Principal's Message
Mrs Josie Crisara
Term 2
It has been a very busy term with student assessments and activities highlighting learning opportunities and progress. The Winter Music Soiree and the Emerging Performers concerts were well attended (see photos in Performing Arts section), many sports teams have been competing in Inter-school sporting competitions and playing well. The House Athletics carnivals created great competition between the Houses. Galway debating has been a hotly contested competition amongst the Galway schools. Students from Years 9-12 have left for the Indonesia Trip with the biggest cohort ever attending this year. It is a great opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the Indonesian community and practice their speaking skills.
The semester break should be used as a time to relax, enjoy a different pace in order to return at the beginning of Term 3 full of energy for the year ahead.
Mickleham Road
Can I encourage parents to continue writing to the relevant authorities regarding the need to improve safety at the College intersection with Mickleham Road and also the impact it is having on your day-to-day experience. These two areas should be the focus of your concerns. Contact details are listed below.
Ros Spence - State Member for Yuroke
ros.spence@parliament.vic.gov.au
Jaala Pulford - Minister for Roads and Roads Safety
jaala.pulford@parliament.vic.gov.au
Hume Leader Newspaper
VicRoads
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/contact-us/feedback-and-enquiries
The Greenvale Residents Association have commenced a new electronic petition to be presented to the Legislative Council. The E-petition can be accessed at:
It will be tabled on Thursday 14 November.
Staff
This term we farewell Ms Cora Pennington who is retiring after 18 years of service in the Library. We also thank Mrs Aysel Saglam who has been a replacement teacher in Indonesian and Mrs Lauret Ragi in Mathematics. Ms Cristy Herron, Mrs Stephanie Lindsay and Miss Sarah Howells will be on Parental Leave next semester and we wish Ms Kerrie Neophytou and Mrs Elpis Vlahopoulos well as they take Long Service Leave. Miss Felicity Donohue will take on the role of Acting Head of School Fairview.
We welcome the following new staff: Mr Daniel Williams (Library), Mrs Tineal Tretheway (English), Ms Beverley Carlton (English), Mr Sam Vaiano (Science), Mr Eamon Harrison (English) and welcome back Ms Megan Lutton from Parental Leave.
Aitken College Board
At the Annual General meeting, the Rev. Clem Dickinson completed his term as Chair of the Board. Rev. Dickinson had been Chair since October 2001 and we thank him for his contributions over this time. The new Aitken College Chair of the Board is Mr Robert Evans (previously Deputy Chair) and we welcome Mr Peter Gilbertson as Deputy Chair.
Uniting Church Schools Meeting
Last week Principals, Chaplains and Board Members from schools associated with the Uniting Church met at Cornish College. The Moderator, Sharon Hollis, and General Secretary, Mark Lawrence, were in attendance. There are 12 Uniting Church Schools in the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania each committed in their diversity to living within the faith and unity of the Church. With common beliefs each school aims to provide an educational experience and learning community that offers young people spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical growth, and reverence for the environment. Worship, service, social justice and inclusiveness/openness are key features of the schools. The facilitator of the meeting, Cheryl Lawrie, wrote the following reflection in order to introduce the topic of inclusitivity and acceptance of the people in our schools.
All of who we are is welcome here
the part that is confident and assured
the part that is awkward or despairing
the part that is breathless
the part that is life-full
the aching
the joyous
the whole
All of who we are is welcome here.
Tonight we will be asking questions to which nobody yet has an answer; questions of who we are becoming, and who we need to be.
We will be walking into territory where the angels are not afraid to tread
but where they know to tread gently, with feet guided by curiosity, courage, grace and kindness - always kindness.
So tonight we invite you to take the lead of the angels, to be gentle and courageous
curious and kind
with yourselves, with each other, and the world.
Welcome.