Alba Newsletter – December 2023

 

Farewell to Staff

This year we are saying farewell to a number of staff. These staff are taking 12 months leave, Chiemi Shepherd, Peta Burgess, Mark Micallef and Andrew McCarter. We wish them well for next year, look forward to their return in 2025.

We also say goodbye and thank you to Paul Gleeson and Louise Talevska who are leaving the Tutor Learning Initiative.

Edgar Lemnos, Alicia DeSouza, Clara Campbell, Tom Dawson, Julian Swan, Marty Conboy and Heidi Seltman are moving on to other things next year. Thank you to them all for their work and support of our students.

Becky Annetts and Louis Turner have successfully gained promotion positions, as Assistant Principals. Congratulations and good luck at your new schools.

Stewart Fraser and Cameron Beale are both retiring from teaching. We wish you both all the best in the next stages of your lives.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Lauren Morrison and Ray on the birth of Sebastian Alexander Chera Paran.

Both mother and son doing well.

Works Update

The re-blocking and other maintenance work is continuing. It should be completed by the time we return next year.

VCE Results

Congratulations to our Year 12 VCE students for 2023 who received their results this week. The results were very strong and many students achieved above what they expected.

This year 18 students, or 15% of students, achieved an ATAR over 90; and 45 students, or 37% achieved an ATAR result over 80.

Congratulations to Kathleen Phan, who achieved an ATAR of 97.85 with three study scores over 40 making up her impressive exam results. She was in good company with a total of 5 students (including Stella Xie, Meera Mansukhani and Jennifer To) achieving ATAR results over 97. Kathleen has also already been offered a Narm scholarship from University of Melbourne.

 

Over Median Study Score, has remained strong at 31, a fantastic achievement and 7.8% of study scores were over 40. This  year we also had 2 perfect study scores of 50, achieved by Year 11 student Kelly Lam for General Maths and Biology.

As always, success for each individual student can mean many different things, and we congratulate all those students who have had to overcome adversity to get to this point. We offer all of our Year 12 students our heartfelt congratulations for their hard work over their schooling journey. We would also like to acknowledge and thank the hard work of our staff at our school who work so tirelessly to support our students and community achieve these impressive results.

We encourage all Year 12 students to utilise the support offered through the Careers Team to help them with the VTAC change of preference process and to support them achieve the most appropriate pathway for 2024.

NAPLAN Recognition

ACARA recognised the College as a high-performing NAPLAN school. We are one of only two secondary colleges in the West to receive this recognition. Our excellent results are due to the hard work of our staff, and the dedication to their studies by our students. 

Well done to our entire school community!

Yr 10 Formal

The Year 10 formal, hosted at Ultima Reception Centre on 8 December, was a delightful celebration. With 200 attendees, including students and staff, it marked a memorable conclusion to the year. This event holds particular importance for Year 10 students, signifying a significant milestone, and we’re incredibly proud of their achievements throughout the year. The conduct displayed by all students during the evening was outstanding, and we extend our gratitude for their enthusiasm and active involvement. A special thank you to the Middle Sub School Team whose efforts made this event possible. It truly served as a positive conclusion to the year.

Year 7 and 8 Activities week – A Celebratory End to 2023 with a Future Focus

This year the activities week program, run during this last week of term, ran a bit differently.  Students in Years 7 and 8 took part in a range of activities focused on what they imagined the school could be like in 100 years. The program also included the department of education careers planning modules, Year level awards ceremonies and a concert showcasing performances from students and ending with a performance by the staff band.  Well done to all our Year 7 and 8 students who so enthusiastically took part in the activities and congratulations to the team of staff for the creative program they prepared overseen by Avril Goode and Amy Lee.  Special thanks goes to the Junior Sub School for their efforts throughout this action packed week for all our Year 7 and 8 students.

Interact Club

Congratulations to the Interact Club for a very successful year in 2023. We completed both our local and International Projects.  We again worked with the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre, this year assisting with a bike education program run with local primary schools. The Club purchased and built solar lights for students in disadvantaged communities to allow them to be able to read and continue their studies during the evenings. The lights were then sent to the student community, each with an individualised accompanying letter for the recipient student, written by the student at our school who put the light together.

