Alba Newsletter – February 2025

Welcome Back to our entire College community for 2025.

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new Year 7 class of 2025. They have settled in really well and have up to this point made a smooth transition into secondary school. We wish them all the best for their time here at the College.

We would also like to welcome the 50 or so new students in other year levels and their families to the College. We hope you are making friends and enjoying your classes.

We also have a number of new staff, both teaching and Education Support joining us this year. Welcome to all of them! You can read their introductions later in this newsletter.

Year 12 Focus Days

During the third week of this term, all Year 12 students attended a two-day study excursion at University College, a residential College at the University of Melbourne.  The excursion focused on providing students with a better understanding of university life and supported them to develop the skills and strategies needed to be successful this year and beyond. Students received information on study skills, career pathways, wellbeing information and heard from a range of guest speakers. They participated in sporting and social activities and students also had the opportunity to tour the physical campus of the University of Melbourne or RMIT during this two-day camp. The camp was a tremendous success with students taking advantage of the opportunities to prepare for the year ahead as well as engage socially in an environment other than a classroom, enhancing their interpersonal skills and the overall cohesiveness of the year level. A very big thank you to our Senior School team for leading this very successful program.

 

Valentine’s Day

Congratulations to our VCE- VM students for hosting a fantastic Valentine’s Day lunchtime market on 14 February. Students ran a range of activities and sold Valentines Day themed food and merchandise as part of their personal development projects. Live music, as well as house team activities created a positive atmosphere enabling all students to participate in the day. The Valentine’s Day market was the first of many lunchtime events run by our VCE-VM and Wellbeing Teams to build connectedness at the College and create a positive and engaging school environment. We thank them for their continued support in ensuring a positive culture at our school.

Attendance on being on time

The school is continuing our focus on attendance and punctuality, and all members of our community play a role in supporting students to be on time to school every day. Research shows that high attendance is one of the most crucial factors in ensuring student success. As well as attending school every day, it is critical we teach students to be on time to all their classes.

Being on time matters because:

• It ensures students are prepared for learning and sets them up for success.
• When students are late it disrupts their learning, the teacher’s teaching and the learning of others. Being on time shows students have respect for other people and that they care about other people’s time as much as their own
• It demonstrates that students are diligent and dependable and care about their learning
• It indicates that students honour their commitments and can be trusted
• It sets a good example to others
• It prepares students for success in the real world

Being late just 10 minutes a day adds up to over 17 days of learning across 13 years of school!  Missing one day of school a week, which is equivalent to 80% attendances adds up to missing over 2.5 years of learning across a student’s schooling life. Even a 90% attendance (missing one day a fortnight) adds up to missing 1.5 years of learning across 13 years of school.  That is a lot of missed learning.

Our attendance target is for every student to exceed 90% attendance. It is no coincidence that our most successful Year 12 VCE and VCE-VM students over the last 5 years have all had very high attendance rates. For students and families to find out attendance percentages, talk to your Coordinator or look at your Semester report. We will also be sending out a regular email each term to help you track your attendance and stay above 90%.

If families need support regarding attendance, please reach out to the relevant Coordinator for a meeting, so we can discuss the supports that can be put in place to strengthen attendance and punctuality.

Prepared for Learning Goals

All students at the college are expected to set Learning Goals. These goals can incorporate both academic and wellbeing areas. We know that students need to put several things in place so that they are ready for learning and at the college we value the importance of setting goals.

Why is goal setting important?

• Acknowledges what a student wants to achieve, helping them to drive their behaviour in the long term
• Helps them to build good working habits over time
• Increases thinking and effort around habits leading to higher levels of learning
• Develops a student’s voice in their own learning and work habits
• Helps a student self-regulate their learning habits and behaviours
• Increases belief in a student’s ability to learn, along with their sense of accomplishment

Students in Years 7-9 will be setting goals during their learning manager periods and students in Years 10-12 will be updated on processes at their next assembly. All goals will be recorded on Compass available for parent support and interaction.

NAPLAN

The 2025 National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be administered to students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 from Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March 2025.

All eligible students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN tests. Catch up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days up to and including Monday 25 March 2024.

Support will be arranged for students with additional needs if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks.

Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. You can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is a part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance.

For more information about the tests, please visit the or the NAP website at https://nap.edu.au/home

Whole School Assembly

We held our first whole school assembly to welcome our 2025 Year 7 cohort on Wednesday 12 February.  The morning celebration took place in the covered outdoor teaching space with an audience of approximately 1900 students and staff. At this assembly, we not only welcomed our Year 7 cohort, but also all other new staff and students and their families into the St Albans School Community.  These assemblies are an important part of our school calendar and school traditions.  The assembly provided an opportunity for us to all be together to make connections, especially with our new Year 7s.  The assembly began with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder Aunty Julieanne Axford, who welcomed us to country and gave an overview of the history of traditional culture for our area and surrounds.

