Coburg High School Newsletter

Teaching & Learning

Our Remote Learning Guidelines

School_Closure_Guide_(3).pdf

Attached is our overall snapshot for students and families in the event that Victorian schools are required to implement remote online learning in term 2. 

 

More information and specific details will be provided through Compass soon. 

Senior School Update

We have been delighted with the way in which the overwhelming majority of our senior school students have started the 2020 school year. Teachers have reported high levels of engagement and application in year 10 and VCE classes. To support our students, the Senior School Student Support Team are working hard to ensure students receive the information and advice they need and that they are meeting VCE expectations both here at school and, as needed, at home.

 

Again, the Senior School Student Support Team are:

Year 10 Student Support Leaders: Mietta Robertson and Sam Morley

Year 11 Student Support Leaders: Anna Vella and Lakshmi Sharma

Year 12 Student Support Leaders: Giulia DeVincentis and James Phillips

Sub School (year 10, 11 & 12) Leaders: Eve Lamb and David Snaddon

During this State of Emergency with the coronavirus, please be aware of the following information. 

 

Year 12 parent information evening: Due to concerns in regard to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have postponed the Year 12 parent information evening which was scheduled for Thursday 19 March. We will make available the information slides to parents and carers by the end of this week, via a Compass News Feed post. When we are able to, we will also advise of a revised date for the evening.

 

COVID-19 and the VCE: In relation to the present situation with COVID-19, our two Assistant Principals (Gary Vella & Belinda Parini) visited all Year 11 and Year 12 students today to advise them of the following:

  • Student absences: Due to the potential for limited access to medical centres, students who are away between now and the end of term 1, are not required to obtain a medical certificate for the absence to be an approved VCE absence (although it is still our preference that this is the case). We will approve all VCE absences provided a parent note is supplied (this can be done via Compass) within three days of the student's return to school. This includes days where a SAC is scheduled.
  • In the event of a school closure, our priority will be to ensure continuity of learning. There are a number of ways in which schools can make alternative arrangements to assist students with their learning and enable them to demonstrate VCE unit outcomes. In regard to accessing curriculum and learning resources, our school is well placed to provide these via the Coburg Online Google Sites (COGS), all of which are available and up to date for every VCE Unit of Study. There is of course the expectation that students would access these and complete learning and assessment activities as directed by their teachers.

VCAA update: The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority released a COVID-19 (Coronavirus) update last Friday (13 March) which may address some of the queries that students and parents/carers may have.

 

MIPS: Please note that our Careers/Pathways Co-ordinator, Emma Ford (emma.ford@coburg.vic.edu.au) will be holding a Managed Individual Pathways (MIPs) meeting with each year 12 student, in term 2. The MIPS program guides and supports every student in making informed choices and planning a pathway for the future.

 

Practice exams over September holidays: We also take this opportunity to remind all parents/carers in regard to the following information that was circulated via a News Feed post in October last year:

 

2020 practice exams: Coburg High School will be running practice exams for students doing Unit 3 & 4 (year 12) subjects in the September schools holidays this year. Most likely these exams will take from the Wednesday to the Wednesday over the holidays (Wed 23/9 to Wed 30/9). Families are advised NOT to book holidays for this period, as students will miss a valuable opportunity to practice for their end of year exams. In many instances, exams will be assessed by VCAA qualified assessors (that is assessors who have qualified to mark end of year exams) to provide very clear and beneficial feedback to students. Please note that this will include year 11 students who are doing a year 12 subject (Unit 3 & 4) this year.

 

Key dates: 

For Year 12 students

  • Wednesday 10 June: General Achievement Test (GAT) for ALL students undertaking a Unit 3 & 4 subject in 2020
  • Friday 12 June: Unit 3 classes conclude
  • Monday 15 June: Unit 4 classes commence
  • 19 September to 4 October: September school holidays (includes practice exams)
  • Monday 19 October: Unit 4 classes conclude
  • Tuesday 20 October: Year 12 celebration day and graduation dinner
  • Wednesday 21 October: SWOT Vac begins for Unit 3 & 4 exams
  • Wednesday 28 October to Wednesday 18 November: VCAA written examinations

For Year 11 students

  • Friday 3 June: Unit 1 classes conclude
  • Thursday 4 June to Friday 12 June: year 10 & 11 semester 1 exams
  • Wednesday 10 June: General Achievement Test (GAT) - for ALL students doing a Unit 3 & 4 subject (including year 11 students doing a year 12 subject)
  • Monday 15 June to Monday 19 October: Unit 4 (classes for Unit 4 conclude on 19 Oct)
  • 19 September to 4 October: September school holidays (practice exams for students doing Unit 3 & 4 subjects)
  • Wednesday 28 October to Wednesday 18 November: VCAA written examination
  • Thursday 12 November to Wednesday 18 November: year 11 semester 2 exams
  • 19 November to Friday 20 November & Thursday 25 November: Year 11 into 12 Step up
  • Monday 23 November to Wednesday 25 November: year 11 camp
  • Thursday 26 November: last day year 11 (P2 celebration assembly)

Senior School Team

Science

The fabulous 7I & 9H would like to tell you about the super exciting things we have been doing in science! Home Group 7I have worked extremely hard and received their Bunsen Burner licences – before you ask there are no demerit points earned as yet! With their licences they have measured the rate of heating water using the Bunsen burner. 

 

 

9H have been trying to find the dirtiest place in the school by taking swabs of their chosen area in the school and looking at the bacterial growth over a period of 5 days. We got some fantastic results and no surprise the toilet swab proved to be pretty dirty!!! Awesome job!

