2025 Issue No. 6

TERM 3 WELCOME BACK

Welcome back to all our students and families.

I am sure that the mid-year break gave everyone an opportunity to recharge and refocus on what needs to be completed for the rest of the year. School reports were distributed at the end of last term, and whilst the reports serve as a summary of the assessment tasks, students and parents should not have received ‘report shock’ because of the ongoing formative feedback provided throughout a learning sequence.

In the coming weeks, students will be mentored about their report and extra support or extension will be actioned in this space. Nothing has changed in our high expectations and standards for our students and this message will continue to be drilled ad nauseum at school, where every class has the right to flourish. EVERY student has the right to learn and EVERY teacher has the right to teach, to ply their craft, prepare engaging lessons and teach our agreed and viable curriculum.

Parents have the capacity to check the progress of their student by logging onto Compass and remaining informed about the stages of progressive learning, that reflects a task. Teachers prepare detailed lesson plans, following our college instructional model, to maintain clarity and consistency of understanding.

At the Curriculum Day that occurred on the first day, staff began their work on the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0.

Embedded deeply in modern research on how students learn, and how teachers teach, the professional learning, coaching and training will take place over the next year and so, as all aspects of the research are fully integrated. The first stage for all our teaching staff is that our Instructional Model will always begin with explicit teaching – this is the time where all our students will encounter new knowledge, and through the lesson, work on skills and activities to embed that new knowledge, as they move to mastery.

We understand that every student learns differently, and our vision and focus has had a slight tweaking/adjustment to a couple of years ago:

Engagement = SUCCESS

Orderly Classrooms = KNOW YOUR STUDENTS

This vision, along with our values, will ensure a consistent message throughout.

COURSE SELECTION 2026

 Very, very, very soon, students from Years 8-11 will be undertaking course selection, careers’ advice and elective choices for next year.

Here are some useful tips for all our students to consider:

1. Think about where your interests and strengths lie
2. You’re encouraged to select a broad curriculum, so try other subjects
3. Do not select subjects because your friend is doing that particular elective – you might hate it!
4. Be prepared for flexibility

As we are a government school and work within the parameters of specific funding, some subjects may not run if student numbers are low, or we struggle with staffing requirements.

Thank you in advance for supporting your student with this very important process.

KOKODA TRIP and CITY EXPERIENCE

 These two events involved so much fun for our students, so much commitment from our staff, so much planning and the building of trust as a community!

Congratulations to all the staff and students involved. These events build lifelong memories and friendships.

THE BUILDING UPGRADE JOURNEY CONTINUES

 The VSBA and architects have accelerated our new building program and we look forward to finalising costings and tender options.

In a nutshell, G Block will be de-commissioned once the new classrooms are built. The proposed site is on the oval, where we currently have a basketball court and cricket nets. We will find a new place to replace those facilities further down the track.

The College received 8.77 million dollars for this upgrade. This money is administered by a centralised authority and the entire amount is protected and preserved to assure the success of the upgrade.

To maintain current facilities, there will be some painting completed in G Block, a new retaining wall has been built behind the gym and our Values have been emblazoned over the EPAC walk – very noticeable as we drive into the College. We are looking at options to upgrade our college signs, as they’re getting a tad dated.

James

College Principal

Welcome Back to Term 3!

We hope all families had a restful and refreshing break. As we head into Semester 2, we’re excited for the jam-packed term ahead full of learning, progress, and celebration.

Term 3 is a significant one across the school. For our senior students, especially those in Year 12, the pointy end of the year has well and truly arrived. With only a few months remaining, every lesson, assessment and revision opportunity becomes even more valuable. We’re proud of the resilience and effort our senior cohort continues to show and encourage them to stay focused, seek feedback, and support one another as the countdown to final exams begins.

For students in Years 7, and 9 NAPLAN results have now been released, results will be mailed out to families. These assessments provide valuable insights into students’ literacy and numeracy skills. While NAPLAN is just one part of a school’s overall assessment process, the results help identify both individual and school-wide learning needs. Importantly, they also guide teaching programs and support meaningful conversations between students, families, and teachers.

A brochure has been attached for parents and carers to help interpret the NAPLAN results and understand how they can be used to support your child’s learning journey. You can also visit nap.edu.au for further information.

We look forward to a productive and rewarding Term 3. Let’s make it a great one!

Grade 5 Exploration Day

Emerald Secondary College are hosting our Annual Grade 5 Exploration Day on August 6. This key event is a part of our transition program. The transition from primary to secondary school is a significant development milestone for students and we are very pleased that this key event has proceeded. Our aims for the day are:

• For students to become familiar with and develop confidence by participating in fun activities in a secondary school setting.
• For students to develop an understanding of the crucial differences between primary and secondary schooling.

Grade 5 students from Cockatoo PS, Emerald PS, Gembrook PS and Macclesfield PS are invited to attend. Information will be circulated by each primary school to their students. Complimentary lunch packs and bus transportation are provided by ESC.

