Parent Bulletin 1
February 7 2025
Welcome to 2025!
Welcome to the 2025 school year! We hope you had a wonderful break and are ready for an exciting year ahead. It has been fantastic to see our students settling in so smoothly, and we look forward to a great year of learning and growth. A special congratulations to our 2025 School Captains – AJ Kieck, Amelia Maciel, and Bonnie Green. These students have already shown outstanding leadership, and we are confident they will be excellent role models for our school community. The students spoke about our values; Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence when they addressed the students on the first day of classes and encouraged students to challenge themselves, take every opportunity and embrace the Strathmore Secondary College community during the year ahead.
Our teachers also aim to do their best; therefore, Professional Learning Community (PLCs) meetings occur every Thursday morning. These are small teams of teachers working collaboratively on matters directly related to learning and thereby leading to higher levels of student achievement. To allow staff to meet in these teams, form assembly on Thursday will commence at 9.15am rather than 9:02am. A small number of Year 11 and 12 classes will run during the PLC meeting time because of the pressure we have on room availability. These classes will start at 8.25am.
Of particular importance to parents are our Student Coordination arrangements. The central role of Team Leaders and Coordinators is to work with students and families to ensure students are happy and successful at school. Teams are led and overseen by a Leading Teacher - Team Leader with two Coordinators in the Year 7-10 teams. Senior School has 3 Leading Teachers responsible for our Teams and one coordinator for each group.
Our teachers also aim to do their best; therefore, Professional Learning Community (PLCs) meetings occur every Thursday morning. These are small teams of teachers working collaboratively on matters directly related to learning and thereby leading to higher levels of student achievement. To allow staff to meet in these teams, form assembly on Thursday will commence at 9.15am rather than 9:02am. A small number of Year 11 and 12 classes will run during the PLC meeting time because of the pressure we have on room availability. These classes will start at 8.25am.
Of particular importance to parents are our Student Coordination arrangements. The central role of Team Leaders and Coordinators is to work with students and families to ensure students are happy and successful at school. Teams are led and overseen by a Leading Teacher - Team Leader with two Coordinators in the Year 7-10 teams. Senior School has 3 Leading Teachers responsible for our Teams and one coordinator for each group.
Argyll Team Leader – Wimukthi Hewawasam
BurnetTeam Leader – Erica Trahar ChisholmTeam Leader - Fotini Tsiatis DunlopTeam Leader – Orania Theoharidis
NapierTeam Leader - Hayley May
StirlingTeam Leader – Yolanda De Santis
BurnetTeam Leader – Erica Trahar ChisholmTeam Leader - Fotini Tsiatis DunlopTeam Leader – Orania Theoharidis
NapierTeam Leader - Hayley May
StirlingTeam Leader – Yolanda De Santis
Coordinators – Hannah Coulsell & Meghan Callaghan
Coordinators – Jasmine Kirkpatrick & Giorgia Di Filippis
Coordinators – Matt Landy & Latham Kosowski Coordinators - Tom Bates, Verity Gallagher & Gayle Shaw
Coordinators- Leon Crook & Alessandra Pecorari
Coordinators – Dion Hill & Bill Delaney
Senior School - Years 11 & 12:
Argyll / Dunlop Team Leader
Chisholm / Napier Team Leader
Stirling / Burnet Team Leader
VCE VM Coordinator
Argyll
Burnet
Chisholm
Dunlop
Napier
Stirling
Burnet
Chisholm
Dunlop
Napier
Stirling
Andrew Beavis
Gokhan Karahan
Kenna Bradley
Vicki Bucher
Catherine Tropea
Ben Hirons
Simon Danckert James Salmon
Amelia Kanappa
Uten Phan
Simon Danckert James Salmon
Amelia Kanappa
Uten Phan
www.strathmore.vic.edu.au/student-team-overview.html
Compass will continue to again be used as our primary means of communication in 2025. Parents are able to login to Compass via the link to the Compass portal on the Strathmore Secondary College website: https://www.strathmore.vic.edu.au. There is a help page available at this site if you are having difficulty logging on. Year 7 parents received their parent login in December. If you have misplaced the letter or are having difficulty please contact the College via email: strathmore.sc@education.vic.gov.au
