2025 Issue No. 5

SO MUCH TO DO BEFORE THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!

The youngest members of our school community have completed six months of secondary school! Fantastic achievement!

They have forged friendships, perfected how to use their locks, understood the expectations of their teachers and the expectations around their learning and their appropriate behaviour.

It has been terrific to observe their growth as secondary college students.

The other cohorts have so much to do, as final assessments are completed and the examination period is fast approaching. There are VERY high expectations around exams, particularly in the current format this year. The College teaching staff have been working very hard at ‘backwards mapping’, that allows skills from VCE to be scaffolded into the younger year levels.

This is not about teaching VCE to the lower cohorts – it’s about understanding command terms, contextual language and a deeper assessment of question answering and responding.

The examination format will:

1. Give students an opportunity to study both at home and at school, without disruptions
2. Know exactly when their exam is scheduled and expected to be on time with all permissible material.
3. A general atmosphere of ‘trust’ throughout, as students can come and go throughout the day, when their exam is completed
4. A sense of occasion and maturity that is expected from our students

Further, exams are longer in duration and the key for success is consistency and revision, revision…and…revision!

Thank you in advance to all our teaching staff for preparing the exams, and, of course, the marking and assessment. Students need to be invested in this process too – it’s not just another ‘assessment task’, but an opportunity to reflect on the nuanced skills of exam preparation:

• How well did I prepare?
• Did I take notes?
• Did I answer all the questions?
• How was my time management?

The feedback process will allow students to seek clarification from their teachers and an opportunity to reflect on their own learner disposition.

VCE – Unit flip…Unit 1 to 2, Unit 3 to 4

The upcoming break allows our VCE students to recharge and hit the ground running for the next term….revitalised, refreshed and rejuvenated; however, the break can be a bit of a false awakening.

Of course, they’ll be an opportunity to chill and relax, but study must not be forgotten. Catch up, revision, preparation, etc etc, must stay at the forefront of activities.

Research has shown that the body and the brain enjoy the consistency of pattern. Thus, the advice from many experts, including Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, is to keep those waking and sleeping hours almost the same.

At a minimum, students must undertake to do at least three hours of homework per day, during the term break. Please assist your sons/daughters in this area by gently asking them about their plans and perhaps assisting them with their organisational health. As such, the noble pursuits listed above will be able to be fulfilled without guilt or regret.

WINTER CONCERT

What a terrific night! It was great to see how far our students have come, in being brave enough to perform in front of their peers and our community. Well done to our Music Department, ably led by Ms Katrina Owen, who always bring out the best in our students. If you missed the concert, please attend the Spring Concert and cheer on our talented students.

James

College Principal

Rising to the Challenge

As Semester One draws to a close, students across Year 11 VCE and Middle Years are preparing to tackle their end-of-semester exams – a key milestone in their academic journey. For Year 11 students, and Year 10 students enrolled in a Unit 1 subject, the exam period will run from Tuesday 10 June to Friday 13 June, while Middle Years exams are scheduled for Monday 23 June to Friday 27 June.

This term, a notable shift is being introduced for Middle Years students: their exams will follow a structure that mirrors VCE exam processes. This change reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to raising academic rigour and preparing students for the expectations of senior studies. By adopting this model, students will gain early experience in managing independent study, understanding exam protocols, and taking increased ownership over their learning.

The new structure of Middle Years exams is not just about assessment—it’s about preparation. During exam week (23–27 June), students will only be required on campus for their scheduled exams. This gives them the opportunity to develop independent study routines and manage their time in a way that reflects the responsibilities of VCE and tertiary study.

The Library will be open and supervised throughout the week for students who wish to study on site or are waiting for transport.

What to Expect During Exam Week

Students are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled start time and must be in full school uniform.

Importantly, students are only required on campus when they have an exam. If they are at school and do not have a scheduled exam, they must sign in at the library and remain in the supervised study area.

Exam events and details are published on Compass, and any students with exam clashes should speak to Annie in the Senior Office as soon as possible to arrange a reschedule.

Final Words of Advice

Students are encouraged to use Exam Preparation Week (2–6 June for Year 11, 16–20 June for Middle Years) to ask questions, revise thoroughly, and seek feedback from teachers. These final weeks of Term 2 are crucial for consolidating knowledge and practising exam techniques.

If you have any questions about exams, timetables you are encouraged to speak with Ms Clayworth, Mrs Hay, Annie or your LEL.

As we approach the finish line for Semester 1, now is the time for students to step up, take charge of their learning, and demonstrate what they’ve achieved. Best of luck to all students in their exams!