 

During proceedings, we celebrated together and acknowledged examples of student leadership and excellence in a range of areas.  We were treated to student and staff musical performances and an overview of the excellent 2024 VCE and VCE VM achievements. Our school Captains Minthu Huynh and Ricardo Vom welcomed our newest students and Benjamin Woods and Chantelle Ngo of Year 7 responded on behalf of the Year 7 Cohort.  The 2025 Year 7 scholarship recipients were introduced and presented with a certificate by the College Principal Mr Craig Jennings and our School Council President, Dr Tracy Nero.

Students were reminded of the Student Recognition Prize, an iPad, awarded at the end of each year to a student from each sub school who exemplifies the school values of Respect, Integrity, Leadership and Excellence; this includes having over 90% attendance and always behaving respectfully and in accordance with expectations.

This was the first of our whole school events for 2025 and we look forward to our next opportunity to come together.  These traditions are what helps to create a school community and certainly support our whole school commitment to Connect, Protect and Respect (CPR).

2025 Swimming Carnival

We will have our Swimming Carnival at Oak Park Aquatic Centre on Wednesday 5 March.  All Year 7 and 8 students and House Captains from other year levels will attend Oak Park Aquatic Centre for this whole day event. Activities will run throughout the day to complement the swimming program and students attending need to be in either school or sports uniform.  This is another of our school events that promotes CPR.  Notices will go out to parents to provide further information regarding the carnival closer to the date but note that parent permission will be required.

 

 

Office Hours

8:15am to 4:15pm

Compass Communication

Any important information will be sent to parents and families via the Compass News Feed.  Parents are asked to ensure that they have access to Compass.

 

 

General Office Payments

Preferred method of payment for School Events and Curriculum Contributions is via the Compass school management system.  Parents will log in to this system using their allocated unique User ID and a temporary password.  Payments can be made through the Action Centre from the home screen.  Please contact the General Office on 9366 2555 should you need further information.

 

 

 

 

ID Cards

Students are reminded that they require their ID cards with them when they present to the front office.

Lost or Damaged Id Cards

• go the ‘Organisation’ menu (grid icon)
• select ‘Identity Cards’.
• in the ‘Orders’ section, click ‘Individual Orders’.
• complete the details to order the card

A payment will be required when placing your order.

When the card arrives, it will need to be activated.  Follow the steps below to activiate the card.

• go the ‘Organisation’ menu (grid icon)
• select ‘Identity Cards’
• click on ‘Individual Activation’
• complete the information on the screen to activate the card.

The office will no longer be taking payment for replacement cards.  Please contact the office on 9366 2555 if you have any queries.

Student Lunches at the General Office

Families are advised that the General Office is unable to accept lunches for student collection.  Please discuss and prepare for a different course of action with your child, should they forget to bring their lunch to school.

If your child has forgotten their lunch at home, parents can leave money in an envelope for their student to collect at the office.  The canteen has an array of choices for your child to purchase their lunch.

College Expectations 

Attendance, Uniform, Punctuality  

We greatly appreciate the support we receive from parents to make sure that your child attends school regularly and punctually, is in full uniform, and is well prepared for all classes with books and equipment.

Attendance  

Students must have a minimum of 90% attendance in all classes at each year level.

Uniform 

Full uniform must be worn to and from school, at school and on all school excursions, including interschool sports.

Punctuality  

Students are expected to be punctual at the start of each day and for all classes. Any student who is late more than 4 times will have a Friday detention from 3:20pm to 5:20pm.

Sustainable School Shop

The Sustainable School Shop website is available to purchase and/or sell second-hand uniforms and used textbooks.

Parents can log in or register at any time at  www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au

When selling items, click the Sell Uniforms button and follow the prompts. Assistance is given to construct your “For Sale” ads including a pricing guide.

To see the ads for items currently on sale or to obtain the seller details, you will need to log-in to the Sustainable School Shop website, click the blue Stocktake button and then click the item you need. Buyers contact the seller directly.

Sellers are asked to delist For Sale Ads as items sell.

Student Absence 

Parents and guardians are now able to leave student absence messages directly with the relevant Sub School.

Follow the telephone prompts to be connected to the Sub School needed.

• Wait for the beep before leaving a message
• State who you are, eg:  I am the parent of ……..  and clearly state your child’s name and home group
• Clearly state the reason for your child’s absence and how long they will be absent for

Please ensure that your message is audible (not on speaker phone) and there is no background noise.

Camps, Sports, Events Fund (CSEF)

Parents with a valid Health Care Card may be eligible to apply for the CSEF.  The CSEF is a yearly payment for each child in the family attending our College.  This payment is to assist with the cost of Camps, Sports and Excursions for your child to attend.

