Also, next week, we will be formally recognising our student leaders of 2023 at the Senior School Prefect Investiture. Starting at 9.00am at the Middle School Sports and Aquatic Centre, this important occasion provides an opportunity for us to pray for our College and House Prefects as they embark on their roles of service this year. The prefects have already made a positive start this year, with House Prefects taking an active role in organising teams for the House Athletics, whilst the College Prefects have met together on a number of occasions to plan some initiatives that will enhance our community in 2023. 

Term 1 is always action-packed and there is a lot to look forward to: many exciting opportunities for students in and out of the classroom; and, quite a number of opportunities for parents to be involved. 

Key dates in Term 1 

Feb 14 – Senior School House Athletics Carnival, parents invited 

Feb 16 – Prefect Investiture 

Feb 28 – Presentation Ball Information Evening (online) 

Mar 8 – International Women’s Day Breakfast, parents invited 

Mar 13 – Labour Day Public Holiday 

Mar 14 – Student Learning Conferences (online) – no classes 

Mar 16 – Senior School House Swimming Carnival, parents invited 

Mar 20-23 – Year 12 VM students: Urban Camp, Melbourne 

Mar 20-24 – Year 10 Outdoor Education: Barmah Fieldtrip 

Mar 23 – House Cooking Final 

Apr 6 – Senior School Easter Service, parents invited. Last day of Term 1. 

Apr 7 – Good Friday Public Holiday 

To support students in transitioning towards this updated policy we have phased in its implementation. During Week 1, teachers were verbally prompting students about their device use and reminding them about the updated policy. This week we have been asking students to surrender their devices when they have been used outside of the policy guidelines. From next week, parents and guardians will begin receiving notifications when your child is asked to surrender their device. From this point, these instances will be recorded, and any multiple breaches will be managed according to the process shared with students and families at the beginning of school year. 

Please note that this policy applies for all school events, including this coming Tuesday’s House Athletics Carnival. Phones and headphones should be out of sight all day – this should promote increased engagement in this community event, and we are excited for the prospect of our students being able to spend the day competing for their House, cheering on their peers, and socialising with one another. 

Some important elements that it is worth parents and students remembering: 

• Mobile phones and headphones/earphones should be out of sight from the start of the school day – for students, when the music starts playing at 8:50, that is the time to put your device/s away. 
• Earphones can be connected to laptops during class time at the direction of the teacher for learning purposes.  
• Phones are not to be used for payment at the canteen. Cash, card and smartwatch are payment options. Students who choose to use their phone risk being seen and being asked to surrender their phone. 

• Some students may require an exemption for phone use in particular circumstances for learning or wellbeing reasons. Please contact your child’s Head of House if you believe your child should have an exemption to discuss how we can support this within our policy. 

Let me commend students once more for the outstanding manner in which they have embraced this change and extend my gratitude to the parents and guardians as well for their support. 

It goes without saying that concerns for the wellbeing of children and adolescents is not a new phenomenon given student wellbeing has featured prominently in educational policy development alongside national directives for schools to prioritise wellbeing primarily through well-developed programs. Wellbeing programs in schools not only enhance the overall academic performance of students, but also equip them with the skills and resilience needed to navigate life's challenges and lead fulfilling lives. Furthermore, they also help us to create a safer and more inclusive school culture, where students feel valued and respected. This week all students across the College spent time engaging with activities and lessons in designated wellbeing sessions. Our new Preps were connected with new Year 4 and 5 buddy as a means of providing peer social and emotional support and to promote a sense of community and our Junior School are taking steps to connect our students with MYTERN as a tool to teach our students the importance of self-regulation and how to take responsibility for all the complexities associated with our emotions. The Year 5 and 6 students at the Bellarine Campus came together during one of their Wellbeing sessions to discuss various ways to be kind and students listened to a book about the importance of filling one’s kindness bucket.  Our Year 9s at Middle school are being encouraged to nurture their Christian faith through student-led devotions and our Year 10s had a chance to spend some time with our Senior school Chaplains.  For our Year 11s and 12s the focus was on building connections and relationships with time also spent focusing on identifying character strengths that can be drawn on to help manage the challenges experienced in the VCE years. Finally, this week across the College we also acknowledged ‘Safer Internet Day’ and we were reminded to all connect safely with purpose, reflect before we act and protect ourselves and others by taking action. More information on this day is available here.  

Whilst we are committed to the ongoing development of our student wellbeing program as highlighted by our College Wellbeing Framework, we also recognise the importance of fostering strong and positive relationships with our wider college community. The continuous involvement and engagement with our families allows for the strengthening of partnerships and working together helps to protect and promote wellbeing and likewise reduce those risk-taking or harmful behaviours that can potentially undermine wellbeing. This recent article Top of Form offers valuable advice to parents on talking to their teens. Whist in this instance the focus is on vaping the straightforward, yet highly effective strategies provided by professional experts can also be applied to address other harmful and risky teen behaviours. We are reminded of the need to enhance our awareness and education around such concerning behaviours, listen more than speak, and promote and encourage help-seeking behaviour. Continuing to foster a culture of care and support and prioritising strong and positive partnerships with our College families will place us in the best position to allow our students to thrive and flourish in a very complex and everchanging world.  

I could feel it, I could feel him. His eyes staring at me. I couldn’t see it, I didn’t want to, but I could feel it. His eyes boring into the back of my neck making my hair stand up. “Stop it!”. I wanted to scream, run, hide, cry, but I didn’t. My heart’s beating rapidly inside of its cage. I felt it, the hot breath scalding the back of my neck. I didn’t see him, but I felt him. Eyes shining, cold and dark, reflecting on my computer. I felt it, pain seeping its way through me, then nothing.  

“Bling, bling, bling.” My eyes pop open. I get out of bed and begin to brush my hair with my bedazzled rhinestone brush. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the prettiest of them all. You Regina, you.” I do my make-up and put on my vintage Louis Vuitton pink mini dress with matching belt.   
I head downstairs to my gourmet breakfast. “Hey, hey, hey, how’s my girl going?”  
“Mum, I’ve got to run.” I grab a donut and rush out the door. Running to the bus stop…. Bang!  

“Mum what happened?”   
“Oh honey. You were hit by a bus.”  

Crack, the ball races off the bat speeding along the ground.  
“Look for two!” I yell.  
I place my bat across the line and start to sprint back when I see the ball slowly roll over the rope.  
“That’s four,” I say.  
The teams rushing the ground from the sidelines cheering, I rip off my helmet and raise my bat, pumping it in the air. The team crashes into me like a wave almost knocking me over. We’re cheering but the other team have their hands on their heads, both teams can barely believe it, We’ve won the game, 6/167.  

I meet her by the willow tree, its old branches sway. We talked and shared for months on end, we never needed more. Till one day I moved away.   
‘Have a good one’ my final words as the car pulled away.  
My days seemed to get longer, and nights felt colder. The work never ended and the city felt so bold. The streets so full.   I took the train away from there, a night to somewhere else. I need no destination. Middle of nowhere the place to be for someone else got off as well and we shared the night again.  

YEAR 11 & 12 STUDENTS 

• Work experience – marine science 

ALL STUDENTS 

• How to search for university courses 
• Explore ATAR profiles of university courses 
• Apprenticeships and traineeships 
• Start the school year by setting goals 
• Career events 
• Career planning & job seeking program 

Career News, 7 Feb 2023