The Hills MND

Emerald Secondary College participated in the Hills MND fundraiser for the first time this year. We were grateful for the opportunity and thank Meredith Savage for collaborating with Lisa, Matt and Sarah, to enable our partnership. Initially, we began by selling MND beanies and socks from the front office. Our Year 11 Vocational Major class hosted a magnificent market day fundraiser, including stalls which varied from nail painting, DIY scones, waffles and even temporary tattoos. Following our fundraising efforts, we were invited to send a member of our staff down the slide and the Hills MND Fundraiser at Chandler Reserve on Sunday, June 1^st. The students voted, and in the end, Ms Findlay was the staff member who was facing the cold plunge into the ice pool. Dressed as a penguin, Ms Findlay joined 11 others from the Emerald and surrounds community, to meet with Matt and Emma, two inspirational members of our community fighting ‘The Beast’. After hearing their stories, Bec Daniher addressed the group, sharing her personal story of her dad, Neil Daniher’s, diagnosis and on-going battle with the beast. Bec said when her dad was diagnosed, there was no cure, no treatment, no way to manage the denigrative illness that was now the fate of her father. His hope is that through awareness and essential fundraising for research, other families won’t need to face the shock, with no hope.

Our fundraising at school, and through Ms Findlay’s fundraising page, together we have been able to donate over $4000 towards the cause. We are proud of our community, and grateful for the privileged partnership with the Hills MND team.

Melissa Findlay & Tiana Clayworth  

Assistant Principals

Year 7 Girls Netball 

The Year 7 girls delivered a fantastic performance, winning 3 out of their 4 games. They showed excellent resilience, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the day – a great effort by all involved!

Year 7 Football

The Year 7 boys put on an outstanding performance in school footy, winning their first three games convincingly. The final match saw a clash of the undefeated teams, Emerald and Lilydale, in a thrilling playoff. Although Emerald couldn’t come away with the win, the boys showed incredible determination and teamwork, playing the entire day with just 17 players and no bench. A fantastic effort all around!

Year 8 Netball and Badminton 

Our netball and badminton teams achieved some fantastic wins. 

A big thank you to all the staff who coached and supported our teams on the day, and of course to the students for their outstanding effort and sportsmanship.

Intermediate Boys Netball 

Two Year 9 and 10 boys’ teams represented the school at the Divisional Boys Netball competition this week. Both teams performed exceptionally well, with the A Team securing four wins out of six matches.

Yvonne Mauger

Sport Co-ordinator

Year 10 Vaccine Program

📅 10^th June 2025 @9:30am

The Secondary School Immunisation Program offers free National Immunisation Program schedule vaccines to all eligible Year 10 students.

Year 10 students vaccination is: Meningococcal ACWY

 For further information on the Secondary School Vaccine Program: Immunisation in Secondary Schools

Cardinia Shire Council immunisation service delivers the school-based immunisation program. The Cardinia Shire Council now uses a system provided by the Department of Health, called CIRV Portal, to manage those receiving an immunisation.

 Please complete the online CIRV Portal Consent form ASAP, even if you choose not to consent for your child to be vaccinated at school. 

Please click on the link below: Year 10 – https://portal.cirv.vic.gov.au//PrivacyCollection/?id=53201901-e823-f011-8c4d-000d3aca6bd4&Year10

*Please complete online consent before the line closes at 7:30am on10/06/2025.

Dental Van Visit

Australian Dental Health will be visiting Emerald Secondary College during the week starting June 30, 2025, to provide free dental check-ups and treatment for eligible students. Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining your child’s oral health—helping to prevent cavities, detect issues early, and promote lifelong healthy habits.

This service is provided at no cost to eligible families through Medicare’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) and Private Health Insurance. If you have neither, Australian Dental Health will still provide a free check-up for your child.

If you have NOT yet filled out the consent form, please complete it here:  [Click here to Fill Out the Australian Dental Health Consent Form Online]

Paper forms are available in the general office. You do NOT need to fill it out again if you have already submitted the paper form.

Don’t miss this opportunity to keep your child’s smile healthy! The consent form will take just 5-10 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to ADHV at [email protected] or 0393239607.

Year 7 Vaccine Program on

📅 29^th July 2025@9:30am

The Secondary School Immunisation Program offers free National Immunisation Program schedule vaccines to all eligible Year 7 students.

Year 7 students will received the following vaccine:

• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

For further information on the Secondary School Vaccine Program: Immunisation in Secondary Schools

Cardinia Shire council immunisation service delivers the school-based immunisation program. The Cardinia Shire council now uses a system provided by the Department of Health, called CIRV Portal, to manage those receiving an immunisation.

