Suzanne Cory High School

Student News

LOTE Week

Each year at Suzanne Cory High School we celebrate the end of term 2 with LOTE Week. It is an opportunity to recognise the cultural diversity of our school community through a range of activities organised by the students. Due to the challenges of this term, we weren’t able to put on the full range of events, but that didn’t stop us from holding the most important event of the week. The Traditional Dress Day invites students to come dressed in the clothing that represents their cultural backgrounds. We were very pleased to see so many students wear their heritage proudly and demonstrate respect for who we are and where we come from. We raised over $650 during this event which will go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, as another important part of LOTE Week is demonstrating our respect for the native people and culture of Australia.

Scroll across each image strip to see more photos.

 

Ms. Louise Leong - Head of LOTE

 

Comparing Remote Learning and University Study

Although Term 2 has been a new challenge for all members of the school community, it has also provided an opportunity for students to grow as learners. The resilience and independent learning skills students have displayed during COVID-19 restrictions are essential at university. Government data shows that up to 20% of students do not complete their university degree, because they do not possess the study skills required for success. I believe students who have learnt remotely will find it easier to transition from high school to university, and will find greater academic success in their university studies. I encourage all students to continue developing their independent learning skills.

Attributes of successful university students:

  • Organisation:
    • Know your timetable and dates for your assessments
    • Set a regular study schedule to stay up-to-date with all subjects
    • Understand the structure of your degree – know what subjects you need to complete
  • Self-motivation:
    • Set short and long term goals, and work towards them
    • Complete work without prompting
    • Ask for help when you need it
  • Resilience:
    • Think through challenges using logic
    • Learn from negative results
  • Understanding study habits:
    • Know what time of day are you most productive
    • Understand how you prioritise and procrastinate different tasks
    • Know the resources you need to learn efficiently
    • Learn steps you can take to solve problems
    • Develop techniques you can use to understand new content
  • Balance study and other commitments:
    • Make time for family and friends
    • Build new skills by working or undertaking extracurriculars alongside study
    • Set time for rest and rejuvenation

Brendan Taig - Careers Practitioner

 

High Notes! News and Updates from the Music Department

Welcome

A great big welcome to our musical families and the School community from the Staff and students at Suzanne Cory High School.  This has been a tumultuous year for all and it has also been our journey to discover new ways to make music and to have music functioning as a big part of lives.

 

News

At the end of term one, bid farewell to Ms Pam Scott, our Strings teacher and a foundation member of the School as she embarks on the next phase of her journey.  Ms Scott was a tremendous influence on the Music Department her at Suzanne Cory High School over a long period of time and we all wish her the very best for her future.  I am very happy to announce that the School has found a wonderful replacement and I would like to introduce Ms Hilary Odgers to our School community as our new string teacher.  Ms Odgers has extensive experience as a Strings teacher both in High Schools and Primary Schools within the Western Suburbs and beyond and has been a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Outreach Instrumental Teaching scheme.  She is also a performer in her own right in many different genres.  On behalf of the School community, I would like to warmly welcome Ms Odgers to our School.

 

What’s been happening?

As we have been in lockdown, many of us here at the School were contemplating how we could maintain our musical lives and presence through this difficult period.  Living life online has certainly been a challenge but I am very happy to report a couple of standout events that have occurred this term.

 

The Suzanne Cory Virtual Choir

Many thanks and congratulations must go to Ms Wu and the Quaternarium Chamber choir for their beautiful rendition of Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning a traditional spiritual.  This was a monumental effort to organise, record and produce this fine body of work and I know the reaction from their friends, family and peers was truly heartfelt across the community.  I would like to thank Ms Wu and the Quaternarium Chamber Choir for their extraordinary work on this project.

 

Online Open Mic

Open Mic is great Suzanne Cory High School tradition and no lockdown was ever going to get this way of this show.  Many students put their hand up to participate from their bedrooms online to the enthusiast messaging of their friends and peers.  Performers from all year levels and most musical genres were up for the challenge and it was great show for all.  Great big thank you to the performers and to our Music Captains Alexi and Krystelle for expertly putting together and running the show online.

 

What’s Coming up?

All of our Major School ensembles have up and running and it has been wonderful to see and make music again with our students and staff.  It has been very clear that a lot of our muso’s have actually been engaging in their instrumental music studies whilst we have been away.  This has indeed been pleasing as our ensembles are gearing up towards having our next musical presentations for the year in term three. Keep your eyes and ears open to Compass for the next announcements about our musical offerings whether they be online or in concert.

 

Tony Paye - Director of Music

Wellbeing News

Breakfast Club

Coming back from the period of isolation, our Student Support team, with recommendation from Mr Axup, decided to operate Breakfast Club twice a week – Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:00 am – 8:40am.  We understand that this period that we are going through is difficult for a lot of families and particularly for students who are travelling long distances just to come to school.  Having Breakfast Club is one of the small ways we can support students to ensure that they have something to eat and drink before they start the day. We always welcome any students who are available to volunteer and help support during this time, so anyone interested in helping, please meet Ms Paye at the Agora by 7:50 am

 

One of the most regular helpers you will see is Tessa who is with Ms Paye helping out at Breakfast Club and any of the therapy dogs Arlo, Yoda and Zaija are down for a pat and a cuddle during Breakfast Club and of course, during counselling sessions or outside class times

 

Therapy Dogs

You may be interested to know that each of our therapy dogs are allocated to a House:  

Arlo – Blackwood, Tessa – Cottrell, Yoda – Rothwell and Zaija – Kororoit 

They hope to engage more in House competitions and provide support for their respective Houses proudly in the future for various events.

They are also on Compass, however, it is not recommended that you try and communicate with them via email

 

Counselling News

During last holidays, the Student Support staff were continuously working to support students through E-Counselling.  However, during the coming holidays, this service will not be available.  It is recommended that if students need support during this time or have concerns for others, it is recommended students contact SSS for a list of external practitioners and resources

 

Please also be reminded that when scheduling a counselling appointment to register whether you are ok to have a therapy dog present or not

 

Ms Paye - Student Wellbeing Counsellor (Student Support Services)

 

ABC Takeover Melbourne Competitions

Takeover Melbourne is a new initiative that creates a powerful platform for young Melburnians to be heard. We're calling on high school students (and those outside formal education aged 12-18) to share a story about their life and submit it to the Takeover Melbourne Competition.

 

Competition winners will work with ABC producers to have their story featured on ABC TV, radio or online. Entries close 27 June 2020.

 

Entries must be a true story about an aspect of the author's life. Stories can be in any format: text, video or audio.

 

Please contact Ms Hall if you would like assistance or additional information about any of the competitions.

 

Youth for Peace Award 2020

Psychologists for Peace, an interest group of the Australian Psychological Society, is excited to announce the opening of 2020 Youth for Peace Award. This year the Award will focus specifically on the climate crisis. The task for teams this year is to develop a creative campaign or pitch to promote messages about the need for climate action, to influence the attitudes and/or behaviour of a specific audience. 

 

The Award provides an opportunity for teams of young people aged 12-24 to work together cooperatively and, if necessary, virtually! Teams can win a first prize of $1500 or a one of two highly commended prizes of $750. 

 

Please see Ms. Hall for more information