Executive Team Report

Welcome back for the start of Term 2. It is wonderful to be in a position where we are able to undertake so many of our “normal” routines and the start of this term has been a flurry of activities.

Last week we held two ANZAC day assemblies, the first on Wednesday morning for our students in Years 10-12 and the second on Thursday afternoon for our Middle school students. These events were hosted by our student leaders in Years 12 and 9 respectively. Our College choir sang both the New Zealand and Australian anthems and we welcomed two ex-servicemen from the Box Hill RSL to share their thoughts and recollections of their time in military service. Both assemblies were solemn affairs and provided an insight for our students into the traditions of an ANZAC Day ceremony and enabled them to gain a greater understanding of the contributions made by all members of our armed forces. We were extremely proud of the respect shown by all students at these assemblies. I encourage you to read Natasha Mulay’s (Year 12) Memorial address as this was one of the many highlights of the assembly. Thank you also to past parent, Cath Bennie, who created our Anzac wreath, using predominantly flora from Koonung's garden beds.

Anzac Day Memorial Address - Natasha Mulay (SRC Captain)

If you want to travel fast, go alone. If you want to travel far, go together.”

In our past as a Nation, this proverb has never been unbeknownst to us. We understood it meant that we stand together, differences acknowledged but set aside – unified. Those brave Anzacs who stood by one another in truly perilous times allow us to understand this today.

In peril, we are strongest as one. Take for example, last year, where our Anzac day traditions were interrupted, there were moments of great camaraderie and compassion for one another, and we demonstrated what is means to be Australian, and what better tribute could we pay to our Anzacs. We looked after one another, and we united in our isolation.

Yet, we grew wiser to a profound realization. As coined by WWII Veteran Gordon Wallace Rat in his poetry, “how futile the practice, how stupid the rage. We were both boys, we should’ve been friends”. We must be united as a Nation, and more than just. We must be one as people, as diverse individuals. Our experiences are different – down to our very core, we are different. However, those differences cannot confine us. When we look past what separates us, we find that we are human beings, and that is enough. We share far more than we may think.

We can be Australians, because we can first be individuals of the world. We have learnt much from our Anzacs, and we will travel together, as Australians, and as people.

Last week we had the opening night of the musical “All Shook Up”. By the time this newsletter goes to print the cast will be heading into their second and final week of performances. Ticket sales have been hotly contested and we are all looking forward to attending. The sets have taken over a week to be installed and look amazing. I know that the cast and crew are very excited. Once again, this show has been over a year in the making and the dedication of this group of students and staff is monumentally noteworthy. I look forward to reading the reviews!

We have been busy hosting College tours three mornings per week since last term. It is always incredibly rewarding to catch a student as they pass by or have one step out of a classroom to describe what they are learning. Our students are always willing to oblige and speak with openness and honesty about life at Koonung, they share what they are learning and how they manage their own learning. We hear time and again how useful they find lesson plans and the support of their teachers.

Our Year 12 students are currently undertaking a variety of School Assessed Classwork (SAC), these tasks are used to provide VCAA with the school based assessment for each subject and are an important component of the final study score. In addition, some students working in the Arts based subjects are busily creating folios which form the School Assessed Task (SAT), these folios are produced over many weeks with staff support and follow the development of an idea into a finished product.

Year 7 and 9 students will undertake NAPLAN in week 4. The tests include: Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy. Tests will be conducted on 11-13 May. This year sees the introduction of a new Certificate of Achievement for students in Year 9 undertaking the tests. A new feature of the NAPLAN assessment is being launched this year, with the award of Year 9 Certificates of Achievement. See the following:

The new certificates aim to celebrate and recognise the importance of both excellence and learning growth.

Beginning in 2021, Year 9 students who achieve outstanding results or who significantly improve their results in NAPLAN tests will receive a NAPLAN Certificate of Achievement.

The certificates will be awarded for two categories of achievement:

Category one: the achievement of excellence through getting a result in the top band for reading or numeracy, or both.
Category two: the achievement of outstanding learning growth through improve by two or more bands between the NAPLAN Year 7 and Year 9 tests for reading or numeracy, or both.

For more information about the new certificate and measures for learning growth, refer to Year 9 NAPLAN certificates of achievement on the Department’s website.

Sandra Greenhill

Assistant Principal

2020 College Captain, Blair Tink, acknowledged by Paul Hamer, MP

The following article in featured in media from the office of Paul Hamer MP:

One evening between assignments, 2020 Koonung Secondary College School Captain Blair Tink had an idea - an idea of representing the school in the context of its indigenous heritage.

He sketched up a design, organised for it to be produced, and it now sits proudly in the school for all to see.

The words on Blair's artwork read: The community of Koonung Secondary College recognise and acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrong people as Traditional Custodians of this land. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging. Together, let us build mutual understanding, reconciliation and a better future.

Well done Blair! 👏

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