COLLEGE TIMES Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988 WELCOME TO OUR NEW YEAR 7 STUDENTS FOR 2018
COLLEGE TIMES
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
WELCOME TO
OUR NEW
YEAR 7
STUDENTS
FOR 2018
Lara Secondary College Page 2 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
College Calendar
Upcoming Events
20th STUDENT FREE DAY
20th All Year 9 Connections - Challenge Activities @
Eumeralla Scout Camp, Point Addis
22nd Year 10 Fit to Play swimming
23rd VCAL Industry visit - Air Radiators
A great start to the year
Our preparation for 2018 through both the Commencement Week and contract signing for our senior students last year, and the Starting Out Right program and contract signing for our Middle Years students this year, has resulted in an impressive start for all.
Students have been made aware of the enormous importance of contributing to a safe, secure and productive learning environment. They have been reminded of our high expectations around behaviour, manners, the use of technology and a positive approach to their learning, to enable the highest possible outcomes for all.
The newest members of our student body
I’d like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome the newest members of our school community, our 2018 Year 7 cohort. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm of this group as they get to know each other, their teachers and their new environment. I’d like to acknowledge our Year 7 Program Leader Sonia Tkaczuk, for all of her hard work in supporting these students as they move from Primary School to Secondary School. I’d also like to thank our Year 7 TLC teachers for their work in ensuring the Year 7s have had a smooth transition into the college. The Year 7 TLC team includes Haddon Gelai, Carly Hastie, Aaron Malcolm, Dean Findlay, Kane Dougherty and Sonia.
Teacher Professional Development
High Reliability Schools (HRS) is the research-based framework on which we base our work, and includes a string focus on ‘Effective Teaching in every Classroom’. Our continuous improvement in this aspect of the framework has been supported over the past three years through our work around Dr. Robert Mazarno’s Art and Science of Teaching.
This year, we are very much looking forward to our professional development session on Tuesday 20th February with Dr. Jane Pollock, who worked with Marzano to research and identify nine teaching strategies that are proven to have a positive impact on student learning. Dr. Pollock will be visiting the college from America to work with teaching staff on the implementation of her instructional model, based on these nine strategies.
A reminder that Tuesday 20th February is a student-free day.
Awards Day
In December 2017, we as a community took the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful efforts and achievements of our students at our Awards Day. I would like to congratulate all students who received awards on the day, however would like to highlight some significant award recipients.
Please see the following page for details of recipients.
FEBRUARY
13th Motivational Media -
Session 1 Year 9 & 10
Session 2 Year 11 & 12
Session 3 Year 7 & 8
13th Photo catch-up day
14th Year 11 Outdoor Education Swimming Test
Session 3
14th -
16th
Year 7 Camp @ Marysville
15th VCE Unit 1 Biology GTAC Excursion
16th VCAL Industry Visit - Air Radiators
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Important information regarding
Year 10 Meningococcal ACWY Immunisations
We have been informed by Barwon Health that we will be
facilitating Year 10 immunisations this year in relation to
Meningococcal ACWY, of which students in this age group
are at risk. Consent cards for all Year 10 students will be
distributed by Friday 16th February, and must be returned
by Wednesday 21st February to the office. Year 10
Immunisations will not be taking place until Term 3, and to
ensure adequate serum, the consent cards are required to
be returned by this date. If your child is NOT having this
immunisation, you still need to return the card indicating
this as your preference.
Lara Secondary College Page 3 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
Awards Day (continued)
Success Pass Award: Hannah Y
Chloe Armstrong Inspirational Awards: Kiara G, Jakob M, Rebekah H, Kira H, Jaron H and Sarah L
Kwong Lee Dow Scholarship Award: Christine Y
ADF Long Tan Youth Awards: Jake V and Emily F
Spirit of ANZAC Award: Ben T
Girls Leading in Advanced Manufacturing Award: Christine Y
Kiwanis Club Award: Kiana M
Principal’s Award: Zane G
Richard Marles Prize for Citizenship: Ninka Y
Jesse Cotter Award: Max C
Masonic Lodge Year 7 Awards: Hailey S and Mackenzie S
Masonic Lodge Year 9 Awards: Liam C and Jack E
Outstanding Achievement in VCAL: Allison H
VCE College Dux: Chelley S
Well done to all of these students on all of their hard work, efforts and positive contributions to the school community throughout 2017. It was a pleasure to hear about all of their achievements on Awards Day that led to such significant acknowledgment.
New and Returning Staff
Our teachers and support staff have been working hard to ensure a positive start to the year. This year we have welcomed 4 new support staff to the team, Restika Purwita Syarah (Indonesian Language Assistant), Jorja Barrett (Integration Team), Angela Lord (Integration Team) and Claudia Rossi (Integration Team). Welcome back to our returning staff, Katherine Polak (Year 8 English/Humanities), Meaghan Hinch (Maths, Maths Intervention and Science), Louise Van Dugteren (Connections and English Intervention), Deb O’Farrell (Admin Team) and Lisa Daglas (VASS Administrator).
Principal Position Appointment
The position of Principal for Lara Secondary College is currently being advertised. I am pleased to be in the role of Acting Principal of the college while this process is carried out throughout Term One. In the meantime, I’d like to welcome David Mitri to the role of Acting Middle Years Assistant Principal.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT
Welcome back to returning students and families, and a very special welcome to our new families!
The Year 7 group have had a great start, which is reflective of the hard work by staff at our local primary schools, staff at Lara Secondary College and our families in supporting students during this very important transition phase. We would also like to extend a warm welcome to those families who have joined us in other year levels.
