Alba Newsletter – June 2024

End of Term 2

As the end of Term 2 approaches, we would like to thank everyone for their efforts in once again achieving great things together. It has been a very busy term, with Athletics, Exams, Camps, Excursions, Lunchtime events and many other activities. It is great to see the rich and varied program that our students can access. We wish all of our students and staff a relaxing break, and look forward to hitting the ground running in Term 3.

Thank You

At the end of term, we will farewell some staff who have taken classes for staff on leave. These include Mr Ben Chen, Ms Simone Papagianopoulos, Mr Sang Dinh, Mr Tim Garde, Mr Loue Triannou, and Mr Ian Crocker.

We would like to thank each of these staff members for their hard work, dedication, and support of our students. While some will remain at the school in various roles, others will be moving on. We wish these staff members all the best with their future endeavours.

We would also like to thank staff who stepped into leadership roles while staff were on leave. These include Mr Ali Yammin in the Middle Sub School, Mr Jacob Marinelli who led the Health and PE Faculty, and Mr David Dang who led the Sport program. Thank you all for your efforts and commitment.

National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week

National Sorry Day (26 May) marks the start of National Reconciliation Week. National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation.  We cannot begin to fix the problems of the present without accepting the truth of our history. Sorry Day asks us to acknowledge the Stolen Generations, and in doing so, reminds us that historical injustice is still an ongoing source of intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Islander families, communities, and peoples National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 – May 3 June 2024 and is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

To mark this important occasion in our calendar, the College started the week with a whole school announcement and a moment of reflection for the Stolen Generations. Teachers of classes explored this important topic and shared videos on lessons to help students understand the importance of National Reconciliation Week. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2024 was: Now More Than Ever. It is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue. More information is available here – – https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/

Semester Reports

Semester One reports for students in Years 7 to 11 will be released on Thursday, June 27. For those in Years 7 to 9, these reports will include a “Prepared for Learning” goal that students set at the beginning of the term. As you review your child’s progress, take some time to reflect on their achievements and challenges. After reading the report together, have a conversation about their progress and areas for development. At the start of next term, they will set a new goal so reflection now on strengths and improvement areas will be very helpful.

Proactive Programs

Year 10 students recently participated in a transformative three-day Proactive Programs event. They engaged in essential workshops on topics like party safety and respectful relationships, while also choosing from a variety of sessions focused on self-improvement and personal development.

The program kicked off with an inspiring speech by Eangano Singehebhuye, a 2015 graduate of SASC. During his time at SASC, Eangano was known for his perseverance, empathy, and enthusiasm. He is now the founder and chairman of Acts of Random Kindness Victoria Inc., a program he initiated at just 15 years old by sharing his sports talents with young people at Errington Reserve. Eangano’s message to the Year 10 students was powerful: seize opportunities, engage with others, and take control of your life with discipline and perseverance. He emphasized the importance of being responsible, reliable, and punctual, encapsulating his advice with the phrase, “greatness isn’t lateness.” We hope our students will embrace this mantra.

The week also featured a Speed Careering event organized by Mr. Dane Stammers, where students explored various career paths through interactions with a range of experts, many of whom are college alumni.

This week was a wonderful success, thanks to the dedication of sub-school leaders Mr. Owen McIntyre and Mr. Andrei Alexandrescu. We extend our gratitude to them and to everyone who contributed to the planning and execution of these engaging workshops.

Athletics Carnival

All year 7 to 9 students and many year 10 students attended our annual Athletics Carnival at the Keilor Athletics Track on Friday 10 May.  Although it was muddy at the track after our first major downpour the evening before, this didn’t dampen the enthusiasm and many students participated in the events including House events held throughout the day.

We can announce Buttrose House as the 2024 Athletics Carnival champions.

Thank you to all who contributed and participated, making it a fantastic and enjoyable day.

Final scores were:

Congratulations to Buttrose House.

Congratulations and thanks to David Dang and the Health and Physical Education department for organising and running this event, and to all those staff who attended and supported on the day.

Work Experience

Year 10 undertook Work Experience from 17 – 21 June. Students secured employment in a wide range of businesses, some local and others further afield.  We know that this experience greatly assists students to develop essential skills linked to time management and independence. This year we again ran a program at school for those unable to secure a work placement. This involved investigating a range of careers, Q and A sessions with alumni and other activities related to work places and securing employment.  Congratulations to the careers team for the running of the onsite program and also for the wonderful job they did in supporting the students to find employment and complete their OHS tasks to enable them to participate in a work placement.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank; all our employers for their support for our students, the students for their efforts to gain a work placement and the staff for supporting the program and visiting students or supporting the running of the work experience sessions at school.  We also thank Nicole Gurd for organising the alumni presentations, and the alumni who gave up their time to present to students and answer their questions.  It was a very worthwhile program for all of Year 10 who took part either in a placement at a workplace, or onsite to complete the school based program. This association with businesses helps us to build and maintain these valuable connections and contributes to the building of the broader school community.

