Welcome to issue 2 of the college newsletter for 2023! IN THIS ISSUE: - Reflections from students in Year 6 & 7 - Why is STEM important & how we are embracing it at The Lakes - Visitor Policy at The Lakes - Staying Safe Online
THE LAKES SOUTH MORANG COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2022 - ISSUE 10 Date 00, 2022
Term 1, Week 5 Issue 02 - 2023
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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.
Principal Welcome
1
Student Perspective
3
College Connections
4
Primary Campus Awards
6
Policy Spotlight
7
PRINCIPAL WELCOME
Active School Survey
7
Tech Zone
8
BONNIE LEE ACTING SECONDARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Social Scene
9
What ’ s on @ The Lakes
10
Community Noticeboard
11
Hello Lakes families!
Summer has certainly arrived, albeit a bit late! The warmer weather has perfectly coincided with the installation of new shade sails on both campuses. Teachers and students have worked wonderfully together to beat the heat, and we have seen appropriate changes to scheduled lessons to accommodate for the sweltering afternoons. We remind all young people across both campuses to be sun - smart, remain well hydrated and use shade wherever possible during these hot days. What an incredible beginning to the school year, jam packed full of learning opportunities for young people. The number of excursion, incursion and camp requests being submitted by teachers across the College is at an all - time high! Expect to see many exciting opportunities begin to appear in your Sentral Portals for approval. In the last fortnight alone, we have had Year 9 Morrisby testing, Senior Volleyball, Year 11 Chemistry class visiting the Wollert Landfill facility, and Year 8’ s visiting ACMI. Next week we have Junior Volleyball, Resilience workshops, and Melbourne Polytechnic Trade Taster sessions.
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE:
• Reflections from students in Year 6 & 7
• Why is STEM important & how we are embracing it at The Lakes
SECONDARY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
• Visitor Policy at The Lakes
Congratulations to the following students who have been appointed to Leadership Roles on the Secondary Campus. We look forward to working with them and encourage their contributions to the College.
• Staying Safe Online
Peer Support Leaders
Jaxson S, Emma M, Ajang D, Cailin D, Aiden J & James T
Secondary Campus 80 Jardier Terrace, South
House Captains
Beachley : Kianah S & Adele S
Morang 3752 (03) 9401 3919
Evans : Mason O & Rokaya B
Jackson : Polina B & Olivia C
Rafter : Ryan A & Takura M
Primary Campus 275 Gordons Road, South Morang 3752 (03) 9400 9000
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter PRINCIPAL WELCOME
Over the next week or two, Learning Coaches will be checking - in with young people to review and monitor the goals that they set at the start of the term. These will again be monitored in week 10. This initiative empowers students to set SMART goals for themselves, and then work towards activating and achieving these intentions by the end of the semester. Learning Coaches will help to ensure students are progressing as planned and provide supports where necessary. This initiative aligns with Departmental priorities around Student Agency over learning, and more specifically to The Lakes priority areas of high expectations, academic rigour and improved wellbeing. This week, Mariam, our Mental Health Practitioner, ran a staff workshop on mental wellbeing. She shared with us some research from Dr Adam Fraser, who talks about navigating micro - transitions throughout the day. As teachers, as parents and as students, we must transition our ‘ headspace ’ and our thinking many times throughout the day. Sometimes these transitions take place seamlessly, other times we may experience a trigger or hiccup in our day that is hard for us to shake. Dr Adam Fraser talks about using ‘ The Third Space ’ as a way to transition between the many and varied moments that we jump between throughout our day. This session was a great reminder to us as educators to be mindful of the way we operate throughout our micro - transitions, but also to support young people in our classrooms to understand how they navigate their own ‘ third spaces ’. I highly recommend you check out Dr Adam ’ s website and/or YouTube videos. https://dradamfraser.com/ College council this week approved pupil - free and Parent/Carer - Teacher Interview dates for 2023. These are currently being collated and will be sent to all families in the coming days to allow you to lock them into your calendar, arrange for child caring responsibilities on those days, and for some families an opportunity to plan for some exciting family experiences and holidays (with some three day weekends ahead!) Upcoming dates to plan for in the short - term include Secondary Parent/Carer - Teacher Interviews (coinciding with a Secondary campus pupil - free day) on the 7th March, and the Primary Parent/Carer - Teacher Interviews (coinciding with a Primary campus pupil - free day) on the 4th April. These Parent/Carer - Teacher Interviews will be offered as hybrid sessions, allowing those who wish to come to the school an opportunity to meet teachers face - to - face, and those preferring to meet online the opportunity to do so. As a College we have made no secret in our intent to continue to build connections (both within the school and externally) and seek feedback to enact change that makes The Lakes not only the ‘ Happy Place ’, but also the engaging, exciting and safe place. Interviews have been held this week for formal student leadership opportunities across the College. Additionally, plans are underway to hold regular opportunities for both students and parents/ carers to meet with the Principal team to offer feedback and suggestions for improvement. These, combined with our College Council, will ensure that we are clearly understanding the needs of our College community, and responding appropriately. Despite still being in February, we are planning for our key transition points for 2024 – Kinder to Foundation, Year 6 - 7, Year 9 to Senior School and Year 12 and beyond. We have a range of school tours, information sessions and communications that we will begin rolling out in the coming weeks to support families at all of these transition points to help them make informed decisions about their child ’ s education moving forward.
