Exams and Kick-start Program
Congratulations to our Year 12 students for finalising their VCAA exams.
Thirteen years of schooling have concluded this week with the final Year 12 exam finishing on Tuesday. We commend the Year 12 students on their preparation and approach to finalising this last step in their Victorian Certificate of Education and enjoyed celebrating with them at the Valedictory evening this week. Most students exited their exam rooms throughout the exam period with a smile as they counted down each milestone left in their secondary school journey.
I would like to thank the Year 12 teachers for their dedication and support shown to their students. This support extended to last minute questions being answered and reassurance offered prior to exams, and waiting for students to walk out of exam rooms to hear how the students found the exam.
Our kickstart program for our Year 11 and 12 students (in 2023) will commence next week. Students have been made aware of their schedules and expectations through assemblies, newsfeed communications and events on their compass schedules. The kickstart program will run for all students enrolled in Year 11 and 12 VCE and VCE VM studies in 2023. Students will be exposed to the expectations for each study, gather information around how to organise their study materials and be provided with work to go on with during their break from class time.
Booklist and Subject Allocations
Please be advised that the 2023 booklist has been uploaded to the college website. A link to the booklist can also be found on the compass newsfeed and has also been emailed to parents and carers of students in Years 9-12 in 2023 alongside a list of subjects that the students have been enrolled in.
SEAL Orientation
The SEAL orientation day will be occurring on Thursday 1st December for our Year 7 class of 2023. This is an additional transition day to allow the SEAL class to meet each other and learn more about the structure and learning opportunities in the SEAL program. The day will include information about the program, before embarking on a STEM session on the physics of flight. Students will collaborate in groups to undertake experiments to test out the theory of newtons laws and Bernoulli principles that enable flight. Students will also build rockets and gliders to demonstrate their understanding of the science behind flight. Time will be set aside to test whether the rockets and gliders fly, before reflecting on the successful experiments or reflecting on what could be changed to for future improvements. Students from the 2022 SEAL class will also spend time with the visiting SEAL class and will be happy to answer any questions.
Building Program
Our College building program is in its final stages at the moment:
- The external locker bay between G and D block has been completed and awaiting final certification. We look forward to moving new lockers into this area for our students. The area provides a secure area after hours, and an undercover area that is spacious and well ventilated during the day for our students.
- D Block – Our Food Technology and Textiles students have been enjoying our newly refurbished spaces. In the next few weeks, we will see the completion of the second kitchen, dining room (for food technology theory classes), laundry, toilet block, staff hub and refurbished corridor.
- A block – Is on track to be completed before the Year 7 students begin at the start of the 2023 school year. Many classrooms will have flexible learning spaces and breakout areas. This will allow greater ability to undertake extension and intervention groups. The corridor will be cleared of most lockers and will have break out spaces and plants to soften the atmosphere and promote a calm and orderly learning environment, a new colour scheme and sound proofing materials throughout. (The lockers will be moved to two purpose-built locker bays at either end of the building).
Janine McMahon – Assistant Principal
Positive Education
In 2023 all ESC students will be undertaking, in place of the current 9 minute per day homegroup time, an hour per week of explicit wellbeing, relationship-building and positive culture development and education.
Lots of work and planning is being done in this area to ensure we deliver a robust, evidence and strength based program for our students. We have been researching best practice and making connections with many Australian and global experts in the Wellbeing and related fields, and aim to incorporate a variety of experiences and explicit lessons into the programs. Some of what students will be exposed to will include:
- Respectful Relationships
- Character Strengths
- Goal Setting
- Careers Education
- Digital Literacy
- Time Management & Organisation
- Cybersafe practices
- Social Justice projects & volunteering
- Empowerment and student voice
- Celebration of significant days
- Study skills
- Leadership & Team Building
- Friendships & Relationships
- Mindfulness
- Emotional literacy
- House activities
- Creative & Critical thinking skills
If you, or anyone you know has expertise in any of these areas or, if you have any ideas and suggestions I would love to hear from you – we are inviting regular student voice into the planning but value also the voice of our parents and wider school community. Get in touch! – [email protected]
We also need a name for our program that will reflect what we are aiming to achieve – happy, safe, resilient, positive students – BEING THE BEST WE CAN BE!
