From the Principal Class Team

Orientation Program 2016

We are committed to optimising student outcomes in a climate where students feel safe, supported and confident of realising future goals. All students currently in Year 10 and 11 are supported in their transition into their VCE and VCAL courses by a compulsory Orientation Program after their exams in Term 4.

Year 11 Orientation:
12 - 26 November 2015

Year 10 Orientation:
26 November - 3 December 2015

Students must come to class prepared and have all the necessary equipment required for learning. During this time, students will participate in lessons with the teachers who will be instructing them in 2016. Teachers will brief students on the course requirements and expectations before beginning to teach the first Area of study (VCE) and Outcome (VCAL). Students will begin active learning and be given work to complete in class and at home. Teachers will also set homework to be completed over the summer vacation period in preparation for 2016.

Year 10 students studying a Unit 3-4 subject are expected to give the orientation program priority over their Year 10 exams. (Students will still be required to sit the rescheduled Year 10 exams once the orientation period is over).

SASC's Got Talent

Year 11 student leaders, Caroline Vo, Christopher Mabiala and Renae Maniapoto organised the very popular SASC's Got Talent show early this term. The show consisted of solo performances of popular songs, harmonious duets, hip hop dancing, instrumental music performances and a demonstration of soccer skills. Students spent many hours rehearsing their acts to ensure polished performances on the day. Host Kerrie Tran, ensured that each contestant felt safe and comfortable on stage and encouraged the audience to show their appreciation with thunderous applause. Picking the winners was certainly a challenge for the team of guest judges due to the abundance of talent on display.

Congratulations to all the students who participated as well as the organisers for showcasing the incredible talent of our students.

Mr Jennings, Ms Lee, Ms Dowsley & Ms Pillay were guest judges for the show

Students performing for SASC Got Talent

Parent Opinion Survey

Earlier this year 180 families were chosen at random to complete a Department of Education survey about their perceptions of the College. Questions related to the areas of School Climate, Student Behaviour and Student Engagement. The sections which are showing an improvement across a 3 year trend are School Improvement, Parent Input, Extra Curricular activities, General Satisfaction, Student Safety, Classroom Behaviour, and Connectedness to Peers. Sections where further investigation is required include Transitions and Social Skills.

Thanks to all those parents who completed the survey. We greatly value your feedback & will use it to improve our programs.

Beacon Pledge

All Year 10 students recently participated in the annual Beacon Pledge. On this day, students make a public commitment, in front of our Business and Community partners, to a positive future. Partners present on the day included Sian Hulland, Smith Family, Lou Gionfriddo from the Brimbank Central Rotary Club, and Anita Weber from the Beacon Foundation. We also had guest speeches from past successful students, Tina Cheng & Demi Tran, and a current Year 12 student, William Zahra.

Well done to all the Year 10 students, particularly the Beacon Ambassadors, Linda Nguyen, Jessica Vo, Ricki Tran and Minh Truong for their organisation.

More photos available on page 13.

Beacon Ambassadors, Linda Nguyen, Jessica Vo, Ricki Tran and Minh Truong

Journey of Remembrance – An ANZAC Centenary Production

On Tuesday 17 November, St Albans Secondary College will again host the Journey of Remembrance drama production created by the ANZAC Centenary Association. This thought provoking play depicts the impact that World War 1 and, in particular, The Gallipoli Campaign had on Australians involved in the conflict, as well as those who waited at home in Australia.

Students from Years 7, 8 & 9 will join teachers and special guests in travelling back in time to experience the emotions of individuals and their families in 1914/15.

Local member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Ms Natalie Suleyman, will head our special guest list along with Mr Stewart Homer (past Principal of St Albans Secondary College) and members of the Caroline Springs RSL.

It is significant that this drama production is being performed in the same week as the school joined the nation in commemorating Remembrance Day through the observance of a minute's silence and the reading of the iconic poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.

We hope through these experiences our students will respect the sacrifices made by others so that we may enjoy the freedoms we value, whilst acknowledging that war and violence are unacceptable ways of resolving conflicts.

BYOD – Parent Update

St Albans Secondary College introduced its Bring Your Own Device Program at the start of 2015 and has achieved a very pleasing level of student participation, thanks to the support of parents and the curriculum initiatives of the school staff. We still have some work to do to reach our goal of every student having a personal digital device to support their learning, so the school will be running special Parent Support sessions for parents who need assistance to buy a device for their child. These sessions will support parents to buy a device on-line from our recommended supplier – Learning with Technologies – and will be run at the school on the following dates and times:

Thursday 26 November - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Tuesday 2 December - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Wednesday 3 December - 2.00pm to 4.30pm

Parent who would like to contact the school about these sessions can use the email address:

byod_query@stalbanssc.vic.edu.au

or contact Mr Geoff Hutchison at the school on 9366 2555.

Parents who choose to purchase a device from an alternate provider MUST read the minimum requirements as detailed on the school website. If you are unsure, please contact the school using the email address or phone number listed above. If families purchase a device that is incompatible with the school network, students will be unable to use it.

Our new Car Park is open for business

It was worth the wait. At the start of week 4 of Term 4 we officially opened our new staff car park. It is hard to believe that the site with dug up asphalt, mounds of dirt, piles of crushed rock and heavy machinery that greeted us all when we returned from the Term 3 break is now a fantastic new car park. We have extra spaces to relieve the previous parking congestion, better entry and exit traffic flow, and we have eliminated that loose gravel that people were being asked to park on.

In the next few weeks we will be installing irrigation lines and planting out the integrated garden beds. In time these new plantings will provide welcome shade and greenery to the area.

The school would like to thank all of our staff and the people associated with the community groups who use the school on weekends for their patience and understanding whilst the car park was undergoing renovations.

St Albans Secondary College Carpark

And finally.....

We are looking forward to meeting many families over the next few weeks through Grade 6 Transition events, and our Accreditation Days in preparation for 2016.