Melissa Findlay & Tiana Clayworth  

Assistant Principals

Senior School

As Term 3 kicks off, our senior school school community steps into a crucial and exciting stretch of the academic year. For our year 12 VCE students, this term represents a vital period of focused study, revision and preparation. With Unit 4 content underway and exams on the horizon, now is the time for students to push themselves academically, set clear goals, and maintain strong study habits. Teachers are ready to support each learner to stay on track and achieve their personal best.

A special shoutout goes to our Year 12 VCE-VM students, who are now in their final term of secondary school. As they work toward completing their structured workplace learning and outcomes, we are incredibly proud of the growth they’ve shown and the pathways they are preparing to enter. Their journey is nearly complete, and we will be celebrating their success in just a few short weeks.

Meanwhile, our Year 10 students are beginning to make decisions that will shape their senior years. Course counselling is now in motion, giving students and families the opportunity to explore VCE, VCE-VM, and VET pathways. These choices are not just about subjects they’re about discovering interests, aligning with passions, and setting directions for the future. Our staff are here to guide students through this important and often exciting process.

Of course, it’s not all hard work! Term 3 also brings with it a range of events and activities that help build connections and bring joy to school life. Whether it’s sport, excursions, production and everything in between, there’s plenty of fun to be had along the way.

In many ways, this term is filled with future-defining moments. Whether it’s the decision to strive a little harder, the choice of a career-aligned subject, or the chance to try something new these experiences all help shape the learners and leaders our students are becoming.

Let’s make Term 3 a term of action, discovery, and growth!

Congratulation to the student that received an awarded at the celebration assembly!

Emily Hay-

Senior Sub-School Leader

 Emerald Secondary College Takes on the Kokoda Trail! 

We’re so proud of our students and staff who recently completed the challenging and inspiring Kokoda Trail walk. This incredible journey not only tested their endurance but also deepened their understanding of history, teamwork, and resilience.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved; your determination and spirit truly embody the values of Emerald Secondary College. Here’s to many more adventures and learning experiences ahead!

A big thank you to the RSL and the Duke of Ed program for their generous sponsorship and support in helping make this journey possible!

Anthony Craig and Marion Donders

Year 7 Immunisations

Emerald Secondary College will be hosting the Year 7 Secondary School 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:

–          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.

Dental Van

The last catch-up session for the Dental Van has been booked in for the 1st of August from 9:30AM. Students will be booked in according to their availability. The Dental Van will be set up outside the EPAC building in the drop off zone. Students will be sent notes on the day.

Any questions, please call the office on 5968 5388.

Selina Rose

First Aid Officer

Resource Centre

Early mornings in the Library are busy. It’s wonderful to hear the sound of students chattering as they warm up, their exclamations at the new word games and puzzles and their squeaks of delight at the new titles on display.

There’s a lot happening throughout this term in the Library and we’d encourage you to watch out for all the activities that are coming up. The calendar on the “Get Involved” wall has been updated and students are invited to participate in a way that makes them comfortable.

Book Week is this term – August 16 – 23 – and it’s going to be an adventure! There will be lots of different activities happening during Book Week, but there are also lots of opportunities to experience the fun throughout the rest of the term.

We also have a NEW library management system! This means that when your students log on to the Library Catalogue via Compass, things are going to look a little different… please be patient with us as we reignite this system – there’s definitely a lot to love about it, but we are still learning. While we’re sure that our students will be able to figure out how to continue to search for their favourite book, we’d also like to remind them that our friendly Library staff are always on hand to help out and answer any questions!

Book an adventure with ESC Literary Tours!

Make sure that you’re still working through the challenges in your Reading Passport! You still have time to complete as many challenges as possible to go into the big prize draw at the end

 of August. This prize includes a book voucher from Grace & Louie Booksellers (Emerald) and a few other exciting book-ish items!

Uno Competition – starts Week 2

The Library will be running an Uno competition throughout Term 3. Students will compete against each other to see who is the ultimate Uno Champion! Monday lunchtimes in the Library classroom.

Just my Type Writers Club

All emerging writers are invited to join Ms Bon in the Library classroom on Tuesday lunchtimes to just write. Whether you’re a budding poet, essayist, journaler or novelist, there’s space for you to carve out a moment to play with language and improve your writing. The term 3 writing competition will be officially released at the end of Week 2, but Just my Type members will have early access to the prompt!

Pages & Co

Pages & Co is our bookclub with a difference – we still chat about books and reading, but we also craft using old books! This term we will be making bookmarks, vases made out of old books (to display the flowers we made last term), and maybe even see if we can make a world record! Pages & Co runs every Friday lunchtime in the Library classroom.

How can you support the Library as a parent?

When was the last time you read out loud to your students? The research is big on this one – reading out loud helps to develop a range of skills, but it also fosters a love of reading and creates a deeper sense of connection. We tend to stop reading out loud once our children are able to read independently, but it’s important that we don’t.

Start reading together after dinner – this is a great opportunity to read through a class novel and share the load – even just one chapter a night will make all the difference to your developing adolescents and their ability to engage in their learning.

If you’d like any further support, or some reading recommendations, please get in touch with ESC’s Teacher Librarian, Prue Bon.

