YEAR 10-12 NEWS

Early leavers

Staff have noticed an increasing number of students leaving the college before the end of the day to catch public transport. Students have begun leaving at 2.20pm, 2.30pm and even earlier in some instances. Our staff are concerned about the learning time that some students are missing each day, especially when this is stretched out of a week, a month, a term.

Our expectation is that students are present for all learning and our teachers prepare learning between 9 and 3. This is especially improtant at a VCE Level, where time is particularly precious. We understand the difficulty for some families in negotiating  public transport, and we ask for your support in ensuring students are attending during scheduled class times and don't miss out on important learning and school work. If you wish to discuss, please contact Year 11 LCL Claire Sullivan or Year 12 LCL Brett Bullock. 

Thank you for your support, we want the best academic outcomes for our students

Warwick Lamb, Assistant Principle

Year 10

The Gordan Open Day

The Gordon Open Day this Sunday 6 August 11am -3pm. For anyone interested in a VET course at the Gordon. 

Myth Busters -Deakin University

Year 10 students will have an incursion for two sessions on Tuesday 8th . Deakin Students will be working with year 10 classes. 

Informing them about being a university student and the opportunities open to them.

Then Monday August 21st week 7 all year 10 students will be involved in a DEAP Uni Immersion Day at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds. 

Congratulations to all students who have met the deadline for submitting their selection documentation.

Roger Conron, Year 10 LCL

Environmental Studies Mountain Bike Experience at Anglesea Mountain Bike Park

We are excited to share the exhilarating experience our Year 10 Environmental Science class had during their recent Mountain Bike Excursion to Anglesea Mountain Bike Park. Hosted by knowledgeable instructors from GORATS (Great Ocean Road Adventure Tours) Tony and Shaun. The excursion provided our students with a unique opportunity to enhance their riding skills, deepen their connections to the environment and learn about important environmental concerns.

Throughout the day, our students embraced the challenge of mountain biking with enthusiasm and determination. Under the expert guidance of Tony and Shaun, they honed their riding techniques, including manoeuvring through tricky trails, tackling different terrains, and navigating bends and obstacles. It was heartening to witness their progress and how they supported one another during the journey. The Mountain Bike Excursion not only improved their physical abilities but also instilled a sense of confidence and self-belief in our student’s mountain bike riding capabilities.

The excursion offered our students an immersive experience in the natural beauty of the surrounding environment. As they pedalled through lush forests and changing landscapes, they were encouraged to pause and take in the sights and sounds of the native flora and fauna. This experience fostered a deep appreciation for the environment and its significance in our lives. Our students were able to connect with nature in a profound way, and this connection will undoubtedly impact their future attitudes toward environmental conservation. We are grateful to Tony and Shaun from GORATS for their expertise and passion, which made the excursion truly exceptional. The experience not only sharpened our students' riding skills but also deepened their connection to nature and reinforced the importance of environmental stewardship.

Mr Beasley & Ms Comodromos

On Tuesday the 1st of August,  the 2 year 10 Environmental Studies Classes went down to Hurst road Anglesea for a mountain bike ride. It was a fun experience, run by the Gorats with Simon and Tony who were the instructors of the day. They told us about the environment we were riding through, it was a great experience for everyone to join in and have some experience in a local national park. We are now completing an assessment task investigating low impact practices, patterns of use and park classifications.

Kyden McCaughan, Student

Love Bites Program -Jesse Combridge 

Introduction

Recently, the year 10’s at Western Heights College have had the privilege of attending the Love Bites Program. The Love Bites Program is a respectful relationships program designed to inform young people about the dangers of relationship violence, the importance of consent, and additional information on relationships and sexual interactions. Students are educated on the importance of all of these areas, and how they apply to real-life situations.

My Experience

The first thing my class did was an activity about our views on different focuses and expectations in relationships, such as the expectations of a boy/girl in the relationship and boundaries of said relationship. After that, we watched a few videos on what consent looks like and how it should be viewed from a younger person’s view. We learnt about situations where consent cannot officially be given, like if said person was intoxicated, under the influence or unconscious. We had another activity where we moved around to different sides of the room to determine whether consent can be given in a situation, using the left side of the room as yes, and the right side as no. We watched a video about a young woman who survived an abusive relationship, and another about a woman going home with a man from a bar. We discussed what bystanders could have done to stop the man or to intervene, then rewatched the video, where this time around the bystanders took action. After that, we said goodbye to the kind people running the program and went home.

