From the Principal

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends

I hope you managed to keep warm over the holiday break.  Certainly, we have had some of the coldest days ever.  It was great to welcome our students and staff back to school last week and to see everyone catching up with their friends.  Many of you will have noticed the demolition of a large portion of C Block over the holidays.  While the 7-10 Campus looks a bit worse for wear, it will be all worth it in the end as we wait eagerly for the construction of our new stadium and commercial gym to commence.

M.E.G.A.R WEEK: A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HEALTH AND WELLBEING 

M.E.G.A.R stands for Mindfulness, Empathy, Gratitude, Acceptance and Resilience.  These are all essential qualities that we, as educators and parents, want our young people to acquire.  Year 9 students devoted the last week of Term 2 to learning about how they can maintain a positive sense of health and wellbeing and support others in doing so also.  Practising mindfulness allows us all to cope in times when life is stressful.  We need to show empathy by taking on the perspective of others, by being able to see another’s point of view.  By being empathic we can support the wellbeing of others and have positive relationships.  Unfortunately, we live in a culture where people are always striving to have more material assets, but really the source of true happiness and peace is learning to show gratitude for what you have.  I was at a funeral the other day, where the celebrant said that when we celebrate a life we don’t celebrate the material wealth of a person.  We celebrate what they have done for others.  Be grateful for what you have and put your energies into doing your best and being kind to others, then you will lead a fulfilling life.  It is exciting that across our school community there is so much diversity.  We are all different from each other.  I am pleased to say that our students are very good at celebrating differences and accepting every member of our community.  Resilience is the ability to bungee jump through the pitfalls of life.  We all face adversity at times, and using strategies like mindfulness and seeking help from others by talking about your challenges that are great for building resilience.  I hope that our Year 9 students experienced a great M.E.G.A.R week and have acquired strategies to enhance their health and wellbeing.  Many thanks to the team of enthusiastic teachers (Ms Emma Manks, Ms Paige Jessulat, Ms April Ewing and Mr George Jolly) who devoted countless hours in planning and delivering a sensational M.E.G.A.R week.

Please see the M.E.G.A.R Week section in this newsletter for student reflections, photos and video.

WORK EXPERIENCE PROVIDES A TASTE OF WORKLIFE

Due to the exceptional dedication of our Work Experience personnel, particularly Ms Lorelle Molloy, an incredible 300+ Year 10 students were involved in Work Experience in the last week of Semester 1.  Student experiences varied, with some returning with their passion for a future career ignited whilst others found the experience did not match their expectations.  For the students who have returned having found the experience not for them, hopefully they will have a new-found vigour for the importance of studying to access a future course and career pathway where they will be truly happy.

Feedback from employers was overwhelmingly positive about our students, which is a great indication of how they are developing into fine young men and women we can all be proud of. 

YEAR 10 STUDENTS REACH A CRITICAL TIME IN THEIR EDUCATION

Last week hundreds of parents, Year 10 students and teachers came back to school on a very chilly evening to hear about VCE and VET offerings for 2019.  Such numbers indicate how much students and parents value the importance of education in their lives.  This evening provided a critical preliminary activity to inform parents and students of the myriad of VCE and VET subjects on offer.  We are very excited to be offering a new program to Year 11 students: ‘Structured Workplace Recognition Program’.  This will allow some of our students to be involved in a work placement recognition subject whilst completing a VET, and then spend a day a week in different workplaces throughout the year.  For example, a student could study VET Plumbing and then have work experience with several plumbers for the year.  I am sure such a new offering which still fills requirements to obtain a VCE certificate will give many of our students great pathways into apprenticeships and ultimately prosperous careers.

This week, intensive Course Counselling sessions have been undertaken with parents and Year 10 students to ensure students are well informed in selecting their senior years learning pathway.  Similarly, course counselling is being provided for students from Years 8 to 9 and Years 9 to 10 to help students in choosing the best learning pathways that match their interests and strengths, but also to keep their options open in preparation for choosing tertiary learning pathways.  Many thanks to parents for taking time off work to attend these course counselling sessions to support their children as they make these important life decisions. 

CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS EXCEL AT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thanks to the great coaching from very dedicated staff (Mrs Chloe Stevens, Mrs Carly MacDonald, Mr Mal Burt and Mr Steven Bonfadini), our students went on from Regional Competition to obtain some impressive results at the State Cross Country Championships last week.

Highlights included: Ayden Dignan (Year 9) winning the 15 Boys (State Champion), Rhemmy Gibbs (Year 10) placing second in the U16 Girls.  Our U13 and U15 Girls became State Champions with U14 Girls third, U15 Boys second.  In total our students returned with an incredible swag of 22 State medals. 

EQUESTRIAN CHAMPION!

Congratulations to Shae Latimer of Year 9 representing Frankston High School  on 7 July at Elmore Interschool Quailifying Competition. 

Shae competed in three events within the show horse section; secondary rider, secondary ridden and secondary led.

Shae was awarded first in all three phases and was in turn awarded Champion Secondary Rider and Mount overall.

Rug up, everyone.  I am looking forward to seeing many of our parents, students and friends at this Sunday’s Working Bee.  If you are not hirsute, like myself, I would like to recommend the wearing of a beanie; in school or Demons colours, of course!

Mr John Albiston

Principal