28th National Schools Constitutional Convention 2023

From Tuesday 21 March to Thursday 23 March 2023 Xavier Angelovski from Lalor Secondary College was among 116 Year 11 and 12 students from around Australia attending the 28th National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC), being held at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra. The program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education (DOE), coordinated by National Curriculum Services (NCS) and supported by the Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA) and department of education from all states and territories.

The topic for the 2023 Convention was, ‘Constitutional Reform - Is section 128 still a necessary requirement to change such an important document as the Australian Constitution?’. This topic provided students with the opportunity to examine Section 128 of the Australian Constitution and discuss if the requirements for alteration are still appropriate. A range of stimulus speakers discussed the issues with students for them to debate with all delegates.

Outcomes from the Convention will be incorporated into a Communiqué that will be forwarded to the President of the Senate, Senator Sue Lines, for tabling in Parliament and recorded in Hansard.

As a national delegate Xavier Angelovski travelled with 24 other students from their state or territory.

Other elements of the program included the Prime Minister’s Welcome Reception at Parliament House hosted by The Hon Patrick Gorman MP, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, a meeting with the Governor-General, The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) at Government House, and a dinner at the High Court of Australia

To arrange a photo or interview with Xavier Angelovski from Lalor Secondary College please contact the school on 03 9463 7300.

To be advised of the outcomes of the Convention please contact – Candy Chan at National Curriculum Services, the Convention managers for the Department of Education. E: candy.chan@ncsonline.com.au M: 0437 980 292

Harmony Week

This week was Harmony week, with a variety of activities for both staff and students to get involved in. Harmony week is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community. Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. Students came to school in the cultural dress or orange on Friday which highlighted the focus of Harmony week. I thank all students and staff who contributed to sharing in this important and valuable message.

Discovery Evening

On Tuesday the 14th of March we opened our school to prospective families for our annual Discovery Evening. It was great to see so many families attending the evening to find out what our school offers new Year 7 students as part of the transition process. They also took the opportunity to engage with staff and students on the night to find out about the additional programs offered through Years 7 to 12. Primary schools will soon start asking parents to put down their preferences for 2023 for any student moving from Grade 6 to Year 7 and all of the parents that attending the evening communicated that Lalor Secondary College will be their school of choice.

I thank all of the staff and students for putting on a wonderful event.

ANZAC Day

ANZAC day falls on Tuesday the 25th of April and is a public holiday that backs onto the school holidays. This does not provide the school the opportunity to commemorate this day. I would like to remind our community that this day is an important one for our community and one I hope all of our community spend a little time thinking about on the 25th of April.

“ANZAC” was the name given to a combined force of First Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Army troops who landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula at around dawn on Sunday, the 25th day of April, 1915, barely nine months after the outbreak of World War I. Galvanised by the example of courage and sacrifice demonstrated on that bloody battlefield, on the 10th day of January 1916 a public meeting of Brisbane citizens voted unanimously to establish the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee to lay the groundwork for a nationwide, solemn day of public remembrance on the first anniversary of the landings. On every 25th day of April for the past 100 years, “ANZAC Day” has been observed in Australia and New Zealand, becoming an honoured and sacred institution along the way.

End and Start of Term Arrangements

It’s hard to believe that Thursday the 6th of April is the last day of term 1, it has gone so fast. On this day all students will be dismissed at the end of period 4 at 1.12pm. All parents and carers will need to make appropriate arrangements to manage this change to the regular finishing time.

The first school day for Term 2 for all students is Wednesday the 26th of April. All teachers will complete a Professional Practice Day on Monday the 24th of April and Tuesday the 25th is ANZAC day. There is no school for students on either of these days.

Long Service Leave

I will be absent on Long Service Leave for the first 2 weeks of Term 2 spending some time away with my family. Julie Ryan the current Assistant Principal will be Acting Principal for this period. Any questions directed to the Principal during this time should be sent to Julie via the general office on 9463 7300 or her email Julie.ryan3@education.vic.gov.au

If anybody has any questions about the information above, please contact me via 9463 7300.

Best regards,

Corey Jewell

College Principal

Clean Up Australia Day