With thanks
Bonnie
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
YEAR 6 REFLECTION HANAN & MIA C YEAR 6 SRC
On Monday 6th February, the Year 6 students went on an excursion to Earth Ed, in Ballarat. This excursion linked in with our Inquiry unit, Change Detectives. Change Detectives is about the 3 states of matter - solids, liquids and gases. We learnt about physical and chemical changes and got to do lots of different experiments. We learnt about solids, liquids and gases and how they change in different ways. We learnt about the way solids, liquids and gases change under different situations, for example, heating and cooling. We learnt about reversible changes, including melting, freezing, evaporating, and irreversible, including burning. We got to do hands - on experiments and had to investigate which teacher was the thief of the group, which ended up being Michelle B!
CAMP REFLECTION KIARA, HAYLEY & MIA YEAR 7 STUDENTS
On Wednesday the 8th of February the Year 7’ s and the Year 9’ s went to camp. We went to Phillip Island for camp. When we arrived there was a beach 700m away from the campsite. We arrived around 11:30 and when we got there we had lunch and unpacked all our bags from the bus. We then went in the pool from 2:00 – 4:00. After we had enjoyed our 2 hours in the pool we got ready for our first activity. The activities were circatron, flying fox, giant swing, archery and rock climbing. Then we had afternoon tea and free time to explore the campsite. After free time it was time for dinner, we had chicken schnitzels which weren ’ t the best! As we finished dinner we had free time for a little bit before our trivia night. Each table had a group name and the questions consisted of music, movies, and general knowledge. We then had a little bit of free time before we got ready for bed and lights out. The next day we woke up for breakfast that was toast and cereal, pretty boring I know. After breakfast we got ready for our next activity at 9:30. We then had another activity and after we had morning tea, next we had another activity and then we had lunch which was tacos and then we got ready to go to the beach. After we walked to the beach and we were there for around an hour. We walked back and went into the pool at 3:45. We were there for an hour and then we had free time until dinner and after dinner the Year 9’ s had activities planned for us like tug of war, glow stick hunting and hide and seek. It was then lights out at 10. In the morning after breakfast we cleaned our cabins and packed our bags and got our bags out by 9:30. We then did our last activity, had free time ate lunch which was meat pies or sausage rolls and after lunch we were on our way back to school.
Hi my name is Hayley and I ’ m here to tell you about what we did at camp, first the bus driver packed our suitcases in the under compartment, the bus ride took around 2 to 3 hours but the view on the way there was lovely! When we got there the nice workers there greeted us very kindly. We put our suitcases in this little room because we didn ’ t have our cabins yet. We all saw the pool and we were very excited but we had to have our lunch first, after we ate our lunch we all got a choice to get showed around the campsite or go in the pool, some of us had to go get changed to go in the pool but we had to wait until people were finished getting changed so we could get dressed. We all had fun in the pool but then it was time to get out, get changed and start our first activity. We finally got introduced into our cabins and we grabbed all of our stuff and went into our cabins, our year 7 cabins were really big. The first night the year 7 girls decided to put all our mattresses together for the first night but we were too loud. The night after we did the same thing because we got a second chance and this time we didn ’ t get in trouble. All I have to say is we all had a fun time and the beach was the best part of the whole camp. Hayley B
Kiara W
Hi, I ’ m Mia and I went to the 7’ s and 9’ s camp. Camp was amazing and I really enjoyed it. My favourite parts of camp was the Giant Swing, the pool and the games the Year 9s made for us. Thank you. Mia MK
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter COLLEGE CONNECTIONS WHY IS STEM IMPORTANT?