End of Term 2 Arrangements

Friday 28 June is the last day of Term 2, the school day will finish at 2.30pm for students on this day.

Start of Term 3

Term 3 begins on Monday 15 July.

 

 

 

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 and will be closing on 28 June 2024. Click here to access the 2024 CSEF application from.  The form will need to be printed, completed, and returned to the school.

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.

 

 

Monday, 24 June 2024

All Day – Yr 9 & 10 Semester 2 Electives Start

08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 10 & 11 CPR Ambassador Program

08:55AM – 02:45PM VHAP Masterclass

03:30PM – 05:10PM Yr 12 Maths Methods SAC

03:30PM – 04:30PM Yr 12 Psychology SAC

Tuesday, 25 June 2024

All Day – Yr 7 Immunisations

08:45AM – 02:00PM Yr 9 ABCN Goals Program

08:55AM – 09:45AM Yr 7 Student Forum

09:45AM – 10:35AM Yr 8 Student Forum

11:50AM – 12:40PM Yr 9 Student Forum

01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 7, 8 & 9 CPR Ambassador Program

03:10PM – 09:15PM Yr 9 to 12 Debating (St Bernards College)

03:20PM – 04:30PM Yr 12 General Maths SAC

Wednesday, 26 June 2024

08:35AM – 03:30PM WMR Yr 8 Boys Badminton

08:35AM – 03:10PM Yr 7B Strathbogie Camp

11:50AM – 12:40PM SHINE Program

01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 11 100 Days of Success

03:30PM – 04:30PM Yr 12 Psychology SAC

Thursday, 27 June 2024

08:35AM – 03:10PM Yr 7B Strathbogie Camp

08:30AM – 04:00PM Yr 8I Science Mission to Mars Excursion

08:35AM – 03:30PM WMR Yr 7 Girls Badminton

08:55AM – 11:50PM Yrs 7 to 9 Assemblies

Friday, 28 June 2024

Term 2 Last Day – 2:30pm Dismissal

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 7B Strathbogie Camp

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Term Holidays Yr 12 Practice Exams

Thursday 4 July 2024

• 08:55AM – 11:05AM Yr 12 General Mathematics
• 11:30AM – 01:10PM Yr 12 Visual Communication Design
• 11:30AM – 01:10PM Yr 12 Economics
• 01:45PM – 03:25PM Yr 12 Chemistry

Friday 5 July 2024

• 08:55AM – 11:05AM  YR 12 Maths Methods
• 11:30AM – 01:10PM Yr 12 Health and Human Development
• 01:45PM – 03:25PM Yr 12 Legal Studies

Monday 8 July 2024

• 08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 12 Accounting
• 08:55AM – 11:05AM Yr 12 Japanese
• 11:30AM – 01:10PM Yr 12 Vietnamese
• 11:30AM – 01:10PM Yr 12 Physical Education
• 11:30AM – 01:10PM Yr 12 Food Studies
• 01:45PM – 03:25PM Yr 12 Art Making & Exhibiting
• 01:45AM – 03:25PM Yr 12 Physics

Tuesday 9 July 2024

• 08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 12 Psychology
• 11:30AM – 12:40PM Yr 12 Specialist Maths
• 11:30AM – 01:10PM Yr 12 Business Management
• 01:45PM – 03:25PM Yr 12 History Revolutions
• 01:45PM – 03:25PM Yr 12 Biology

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Monday, 15 July 2024

Term 3 Begins

Tuesday, 16 July 2024

10:30AM – 11:30AM Yr 9 Pre-Course Selection Assignments

Wednesday, 17 July 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 8B Strathbogie Camp

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 12 VCE VM Job Ready Boot Camp

Thursday, 18 July 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 8B Strathbogie Camp

10:30AM – 11:30AM Yr 9 Pre-Course Selection Assignemnt

Friday, 19 July 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 8B Strathbogie Camp

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 12 VCE VM Job Redy Boot Camp

08:55AM – 12:40PM Yr 12 Food Studies Coles Excursion

03:30PM – 05:00PM Yr 12 Oedipus the King

Monday, 22 July 2024

08:35AM – 03:30PM Yr 11 History The Shrine Excursion

Tuesday, 23 July 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 7A & 7G Ancient History Melbourne Museum Excursion

