From the Principal Class

Welcome

A warm welcome to Term 4 and a very special welcome to the students and families who are joining our school community for the first time this year. We wish you all the very best for your time at Taylors Lakes Secondary College. If, as parents, you have any questions or concerns about your child’s program or how they are settling in, please feel free to call your son or daughter’s Year Level Leader. We also welcome Mr Robert Parente who joins us this term teaching Mathematics.

Congratulations to all of students who have successfully involved themselves in a range of different activities over the last month from Camps, Sport, Performing Arts, Work Experience, Leadership Programs and Competitions. So much has occurred at the college during this time and we hope you enjoy reading about them in the college newsletter.

School's Facilities Opening by the Minister

On Friday October 21st 2022, the Minister of Education, Natalie Hutchins MP attended our school to officially open our refurbished gymnasium and see the other progress in the sports facility upgrade. It was a very positive visit and the Minister was impressed in how the school utlised the money from the grant offered at the end of 2020. The opening was also attended by school staff, students, builders and architects and our very own School Council President. Thank you to everyone involved!

Year 12 Celebrations

At the end of last month, we said farewell to the Year 12 class of 2022. It was a lovely occasion, and a fitting tribute to a really delightful, caring and thoughtful group of young people. Lots of emotions were witnessed from the students as they celebrated their final day of school on Wednesday, October 19th  2022.

Their costumes were creative and colourful, and the students, although sad at leaving, enjoyed the wonderful celebration of them and their time at the school. After being clapped into school for the last time by Year 7 students in a guard of honour, students participated in a day full of activities.  After the assembly, they were invited to a 'Last Lunch' where they enjoyed a feast of food and then danced in the afternoon. Many, many photos were taken to capture their last official school day, and their treasured friendships.  The last song brought tears to many students and it took them a very long time to exit the grounds once the festivities were over.

Thank you to the senior sub-school team and all of the other teachers that organised a lovely day; and to the Year 12’s who celebrated with joy and respect and, again made us so proud to work with them.

I would like to acknowledge the amazing contributions of Atara Gunasekara, Massimo Valerio and Abbey Blakeborough as school captains this year and many thanks also go to all of the Year 12 student leaders. I have been incredibly impressed with the work being done by these student leaders and the wonderful support they continuously provide their peers.

All the best for the upcoming examinations and we look forward to seeing Year 12 students at their Formal Evening on Thursday November 17th 2022 and with their families at the Year 12 Graduation on Thursday November 24th 2022.

Senior School Examinations

As we approach the end of the year, our Year 10 to 12 students are busy preparing for the end of year exams. Our Year 12 VCE students are just undertaking  their VCAA exams and will continue until Wednesday, November 16th 2022. VCE teachers have prepared them very well and we wish each and every student well as they complete these exams.

Year 11 VCE students will start their Semester 2 exam on Monday, November 14th 2022. These will be completed on Friday, November 18th  2022. Year 10 Semester 2 exams will run from Monday, November 21st to Friday, November 25th 2022. Year 10, 11 and 12 students are only expected to be at school for their exams. It is expected that students use the times between exams when no classes are running for exam revision and preparation. We wish all our students all the very best with their exams. Good luck can be created with good preparation. Year 10 and 11 examinations will be followed up with a week long orientation program where all VCE students are expected to attend. 

2023 College Bell Times

Over the last several weeks, the school has been working on reviewing the bell times for 2023 in line with the changes within the new Victorian Government School Schools Agreement 2022. Each lesson in 2023 will be 48 minutes in length (a reduction by 1 one minute). Recess will be 25 minutes  and lunch will be 50 minutes in length. The school day will commence at 8:50 am and still finish at 3:04pm. 

8:45am - 8:50am      Warning Bell

8:50am - 9:00am       Homegroup

9:00am - 9:48am       Period 1

9:48am - 10:36am     Period 2

10:36am - 11:01am  Recess (Warning Bell rings at 10:56am)

11:01am - 11:49am  Period 3

11:49am - 12:38pm  Period 4

12:38pm – 1:28pm   Lunch ( Warning Bell rings at 1:23pm)

1:28pm - 2:16am      Period 5

2:16pm - 3:04pm      Period 6

2023 Student Booklists

Years 7 - 11 students and parents will soon be receiving their booklists via Compass for next year. Parents should note that a number of textbooks will be changing across all year levels due to changes to the college's curriculum in line with the Victorian Curriculum Standards. 

Danny Dedes

On Behalf of Assistant Principals - Theresa Burlak Rick Hudson, Sasha Mildenhall and Louisa Norwood.