The program is based on the POSITIVE EDUCATION & PERMAH models:
* Positive Emotion
* Engagement
* Relationships
* Meaning
* Accomplishment and
* Health – Mental, social, and physical
Please keep a look out on Compass for a link inviting parent input into this decision. Students will have an opportunity in homegroup.
Amplify (Student Leadership, Voice & Agency)
Recently a few of our Year 10 students accompanied a small number of staff to visit another school to see what they are doing in the area of student leadership and voice. This was a terrific opportunity to mix and speak with other like-minded students and hear their experiences. Since the visit we have met and discussed feedback from what we learned and have drafted a Student Leadership Profile for 2023. The selection process for our College Captains is well underway and shortlisted applicants have each submitted a Campaign Brief. Briefs have been made visual around the College and have create a buzz as students read about the strengths and the unique skills each applicant would bring to the position. We look forward to confirming additional positions for next year and beginning this process with students in Years 7-11. Students have made many excellent contributions and have offered suggestions that reflect many different areas of College life – from Year Level Leaders to leaders representing different domains, for example the Arts, Literacy & Numeracy, Wellbeing, Positive Education and Sport.
Student forums continue each week and we are now discussing our Emerald Secondary College Values. We have been sharing College data with our students in these forums and talking in depth about students’ vision for our future and what they believe Emerald Secondary College stands for moving forward. I am also keen to have parents/carers’ voices contribute to this process – please contact me in the College if you’d like to have a chat.
Tanja Korsten – Assistant Principal
Acting Assistant Principal Report
We are over halfway through the term already! It has gone so quickly. As we approach the home stretch it is important to maintain high expectations for attendance, academic achievement, uniform, and positive behaviour. We have a lot of exiting events taking place at the College over the coming weeks and we look forward to the community coming together to connect and create positive experiences. Some of these events include Valedictory, Year 7 Orientation, Year 7 Parent Information night and End of Year Activities.
Child safety and wellbeing at Emerald Secondary College information for families and the school community
The Victorian Government has announced new Child Safe Standards to further strengthen child safety across organisations, including schools. The new standards recognise the critical importance of families and the broader school community in maintaining and promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Emerald Secondary College has reviewed and updated our child safety policies and procedures to ensure they meet the requirements of the new standards. These are available to view on the school’s website under ‘Documents, Policies and Reports’. A letter was sent to parents via Compass at the end of Term 3 to notify parents and the school community of the updated child safe policies
We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to child safety and wellbeing and welcome feedback from families and members of our school community on ways we can further strengthen our child safety policies, procedures, and practices.
If you have any suggestions, comments, or questions, please contact our Assistant Principal, Jarrad Donders.
Whole School Assembly
What an amazing opportunity it was for our Year 7-9 students and staff to come to together to commemorate Remembrance Day. Our student leaders Bella West, Jess Harris, Milla Boyd, Joe Stonyer, Amelia Walker & Kiana Logiudice ran this assembly with exemplary leadership.
We were welcomed by Amelia Walker & Kiana Logiudice with an Acknowledgment of Country before the College heard a brief history of the first Armistice Day and the first Remembrance Day from our student leaders.
Students were then introduced to Sergeant Kane Falconer, Vice President of the Emerald RSL, who spoke further on the importance of Remembrance Day and his experiences while serving.
Our leaders delivered a poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, recited the Ode of Remembrance, observed a minute silence and then ‘The Rouse’. Glaze Amoguis delivered an outstanding performance of the national anthem supported by Lesley Yim on piano.
Vietnam Veteran Daryl Bristowe joined us in commemoration of Remembrance Day. Daryl attended our assembly to present two Infantry Combat Badges to Imogen Falconer & Elizabeth Parer.
Student leaders were then accompanied by Mrs Korsten & Mr Donders up to the Emerald RSL for the community service and to lay a wreath representing ESC.
Uniform
Please see the Emerald Secondary College uniform required for all students to wear below. Students must wear any new Emerald Secondary College uniform listed below. Students should NOT be wearing tracksuit pants, black sport shorts, hoodies, non-uniform jumpers, black hats, non ESC beanies or white shoes.
School Tours on the website
After the exciting launch of our brand new College website we have set up a platform for school tours to be booked electronically. Please access the ESC website to book a school tour. We welcome everyone interested in attending our wonderful college.
Many thanks again for your ongoing support of the College.
Jarrad Donders – Acting Assistant Principal
