CONNECT – DECEMBER 2023

Welcome to our final newsletter for 2023 and the end of our second full year at Greenvale Secondary College. This year, although not without challenges, has been a period of rich growth and achievement for our school community. Congratulations to all of our students for a job well done. The hard work displayed within our halls is inspirational. I would like to thank our parents. teachers, and staff for their enormous effort and dedication throughout 2023. This has been a busy and rewarding year for Greenvale Secondary College and I look forward to continuing our trajectory of success for years to come.

END OF YEAR REPORTS

End of Year Reports for all students will be published on Compass in the final weeks of Term 4. Parents will receive a notification when reports are published. Please contact relevant Mentor Teachers if you have any follow up questions.

Please take the time to discuss these reports with your child to ensure that students reflect on their achievements as well as on areas that may need improving. 

2023 AWARDS AND PRESENTATION EVENING

Our Awards and Presentation Evening was the perfect night to showcase the many successes our school and its students have accomplished. The over 350 people in attendance was a testament to the strong community support we have established in just two short years of operation. We should be proud of our talented students, our school and our supportive community.  

Thank you to our impressive guest speakers: Mr Iwan Walters MP and Mike Rolls. Mr. Walters spoke inspirationally on leadership and Mike explored the belief that even the greatest challenges can be tamed with the right mindset, strategies, and support. Furthermore, Mike Rolls has partnered with the College to support resilience and mental health.

Congratulations to all students involved, especially our award recipients:

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

After receiving over 50 applications for 2024 Year 7 Scholarships, we completed interviews for 12 shortlisted students. It was impressive to see the commitment of these students and their families to the College and even though we would like to give everyone a scholarship, we have awarded the following for 2024:

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE AVAILABILITY

The College will be closed starting on 20 December 2023. The college will re-open for the day on Wednesday 25 January 2024. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday 30 January 2024.

START OF TERM 1, 2024

With many families eager to commence learning in 2024, there will be a staggered start program for all students.

• The first day of school for Year 7 students is Wednesday 31 January 2024.
• The first day of school for Year 8 and Year 9 students is Thursday 1 February 2024.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR FAMILIES BEFORE SCHOOL RETURNS

 To help students prepare to return to learning after a long holiday break ensure a routine is put into place that includes: limiting devices under certain perimeters and a solid sleep schedule.

1. Sleep: It takes children at least a week to adjust to a new sleeping pattern. To ensure students are ready for lots of hard work and learning, please encourage them to return to normal school sleeping patterns and to rein in those holiday late nights as it gets closer to February. It is recommended that early teens get 9 to 10 hours of sleep a night. Growing bodies, and more importantly brains, (brains that are undergoing significant neurological transformation in adolescence) need lots of sleep.

2. Devices: Online safety starts at home and as parents who own the devices, they need to know the passwords, apps and systems that their children are using to interact with the world. We strongly recommend no devices in bedrooms during sleeping hours. We suggest creating a family ‘charging station’ in a shared area to avoid temptation.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, as parents, for your considerable support throughout this year. It has been lovely meeting you, working with you, and celebrating with you throughout the term and during our many extra-curricular events. Our wonderful students, staff, and school community has created lasting memories for us all. May we continue to reach goals and share successes as our school grows and flourishes.

I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing break and I look forward to seeing everyone back, refreshed, and ready for 2024.

END OF 2023 – CELEBRATING ANOTHER YEAR OF LEARNING

It has been an extremely busy and productive end to the 2023 school year, with students engaged in a range of learning and enrichment activities to see out December.

Across all subjects, students completed the final Common Assessment Tasks for Year 7 and 8. This means that teachers have been busy assessing student progress, giving feedback and preparing reports to be ready for students and families at the end of term.

The end of CATs signalled a move towards two key end of year features- celebrating the year gone and getting ready to begin 2024. Celebratory events have included:

• the culmination of the House Program, Survivor Day, organised and run by our 2023 School Representative Council
• Awards Night
• Activities Week, including Bubble Soccer, cooking, craft, mindfulness and the Fun Fields Excursion.

