ISSUE 02 2026
Term 1, Week 4
Agency & Engagement Report
School Captain Introductions
Welcome BBQ Recap & Shout Outs!
Communication Policy
What’s on @ The Lakes
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
COLLEGE REPORT JACKIE GREAVES AGENCY & ENGAGEMENT
1
College Report
3
Student Perspective
Welcome back to all students, staff, families, and members of our wider school community! It has been a wonderful start to 2026, with students settling in exceptionally well and approaching the year with positivity and enthusiasm. We are looking forward to a successful and rewarding year of learning, growth, and connection together. A special thank you to our families who attended the whole school assembly and joined us on Meet and Greet Day. Your involvement strengthens our partnership and helps set our students up for a successful year ahead.
4
School Council Report
6 Term 1 Calendar
7
What’s on @ The Lakes
8
Curriculum
9
Policy Spotlight
The Lakes South Morang College respectfully acknowledges that beneath the significant River Red Gums that feature across our school's landscape lay the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri-Willam people of the Kulin Nation.
10
Community Noticeboard
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter COLLEGE REPORT
We have so many exciting things happening in 2026 especially our Development Programs and New Student Leadership Structure.
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Our Athlete, Artist and Dance Development Programs commenced this week. These programs provide an exciting opportunity for students in Years 7–9 to further develop their skills in their chosen fields, work alongside elite coaches, performers and artists, and visit high-performance and professional settings to learn from the best in the industry. Students involved in these programs attend a dedicated early-morning session on either Tuesdays or Fridays, demonstrating a strong commitment to their growth and development. We extend our sincere thanks to Ms Friend, Mrs Solaja and Mr Serra for their outstanding efforts in designing, organising and delivering these exceptional programs for our students. NEW STUDENT LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE In 2026, we are proud to introduce a redesigned student leadership structure aimed at strengthening student voice, agency, and ownership of learning across both our Primary and Secondary Campus. This new model will see the introduction of Community Action Teams, led by Year 12 Captains on the Secondary Campus and Year 6 Captains on the Primary Campus. These teams have been designed to empower students to take an active role in shaping their learning environment, contributing to school culture, and leading positive change within our community. By providing meaningful leadership opportunities and amplifying student voice, this structure supports the development of confident, capable, and engaged learners who feel a strong sense of belonging and responsibility within our college.
Learning Leaders - is a student leadership role designed to strengthen learning culture, promote high expectations, and empower students to take an active role in improving teaching and learning across the college. Leaders in this action team will model curiosity, responsibility, and excellence while working collaboratively with staff and peers to create a positive and engaging learning environment. Wellbeing Leaders – is a student leadership role and will assist in promoting a positive, inclusive, and thriving school culture. Leaders in this action team are focused on strengthening student wellbeing, fostering connections across the school community, and leading initiatives that support a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all students. Events Leaders – is a student leadership role that will assist in shaping the culture, spirit, and connectedness of the college by leading the planning, organisation, and delivery of student-focused events. Leaders in this action team will be empowered to take an
active role in creating memorable experiences that bring the school community together.
Communication Leaders - is a student leadership role designed to ensure student voice is clearly heard across the college by leading high-quality, consistent and inclusive communication. Leaders in this action team are responsible for managing, promoting and celebrating student-led initiatives, achievements, events and important messages through a range of platforms.
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
We congratulate the following students on their appointment as Captains and commend them on their commitment to leadership, service, and making a positive impact. We look forward to the energy, ideas, and leadership they will bring to their roles throughout the year. Students from Years 1-5 and 7-11 will have the opportunity to apply to be part of the following leadership teams. These positions will be announced in the coming weeks.
2026 STUDENT LEADERS
Secondary Captains
Adele S & Zaf P
Secondary Vice Captains
Carmel S & Omar K
Oscar L, Hamza Z, Thaemela S & Siena C
Primary Captains
Primary - Beatrice R Secondary: Hasti K
Learning Captains
PRIMARY CAPTAINS Oscar L, Hamza Z, Thaemela S & Siena C
Wellbeing Captains
Primary: Cohen V Secondary: Ben A
Primary: Misha M & Avery E Secondary: Taylor V
Events Captains
Communication Captains
Primary: Madha K Secondary: Olivia T
We look forward to working with our amazing students and we are excited for a fantastic year of learning, leadership, and community.