We had our annual official event for the changeover of the office bearers on Monday 20 November where we thanked the outgoing executive team of:

• President – Minhthu Huynh Year 10
• Vice President – Kristijan Stanojoski Year 10
• Secretary – Stephanie Truong Year 9
• Treasurer – Julien Kanwar Year 9
• Public Relations – Talia Bui Year 10
• Project Coordinator/Creative Director – Bao Nguyen Year 10

…and welcomed our new Executive Team going in to 2024 of:

• President – Salli Li Year 11
• Vice President – Rahima Muradi Year 10
• Secretary – Jennifer Le Year 11
• Treasurer – Aiden Duong Le Year 10
• Public Relations – Kelly Lam Year 11
• Project Coordinator – Minhthu Huynh Year 10

Western Chances Scholarships

We have again had a very successful partnership year with Western Chances. Our school had 61 scholarship recipients who collectively received $56,700.  This can be used for the purchase of mykis, textbooks, stationery and other resources as well as internet access.  We value this program and partnership greatly and thank those staff who assist with applications or putting the names of students forward. Particular thanks and appreciation to Marion Mortimer for her oversight of the program and follow up with individual students and families. She is a wonderful advocate for our students and has tirelessly worked to ensure recipients make full use of available funds. Thank you also to Loan Pham, our finance manager, for all the work she does completing the documentation and acquittal for the scholarship process.

A snapshot of information about Western Chances can be found in the infographic in the following pages.

Arrangements for the start of the 2024 School Year

Students will commence school next year on the following dates:

• Tuesday 30 January – Year 7, Year 10 and Years 11 and 12 VCE students
• Wednesday 31 January – Year 8, Year 9 and Years 11 and 12 VCE VM students

Holiday Wishes

Finally, we would like to thank everyone for their support this year, and wish you all a happy and safe holiday period.

See you in 2024!

 

 

 

 

General 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 2024 are now open.  Click here to access the 2024 CSEF application from.  The form will need to be printed, completed, and returned to the school.

There is now an application from available for students that are over the age of 16 and are holders of their own Health Care Card.  Click here to access the 2024 CSEF application form for students aged 16 years and over.

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 VCAL program may also be eligible for assistance with the purchase of personal protective gear. Please enquire at the General Office.

 

 

Thursday, 14 December 2023

All Day Year 7 & 8 Activities

Friday, 15 December 2023

All Day Year 7 & 8 Activities

Monday, 18 December 2023

All Day Year 7 & 8 Activities

01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 7 & 8 Concert

Tuesday, 19 December 2023

All Day Year 7 & 8 Activities (Last Day – Dismissed at 12:40PM)

08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 7 Assembly

11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 8 Assembly

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Tuesday, 30 January 2024

All Day – Return to School Yr 7, 10, 11 VCE & 12 VCE

Wednesday, 31 January 2024

All Day – Return to School Yr 8, 9, 11 VCE VM & 12 VCE VM

Monday, 5 February 2024

All Day – School Photo Day

07:45AM – 03:00PM Year 12 Melbourne University Study Camp

Tuesday, 6 February 2024

07:45AM – 03:00PM Year 12 Melbourne University Study Camp

Wednesday, 7 February 2024

08:30AM – 03:15PM Yr 9 ADVANCE Program – Strathbogie Camp

Thursday, 8 February 2024

08:30AM – 03:15PM Yr 9 ADVANCE Program – Strathbogie Camp

Friday, 9 February 2024

08:30AM – 03:15PM Yr 9 ADVANCE Program – Strathbogie Camp

08:55AM – 10:35AM Whole School Assembly

Tuesday, 13 February 2024

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 9 Morrisby Careers Program (Stage 1)

Wednesday, 14 February 2024

12:40PM – 01:30PM VCE VM Lunchtime Activities (Valentines Day)

Friday, 16 February 2024

All Day School Photos (Catch Up Day)

Monday, 19 February 2024

09:00AM – 10:00AM Yr 9 Morrisby Careers Program Test Session (Stage 2)

Tuesday, 20 February 2024

09:00AM – 10:00AM Yr 9 Morrisby Careers Program Test Session (Stage 2)

Wednesday, 21 February 2024

09:00AM – 10:00AM Yr 9 Morrisby Careers Program Test Session (Stage 2)

06:00PM – 07:30PM Yr 12 VCE & Yr 12 VCE VM Parent Information Night

 

It has been a busy time of the year in Junior School and students have been working hard to get their best results and to complete assessments for reports.  Junior School students have been involved in lots of activities around the school and students have had a wonderful year in the Junior School. The last week of the term was a nice way to spend with friends and classmates participating in a variety of activities in classes. All students and staff had a wonderful end of year.

Year 8 Students completed the term by attending camps with their classes before moving in to Middle School. 

Year 8 also attended the Indigenous Science Excursion in the City whereby students learned about how Indigenous people used science in everyday life and compared the sustainability of past practises with current ones. They also attended the Dark Matters exhibition and explored the fundamental essence of life and the universe and how much of it remains unknown to us. 

Year 7 students also competed in the Year 7 Futsal, Softball and Baseball Competitions and proudly represented the school. Well done to our representatives!