Applications for the 2025 CSEF are now open and will close on Fri 4 July.

State School Relief (SSR)

Should you have a valid Health Care Card and require assistance to purchase school uniform and/or school shoes; you may be eligible for SSR. Health Care Card holders with students enrolled in the VCE VM program may also be eligible for assistance with the purchase of personal protective gear. Please enquire at the General Office.

 

 

Monday, 17 February 2025

08:00AM – 03:15PM Year 8A, 8B & 8C Altona Beach Geography Fieldwork

11:00AM – 12:40PM Senior CPR Ambassador Program

Tuesday, 18 February 2025

08:45AM – 03:15PM Year 8E & 8F Altona Beach Geography Fieldwork

08:55AM – 10:35AM Year 7J St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

11:00AM – 12:40PM Year 7L St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

11:00AM – 12:40PM Year 7M St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

Wednesday, 19 February 2025

08:45AM – 03:15PM Year 8G & 8K St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

08:55AM – 10:35AM Year 7F St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 7H Strathbogie Camp

11:00AM – 12:40PM Year 7I St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

06:00PM – 07:30PM Year 12 VCE / VCE VM Careers Information Night (Performing Arts Centre)

Thursday, 20 February 2025

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 7H Strathbogie Camp

08:45AM – 03:15PM Year 8D & 8H Altona Beach Geography Fieldwork

08:55AM – 10:35AM Year 7A St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

01:20PM – 03:10PM Year 7B St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

01:20PM – 03:10PM Year 7G St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

01:20PM – 03:10PM Year 7D St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

Friday, 21 February 2025
08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 7H Strathbogie Camp

08:45AM – 03:15PM Year 8J & 8I Altona Beach Geography Fieldwork

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 9 Funfields Team Building Day

12:40PM – 03:10PM Year 7K St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

01:30PM – 03:10PM Year 7C St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

Monday, 24 February 2025
08:55AM – 09:45AM Year 7 Assembly

09:45AM – 10:35AM Year 8 Assembly

11:00AM – 11:50AM Year 10 Assembly

11:50AM – 12:40PM Year 11 Assembly

11:50AM – 02:00PM Year 7H St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

01:30PM – 02:20PM Year 9 Assembly

02:20PM – 03:10PM Year 12 Assembly

03:30PM – 04:30PM Year 11 Maths Methods Assessment Task

Tuesday, 25 February 2025

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 9 Advance Warrnambool Camp

11:00AM – 12:40PM Year 7E St Albans Geography Fieldwork Walk

06:00PM – 07:30PM Year 7 Expo Evening

Wednesday, 26 February 2025

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 9 Advance Warrnambool Camp

11:50AM – 12:40PM Ganbu Gulin Program

Thursday, 27 February 2025

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 9 Advance Warrnambool Camp

Friday, 28 February 2025

08:15AM – 03:00PM Intermediate Boys Baseball

08:15AM – 03:00PM Intermediate Girls Softball

08:15AM – 03:00PM Senior Boys Baseball

08:15AM – 03:00PM Senior Girls Softball

08:55AM – 10:35AM Senior – CPR Ambassador Program

Monday, 3 March 2025

All Day – Yr 12 VCE & VCE VM Focus Days

Wednesday, 5 March 2025

08:15AM – 03:00PM Year 7 & 8 Swimming Carnival

08:15AM – 03:00PM Senior Girls Volleyball

08:55AM – 03:00PM Year 10-12 House Captains Swimming Carnival

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 9 Advance Students Swimming Carnival

11:50AM – 12:40PM Ganbu Gulin Program

06:00PM – 07:30PM Year 11 VCE / VCE VM Parent Information Evening

Monday, 10 March 2025

All Day – Labour Day Public Holiday (Student Free Day)

Wednesday, 12 March 2025

All Day – Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN

11:50AM – 12:40PM Ganbu Gulin Program

Thursday, 13 March 2025

All Day – Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN

08:30AM – 03:00PM Year 11 Psychology Melbourne Zoo Field Trip

Friday, 14 March 2025

All Day – Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN

Monday, 17 March 2025

All Day – Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN

01:30PM – 03:10PM Senior – CPR Ambassador Program

Tuesday, 18 March 2025

All Day – Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN

08:30AM – 03:15PM Year 12 Biology GTAC Excursion (Creating Human Insulin) – Selected Classes

03:30PM – 04:30PM Year 12 History Revolutions (After School Class)

Grade 6 Parent Evening (Time – To Be Advised)

Wednesday, 19 March 2025

All Day – Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN

08:30AM – 03:15PM Year 12 Biology GTAC Excursion (Creating Human Insulin) – Selected Classes

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 7J Strathbogie Camp

11:50AM – 12:40PM Ganbu Gulin Program

Thursday, 20 March 2025

All Day – Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 7J Strathbogie Camp

Friday, 21 March 2025

All Day – Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN

All Day – T1 Progress Reports Available on Compass

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 7J Strathbogie Camp

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 11 Lady Northcote Team Building Day

 Zoe Austin

Hi, my name is Zoe and I am extremely excited to be joining St Albans Secondary College as an Inclusion Support Coordinator! I have lots of years of experience in education and childcare. I’ve worked as a nanny, a before and after school care coordinator, a teacher’s aide, and now my current role in the Inclusion Team. I’m passionate about inclusive education and have a real interest in neuro-affirming approaches.