Mrs Greaves Learning Specialist – Student Agency &Engagement
SECONDARY CAPTAINS Adele S & Zaf P
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter SCHOOL COUNCIL REPORT
It was wonderful to see such a strong turnout at the Parent Fundraising Team’s annual Welcome BBQ & Picnic on Friday 6 February. The afternoon had a fantastic community spirit, with families staying back after school, spreading out picnic blankets and chairs, and reconnecting as we welcomed new families to The Lakes. More than 200 students and their families enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon with a BBQ sausage sizzle, popcorn, inflatable activities, hair braiding, face painting, and a teachers- versus-students basketball game. The crowd favourite, as always, was the water-dunk station, where students lined up for their chance to dunk a teacher! A huge thank you to our staff for volunteering and creating such great banter and playful rivalry between students and teachers. A huge thank you to our wonderful parent/carer volunteers who cooked up a storm on the BBQ, served popcorn, fairy floss, drinks and sausages, gathered supermarket donations, did all the shopping legwork, organised the activities, ran them on the day, and helped with setting up and packing down. Our parent volunteers are truly incredible, generously giving their time to help make events like this possible. A big shout-out as well to the staff who supported the event both on the day and behind the scenes. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge and thank the below organisations whose support and generous contributions to the event are appreciated: A special thank you to Primary parent Borce Jurukovski, who attended with his food truck and kindly donated all proceeds to the school. Coles Supermarkets (Mill Park Lakes); Woolworths Supermarkets (South Morang Central, Plenty Valley, Rivergum, Mill Park & Epping North); and Whittlesea Bowls Club I would also like to acknowledge our community members who held stalls and Proactivity and Suzie Starface who both are always a dream to work with. Hope everyone has had a smooth start to the school year and Fundraising looks forward to seeing everyone at the next event!
Amanda Farrelly School Council President
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter TERM 1 CALENDAR
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
Jan 26
Jan 27
Jan 28
Jan 29
Jan 30
Week 1
Australia Day Public Holiday
Curriculum Day All Day
P-12 Meet & Greet Day 10.30am - 6.30pm VCE Information 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Term 1 Begins All Day
Elevate Incursions Secondary Campus
Feb 06
Feb 02
Feb 03
Feb 04
Feb 05
Week 2
Whole school Assembly 11.45am - 12.45pm Welcome Back BBQ 3.15pm - 5.30pm Year 5/6 Interschool Sport 9am - 11am
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am
Feb 09
Feb 10
Feb 11
Feb 12
Feb 13
Week 3
Year 5/6 Interschool Sport 9am - 11am
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am
Primary Assembly 9.15am
Feb 16
Feb 17
Feb 18
Feb 19
Feb 20
Week 4
Curriculum Day All Day
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am
Athlete Development Program Dance Development Program
Wakakirri Rehearsals
Art Enrichment Program
School Council Meeting 5pm
Feb 23
Feb 24
Feb 25
Feb 26
Feb 28
Week 5
Year 5/6 Interschool Sport 9am - 11am Artist Development Program Secondary Campus Tour 9.15am
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am
Primary Assembly 9.15am
Athlete Development Program Dance Development Program
Wakakirri Rehearsals
Resilience Project Primary Information Session 6.30pm - 7.30pm Art Enrichment Program
Mar 02
Mar 03
Mar 04
Mar 05
Mar 06
Week 6
Year 9 Media Excursion All Day Wakakirri Rehearsals Art Enrichment Program
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am
Athlete Development Program Dance Development Program
Artist Development Program
Year 5/6 Interschool Sport 9am - 11am
Mar 13
Mar 09
Mar 10
Mar 11
Mar 12
Week 7
Year 5/6 Interschool Sport 9am - 11am Artist Development Program
Wakakirri Rehearsals Art Enrichment Program
Labour Day Public Holiday
P-12 Learner Reviews 10.30am - 6.30pm
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am
NAPLAN Testing
Secondary Campus Tour 9.15am
Mar 16
Mar 17
Mar 18
Mar 19
Mar 20
Week 8
Year 8 Volleyball All Day
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am
Athlete Development Program Dance Development Program
Wakakirri Rehearsals Art Enrichment Program
Artist Development Program
Year 5/6 Interschool Sport 9am - 11am
Year 2 Excursion All Day
VCE Art Excursion All Day
Year 9 Dance Excursion All Day
Mar 23
Mar 24
Mar 25
Mar 26
Mar 27
Week 9
Primary Student Leadership Excursion All Day Wakakirri Rehearsals Art Enrichment Program
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am Whole School Photos All Day
Primary Assembly 9.15am Year 4 Excursion 9.15am
Year 5/6 Interschool Sport 9am - 11am Artist Development Program Secondary Campus Tour 9.15am
Athlete Development Program Dance Development Program
Year 5/6 VIA Incursion All Day VCE Drama Excursion All Day
Intermediate Volleyball All Day
Mar 30
Mar 31
Apr 01
Apr 02
Apr 03
Week 10
Whole School Athletics Carnival 9.30am - 3.00pm
Primary Breaky Club 8.15am - 8.45am Student Leadership Excursion ALL DAY
Primary Assembly 9.15am
Good Friday Public Holiday
Athlete Development Program Dance Development Program
1.15pm End of Term Dismissal
Whole School
Primary
Secondary
College Events
Assessment
Pupil Free Days
WHAT’S ON @ THE LAKES