STEM skills are crucial for Australia ’ s changing future The world is changing around us. Digital technology has become a core part of our everyday lives. Advances in technology impact everything, especially the world of work. Entire job sectors are emerging or disappearing, and workforces are rushing to keep up with change. Automation and globalisation are changing the way we think about, and define, careers. Employment is becoming fluid, and people will go from having one profession to several in their working life. These may be entirely different roles, across entirely different sectors. As the world of work changes, we will need to change our skills to match. The gap between the knowledge generated in the education system and the skills demanded by employers and individuals is widening. Overcoming these limitations requires a priority focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including the development of workplace skills in STEM. Future careers will also rely heavily on ‘21 st century skills ’ — for example, critical thinking, creativity, cultural awareness, collaboration and problem - solving. When done well, STEM education complements the development of 21st century skills. It ’ s predicted that future workers will spend more than twice as much time on job tasks requiring science, maths and critical thinking than today. It ’ s vital that Australia keeps pace with technological change to advance its economy and prosperity. Without adequate STEM skills and understanding in Australia, there is a risk that companies searching for these skills will be forced to set up elsewhere. But if we prepare Australians for the jobs of the future, we will enjoy a thriving cycle of jobs and opportunities. STEM learning is also important for students in their everyday life in our contemporary world, with the rise of new technologies in biomedicine, microfabrication, robotics and artificial intelligence. The ability to understand and apply data, and develop solutions to complex problems, will be important life skills.
WE NEED A COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO CHANGE AUSTRALIA ’ S FUTURE IN STEM Industry and education both play a key role in changing Australia ’ s future. They can:
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Support students to understand the realities and needs of the STEM workforce.
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Prepare students for the big career challenges and opportunities ahead.
Schools, businesses and other groups have already started working together to create STEM programs to improve student outcomes in STEM. But there is more work to do. Together, industry and education can work to improve Australia ’ s STEM future. There are lots of others who can make important contributions, too. Many not - for - profit groups and community organisations support STEM education, or would like to. Parents also play a critical role in shaping the attitudes of young people and helping them succeed.
Original article published:
www.education.gov.au/australian - curriculum/national - stem - education - resources - toolkit/introductory - material - what - stem/why - stem - important
STEM ON PRIMARY On the Primary campus students have been introduced to STEM and its interdisciplinary approach to learning that
integrates the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics. Through STEM, students develop their skills in problem solving, creativity, teamwork, independent thinking and are introduced to careers that utilise these skills. Students have been undertaking projects that use the engineering design process to allow them to further extend on their knowledge.
FULL STEAM AHEAD!
Letitia has:
• Worked to develop partnerships with local businesses to directly connect student learning to the real world and create unique job opportunities. • Brought new, high - quality industry - standard tools and programs into the school to build excitement and engagement in design and technology.
• Actively promoted the technologies subject through running a variety of innovative incursions
The Lakes is delighted to congratulate Letitia on winning the Design & Technology Teachers' Association of Victoria ’ s New to Technologies Teaching award. Letitia, a member of The Lakes STEM team, has developed an incredible working relationship with the Whittlesea Tech School, who nominated her for this very prestigious award.
• Facilitated and ran excursions for Year 7, 9 & 10 in partnership with the Whittlesea Tech School
• Run hands on learning wellbeing programs in mixed year level groups.
• Advocated for the inclusion of Technology subjects and increased enrolments in Design and Technology for 2023. Promoted tech subjects through School Magazine Inspire article. • Run lunch - time technology group twice a week to provide multiple opportunities for students to get into the Technology space and be creative. • Developed a subject called 21st Century Design which answered three big questions "how can we make the world a better place?" "How can we make our community a better place?" and "How can we make the school a better place?" Demonstrating that the work students complete in D&T has the potential to have a meaningful change in the school and broader community.
Letitia's background includes both English, STEM and Art, making her an all rounder STEAM teacher in the College.
In her nomination, The Whittlesea Tech School remarked:
Letitia has embedded the design thinking process in the classroom as a framework for project - based learning. Not only does this teach the design thinking process but embodies the mindset of a design thinker. She understands her students' needs and prototypes classroom ideas with the aim of improving them through student feedback. She should be commended on her approach to teaching technologies because she practices what she teaches to the students.
Congratualtions Letitia!
