College Updates

Year 8 Melbourne Camp Travel Update

The Year 8 Melbourne Camp has departed for three days full of fun! 

V/Line have had to alter our Friday return booking.

We will depart Southern Cross Station on the 2:20PM train, and arrive at Moe Station by 4:30 PM. Please make arrangements for your child to be collected at 4:30 PM.

Middle School Camp- Queensland

Not long to go now!

All consent forms have been received which is fantastic!

Final payment was due Thursday, October 31st.

Please finalise all payments as the company must be paid today.

Any issues please contact the general office on 5127 9200.

2020 Laptop Program

If you haven't already purchased a laptop for 2020, please see the flyer below for information and prices. Please contact the General Office on 5127 9200 for more information.

Welcome Jen

Please join Lowanna College in welcoming Jennifer McQuade to the administration team.

Basketball Court Logos

During the Term 3 Holidays the college finished its 2 year project of the revitalisation of the Indoor Basketball courts.  These courts now are in line with the FIBA regulations (as seen here on page 7 https://www.fiba.basketball/documents/official-basketball-rules.pdf) and have high quality polyurethane coating on the floors.  These courts are now one of the best locations for Regional Basketball in Victoria.

Wellbeing Team Report

2019 has been a successful year for the Wellbeing Team with many different programs being offered to our students.

In July we collaborated with Mental Health practitioners to conduct a series of Youth Mental Health First Aid sessions for students from years 8 and 11. This program was offered to staff also and assisted people in coping with and recognising signs of basic mental health concerns. Student participation was outstanding. Students and staff are often reminded to be mindful of our peers and look out for each other’s wellbeing.

More recently we have engaged with Quantum who are promoting their ABC programs and running a series of sessions for a variety of students. Focus is primarily on early intervention and proactive learning.

Wills Mana, our Chaplain, has moved onto a new area and has left the College. We thank Wills for his contribution and time working with students, especially in the areas of soccer and music. Wills will be missed by many staff and students.

Breakfast Club continues to operate for students each Tuesday and Thursday morning in the Dining Room near the Food Tech. Rooms. Students are welcome to join us for warm milo and toast, in a relaxed environment.

The Green Tradies Programs is again running smoothly this term with volunteers Ernie, Lillian and Kathryn. Our team of students work in the garden planting seeds and vegetables, and are then taught to cook their produce.

Regards,

Donna Perkins

Student Wellbeing Co-Ordinator

2020 Italy Study Tour

The 2020 Italy Study Tour is offered to students from years 9 to 11. If you would like further information please see Amy at the General Office.

Beleza VIP Sale

Blood Donations

Did you know that many of our staff donate blood regularly?

Ann Prokopiwskyi donated for the first time. 

Liam Coglin signed up for his first donation in Australia. He has previously donated whilst traveling overseas.

Helen Haughton has returned to making donations 

Judith Stewart is up to her 37th donation. 

Julie Sheahey: 101 plasma donations

 Nicole Taylor: 97 plasma donations

Ross Jackson: regular donor

Steven Abramovitch: regular donor 

Tim Campbell: regular donor 

The Blood bank suggests that for every donation we make, we save 3 lives. On that basis, our staff has saved the lives of roughly 1000 people. Imagine that!

If you are over 18 and would like to be involved in donating blood, please contact The Australian Red Cross Blood Service on 13 14 95.

What is the Problem with Boys and Reading?

It is common sense that a good secondary education can lead to better employment opportunities and further study options, but did you know that increased levels of education are linked to greater life expectancy? Research shows a link between educational outcomes and increased physical and mental health. Education, and particularly reading, is good for your mind and your future!

Positive experiences of reading at school and at home contribute to the ongoing development of reading skills and educational outcomes. Literacy is fundamental to success in life. It is important for children to not only read the words on a page but to engage with and understand the text. Better results in literacy leads to better results in other classroom subjects. This generates improved self-esteem and self-confidence which are both essential building blocks in all areas of life.  

Unfortunately, but perhaps not surprisingly, research shows that boys trail girls in literacy. This is supported by NAPLAN results in Reading and Writing with girls more likely to be in the top two bands of NAPLAN and a greater percentage of boys below the minimum national standard. This is not an isolated phenomenon at Lowanna but an Australian and global concern. Other studies have shown that boys’ reading and writing enjoyment reduces as they get older and that the differences in literacy achievement between genders increases with age.

Boys learn differently than girls. So, how can we ensure that we get the best outcomes for them and increase their enjoyment of reading?

Find authors boys can relate to

• Introduce them to writers who they can connect with, ideas that make them think, worries they will share, voices they recognise and characters they understand and laugh with.
• Consider the male perspective when selecting appropriate reading material. If there is a hobby or sport he likes, find relevant fiction and non-fiction books that will appeal to him.
• Encourage them to try a variety of books and authors to see what suits their taste.

Male role models are essential

• Who do boys aspire to be? Role models may be dads, grandfathers, brothers, coaches or actors.
• If men share their love of books and read aloud to them then reading will be valued by boys. Leave the technology at home, go camping, enjoy a campfire and a good book.  

Inspire boys at home

• How often do secondary students see parents reading at home? Are there books and bookshelves lining the walls in your home? Do you take the time to visit the local library or read to your child? If we want our children to read, we must value books in our homes.

Think about it like sport

• Reading, like any sport, takes time and practice. The brain is like a muscle that needs to be trained, effort and persistence is necessary to improve.

Do it together

• Talk about books that you have both read, gather information and problem solve together.
• Take books on holidays so that it shows reading as fun and recreation.   

Remove the stereotype

• Male attitudes to reading are not innate but develop in response to their reading experiences. A positive attitude towards reading influences boys’ engagement with reading. Boys that read are cool, masculine, imaginative and creative.

Reading is reading

• It doesn’t always have to be just books; magazines, newspapers, recipes all stimulate curiosity and help develop boys’ reading skills at home.

Give lots of praise

• Boys love attention and positive affirmations.  When they read well give them encouragement and be specific with the praise. If a boy understands exactly what he has done to earn the praise, he will learn more quickly. Also make it clear that if he makes a mistake reading, he is not a failure - that’s the way you learn.

Build regular reading time into his day

• Set aside a regular time for them to read, to read with them or listen to them reading. Don’t stop reading with boys because they have finished primary school and started secondary school. Reading is important at all ages.