Reading Recommendations:

Vanish, by Shelley Burr

This is the third instalment with disgraced private detective Lane Holland. He’s nearing the opportunity for early parole, but still haunted by the disappearance of Matilda Carver twenty years earlier. When he finds a lead on Matilda, he is sent to Karpathy farm to investigate as part of an early release program. So far, everything Lane has learned about Karpathy farm seems to suggest that there’s something strange going on. But will he be able to find Matilda before disaster strikes?

Burr is an engaging writer, and her detective, Lane Holland, is an enigmatic fellow. It’s hard not to like him, even though his past is a little dodgy. While it helps to have read the first two novels in this series, it’s not necessary and you will still enjoy every word of Vanish.

The Foal in the Wire, by Robbie Coburn – new to the Library

Written in verse, Coburn’s first offering for young adults is a sensitive and beautiful exploration of domestic violence, grief and first love. The themes are heavy, however they are written with such delicacy that readers don’t get bogged down in the trauma, instead focussing on the relationship that develops between the two main characters as they care for an injured horse. Read this one with care, but enjoy every moment of it.

Prue Bon-

Teacher Librarian

Welcome our new chaplain!

Wellbeing would like to welcome our new chaplain Luke – Luke will work with us on Tuesdays.  He will be available to support students, run some lunch time programs and work in small groups.  It is wonderful to have him joining our wellbeing team.  Many of you might already know Luke, for others, come down to L block and say hello – he loves to interact with students.

Hi my name’s Luke and I’ve just joined the wellbeing team here at Emerald Secondary as a Chaplain. When I was at high school, I greatly benefited having a chaplain at my school who I could go to and be heard – Now it is my greatest privilege to be able to do the same for students here! I love to support young people to find purpose and respond to the challenges in their life.

Other than caring for people I love to play soccer, stay up late to watch the English Premier League, drink specialty coffee (Yes, I’m a bit of a snob), and to go camping! I look forward to supporting students in excelling not just in school but in all areas of their life also!

Felicity Wooden and Luke Hotchkin-van Neuren

State Cross Country

Big congratulations to Miah in year 12 for successful making it to state cross country this week. She did an amazing job finishing 27th in the state for her age group.

Yvonne Mauger

Sport Co-ordinator

Year 7 Humanities

The focus for our Year 7 Humanities students in Term Two has been Ancient History. For their CAT task, students completed a historical inquiry on a significant individual and then created an artefact relevant to that individual. Amazing work year 7s!

Fiona Minorgan 

Humanities Domain Leader

Year 9 City Experience – A Week to Remember!

In the last week of Term 2, our Year 9 students took their learning beyond the classroom and into the heart of Melbourne for an unforgettable City Experience. Over five days, students explored the cultural and historical landscape of the city, visiting iconic locations such as the MCG and National Sports Museum, NGV Australia and NGV International, the Shrine of Remembrance, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The week kicked off with an energetic Amazing Race around the CBD, designed and facilitated by our Year 12 VM students, where teamwork, navigation skills, and creative thinking were on full display. From there, each day offered opportunities for students to engage with Melbourne’s rich sporting, artistic, and historical institutions — and of course, to experience the ever-changing world of public transport and city life!

One of the highlights of the week was the chance to connect beyond the curriculum — chatting on train rides, walking through laneways, and sharing lunch in parks and plazas. Staff were incredibly impressed by the maturity, respect, and curiosity shown by our students throughout the experience.

We’re so proud of the way our Year 9s represented Emerald Secondary College in the community and grateful for the shared memories made.

A huge thank you to all the staff who supported the program and to our students for bringing their energy, enthusiasm, and “can-do” attitudes.

We now look forward to Year 9 Camp in Term 3 — another opportunity for challenge, growth, and connection!

Katie Ryan and Anthony Gale

Learning Engagement Leaders

VCE Art Making and Exhibiting

During the last week of term 2, VCE Art Making and Exhibiting students visited the NGV’s French Impressionism Exhibition. Students were able to view a vast array of iconic paintings in a gallery setting designed to evoke feelings of  the 19^th century mansions where the works would have originally been displayed. Following this Year 12s were part of a talk focusing on exhibition design, whilst Year 11 students visited the Top Arts exhibition showcasing standout work from the previous years VCE Art studies.

Dale Fyfe

Arts Domain Leader

National Science Week

National Science Week will be held this year during Week 4 (August 11-15).  This year’s theme is “Decoding the Universe” and ESC will be celebrating by having fun science based activities available every day at lunchtime that week.  Science classes will be doing special activities centred around the theme, and several excursions are planned for some classes and year levels, including the Melbourne Museum for an exciting evolution presentation for our 7 and 8 SEAL classes as well as the middle years Environmental Science students.  Finally, the entire year 8 cohort will be heading to ScienceWorks on Friday 15 August for their Term 3 Big Day Out.   More information on science week activities happening at school will be posted soon.  For more information on National Science Week, check out the following website:  https://www.scienceweek.net.au/

Ashley Forster

Science Domain Leader