11:00AM – 03:10PM Yr 10 Pre-Course Selection Assignment

06:00PM – 06:30PM Yr 10 Parent VCE Information Evening

Wednesday, 24 July 2024

08:30AM – 05:00PM Yr 12 EAL Personal Journeys Excursion

08:45AM  – 03:10PM Yr 8D & 8G Indigenous STEM Schools Program

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 8H Strathbogie Camp

Thursday, 25 July 2024

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 8H Strathbogie Camp

08:40AM – 03:15PM Unit 2 Biology GTAC Genetic Testing Excursion

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 7K & 7J Ancient History Melbourn Museum Excursion

Friday, 26 July 2024

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 8H Strathbogie Camp

08:35AM – 03:10PM Yr 7E, 7F & 7H Ancient History Melbourne Museum Excursion

08:40AM – 03:15PM Unit 2 Biology GTAC Genetic Testing Excursion

Tuesday, 30 July 2024

08:35AM – 03:30PM WMR Senior Girls Badminton

08:45AM – 03:00PM Yr 8E & 8I Indegenous STEM School Program

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 7B & 7D Ancient History Melbourne Museum Excursion

06:00PM – 07:00PM Yr 8 Parent Information Night

Wednesday, 31 July 2024

08:30AM – 04:00PM Yr 8 SEAL Science Misson to Mars

08:35AM – 03:30PM WMR Intermediate Boys/Girls Badminton

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 7C & 7I Ancient History Melbournce Museum Excursion

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 8D Strathbogie Camp

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 8F & 8H Indigenous STEM Schools Program

Thursday, 1 August 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 8D Strathbogie Camp

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 8A & 8K Indegenous STEM School Program

Friday, 2 August 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 8D Strathbogie Camp

Tuesday, 6 August 2024

08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 8B & 8J Indegenous STEM Schools Program

11:00AM – 12:30PM Australian Schools Competition

03:15PM – 09:15PM Yr 9 to 12 Debating (St Bernards College)

Wednesday, 7 August 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 9 ADVANCE Riddells Creek Camp

Thursday, 8 August 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 9 ADVANCE Riddells Creek Camp

09:00AM – 03:00PM Yr 9 Maths Games Day

Friday, 9 August 2024

08:45AM – 03:10PM Yr 9 ADVANCE Riddells Creek Camp

 

                                             

Liz  Tripodi

Hi, my name is Liz and I’m thrilled to join the Music team as the new Vocal/Piano Teacher and look forward to assisting with MAC and other areas across the Music department.

I owned a Music School for over 20 years where I’ve had the opportunity to train hundreds of students who have gone on to do amazing things in the industry and I have also worked professionally across Australia and Overseas as a Singer, MC, Entertainer, Vocal Coach, Guest Speaker and Choreographer for various shows and events.

My life has also changed in the last few years as I’m now a Mum to 3 year old twin girls that keep my husband and I very busy! I love spending time with family, travel, reading, reality tv shows and drinking good coffee!

It’s been a lovely welcome to the school and I look forward to seeing our amazing students shine.

 

 

Linda Vo

Hi, my name is Linda Vo, and I recently joined the IT Department at St Albans Secondary College. I’m enthusiastic about being part of the team and the school community.

I bring a wide range of technical skills to the IT Team and am eager to support all staff, students, and parents.

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

 

 

 

                              Anna Tuitama

Talofa lava to all of the families of St Albans Secondary College.

My name is Anna Tuitama and I have recently joined the Wellbeing team as a Student and Family Engagement Officer for 2 days a week. I am looking forward to providing support to the students and families of SASC, especially those from diverse cultural backgrounds. I love working with children and families and am passionate about equipping our children with the right tools and skills to thrive and succeed in life! 

I am a proud daughter of the Pacific, hailing from the beautiful island of Samoa. Outside of life at SASC, I am a mother of three young children who keep me busy and fill my life with joy and love. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations on a successful term from the Junior Sub School team! With many events in the calendar this term, it was great to see students ready and engaged with all of the programs that were on offer!

While the Grade 6 students had their first visit to St Albans Secondary College, our Year 7 students were off to the Melbourne Zoo for their Science excursion. It was a great day observing the best that nature had to offer and learning all about the conservation status of animals and their adaptations to survive in different environments. The Year 8 students spent their excursion at IMAX and the Melbourne Museum on April 30. They were able to consolidate their learning in Humanities about landforms and landscapes, by viewing the museum galleries like ‘Dynamic Earth’ and ‘A Beautiful Planet’. It was fantastic to see the students out in the broader community and representing the school.

The Year 8 cohort were able to participate in the Proactive Program Day on May 7. This was an event where external presenters were brought into the school with the aim to enhance the wellbeing of our students and help them to realise their full potential. This event ran all day, and we hope that the students got a lot out of the activities and stories shared with their peers. We would also like to thank Man Cave and 1000 Generations for hosting and working closely with our Year 8s on the day.

