Mini School Updates

Middle School

With Darren Mitchell on leave for the first half of the term, I have enjoyed stepping back into the busy nature of the Middle School. Semester 2 started in the last 2 weeks of Term 2; this has proven to be a success with students being settled into their classes prior to the beginning of Term 3

Last week, many of our year 10’s participated in the Work Experience program, learning what the work force in their future careers may be like. We hope they enjoyed the experience and hoped it helped with making their decisions on their futures easier. It was pleasing to hear many great reports from their employers, on how our students conducted themselves during the week.

On the 10th of August all year 10’s will undergo course counselling for their 2023 subjects with individual sessions scheduled. This is an important step in your child’s future, as they decide on the program that they will undergo in the Senior School as well as having the opportunity to focus on those subjects that really interest them. If you have not organised your session, please contact Senior School.

With cold weather continuing, I implore parents and students to adhere to the Lowanna College uniform policy and please be aware of the uniform exchange policy that is now in effect. A number of non-Lowanna items have recently become noticeable in the yard. If parents need assistance with uniform, please contact the school.

As one of our School Values, Respect is most important in the smooth running of a school. Respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for your surroundings are vital to promote a culture of support and inclusion for all students. I urge Middle School students to place greater emphasis on this key value in coming weeks. This begins with how you treat yourself and others within our Lowanna Community.

Across the entire College, we have a strong focus on attendance and ensuring as few absences as possible. Evidence indicates that poor attendance can affect student outcomes, as well as many social factors. Please ensure that you contact the school if your student is away either by entering their absence on Compass yourself or contacting the Middle School Office on 51279246. If you require assistance with your Compass login, please contact the school.

Trevor Cox

Assistant Principal

Senior School

Welcome back to Term 3. It was great to see students back and looking well rested after the school holidays. I hope that students and families took the chance to reflect on comments provided in school reports at the end of Term 2 in order to set some individual goals and have a plan to prepare for the most productive and successful term possible. 

Our senior students have had a busy start to the term, with many participating in a range of events and excursions in addition to their academic studies. A group of seven Year 11 students attended the Inspiring Careers in Health Camp, a three day live-in experience for students from Baw Baw and Latrobe schools. The camp was delivered in partnership with Federation University and TAFE Gippsland, with students introduced to a range of Health related careers and information about pathways and employment options within the Health sector. We have also had students out representing the College as members of the Senior Basketball team. Year 11 and 12 VCAL students also attended a two day Flat Pack Furniture Challenge at the Gippsland Tech School. Students learnt about the Design Thinking Process  and then applied this to designing a piece of flat pack furniture. They used CAD software to design their product before making a model of their design using the laser cutter and/or 3D printer. Students also had to create a marketing strategy to sell their design. Students have also attended the Jobskills Expo where they were able to explore opportunities for future career pathways with Baw Baw Shire Council and other industries. Year 11 students who are participating in the Debutante Ball this year have also started their dance rehearsals. It’s great to see so many opportunities for students to engage in a wide variety of activities that allow them to explore and develop their individual strengths and interests. 

SAC season is in full swing, and the upcoming weeks are a busy time for assessment across the senior school. I urge all students to stay focused, seek help and assistance from your teachers, and reach out for support if needed. We are all in this together, and it is important that we support each other in these challenging times. A reminder that tutors are available for most subjects and can be accessed, along with staff, at after school study sessions on a Monday and Wednesday. These run from 3.15 pm – 4.15 pm. 

All students enrolled in one or more Unit 3-4 subjects, along with all Senior VCAL students, will need to sit the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Wednesday September 7. The GAT has a new format this year and will consist of two individual tests: 

The GAT is an important part of the VCE quality assessment process. Student results are used to ensure that all school-based assessments (SACs and SATs) and external examinations have been accurately assessed. Where students cannot sit an exam in the end of year examination due to factors beyond their control, GAT performance can be used to calculate a Derived Examination Score. It is therefore imperative that all students attend the GAT and complete it to the best of their ability. 

Finally, a couple of administrative reminders. All students are expected to be in full school uniform at all times. This includes headwear. There are Lowanna College beanies available for purchase given the current wintery weather. The College also has the Uniform Exchange system in place to support students and their families to ensure that all students can be in uniform. Any student absences should be communicated with the school as soon as is practically possible. Where an assessment is missed due to absence, a medical certificate or other professional documentation must be provided to support the absence so that the assessment can be rescheduled. 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Senior School team (5127 9243) if there is anything we can do to support or assist. 

Nicole Taylor

Senior School Leader