End of Term
We would like to thank all of the staff and students for their hard work this term. We hope that everyone has a relaxing break and ready to finish the year strong in Term 4!
Japanese Visit
It was wonderful to welcome the students and staff from our sister school, Toyohashi Minami Senior High School. A special thank you to all the families and staff who hosted the visitors, and to Mr Jun Hayashi for his organisation of the trip.
We look forward to our visit to Toyohashi in 2027.
Red Gallery Exhibition
It was wonderful to visit the Red Gallery in North Fitzroy where our Year 12 Art Making and Exhibiting, and Visual Communication and Design students exhibited their works. It was an excellent exhibition, showcasing their talents in a wide range of media.
Well done to all the students who exhibited, and a special thank you to Ms Della Butler, Mr Michael Bowden and Mr Nick D’Aglas for their organisation of the event.
Year 9 City Experience
Congratulations to our Year 9 students who successfully completed their annual City Experience last week.
Over four days, students travelled throughout Melbourne using public transport, developing their understanding of the city while completing a Geography assignment and participating in a range of engaging activities. More importantly, the experience provided valuable opportunities for students to build their independence and personal skills as they navigated new environments and worked collaboratively with their peers.
A particular highlight of the week was the positive feedback received from members of the public who encountered our students throughout the city. Their behaviour and respectful conduct reflected exceptionally well on both themselves and our College community.
One member of the public wrote:
While it is front of mind, I just wanted to comment quickly on how impressed I was by the group of students from St Albans Secondary College on the number 16 tram down St Kilda Road today. It was not just offering me a seat, but the fact that on a very crowded tram the whole group was extremely respectful to other passengers. This was done in a way which seemed very natural and not at all grudging and there was generally a very happy and positive vibe.
Another shared:
Today when I was walking, I witnessed a group of such kind young kids from your school. These kids were doing good deeds, giving way to others, and using polite, friendly language to peers.
A third message celebrated the students’ positive attitude and spirit:
Your kids were on an excursion in the CBD today. What a fabulous bunch! I felt joyful seeing their good humour, camaraderie and delight at being out and about. Truly a credit to the school and its values.
These unsolicited messages are a wonderful reflection of the character and values of our students. We are incredibly proud of the way they represented St Albans Secondary College during the City Experience and thank our staff for their support in making the program such a success.
Well done to all Year 9 students on an outstanding week of learning, growth and achievement.
Parent Teacher interviews
Thank you to the many families who attended Parent-Teacher Interviews this week. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity for parents, students and teachers to come together to discuss learning progress, celebrate achievements and identify areas for continued growth.
Strong partnerships between home and school play a vital role in student success, and it was wonderful to see so many families engaging in meaningful conversations about their child’s education. We appreciate the time and commitment shown by our parents, carers and staff, and look forward to continuing to work together to support every student’s learning journey.
State Schools Spectacular
At the end of August, 14 of our students had the incredible opportunity to be involved in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular, representing our College on a state-wide stage.
Thirteen students performed as part of the Mass Dance Cast, while Alex Gaffiero. from Year 7 demonstrated his technical skills by working on audio technology across set-up, the performance and pack-down.
Our students did an absolutely outstanding job. We are incredibly proud of the commitment they showed throughout the long rehearsal days, their hard work and preparation, and, most importantly, their positive attitudes throughout the experience.
A very special thank you to all of the staff who supported our students throughout the rehearsals and performance in particular Lela Seely and Melissa Tamraz. Opportunities such as this would not be possible without their efforts and we thank them for seeking out such an opportunity for our students.
Year 12 Practice Examinations
Year 12 students will have practice examinations during the school holidays. These examinations provide an important opportunity for students to experience examination conditions, identify areas for improvement and gain a clearer understanding of what they need to focus on as they move towards their final VCE examinations.
At this stage of the year, consistent and purposeful study is particularly important. Students should be using feedback from practice examinations and SACs to identify gaps in their knowledge and skills and then targeting these areas through their study. Effective preparation is not about last-minute cramming; it is about establishing good study habits, completing practice questions, reviewing feedback and seeking help when needed.
We encourage families to continue supporting students to maintain a healthy balance between study, sleep, exercise and other commitments. Every focused study session at this point in the year contributes to students feeling more confident and prepared for their final examinations. It is an important time to also review part-time work commitments. Where possible, this is the time to take some leave from work or at least reduce the number of hours as the focus now should be on preparation for the final exams.
Wear it Purple Day is an annual event, held on the last Friday of August, this is a day of inclusion celebrating our LGBTQIA+ community. Wear it Purple Day is a celebration of Diversity. It is about showing our support and striving to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for all our rainbow young people and staff. This year’s Wear It Purple Day theme is Colours of Courage. Colours of Courage celebrates the many different forms of courage shown by LGBTQIA+SB young people, allies and communities every day. It links in with our school Theme for this year of Unity in Diversity.
“Courage is not just expressed in big moments, but in everyday choices to live proudly and invite others into understanding, acceptance and celebration.”
We celebrated Wear it Purple Day on Friday 28 August with lunchtime activities run by Wellbeing and the VCE VM Team. Well done to all involved in preparing and facilitating this day.
National Child Protection Week – 6-12 September
National Child Protection Week is Australia’s national campaign to prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens. This year the theme is Every Conversation Matters: Shifting Conversation to Action. Led by NAPCAN for over 30 years, it brings together individuals, families, communities, organisations and governments to build safe, supportive environments where children and young people can thrive.
St Albans Secondary College is committed to providing an environment where students are safe and feel safe.
Our child safety framework includes policies, codes and procedures that explain how we support and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students and protect them from harm.
We are committed to continuous improvement of our child safety framework and are currently reviewing our child safety policies and practices to ensure they are up-to-date and effective. The documents are available on our website: https://stalbanssc.vic.edu.au/.
Mental Health Week celebrated at SASC 14-18 September
This year the theme for mental health week is “Together, We Thrive”, this message recognises that while life can often feel overwhelming, connection remains one of the most powerful ways to support our mental health and wellbeing. The Mental Health Week lunchtime activities provided opportunities to strengthen connection and foster understanding about mental health in our school community. Our CPR Ambassadors worked together to organise mental health themed activities and opportunities. Thanks to the Wellbeing Team and CPR Ambassadors for their organisation and work in getting the activities for this week together.