We would also like to commend our students and families for the high standard of uniform this year. It’s great to see students wearing their uniform with pride. Additionally, our classroom entry routines have started exceptionally well, ensuring students are engaged and ready to learn from the beginning of each lesson. For our Year 7 families, a reminder that the upcoming Orientation Camps are a fantastic opportunity for students to build friendships, gain confidence, and settle into secondary school life. We encourage all Year 7s to attend and make the most of this experience. A quick reminder about our Mobile Phone Policy: Phones must be switched off and stored in lockers during the school day, including at recess and lunch. Also, please note that mobile phones cannot be used for payments at the canteen, so students will need to bring an alternative payment method if purchasing food or drinks. Finally, we ask all parents and guardians to drive safely around the school. Pick-up and drop-off times can be busy, so please be patient and mindful of traffic conditions to help keep all students and staff safe. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to working together for a successful 2025. Vanessa Pratt & Michael PakakisActing PrincipalsStrathmore Secondary College
Compass will continue to again be used as our primary means of communication in 2025. Parents are able to login to Compass via the link to the Compass portal on the Strathmore Secondary College website: https://www.strathmore.vic.edu.au. There is a help page available at this site if you are having difficulty logging on. Year 7 parents received their parent login in December. If you have misplaced the letter or are having difficulty please contact the College via email: strathmore.sc@education.vic.gov.au
We would also like to commend our students and families for the high standard of uniform this year. It’s great to see students wearing their uniform with pride. Additionally, our classroom entry routines have started exceptionally well, ensuring students are engaged and ready to learn from the beginning of each lesson. For our Year 7 families, a reminder that the upcoming Orientation Camps are a fantastic opportunity for students to build friendships, gain confidence, and settle into secondary school life. We encourage all Year 7s to attend and make the most of this experience. A quick reminder about our Mobile Phone Policy: Phones must be switched off and stored in lockers during the school day, including at recess and lunch. Also, please note that mobile phones cannot be used for payments at the canteen, so students will need to bring an alternative payment method if purchasing food or drinks. Finally, we ask all parents and guardians to drive safely around the school. Pick-up and drop-off times can be busy, so please be patient and mindful of traffic conditions to help keep all students and staff safe. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to working together for a successful 2025. Vanessa Pratt & Michael PakakisActing PrincipalsStrathmore Secondary College
School Captains 2025
Our School Captains welcomed students into the 2025 school year by broadcasting a message to students in Years 7-10. Their address reflected on one of our school’s core PRIDE values and emphasised their significance in shaping a positive and inclusive school culture.
Their heartfelt words set the tone for the year ahead, leaving students energised and ready to embody these values in their daily lives. It was a powerful reminder of the impact we can all make when we live by the principles that unite us as a school community.
AJ Kieck (12D) To start the year off we’d like to discuss some of our school pride values. Perseverance. Perseverance is a word that gets thrown around so often it can lose its significance.However, there is a reason that it is an integral part of our school. It is the persistence in doing something despite difficulty. What does that mean to us though, to you individually. It is setting goals for yourself and doing everything you can to achieve them, despite challenges, it is pushing yourself to do more than you thought you could, it's remembering that a small step forward is still a step forward. Continuing to put your hand up to try something new, or to try that little bit harder, will build you as a student and a person, letting you look back with pride on what you achieved.Life is full of setbacks, yet our capability to persevere allows us to move forward and still achieve our goals. You will be able to set a new standard for yourself to keep growing, so let's use 2025 for that, no matter if you are just starting your journey, halfway through or looking to finish VCE strong.
Amelia Maciel (12D)Good morning everyone, and welcome back to the start of another school year, I am Amelia, one of your 2025 school captains. As AJ stated, we would like to briefly highlight our school PRIDE values.Specifically, I’d like to focus on the concept of excellence. Excellence is something we should all strive to achieve. It’s not solely about the results we obtain but about the effort, determination, and commitment we bring to every task—whether it’s in academics, sport, music, or the arts.To succeed, we must set clear goals, visualise what we want to achieve, and work hard every day to make it happen. Excellence isn’t achieved in an hour; it takes time, dedication, and persistence.So, I encourage each of you now to pick just one thing you want to excel in by the end of this year and commit to it. Focus, work hard, and let this be the year you push yourself further than ever before. Don’t wait for the day that you have to ‘lock in’-- start now.
