Newsletter Term 4, Week 4 30 Oct 2020

It was a bittersweet week for the Year 12s as they counted down until the last day of classes after 13 years of schooling. The usual rituals to mark this occasion had to be altered in line with health guidelines, but the staff and School leaders worked together to develop a plan where celebration and recognition of the students could occur, while keeping them safe, ready to undertake VCE examinations in a few weeks’ time. There were some beautiful moments throughout the week, but the fact that it had to be so different to what they had long anticipated cannot be ignored. Year 12s in all schools struggled with this and the mixed feelings of our students has been shared across the principal network. I would like to acknowledge our Year 12 2020 once again and acknowledge how they have held up under pressure and conducted themselves when very little this year has gone the way they wanted. However, we will look to being together in the traditional way for their Valedictory early next year.

This week we celebrated World Teachers’ Day by dedicating our Staff Meeting to themes relating to how staff can care for their wellbeing. Our two School Psychologists prepared a really thoughtful and valuable presentation. The theme for World Teachers’ Day, aptly enough for this year is, ‘Teachers: leading in crisis: reimagining the future’. This Day was established in 1994 by UNESCO to celebrate teachers and to recognise the significant contribution that they make to the lives of their students. We know that for teachers long hours and hard work go into designing challenging, well-crafted lessons; guiding students through learning; providing feedback; engaging with parents; collaborating with colleagues; reflecting on practice; staying abreast with educational research and simply thinking about students and how they are going.

Much of the work for teachers is also about the intangible – it is about fostering that almost indescribable, yet unmistakable connection with the students they teach. For teachers, an awareness about how they are presenting each day, building their classrooms into safe little communities and seeking to find the strength and promise in each of their students, is paramount. They are committed to help each of them engage in real, rigorous and relevant learning that can set them on a path to realising their potential. While it is not something teachers have time to think about much, a great deal of what they are doing also has a much more long-term effect in ways that may not be immediately apparent. It o becomes obvious sometimes at a reunion, for example, when past students reflect on the impact teachers made on them when they were at School and how this influenced them in the years after they left.

Prendergast (2020) of Griffith University alluded to the ability of committed vocationalists to withstand the vagaries of global fortune when she observed “They (teachers) have displayed courage, commitment and capability…they have shown us why they became teachers and confirmed that the fact that teaching is a noble vocation on which the world depend”. There is little doubt that teachers’ expertise and dedication will continue to triumph, in whatever shape post-pandemic education assumes.

Mrs Marise McConaghy, Principal

We have had to be creative and re-imagine events and traditions. There have been many positive experiences, some disappointments and uncertain times but nothing could take the joy from today’s celebrations. 2020 has been a year where we have lived out our motto 'Fortiter – Fideliter – Feliciter'.  Our students and staff have remained Courageous, Faithful, Optimistic and true. Thank you to all of the staff who have supported the girls throughout the year and thank you to all involved who have created such a joyous, memorable last day for our Year 12 students.

Every Year 12 student has had their own journey this year, all have demonstrated strength and commitment. Their experiences this year have been an exceptional learning and as they draw on their strength from this our students are well equipped for learning and life beyond our school gates. We wish the Class of 2020 well as they fulfil their dreams and aspirations. We are so proud to welcome you as our newest and exceptional alumnae!

Ms Tracy Herft, Deputy Principal (Operations)

Each week, these students committed a lunchtime to meet with their teams, prepare their case and team line, and work on individual speeches that were then taken to the inter-school competitions on a Monday afternoon. Not only did our Junior debaters show diligence and determination through this experience alone, but three of the four teams were heralded undefeated across the length of the season. In addition to this exceptional effort, two students, Jessica Field, (Year 7) and Alec Marsland (Year 8), were awarded Top Speaker awards for their impressive persuasive presentations.

I am sure that the students thoroughly enjoyed their time working through this competition, and we are already looking forward to the adventures that the 2021 season may bring.

Mrs Rhiannon Ward, Year 7 Coordinator

In this week's edition, you will find the following information on:

• Dates to Diarise in Term 4
• Reminder: VTAC 2021 Upcoming Key Dates
• New Courses at Bond University
  • Bachelor of Project Management
  • Bachelor of Policy, Philosophy and Economics
• News from Swinburne University
  • Changes in Education Courses
  • Swinburne Design Factory
• Holmesglen Institute – Home of the Victorian Tunnel Centre
• VCE Extension Studies in 2021

Please click here for this week's Career News. To visit the the Careers page or view previous versions of Careers News click here.

Pleasingly, many of our planned creative activities this week have given the girls a chance to re-connect, and spend time together.  In Envision on Tuesday afternoon, all girls painted watercolour scenes from around Tay Creggan and in Wednesday afternoon creative classes - Art,  Music, Drama and Food Tech all proceeded with engaging activities. For girls who have missed a rotation, we are endeavouring to provide further opportunities in Envision time and in our end of year program. Beginning Friday, we will start rotations of five new activities - including making lip balm, felting, jewellery making, graffiti art and cooking. Each girl will do every activity. Even in PE, Ms Liesl Woods has had the girls playing Frisbee golf around the grounds - I have been very entertained by the views outside my window!

