Growth Learning Relationships Wellbeing

M A Y N E W S L E T T E R S E N I O R C A M P U S

Senior Campus staff and students enjoy morning tea by Ms Chester and her

VCAL students in support of breast cancer research

Welcome to Term 2 — Senior Campus Principal Report

Sunshine College

Welcome back students and staff. I am looking forward to another productive term. Term 2 is packed with important events. I would like to begin with a message of thanks to our parents and care givers. Your understanding of the needs and requirements of Year 11 and 12 students and your support for the teachers and administration here at Sunshine College is greatly appreciated. We need your help to ensure your son or daughter has the best possible opportunity of success in the final two years of their schooling. Following up on attendance, ensuring teachers and SEWB leaders are contacted when necessary and minimizing disruption to their schooling help us fulfil our duty of providing a quality educational experience. This term, year 12 VCE students will be required to sit the General Achievement Test (GAT). This is a test of general knowledge and skills in written communication, mathematics, science and technology, humanities, the arts and social sciences taken by all Victorian students studying a Unit 3-4 subject, prior to completing their VCE. The GAT is an essential part of the VCE assessment procedures. Achievement on the GAT is a good predictor of achievement on other assessments. If students have done well on the GAT, then their achievements are likely to be high on their school-based and external assessments. Although no special study is required for the GAT, all students will be given the opportunity to practice the GAT through various Pastoral Care activities using past GAT papers. The GAT is scheduled for Wednesday June 12 2019. Both Year 11 and 12 students will also have end of Semester Exams. These exams form part of overall unit assessment

and all students must pass the exams in order to obtain a satisfactory pass in each unit of study. End of Semester 1 Exams are scheduled for week 8 – June 11 to June 14, 2019. Examination timetables will be provided to students closer to the examination dates. Our very important Pathways Program will be in full swing again this term. In term 1, all Year 12 students were interviewed individually by a Pathways leader with the aim of preparing them for life after year 12, be it tertiary studies, employment, apprenticeship etc. In Term 2, all year 11 students will have a designated appointment time with the Pathways leader. The aim is to ensure students are enrolled in the correct programme and provide them with assistance in making decisions about their futures. These sessions are extremely valuable and I urge all students not to miss their appointments. VCAL students this Term are busy with many community projects. Mr Caruso and his crew have got the Vegetable Garden in top shape and Mrs Chester is busy preparing for Sunshine’s Biggest Morning Tea in support of Breast cancer. Our Semester 1 report evening will take place on Thursday June 27, 2019 from 3.00pm until 7.00pm. Unlike progress reports, this will be a combined evening for year 11 & 12 students. We always enjoy our Term 2 sporting calendar with AFL, Soccer, Netball, Badminton Basketball and Volleyball teams enjoying some winter sporting opportunities. Good luck to all of our teams and I hope that the students involved first and foremost have fun and enjoy meeting new friends.

Mona Raghdo,

Senior Campus Principal 2

Growth Learning Relationships Wellbeing

VCAL News

On Tuesday 19 March, the Intermediate

VCAL group 2HS visited the Victorian

College for the Deaf on St Kilda Road

Melbourne. The college has a VCAL

program that run a café called Tradeblock

Café and our students visited to see how

the students communicated with the public.

The school is based in a beautiful old build-

ing and we were made most welcome. If

you are passing the VCD, their Café is

open to the public. Why not drop in and

have a coffee or light lunch?

The same class also supported a fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal over the final weeks of Term 1, selling chocolate slice in carrots for $1. Over the three weeks, they raised $230, thanks to the generosity of the students and staff. Many thanks also go to Ms Chester and her class for cooking the slice!

Year 12 students will be opening up their own second hand shop. In order to understand the retail industry an excursion to the CBD was needed. Researching franchise and non-franchise, pop-up, bespoke, and department stores students needed to have a little fun. So challenge for them was to spell out the word VCAL in a most creative ways and finding a funny hat.

3

Year 12 VCE News

Senior Campus

Term 1 was ten weeks but it felt much

quicker for the Year 12 students who have

been working very well. I had the pleasure

of reading all of their Interim Reports and I

am pleased to see how conscientiously

they have begun the year. Students gave

me some feedback during Term 1 about

Pastoral Care time. Sessions during term 2

will be tailored to meet the

outcomes requested. Term 2 will also see

the continuation of the Homework Club in

the Library every Wednesday. I encourage

all students to attend who would like some

extra support with any subject, or just a

quiet place to work. It is open every

Wednesday from 3:00pm-4:30pm.

Over Term 1, we celebrated successes of

various students in their academic and

community endeavours.

During one of our combined assemblies last term, the college heard from our SSSO staff – school psychologists Stephanie Fornaiser and Shivaun Scerri, who spoke on the support they can provide to students. Introduced by our Wellbeing Coordinator, Anna Gatto-Turcarolo, Stephanie and Shivaun covered topics that students may want assistance with, including stress management. Students interested in accessing support from a psychologist are welcome to speak to Miss Anna in the Wellbeing office.

Mrs Papageorge

Year 12 Coordinator 4

Growth Learning Relationships Wellbeing

Year 11 VCE News Homework and Learning

Earlier this term, the Year 11 Health class were given the opportunity to meet three alumni of Sunshine College. These past students gave us insight into how they planned their future in the health area. They were; Alan Hale who is a sporting manager for Cricket Australia, Margaret Bugeja who is a social worker for the elderly at Sunshine Hospital, and Osman Aldabel; who is a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria. Collectively, they spoke about decision making and investigating individual strengths and interests, which then helped them to decide on their careers paths after school. Their experiences revealed many mistakes, plan Bs and demonstrated the need for persistence and motivation.

