International Student Information

5.6 Campus & Facilities

Over the course of several years Lyndale Secondary College is being rebuilt into a brand new school. Check out the Lyndale SC Promotional Video:

Facilities

Lyndale Secondary College, being a large secondary school by Australian standards, boasts a range of facilities, including:

  • a modern and fully equipped English Language Centre
  • a kitchen and dining area for international students at lunch time
  • a food/drink-free relaxation/private study area for international students
  • a dining and study hall for senior school students
  • a cafeteria serving healthy hot and cold food
  • musical instrument lessons and opportunities to join an ensemble
  • a modern stadium complete with small weighted gym and classroom with large viewing screen
  • a bike shed to lock your bike
  • college-wide free Wi-Fi internet with access to ICT support and free educational software
  • access to a range of course content and resources through the Compass School Management system
  • numerous specially equipped programs for the range of subjects on offer including multimedia subjects, art and technology subjects, sport and outdoor education subjects and food preparation subjects.
  • access to wellbeing through a teacher, including counselling services
  • a team of expert professionals to guide you through the Victorian Certificate or Education (VCE) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and help you transition into the next step in your life
  • numerous other amenities and facilities

Visit https://lyndale.vic.edu.au/college-facilities/ for more details.

West Wing Kitchen and Cafeteria

The International Student Coordinator and ELC Coordinator office, English Language Centre and International Student dining area are all in a building at the rear of the college called the West Wing. The kitchen is exclusively for international students only at lunch times. The kitchen is equipped with microwaves, crockery and cutlery (including chopsticks). If you need to refrigerate your food in the morning, please see the International Student Coordinator – do not access the fridge yourself.

 

As this is a shared kitchen, international students who use it are responsible for its cleanliness and maintenance. Food and drink must remain either within the kitchen and dining area or outside. It may not enter the rest of the building, particularly the relaxation area. There is no expectation that all international students use this kitchen. If you wish to go elsewhere in the school or purchase your lunch from the college cafeteria, you are welcome to do so.

 

In this same kitchen, twice a week in the morning there is a breakfast club. This is provided for any student of the college, including international students. It is a great way to make local friends, but again, you must clean up after yourselves. See the International Student Coordinator to find out which days breakfast club is held on.

International Student Homework Program

Twice a week after school the ELC holds an International Student Homework Program. This is a fantastic opportunity to get support for your homework, or if you simply want to sit somewhere quiet and complete your homework before you go home, this is the perfect opportunity. Staff will be available to assist you and encourage you for your efforts. 

It may be that one of your teacher makes it a requirement to attend this homework program. This is a great opportunity to receive the extra help that you need in order for you to do well in your school work.

Free Tutoring and College Homework Program

There is another college-wide homework program which includes tutoring. If you are struggling with your school work, a teacher or the International Student Coordinator may refer you to this program. If it is appropriate and there is a space free for you, you may be able to receive this extra, after school hours assistance. Tutors include past Lyndale international students who now attend university, so they understand what it is like to be an international student in an Australian secondary school.

International Student Badminton Club and Sport Clubs

Once a week at lunch time, the ELC coordinator holds badminton session in the school stadium. If you enjoy a hit of badminton you are welcome to join in. All you need is running shoes (so as not to mark the stadium floor) and to quickly help set up and pack up. Racquets, shuttlecocks and nets are provided.

 

This club is only for international students, but there are numerous other sport club in the school that are open to all students. These sports, open to both boys and girls of all secondary ages, include basketball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, Australian Rules Football, rugby, soccer and many others.

Lockers

Every student is allocated a private locker and a lock with a unique code. As a secondary school student in Australia, you will have a large amount of materials to carry to and from school. Using your locker is a great way to lighten the load. You need only get what you need for each lesson (lesson 2 and 3 together) in order to be organised. You usually require your computer for every lesson and for in between lessons to check your timetable, teacher and room number on Compass. This should not be kept in your locker.

For mainstream students, your locker could be anywhere in the college. Your year level manager will assign you a locker. For ELC students, your lockers are found in the relaxation area of the ELC, just outside your classrooms. These new lockers have been provided at great cost, so please look after them. Any student found marking any locker or other school property will be responsible for the cost of remedying the damage.

Your school diary and homework

Homework is an inescapable fact of secondary school life. It is important to establish a daily routine to complete your homework. To help with this, you will be provided with a school diary. It is your responsibility to maintain a neat, organised diary by recording your homework every day and using the back of the diary to ask permission to leave class. Diaries are checked by teachers sometimes to ensure you are properly using it.

 

Not completing homework carries consequences for your learning, dragging you behind and making it more and more difficult to catch up. If you are putting in your full effort and struggling with the amount or difficulty of homework you are receiving, DO NOT give up. There is always someone around to talk to and receive support. Talk to a teacher you feel comfortable with if this describes your situation.