Parent Bulletin 1
February 9 2024
Welcome to 2024 from the Principal
I would like to welcome our students and their families back to Strathmore for the beginning of a wonderful school year. A special welcome to our new students and their families. I trust that everyone had an enjoyable holiday.
At Strathmore Secondary College we value:PerseveranceRespectIntegrityDiversityExcellence These values apply to all members of the school community, students, staff, and families and place an emphasis on shared responsibility. In welcoming students to the new academic year, I spoke about our school values and what they mean in our learning context. In summary, I asked students to strive for challenge rather than merely 'doing my best' and to take advantage of every opportunity our outstanding school offers. This year we are also introducing our Learning Habits. A comprehensive period of consultation resulted in these 5 habits being identified by our students, staff, and wider school community as the most important habits for our students to demonstrate and practice in their learning.Our learning habits are:ResilienceSelf-MotivationCuriosityCommunicationCreativity
Together with our PRIDE values the learning habits are displayed in every classroom in the school. They are also detailed in our new school diary, which every student has received on their return to school. Please ask your child to have a look at the diary, in particular the goals they were asked to set for their learning this year on page 4 and 5. Senior students are also able to use the diary to track their growth using the template provided on page 13-16. They should also use the SAC schedule to assist their planning on page 17 and 18. 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 a Leading Teacher responsible for Year 11 and one for Year 12 with one Coordinator for each Team.
At Strathmore Secondary College we value:PerseveranceRespectIntegrityDiversityExcellence These values apply to all members of the school community, students, staff, and families and place an emphasis on shared responsibility. In welcoming students to the new academic year, I spoke about our school values and what they mean in our learning context. In summary, I asked students to strive for challenge rather than merely 'doing my best' and to take advantage of every opportunity our outstanding school offers. This year we are also introducing our Learning Habits. A comprehensive period of consultation resulted in these 5 habits being identified by our students, staff, and wider school community as the most important habits for our students to demonstrate and practice in their learning.Our learning habits are:ResilienceSelf-MotivationCuriosityCommunicationCreativity
Together with our PRIDE values the learning habits are displayed in every classroom in the school. They are also detailed in our new school diary, which every student has received on their return to school. Please ask your child to have a look at the diary, in particular the goals they were asked to set for their learning this year on page 4 and 5. Senior students are also able to use the diary to track their growth using the template provided on page 13-16. They should also use the SAC schedule to assist their planning on page 17 and 18. 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 a Leading Teacher responsible for Year 11 and one for Year 12 with one Coordinator for each Team.
Argyll Team Leader – Nicholas Redrup
BurnetTeam Leader – Matthew Roberts
ChisholmTeam Leader - Marisa Pezzimenti
DunlopTeam Leader – Alex Smith
NapierTeam Leader - Hayley May
StirlingTeam Leader – Yolanda De Santis
BurnetTeam Leader – Matthew Roberts
ChisholmTeam Leader - Marisa Pezzimenti
DunlopTeam Leader – Alex Smith
NapierTeam Leader - Hayley May
StirlingTeam Leader – Yolanda De Santis
Coordinators – Claire Kennett & Fotini Tsiatis
Coordinators – Teagan Fraser & Erica Trahar
Coordinators – Matt Landy & Jane Milton Coordinators - Gayle Shaw, Orania Theoharidis & Tom Bates
Coordinators- Jemma Oxley & Leon Crook
Coordinators – Dion Hill & Bill Delaney
Senior School - Years 11 & 12:
Team Leader Year 11
Team Leader Year 12
Argyll
Burnet
Chisholm
Dunlop
Napier
Stirling VCE VM Coordinator
Burnet
Chisholm
Dunlop
Napier
Stirling VCE VM Coordinator
Andrew Beavis
Gokhan Karahan
Catherine Tropea
Ben Hirons
Simon Danckert James Salmon
Uten Phan
Kenna Bradley Danielle Breen
Simon Danckert James Salmon
Uten Phan
Kenna Bradley Danielle Breen
www.strathmore.vic.edu.au/student-team-overview.html
Jenny Sali is responsible for organisational and administrative matters within the Senior School.
Compass will continue to again be used as our primary means of communication in 2024. 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 Mobile Phone Policy In 2020, the Department of Education asked all schools to implement a ban on mobile phone use during school hours. This will also take effect from day one of the 2024 school year.
Any student who brings a mobile phone to school will be required to leave it, turned off, in their locked locker during school hours. The phone is not to be accessed at all during the day.SSC Mobile Phone Policy If you have any questions, feel free to email strathmore.sc@education.vic.gov.au. We ask for your support in implementing this policy. I hope that 2024 will be an enjoyable and rewarding year for students and staff alike. I am happy to meet with parents or carers to discuss your child's learning and to hear your feedback. If you would like to take the opportunity to meet with me, please contact Alison McKenzie - Executive Assistant, to make an appointment. Kind regards,
Jillian English College principal
Jenny Sali is responsible for organisational and administrative matters within the Senior School.
