Epping Secondary College Newsletter

Principal's Report

Every now and again it is important for us to stop and consider the substantial number of activities and events that happen throughout each fortnight that support the learning and wellbeing of our students.  We hope that our fortnightly newsletters give you a glimpse into student life at the College and an opportunity to catch up on the amazing things that happen across any given 10 days at Epping SC.  Over the last ten days activities around the College have included:

  • VCAL students supporting their classroom learning with a range of excursions and events including a visit to the Zoo and the Aquarium.  This is in addition to engaging with our local community and supporting local events such as the Greenbrook Community Garden and planning for local Halloween Activities, both emphasizing the importance of volunteering and the benefits for all in such an approach to our broader community.
  • Guest Speakers visiting our College to support student learning and wellbeing.  This has included our Year 12 students participating in the Elevate – Ace your Exams program, an Art Industry Day and a Write Like Shakespeare incursion.
  • Our Debating Team continue to develop their skills and represent the College in local competitions.
  • Sporting Teams continue to provide our students with a chance to shine beyond the academic program with recent competitions including Senior and Intermediate Badminton at the Regional and State levels, Year 7 Table Tennis and Basketball.
  • Staff undertaking ongoing professional learning with a focus on literacy and school wide positive behaviour supports.

With COVID and the flu still impacting schools right across the state, it is great to see the amazing opportunities that are being extended to our ESC students and community.  On behalf of our school community I would like to thank our teachers and education support staff for the work they undertake together to ensure these experiences for our students.

Vaping – A significant health concern

Over the last two weeks, there have been reports in major news mediums about primary and secondary age students experimenting with vaping. Worse, it appears that many school age children are regularly using ‘vapes’. Whilst this is becoming more prevalent in school grounds, it is certainly not only a problem for schools but also for families and communities.

 

As I have written previously, it is illegal to provide or sell e-cigarettes (vapes) to under 18s. This includes parents who purchase on behalf of children and then give them to their children. Yet, we have also become aware, from conversations with our local schools, that some students are bringing e-cigarettes to school and using them on the school grounds – sometimes sharing them with other students.

 

There are several issues associated with this new phenomenon. It has been quite a few years since schools had to deal with smoking of cigarettes in their grounds. We felt, with the clarity of the dangers associated with the health of smokers and the strategies used to dissuade smokers from smoking (including the graphic pictures and warnings on cigarette packs and the significant taxes on cigarettes) that society had mostly won the ‘battle’ against smoking. It has been rare that we have had to deal with the use of cigarettes at ESC in the past few years.

 

Sadly, vaping has seen a resurgence in ‘experimenters’. It appears that these usually unlabeled e-cigarettes have high levels of nicotine (amongst many other chemicals). Regular use can lead to a level of addiction or dependency and some of our young are apparently developing a level of addiction to them. Worse, there are increasing incidents of the use of e-cigarettes causing vomiting, burns and poisoning.

 

Recently released data suggests that school toilets and outside areas at the perimeter of school grounds are common locations for using vapes. Consequently, and because we don’t believe that ESC will be immune to this phenomenon, we have asked our staff to ensure they are vigilant around these locations when on duty and senior staff are randomly checking on these areas. We very much understand how daunting it is for younger students to enter an area if there are students smoking/vaping there. For most parents, all you have to do is remember your own school days (whether you were a smoker or not) and the places smokers frequented and how it made other students feel.

 

We will do our best to encourage e-smokers to NOT use the school facilities or grounds but we will have a better outcome if the e-cigarettes don’t come to school. As always, when staff and parents offer a common message there is a better chance of it resonating with our young. Any support that you can offer regarding e-cigarettes and vaping would be very much appreciated. We do not wish for this unhealthy and dangerous habit to impact on the health and wellbeing of our students.

Principals' Day

Victorian government schools acknowledged Principals' Day on Friday 5th August, celebrating the pivotal role of principals in school's achieving excellence in learning and wellbeing.  Principals' Day has been celebrated in the state for 20 years and is a wonderful opportunity for school communities to say thank you. I wish to recognise my colleagues Joshua Wolter and Annette Spence for everything they have done to support the ESC community through the challenges of 2022 and acknowledge their incredible contribution to the college. I am lucky to work in a team of passionate school leaders who drive a strong and shared culture of excellence, teamwork and innovation, where every child is at the centre of learning..

GAT (General Achievement Test) – Senior Students

A reminder to our senior students that the GAT is fast approaching on September 7th.  More information will be provided to you by our senior school team in the coming days.

 

The GAT will take place on Wednesday 7 September in two parts:

  • Section A assesses skills in literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy.
  • Section B assesses general knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, technology, the arts and humanities.

 

Who is required to sit the GAT?

If you’re enrolled in one or more VCE, or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence, you are expected to complete Section A and B of the GAT.

 

If you are enrolled in Senior VCAL, you’re expected to complete Section A only, unless you are also enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence.

 

If you’re an International Baccalaureate student in your final year of studies and you want a notional Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) calculated, you will need to complete Section A and B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brad Moyle

College Principal