As we now move our minds to the new school year, we have welcomed our 2024 Year 7s for Orientation Day. This exciting event included students getting to know one another, meeting GSC staff and their future teachers and getting acquainted with all things secondary school, from the canteen to changing classrooms to challenging new subjects. Additionally, the current students have experienced a taster of their year to come with an Early Start Year 8 and 9 Day, which was particularly significant for Year 9s who will be entering our first ever Elective Subject program and their GSC Connect subject.

It is understandable for students to feel tired and some extent of ‘brain drain’ after such a big term and year. As such, we encourage a long, proper break from schoolwork over the holidays. That said, continuing to exercise their minds in different ways is a great way for teens to stay connected to learning during the long holidays. Activities such as journal writing, physical activity, experiencing local or far places as tourists and reading for pleasure are to be encouraged alongside lots of sleep and down time so that students return refreshed and ready for 2024.

We look forward to seeing Year 7 students start their Greenvale Secondary College journey on Wednesday 31st January, and Year 8 & 9 on Thursday 1st February. The first three/two days of Week 1 will be the Start Up Program where we prepare students to be ‘ready to learn’. Activities include settling into the new class, setting up the locker, drawing up a couple of copies of the Timetable (for locker and home), ensuring students are on the school network and able to use Teams, OneNote and Compass.

We thank parents and caregivers for your support of your child and us this year and look forward to working with you again next year. Please ensure that your child has all his/her/their books, a laptop and uniform for Day 1 to make their transition to 2024 successful!

What a year 2023 was! It had many ups and downs, but we’re very glad to say our students showed great resilience and made it to the end of their year 7 or 8 program. We are ready for what 2024 will bring.

Highlights of 2023 were:

• Year 7 Welcome BBQ
• Step Up Programs
• Swimming Carnival
• Enhancement Programs
• NAPLAN
• State Schools Spectacular
• Year 8 Camp
• Year 7 Camp
• Lots of great excursions
• ManCave and Big Sister Programs
• Representing the School in various sporting events
• Language and Cultural Immersion Day
• Café cooking up a storm
• Performing Arts Gala.
• Japanese Space Agency Connection

The Junior School team wants to congratulate all the students in the Junior School for what they have achieved this year. You have done yourself, your family and the school proud.

We wish all our families a safe and enjoyable festive season and look forward to working with the 2024 Junior School community.

CIS JUNIOR ITALIAN POETRY COMPETITION

Thirty students at Greenvale Secondary College across Years 7 and 8 participated in this year’s Centre of Italian Studies (CIS) Junior Italian Poetry Competition. Each student who participated in the competition memorised and recited an Italian poem in front of a CIS judge who visited our school in late Term 3. This was a huge effort for which students were highly commended.

After careful deliberation, the CIS judges selected winners and recipients of recognition across all Victorian entrants, among whom our students loomed large.

Nine students at GSC received an award of Merito (merit) or higher, and were presented with their certificates and prizes at Year Level Assemblies earlier this term.

Two students at GSC were selected as winners across all Victorian participants:

• Laibah Khan (7E), winner of the Secondo Premio (second prize) in the non-Italian category
• Tiah Carraro (8E), winner of the Terzo Premio (third prize) in the Italian category

Recipients of Merit certificates were:

• Deniz Bagriyanik (7B)
• Sarah Dolmay (7A)
• Mustafa El Akoumi (7A)
• Elsa Ngo (7E)
• Hunter Fucile (8E)
• Abigail Catchpole (8E)
• Kevin Tran (8A)

Congratulations to all winners and participants. You did yourselves and our school proud!

What an incredible and successful year of learning and growth the performing arts department has had! We started from such humble beginnings and have reached an outstanding level of excellence. This is a testament to the amazing staff and students who work so hard to achieve the successes we are seeing throughout the school and music program.

Lessons have been an amazing time of learning, as has performing. Whether these performances were small vocal ensembles or the larger school concert band, every participating student tried their best. It is so great to see the social and educational benefits that come along with being a part of the school’s performing arts program. Students have made life long friendships within the program and have become a close knit community that learns and plays music. Working together, our music students understand that with collaboration comes successful outcomes. 