On May 10, the students in Year 7 and 8 ventured out to Keilor Park Athletics track to participate in a range of events at the SASC Athletics Carnival. Among the track and field events, students were able to participate in novelty House events to try and maximise the amount of points for their House. The students were extremely engaged in the events on the day, and we can’t wait to see them represent the school at the next round of Athletics!

Our Strathbogie Camps are now in full swing, and the Year 7 students are having a blast exploring all that the Strathbogie Shire has to offer. We still have a number of Year 7 camps left before our Year 8s get to experience it, so keep an eye out on Compass for the consent forms and upcoming dates for each home group.

As we come into the colder Winter weather, the Year Level Coordinators will be remaining vigilant on school uniform, so please ensure you look over the Uniform Policy if you are unsure. Overall, the students look amazing in their school uniform! When there is a problem with an item of uniform, or if you have any concerns about obtaining the winter uniform, please contact the Junior Sub School or send a note with your child so we can assist you as soon as possible. 

On a final note, the team would like to remind all parents and students about having a lock on your school locker. It is important that your belongings are kept safe, including your school equipment and phone, and in order to do that they need to be locked away. 

We look forward to starting Term 3 with the same enthusiasm and determination as this term, and please be sure to check Compass for your child’s Semester Report at the end of the Term.

 

Ms Taylor Decker – Junior Sub School Coordinator

As we descend into winter our middle school students have been involved in plenty of exciting events here at school. In this edition of the newsletter, we will highlight some of these, including the Year 10 Proactive Programs, the School Athletics Carnival, the Year 9 Morrisby Counselling Sessions and the all-important End of Semester Exams. For the Year 10’s we also look ahead to the Work Experience Program.

In Week 9 of this eleven week term the Year 10’s were involved in the Proactive Programs Week. The students self-selected sessions of interest with the goal to make the week about their own personal self improvement. There were a wide variety of sessions that included Self Defence, CV/Resume Writing, Sport, Meditation/Yoga, Games/Puzzles, Poetry/Song Writing and Cartooning/Drawing. Included in the week was also a guest speaker, Eangano SINGEHEBHUYE who was a graduate from SASC back in 2015. The students were fantastic during these three days and hopefully took a lot from the experience.

In May the school Athletics Carnival was held for Year 7 – 10 students. The participation from the middle school students far outweighed what we expected with our students amassing a huge 3562 house points. They should be congratulated on their participation and have really set a standard for the younger year levels coming through.

The end of semester now also marks the successful completion of the official exam period. This can be very stressful, but the students should be proud of how they performed and should look to how they can do even better in the Semester 2 exams. For the Year 9’s it was their first official set of exams so they should be kind to themselves if they do not receive the marks they were aspiring for. They will have further opportunity in Semester 2 and then again as they progress through Year 10. We thank the parents and guardians for their tireless efforts at home to help ready their children for these exams.

Finally, in the first few weeks of Term 2 our Year 9 students were interviewed as a part of the Morrisby Career Program. Each student has now completed the program and has been provided a list of careers that would best suit them and their interests. With the support of our Careers Team, we will continue to work with the students on their long-term career goals as they change and refine over time.

We are thrilled to see the continued success of our students and the positive impact they are having on the broader school community. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our parents and guardians, and we look forward to future opportunities working together to support our students. If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out to us in the middle sub-school.

 

Mr Owen McIntyre – Middle Sub School Leader

This term, the Senior Sub School has turned up the focus on assessment. Our students have shown remarkable dedication and resilience as they participated in a variety of tests, assignments and exams across their subjects.

These assessments are not only a measure of their academic progress but also an opportunity for them to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have learned.

Teachers have been impressed with the level of preparation and effort students have put into their studies, reflecting their commitment to achieving excellence.

Students have now started their Semester 2 subjects. Unit 4 for Year 12 students commenced on Monday 3 June 2024, and Unit 3 for Year 11 students, on Tuesday 11 June 2024.

On Wednesday, June 18, Year 12 students, along with Year 11 students completing a Unit 3/4 sequence, undertook the General Achievement Test (GAT). For most students, this was their first experience in a VCAA exam, and while it proved to be challenging for some students, they persevered and gave it their best. The GAT results will be available when their VCE/VCE VM results are released at the end of the year. 

