SRC
Student Representative Council 2020
Last term (before all of this craziness began) I invited expressions of interest from students to be members of Lilydale High School’s Student Representative Council (SRC – a group who should represent the students and promote their views and their participation in school decision making).
We had an excellent response both from returning members from 2019 and also plenty of new SRC members. All of these students expressed a keen interest in our school community and a willingness to be an active contributor in our school.
Several students applied for positions of responsibility within the SRC. These positions included: President, Vice President, Secretary and Publicity Officer. Those students interested in applying for these roles were required to write and present a speech to the SRC members and I. I was so proud of all of these students.
In a week of so much uncertainty they presented themselves confidently and expressed a passion for our school community, our local community, youth issues and other global issues. They provided hope, comfort and positivity during a global crisis. Every student who applied could have successfully fulfilled any of these roles.
After hearing all of speeches the entire SRC team voted and the following students were elected for the official roles.
President: Brendan Kirk
Vice President: Keira O’Connor
Treasurer: Keahley Garth
Secretary: Lily Black
Publicity and Communications Coordinator: Rebecca Clark
Publicity and Communications Assistant: Hannah Slattery
Environmental Officers: Ashleigh Damon and Derek Villaceran
SRC Year Level Representatives
Year 7 - Mackenzie Reid and Harlem Hannay
Year 8 - Olivia Bradshaw and Serena Walker
Year 9 - Erin Allison
Year 10 - Charley Nugent, Sian Jones
Year 11 - Brianna Birthisel-Mulready
Year 12 - Caitlin Huddleston and Corey Wakefield
General Council Members
Year 7 - Aylshah Beers, Alexis Falcone and Sharmika Murphy
Year 8 - Alannah Jones
Year 11 - Alyssa Hogeboom, Caitlyn Serong
Year 12 - Ethan Carroll, Nyssa McConchie and Mitch McMaster
I would like to congratulate all of these students and thank them for their willingness to contribute to the LHS community.
We had our first meeting last week to discuss some fantastic initiatives that the SRC are planning for both our ‘Remote Learning’ period and also for when we return to school. This meeting may not have taken place in the format we had planned, however, ‘Google meet’ allowed us to discuss ideas, meet one another and share our remote learning experiences so far.
The SRC look forward to representing the students of Lilydale High School by assisting in creating a positive and supportive school environment, which reflects the needs and priorities of our student body.
Our motto for this year is: ‘Promoting Positivity” (such an apt motto for 2020).
I look forward to working collaboratively with this fantastic group of students throughout the year and have full confidence in our capable President Brendan Kirk and Vice President Keira O’Connor in leading this group.
Narelle McGrotty
SRC and Social Service Coordinator
SRC President and
Vice-President Report
Congratulations on surviving 2 weeks of online schooling!
We’ve all been busy and SRC is no exception. We’ve already begun taking on the year ahead, having had our first meeting on May 21.
The SRC publicity team will be beginning regular posts on Compass featuring quizzes, updates and occasionally, events for all students and staff of LHS even when we’re not together, possibly including fun occasions such as Crazy Hair Day or Funky Hat Day!
We’re looking at having competitions to further student engagement, such as creative writing, and art contests. As for where the results will be posted, keep an eye out for our student newsletter coming soon! The newsletter will feature competitions, advice and tips, activities to try at home and more.
Coming out of quarantine, SRC are planning on holding an event to celebrate and catch up on lost time with each other. It’ll be something to look forward to and we hope to see all of you there.
Lastly, we’d just like to remind everyone that whilst we must be physically distant, it’s more important than ever to not be socially distant: make sure to stay in contact with friends and family through face-to face video meetings, or if you can’t video call, by voice call. It's easy to just text, but it’s nice to hear people's voices and nicer again to see their faces.
Looking forward to the year ahead.
Brendan Kirk and Keira O’Connor
SRC President and Vice President
Positive Experience of
Remote Learning
Here is an account written by Rebecca Clark our Publicity and Communications Officer who shares her positive experience of remote learning.
Hello, it is Rebecca Clark from Year 11 here! I hope you’re doing well. I am writing this today to talk about my experience with remote learning so far.
The change over to remote learning was much smoother than I could have expected. The teachers are all being so helpful and organised, and it’s really helping me stay organised too.
At first, I thought it would be difficult to rely on technology, but it is working out pretty well. Yes, sometimes there are technical difficulties, but they are easily sorted out and we can get back to learning.
Learning online is a bit of a challenge. When I have online classes I find it hard to focus sometimes, because you’re hearing the teacher talk but they can’t hear or see you. If it is an interactive class, where we put our answers in the chat on Google Meets, it helps me stay focused more. When I have a class that is not on Google Meets, I use that whole period like I usually would at school to do the assigned work, and any work I don’t finish, I complete when I would usually have IPT time, or after school. This has worked really well for me and I’ve found I'm staying focused when doing private study and I’m getting work done quicker, than I did at school.
Many of my friends have been complaining about the workload and how their teachers are giving them way more homework than they used to. My brother in Year 8 had the same problem. I personally have not had much homework at all, and have had time to focus on SRC or chorey for the school production. I’m not sure if this is simply my luck with classes or teachers, or if it is to do with how I’m setting up my days, but I can clearly see I am having a much easier time with remote learning than many of my peers.
I do miss the clubs and fun events we used to do back at school. I miss band and school production, but we have had an SRC meeting and we are going to try and keep some things running and maybe try out some new ideas.
It’s also lonely not getting to see my friends everyday, but I have it easy since I have a great family.
My heart goes out to any kids in the world today who don’t have the same luck as I do. I’ve been catching up with my friends on calls and over text, and I recommend everyone who can does the same, because it makes life feel more normal.
Anyway, I’m just writing this to give an insight as to what life has been like as a student learning from home during this pandemic. I hope everything is going well and you’re keeping calm, happy and positive.
Rebecca Clark
Year 11
Random Acts of Kindness
During difficult times we often see the most beautiful acts of kindness and I'm sure some of you have witnessed this over the past couple of months.
We are inviting students and staff to share their own ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ by emailing photos to: src@lilydalehs.vic.edu.au
We look forward to seeing all of the kindness being shared in the LHS community.
Recently, Ashleigh Damen and her brother made origami cranes and butterflies, along with notes and dropped them in people’s letterboxes.
TRACKY DACK DAY
Friday 29 May
The SRC are holding a fundraiser this Friday (29 May) to raise money for sick kids in times of crisis. This is an act of solidarity with hospitalised children who are encouraged to change into trackies to lift their mood and create a more normal day-to-day routine.
To participate, students wear their trackies for the day and make a donation online to:
https://tdd-2020.raisely.com/narelle-mcgrotty
Who is TLC for Kids?
TLC for Kids is a children's charity providing relief and comfort in times of crisis. This can range from therapeutic distraction during painful medical procedures, to crucial practical, financial or emotional support for a sick child and their family in dark and difficult times.
TLC for Kids is Australia’s fastest emergency response children’s charity, so funds raised from Tracky Dack Day have a direct and immediate impact on the lives of sick kids.
Narelle McGrotty