Principal’s Report

James to provide paragraph

James Barut

College Principal

Attendance

Daily attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they do not fall behind socially or developmentally. School participation maximises life opportunities for children and young people by providing them with education and support networks. School helps people to develop important skills, knowledge and values that set them up for further learning and participation in their community.

Both schools and parents have an important role to play in supporting students to attend school every day.

Emerald Secondary College believes all students should attend school all day, every day when the College is open for instruction and is committed to working with its school community to encourage and support full school attendance.

Our school also promotes student attendance by:

• Articulating high expectations of attendance to all members of the College community
• Creating safe, supportive learning environments which promote success through active participation and engagement in purposeful learning
• Adopting consistent, rigorous procedures to monitor and record student absence
• Implementing data-driven attendance improvement strategies
• Providing early identification and supportive intervention for students at risk of poor attendance
• Linking with local community groups and agencies to maximise program and individual support
• Accessing specialist support for individual students with identified behavioural, health or social issues
• Providing a staged response to non-attendance
• Supporting students to return to school after absences

We have streamlined our action towards students who are late this year by working with compass and the Learning Engagement Leaders. Students are placed into an education session on Fridays if they have been late to class (unexplained) more than two times in the previous five consecutive days. So parents can develop a stronger understanding of their student’s participation in classes, a chronicle is generated to alert them of their child’s involvement in a late session. This chronicle automatically enrols them into an education session (Friday lunchtime) and the session is visible to students on their compass.

This process relies on students frequently checking their compass for information and understand their daily schedule, another part of school life we are striving to improve in our students. Moving into term two and the remainder of the year, we will expect students thoroughly understand the process and the consequences that arise with two or more lates in a school calendar week.

Student responsibilities

• Attend school every school day
• Arrive at school and classes on time and be prepared
• Talk to a teacher if there are issues that might impact on their ability to attend school/class
• Check compass schedule regularly

Parent responsibilities

• Ensure student attends school every day when instruction is offered
• Ensure student arrives at school by 8.50am

School Tours

School Tours will be running every Wednesday in term two. Use the QR code below to book your tour now.

Assistant Principal’s Report

An amazingly full term for our Student Leadership Program! Our existing Student Representative Council held a completely student-led fundraiser and raised $341.70 for organisation ‘Youth off the Streets’ – an Australian youth services charity supporting homeless and disadvantages young people to reach their full potential and thrive.  I’m incredibly proud of this team of students comprising Alice M, Liz G, Elsbeth H, Ada H, Lucy F, Jayden R, Cadence T, Liam S and very ably led by Keilah D.  These students sought and won community sponsorship from Emerald Woolworths and Emerald Village Meats, liaised with relevant staff, promoted their event, set up for the fundraiser barbecue and cooked, served and cleaned up – completely on their own.  Congratulations to this fantastic team!

Study Groups

Our Senior School Team have been diligently supporting our Year 12 students’ studies through various initiatives. One noteworthy initiative introduced is student-led study groups. The inaugural session drew a significant attendance from the cohort, with students fuelled by hot chips and potato cakes as they prepared for their study sessions. Led by the Senior School Team, the session commenced with a brief presentation outlining the benefits of these study groups before students broke off into their preferred study groups. These student-led study groups offer an excellent opportunity for peers to collaborate, share knowledge, and thoroughly prepare for upcoming exams. Encouraging a collaborative approach to learning, these groups empower students to support each other’s academic endeavours, fostering a supportive and enriching learning environment in our Senior School.

ANZAC Prize – Opportunity to join a fully funded overseas study tour

Victorian Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize – applications open  

The Victorian Government has announced that the 2024 Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize (SOAP) is now open for applications.  
Victorian students from years 9 to12 will have the opportunity to reflect on how Victorians came together to fund and build the Shrine of Remembrance and other community war memorials.   

The prize offers young Victorians the opportunity to:  

• explore Australia’s wartime and peacekeeping history  

• join a fully funded study tour to significant war heritage sites  

• connect with veterans and the ex-service community  

• understand and remember the contribution of Victorian service people.  

Twelve prize winners will go on a fully funded study tour to an international war heritage destination.    

Students will need to respond to the following topic in almost any format eg a poem, essay, artwork, video, audio response, music, webpage…..  

“Explore the significance of Victoria’s Shrine of Remembrance or a local community’s war memorial in honouring Australians who have served in war and peacekeeping. ”

For competition guidelines, tips, resources, suggested content and submission ideas and to apply please click –  https://www.vic.gov.au/spirit-anzac-prize-student-competition
Students need to create their submission, write a personal statement, submit a parent consent form and a school declaration – all details on the website. Applications close 29th April – see Mrs Korsten for more information.

Opportunity to take part in a research study – 2 x free cognitive assessments for your child

Emerald Secondary College is participating again in a research study being conducted by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.  Qualified researchers will provide two free neuropsychological assessments to participating students.  Families will also receive a free report for each session. These reports will assist in better understanding how students think & learn and how their thinking skills develop.  More details here.