I grew up in country NSW, lived in London for 2 years, and have called Melbourne home for the last 5 years. I love dogs and birds and spend my spare time reading and listening to music.

I look forward to meeting you all!

 

 

 

Matthew Siddall

Hi, my name is Matt, and I have commenced teaching Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design at St Albans Secondary College at the start of the 2025 school year. I am new to teaching, following the completion of a Masters in Teaching Practice (Secondary) at RMIT University at the end of 2024.

I have worked in a diverse array of roles: I have curated art exhibitions through an emerging curatorial and writing practice; marketing and accessibility coordination for a youth theatre company; programming and marketing for a history museum; hospitality work in cafes; volunteering for artist-run initiatives, and more.

In my downtime I enjoy reading, spending time in parks and nature, exercising, bike riding, watching movies and cooking. I am excited to meet you all.

 

 

John Fenech

Hi, my name is John Fenech, and I am the newest member of the Maintenance Team at St Albans Secondary. I have been a tradesman for over 40 years and look forward to using the skills I have learnt to benefit our school.

I enjoy spending time with my grandkids, gardening and tackling home renovation projects. I’m excited to meet you all, if you see me out in the yard be sure to say hello!

 

 

 

 

Tia Altschwager

Hi everyone,

My name is Tia Altschwager and I am a new humanities teacher at St Albans Secondary College. I am incredibly passionate about teaching humanities and see it as a way to engage with our local, national and international communities.

Outside of teaching I love to travel and have been very fortunate to have visited over 20 countries. My goal in the next 3 years is to add on another 10 countries.

I am looking forward to meeting and working with you all.

 

 

Vivian Le Nguyen

Hi everyone, my name is Vivian, and I’m the full time receptionist at St Albans Secondary College.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in nature, discovering new TV shows and staying active. I also co-own a lash business with my sister, which has been running for nearly 5 years.

I’m looking forward to meeting and working with everyone. Feel free to come past and say hello!

 

 

 

Bridie Laffey

My name is Bridie Laffey, and I am an English and Humanities teacher. In my view education consists of supporting students to develop ‘growth mindsets’ so that they can learn from failure and hopefully always see the ‘next step’.

From my experience working in welfare, I have observed how valuable education is; how it can be relied upon in times of disadvantage, and how it can be continually cultivated.

In my spare time I love Persian recipes, cricket and poetry.

 

 

 

 

Samuel McClure

My name is Sam McClure, I am joining the science teaching team at St Albans SC in 2025. After spending some time at a range of different schools last year as a CRT, my experience at SASC left me eager to join the team in a full time role.

I grew up in a very samll town in rural Western Victoria before moving to Ballarat for study. After teaching VCE Biology and Psychology at a small school near Ballarat for 3 years I have moved to Melbourne. I specialise in Science, particularly Biology. My teaching highlight has been running a general science elective where we built fully functioning electric guitars!

In my spare time I enjoy reading, trying new food spots, playing guitar, walking my dog and catching up with my friends.

I look forward to being a part of the SASC community!

 

 

 

Kalisha Ratnayake

Dear St. Albans Secondary College Community,

My name is Kalisha, and I am thrilled to be joining St. Albans Secondary College this year,
where I’ll be teaching Year 7 Literacy, and 8 and 9 English.

St. Albans Secondary College holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first school
where I completed my teaching placement nine years ago. Since then, I’ve worked in various schools,
particularly in the local area, as well as in Craigieburn and Melton.

I’m passionate about storytelling, creative and critical thinking, and love helping students connect with texts, people, and the world around them.
My goal is to inspire all students to reach their full potential, become the best version of themselves, and achieve lifelong success.

Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, and I have a soft spot for animals—especially dogs!
I also love painting and cooking in my free time.

I’m excited to get to know the SASC community and look forward to meeting all of you.
Please feel free to say hello or share a book recommendation with me—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

 

 

Michelle Ruberto

Hi, my name is Michelle, I’ve been part of the SASC community now for several weeks and I would just like to say how grateful I am to be working in such a wonderful environment.

I am the new Finance Manager at the school and part of the amazing Administration Team. Before my appointment here I was at University High School for 16 years and was their Finance Manager for the last 5 years.