Bonnie Green (12C) I hope your 2025 has started well. I’d like to speak a little bit about our value of diversity. It’s part of PRIDE for a reason, because at Strathmore, we’re really lucky to have hundreds of unique perspectives, experiences, interests and skills. There’s a lot of opportunities that come from our school’s diversity. Personally, engaging with people over the years has led me to discover new interests and hobbies, and I study with friends who have different skills and knowledge to further my learning and I’ve gained so much insight about the world from the people around me. A big part of diversity is listening, so let’s continue to make a space where people feel safe telling their stories. Everyone has something different to share with the school community, and it’s important to celebrate this. From 7s to 12s, valuing diversity and inclusion benefits us so much as we develop multifaceted identities and appreciate everyone’s contributions to the Strathmore environment.So I’d like to encourage everyone to take advantage of the possibilities diversity brings, to learn and grow as people, and have a great year.
Their heartfelt words set the tone for the year ahead, leaving students energised and ready to embody these values in their daily lives. It was a powerful reminder of the impact we can all make when we live by the principles that unite us as a school community.
AJ Kieck (12D) To start the year off we’d like to discuss some of our school pride values. Perseverance. Perseverance is a word that gets thrown around so often it can lose its significance.However, there is a reason that it is an integral part of our school. It is the persistence in doing something despite difficulty. What does that mean to us though, to you individually. It is setting goals for yourself and doing everything you can to achieve them, despite challenges, it is pushing yourself to do more than you thought you could, it's remembering that a small step forward is still a step forward. Continuing to put your hand up to try something new, or to try that little bit harder, will build you as a student and a person, letting you look back with pride on what you achieved.Life is full of setbacks, yet our capability to persevere allows us to move forward and still achieve our goals. You will be able to set a new standard for yourself to keep growing, so let's use 2025 for that, no matter if you are just starting your journey, halfway through or looking to finish VCE strong.
Amelia Maciel (12D)Good morning everyone, and welcome back to the start of another school year, I am Amelia, one of your 2025 school captains. As AJ stated, we would like to briefly highlight our school PRIDE values.Specifically, I’d like to focus on the concept of excellence. Excellence is something we should all strive to achieve. It’s not solely about the results we obtain but about the effort, determination, and commitment we bring to every task—whether it’s in academics, sport, music, or the arts.To succeed, we must set clear goals, visualise what we want to achieve, and work hard every day to make it happen. Excellence isn’t achieved in an hour; it takes time, dedication, and persistence.So, I encourage each of you now to pick just one thing you want to excel in by the end of this year and commit to it. Focus, work hard, and let this be the year you push yourself further than ever before. Don’t wait for the day that you have to ‘lock in’-- start now.
Bonnie Green (12C) I hope your 2025 has started well. I’d like to speak a little bit about our value of diversity. It’s part of PRIDE for a reason, because at Strathmore, we’re really lucky to have hundreds of unique perspectives, experiences, interests and skills. There’s a lot of opportunities that come from our school’s diversity. Personally, engaging with people over the years has led me to discover new interests and hobbies, and I study with friends who have different skills and knowledge to further my learning and I’ve gained so much insight about the world from the people around me. A big part of diversity is listening, so let’s continue to make a space where people feel safe telling their stories. Everyone has something different to share with the school community, and it’s important to celebrate this. From 7s to 12s, valuing diversity and inclusion benefits us so much as we develop multifaceted identities and appreciate everyone’s contributions to the Strathmore environment.So I’d like to encourage everyone to take advantage of the possibilities diversity brings, to learn and grow as people, and have a great year.
Wellbeing Update
Happy New Year to our Strathmore Secondary College Community.
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the Student Wellbeing Team for 2025!
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the Student Wellbeing Team for 2025!
Christina Coldebella
Funda Sukaci
Sam Hansen
Butho Ncube
Meghan Lightfoot
Sophie Tsokas
Student Wellbeing ManagerMental Health PractitionerStudent Wellbeing OfficerStudent Wellbeing OfficerStudent Wellbeing OfficerStudent Wellbeing Officer
The Wellbeing Team is very lucky to have three new staff members join us, Funda, Sophie and Meghan. They all come with a wealth or knowledge and experience and they are very much looking forward to supporting your children in their educational journey.