On Friday 4 June, Report Writing Day, Year 12 VCE students attended their first mid-year practice exam for English/EAL. This exam was supervised by external assessors and followed VCAA protocols. The rest of the mid-year exams will be held during the holidays from Tuesday 4 July to Tuesday 9 July 2024. Attendance at the mid-year exams is compulsory and students have been given plenty of notice so they can attend. The mid-year exams assist students to develop their confidence in answering exam questions, highlights their strengths and gaps in their understanding, provides familiarity with the exam structure and helps reduce anxiety. The mid-year exams are invaluable practice and preparation for the VCAA end-of-year exams.

The Year 11 Unit 1 end-of-semester reports will be available to parents on the parent portal from Thursday 27 June 2024, and Year 12 Unit 3 end-of-semester reports will be available in Week 3 of Term 3. Year Level Coordinators will be contacting families if they have any concerns regarding your child’s progress. It is also a good opportunity to speak to your child about their progress, goals and future pathway.

Next week, Year 11 students will be celebrating “100 Days of Success”, which will be held in the Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday 26 June 2024. Students will be treated to musical performances, a special guest performance and light refreshments. On Tuesday 30 July 2024, Year 11 students will be choosing their Year 12 subjects. We suggest that students select their subject carefully and are realistic about their choices. Please keep in mind that once students start in Year 12, it will difficult to change a subject or unit of study.

All Year 12 students will be invited to a Tertiary Information Session (TIS) on Wednesday 24 July (12A, 12B & 12C) and Thursday 25 July (12D, 12E & 12F), 3:15pm 4:30pm,  which covers VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) applications. The session will outline the process for tertiary application, and assistance provided by our Careers Team.  

The Year 11 VCE VM students are starting the Action Phase of their Chase program. The Action Phase enables students to implement their knowledge and skills in projects that will improve health in the school or within their community. These projects may include implementing healthy foods in the canteen, petitioning to local council members about improving bike paths or developing lunchtime running groups. The projects will be facilitated by the Year 11 PDS teachers and driven by the students.

The Year 12 students will be treated to a motivational lunch next term on Wednesday the 14 August 2024, where they will be given advice and encouragement to “believe in themselves and what they can achieve”, which coincidentally aligns well with next term’s CPR theme.

Finally, the Senior Sub School would like to wish our students and their families a restful and well-earned Term 2 holidays.

Student Leadership Conference

“On the 5 June, the senior leadership team attended the Student Leadership Conference held at Melbourne Girl’s College. This event provided us with a new understanding on how multifaceted leadership is, and the many approaches we can take to contribute to our school. The conference had guest speakers who shared their success stories to inspire a new outlook on our futures, and activities and games that required students to utilise and improve their leadership skills. Just before the conference ended, all the attending schools took their time to reflect and share how leadership is applied to their respective school environments, which our leadership team has taken on board. This event has most definitely inspired new ways to lead our school, and we hope to implement our ideas and strategies in the near future. Stay tuned for more from us!” – Kevin Nguyen (On Behalf of the Senior School Student Leadership Team)

 

Ms Marlene Cassar – Senior Sub School Leader

 

International Day of Immunology at GTAC

On Monday 13 May, eighteen year 12 Biology students, along with Ms Emily Dickinson and Mr Myers Nguyen, attended the ‘International Day of Immunology’ program at GTAC.

The day commenced with an engaging keynote lecture from Professor Shalin Naik, a lab head at the Walter and Eliza Hall (WEHI) Institute of Medical Research. Students were given an insight into Prof. Naik’s decorated career in medical research and science communication including as a television presenter. He emphasised the importance of ‘out of field’ experiences with helping his success in academia. Prof. Nair also gave students an overview of the immune system and delved into the intricacies of how different immune cells help to fight infection and cancer.

Our students then engaged in three different immunological workshops. In the first workshop, student used bioinformatics to investigate the risk of different of animal species in contracting coronavirus. After that, the students explored different infectious and non-communicable diseases in mouse models using microscopy. Finally, students performed a lab technique called an ‘ELISA’ to determine the mystery tuberculosis carrier at a hospital. Throughout these sessions, students were able to talk to the facilitating scientists and PhD students and learn about their journeys and careers.

Below a student’s reflection of the excursion:

‘I thoroughly enjoyed the guest speaker’s presentation, particularly the video which he produced on the innate and adaptive immune system – very helpful for students who were being exposed to the Unit 4 Biology content for the first time. I also enjoyed the bioinformatics session and being able to ask immunologists about what they enjoy about their profession, what they do and the challenges they face. Overall, this excursion was really eye-opening for me and I would recommend it to any Biology students who are interested in immunology.’   – Jessica Luong (12C)

 

Mr Myers Nguyen – Science Teacher

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Year 7 Science – Mission at the Melbourne Zoo

Every year, all year 7 students go to the Melbourne Zoo to discover and learn new things about animals as part of their Classification curriculum in science.

This was another successful excursion with 240 students attending under the supervision of a team of 17 teaching staff and ES staff.

