YARRA HILLS SECONDARY COLLEGE

November 17 2017 A Fortnightly Bulletin Issue No. 16

PO BOX 42 MOOROOLBARK 3138 Mooroolbark Campus: Tel: 9839 8800 Mt Evelyn Campus : Tel: 9736 3650

Respect ♦ Endeavour ♦ Achievement ♦ Pride

From the Mooroolbark Campus Principal Exams

As we approach the end of the VCE examination period, we again wish our graduating students the best of luck and hope they reap the rewards of their efforts. A crucial and formal part of our assessment at all other year levels is also to undertake a similar examination period to not only gain a greater understanding of where each student is at in terms of their content knowledge, but to also give students adequate practice and to help them gain familiarity with the process of sitting for an extended period of time in an exam setting. Years 7 through to 11 will be completing these exams in the coming weeks.

Cyclists (helmets!)

Now that the weather is on the improve, I am pleased to note the increasing numbers of students riding to school on their bicycles. Cycling is an incredibly healthy and worthwhile pastime, as well as a great means of transport over moderate distances. While encouraging this as a means to get to school, I must insist that students who do so not only have a helmet on them, but that it is correctly affixed and fastened to their head! Unfortunately, I have been contacted recently by the local police to alert me to a small number of students who are riding to school without a helmet. Not only is this illegal (and subject to a fine of $177) but it is very dangerous. Recent Transport Accident Commission promotions have focused on the need for drivers to keep a safe distance from cyclists, in light of some recent road fatalities. Parents please ensure your own child has a helmet and it fits correctly on their head before they depart on their cycle to school.

KEY DATES

NOVEMBER

Thursday 16-24 Year 12 VCAA Exams continue MB

13-24 Year 12 2018 Essentials Program MB

Friday 17 Year 9 Health for Life—Nutritional & Lifestyle local walk MB

Year 9 EAL Social Language Program MB

Saturday 18-19 Relay for Life MB

Monday 20-21 Year 7 & 8 Exams ME & MB

Tuesday 21 Senior Concert Band Rehearsals 3.30—4.30pm MB

Thursday 23-28 Year 9 & 10 Exams ME & MB

Junior Band Rehearsal 3.30pm—4.30pm MB

Friday 24 Year 12 Valedictory Dinner at Karralyka Centre 7.00pm-10.30pm MB

Tuesday 28 Senior Concert Band Rehearsals 3.30—4.30pm MB

DECEMBER

1 Report Writing Day - PUPIL FREE DAY ME & MB

Music in the Round – Year 7s musicians on show! It was great to see some of our Year 7 music students present a solo at Music in the Round on October 23. With just six months of music lessons so far, the young musicians performed well and entertained the audience with a diverse program of music from the classical, traditional folk and popular music genres. Musical instruments represented during the evening included the Alto Saxophone, Flute, Trumpet, Tenor Saxophone and Bass Guitar.

Congratulations to all our talented Year 7 musicians who have made an outstanding effort this year! Richard O’Toole Instrumental Music Director

Promotions Program/Start of 2018 Classes

Shortly after the examination period concludes, all year 7-10 classes will move into the start of their 2018 year 8-11 timetables. We have done this over the last few years to enable students to continue with meaningful work as the school year ends, as well as to have them get a jump-start on their following year subjects. As we have indicated in the last few newsletters, the arrangement of the school day in 2018 is going to be slightly different than the 2017 model (table below). The start and finish times for the day remain the same, however there is no Homegroup to start the day and the recess and lunch breaks are of equal length. Please note the scheduled class times carefully, as these will now be in place for the December promotions programs.

Darren Trippett College Principal

2018 School Day

Students at school by- 8:50am

Period 1 9:00-10:15

Period 2 10:15-11:30

Recess 11:30-12:05

Period 3 12:05-1:20

Lunch 1:20-1:55

Period 4 1:55-3:10

From the Mooroolbark Campus Principal

Hard to believe that this week is the middle of the term already! The term continues to roll along with many things happening at the Mooroolbark Campus. This week the Year Level Coordinators have been reminding students in the Junior School about upcoming exams, the Promotions program (where students will move up and undertake their 2018 classes) and the end-of-year activities. We will be putting communication for parents and guardians on the arrangements for the last weeks of school via Compass newsfeed.