Please complete the online CIRV Portal Consent form ASAP, even if you choose not to consent for your child to be vaccinated at school. Please click on the link below:

Year 7 – https://portal.cirv.vic.gov.au//PrivacyCollection/?id=7bf178e0-5e3b-f011-b4cb-000d3acc1178&Year7

*Please complete online consent and line closes at 7:30am on 29/07/2025.

Selina Rose

First Aid Officer

Camps, Sports & Excursion Fund (CSEF) – for eligible & NEW health care card holders

 Apply before 4^th July

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you have a valid means-tested concession card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. Means-tested concession cards must be valid on the first day of Term 1, 2025 (Tuesday 28 January 2025) or Term 2, 2025 (Tuesday 22 April 2025).

A student aged 16 years and over who is considered a mature minor and holds a valid concession card is also eligible to apply.

Eligible families will receive a payment of $154 per year for primary school students and $256 per year for secondary school students. The funds will be paid directly to the school to be used towards camps, sports and excursion costs for the benefit of your child.

If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

If you would like to apply for the first time, please contact the school office [email protected]  ask for an application form. Please return completed application forms to the school office as soon as possible.

Important Change to the Program :

The Government has made an important change to the program for 2025. Families who have multiple children at the same school will be able to pool their allocated funding to use on one child or for one specific activity. This could help in situations where the costs for activities in a certain year level are higher than others.

Please check with the school office if you are unsure.

For more information about CSEF visit:
https://www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund

Updates to School Saving Bonus

1. Compass has now updated to include the ability to pay for events using funds from your child’s SSB balance. 

Select this option on the payment screen. If there is insufficient balance to cover the full payment or no SSB payment option, please EMAIL the school at [email protected]. 

2. SSB can be used for uniforms and textbooks until Monday 30 June 2025.

Any funds remaining after 30 June 2025, including online voucher amounts that have not been redeemed, will become a credit to use on school activities. However, the credit will not be available on your family account at our school until late July. To use any remaining SSB funds to cover the cost of school activities in July, please refer to the SSB online system and allocate the funds to school activities before 30 June 2025.

Please contact the school office if you are unsure of the SSB portal link or your child’s bonus code to transfer the funds to school activities.

3. Pool Allocated Funds

Families who have multiple children at the same school will be able to pool their allocated funding to use on one child or for one specific activity. This could help in situations where the costs for activities in a certain year level are higher than others

If you have any question please contact the General Office.

What a month we have had in wellbeing!

We started the month with 2 great events organised and staffed by our social justice club. This program was created so a dedicated group of students could get together and create special days for the school – All students are welcome to join – Monday lunch time in L1

We started with Do it for Dolly Day on May 9^th

Dolly was a young woman who suffered from severe bullying whose life had a tragic ending. Do it for Dolly day was her parents hope to make the world a kinder place. Blue was Dolly’s favourite colour so we had blue milkshakes, blue hairspray and fun games. This with information and awareness about bullying made the day a huge success.

The second event our social justice club created was IDAHOBIT day –  May 16th

IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia.) is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of May 17, 1990, when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases. The school had a fun lunch time event to celebrate this milestone and other advancements in LGBTQIA+ equality. We had egg and spoon races, rainbow nail polish and face paint.

Reconciliation week – May 27th

We celebrated National Reconciliation Week (NRW)  by taking a group of students to Emerald Hub to participate in Cardinia Shire Councils event. The students were given the opportunity to learn about the rich cultural heritage of our First Nations peoples, our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. This year’s theme was Bridging Now to Next. The students enjoyed an Acknowledgement of Country, watched indigenous dancing and participated in many activities.

Year 7 wellbeing day – June 3rd

The year 7s participated is a wellbeing / team building day. A day filled with fun, creativity and important information.

A huge thank you goes out to all of our presenters and facilitators who helped make this day a great success.

Yoga – Di from Emerald Pilates gave the students the opportunity to participate in some wonderful yoga exercises and some mindfulness meditation.