SCHOOL PHOTO DAY
Wednesday 25 March, 2026 th Information to come out via Compass
SECONDARY CAMPUS TOURS Secondary Campus Front Office 9:15am TERM 1 DATES Friday February 13 . Friday February 27 Friday March 13 . Friday March 27
WHOLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
Monday 30 March, 2026 th
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter CURRICULUM
EVERY DAY COUNTS
At The Lakes South Morang College, we prioritise regular school attendance. We will work with families to ensure students are in class with their peers and teachers and enjoying all the benefits that brings. Attending school every day means experiencing what counts – the learning, friendship, fun and opportunities that can shape your child’s future. For example: if a student misses just 1 day of school a fortnight, this means they miss half a year of schooling throughout their Secondary School journey. We understand that there are times when your young people will need to miss school but to ensure minimal disruption to their education, please consider scheduling family holidays or medical/dental appointments outside of school time. If your child is well enough to attend but is worried about friendships, schoolwork or exams, please encourage them to come to school. Avoiding school can make these feelings worse and make it harder to reengage. If your child is having difficulty attending school, please reach out to their learning coach or year level coordinator to chat about the supports that we have available. Some families may be invited in to develop an Attendance Support Plan to help their young person attend school more regularly. We know that parents and carers can be juggling challenges daily to get your young people to school. If your child must miss school, notify us as soon as possible via Compass or over the phone on 9404 9000 so we can work together to support them. For more information about the importance of everyday attendance, see the Department of Education’s Attendance and Missing School policy.
Remember, Every Day Counts.
Cam Taylor Learning Specialist- Student Agency & Engagement
POLICY SPOTLIGHT
COMMUNICATION POLICY https://www.thelakes.edu.au/uploads/8/3/9/0/83901006/communication_policy_2024.pdf
The Lakes South Morang College aims to build a community where all members – students, families and staff are able to communicate with integrity in an honest and respectful manner. The development of a partnership where all are valued, connected and informed are primary considerations. The Lakes South Morang College Communication Policy provides guidelines for the provision of effective formal and informal communication between the College and our school community. Therefore it is essential that all members of the community consider and incorporate the school Values and protocols when communicating information so as to: preserve the professionalism of the school, protect the rights of individuals, uphold our duty of care to students, and comply with departmental and legal requirements.
Successful communication strategies are an integral part of building The Lakes South Morang College’s reputation and image, both within our community and the wider public.
The Lakes South Morang College is committed to:
Promoting a friendly, collaborative and cooperative relationship between students, parents/carers and teachers. Listening and respecting both students’ and parents’/ carers’ ideas, opinions and suggestions. Providing opportunities for parents/carers to share information both formally and informally with the College. Nurturing a spirit of respect and cooperation between students, parents/carers, and the College. Providing an environment that is sensitive to the cultural and social values of families and the community. Ensuring confidential information is managed in a manner consistent with community expectations, professional standards and legal obligations.
Policies are available to all families via our website http://www.thelakes.edu.au/policies--reports.html
PARENT/CARER COMMUNICATION
STEP 1:
IMPORTANT REMINDERS: Please do not contact multiple staff at once
START Parent/Carer needs to contact the school about their child
Contact your child’s LEARNER COACH first (via Compass Chat or Email)
Compass is the primary communication platform
This process supports timely, consistent communication
NO
Has the matter been resolved?
Learner Coach will:
Escalate the matter if required Refer to the appropriate staff member Support next steps in communication
YES
No further action required
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
OFFICE HOURS AT THE LAKES Parents/carers are welcome in our office areas when they are making payments, bringing a child in late or picking up a sick child from sick bay. Students are not to use these areas before school or after school. The Lakes South Morang College’s grounds are supervised by College staff from 8:50am until 3:15 (Secondary Campus), or 3:30pm (Primary Campus). Outside of these hours, College staff will not be available to supervise students. If a student is not collected before supervision finishes at the end of the day, the Principal or nominee staff member will consider whether it is appropriate to: attempt to contact the parents/carers attempt to contact the emergency contacts place the student in an out of school hours care program (Primary Campus only) contact Victoria Police and/or Child Protection to arrange for the supervision, care and protection of the student.
