or the day before an exam - to avoid feeling common but mild side effects such as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, fever and chills and/or joint pain during the exam.

Consent

Students can book their own appointment and consent to vaccination themselves if the health professional assesses them to be a mature minor.

Booking an appointment

To book an appointment, visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website or contact the Coronavirus hotline by phoning 1800 675 398. Alternatively local bookings can be made through the Hamilton Medical Group via the HotDoc app or at wdhs.net or call 1800 313 021.

To find a vaccination centre and opening times, visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website.

From 30 August, people aged 16-39 can get their COVID-19 vaccine at a doctor’s clinic, pharmacy or community health service.

You can find a participating doctor, pharmacy or community health service through the Australian Government Eligibility Checker. You can book your appointment online or by calling the vaccine provider nearest to you.

School based employees are encouraged to make appointments at times that minimise disruption to the educational program of the school and supports for students.

More information

For more information about eligibility, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au or use the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker.

For further assistance, contact:

• the Department of Health Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398

• the National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline: 1800 020 080.

GAT Revised Date

Please be advised that the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has notified schools of the intention to reschedule the General Achievement Test (GAT) to Thursday, 9th of September 2021. The GAT will run from 10:00am – 1:15pm and applies to any senior student who undertakes a Unit 3/4 VCE study.

Further information about the administration of the GAT will be provided to families as the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority makes the details available.

Our community

In our prayers this newsletter, we remember the Jellie family, Josh (yr 12), Hayley (Yr 8) and Emily (Yr 8), after a beloved grandmother passed away. We also keep Mackenzie Barr (Yr 7) and her family in our prayers after the recent passing of her Stepmother, Narla Saunders. Francis Avila, our Year 11 PNG student, recently received news of his mother’s passing. Francis has not seen his mother since leaving PNG in late 2019 and we pray for him and his family.

We pray that our loving God welcomes and brings comfort to their families at this time.

Finally, I would like to leave you with this passage from CHIEF WHITE EAGLE - A Hopi Indian from the US.

“This moment in humanity can be seen as a door or a hole. The decision to fall in the hole or walk through the door is up to you. If you consume the news 24 hours a day, with negative energy, constantly nervous, with pessimism, you will fall into the hole.

But if you take the opportunity to look at yourself, to rethink life and death, to take care of yourself and those you love, then you will walk through the portal.

Take care of your home. Take care of yourself. Connect with your spiritual home. When you take care of yourself you take care of everyone else at the same time.

Do not underestimate the spiritual dimension of this crisis. Take the perspective of the eagle that sees everything from the broader view.

We hope you learn something from indigenous people: we have been and are exterminated. But we never stopped singing, dancing, lighting a fire and rejoicing in what we had.

Don’t feel guilty for being blessed in these troubled times. Being sad or angry doesn’t help at all.

You have the right to be strong and positive. There is no other way to do it than to maintain a beautiful, happy, bright posture.

This is all you can do now:

Serenity in the storm
Keep calm and pray everyday.
Make a habit of meeting the sacred everyday.
Be strong through art, music, joy, trust and love.

(Chief White Eagle)

I hope you draw some inspiration from this, especially in the context of self-reflection and living in these uncertain times. Its indigenous perspective gives us much to contemplate.

Kind regards,

Jonathan Rowe

Principal

Learning Support

Caroline Coggins