Games – Brendan, our Friday Chaplain had fun with the students with some outdoor games

Youth Services – Zoe and Bradley from Cardinia Shire Youth services spoke about all their programs and supports they offer and do some fun resilience activities

Teens and Screens – Paris from the Black Dog Institute presented on their new program – talking about the effect screens can have on our mental health

Square painting – Jess allowed the students to be creative and paint on squares, and we will display all artwork in L block

Minute to win it games – A fun, interactive way to end the day – all groups together in EPAC

Felicity Wooden

Wellbeing Co-ordinator

Resource Centre

As the weather gets colder, and the damp rolls through the hills, the Library is the place to be! There are plenty of reading nooks and other activities to occupy you in the Library space, such as the jigsaw (which is slowly making progress!), board games which can be borrowed from the circulation desk, ‘Just my Type’ creative writing group and Pages & Co (bookclub with a difference!). However, it’s important to remember that the Library is a safe space for students who need somewhere less overwhelming than outside, and it’s important that all of our guests respect that when visiting.  Please continue to use the Library and the resources that it offers, but remember that it isn’t the same space as the oval!

If you’d like to run an activity through the Library at lunchtime, or if you just have a great idea for an activity, please speak to Ms Bon to see what we can do!

Book an adventure with ESC Literary Tours!

The Reading Passport is a great way to get some extra reading recommendations – and win a prize at the same time! There is still plenty of time to get your entries into the Passport competition – pick up your passport today!  

See Ms Bon if you have any questions.

Bookmark Competition – closes end of this term!

For students who love art and design, as well as reading, consider this their official invitation to submit an entry to the bookmark design competition. We can’t wait to see all of the fantastic entries – remember to get your design in before the end of Term 2!

How can you support the Library as a parent?

Australia Reads is a really important organisation who work to continue to research and promote wider, recreational reading for all Australians. Their latest research report demonstrated that one of the biggest barriers to reading more is not being able to “find something good to read” and that for many people, unless they have a strong source of reading recommendations, they will instead choose not to read. (You can read the report here if you’re interested: https://australiareads.org.au/research/understanding-australian-readers/)

Research also demonstrates that for our younger readers, one of the most trusted sources of reading recommendations is their Library staff.

We also know that it can be pretty daunting staring at the spines of a heap of books and not knowing where to begin to look for books they might be interested in, so we’re working on lots of displays that might help.

We do love giving personalised recommendations (and we get super excited when a student tells us they enjoyed a book we’ve recommended), so we’d encourage you to support your students by reminding them to ask the Librarian for some ideas about what to read. This is where the Reading Passport is a great idea as well – because we can help students to find something that fits the challenges

Reading Recommendations:

Old Soul, by Susan Barker

Jake lost his best friend, Lena, 15 years ago in mysterious circumstances, but when he randomly meets Mariko and learns of the death of her twin brother Hiroji, he realises that something strange is happening. Both Lena and Hiroji were found to have their entire insides – all of their organs – switched to the opposite sides of their bodies after they had died. As Jake begins to investigate, he finds more and more people who have lost loved ones that have suffered the same fate, and as the malevolence begins to gather, Jake must hurry to find out the truth.

This novel was haunting and fascinating and so beautifully written that it’s words will sit with you long after you close the last page.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Graphic Novel series) – new to the Library

When Aang leaves to aid Zuko with the Kemurikage, Katara and Sokka return to the Southern Water Tribe by themselves. Katara is shocked to find that her beloved village has become a bustling city, with none other than their father, Hakoda, in charge! A Northerner named Malina seems to be behind this change, pushing the North and South to be more unified…but what are her true goals?

Prue Bon

Teacher Librarian

Life Skills program

The Life Skills Program is a series of excursions designed to help students develop essential skills for navigating the world with confidence.

Some of our Year 8 students are currently in Week 2 of the five-week program. So far, they’ve had some fantastic learning experiences:

• At AutoPlus, Stuart gave a hands-on demonstration on how to change a tyre.

• At Commbank, Cheree spoke to students about how to identify and avoid scams.

• They also visited the Emerald Library for a tour and some creative craft activities.

The second excursion took them to St Luke’s, where they volunteered at the foodbank, gaining insight into community service and the importance of giving back.

There’s plenty more in store – and we can’t wait to see what they learn next!

Kokoda Trek

After training throughout last year and experiencing the disappointment of a last-minute cancellation due to an unexpected track closure, we’re thrilled to be back on track for our July trip. Students have been diligently participating in training walks every second Sunday and after school during the week. There’s a real sense of excitement and determination as we work toward our goal. The trek spans 96 kilometres of challenging terrain through the dense jungles of Papua New Guinea. We’d like to sincerely thank our generous sponsors, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Emerald RSL, for their ongoing support—this journey wouldn’t be possible without them.

Marion Donders

Winter Concert!

Emerald Secondary College’s Winter Concert was a spectacular evening of music and celebration, showcasing the incredible dedication, creativity and talent of our student musicians, staff and wider school community.

Thank you for everyone who attended the evening, together we raised a sizeable contribution which will allow us to purchase a new keyboard for community performances and school events. 