At the zoo, excited students were free to roam and trekked around the zoo where they explored the Gorilla Rainforest trail, the Lion Gorge, Dino Trail, Australian Bush, the Trail of the Elephant, Wild Sea, Reptile House and the humid but breath taking Butterfly house.

Students had some missions to complete at the zoo, which were to attend a workshop led by an experienced zookeeper and some ‘Meet the Keepers Presentations’ around the zoo to learn about the animal’s characteristics and adaptations. Students also needed to collect exclusive stamps from the teachers stationed at the enclosures. There was a lot of walking involved but by the end of the day, students had accomplished their mission, so well done! 

A special thank you to Ms Angela Hanley for organising this huge event and to all other staff and ES staff who attended or helped organised the day to make this a memorable experience for everyone.

Below is a reflection from two students:

‘On the 2nd of May, 2024, the year 7’s of SASC went to Melbourne Zoo. We can guarantee that everybody who went enjoyed it, not only were the pictures fabulous but the food was superb!

The enclosures were in great condition, leaving the animals happy at their homes. With every animal we visited, friendly zoo keepers greeted us with interesting facts. It was evident that the zoo takes pride in conservation and education!

At the zoo was a diverse span of animals, ranging from majestic elephants to playful meerkats, the experience had everybody’s attention.

The highlight of the day were definitely the outgoing lemurs! The visitors were allowed to be in the enclosure with them, creating a stress free environment for the lemurs. They were playful and adventurous.

Overall the zoo was certainly a fantastic and memorable experience’. – By Anh Au and Riam Ihsan 7H

 

Ms Jennifer Truong – Maths & Science Teacher

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Big Science Competition

Australian Science Innovations host the Big Science Competition each year which aims to challenge students to demonstrate and apply their knowledge of science concepts. Each year the number of participating students from St Albans Secondary College has increased and this year saw ninety-six Year 7-10s competing. The results were pleasing with 30% of students achieving a credit or above. The Year 8 group stood out with an impressive 56% achieving a credit or above. Well done to everyone who challenged themselves in 2024, and I hope to see more students enter in 2025!

 

 

Ms Angela Hanley – Science Coordinator

 

The six students who attended the Gnurad-Gundidj School for Student Leadership (SSL) have returned to St Albans Secondary College for Term 2. Towards the end of the student’s time at Gnurad-Gundidj, Principal Craig Jennings and SSL liaison teacher Angus Adams visited them. During the visit, students displayed their living quarters and the camp facilities, with the day culminating in a presentation of their community-learning project.

The students are committed to working on their community project during Term 2 and Term 3 in preparation for RU OK day on September 12. On RU OK day students will be selling cupcakes and will donate the funds raised from the sale of the cupcakes to the RU OK foundation.

Feedback from the students around their experiences at the camp has been overwhelmingly positive, with the outdoor activities and friendships developed with other camp mates highlights of their time away in Term 1.

 

Mr Angus Adams – School for Student Leadership Coordinator

 

Practice Cook

In our Year 9 ADVANCE class, students had a fantastic time practicing their cooking skills with camping Trangias. On a bright and sunny day, they gathered outdoors and enthusiastically prepared a variety of dishes, including noodles, eggs, sausages, and other food items. The hands-on experience not only honed their culinary abilities but also fostered teamwork and creativity. This enjoyable and educational activity has thoroughly prepared them for their upcoming camp, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills to cook delicious meals in the great outdoors. The day was a perfect blend of learning and fun, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating their next adventure.

 

 

Mr Jacob Marinelli – Advance Program Coordinator

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Year 9 Advanced Class Enjoys Excursion to Aquarium and Time Zone

On Monday, the Year 9 Advanced class enjoyed a fun-filled day out, visiting the local aquarium in the morning and Time Zone at Watergardens Shopping Centre in the afternoon.

The sunny day began with an informative tour of the aquarium, where students learned about marine life and conservation. Highlights included the interactive touch tanks and feeding demonstrations.

After lunch, the excitement continued at Time Zone, where students enjoyed a variety of arcade games. Laughter and cheers filled the air as they competed in racing games, claw machines, and air hockey.

The excursion was a great success, combining education and entertainment, and left the students with lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for marine life.

 

Mr Jacob Marinelli – Advance Program Coordinator

 

 

On the 13 June, all Year 10 students participated in the annual ‘Speed Careering’ event as part of their Middle Sub School Proactive Programs week. This event involved external professionals from 21 diverse fields of employment, including engineering, aviation, defence, healthcare, business, policing, arts, publishing, logistics, trades, and technology, volunteering their time to visit the College and engage in rapid-fire presentations about their careers. Many of these professionals were SASC Alumni who shared valuable insights into their respective fields, discussing how they navigated their careers, along with the challenges, rewards, and day-to-day responsibilities of their roles.