My experience has always been in Finance from Banking to the Motor Industry.

When I’m not at work I enjoy family time at the beach, travelling, cooking, and dining out.

I look forward to meeting and working with you all in 2025.

 

 

Thomas Benjamin

Hello there! My name is Tom Benjamin, and I’ve had the pleasure of joining the English faculty this year at St Albans.

I’ve been teaching for several years in Melbourne’s western suburbs and enjoy watching the students grow in their confidence and skills with their reading and writing.

I strongly believe that literacy is a skill that helps in all aspects of our lives, no matter the path we decide on.

I’m looking forward to getting to know the school community and starting my teaching here at this school!

 

 

 

Josh Bramham

My name is Josh and I’m excited to be joining SASC this year. I will be a part of the English and Humanities teams and am excited to be involved in this community. Previously, I have taught in a number of schools around Melbourne.

In my spare time I love to play basketball and spend time with my son. I also enjoy reading, travel and completing escape rooms.

I look forward to meeting you all.

 

 

 

 

Maxine Nguyen

Hi there, my name is Ms Maxine Nguyen, and I am thrilled to join the teaching team at St Albans Secondary College this year.  This year will be my 6th year in the teaching profession.  I have a huge passion for helping students discover their full potential.

Outside the classroom, i enjoy hiking, reading, and spending time with my family and friends.

I am looking forward to creating a positive and engaging learning environment for all my students here at St Albans Secondary College.

 

 

 

 

Tristan Asta

My name is Tristan. I’m over the moon to be joining the PE team at St Albans secondary College. I am a new teacher only having one year of experience as a PTT teacher at Taylors Lakes secondary College and I’m very excited to learn all I can from this amazing school.

 I love spending my time in the garden at home or training at the gym.

I’m a massive sports fan following Essendon and Arsenal and also enjoy watching anime. I look forward to getting to as many activities as I can at school and getting to know everyone.

 

 

 

 

The new Year 7s have made an excellent start to St Albans Secondary School. The first day was jam packed with activities to show case the school. The students were very quiet and respectful when they met for their first-year level assembly.  At that time, they gained some knowledge of the behaviour expectations of the school, as well as details of how the school was managed.  In addition, there was an afternoon of sports and team building activities so that the new students could meet all their new classmates.  It was great to see so many students catching up with old friends from primary school as well as making new friends.

All the Year 7 classes will be undertaking a walking tour of St Albans as part of their Humanities studies.  This is an opportunity to get to know the local neighbourhood and understand what facilities are available to residents and visitors alike.

All Junior School students have the privilege of attending a class camp at our Strathbogie campus.  This 3-day excursion involves travelling by bus to Strathbogie, approximately 2 hours from here.  Whilst on camp they will take part in activities such as canoeing and archery.  The students will assist with food preparation and other chores around the campsite.  Most classes climb nearby Mt Wombat, as well as visit a local farm to meet with some animals.  More than anything it is a terrific opportunity to get to know one another, as well as developing a rapport with teaching staff whilst outside the classroom.

Our Junior School students Benjamin Wood and Chantelle Ngo spoke beautifully in front of almost 2,000 people at the recent Whole School Assembly.  The students expressed thanks for the welcome that they have received at SASC as well as a note on their aspirations for their time at school.  They also wished our Year 12 cohort all the best for their big year of study in 2025.

The upcoming Year 7 Expo is a very important event on the school calendar.  This is a chance for family and carers of our students to come onto the campus and view some of the schoolwork that is being done.  You will have a chance to meet with core teaching staff and get to know the school a bit better.  Additionally, family members will work with their students to actually do a bit of the schoolwork, for each core subject.  Please note that this is scheduled for 6pm on 25 February.  We look forward to welcoming you all on this day.

Could we ask that all parents, carers and guardians assist their child/ren with setting a regular bedtime and sleep routine.  Getting a good night’s sleep is the single best way to improve academic outcomes.  We would expect that phones and other devices are turned off at least half an hour before sleep and students are getting at least 8 hours of quality sleep every night.  Thank you for your assistance.

 

Mr Craig Moore – Junior Sub School Leader

On behalf of the Middle School Team, I’d like to welcome back all Year 9 and 10 students and extend our welcome to all new members of the St Albans Secondary College community. Year 9 students have made an excellent start to the year as they transition from the Junior School.

Our theme in the Middle School this term is Together Everyone Achieves More, or TEAM, which was introduced at the year level assemblies. TEAM means we can all have a role in creating a safe and positive learning environment, inside the classroom and in our school yard to be successful.

Our Middle School students have an exciting month ahead, beginning with the Morrisby Career testing and counselling commencing for Year 9 students in week 3. The counselling sessions support students to identify their strengths and suggest possible pathways and future careers. This will enable students to make more informed decisions about their subjects and work experience in Year 10.