Thank-you to students and families for your attendance at Contract Signing. These meetings, that took place at the end of 2017 for our Senior Years students, and last week for our Middle Years’ students, are critical in ensuring that all students are prepared, organised and goal-orientated – which will set students up for a positive year.
The Middle Years students are currently engaged in the ‘Starting Out Right’ program, which aims to establish positive classroom routines and practices and explore good learning behaviours such as having a ‘growth mindset’, which will help ensure a successful year. The Senior Years students have settled in well and are adjusting to their increasing workloads. It’s been great to see Year 12 students making good use of their study sessions. In study sessions, students work with supervising staff and their classroom teachers, to ensure they are studying materials that will support their learning in future classes.
This week we enjoyed our first whole school event when the annual Swimming Carnival was held. It was great to see so many students displaying their house colours and participating in events and cheering on their teammates. There will be a full report in the next newsletter – but a big thank you to Aaron Malcolm for his hard work in organising this event – not an easy job!
It’s important that for a high-performing culture to be maintained within the school, that students adhere to expectations around their performance, attire and behaviour – in the same way that they would in a workforce.
In that respect – it’s important that full school uniform is to be worn at all times, and that if your child is out of uniform they will be required to obtain an out of uniform pass from the office. Students are permitted to wear fine metal jewellery; no chunky or leather items are permitted. We also ask that students wear plain black or white socks. Black leather shoes must be worn with the formal uniform, and sneakers are to be worn with the active uniform - this does not extend to ‘skate shoes’.
Students have been reminded of the guidelines in the college’s Acceptable Use Policy which covers the use of technology such as iPads, mobile phones and laptops.
We ask all students that mobile phones be placed in lockers or switched off during class. If phones are used in class, these are placed at our office for students to collect at the end of the day. If you need to get in touch with your child during class time, we ask that you contact our office, who can relay the message to students in classrooms.
A friendly reminder, that it is a requirement under Victorian Law, that students when riding on a road wear a bike helmet – for their own protection. We don’t want to see any students getting injured, so we expect that students will follow these expectations.
David Mitri Acting Assistant Principal (Middle Years)
Tania O’Callaghan Assistant Principal (Senior Years)
Sarah Foley
Acting Principal
Lara Secondary College Page 4 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
Year 7 Instrumental Tryouts
Lara Secondary College Page 5 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Instrumental Music Try Outs
This week, students from Year Seven were given the chance to try some of the instruments that Lara Secondary College has on offer. The students had a ball creating all sorts of weird and wonderful sounds, on a range of brass and woodwind instruments. Thanks to all the Year Seven students who jumped in and had a go. Also, thanks to the Year Seven TLC teachers for supporting Miss Newman through this process.
Please look at the many photos included in this edition of the College Times.
Instrumental Music Lessons
Private instrumental lessons are already in full swing. Miss Newman and Mr Bennett started teaching students Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Piano, Voice, Guitar, Bass Guitar and Drums last Thursday. Our Rock Bands have also met for their first rehearsal and Stage Band is starting this week.
There are still some places available if you would like to learn Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar or Trumpet. All other instrumental lessons are currently full, however we have started a waiting list. If you would like to enrol in instrumental music lessons, or add your name to the waiting list, please collect an enrolment form from the front office.
Rebecca Newman
Director of Music
Lara Secondary College Page 6 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Lara Secondary College Page 7 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Lara Secondary College Page 8 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Supported by
Sponsored by
Mark Bennett-HOL Artisan
Hands On Learning (HOL) provides an alternative
learning framework for students who have
genuine needs that go beyond the four walls of
the classroom. The purpose is to have a positive
experience of school and reconnect with both
school and community. Students come out of
regular classes one day per week to join a small
team of ten students ranging from Year 7-10, to
work on creative construction projects around
their school and in their local community.
Students develop their own ‘Focus Plan’ each
session. This attention to personal development is
key to the success of HOL and to students as
individuals.
Eating together is a valued part of the program,
sharing breakfast and lunch often cooked on our
own barbie brings great comradery – a $5
contribution each week helps to cover this cost.
HOL positions are privileged and can be applied for
by an individual student, parent or teacher. See
your TLC or Pathways teacher for an Expression of
Interest form today!
Aaron Butters-HOL Coordinator
and more...
and more...
Lara Secondary College Page 9 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988
LIBRARY NEWS
Our first week in the library has been very busy. It’s been beaut having year seven’s visit for a library orientation and to
borrow and other year levels have been busy borrowing too. We love it when students tell us what books and magazines they
like to read and we already have many request forms filled in for books students would like us to purchase.
LSC has its own Book club—the Spine Crackers
Our first meeting for the year will be held on
Thursday the 22nd of February in the library at
recess. We would love to see more students join
the Spine Crackers. We get together to talk
about books we’ve read and are reading, get
great reading recommendations and plan some
excursions. The group photo was taken at the
State Library last year and the other photo, in
the Red Room at the Dome Library another
Ms Sartori & Ms Porter—Library
Our OverDrive Digital Library is ideal for reading on iPads:
It’s wonderful that quite a few Year 7 students are already
starting to read eBooks from our OverDrive library. To try:
Download the OverDrive app and make an account. Add
Lara Secondary College to MY LIBRARIES and you are ready
to borrow.
Log onto OverDrive using your network login
Available 24/7
Over 700 titles to choose from
Popular eBooks in January included
Lara Secondary College Page 10 Issue 1 - 2018
Alkara Ave, Lara, Victoria 3212 Telephone: 03 5282 8988