The ‘speedy’ rotations allowed small groups of students to interact closely with each presenter in short, intensive sessions and receive personalised responses to their burning questions. It provided our students with a brief but crucial insight into at least 10 different career options prior to their important subject selection and pathway decisions in term 3.

Overall, the event was a resounding success. The students were highly respectful and deeply engaged with the presentations, and guest presenters praised the quality of their questions and their overall enthusiasm. Some students even began networking and arranging casual work opportunities for themselves over the summer break, which was wonderful to see. Our peer mentors played a pivotal role in troubleshooting and ensuring the smooth coordination of the entire event, showcasing their impressive leadership and teamwork skills.

A heartfelt thank you to the volunteer presenters, staff, peer mentors, and the entire Year 10 student body for contributing to such a memorable and successful event.

‘Speed Careering’ is one of many enriching events on the school calendar that enhances the education of our students through the involvement of our valued alumni, business, and community partners. Once again, thank you to everyone involved, and we eagerly anticipate making next year’s event even bigger and better.

Our students then engaged in three different immunological workshops. In the first workshop, student used bioinformatics to investigate the risk of different animal species in contracting coronavirus. After that, the students explored different infectious and non-communicable diseases in mouse models using microscopy. Finally, students performed a lab technique called an ‘ELISA’ to determine the mystery tuberculosis carrier at a hospital. Throughout these sessions, students were able to talk to the facilitating scientists and PhD students and learn about their journeys and careers.

Below a student’s reflection of the excursion:

‘I thoroughly enjoyed the guest speaker’s presentation, particularly the video which he produced on the innate and adaptive immune system – very helpful for students who were being exposed to the Unit 4 Biology content for the first time. I also enjoyed the bioinformatics session and being able to ask immunologists about what they enjoy about their profession, what they do and the challenges they face. Overall, this excursion was really eye-opening for me and I would recommend it to any Biology students who are interested in immunology.’   – Jessica Luong (12C)

 

Mr Dane Stammers – Commerce Coordinator | Community & Business Partnerships Coordinator

 

 

Keilor Division Junior Badminton Tournament

We are delighted to share the fantastic news of our junior badminton teams’ outstanding performance at the recent Keilor Division Junior Badminton Tournament that happened on Thursday 16 May, 2024! Our young athletes displayed exceptional skills, determination, and sportsmanship, making us all incredibly proud.

Tournament Highlights:

• Congratulations to all of our Year 7 Boys/Girls teams, and Year 8 Boys/Girls teams who represented the school in a very competitive tournament at Altona Badminton Centre on Thursday 16 May, 2024. All of our team members displayed great teamwork, sportsmanship and perseverance throughout the day.
• Although our Year 7 Boys team and the Year 8 Girls team did not manage to come first in the tournament, they were all remarkable while competing with other schools. Our students showed their skills, determination and their support of each other throughout the matches and throughout the day. It was a great joy to witness their positive characteristics outside the academic performance.
• Our Year 7 Girls team and our Year 8 Boys team demonstrated their determination, skills and great attitude throughout the day and convincingly secured the victory against the other schools in the Keilor Division.
• The Year 8 Boys and the Year 7 Girls teams will be representing our school to participate in the Western Metropolitan Secondary Badminton tournament at Altona Badminton Centre on Wednesday 26 June, 2024 and Thursday 27 June, 2024.
• Our students have been training regularly and been working effectively in their team to prepare for the upcoming tournament. They have always displayed their strategic gameplay and perseverance that were truly inspiring. We wish them all the best in their upcoming tournament.

Once again, congratulations to our incredible junior badminton teams! Let’s continue to support and nurture our young talents as they strive for excellence in every match.

 

Mr Pat Lac  –  EAL & WELS Transition Coordinator | Lunchtime Activities Coordinator

Apprenticeships Group Australia (AGA) Award 

Bao Nguyen is one of our Year 11, VCE Vocational Major students who is studying a pre-apprenticeship Certificate II in Plumbing so that he will be apprenticeship ready when he graduates from Year 12.

Bao has won AGA’s ‘Toolbox Competition’ for having excellent attendance in Term 1 in his VET course. Furthermore, Bao not only completes all his work in a timely manner, he is first to support other students in the workshop with practical tasks. His VET Trainer highlighted that Bao is an exceptional student and a worthy winner. Congratulations Bao!