You can learn more about the Morrisby Program at https://www.morrisby.com/

 

Middle School students can apply for leadership positions this term, including Class Captain, CPR Ambassador and SRC. Interviews will occur over the coming weeks and successful applicants announced shortly after.

The Middle School congratulates Year 9 and 10 students on a strong start to the year.

 

Mr Andrei Alexandrescu – Assistant Middle Sub School Leader

 

We would like to warmly welcome all Year 11 and 12 students and their parents/guardians to the Senior Sub School for 2025.

We would like to especially welcome the following students who have recently enrolled in the Senior Sub School:

• Annie Ho
• Kadiatu Konneh
• Nha Thanh Truc Le
• Thanh Hung (Henry) Le
• Duc (Trung)Nguyen
• Thi Thuy Duong Nguyen
• Dat Pham
• Luca Simmonds
• Nguyen An Thinh Thai
• Van (Victoria) Trinh
• Saige Yeo

 

We wish them a smooth transition and every success at our College.

We would also like to welcome Mr. Sean Ryan and Mr. Sam McCall to our Senior Sub School. We are excited to have them join our team and look forward to the contributions they will make to the Senior Sub School.

Our senior students have had an excellent start to the new school year. They have attended on time and in full school uniform.

Our teachers report that students have engaged well in all their classes, participating with enthusiasm, and setting a positive tone for the year ahead.

Our Year 12 Parent Information Evening was held on Wednesday 19 February 2025. Thank you to all parents and students who attended a very informative evening, which focused on providing information about VCAA requirements and strategies to support their child in their final year of secondary school. The Year 11 Parent Information evening will run in a fortnight, on Wednesday 5 March, starting at 6:00pm.

The Year 12 Focus Days were held last week on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 February at University College on the grounds of the University of Melbourne, Parkville. The students enjoyed the sunshine as they participated in team building outdoor activities at Princes Park. The VCE and VCE VM students experienced a variety of presentations from guest speakers, including Grace and Maddy from Elevate, who presented an informative session on study skills.  Mr Jennings, our College Principal, continued the St Albans Secondary College tradition of reading the Dr. Seuss classic, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” to the Year 12 students. On the second day, students attended a Melbourne University tour or RMIT University visit and were treated to a movie at Melbourne Central. Overall, they had a great time working together and connecting outside of school. The students are to be commended on their enthusiasm, excellent behaviour and the way they conducted themselves across the two days.

 

We have a very active and committed group of students working with our SRC this year. The School Captains for this year are Minhthu Huynh and Ricardo Vom, and they are supported by the rest of the Leadership team, Talia Bui, Haily Le, Vanessa Ngo, Tiana Stepanovski and Ethan Shaw. We are in the process of selecting Year 11 SRC representatives. We would like to congratulate our student leaders for representing our student body and look forward to working with them.

We have a team-building day planned for the Year 11 students this term. We are taking the cohort to Lady Northcote on Friday 21 March 2025, where they will be involved in a variety of team building activities lead by experienced staff. We will also be hosting our traditional ‘Soccer Challenge’ on the last day of Term 1, Friday 4 April 2025. Students are already making predictions about which team will win!

The Year 12 Enrichment programs will also run again this year, as will the compulsory mid-year and September holiday practice exams for all Year 12 VCE students intending to complete their external exams.

Throughout the year, we will conduct our Case Management to ensure that the attendance, achievement and individual needs of all our students are monitored closely.

Progress Reports for all Year 11 and Year 12 students will be available to families through the Parent Portal on Friday 21 and 28 of March 2025, respectively.

Parents/guardians will also have the opportunity to speak to teachers on Wednesday 2 April 2025 during the Parent Teacher Interviews.

The coordinators look forward to a fast-paced year in the Senior Sub-School and hope to meet many parents/carers of our senior students as the year progresses.

Below are the Year Level Coordinators and homegroups they will be overseeing:

• Marlene Cassar – 11B (D-G) & 11V and 12B (D-G)
• Laura Gough – 11A (A-C), 11Y, 12A (A-C) and 12W
• Robert Krysinski – 11G (S-Z) and 12G (S-Z)
• Matthew Olthof – 11C (H-K), 12C (H-K) and 12X
• Kiran Pannu – 11D (L-M) and 12D (L-M)
• Sean Ryan – 11E (N), 11W and 12E (N)
• Anna Woods – 11F(O-R), 11X, 12F(O-R) and 12V

We invite parents to contact us on 9366 2555 if they have any queries or concerns about the progress of their child or sub school events.

We would like to remind families to check Compass regularly for Senior Sub School notices and events. We look forward to working in partnership with families and keeping the community updated on Senior Sub School events during the year.