BELONGINGS, AMBULANCE & INSURANCE Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department of Education does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage. Parents and carers are reminded that the Department of Education does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents and carers of students who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs. CSEF (CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND) The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps, and sporting activities. If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card, or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families. Payment amounts this year are $150.00 for eligible primary school students and $250.00 for eligible secondary school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions, and sporting activities for the benefit of your child. Prep and Year 7 government school students who are CSEF recipients are also eligible for a uniform voucher. Schools are required to make applications on behalf of parents, so please register your interest at the school. It is important that funding made available in 2026 supports students to participate in school trips, camps, and sporting activities this year rather than being held for future years. This funding can also be used in conjunction with any funding accrued from previous years. If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. If you would like to apply for the first time, please contact the College on 9404 9000 and ask for an application form. You can also download the form, and find out more about the program and eligibility, on the Department of Education and Training’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund web page. Check with the school office if you are unsure, and please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible.
Please also be aware that both the Primary and Secondary Campus offices will close at 4:00 pm each day.
Please support us in making sure all students are safe.
ATTENDANCE - EVERY DAY COUNTS If you are aware that your child will not be attending school due to illness or other circumstances, please contact either office to ensure our attendance records are accurate.
Ways of communicating absences include: Placing a future Absence Request through the Compass
Education Portal; Calling the office;
As required by the Department of Education, all schools must notify parents/carers informing that their child is absent. Please inform the office of absences before 10am each morning.
Please call 9404 9000 if you have a service or upcoming event you would like to promote through our Newsletter.
PHOTOGRAPHING, RECORDING AND FILMING CONSENT thelakes.edu.au/uploads/8/3/9/0/83901006/photographing_filming___recording_of_students_policy_2024.pdf
The Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Consent Form is provided by The Lakes South Morang College at enrolment. Recent Departmental changes to this policy mean that this now only has to be completed once during your child’s educational journey at The Lakes. As a component of our transition to Compass, all families across the College will be sent a message on Compass or contacted by a member of staff in regards to Permission to Publish for your child provided at enrolment. If at any time parents/carers wish to give or withdraw their consent, they can by contacting the College or completing the form below.
NO HAT - NO PLAY We will be enforcing our ‘No Hat, No Play’ policy in Term 1 on the Primary Campus. Wide-brimmed hats (with the school logo), are available at the uniform shop.
YEAR 5/6 NOTEBOOK PROGRAM - 2026 We’re writing to inform you of an important change to our technology program for Year 5 and 6 students starting in 2026. After careful consideration and in consultation with the School Council and broader school community, The Lakes South Morang College has made the decision to transition from iPads to Windows touchscreen notebook computers for students in Years 5 and 6. This move aligns our Primary and Secondary learning experiences and brings our technology use in line with most primary schools across Victoria, who have already adopted Windows-based programs. It also ensures our students are better prepared for the digital expectations of Year 7 and beyond. Why Are We Transitioning to Notebooks? While iPads have served many learning purposes, they are limited in supporting the broader skills needed in upper primary and secondary education. Windows-based touchscreen notebooks: Offer a full desktop computing experience Support keyboard proficiency and multitasking Provide compatibility with the software and systems used from Year 7 onwards Offer improved file management, software flexibility, and better integration with our college systems Devices purchased through our approved portals will be
ROAD SAFETY AROUND THE LAKES SOUTH MORANG COLLEGE The Lakes South Morang College is situated near busy roads with heavy traffic throughout the day, with particular attention to the front of our school, where we have several busy intersections and shared pathways with Coles, Collingwood Language School, Merriang SDS and the Kinder. We strongly remind all families that students must always use the designated school crossings. We are increasingly noticing students exiting or entering vehicles while crossing or weaving through traffic, which poses a serious risk. Please use the designated drop-off zones and encourage your child to cross only at supervised crossings. Holding your child’s hand near roads and vehicles is a simple but effective way to support their safety. Please also take the time to talk with your child about how to stay safe near parked cars, footpaths, and driveways. Please note that the designated entry and exit gate on Lakes Boulevard will be closed in Term 1. This is due to construction on The Lakes South Morang College Kinder. Students and parents/carers are asked to either enter/exit the school through the Gordons Road gate or the front office.
supported at The Lakes in Years 7 and beyond. Support stylus use for handwriting and drawing
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
LUNCH ORDERS: Download the app to setup an account and select The Lakes South Morang College. Orders need to be in by 9am on the day.
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
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