Final words

On behalf of the year 10’s at Western Heights, we would like to thank the people running the program for educating us on consent and respectful relationships. It was very fun, and helped set a more mature standard among the younger generations and more to come.

Jesse Combridge, Student

Year 10 Vaccine Program – Barwon Health and Western Heights College

On Monday the 14th of August, all Year 10 Students will have the opportunity to receive the Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine.

A Consent Card was handed out to students to complete and return to the First Aid Office by the 31st of July.

The Consent Card needs to be completed where you would like your child to receive the vaccine or not.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sonia Raschilla on (03) 5277 1177.

Sonia Raschilla, Head of First Aid and Attendance Officer

Year 11

On Tuesday 1st of August, Year 11 from our school went on an excursion to Deakin University and it was an eye-opening experience, giving us a glimpse into the day in the life of university students and how they deal with it. The campus was buzzing with energy as we explored different activities. I decided to attend the "Study Hacks" session, which was incredibly helpful in learning effective study techniques and time management strategies. We also had the chance to attend the "Money Flows" workshop, where students shared valuable insights on financial planning and budgeting which is a crucial lesson as we prepare for our future careers. During the "Future Career" session, we were exposed to various career pathways and received guidance on choosing the right majors and subjects to align with our interests and goals. This session inspired me to think critically about my passions and how I can turn them into a fulfilling career. Alongside this, the university also emphasized the importance of mental wellbeing, with workshops and resources dedicated to mental health support. Overall, the day at Deakin University left a lasting impression on all of us, motivating us to work hard, plan for our futures, and take care of our mental and financial well-being as we navigate the exciting journey of higher education and beyond. 

– Harshit Bhatia, Year 11 Student 

On Tuesday my peers and I visited Deakin University for the day and got to experience what a day in the life of a uni student is like and participated in multiple workshops that were fun as well as educational, it was an amazing chance for us students to ask questions involving our concerns and worries.

We learnt about pathways we can take, research on courses at all universities even money tips, overall was a great day where we all gained confidence in our learning and all left feeling better about ourselves and the future we wish to take. 

– Macie Hepburn, Year 11 Student

Claire Sullivan, Year 11 LCL

Year 12

Lots of planning heading towards the end of the year for the students in 12, so I will give out a few key dates to pop into your calendars.

• Friday 25th August – Elevate education and Head start incursion for both VCE and VM classes
• Thursday 14th September - Practice VCE English exam. 
• Monday 16th October – Final whole school assembly for yr 12 students
• Tuesday 17th October – YEAR 12 Celebration day – theme TBC.
• VCE Exams begin with English on Tuesday 24th 
• Graduation – Thursday 16th November at GMHBA stadium.

As we do head into the last few months of school for the students the 12-teaching team have begun to notice a little bit of stress beginning to creep into our learning space as the pressure of VCE begins to build up. 

So to help, here is some simple things to reduce the anxiety:

1. Sleep is your (best) friend – aim for between 8 and 9 hrs a night – with a routine bed time a great help.
2. Study in 20-minute intervals – your brain works better this way – with 5 minutes mini breaks doing something completely different to help reset.
3. Say it and think it out loud – a proven way to help problem solve
4. Breaks are good, constant distractions are bad - “screen time is not a student’s friend,”
5. Feed your brain - 32% of students skip breakfast before school this as a “neurological catastrophe” for a brain trying to study and retain information. It’s one thing to feed your brain, but feeding your brain the right foods is key to getting the most out of it - so NO ENERGY drinks!
6. Water your brain - The brain is made up of 73% water, and by sipping water at least every 20 minutes while studying you will keep your brain hydrated. A hydrated brain will result in improved focus, concentration and motivation
7. Exercise is essential – obviously the benefits are well known – but its also great for mental health as well.

         8. Stress is okay – a little stress can be good for you. Stress helps the brain perform more efficiently.

Brett Bullock, Year 12 LCL