VCE VM

The year has started well with students eager to begin their new VET courses and finalising their work placements. We have many industries being explored this year with students involved in a range of VET placements from Hospitality, Building and Construction, Fashion, Community services, Hair and Beauty and Music to name a few.

Year 12 VCE VM students delighted the school community with Valentine’s Day lunchtime activities on Friday the 14 February. Students worked extremely hard over a short time frame to entertain students with a barbeque, sweets, drinks, Valentines Day merchandise and more. The purpose of the event was to celebrate all kinds of love in our community.

Fresh and chocolate roses were also available for sale. Students participated in a raffle to win a Valentine’s Day hamper, listened to music and enjoyed the activities.

The proceeds from the Valentines’ Day event will go towards the VCE VM program to fund project resources.

Lots of community events are planned for our VCE VM students this year and we will keep you informed as activities take place.

 

Ms Marlene Cassar – Senior Sub School Leader

 

School Saving Bonus Reminder

Parents and Guardians are reminded that the allocation of the one off $400 School Saving Bonus payment is well underway.  The SSB helps families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions and camps and is provided to each child in the family enrolled at a government school.

Parents have had access to the SSB portal since November 2024 and have been able to nominate how the funds can be used.

This reminder is for those that have not accessed the SSB portal yet.  Please check your email for communication from the Department of Education dating back to November 2024 (including SPAM folders).  This email will provide you with a code/s (one code per student) and instructions on how to use the funds.

The SSB portal will not be available after 30 June 2025. Any funds remaining in the system after this date will go to the family account at the school to be used for school excursions and camps only.

Aids

To learn more about the SSB online system you can:

• download the step-by-step System guide for parents and carers (DOCX, 945KB)
• watch this School Saving Bonus video.
• Access the  System guide translationswhich are available in various languages.

Access to the SSB Portal

If you have your code/s and you would like to access the SSB portal, please click on the following link:

• School Saving Bonus online system

Recent Enrolments or Transfers

If you have only recently completed your enrolment into the Victorian government school system you can expect to receive your SSB code(s) in the coming weeks.

If you have transferred to our school from another Victorian government school, any remaining funds on your SSB code(s) will soon be available to use at our school.  You are advised to check your emails for further communication from the Department of Education.

Support

A dedicated contact centre has been established for the SSB and can be reached by:

• completing the School Saving Bonus enquiry form
• calling 1800 338 663, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm on weekdays.

 

 

We are excited to announce that the MAC Production for 2025 is …………………..

 

 

 

Stay tuned for updates on our website and future newsletters!

 

Year 9 Advance Class Embarks on the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

The Year 9 Advance Class has officially embarked on an exciting journey as they begin their Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for Bronze. This marks the start of a rewarding program that will challenge students to develop new skills, build resilience, and embrace adventure.

One of the first skills students are honing is tent pitching, an essential skill for their upcoming camp in Warrnambool in Week 5. Practicing how to set up a tent properly ensures they are well-prepared for outdoor living and teamwork during their expedition. This hands-on experience is already proving to be a valuable learning opportunity, fostering collaboration and problem-solving skills among the group.

In addition to their expedition training, students have been diligently setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals for the different aspects of the Award. For their Physical Recreation component, they have chosen activities that challenge them physically, encouraging fitness and perseverance. Their Skills section is focused on personal development, with students selecting new hobbies and interests to refine over time. Meanwhile, the Voluntary Service component sees them giving back to the community in meaningful ways, reinforcing the values of leadership and responsibility.

With a strong start to the year, the Advance Class is looking forward to 2025 with enthusiasm. As they work towards achieving their Bronze Award, they are building not only valuable life skills but also lasting memories. Stay tuned for more updates on their journey!

 

 

Mr David Dang – Advance Program Coordinator

 

Curious Minds

‘During our time in Canberra for the Curious Minds program, we were exposed to many different aspects of STEM, both in the Australian National University and around the city. We did many ‘Supercharge Sessions’ where we learned about specific topics from people who specialise in the field. These include physics, biology, earth and environmental science, chemistry, and engineering. Along with this, we explored many of Canberra’s famous STEM sites, including Mt. Stromlo Observatory, Questacon, and toured a Geophysics research lab in ANU. We also got to meet so many amazing people and make many new friends with like-minded people from across Australia, as well as meeting our mentors who will give us individual support in STEM over the next 6 months. This opportunity is something that we appreciate so much and will certainly remember, and is definitely something we recommend fellow SASC students to talk to their science teachers about getting involved in.’ – Mikayla HUYNH, Erica SHAW & Gemma TRAN

 

 

Ms Angela Hanley – Science

 

Celebrating Excellence: Mia Costa Awarded Prestigious AMSI Yuille-Umbers Scholarship

St Albans Secondary College is proud to announce that Year 10 (2024) student Mia Costa has been awarded the prestigious AMSI Yuille-Umbers Female High School Scholarship. This scholarship, aimed at supporting and mentoring female students in Victoria undertaking Specialist Mathematics in Years 11 and 12, recognizes Mia’s exceptional dedication and passion for mathematics. As one of only four students statewide to receive this honour, Mia will benefit from financial support, mentorship from leading mathematics experts, and opportunities to participate in AMSI programs and events. We congratulate Mia on this outstanding achievement and look forward to supporting her continued success in her mathematical studies.