Currently in Humanities we are studying Australian History, specifically World War One. Bethany M surprised us by bringing in her Great Grandfather's World War One medals and his enlistment papers. This first-hand glimpse of history encouraged us to think about his experience of war and life as an enlisted man. 

This week we have also let the students know that they will be having a Maths and English exam on Friday 20 November. Each exam will be one hour long, with the main purpose being to practise and learn how to prepare for exams and control exam-related anxiety, rather than to learn large amounts of content. All teachers will prepare the girls thoroughly and will continue to emphasise our aim. Our Heads of Department are keen for Year 9s to have this exposure prior to Year 10 exams next year and for the girls to feel comfortable with the exam process. 

Finally a reminder of the School's COVID-19 policies, particularly what to do if a student is ill. You can find a guide on MyStrathcona.

We are very much looking forward to a positive end to Term 4, fitting in as many experiences and opportunities as we can manage, and enjoying this wonderful Campus.

Mrs Karyn Murray, Head of Tay Creggan

Importantly, throughout the entire process we have stressed to the girls that profit is not our major goal. Much of the process involves acquiring new skills and learning from challenges which arise. To that end, we have awarded the following prizes to recognise achievement:

• Most profitable business - Together Tea: Molly, Bethany K, Pippa and Fiona
• Best customer service - CocoaLoco: Rosie and Micky
• Best pivot - Loyalty Dog Treats: Oli R, Jas, Maddy Ch and Liana
• Most Innovative Product - Paper Walls: Georgia S, Milla  P, Nicole TO, Isa W
• Most Sustainable Business idea - Jungle Jars: Maddy C, Emilia B, Claire M, Leah C
• Best packaging and presentation - Essence of you: Freya, Tamanna, Sarah W, Jess W

Over the next week, the Business Office will transfer profit earnings into the Finance Manager’s bank account for them to divide amongst the team members. Our companies who made over $100 profit will be taxed 10% to be donated to charity, although a few companies built this donation into their business proposition and will donate to a charity of their choice.
 
Our Envision Marketplace team, Audrey, Kate and Meg spent time with numerous alumni and mentors from the Wade Institute this week as part of their prize for winning the Upschool Pitch Competition. They spoke to Master of Entrepreneurship alumnas Madeleine Grummet and Edwina Kolomanski, co-founders GirledWorld and Future Amp, Tia Cummins, who founded VR Corp and Sarah Robertson from Melbourne University who helps to commercialise research undertaken at the University. Laxmi Pun, from the Melbourne Accelerator Manager and Zoe Milne, founder of LoopLearn  also spoke about using accelerator programs to assist entrepreneurship.

Finally, Poppy Trewhalla, Director of Partnerships at Startup Victoria provided an overview of the Victorian startup ecosystem and Startup Victoria as the largest startup community organisation. 

Mrs Karyn Murray, Head of Tay Creggan and Ms Liesl Woods, Health and PE Teacher

All Year 9 students, guided by Meg and Micky, spent the final two weeks of remote learning completing activities in a dress. The results are below: 

• Grenfell - 249 points
• Findlay - 217 points
• Arnold - 89 points
• Gilbert - 44 points

Most Money raised:

• Alyssa M - $156
• Nikki F - $104

Person with the most points:

• Bethany K- 38pts

We have raised $1259 - enough money to educate four girls for a year!!!! This will make a huge difference! 

During each Library session the children participated in a virtual author visit from Anna Walker. They learnt about the process of how characters are created and how these are then developed into life like animations using a variety of 3D models. Anna's illustrations are superb and the girls were certainly inspired by her creativity.

Mrs Lisa Miller, Head of Junior School

The Dobsons Buy Early & Save Sale has been EXTENDED! Continue to save on selected uniform items until Saturday 21 November when you shop with Dobsons.

Shop in-store or online with a $10 flat rate delivery or click and collect. Visit Dobsons to shop online.

*Terms & Conditions apply. Sale available online and in stores. COVID-safe policies are in place for all in store transactions including click and collect.

There are two stages to this: 

1) Early English (novels) and VCE orders: These orders will arrive early December. This allows students to read their novels for English over the summer break in preparation for next year. VCE students can access their texts for their holiday homework.

Early English and VCE orders must be placed online by Monday 9 November through Campion Education and using the four digit code of: J9U6

This link is also available on MyStrathcona.

Parents of Year 10 and 11 students have received an email listing the subjects their daughters are entered in for Years 11 and 12 in 2021. Year 10 students subjects will be confirmed in the coming days.

2) Other orders for Years 7 to 10 will be available from Friday 13 November. Subjects will be confirmed for Year 10s prior to that date.

Mr Ross Phillips, Senior Dean of Learning Futures

This service is very accessible, it preferences our school first and then provides access to buy and sell items with families attending other nearby schools, with many schools using this service. Access to second‐hand textbooks, calculators, stationery, musical equipment, etc is available all year.

More information about this service and what items you can buy and sell can be found here. Families will first need to register with the Sustainable School Shop before accessing what is available.