End of Year Awards and Concert

The End of Year Awards were held on Tuesday 19 December. Congratulations to all students who received awards on the day. Your efforts were amazing this year and you should all be proud of your achievements. The concert was an exciting way to end the busy year with students and staff performing for everyone. It was a great way to end the term.

 

Thank You

The Junior Sub School would like to thank our wonderful students and their families for working with us this year. We have a new team starting in 2024 that are all looking forward to working with our incoming Year 7 and 8 students and their parents.  Mr Moore will Lead the Junior Sub School and Mr Beagley will be Assistant Sub School leader. Thanks to staff for their support and hard work with the Junior Team over the year. We look forward to working with our new families in 2024. 

 

We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday.

See you in 2024.

 

 

 

Ms Lauren Honeycombe – Junior Sub School Leader

 

As we approach the end of the school year, students in Year 10 and accelerated Year 9 students have been involved in the VCE orientation program to prepare them for their studies next year. In the final assemblies of the year, students’ achievements and successes were recognised and celebrated, and there were a number of exceptional music and dance performances.

 Year 9

The final Year 9 assembly of the year took place on Wednesday the 13 December. It was great to see so many students recognised for their positive contributions to the school, their academic achievements and efforts, and their attendance and punctuality.

In the afternoon, the annual Dance Celebration took place. It was great to see so many students displaying their talents in a number of different dance styles and genres, as well as engaging in games and competitions. A huge thank you to Ms Tania Segura for her work in leading the organisation of the afternoon.

 Year 10

Our Year 10 students have undertaken orientation to VCE and VCE VM following the end of semester exams. This has been an opportunity for students to experience Year 11 prior to formally beginning in 2024.

The VCE VM orientation program ran in school from Thursday 30 November to Friday 1 December with students being introduced to the Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development and Work Related Learning subject areas. The attendance throughout this was very good and it has set a great standard for Year 11 next year.

From Thursday 30 November, Year 10 students who will study VCE in 2024 took part in a week’s worth of VCE orientation classes. Students were provided with an outline of the curriculum and VCAA assessments as well as introductory learning activities and tasks for independent study over the summer holidays.

The final Year 10 assembly was a celebration of the cohort’s achievements with numerous awards handed out and a lot for the students to be proud of. The assembly featured music and dance performances as well as some thank you speeches. Students received awards for their academic achievements and efforts, as well as for their leadership roles, Drama Club and investment portfolios in personal financial management.

The Sub School team thanked Ms Ashwini Mana Mohan and Ms Emily Dickinson for their time in the Middle Sub School and for all of their work with our students as they are transitioning into new roles within the school for 2024.

Minhthu Huynh received the Student of the Year award in recognition of her academic excellence and general approach to benefitting the school community.

To the Year 10 students of 2024, we wish you the very best on your journey through secondary school and look forward to seeing all you will achieve in the future.

On behalf of the Middle School team: Ms Emily Dickinson, Ms Ashwini Mana Mohan, Ms Stav Bekiaris, Mr Robert Winduss, Mr Sean Ryan, Mr Alexandrescu and Ms Antoinette Napoli, I would like to wish all students and their families a happy, safe and relaxing summer holiday.  For those students leaving St Albans Secondary College at the end of the year, we wish you all the very best for the future.

 

Mr Owen McIntyre – Middle Sub School Leader

 

The Year 12 VCE results were released to students on Monday the 11 December. The Senior Sub School and College community could not be more proud of all our students and the efforts they have put into their studies, not only this year, but across the two years of their VCE/VCE VM. Their exceptional results are a testament to their dedication, hard work and persistence. Congratulations!

We would also like to extend our gratitude to the Year 12 teaching team for their expertise, commitment and support of the Year 12 students in preparing for their end of year exams.  See the Principal’s Report on page one for highlights of our 2023 VCE results.

Our students were also photographed by the media unit, so keep an eye out for them in the newspapers and online!

The careers team are continuing to work with the Year 12 students and providing them with individual support for the next stage of their tertiary, apprenticeship and work pathways.

The Senior Sub School held transition interviews for students moving from the Middle Sub School to the Senior Sub School.  All students in Year 11, 2023 attended the interviews this week. The meetings provided students with an opportunity to meet their Year Level Coordinator, receive important information and dates, confirm their subject selections and ask questions about their VCE/ VCE VM program.  

The Year 12, 2023 Parent Information evening will be held on Wednesday, 21 February starting at 6.00pm. Information about the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) requirements will be provided at this important evening. Permission forms for lunch passes will also be distributed at the event. 

The compulsory study camp at University College for Year 12 VCE and VCE VM, 2023 students will run on Monday 5 February to Tuesday 6 February. Students will participate in English and study skills/work-ready workshops, wellbeing activities, a tour of The University of Melbourne or RMIT and more. The camp will provide students with a strong foundation for the year ahead.