Tanja Korsten, Melissa Findlay & Tiana Clayworth 

Assistant Principals

Student Leadership

We had a team of enthusiastic students – Jacob C, Janna R, Keith D, Ava F, Charlie N, Jayden R and Mitchell B represent the College at the Emerald Village Association held at the Hills Hub, who were seeking youth input around perspectives of our community and how we can make it even better.  We received this feedback from the EVA:  “Thank you for helping us chat and support and organise our Intergenerational day…thank you to all your wonderful, brave ESC students for coming along and sharing their wisdom.  We loved the passion and they have given us ideas for more action…very positive feedback from representatives of all involved!”  More on this event from our College Captain Mitchell Blackwell is also in this newsletter. 

Year 11 and 12 students have the opportunity this week to express an interest in our Peer Mentoring Program.  Our Peer Mentor leader Charlotte Scott and our College Captaincy Team will speak about the program during BEST – please see Compass for more information including their presentation and the link for the Expression of Interest.  Peer Mentors are trained and matched with Year 7 students to provide additional support, role modelling and mentoring.

Our Student Leadership Investiture was held on Wednesday and it was a terrific morning.  58 students were acknowledged and awarded their positions and badges for 2024 – it was just fantastic to see so many Year 7 students especially being prepared to submit an application and be successful.  Thank you to Daniela de Martino, MP for Monbulk for supporting this event once again and addressing our student leaders.  Thank you to the parents who were able to come and help us celebrate and our many special guests including Marcus Adams from Emerald Rotary, Shelley Beardshaw and Claude Cullino from the Emerald Village Association, Jeff Springfield from Cardinia Shire and Darrelyn Boucher from Cockatoo PS.

Our Student Leadership Profile for 2024 is:

College Captaincy Team Report

The Emerald Village Association (EVA) is a committee which voices the needs of our town and works with the council on projects and acts as our town’s voice. They hosted an intergenerational meeting last Thursday involving student leaders, Menzies Creek Primary School students, and senior citizens of Emerald from Emerald Glades. The discussions regarded the future planning and community safety of Emerald. With three generations in attendance the topics varied widely from residential homes for seniors, gaming rooms for teens, and even climate change and the reduction of our carbon footprint. The meeting allowed the Association to widen their view from what they had previously focused on. The conversation allowed for a different perspective between generations and the ideas brainstormed will be presented in a further meeting to the State and Local Governments. They saw “a need for places like the Hub and the library to have rooms and activities for teenagers who weren’t into biking or skateboarding, like a games room”, which was voiced by our student leaders primarily. The meeting was a huge success with a variety of great ideas presented. The EVA is an amazing Association – if you want to learn more about what they do, check them out at the Hill’s Hub and online. If this sounds like something you would like to join, definitely check them out and get involved!

In recent weeks our year 12s and the Captaincy Team have been quite busy. We’ve had the school athletics day where we all dressed up and had a wonderful time. The teacher vs student volleyball match was also a great hit – in our opinion it was definitely rigged but the teachers continue to deny these accusations! We also had the study group launch in the interest of providing the year 12s with the most optimum environment in order for them to achieve their academic best while bonding as a cohort as we finish up our SACs for the term. The SRC held a barbeque for students to raise money for the Youth off the Streets charity and managed to raise around $350 for their efforts which we congratulate them on. They did a fantastic job and are really making an impact on something larger than our school. Charlotte and the team presented the Peer Mentoring program to the year 11 and 12s during their BEST classes and we can’t wait to see how the program turns out. To finish up the term from myself, my fellow captains, and the staff, we all wish you a safe and wonderful holiday and can’t wait to see you back in term 2.

Mitchell Blackwell  – College Captain

Year 7 Camp

Our Year 7 students had a blast on camp this week at Phillip Island. We kicked off with a wander down the boardwalk at Nobbies before heading over to the Wildlife Park where students were able to feed and pat some of the various animals. Emus were a fan favourite!

After a lovely walk to CYC The Island, our home for the next three days, we got straight into our activity rotations. Students challenged themselves and then challenged their teachers to have a go at the giant swing, flying fox and much more.

Tuesday started with beach games and a swim in the ocean before continuing on with activity rotations. Students had plenty of free time where they spent a lot of time on the trampolines and trying out the best team combinations for tug of war. Wednesday was a nice calm day as exhaustion caught up.

We walked from San Remo to a lovely park for lunch before jumping back on the bus to head home after a very busy three days.

Thanks to all staff who came along and to students for making camp such a fun and memorable experience.

Samantha Mclean
Year 7 Learning and Engagement Leader

Year 10 Immunisations

Just a reminder to all Year 10 parents that the Year 10 Immunisations will be taking place on the 9^th of May.

The Immunisation Clinic will start at 9am and will be held in L Block. Any questions please phone the first aid officer on 5968 5388.

Dental Van

This week Year 10 students were provided with Dental Van notices in their BEST class. If your child has misplaced their form or was absent on Monday, please see reception. 

Selina Rose – First Aid Officer

Year 11 News and Updates

What a start to the 2024 school. With the bustling of adapting to VCE classrooms, keeping up to date with coursework, power outages and sports days such as swimming carnival and athletics carnival – I would say that our students are keeping it together quite well.