Congratulations to all of our student performers!

Miah Beardshaw, Annabelle Haberl, Sarah Chawkley, Luka Kill, Isy Pittard, Janna Rodriguez, Ruby Elsey, Sam Watson, Liam Sharp, Lily Forster, Indiana Bearup, Jasmin Botanova, Marika Botanova, Chloe McKinsley, Aaron Silversten, Bianca Aspinall, William Grenness, Tahlia Harmer, Mia Hoxna-Cole, Isabelle Amor, Safiye Drummond, Claire Aspinall, Isabelle Amor, Bella West, Alice Berry, Ethan Weinberg, Holly Francis, Aiden Delaney, Tegan James, Cody Burns, Annie Glasson, Azieza Noor, Matthew Doherty, Charlie Garratt-Telonis, Caelan O’Connor and Addison Cutting.

Taiko Ensemble: Alice Mattille, Claire Aspinall, Isabelle Amor and Jasmine Bearup.

Guitar Ensemble: Annie Glasson, Cody Burns, Holly Francis, Jude Penketh, Matthew Doherty, Mark Livingston, Noah Lockwood, Riley Korsten, Tegan James,  Azieza Noor.

A special thank you goes to our fabulous team:

• Year 12 Music leaders and MCs, Annabelle Haberl, Luka Kill, Miah Beardshaw and Sarah Chawkley.
• Lighting Technician: Zara Clearihan 
• Stage Direction: Elsbeth Hastings
• Instrumental Music Teachers: Eddie Cole, Lesley Yim, Oliver Midson, Lana Raftopoulos Daisuke Kawakami and Katrina Owen
• Sound and Theatre Technicians: Ben Carter and Pete Tate
• Promotional Artwork: Tarlia Logiudice
• Photography: Safiye Drummond, Ava Weiss, Charlotte Hannon
• Videography: Danny Griffin
• Tony Taylor and Anthony Gale for supporting photography students
• Dale Fyfe and Kimberley Herbert for Foyer Artwork Exhibition
• Maxine Rawson and School Council for their fundraising support
• Barry Plant Emerald for their display board donation

Katrina Owen

Performing Arts Domain Leader 

VCE Legal Studies 

It was an incredible experience for our Year 11 and Year 12 students to enter the County Court and the Supreme Court. Students were granted the opportunity to speak with multiple legal experts. Justice Patricia Matthews in the Supreme Court spoke about her experiences in commercial law and the many interesting cases she has worked on in the past, for example the Uber and Taxi case study. After speaking with Justice Matthews, we observed a committal hearing surrounding a man that was accused of murder. It was hard to get the students to leave as they were so thoroughly engaged with the case.

In the County Court we were greeted by Judge Frances Hogan who spoke about her work in the Northern Territory helping Aboriginals. The stories were incredibly insightful for students to hear about the cultural shifts between Victoria and Northern Territory. Students represented the school values of harmony and respect during their conversations, even referring to Judge Hogan as “Your Honour”. I was notified afterwards that not all students around the state share the same level of respect. After observing one case revolving around culpable driving causing death, another Judge called our group over to enter a discussion revolving around the importance of a jury. Students were able to engage with two judges on this excursion and have gained an incredible amount of knowledge, which has assisted many on their latest SAC results.

It is important to note that the manner in which students conducted themselves at the courts was admirable on all accounts. We received many compliments from judges, security, staff that organised the event and even members of the community about the way the students behaved. Their conduct has made us, as their teachers, incredibly proud and we look forward to taking more groups on these excursions in the future.

Year 11 Geography

Year 11 Geography students recently conducted fieldwork in Warburton. This involved collecting data and conducting surveys. 

ESC students were lucky to run into and  survey the Federal Minister for Casey, Aaron Violi.

Fiona Minorgan 

Humanities Domain Leader

ESC Hills MND Fundraiser

The year 11 and 12 VM students carried out the ESC Hills MND Fundraiser. This was carried out as part of our commitment to help donate funds toward MND research and patient care. There is an ongoing need to increase public awareness about Motor Neuron Disease and its impact on patients and their families. The students ran a number of successful stalls including a sausage sizzle, dessert and waffle stand, book sale, tattoo, face and nail painting, and the classic carnival style duck game. The event wouldn’t have been a success if it wasn’t for the help of the local business of Woolworths in Emerald, Monbulk, Belgrave, Ferntree Gully, and Boronia that donated Gift cards to be used at their stores and BIG W to cater for the event. Also, a special thanks to Emerald Village Bakery that donated bread for the sausage sizzle.

Carlos Saliba