 

 

And finally, our teacher Lakshmi has some exciting news: she is one of the authors of the 2020 edition VCE Chemistry book 1 (unit 1 & 2) and book 2 (unit 3 & 4). Well done, Lakshmi!

 

Peer Support Program

Throughout this year some of our year 10 students will be involved in the Peer Support Program. Each term, Peer Leaders are working with year 7 home groups and leading them through a range of activities that focus on resilience. Over seven sessions throughout the year, students will make connections with their peers, acknowledge their strengths and achievements, identify people who support them and learn how to view challenges as opportunity for growth.

 

Let’s meet our fearless leaders!

 

Sophie C

I chose to put my hand up to be a peer support leader because I enjoyed year seven as you have so many different activities and new experiences in front of you. As a peer support leader I wish to guide the new year sevens to take everything they can out of this year as it is so different from the curriculum in other years. I would like to be a person they can speak to as I and the rest of the peer support team have been through year seven. Can't wait to continue to get to know all the year sevens of 2020 and look forward to the year ahead.

 

Zoe B

I decided to become a Peer Support Leader because I know how hard the transition from year six to year seven can be and I wanted to make that experience as fun and enjoyable as possible. I want to also get a better understanding of what the year sevens feel Coburg High School is like so that way I can also help future year levels with their feedback. I’m looking forward to this opportunity and working with the new class of 2025!

 

Amelia C

I decided to become a Peer Support Leader for the year 7s because I really like connecting with people and making them smile, it’s something that can make me smile. I found the transition a little tough and it would make me so happy to show the year 7s how fun and awesome high school can be.

 

Mia H

I put my hand up to be a peer support leader for the year 7’s because I feel this is a really great leadership opportunity. I get to work with students from different year levels as well as collaborate with those from my own year level who have also decided to become a peer support leader. I want to provide the year 7’s with not only support but also be someone they can easily approach out in the yard and speak to about anything they need too. It will be a fun and exciting opportunity and I’m looking forward to getting to know all of the 2020 year 7 students. 

 

Ben P

Hey there! I chose to apply for this thing for a few simple reasons. 

1: fun for you, other peer supports as i am that fun to be around, and me.

2: school can be difficult at times. Even home life can be rough for some. So I'm here to help you. Help yourself. And teach you the wonders and pains of being a high school student.

3: I want it to look good on my resume.. Not!  I genuinely want to get to know you year 7’s. Not as a whole but individually. I’m here to help and have fun.

 

Eleanor K

I applied to become a peer support leader because I believe it will be a great experience. I love working with different people, and I’m always looking for new ways to improve my leadership skills. I know that the transition into high school can be quite daunting, so I want to help make it as smooth as possible for 2020’s new year sevens. I want to be someone they can come to if they ever need help or support, both in our classes and out in the yard. 

 

Oskarn O

I decided to become a peer support leader as I have a great desire to improve my leadership skills using more practical methods, because I want to develop these skills for my future. I aim to develop positive relations with the new batch of year 7s and to support them in their entrance to high school. I wish to become the person they look up to, the leader they can ask for help, and for them to be confident that I will provide support to them. 

 

Tali C

Hi all. I applied for being a support leader because I want to make the year 7s feel supported and that they can have someone to go to if they need. I know that for many students starting high school it can be a scary and strange time being in an unfamiliar place with a thousand new faces, but I like to hope that students can come to me for guidance when they need help with anything. 

 

Our year 7 students have completed their first peer support session led by our year 10 students. This session was focussed on building relationships and understanding resilience. The conclusion of the session ended in a discussion about "the way of progress is neither swift nor easy",  Marie Curie. Thank you to our year 10 students support leaders for preparing and delivering a highly  engaging and collaborative session.

 

Katrina Aralios

Year 7 Sub School Leader

 

CHS Media students @ the Women's voices of Moreland: International Women's Day

A select group of CHS Year 11 and Year 10 Media students were invited to participate in the production of a podcast event - 'Female Voices in Moreland', as part of the upcoming 2020 International Women’s Day event held at Brunswick Library on Thursday, March 5th, between 6 - 8 pm.

 

Our students  joined Councillors and community to celebrate the talents, strengths and creativity of Moreland women. 

 

Gef Senz

House Captains

Congratulations to this year's House Captains!

LAKE

Rune B

Katia R

Vassiliki T

Sally S

 

MERRI

Izzy R

Nelly B

Lakshmi J

Mia R

 

PENTRIDGE

Sienna F

Aimee W

Mia H

 

BELL

Alinar K

Gialoren D

Montana T

 

Hannah Glennie

House Program Coordinator

Library News

This is an update on another month of fun and excitement here in the library.

 

We had our first Library Mystery for 2020 with the challenge of guessing what all the books on display had in common. The answer was that they were all posthumously released. Our student with the correct answer was none other than Nina L. Congratulations Nina.

 

The school library also gained four library assistants for Terms 1 and 2. These are Mai, Jude, Althea and Hugo. Congratulations on your positions and I know that you will all do great things for our library.

 

Finally, I have created a link to our eBooks and audiobooks website, Sora, through the Oliver library management system. This will log you in to a world of online wonder. When accessing the site click on Coburg High School as your school in the dropdown menu and then you can personalise the page to suit your preferences. The link can be found here: nswsecondaryau

If you have any issues with access or if you have any questions about acccessing e-books, please contact me at library@coburg.vic.edu.au .

Finally, thank you to author and local community member Elly Robinson who has generously donated two copies of her new book "Surviving Year 12" which covers a range of topics about the final year of school including managing stress and anxiety, coping with exams, sleep, nutrition, schoolies, exams and being a great Year 12 parent. This resource will be available to borrow through the library.

 

Dianna Jarnet

Librarian