Click here to view the AMSI Foundation report.

Click here to view the female scholars’ profiles.

 

Mr Emmanuel Selvarajah – Math Teacher

 

VHAP Masterclass at St Albans Secondary College

On Thursday 12 December 2024, students from our local schools descended on St Albans Secondary College to take part in our Semester 2 VHAP Masterclass. The VHAP Masterclass is a celebration of all the learning that has happened through the Department of Education’s High-Ability Program, where students engage in online learning classes that extend them in Mathematics and English.

We had representatives from Keilor Downs College, Taylors Lakes Secondary College, and Victoria University Secondary College, all coming to share their thinking and meet their peers from the course. Students took part in Maths or English workshops depending on their VHAP subject that semester.

In Maths, students engaged in a series of Maths challenges and games, including a very popular ‘Zombie’ challenge, a ‘sequences’ group activity, and research on a famous mathematician. In English, students drew on their knowledge of dystopias to debate big ideas and ultimately create and present their perfect utopia. They worked in mixed school groups to facilitate collaboration and to build connections with their peers. Prizes were awarded for the winners of the challenges, as well as for great contributions and participation.

Students had a great time, with all of their feedback highlighting the engaging activities, meeting new people, and having a lot of fun (and pizza) throughout the day!

 

 

Ms Amy Le – Learning Specialist for Student Agency | High Ability Practice Leader | English and Humanities Teacher

 

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BioEYES & Science Incursion

 

On the 5 and 12 of December 2024, Year 7 and 8 students with an aptitude for Science were invited to take part in Monash University’s Bioeyes+ incursion. This incursion spanned 4 workshops across the two days, ably run by the Bioeyes+ facilitators.  Many thanks to our staff supervisors Amanda Winkworth, Myers Nguyen, and Angela Hanley, without whom this event could not have run.

In these sessions, students were exposed to cutting-edge scientific concepts such as developmental biology, stem cells, and regenerative medicine. Using live zebrafish, students learned about the different stages of the life cycle, including their transparent eggs, larval fish, and adult stages. Through this, students developed their understanding of the importance of habitats, genetics, stem cells, and ethics.

Here are a selection of photographs and student feedback from the day:

“I would recommend this workshop to others because it’s a fun experience overall. It’s interesting and requires you to think and work together with others.” (Year 8)

“I definitely would recommend this workshop, especially to students who enjoy biology and seeing animals.” (Year 7)

“I loved the freedom we had to learn and explore the topic. It was also engaging and fun to do.” (Year 8)

“I was able to take away a lot of information from this workshop.” (Year 7)

“During this workshop, the thing that I enjoyed the most was the fact that everything was not only informative, but it was engaging and interactive at the same time.” (Year 8)

 

 

Ms Amy Le – Learning Specialist for Student Agency | High Ability Practice Leader | English and Humanities Teacher

 

Our woodworking classes place a strong emphasis on basic safety to ensure that every student understands the importance of maintaining a safe working environment. Given the nature of woodworking, where students handle sharp tools and power machinery, we prioritize safety protocols from the very start. This foundational focus on safety helps prevent accidents and encourages responsible tool usage.

Students are introduced to essential safety rules, which include proper handling and maintenance of tools, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) like goggles, ear protection, and dust masks, and understanding the hazards associated with specific tools.

Safety isn’t just a one-time lesson; it’s an ongoing conversation throughout the course. As students’ progress, they continue to revisit safety practices to reinforce their understanding and adapt to new tools and techniques. This commitment to safety creates a culture of awareness where students are not only prepared to use woodworking tools effectively but also responsibly

Connect with Us

For any questions, suggestions, or if you need assistance, please feel free to reach out:

• Email: alumni@stalbanssc.vic.edu.au
• Phone: 9366 2555
• Office Hours: Tues & Wed 8:30am – 4:15pm

 

Ms Nicole Gurd – Alumni Program Leader

The 2025 Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival will take place 13 – 22 March 2025 at various venues across Brimbank.

All events are free, but bookings are essential.

This year, Amra Pajalic, an English teacher here at St Albans Secondary College will be taking part in some of the events.  Congratulations to Amra.

Click here to view the Brimbank Writers & Readers Festival poster.

Click here to view a list of all the festival events.