I started off the year with a clear vision and message to the Year 11s for 2024 and now I pass it on to you “The key to success is through cohort cohesion and connectedness”. Not only does this vision align directly with our college values but it highlights the importance of working together.

I have observed many positive instances of this including; 

• Clear building of teacher and student relationships
• Seeking feedback from teachers and staff in the Senior School
• Increased transparency and resilience 
• Supporting each other’s wellbeing 
• Positive classroom environments 
• Celebrating behaviours when we succeed

Although there is much to improve on, Year 11 are working hard. We recognise that there have been some difficulties dealing with the pressures of VCE but are exceptionally proud of the efforts thus far.

Term 2 will see a lot of new challenges and exposures, such as VCE exams, incursions (RYDA), reporting, and Central Australia Camp.

I look forward to seeing everyone back after term holidays. Have a well deserved break 🙂

Grace Sleit
Year 11 Learning and Engagement Leaders

2024 Athletics Day

Students in Year 7-12 participated in whole school athletics this year at our new venue at Mount Evelyn and had a great day! The weather was perfect – not too hot and the rain held off. 

Participation was the highest I have seen in years with some very impressive results. Geysen clearly won the day with a score of 993. Congratulations to all our athletes!

House Score

Geysen 993

Greetham 769

O’Neil 753

Jeffreys 617

Hawley 469

Hobbs 381

Age group Champions

New Records

Nate Hall: 14 Boys Triple Jump – 11.10m

Miah Beardshaw: 16 Girls 1,500m – 5.58.11

Bonnie Jackson: 12/13 Girls 100m – 14.19

Jasmine Cochrane: 15 Girls 1,500m – 6.06.40

Yvonne Mauger

Cross Country 2024

All our year 7 students participated in the cross on Wednesday the 17^th of May. It was lovely to see all the students getting out and enjoying the sunny Autumn day.

The winners are below:

Later in the day students from year 8 – 12 who signed up completed the cross country, this event was fiercely competitive results are shown below:

2024 Track and Field Championships

Nate Hall in Year 8 competed in the National Track and Field Championships in Week 1 of Term. He did an amazing job, coming second in the 200m hurdles in a time of 28.26 and 8^th in the 100m hurdles in a time of 15.33.

Well done Nate!

Yvonne Mauger

Students take on Kokoda Challenge

Thirteen students from Emerald Secondary College have applied, been interviewed, and selected to take on the challenge of walking the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea this September. Students and staff will complete 9 days walking the Kokoda Track while learning about the history of the track and its relevance Australia and the second world war. The trip has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Duke of Edinburgh Award – Australian Branch. (Students will also complete a level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award in the lead up and during the trip). We are also luck to be supported and sponsored by the Emerald RSL.

So far students have been training with and without their large backpacks on the thousand steps in Ferntree Gully National Park as well as local walks. Students have also completed fundraising BBQ’s including last week at the Emerald RSL where they were also presented to the members and spoke about why they want to complete the trek. Finally last weekend students and staff spent both days walking in Cathedral State Park – hauling their large packs up and down mountains to get a taste of what trekking the Kokoda Track will be like.

If anyone reading this would also like to help by sponsoring the group – please contact Marion Donders or Shane Closter at school.

We wish the group well with their training over the coming months.

Bottle Return Bins

In partnership with our local Emerald SES, Emerald Secondary has been provided with two bins in which to deposit 10c refundable cans, bottles, and small cardboard drink containers as part of Victoria’s container deposit scheme.  Regulations for acceptable items are listed on the bins.  Right now, there is one at the Canteen and one at A block near the main office.  SES will pick them up when full and we will share the proceeds.  Students are encouraged to use them whenever possible. The money will go directly back into school programs.  

Year 12 Chemistry students experiment with combustion of different fuels to study their energy content and efficiencies

Year 11 Biology has been studying bodily transport systems in plants and animals. 

Students compared and contrasted the way water and nutrients move up the xylem of celery to how blood and oxygen move around a mammalian body with a rat dissection.

Ashley Forster

Wellbeing FUN

Some of the fun things we do in wellbeing:

Monday

• Gay Straight Alliance – ALL Welcome
  • Cardinia Shire council workers come in Monday lunchtime to work with a group of amazing young people – One of their many activities is to organise IDAHOBIT day and Wear it Purple Day

Tuesday & Friday

• Breakfast Club – FREE – Morning from 8.15 – 9am –
  • Come down and have some toast, hot Milo, cereal, fruit etc – Every time you come for breakfast, you can put your name into a raffle to win some prizes – ALL Welcome – Bring your friends
• Fun in the Quadrangle –
  • Giant Jenga, Bowling, Cornhole (Toss the beanbag), and many more exciting things

Wednesday

• Crochet Club – All welcome – All abilities from beginner to experienced.
  • Come along and learn to crochet – We will be making granny squares, putting them together and creating some amazing blankets for the wellbeing rooms. Crochet is a lifelong passion for many – Come and see what it’s all about

Sarah Deer