We have some exciting things planned for this year, some include:
We have some exciting things planned for this year, some include:
- Peer Support program with our Year 7s and Year 9s
- Headspace joining our Year 11s on their Big Day Out to talk about anxiety and stress management. Headspace also plan to meet with our Year 12s later in the year to discuss transitioning from secondary school to employment or study.
- Cyber-Safety with Susan McClean later this term
- Dr Justin Coulson – renowned psychologist and parenting expert coming out next term to speak with students, parents and staff
- Our Art Therapy group run by Butho which was very successful last year
- ...and much more!
Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Coordinator or Team Leader should you feel they would benefit from wellbeing support.
We look forward to working with you.
Christina ColdebellaStudent Wellbeing Manager
We look forward to working with you.
Christina ColdebellaStudent Wellbeing Manager
Top Class Dance 2025
Congratulations to Fedora Cox, who has been selected to perform VCE Skills-based Solo at Top Class Dance 2025 at Melbourne Recital Centre.
Top Class is an annual concert series presented by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) showcasing outstanding performances by VCE and VCE VET students from schools across the state.
This year, 123 top performing students were invited to audition for Top Class Dance, and only 35 students were selected to perform. Selected performers exemplify the skill and creativity that can be achieved within the VCE curriculum.
Top Class Dance takes place at Melbourne Recital Centre – 31 Sturt St, Southbank – on Tuesday 25 February 2025 at 10:00am and 2:00pm.
Top Class is an annual concert series presented by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) showcasing outstanding performances by VCE and VCE VET students from schools across the state.
This year, 123 top performing students were invited to audition for Top Class Dance, and only 35 students were selected to perform. Selected performers exemplify the skill and creativity that can be achieved within the VCE curriculum.
Top Class Dance takes place at Melbourne Recital Centre – 31 Sturt St, Southbank – on Tuesday 25 February 2025 at 10:00am and 2:00pm.
Year 8 Food Technology
Year 8 Food Technology students started off the year learning and practising safe knife skills.
After learning about the safety aspects of using a chef's knife, such as the correct grip, students then proceeded to use their skills to create a tzatziki dip served with crudité and pita chips.
Well done Year 8. Keep practising those knife skills at home!
After learning about the safety aspects of using a chef's knife, such as the correct grip, students then proceeded to use their skills to create a tzatziki dip served with crudité and pita chips.
Well done Year 8. Keep practising those knife skills at home!
ePlatform Digital Library
Our school is committed to providing students with unique learning opportunities, which is why we are pleased to introduce ePlatform, a digital library for students that provides free access to eBooks and Audiobooks.
The benefits of ePlatform:
With ePlatform, your student has 24/7 access to eBooks and Audiobooks for free. This is a wonderful extension of our physical school library and allows titles to be checked out at home, over the weekend or during school breaks without worrying about losing or accruing late fees because they automatically return at the end of the loan period. Students of all ages can benefit from ePlatform's reading and comprehension tools. A service like this can benefit struggling or reluctant readers, learning-challenged students, second-language learners as well as gifted readers alike.
The benefits of ePlatform:
With ePlatform, your student has 24/7 access to eBooks and Audiobooks for free. This is a wonderful extension of our physical school library and allows titles to be checked out at home, over the weekend or during school breaks without worrying about losing or accruing late fees because they automatically return at the end of the loan period. Students of all ages can benefit from ePlatform's reading and comprehension tools. A service like this can benefit struggling or reluctant readers, learning-challenged students, second-language learners as well as gifted readers alike.
- Unique reader customisation with Settings wizard, across all devices
- Introduce students to books above their reading level
- Help busy kids find time to read
- Professionally curated collection with age restrictions set by school staff
- Increase vocabulary and improve pronunciation and comprehension
- User friendly for all types of readers & listeners (e.g. reluctant, dyslexic)
How does it work?
Ensure your reader has the ePlatform app which can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store, Google Play Store or visit eplatform.co to begin. Students have their own unique login to access the platform. Please contact the library staff directly should your reader have any trouble logging in.