We have had a few performances during assemblies in preparation for Awards Night. Some notable performances included: Leyla S with Another Brick In The Wall, the small Jazz Ensemble with Waves and the GSC Concert band performing as well. Our students are becoming familiar with being on stage, performing in front of an audience, and feeling the many emotions that arise when playing live. It is important to practice these skills to hone and perfect them and this is why we can look forward to many more in-school performances in the future.

The goal for 2024 is: more! More learning, more performances, more friendships, and more collaborations. In 2024 students will have the opportunity to work with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in order to enhance their skills in music. Thank you for your continued support of the program. Thank you for providing Ms McPhail and Mr Simmons the opportunity to be the best versions of their creative selves. And thank you to the students for such a successful music program! We look forward to more!

The event Survivor Day involved the whole school, all representing their houses.  We as members of the SRC planned the amazing activities for us to earn points and hopefully win the 2023 House Cup! The day aimed to build the connections between year levels. There was Weetbix Whistling, Bottle Flipping, Balloon Blowing, Penne Pasta Sticks, Dodgeball and everyone’s favourite – Tug of War! It was a great atmosphere.

Survivor Day was not only about having fun but teamwork as everyone had to work together as a team to earn points. This all taught us that it wasn’t about the games, but it was more about the experience. This also helped us to demonstrate all the school values. Overall, it was such a good day thanks to Miss Timms and Mrs De Amicis who have worked a lot to make the day possible in the first place and to the staff for participating with us. Thank you to everyone who attended, it was the best day ever and hopefully in the future we will make it even better!

Congratulations to POORNEET who challenged themselves, had a go and won the 2023 House Cup!

Musty and Emmie

The Student Services Team would like to acknowledge all the students of Greenvale Secondary College for their tremendous efforts and determination across 2023. At times being a student can be challenging and our students must be applauded for their continued tenacity and growth.

We wish all students and their families a Happy Holidays and we will be here in 2024 ready to support you further.

SEMESTER 2 GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS

As a way to celebrate the effort that students have demonstrated through living the school value’s and exemplifying admirable behaviour, the top 5 scoring students from each year level were awarded with a day at Funfields.

Well done to:

Year 7

Elsa Ngo, Yari Kongrung, Christopher Phillips, Laibah Khan, Sarah Dolmay

Year 8

Ava Cooper, Abigial Catchpole, Benny Rose, Eramia Ermia, Kevin Tran

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2024:

Student Services are currently planning for 2024. Some of the exciting developments are:

Termly G5 Thrive Days

Introduction of new Mental Health Practitioner

Presentations by Mancave, Big Sister Experience, Project Rockit, Bully Zero

Small group workshops:  Headspace (Living Skills Program),  Fit body and mind, Real Life Resilience, Friendship Club

Breakfast Club

Rewards Shop and Gold Award Activities

SUPPORT

This time of the year can be hard for some, for many different reasons.  Please know that you are not alone. There are services to support you in any situation that you may find yourself in.

Please reach out to the following services over the holiday break and in the future if need be.

WELLBEING SERVICES

Yarning SafeNStrong 1800 959 563  24/7 support and counselling for Aboriginal and Torress Strait Peoples

Lifeline  13 11 14 24/7 Crisis Support

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 24/7 crisis support for 5 to 25 year olds

Headspace  1800 650 890      Privately chat with  professional counsellors over the phone or webchat, seven days a week between 9am – 1am    12 to 23 year olds

Beyond Blue  1300 22 46 36   24/7 Mental health Support

1800 Respect  1800 737 732 24/7 support for people impacted  by sexual assault, family violence and abuse

Mensline 1300 78 99 78  24/7 counselling service for men

EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF

• Banksia Gardens Community Centre: 71 – 81 Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows. (03) 9309 8531 Tuesday and Thursday: 12:30- 2:30pm

$4 food parcels at Broadmeadows Concession / health care card Only claim 1 parcel per week.   Asylum seekers/ refugee able to seek support

• Craigieburn Community Centre: 20 Selwyn Ave, Craigieburn VIC  (03) 9308 1477

Wednesday – 11:00am to 1:00pm

Residents of Hume, Health Care Card or Pension Card $4 food parcels

• Northpoint Centre Tullamarine 3 Trade Park Drive, Tullamarine, (03) 9338 1898

Monday to Thursday: 9am – 2pm Friday: 9-1pm

Health Care Card or Pension Card Just show up

MEET OUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM

Elizabeth Cullen – Business Manager

Liz is responsible for all HR, finance, facilities and operations matters at the College. Please be in touch if you need to discuss how the College can best support you and your students.