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter PRIMARY CAMPUS AWARDS
LEARNER OF THE WEEK
Prep A
Prep B
Prep C
Dayan L
Anorah C
Savannah W
1A
1B
Chelsea J
Remi T
2A
2B
Isaac A
Aleen A
3A
3B
Beatrice R
Wren F
4A
4B
Kenzi E
Tyler B
5A
5B
5C
Alex M
Jasper O
Sienna T
6A
6B
6C
Ashwin B
Kasak C
Harry S
LIFESTYLE AWARDS
Sport
Art
STEM
Prep
Charlotte J
Emily N
Connor D
Year 1
Ray T
Remi T
Bea C
Year 2
Agam S
Agam S
Olivia S
Year 3
Wren F
Thaemela S
Ryan L
Year 4
Tania F
Tyson C
Fletcher U
Year 5
Hunter E
Rhythm W
Hunter E
Year 6
Tessa B
Maison F
Tijana M
NEXT ASSEMBLY DATES:
Week 7: Friday 10th March
Week 9: Friday 24th March
POLICY SPOTLIGHT
VISITORS POLICY
http://www.thelakes.edu.au/uploads/8/3/9/0/83901006/visitors_policy_2022.pdf
The Lakes strives to create an open and inclusive College community, and encourages parents and carers to be actively involved in their child ’ s development and education. We also strive to foster strong partnerships with local community services, schools and other organisations. From time to time, different members of the public may visit our College. Visitors may include, but are not limited to:
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Tradespeople
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Children ’ s services agencies
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Department of Families, Fairness and Housing workers
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Victoria Police
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Parents/carers
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Persons authorised to enter College premises (e.g. Worksafe inspectors, health officers etc) • Other Department of Education and Training staff (including allied health staff) or contractors
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Volunteers – see our College ’ s Volunteers Policy for more information
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Prospective parents/carers, students and employees
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NDIS therapists or other allied health or health practitioners
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Invited speakers, sessional instructors and others addressing learning and development
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All visitors to The Lakes are required to report to the Campus Administration office on arrival. Where the College ’ s Child Safety Code of Conduct is available and visible to visitors when they sign in.
Public officials (e.g. Members of Parliament, local councillors)
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Persons conducting business e.g.: uniform suppliers, booksellers, official College photographers, commercial salespeople
Policies are available to all families via the Sentral Portal (under Resources) or via our website http://www.thelakes.edu.au/policies -- reports.html
ACTIVE SCHOOL SURVEY PRIMARY & SECONDARY CAMPUSES
Dear parents and carers
The survey is for students from years 5 to 12 (or equivalent) and will take 5 to 10 minutes to complete. It is voluntary and no identifying information will be collected. You and your child will be asked to provide consent at the start of the survey. Please read the information sheet provided and discuss the survey with your child. By following the survey link below you will find everything you need for your child to take part. If you are happy for your child to participate, please complete the survey as soon as possible.
Your child is invited to take part in an online survey about how supported they feel to be physically active at school. Synergistiq, an independent research company, is collecting this information as part of an evaluation of the Active Schools initiative funded by the Department of Education. The Active Schools initiative supports schools to promote physical activity and provide more opportunities for students to be active during the school day.
Feedback from students is important to make sure programs like these can best support students to be active and learn well.
Student survey: https://synergistiq.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cOVxAAj6x5KnWDk
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter TECH ZONE
STAYING SAFE ONLINE
We live in a digital world where devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets have become an integral part of our daily lives. With the increasing use of technology, it's essential to ensure that we are taking good care of our devices to keep them working properly and to stay safe online. In this article, we will share some tips and tricks to help you care for your devices and maintain their longevity.
Keep your devices clean: Regular cleaning of your devices with a microfiber cloth can keep them free of dust and debris, and extend their lifespan. Ensure that you avoid using water or harsh chemicals, as these can cause permanent damage to your devices.
Use a durable case: Devices are vulnerable to physical damage, and a single drop can result in expensive repairs or replacements. To avoid this, use a sturdy and durable case to protect your devices from scratches and other physical damage.
Regularly update your software: Keeping your software updated ensures that your device has the latest security patches and bug fixes. It also helps to improve the performance of your device.
Be cautious online: With the increasing use of technology, online scams and frauds have become a major concern. Never share your personal information online and be cautious of emails or messages from unknown sources. It's always best to check with a trusted source before making any online transactions.
