I take this final newsletter for 2020 as an opportunity to thank our school community again for its support throughout a very challenging year.

Although Covid-19 restrictions are easing, the end of 2020 still looks much different to what we anticipated. Unfortunately, our annual Awards Evening, which was scheduled for December 16, cannot go ahead. However, our Awards Co-ordinator, Jane Dimsey, is currently working with teachers to ensure that our end of year awards are still determined and issued in various ways. Our major student awards will be presented at an extended school assembly on Wednesday 10 February. If Covid-19 restrictions permit, we will be inviting parents of award recipients to this event.

Year 12 VCE students will also be receiving their results at an unusual time of the year (i.e. December 30). We wish these students all the best. Our Careers Advisor, Mr Ian Cook, will be available on December 30 and through January to assist our Year 12 students as they continue to consider their work and study options for 2021. Mr Cook has explained to our Year 12 students how they can contact him during this time.

Some of our students, however, have already received exciting news about their 2020 achievements. We recently learnt that Henry Tremlett-Davies and Saskia Lynzaat (Year 10 – 2020) were awarded Kwong Lee Dow Scholarships through the University of Melbourne, while Elwyn Carlile and Maisy Mellick-Cooper (Year 11 – 2020) have been accepted into the National Youth Science School running during January. Congratulations to these students.

The recent easing of Covid-19 restrictions meant that last week we held our first “face-to-face” School Council since February. This was an opportunity for School Councillors to tour our amazing new facilities for the first time. Like our students and staff, they were very impressed with the spectacular transformation of our school. All going well, we plan to create opportunities during 2021 for more members of our school community, as well as the broader community, to visit our new facilities.

Although School Council has only been able to meet “face-to-face” twice this year, we have remained very active via Zoom meetings throughout the year. I thank School Council, led by Beth Mellick, for supporting CSC over a very unusual and challenging year.

At our recent Year 12 Graduation Dinner, I acknowledged that there are several families who will finish their direct association with CSC this year after very long periods of time. For families who are finishing their connection with our school, I wish you all the best and thank you for your contributions to CSC.

The majority of our families will be returning next year though. New and returning families will receive a letter from us in early to mid-January confirming our start of year arrangements for 2021. Key information to be aware of at this stage is:

Teachers will return to school for a planning day on Wednesday 27 January.
On Thursday 28 January, we will hold our annual mentor-family meetings. There will not be any classes held on this day. However, students are expected to attend school with a parent or guardian for a meeting with their mentor and to have their school photograph taken.
Given that school photographs occur on this day, students are required to be dressed in full school uniform.
Mentor meeting times will be able to be booked via XUNO and the letter you will receive in January will explain these booking arrangements, including the date from which bookings can be made.
Classes begin for all students on Friday 29 January.

Before seeing you all again, however, I wish everyone a safe and relaxing break.

Merry Christmas!

Paul Frye

Castlemaine Secondary College News

Issue 7 · 21 Dec 2020

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