Sonia Saitov – Sub School Administration

Sonia is responsible for sub-school administration and attendance. 

Connie Midiri – Executive Assistant/Daily Organiser

Connie is responsible for daily organising and the school’s schedule. Connie is also responsible for transition and enrolment enquiries.

Jasmine Spurr – Administration Trainee

Jasmine is completing her Certificate II in Business while working as a trainee at the College. Jasmine is the first point of contact at Reception and can help you with any enquiry.

Susi Dombrzalski – Finance Officer

Susi is responsible for all accounts payable and receivable. You can get in touch if you have enquiries about billing, payments or CSEF applications.

Our Administration Team are always happy to assist and support all students and families at the front reception daily. Our Administration Office is open 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday. We are committed to doing our best and if you ever have any questions or queries, we are here to help.

2024 PARENT PAYMENTS AND EVENTS

 Schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard Victorian curriculum and we want to assure you that all contributions are voluntary. Nevertheless, the ongoing support of our families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students. We want to thank you in advance for all your support, whatever it may be, during your time at Greenvale Secondary College. It will make a huge difference to our school and the programs we can offer.

If you are not able to contribute per the amounts listed in the parent payment arrangements policy, you are encouraged to make any dollar contribution that you are able to. Any amount helps contribute to the resources and educational opportunities the College is able to provide to all students.

All payments can be made through Compass Pay or at Reception.

You can find more information about the College’s 2024 parent payment arrangements here: 2024-GSC-Parent-Payment-Arrangements-FINAL.pdf (greenvalesc.vic.edu.au)

Please note that deadlines for payments and consent for activities, camps and excursions is strict. No exceptions will be made. This is to allow for adequate planning in order to hold events. Accurate numbers of students participating are needed. The payment and consent cut off is 2 days prior to the event.

ARRIVING LATE TO SCHOOL

Students who arrive late to school, after 8:50am, must sign in through the Compass Kiosk either using their student card or Compass Login details.

Parents/Guardians can either use the Compass Kiosk to sign their child in late or they can contact the Office on 8393 0000 to advise us why their child will be late.

EARLY DEPATURE FROM SCHOOL

We realise that at times you need to pick up your child early from school. When your child needs to be picked up early from school, please either contact the Office on 8393 0000 or send your child with a note to bring into the Administration office letting us know the time you will be picking up your child. This will ensure the class teacher will be notified when your child needs to leave class. 

When picking up your child early, you are required to come into the Administration Office to sign your child out through the Compass Kiosk.

LAPTOP LOAN PROGRAM

The College has laptops available for loan should your student forget theirs or if they need a replacement for a short period of time. These must be loaned out from the IT Office each day and returned at the end of the day.

COMPASS LOG IN

Families requiring assistance with their Compass login can contact the Administration Office on 8393 000 and we can assist you with your login details and password.

LOST PROPERTY

The College collects lost property that is handed in. It is stored at Reception. All unclaimed items will be disposed of at the end of each term.
We strongly recommend that all items are labelled and named so they can be easily identified and returned to you.
The team at Reception can also organise replacement Student Planners, student locks and/or ID cards (for a fee) if needed.

FIRST AID

Unfortunately, we know that students sometimes fall ill or hurt themselves while at school – accidents happen! The College has first aid trained staff and a well-equipped first aid room. The Office will notify parents or emergency contacts if there is a serious injury. You may be asked to collect your student if we cannot care for them at school. The Office may also contact you to seek your advice about how you’d like us to manage your child. Please remember to update the College with any important medical information so we can be aware and best support your child.

Please discourage your child from contacting you via mobile phone – if they are unwell, they can come to the Office at any time and we will contact you as needed.

CANTEEN ORDERS

Families can order their child’s lunch through Compass each day, before 9:30am.  Students are to go to the canteen to collect their orders at the start of recess (the 2^nd break time of the day).

