International Student Program
Multicultural Night - Thursday 10 May
Last night was a wonderful opportunity for the International and EAL students and their parents, homestay families and friends to come together to enjoy tasty food, conversation and fantastic music and dance.
There were over 120 guests in attendance and as the attached program shows great leadership and confidence displayed by our students. If you teach any of the students who spoke or performed, please congratulate them. We are all so proud of them!
I would like to thank and congratulate the International Team of Tracey Song, Sen Li and Joyce Bao along with the International students who planned, organised and presented such a warm celebration for a very important part of our community. A testament to this supportive program is the return of two past 2016 students who performed and gave a speech last night. Thanks also to the staff and local students who attended and provided great food and company. The atmosphere was one of joy and warmth and Tracey informs me that WeChat is a buzz this morning with positive feedback, photos and videos.
It was a triumph which will surely get bigger!
A parent of one of our international students gave the following thoughtful speech:
"Ladies and gentlemen, students:
Hello everyone! I’m a parent of a Yr10 international student.
I'm glad to attend the Koonung Multicultural Night. I feel honored to have this opportunity to share my experience in Australia with you.
This is my first time to go abroad with my son to Melbourne for education. When the plane arrived in Australia, I felt that this is a clean and beautiful city. In fact, I was very nervous inside of me. At that time, I didn't know that my son and I can adapt to life in this country.
Koonung is a student centred and very caring school which makes me feel very comfortable. The teachers gave my son a lot of courage and attention. I saw him growing up every day, I feel so happy.
In order to better understand and connect with my son, I need to involve into the school and also local community. It’s very important for parents to act as a role model for children. At first, I went to church where there are many people speak the same language as me, which makes me feel a family. Secondly I went to the community English learning centre. Those experience help me to become more ‘Aussie’ than I used to be. Now I enjoy watching AFL game with my Australian friends on weekends. I am a supporter of Richmond. Yellow and black is the most fashionable colour in my mind.
Now, I am a volunteer of Chinese tutoring class. I teach Australian people to learn Mandarin. Although it is a beginner class and my English is not good enough, all of us are very enjoying it.
I would like to encourage all of you to go outside. You will find your life becomes more colourful. It also has a positive influence on your child.
I really like today's activity. I hope that school can hold more events like this. Give us more opportunities to get involved and grow up with the children.
Thank you all!"
各位来宾，各位同学们：
大家好！我是10年级留学生的家长。很高兴参加科能中学举办的多元文化之夜，也非常荣幸有这个机会把我的澳洲生活体会和大家一同分享。
我的第一次出国就是陪儿子来墨尔本读书，一下飞机就感觉这真是个干净美丽的城市，让人心旷神怡。实际上，我心里却很忐忑不安，不知道儿子和我能否适应这种留学生活。
学校的以学生为本的理念和管理方法，确实让我少了很多焦虑，学校老师给了孩子很多的鼓励，关注，看到他一天天快乐的成长，我也很高兴。但是我发现，要和青春期的孩子有良好的沟通，让他更好的成长，学校的生活以外，我自己的生活态度对他的影响也很重要。
为了让自己了解和适应澳洲生活。我参加教会，认识中国朋友，共同的语言让我不至于孤单。我参加社区英语学习，结交澳洲朋友，了解澳洲的文化和生活习惯，让自己出门在外，不至于只会说how are you，现在我甚至跟我的澳洲朋友有了共同喜爱的AFL球队。最让我得到锻炼的是，我现在是一个义务中文老师，教澳洲朋友学中文，虽然很初级，我的英语也不解释的不好，但我们大家都非常快乐。
我想告诉大家，一定要走出去，不要羞涩于自己的语言不足，很多澳洲人都是非常有耐心爱心的，慢慢的，你会发现生活真的很美好。你自己的生活很阳光，才能更好的教育孩子。
我很喜欢这次活动，也希望学校能够多多举办，让我们在异国他乡不至于孤独，也能更喜爱澳洲。给我们更多的机会和孩子一起成长。 谢谢大家！
Marianne Lee
Principal