The Year 11, 2024 Parent Information evening will be held on Wednesday, 6 March 2024, starting at 6.30pm. Students will be provided with the Senior School handbook at the evening, which will contain information on our school’s Year 11 to Year 12 Promotion Policy and VCAA requirements.

For a positive start to the 2024 year, we would like to remind our Year 11 and Year 12 students to complete their holiday homework which they would have received during the Orientation Program.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank parents for their continued support of the Senior Sub School, and working in partnership with us to ensure your child feels connected and supported every day to achieve their best. 

We wish all our students and their families a safe, joyous and restful holidays. We look forward to seeing you in the new year. 

 

Ms Marlene Cassar – Senior Sub School Leader

 

 

Congratulations to Jessica Pham (10A) on winning the ‘Under the Coverslip – Science Meets Arts’ competition!

 

This competition was part of Biomedical Sciences Day held earlier in the term on the 5 October. It involved students working alongside scientists at GTAC to capture micrographs of research specimens using light, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopes.

Jessica’s entry ‘Fish larvae just after hatching’ was adjudged the top three submissions by Professor Jenny Wilkinson-Berka, head of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Melbourne, to be winning.

Jessica received a University hoodie, bear and a print of her winning entry (which is also published on the GTAC website) as part of her prizes.

 

 

Mr Myers Nguyen – Science & Maths Teacher

Angry Birds – Parabolic Edition

Students in year 9 have been learning about quadratic equations and graphs in mathematics. One activity we ran in class was “Angry Birds”, inspired by the popular game of the same name.  The premise of the activity was that the pigs stole the birds eggs, which made the birds very angry!

Students worked in groups and used quadratic graphs to help the angry birds hit the evil pigs and get back the eggs.

 

 

 

Ms Alisha D’Souza – Maths Teacher

 

 

Western Chances gives young people in Melbourne’s west the chance to fulfil their potential and overcome barriers to success by providing scholarships, opportunity programs and ongoing support.

 

Fashion Design Award

Congratulations to SASC Western Chances recipient Cynthia Dinh, who was recently awarded the 2023 Ross Weymouth Young Fashion Designer of the Year.

“As an aspiring artist in Melbourne’s west, I grew up with the notion it wasn’t possible to do what I loved. As I won Designer of the Year, I vowed with conviction to change the fashion industry and level up the playing field.”

Cynthia extends her heartfelt gratitude to those who continue to support her, especially her inspiring Fashion Teacher, Mr Bowden for nurturing her talent and creativity and encouraging her to pursue her passion. Thank you, Mr Bowden.

 

 

 

Ms Mortimer Mortimer – Scholarships Coordinator

 

As we bid farewell to another incredible year in the history of our alumni program, it seems like a good time to reflect on our achievements for 2023. From social events, motivational speeches, an excursion, and our trusty subject sessions, to our Women in Science and Mental Health awareness talks and our incredibly generous award benefactors, all alumni, all volunteer, all impactful.

To the staff and students who are leaving us this year, let this not be a goodbye, but a ‘see you later’. Your time with us has been a beacon of inspiration and accomplishment, and as you venture into the next phase of your journey, remember that the doors of our school community always remain open for you. May your successes multiply, your dreams soar, and your connection to our vibrant community only strengthen with time. Here’s to the shared memories, lasting friendships, and the unwavering spirit of our SASC family. Wishing each and every one of you a future filled with purpose, joy, and continuous achievement. Stay connected and stay meaningful.

 Have a safe and sunny break everyone! Catch you all again in 2024!

 

 

To join our alumni community please send us an email at alumni@stalbanssc.vic.edu.au and let us know:

• What year you graduated (or would have, if you didn’t finish Year 12)
• What did you do after school (study, travel, working, etc)
• What do you do now?

You can also stay in touch with us through our college’s official Alumni Facebook page and Alumni LinkedIn

 

Ms Nicole Gurd – Alumni Coordinator

 

 

On a very hot Tuesday afternoon, the students took on the teachers in 3 on 3 Basketball Competition. This was our fourth Staff v Student event this year, and it was quite the spectacle. There were blocks, steals, 3-pointers and only few fouls – but best of all the teachers won! 

Thank you to all of the participants who signed up and showed off their skills, the sportsmanship they showed was admirable! And thank you to the teacher team who worked up a sweat in the heat and put on a clinic.

We look forward to the next House event, and encourage all students who want to get involved to make sure they check Compass regularly for sign-ups – as the spots fill very quickly!”

 

Ms Taylor Decker  – Junior Sub School Coordinator | English & Humanities Teacher