Remembrance Day

Our Junior School Leaders, Grace Ferrari, Bonnie Hunter and Ben Callaghan, joined David Audesho and I at the Croydon RSL Remembrance Day ceremony. It was a lovely service, and our 3 students represented the school with pride. Bonnie and Grace read a beautiful poem, and Grace and Ben laid a wreath at the memorial. Thanks again to the members of the Croydon RSL who invite us to take part each year.

Pembroke Primary School Twilight Fair

Thank you to the Year 9 EAL students, who along with Georgia Butters-Cain, our EAL Coordinator, had a fantastic interactive stall at the Pembroke Primary School Twilight Market on Friday 10 November. The event was marking the unofficial community opening of their new learning facility and administration area. The students had crazy coloured hair and nail stickers for the young people, as well as having some interactive ‘Hot Shots’ tennis to take part in. Bike Path Construction

Construction of the bike path behind the Yarra Hills Secondary College, on the Vic Roads land, has now begun. There is heavy earth-moving machinery and trucks throughout this area. For their safety, we ask that ALL students take extra precautions when walking or riding to and from school. We ask that all students and parents please avoid ALL construction areas.

Year 12 & Year 11 Exams

The Year 12 (VCAA) exams are drawing to a close in the next 2 weeks. The Year 11 students completed their school exams on Friday November 10. I want to congratulate the students on their conduct and effort over this exam period. For the most part, the students have really made every effort to maximise their study time and to conduct themselves appropriately. I do hope that the exams reflect the effort they put in during the year and across their study time. The Year 11s have now started their Essentials program, where they begin their Unit 3 (2018) studies.

Write-a-thon

Congratulations to all of the students who took part in the annual Yarra Hills Write-a-thon for 2017. It was again a fantastic event, getting students interested in and taking part in creative writing. As literacy, and in particular writing, is a key initiative, this event is a great addition to the school event calendar. Thank you to Steph Conroy, Cayt Mirra and a number of staff who assisted the students and stayed the night at the Mt Evelyn Campus. 2018 Mooroolbark Campus Junior Captains

We are proud to formally announce our 5 Mooroolbark Campus Captains for 2018: Junior Campus Captains:

Emily Russo Liam Maher

Deputy Campus Captains:

Dakota Horton Darcy Willmott Matthew Davidson

The 4 leaders will be heading our Junior School (7-10) and contributing to the Student Representative Council (SRC) in 2018. Appointments & Early Leavers – Advice to Parents

Just a reminder to families that IF your child is required to leave early, please ensure your child brings a note or you have approved this on Compass prior. It is also important, that regardless of permission given, that the student reports to the office at the beginning of the day to alert our Office Staff when they are required to leave early. Whilst we know there are times when it is an emergency pick-up, it is very challenging to get students out of class without notice during the day. We appreciate your support. Greg Cowan Mooroolbark Campus Principal

From the Mt Evelyn Campus Principal

All staff are very much in full swing now in finalising the curriculum in the lead up to exams which will begin in the next few weeks. Revision lessons will take place in all subjects and it’s up to students to follow through with the advice and suggestions made by staff. Studying for exams can be an anxious time for students but with careful and methodical preparation, it can alleviate some of these anxious feelings. Parents can assist students in their preparation by:

Providing the space and time for students to study (without technology nearby!)