For more information and troubleshooting please email marian.lees@education.vic.gov.au
Kind regards,Marian Lees – Teacher Librarian
Ensure your reader has the ePlatform app which can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store, Google Play Store or visit eplatform.co to begin. Students have their own unique login to access the platform. Please contact the library staff directly should your reader have any trouble logging in.
For more information and troubleshooting please email marian.lees@education.vic.gov.au
Kind regards,Marian Lees – Teacher Librarian
Join us every Tuesday during lunchtime in B4 for Art Club! Whether you're a skilled artist or just starting to explore your creativity, join us and connect with others who share your passion. This year, we have exciting plans, including collaborative project, exciting excursions, and an Art Club Exhibition. Our aim is to make 2025 a year filled with colour, imagination, and artistic exploration! See you there! The Arts Team
Glossy Magazines Wanted
The Visual Arts Faculty would appreciate the donation of any old glossy magazines (e.g. Vogue etc) to use in class. We require ones that have larger, quality images, especially faces and internal or outdoor locations for reference material and collage.
These can be left in a box or a bag at the General Office or brought directly to class by your child. Any number, even a single copy, will be gratefully accepted.
Helen KostiukVisual Arts Faculty
These can be left in a box or a bag at the General Office or brought directly to class by your child. Any number, even a single copy, will be gratefully accepted.
Helen KostiukVisual Arts Faculty
Visual Arts
Welcome Back from the Visual Arts Team!
The Visual Arts Team is thrilled to welcome all students back for another inspiring year of creativity!
What’s in store for 2025?
This year, we have an exciting lineup of excursions, exhibitions and events celebrating the incredible creativity within our SSC community. Stay tuned for updates!
We can't wait to see the amazing artwork and ideas students bring to life in 2025.
The Visual Arts Team is thrilled to welcome all students back for another inspiring year of creativity!
What’s in store for 2025?
This year, we have an exciting lineup of excursions, exhibitions and events celebrating the incredible creativity within our SSC community. Stay tuned for updates!
We can't wait to see the amazing artwork and ideas students bring to life in 2025.
Student Attendance on Compass
The school is required to record attendance for every student and every class, including the reason for each absence.
Parents and guardians must update Compass Attendance in advance if a student will be leaving the school early for appointments, or for any other reason.
Students cannot leave the school without parent or guardian approval and must not leave the school grounds without signing out at the General Office, before they leave.
Students arriving late to school or returning from appointments, must also sign in at the General Office, before going to class and an explanatory note on Compass is required.
If parents and guardians are unable to update Compass due to technical difficulties, they should telephone the Junior School Attendance Officer in the General Office for assistance.
For instructions on how to use Compass to enter Attendance Notes, go to: https://www.compass.education/guide/#Attendance
Parents and guardians must update Compass Attendance in advance if a student will be leaving the school early for appointments, or for any other reason.
Students cannot leave the school without parent or guardian approval and must not leave the school grounds without signing out at the General Office, before they leave.
Students arriving late to school or returning from appointments, must also sign in at the General Office, before going to class and an explanatory note on Compass is required.
If parents and guardians are unable to update Compass due to technical difficulties, they should telephone the Junior School Attendance Officer in the General Office for assistance.
For instructions on how to use Compass to enter Attendance Notes, go to: https://www.compass.education/guide/#Attendance
ICT@StrathmoreSC
The College has comprehensive online guides for all things IT.
IT@Strathmore Secondary College
Student Device Setup - ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/purpose-statement.html
G-Suite - ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/browser-signin.html
Student Software - ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/student-software.htmlParent Compass Help - https://www.compass.education/guide/#Attendance
Contact IT Staff - https://ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/contact-it-admin.html
The IT Office is in B Corridor. We are available 8:00am - 4:00pm daily.
GaryIT Manager
IT@Strathmore Secondary College
Student Device Setup - ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/purpose-statement.html
G-Suite - ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/browser-signin.html
Student Software - ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/student-software.htmlParent Compass Help - https://www.compass.education/guide/#Attendance
Contact IT Staff - https://ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/contact-it-admin.html
The IT Office is in B Corridor. We are available 8:00am - 4:00pm daily.
GaryIT Manager