In conclusion, taking good care of your devices can help you keep them working properly, extend their lifespan, and keep you safe online. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your devices are well - maintained and that you are protected against online scams and frauds.
SOCIAL SCENE
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter WHAT ’ S ON @ THE LAKES
Breakfast Club on Both Campuses
Every Tuesday & Thursday - 8.15am
(Except for the first week and last week of the term)
MARCH:
Thursday 9th
School Photos
Wednesday 15th - Monday 27th
Year 3, 5, 7 & 9 NAPLAN Testing
Monday 27th
Year 2 Westgarthtown Excursion
Primary School Leader Conference
Tuesday 28th
6pm School Council AGM
Wednesday 29th
Whole School Athletics Carnival
Thursday 30th - Friday 31st
Dental Van (Secondary)
APRIL:
Monday 3rd - Thursday 6th
Dental Van (Primary)
3.30pm Primary Parent/Carer Teacher Interviews
Tuesday 4th
Thursday 6th
12pm Primary End of Term Assembly
1.15pm End of Term 1
Book Now for Primary Tours on 9404 9000 for individual 2023 School Tours
Book Now for Secondary Tours on 9401 3919 for individual 2023 School Tours
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
ATTENDANCE - EVERY DAY COUNTS If you are aware that your child will not be attending school due to illness or other circumstances, please ensure that you contact either office to ensure our attendance records are accurate. Ways of communicating absences include:
MEDICATION USE AT SCHOOL If your child requires medication, prescribed or over the counter (including paracetamol) whilst at school, there is some important steps you need to take. Please access our Administration of Medication Policy, which includes The Lakes Medication Authority Form. Fill in and return the form to the school office. http://www.thelakes.edu.au/uploads/8/3/9/0/83901006/ administration_of_medication_policy_2022.pdf Medication brought in by a student needs to be in original packaging and clearly labelled with the: 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. NO HAT - NO PLAY We will be enforcing our ‘ No Hat, No Play ’ policy in Term 1 and Term 4 on the Primary Campus. Wide - brimmed hats (with the school logo), are available at the uniform shop. 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.
Placing a future Absence Request through the Parent SENTRAL Portal;
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Calling the office;
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Sending an SMS on 0427 226 537.
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As required by the Department of Education, all schools must notify parents informing that their child is absent. Please inform the office of absences before 10:00 am each morning.
STAY CONNECTED
The Sentral Parent Portal is the primary method for home - school communications at The Lakes.
We are excited to say that most families have access to the Parent Portal. The portal allows students and parents\carers to keep up to date with important information and communication. This includes student academic reports, parent - teacher interview bookings and permission for students to attend camps, sport and excursions.
The Student and Parent Portal can be accessed at school, from home and from mobile devices. If you are experiencing any issues with Sentral, please contact either office to assist you.
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Students name
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The dosage required
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The time the medication needs to be administered.
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Be in date for use
Some things to be aware of: - Medication such as paracetamol and other analgesics are NOT kept in the First Aid Kit as can mask signs and symptoms of serious illness. Medications should not be with students unless needed for emergency access. i.e. Ventolin inhaler or epi - pen.
Sentral Portal
STAY UP TO DATE WITH COLLEGE EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES THROUGH OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
https://www.facebook.com/ TheLakesSouthMorangP9School
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
CANTEEN ORDERS
This year the school canteen is offering lunch orders through the Flexischools app.
Follow the steps below to setup an account and select The Lakes South Morang College.
Orders need to be in by 8am on the day.
Please click on the Canteen List image to download a copy of our items and prices.
We are always looking to build new or foster current connections within our community!
Please call Karen on 9404 900 to discuss further, if you have a service or upcoming event you would like to promote through our Newsletter.
To thrive, children need a safe and supportive environment at school, at home and in the broader community; no exceptions. At The Lakes South Morang College, we believe meeting the physical and emotional needs of our students is paramount in laying the foundations for a fulfilling future. We pledge to provide an environment that has zero tolerance to child abuse and will strive to work in partnership with our parents and community members to keep our students safe every day, in every way.
The Lakes South Morang College Child Safety Statement
PRIMARY CAMPUS: Telephone: 9404 9000 275 Gordons Road South Morang 3752 SECONDARY CAMPUS: Telephone: 9401 3919 80 Jardier Terrace South Morang 3752 ABN 52 938 171 499 PO Box 207 South Morang 3752 lakes.south.morang.co@education.vic.gov.au
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