Compass will continue to again be used as our primary means of communication in 2024. 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 Mobile Phone Policy In 2020, the Department of Education asked all schools to implement a ban on mobile phone use during school hours. This will also take effect from day one of the 2024 school year.
Any student who brings a mobile phone to school will be required to leave it, turned off, in their locked locker during school hours. The phone is not to be accessed at all during the day.SSC Mobile Phone Policy If you have any questions, feel free to email strathmore.sc@education.vic.gov.au. We ask for your support in implementing this policy. I hope that 2024 will be an enjoyable and rewarding year for students and staff alike. I am happy to meet with parents or carers to discuss your child's learning and to hear your feedback. If you would like to take the opportunity to meet with me, please contact Alison McKenzie - Executive Assistant, to make an appointment. Kind regards,
Jillian English College principal
2024 College Council Elections
Strathmore’s College Council carries ultimate responsibility for setting the direction and ethos of the school. It decides on broad policy issues and oversees the structure of the College’s curriculum. Success of the College depends very much upon the efforts of a united and effective College Council. Representatives are expected to consult with others so that the views of the College community, rather than those of an individual, are reflected in the decisions of Council.
Each member of council serves for a two-year term before being eligible for re-election. Half of the members retire each year, hence the need for annual elections. A notice of election for 2024 is below.Three separate electorates operate - one for the election of parent members, one for the election of DET (Department of Education & Training) employee members and one for the election of a student member.
Any parent of a child enrolled at the College is eligible to stand for election as a parent member of Council (so long as the parent is not employed by DET at the College).
Candidates can choose to nominate using either,• Self-nomination requiring the candidate’s signature; or• Nomination by an eligible person requiring the signature of nominator and candidate.
A statement will be sought from each candidate for distribution with election ballot papers.
Nomination forms are available from the College’s General Office and on our website for parent members. DET employee members and student members, please collect your nomination form from the College’s General Office.
Jillian EnglishPrincipal
Notice of Election and Call for Nominations
An election is to be conducted for members of the Strathmore Secondary College Council.
Nomination forms may be obtained from the office now or alternatively from the Strathmore Secondary College website.
Important dates for the election process are as follows:
Friday 16th February 2024
Tuesday 20th February 2024
Monday 26th February 2024
Tuesday 12th March 2024
Nominations close 4pm
List of candidates and nominators postedIf required, ballot papers will be prepared and distributedBallot closes
The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows:
Membership Category No. of positions Parent Member 3 [two year term] DET Employee 2 [two year term]
Student Member 1 [two year term] Term of Office: From the day after the date of the declaration of the poll in 2024 to and inclusive of the date of the declaration of the poll in 2026.
If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect calling for further nominations, will be posted in a prominent position at the College. Form 3 Self-nomination Form for Parent Member Category (click to download) Form 4 Nomination Form for Parent Member Category (click to download)
Membership Category No. of positions Parent Member 3 [two year term] DET Employee 2 [two year term]
Student Member 1 [two year term] Term of Office: From the day after the date of the declaration of the poll in 2024 to and inclusive of the date of the declaration of the poll in 2026.
If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect calling for further nominations, will be posted in a prominent position at the College. Form 3 Self-nomination Form for Parent Member Category (click to download) Form 4 Nomination Form for Parent Member Category (click to download)
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: ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/compass-absence-help.html
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: ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/compass-absence-help.html
Student Voice
As we welcomed in the 2024 School Year, our school Captains Seth Vozinidis and Zoe Warren were asked to speak to students in a whole school assembly about the PRIDE values and what they mean to them.
Seth Vozinidis 12CExcellence is one of the values I resonate with the most and not because I’ve achieved excellence but because I strive to achieve it.
Excellence can be perceived to some as a result or an achievement, however I believe that excellence is a symbol of someone’s dedication to a cause or task, a symbol of someone whom wants to achieve more and does their best to reach and achieve this.
Excellence is also about going above and beyond, acquiring a higher quality, a sort of brilliance in which all pupils can achieve with the right mindset.
Zoe Warren 12CUsually when we think of perseverance we think of ‘overcoming an insurmountable challenge’ or maybe we’ve heard of something along the lines of falling down once and getting back up twice, but I’m sure we’re all familiar with these analogies so I’d like to touch on something a little different:
Everyday perseverance.
