Newsletter Term 4, Week 6 13 Nov 2020

Also, included is the poem 'Dreamtime Soldiers' written by Ella Battista (Year 10), which we heard this week won the 2020 Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize. As part of her Year 9 Humanities studies last year, Ella was encouraged by Mrs Cathie Waldron to enter the competition. This is quite an auspicious prize and we are delighted for Ella.

At Strathcona, we are passionate about the importance of teaching history and it is a fundamental part of our curriculum. At a time when funding for Humanities in universities is being cut, employers are looking for people who can think critically, write well, analyse and synthesise complex ideas. We will continue to approach our Humanities teaching with rigour and commitment to its importance for our future citizens.

Warm regards
Mrs Marise McConaghy, Principal

Our End of Year program focuses on transitioning into new year levels from both a wellbeing and academic perspective, inviting our new ELC, Prep and Year 7 students to the school for their first time, and farewelling our Year 12 students in their final moments at Strathcona.

This year in the Senior School we have #coLab for Years 7 and 8, leadership and wellbeing programs across the school, Year 9 Envision, a-pART-y Festival for Years 7 to 11 (replacing PAF for this year), and VCE sessions for Years 10 and 11 to prepare for 2021. The Year Level Coordinators and the Heads of House will shortly communicate the specific details with you. We wish the Year 10 and 11 students well as they begin their examinations on Monday.

Ms Tracy Herft, Deputy Principal, Operations

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

• Dates to Diarise in Term 4
• Important VTAC Dates
• Tips for prospective Uni students
• Accessing 2020 VCE Results
• Useful Websites/Links
• 2021 VCE Summer School Programs
• the GIG Economy
• The Australian Defence Force Cyber Gap Program

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

On Tuesday, I spent Pastoral time discussing the Year 9 exam day with the girls. We are very keen for students to view this exam experience as an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the exam process, gathering the correct equipment and approaching the day in a calm and determined fashion. Both their Maths and English teachers are taking them through a series of revision lessons, discussing ways to revise that are specific to each subject, and today all students received a paper copy of Andrew Fuller's How to Study and Thrive in tests and exams. In my experience, introducing students to a range of preparation techniques and encouraging good study habits in Year 9 makes the journey ahead far smoother and more manageable. 

We are also back in the Science lab - lab coats on, refracting light in Science and in Envision, making lip balm. It is nice to see the girls actively involved in Science and working together to produce some great outcomes. I think that the lip balm has been a hit. Also receiving praise for its inventive layout - and even more creative scoring, is the PE mini golf course through the house. Fair to say that more than a few shots were not counted as the girls played the course this week. 

For Remembrance Day on Wednesday we live streamed the Service from Main School. Following an overview of World War One from Mr Scott Sweeney, students read the poem In Flanders Field and paid homage to those who sacrificed their lives. It was particularly beneficial for Year 9s this year as we are just concluding our World War One unit. My Humanities class was able to observe a minute's silence and then debate war reparations and learn more about the Treaty of Versailles and the celebrations on Armistice Day. In all my years of teaching - I have never the day and the lesson coincide. It felt like a win!

Next week, the Tay Creggan kitchen will once again be available for student use at recess and lunchtime providing we follow a few COVID-related rules. 

Enjoy your weekend,

Karyn 

LEGO Creation Station

Next year as part of our new Design Lab in the Junior School we are installing a LEGO Creation Station. This is an area where all of the girls from P-6 will have opportunities to test ideas and design prototypes using LEGO. If you have any boxes of LEGO in your homes that are no longer in use, we would love it if you could please donate these to the Design Lab!!

Ms Lisa Miller, Head of Junior School

Teachers have also been preparing a Transition Learning and Development Statement (TLDS) for your child as required by the Department of Education. This has been designed to assist families, early childhood services and schools in providing an effective and positive transition process. 

In the following week, teachers will invite families to review the written sections and contribute to the transition statement in the family section. Whilst contribution is not compulsory, we encourage families to reflect on the children’s learning from home experience. It is important to remember that children have developed a range of skills and abilities from all their experiences this year whether from home or at the ELC. We value the importance of having that connection to home and of the children sharing their learning and thank you for your support. If you have further queries in regards to the Transition Statement, please discuss this with your classroom teacher.

Mrs Jo Dowling, Director Early Learning Centre

On Saturday 7 November marked the start of community sport for our students and the commencement of the Saturday Netball Spring Fling competition. For the next four week we have nine teams across Years 5 through to Year 11 participating in the netball competition at Macleay Park. It was great to see the students back on court playing netball and enjoying being able to take part in sport again.

Ms Gayle Burgi, Saturday Netball Coordinator

Booklists are available through Campion Education and to access the lists use the four digit code of: J9U6.

The link is also available on the parent portal on MyStrathcona through clicking Learning, then Booklist.

• Prep to Year 2 orders are due by Wednesday 2 December and will be distributed by the class teachers next year.
• Year 3 to Year 6 orders are due by Wednesday 9 December and will be delivered to your home in January.
• Year 7 to 10 orders are due by Wednesday 9 December and will be available for booking following the close of the Early English and VCE orders next Monday.

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.

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.