 

Ms Cathy Armstrong – Careers Program Coordinator

 

 

 

House Push Up Challenge: SASC We are Better Together

The HOUSE team organised and facilitated a HOUSE Push Up Challenge in order to improve our mental and physical health, have some fun, but also to raise ‘awareness’ for mental health here in Australia and at SASC (The Push Up Challenge 2024). Our community helped to raise money for Youth Mental Health by completing 3,249 push-ups over 1 week. Every lunch time on the COLA, we met to smash out some push up’s in order to reach our goal. On average, our target goal each day was 55 push-ups. However, some staff and students exceeded these expectations each session by completing 140 push ups.

The main aim of this challenge was not about how many push ups students or staff could do. Rather, it was about raising ‘awareness’ about mental health, ‘reduce the stigma’ and demonstrating our ability as a school community to work together to achieve a common goal (The Push Up Challenge 2024).

Around 40% of ‘young Australian’s aged between 16-24’ years are ‘experiencing’ mental health concerns (The Push Up Challenge 2024). Here at SASC, our aim was to show that when we work together we can make a difference to mental health, support our students and staff at SASC who may be experiencing poor mental health, and raise some money for organisations (such as Life Line) so they can continue conducting research to save the lives of many in Australia. 

The challenge began on Wednesday June 5, which proved to be quite difficult with our aim of 55 push ups. We had 12 people volunteer their time at lunch to complete the challenge. One PE class also completed 5 push ups each, equating to 300 in total during period 3 and 4. For our first day, we achieved an outstanding 1053 push up’s as a community. However, by Friday we had doubled it as we completed 2065.

On Tuesday 11, it was a little bit of a tight squeeze in the weights gym due to the wet day timetable, but we managed to reach 4952 push ups! We again had PE class’s periods 1 to 4 who completed 20 push ups each, equating to 4100!! What an amazing achievement for the PE department.

Please see below our tally of push ups for each day below:

Our success in this challenge truly shone as we have completed 10,529 push up’s and raised $140 as a school community within 1 week! This is not including the generous cash donations we have received. Thank you so much for those who have donated both through cash and online payments.
 
If you haven’t done so already, you can also make a donation if you like by June 24 using the link below https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/fundraiser/sascwearebettertogether

Our school has truly shown that we ARE better together! Thank you to all the staff and students who volunteered their time to raise awareness for this great cause. Without your help, our achievements as a school would not have been possible.

A huge thank you from the HOUSE department to Thuan Doan, Joshua Hall, Frank Fan, Sand Dinh, Craig Moore, Julie Panayiotou, Jennifer Papagianopoulos, Alex Chan, Ben Beagley, Tracey D’Elton, Andy Nguyen, Simone Papagianopoulos, Amra Pajalic, and the PE department for their continued support and involvement in the program.

 

The Push Up Challenge Information PDF:

The Push Up Challenge 2024, Information Pack 2024 Schools, viewed 13 June 2024, <https://d2kpu7m6sms0zn.cloudfront.net/6ec90a0cd81650c353979c0029cf1d30.pdf>

 

 

Ms Emily Obeid – Junior Sub School Coordinator | House Leader

 

Celebrating our Alumnus

 

 

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

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Alumnus Joins Proactive Programs at SASC

Last week, our Year 10 students participated in the Proactive Program, a comprehensive week of workshops aimed at self-improvement and enhancing personal skills.

The program commenced on Tuesday with a keynote address from esteemed alum Jonasi Eangano Singehebhuye ‘15. Eangano captivated the audience with his eloquence, storytelling, and role-modelling for our students. He unpacked the concept of being proactive, urging students to seek opportunities to make a positive impact. His presentation also emphasised the importance of self-discipline and perseverance, themes that will be further explored during our Onsite Work Experience Program later this week.

The Thursday featured the return of our highly anticipated Speed Careering event, a student favourite on our school calendar. The event was a resounding success, with 21 presenters showcasing diverse careers across two sessions. Each Year 10 student had the opportunity to learn about at least 10 career paths they could pursue after graduation. The students demonstrated outstanding behaviour, and presenters praised their insightful questions and high level of engagement. Remarkably, one student even secured a summer internship, a testament to their enthusiasm and preparation. We extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the alumni who participated in the event. Your involvement made a significant impact and was greatly valued.

This week marked the beginning of our Onsite Work Experience Program. Midweek featured an alumni takeover, featuring activities such as setting SMART goals, creating vision boards, engaging in communication games, and an inspiring workshop led by, none other than, Jonasi Eangano Singehebhuye ’15. Eangano once again empowered our onsite students with valuable insights on self-worth and leveraging opportunities through confidence and self-love. The activities included team-building exercises like human knots and ball and board tasks, fostering deep reflection and learning, all wrapped up in an atmosphere of fun and smiles.

 

Ms Nicole Gurd – Alumni Coordinator