Now, whether you’re beginning your high school journey in Year 7 or your VCE journey in Year 11, as someone who’s been at your point of your high school journey at some point in time I’d like to offer just a few words on everyday perseverance
Whatever subjects you’re taking this year, whether it be sport, music, English or maths, what’s important with everyday perseverance, especially at the start of the school year, is that we can set ourselves goals for each of our subjects and make consistent actions to achieve them, whether our personal goal is to do with attendance, effort or performance
Maintaining good study habits pertaining to homework or assessments is a crucial part of preserving towards your goal daily and I’d encourage us all to keep this in mind throughout all stages of this school year.
Seth Vozinidis 12CExcellence is one of the values I resonate with the most and not because I’ve achieved excellence but because I strive to achieve it.
Excellence can be perceived to some as a result or an achievement, however I believe that excellence is a symbol of someone’s dedication to a cause or task, a symbol of someone whom wants to achieve more and does their best to reach and achieve this.
Excellence is also about going above and beyond, acquiring a higher quality, a sort of brilliance in which all pupils can achieve with the right mindset.
Zoe Warren 12CUsually when we think of perseverance we think of ‘overcoming an insurmountable challenge’ or maybe we’ve heard of something along the lines of falling down once and getting back up twice, but I’m sure we’re all familiar with these analogies so I’d like to touch on something a little different:
Everyday perseverance.
Now, whether you’re beginning your high school journey in Year 7 or your VCE journey in Year 11, as someone who’s been at your point of your high school journey at some point in time I’d like to offer just a few words on everyday perseverance
Whatever subjects you’re taking this year, whether it be sport, music, English or maths, what’s important with everyday perseverance, especially at the start of the school year, is that we can set ourselves goals for each of our subjects and make consistent actions to achieve them, whether our personal goal is to do with attendance, effort or performance
Maintaining good study habits pertaining to homework or assessments is a crucial part of preserving towards your goal daily and I’d encourage us all to keep this in mind throughout all stages of this school year.
Art Club
Attention Artists Welcome back to another exciting year with the Art Club! We hope you had a fantastic break and are ready to dive into a world of creativity. Join us every Thursday during lunchtime in room B4 for a vibrant and inspiring Art Club session. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just discovering your artistic side, we invite you to share your passion for creativity with like-minded individuals. This year, we have exciting plans, including collaborative projects, guest speakers, and art exhibitions. Let's make 2024 a year filled with colour, imagination, and artistic exploration!
Starting Thursday February 15.All welcome.We hope to see you there!
Starting Thursday February 15.All welcome.We hope to see you there!
Real and Imagined Exhibition
Year 12 excursion to 'Photography: Real and Imagined' exhibition, NGVA.
On February 1st, the Year 12 Art Making and Exhibiting class visited the NGV’s 'Photography: Real and Imagined' exhibition, where they were able to view a large variety of photographers' works and thematic explorations. The exhibition was able to display a collection of unique and personal works, as well as many different types of artwork presentations, allowing for the students to begin noting how artists experiment with different ways to present their artworks. As artwork presentation is a vital part of Art Making and Exhibiting, the ‘Real and Imagined’ exhibition was an interesting show to visit for students to analyse more unconventional ways to present their works. The exhibit also communicated multiple themes ranging from narrative and self, to conflict and death. Additionally, this large range of themes resulted in a unique curation of the exhibition, allowing for students to analyse why the artworks were chosen to be exhibited certain ways.
Zahlia Fergie 12N
On February 1st, the Year 12 Art Making and Exhibiting class visited the NGV’s 'Photography: Real and Imagined' exhibition, where they were able to view a large variety of photographers' works and thematic explorations. The exhibition was able to display a collection of unique and personal works, as well as many different types of artwork presentations, allowing for the students to begin noting how artists experiment with different ways to present their artworks. As artwork presentation is a vital part of Art Making and Exhibiting, the ‘Real and Imagined’ exhibition was an interesting show to visit for students to analyse more unconventional ways to present their works. The exhibit also communicated multiple themes ranging from narrative and self, to conflict and death. Additionally, this large range of themes resulted in a unique curation of the exhibition, allowing for students to analyse why the artworks were chosen to be exhibited certain ways.
Zahlia Fergie 12N
Year 10 Jewellery
We have been learning how to saw pierce and drill through various materials such as brass, nickel and copper to create tags.
Saw-piercing is a challenge because it requires a lot of hand-strength, but if you are patient you can get the result you want!
Einaas and Scarlett
Einaas and Scarlett
Oak Park Football Club
Brunswick City Soccer Club
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 - ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/compass.html
Contact IT Staff - 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 - ict.strathmore.vic.edu.au/compass.html
Contact IT Staff - 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