Testing their knowledge

Asking questions about their work

Helping students to summarise notes and highlight key words

Show a real interest in their studies

Ask students to teach you with their knowledge

Ensuring your child has all the necessary equipment both for their studies and their exam

By working together, we can help students in their confidence to take on their exams. 2018 Mt Evelyn Campus Junior School Captains After a lengthy process of gaining student votes, staff votes, application process and finally interviews, it is my pleas-ure to announce the 2018 Junior School Captains: Captains: Yuri Jupp Chelsea Gooren Vice Captains: Aidan Martin Maeve Tanner We congratulate them all on their success and look forward to their leadership in 2018. Promising writers in the making Every year our dedicated English staff invite our very able and passionate writers in Year 7-9 to join the Write-a-thon. Students have the opportunity through this event to bond with others who have similar interests and explore the different styles and genres of writing for 24 straight hours! It is such a great event and one that students and staff really enjoy. From the feedback, it seems there was some amazing writing that went on. Thank you so much Cayt Mirra and Steph Wescott for organising this event and huge thanks to Steph Conroy and Shane Hart for your contribution to ensuring it’s success. Well done also to all our writers across both campuses for making this event the success it was. I’m looking forward to reading your masterpieces!

Remembrance Day

Every year our students and staff attend the Mt Evelyn Remembrance Day Ceremony. Being a Saturday this year, we asked for students to volunteer to attend. Melanie Huisken, Tahliya McDonald, Zjuane Hindby and Katja Munns represented Yarra Hills by laying a wreath for our school as well as Maria McCarthy. Melanie read a list of local fallen soldiers. It was a lovely ceremony and we are very proud of our students at this special occasion.

Peer Support Training now complete

57 students from both campuses came together to finish their Peer Support Training last Thursday. It was jam packed day with a great deal of information, role playing, sharing of ideas and discussion that occurred throughout the day. A huge congratulations to all students who participated in this training. Many of these students have submitted their ap-plications to be Peer Support Leaders for 2018. I’m looking forward to, as Nikky Waterson is in seeing some great leaders next year!

Drivers Education has produced some great learners!!

I believe Drivers Education is such a valuable subject for all students intending to drive. It currently runs as an elective subject for Year 10 students. This subject explores all avenues of driving from the attitudes behind the wheel through to the hazards on the road such as: alcohol & drugs, speed, fatigue and mobile phones. What is impressed on students is the decisions they make behind the wheel as well as their responsibility being a road user. Bendigo Bank have been a huge supporter of this subject providing the necessary funds for families unable to afford the cost of this subject. We partner with METEC to give students the full experience of driving as well as the education to make the right decisions behind the wheel. Students are also able to go for their Learners Permit whilst at METEC. Congratulations to Johanna Trouw, Melanie Huisken, Holly Duck and James Murray for attaining their Learners Permit.

A real honour for a budding artist!

Our Yarra Hills Community Art Show not only showcases the talents of many artists both within our school and in our community, but also uncovers the skills of our young artists. One young artist was Josh from Mt Evelyn Primary school who produced a beautiful picture of a cat. Sandy Dare, a professional artist in her own right took a shine to this picture and wanted to buy it. Josh and his Mum Karen were very excited at the prospect. Sandy Dare won the ‘Best in Show’ for her magnificent portrait. Thanks to Rebecca Dunn, we got the two artists together to share their thoughts and ideas on art. Josh asked Sandy many interesting questions and learned a great deal from her. Well done Josh and thank you Sandy!

Robyn Dew Mt Evelyn Campus Principal

COLLEGE AWARDS NIGHT

Monday December 4 2017

at 7pm

held at Karralyka

Mines Road, Ringwood

with entertainment by our school band and student musical performances

FOSTER CARERS NEEDED

If you have thought about foster care, please get in touch and ask the questions you have always

wanted to Phone: Key Assets 1800 932 237 or 1800 WE CARE

Email: info@keyassets.com.au Web: canifoster.com.au or keyassets.com.au Interested families would receive a brochure,

information and no pressure

Mt Evelyn Campus

Mondays after school

held in the Library

START YOUR DAY THE RIGHT WAY

Come on up to the Well Being Centre at Mt Evelyn Campus

& check out what’s cooking

WHEN: Every Thursday Morning 8.00—8.50

Brekky Club is FREE to all Yarra Hills students

(thank you to the generous and valuable support of Bendigo Bank

Mt Evelyn and Bakers Delight Mooroolbark)