3 Way Conferences – Students/Parents/Teachers (Year 7-10)

Earlier this term we held 3 way conferences for our senior students in Year 11 and 12. Next week, on Thursday 24th August, we will be holding 3 way conferences for our students in Years 7-10. This is an invaluable opportunity for parents, students and teachers to discuss the academic progress of each student and as such, we encourage all parents to take up this opportunity.

Term 3 Conferences will commence at 10:00am and run through until 7:00pm on Thursday, 24th of August.

Please note that no classes will run on this day and that students are not required at school, other than to attend their interviews.

All teachers who are available on the day still have bookings open via our XUNO portal. In the event that you do get stuck with this process, please contact the front office who can book interviews for you, if you are having difficulties.

Planning for 2024

Term 3 is always a busy time of the year, as we work through being prepared for the everyday events that July, August and September bring and we also start gearing up for the year ahead. A significant part of this work has been supporting students with their subject selections and pathways for 2024 and beyond. Shortly, we will start allocating our teachers to subjects for next year and also recruiting to support the needs of students for 2024. If your child is not returning in 2024, it would be greatly appreciated if you could please let us know as soon as possible, so that this can be factored into our planning.

Managing Conflict

It was great to see students return this week and get back to the routines of school and engage in all the rich learning experiences and extracurricular activities offered at Epping Secondary College. We are thankful for the safe and supportive environment at our school and the behaviour of the majority of our students.

A reminder to all students and families that any form of violence or bullying within our school is entirely unacceptable and will be dealt with seriously. Managing conflict is a normal part of life and is about solving disagreements and problems in a fair and peaceful manner. It's important to learn how to handle conflicts because it helps everyone get along better and creates a happier school environment.

Here are some key steps for students on how to resolve conflicts:

Stay Calm: When you have a disagreement with someone, try to stay calm and avoid getting angry or upset. Take a deep breath if you need to.
Listen Carefully: Listen to what the other person is saying without interrupting. This shows that you respect their feelings and want to understand their side of the story.
Compromise: Sometimes, you might have to give up a little bit of what you want, and the other person might do the same. This is called compromising, and it helps both people feel like they're getting something they want.
Apologise if Necessary: If you did something wrong, it's okay to say you're sorry. Apologising can help make things better.
Get Help if Needed: If you can't solve the problem on your own, it's okay to ask a teacher, school counsellor, or another adult you trust for help. They can give you advice and guide you through the process.
Learn from It: Every conflict is a chance to learn how to get along better with others. Think about what you could do differently next time to avoid similar problems.

Remember, it's okay to have disagreements sometimes, but the important thing is how you handle them. Resolving conflicts in a kind and respectful way helps make the schoolyard a happy and friendly place for everyone.

Jared Williams

Acting College Principal

August
Monday 21st	School Council
Thursday 24th	Year 7-10 Parent Teacher Conference
Friday 25th	Daffodil Day - Wear it Purple Day
Wednesday 30th	Year 12 VCE Elevate - The Finishing Line Incursion

September
Tuesday 5th	Multicultural Day
Thursday 14th	RUOK Day
Monday 11th - 15th	Year 10 Work Experience
Friday 15th	Last Day of Term 3

October
Monday 2nd	First Day of Term 4
Tuesday 17th	Year 7 Vaccinations
Monday 23rd	School Council
Monday 30th	Year 9 Camp

Important Dates