This session has benefited the class both educationally and emotionally, in order to understand and become more aware of what it takes to achieve goals beyond the familiarity of school and safety of a teacher’s guidance.

A big thank you to our Sunshine College alumni for coming back to speak to the Year 11 students studying Health and Human Development.

If you would like to get involved in the program and find out more, send us an email at alumni@sunshine.vic.edu.au. The alumni program is supported by Ourschool, a not-for-profit service that helps public high schools build their alumni communities.

Completing homework is an essential skill and necessary for success at VCE. It is an important time for students to both, build knowledge and understanding, whilst also apply themselves through consistent hard work.

These are skills that require practice and dedication. With this in mind, we would like to see homework become a habit in all households. VCE students should be looking to complete work each night, regardless of whether they have been given a specific task to complete.

Everyone has a role in helping ensure homework becomes a habit. Simply checking in with your child and engaging in their schooling helps promote an environment conducive to learning. In addition to this, setting up routines also help build habits. Setting up a specific area to study, free from distractions such as television and phones, and having a set time to complete homework each night will help build these habits.

Such is the importance of completing homework, students that have not completed required work will be expected to attend Homework Club on a Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:30pm to catch up on their work. This is a great opportunity for students to get 1 on 1 feedback from staff to enhance their learning and improve school outcomes.

Mr Jasper Wolfe

Year 11 Coordinator

Eliya Acone

Year 11 SRC

5

Growth Learning Relationships Wellbeing

Helping your child succeed at VCE/VCAL

1. There must be a special designated space that is purely for study e.g. in their room the dining table, spare room

2. It must be quiet but remember some students study better with music playing but not the TV.

3. it must be free from distractions e.g. small children, the phone, family discussions.

4. The computer is a valuable tool for senior students but it must be used properly. Chatting to others on-line via computer or device can waste enormous amounts of time.

5. The study area must be warm and well ventilated and there must be adequate lighting and a comfortable chair. It needs to be inviting, a place that is nice to be in. Ensure that they have the required equipment. Many students avoid getting started on tasks preferring to spend time looking for equipment.

6. Please be very aware of your daughter/son’s timetable. It helps if you aware of which subjects they are studying. Perhaps put it on the fridge. Discuss the most appropriate times to do homework. Set a regular study time so that everyone in the household is aware of the students need for quiet and consideration.

7. Raise the importance of VCE/VCAL in your household. This will be a very stressful period and for a student to be successful, allowances will have to be made. This may include managing and avoiding conflict. Parents and family member need to be understanding of moods and pressure. Showing genuine interest in what they are doing helps.

8. Lots of encouragement and praise does more that continual nagging and negativity. Use rewards and special treats.

9. Time at school is extremely important. Missed classes result in students falling behind and ultimately adding to stress. Ensure that all appointments are made outside of school hours. Students should not be given responsibility for child minding and similar responsibilities during the school day.

We encourage families to contact the Pastoral Care teacher if there are any concerns about student progress, homework or personal issues.

A successful student requires a meaningful partnership between the student, their parents or guardians and the school.

Mr Peter Gittins

Senior Campus

Assistant Principal 6

Growth Learning Relationships Wellbeing

Ahmed Hassab, Sayed Hussaini, Mohammad Haidari, Kupakwashe Ziyambi, Hassan Babiker, Van Bawittung, Sang

Bawi Hrin, Saeed Sahebi Jack Chand, Fareed Ahmed, Sajeed Bai, Abdulla Khalaf, Khuasalia Nima Sung, Andrew

Huynh and Siam Zomi

Senior Boys’ Soccer Team 2019

This year Sunshine College entered a very strong soccer team in the Secondary School Soccer Tournament. The team had three training sessions and the players were very committed and dedicated. The team played two matches and there was a marked improvement in the standard displayed by the team. The team strongly felt that it could have advanced to the elimination stages if it was lucky in the first game.

Some of the players who were the stars of the team included Siam, Sajeed and Mohammad.

On a positive note, most players will be again representing the

team next year and we all are looking forward to attaining better results. Thanks everyone for your support. Go Sunshine!

Jack Chand

Sport News

7

Growth Learning Relationships Wellbeing

Important Upcoming Dates

Child Safety Our community values of Growth, Relationships, Learning and Wellbeing are underpinned by an understanding that Child Safety is a paramount responsibility of the school community. Sunshine College has a number of guiding policies regarding Child Safety on our web site located at www.sunshine.vic.edu.au Please take some time to make yourself aware of these and contact the school should you have any concerns regarding Child Safety.

Sunshine College Senior Campus

Graham St, Sunshine Victoria, 3020

http://www.sunshine.vic.edu.au/

(03) 8311 5200

Reminder to Parents

Please drive safely when dropping off and picking up your children

Date Event

Monday June 10, 2019 Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday June 11, 2019—Friday June 14 2019 Year 11 And 12 Mid-Year Exams

Wednesday June 12, 2019 General Achievement Test (GAT)

Thursday June 20, 2019 Senior Campus Change Over Day

Friday June 21, 2019 Report Writing Day

Thursday June 27, 2019 End of Semester 1 Reports Distribution

Leadership Team

Campus Principal Ms Mona Raghdo

Assistant Principal Mr Peter Gittins

VCAL Student Manager Ms Alison Mitchinson

Year 11 Student Manager Mr Jasper Wolfe

Year 12 Student Manager Ms Carolyn Papageorge

Student Wellbeing Ms Anna Gatto

Office Manager Ms Sandra Moore

8