If you miss the cut off for lunch orders, you are welcome to bring lunch or money to the Administration Office so your student doesn’t miss out.  Please note, there are no IOUs available through the Canteen.

MOBILE PHONE REMINDER

Greenvale Secondary College has a firm policy regarding student use of mobile phones at school.

At Greenvale Secondary College, inappropriate use of mobile phones by students is any use during school hours (unless an exception has been granted), particularly use of a mobile phone:
• in any way that disrupts the learning of others
• to send inappropriate, harassing or threatening messages or phone calls
• to engage in inappropriate social media use including cyber bullying
• to capture video or images of people, including students, teachers and members of the school community without their permission
• to capture video or images in the school toilets, changing rooms, swimming pools and gyms
• during exams and assessments
• to communicate with other mobile phone devices or social media

The College understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school. At Greenvale Secondary College:
• Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored
during school hours.
• Exceptions to this policy may be applied in certain circumstances.
• When emergencies occur, parents or carers can reach their child by calling the school’s office.

Please note that students are not permitted to use their mobile phones to pay at the canteen – cash or physical card is accepted.

You may receive a call asking you to collect a student’s mobile phone from the front office if the phone has been confiscated more than once.

Please take a moment to remind your students of these expectations. Thank you for your ongoing partnership.

 KEY DATES

ATTENDANCE – IT’S NOT OK TO BE AWAY! 

Daily school attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they don’t fall behind both socially and developmentally. Children and young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent qualification have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes, and higher incomes across their lives. It is important that children develop habits of regular attendance at an early age. 

We realise some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But we also know that when students miss too much school – regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically.  

It is important that you contact the school as soon as possible on 8393 0000 or log onto the Compass Portal to inform us of your child’s absence.  

We also ask parents/guardians/carers to regularly monitor their child’s attendance through the Compass Parent Portal. 

EVERY DAY COUNTS 

A day here or there doesn’t seem like much but… 

UNIFORM – UNIFORM POLICY UPDATE

Students can wear the following uniform all year round:

• Blazer (as an outer garment worn to and from school if wearing Pullover and Cardigan)
• Pullover or Cardigan
• Shirt (long sleeve or short sleeve)
• Skirt or Dress or Trousers or Shorts
• Black Leather School Shoes (closed toe)
• Black Socks and or Black Tights
• College Backpack

College Blazer and Tie

• The College Blazer is a compulsory uniform item that all students are required to have.
• The blazer is to be worn in terms 2 and 3, with either the summer or winter uniform.
• The blazer is to be worn at all College events (assembly, awards etc) as well as when on excursions.
• The blazer is to be worn if representing the College at formal events.
• The College Tie is a compulsory uniform item if wearing the shirt in Terms 2 and 3, or if representing the College or at College events (assembly, awards etc).

If your students is not in Full School Uniform, we ask that a note is brought the Administration Office explaining why your child cannot wear their full school uniform, so a uniform pass can be issued for the day.

SECOND HAND UNIFORM

 We have partnered with Sustainable School Shop to provide families access to second-hand textbooks, uniforms, calculators, musical instruments, sports gear and much more!

Sustainable School Shop have preloaded items specific to our school onto their site. This makes it super easy to list your items for sale and to buy items.

See all the second-hand uniform items for sale here: https://www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au/stocktake/greenvale-secondary-college

See all the second-hand textbooks for sale here: https://www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au/booklist/greenvale-secondary-college

So jump onto the site, register and list your items for sale, you will be:

• reusing items rather than adding to landfill
• making money on items you sell
• saving money on items you buy
• providing another family in our school with cheaper items
• helping to create a culture of contact amongst our school community families!

Login or Register here: https://www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au

PURCHASE OF UNIFORMS

Uniform items can be purchased from Noone Imagewear.

New Craigieburn Store Open. Shop A2-E,  420-440 Craigieburn Rd, Craigieburn.  Shopping Precinct – Craigieburn Junction. Cnr Craigieburn Rd and Aitken Boulevard. Store is located next to Carpet Call.

Online orders can also be placed directly at https://www.noone.com.au