Principal's Report

Well done to South Oakleigh Community

As the Principal I take this opportunity to tell you how proud I am of every member of our school community’s efforts over the last fortnight in delivering and supporting teaching and learning remotely.  Students have been able to continue to be engaged in education during the COVID-19 disruption. 

The workload associated with the change to remote learning has been significant and staff have spent many hours in the week before and during the school holidays and outside the regular workday to make our transition to remote learning so successful.

  Whilst the transition wasn’t “perfect”, we have been able to resolve issues as they arose.  I expect that whilst we have worked through some early problems some new ones may arise.  I really appreciate your patience with this process.

I can assure you that our commitment to our students is unwavering.  We will always do the very best that we can to ensure that their education program can continue, they are safe and have accesses to the resources they need to be successful learners. 

Parent/Carer support of remote learning is also a key factor in our success.  I fully appreciate the extra demands that this mode of learning has placed on many family and congratulate you on your efforts in ensuring your children have a routine in place, a suitable space to learn in and checking in with your child to help them manage this new way of learning. 

Thank you for partnering with us in such a positive and effective manner.

Making ANZAC Day at Home

Usually at this time of the year, we acknowledge Anzac Day; we also acknowledge the great work of our student leaders in their roles in commemorations held both in school and out in the local community.  Like most things, Anzac Day will be somewhat different this year.

Anzac Day is a significant day for all Australians and is often a time for private reflection. 

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs encourages all Australians to pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice of the more than 102,000 Australians who have died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

While public commemorations have been cancelled overseas and across Australia, Australians are encouraged to continue to mark this important national commemorative date by holding their own private commemorations and watching a televised national service from the Australian War Memorial. This service is scheduled to commence with the pre-service program at 5am and the national service at 5.30am – check your local guides.

However Australians choose to mark Anzac Day, they should do so in-line with the latest health advice and in a way that is solemn and dignified.

Lest we forget.

ANZAC REQUIEM

On this day above all days we recall those who served in war and who did

not return to receive the grateful thanks of the nation.

We remember those who still sleep where they were left - amid the holly scrub in

the valleys and the ridges of Gallipoli - on the rocky and terraced hills of Palestine

- and in the fields of Flanders and France.

We remember those who lie asleep in ground beneath the shimmering haze

of the Libyan Desert - at Bardia, Derna, Tobruk - and amid the mountain

passes and olive groves of Greece and Crete, and the rugged, snow-capped

hills of Lebanon and Syria.

We remember those who lie buried in the rank jungle of Malaya and Burma - in

New Guinea - and the Pacific.

We remember those who lie buried amid loving friends in our Motherland

and in our own far North.

We remember those who lie in unknown resting places in almost every land, and 

those gallant men whose grave is the unending sea. Especially do we remember 

those who died as prisoners of war, remote from their homeland, and from the

comforting presence of their next of kin.

We think of those of our women’s services who gave their lives in our own

foreign lands and at sea, and of those who proved to be, in much more than 

name, the sisters of our fighting men.

We recall, too, the staunch friends who fought beside our men on the first ANZAC 

Day - men of New Zealand who helped to create the name of ANZAC.

We recall of those who gave their lives in the Royal Navy, the British Army,

the Royal Air Force, the Merchant Service and in other British and Dominion 

Forces.

We think of those British men and women who fell, when, for the second time in 

history, their nation and its kindred stood alone against the overwhelming might of 

an oppressor.

We think of every man and woman who in those crucial hours died so that

the lights of freedom and humanity might continue to shine.

We think of those gallant men and women who died in Korea, Malaya, Borneo,

Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and in Peacekeeping Forces assisting

to defend the Commonwealth and other countries of the Free World, against a 

common enemy.

Helen Koziaris

Principal

College Council

On behalf of the South Oakleigh Community, I would like to welcome our newest College Council members, as well as thank those who are continuing in their roles on Council.  Two new members were elected onto Council this year: Greg Dellas and Inbal Rodnay Steinberg, both Year 7 parents, and Nikki Kaur was re-elected to continue with Council for another two years.  I would like to congratulate our newest Council members; and I would also like to thank all others who expressed a desire to be a part of our community in this way and put themselves on the ballot for 2020. 

At this time I would like to announce:

Mitzi Sneesby –          President

Caryn Vincent -           Vice President

Andrew Robinson -     Treasurer

Given the early end of Term 1 and the Easter holiday period impacting on the conduct of the ballot for the election of the student members of school council, it has been determined that the time frame for the election of student members of school council will be extended.  This will help ensure the entire student body has the opportunity to participate in the ballot and ensure a transparent and open process.  Ballots have been distributed by mail to all students and the closing date for voting will be extended to Thursday 7 May, after which our student reps will be announced in the next newsletter. 

I would like to express my sincere thanks to out outgoing President and Member of College Council, Steve Demosthenous.  Steve’s commitment to the College has been unwavering; he has sat on Council for over 15 Years and has been President for 8.  He has supported me on my journey both as an Assistant Principal and as a Principal with the students learning and health and wellbeing always at the forefront of his thinking when supporting initiatives and driving change.  Steve’s support of the College will continue as a community member.   

I would also like to extend my appreciation to outgoing councillors Clayton Olver and Robyn Steel for their hard work and dedication to the School community; their commitment has been greatly appreciated as they have always been there to support the school in any way they could.