Parent Bulletin 16
October 25 2024
Surf's Up at Strathmore
UrbnSurf Experience for Year 8 Students
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are excited to announce a fantastic new program for our Year 8 students: Surf’s Up at Strathmore – UrbnSurf Experience, which will take place on 12 November. This all day event will offer an enriching experience, building on the foundations students established in Year 7.
The program, costing $125, will provide students with an engaging day full of fun and learning, featuring three key components:
1. Learn to Surf LessonStudents will have the opportunity to refine their surfing skills at UrbnSurf, continuing the progress made in Anglesea last year. This session allows students to learn to surf in an exciting urban environment.
2. Water Safety LessonIn this important session, students will learn critical water safety skills, including how to swim in open water, recognise rips, and ensure they are safe around the water—vital skills for any beachgoer.
3. PRIDE LessonThis session will focus on Strathmore’s core values of PRIDE. Students will reflect on these values and explore how they can further develop strong learning habits to enhance their growth both academically and personally.
We encourage all Year 8 students to participate in this wonderful opportunity. Please mark your calendars for **12 November** and ensure the $125 payment is submitted by the due date. Further details on transportation and what to bring will be provided closer to the event.
We look forward to another great experience with our Year 8s!
Vanessa PrattActing Principal
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are excited to announce a fantastic new program for our Year 8 students: Surf’s Up at Strathmore – UrbnSurf Experience, which will take place on 12 November. This all day event will offer an enriching experience, building on the foundations students established in Year 7.
The program, costing $125, will provide students with an engaging day full of fun and learning, featuring three key components:
1. Learn to Surf LessonStudents will have the opportunity to refine their surfing skills at UrbnSurf, continuing the progress made in Anglesea last year. This session allows students to learn to surf in an exciting urban environment.
2. Water Safety LessonIn this important session, students will learn critical water safety skills, including how to swim in open water, recognise rips, and ensure they are safe around the water—vital skills for any beachgoer.
3. PRIDE LessonThis session will focus on Strathmore’s core values of PRIDE. Students will reflect on these values and explore how they can further develop strong learning habits to enhance their growth both academically and personally.
We encourage all Year 8 students to participate in this wonderful opportunity. Please mark your calendars for **12 November** and ensure the $125 payment is submitted by the due date. Further details on transportation and what to bring will be provided closer to the event.
We look forward to another great experience with our Year 8s!
Vanessa PrattActing Principal
Year 10 Ceramics
The Year 10 students are throwing themselves into their ceramics work with great enthusiasm!
Using the potter's wheel, students are creating smooth stoneware vessels from a mound of clay. Applying tissue transfer paper has enabled them to achieve more intricate designs, adding a professional touch to their work. Additionally, impressing patterns onto terracotta has enhanced both the visual and tactile appeal of their creations, introducing depth and intricacy.
Using the potter's wheel, students are creating smooth stoneware vessels from a mound of clay. Applying tissue transfer paper has enabled them to achieve more intricate designs, adding a professional touch to their work. Additionally, impressing patterns onto terracotta has enhanced both the visual and tactile appeal of their creations, introducing depth and intricacy.
Les Twentyman Foundation Back to School Program
HELP EQUIP STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN 2025!
We are reaching out to our community to request donations of secondhand textbooks, novels, scientific calculators, and laptops for vulnerable students in 2025. These resources are crucial in helping young people stay engaged in their education, offering them the support they need for a positive future.
This year, we've seen a 40% increase in demand for our services, and more than 60students are still waiting for laptops. Your donations will go directly to those who need them most, ensuring that at-risk youth have the tools to succeed.
TextbooksSchool NovelsCalculatorsLaptops (manufactured from 2020 onwards, with current Windows capabilities).
For more info on accepted second-hand donations or to donate, click the link -https://ltfoundation.com.au/our-services/back-to-school-2/. “Keep kids in classrooms and out of courtrooms”Les Twentyman
We are reaching out to our community to request donations of secondhand textbooks, novels, scientific calculators, and laptops for vulnerable students in 2025. These resources are crucial in helping young people stay engaged in their education, offering them the support they need for a positive future.
This year, we've seen a 40% increase in demand for our services, and more than 60students are still waiting for laptops. Your donations will go directly to those who need them most, ensuring that at-risk youth have the tools to succeed.
TextbooksSchool NovelsCalculatorsLaptops (manufactured from 2020 onwards, with current Windows capabilities).
For more info on accepted second-hand donations or to donate, click the link -https://ltfoundation.com.au/our-services/back-to-school-2/. “Keep kids in classrooms and out of courtrooms”Les Twentyman
Rocktober in the Library
Debating News
There can be little doubt that 2024 has proven to be a very successful year for debating at Strathmore Secondary College. There are two main reasons for this:
Firstly, approximately 26 students from Years 9, 10 and 11 participated in the DAV (Debaters Association of Victoria) Competition during 2024. When we compare these numbers to previous years’ participation, when we had at least half these numbers, we can safely say that student interest in debating has increased significantly. Strathmore students, during the DAV competition, debated on five occasions at St. Bernard’s College as part of the Essendon Region. They debated against and defeated teams from PEGS, Sirius College, Bacchus Marsh Grammar, and many others from the region. All teams performed well: both Year 11 teams had four wins and one loss, finishing equal second in B Grade. The second Year 10 B Grade team also finished equal second with four wins and one loss. While one of our D Grade teams finished equal third with three wins and two losses, our other Year 9 team came equal second with four wins and one loss. These are our best results ever!
The second main reason to celebrate debating success Strathmore was due to one of our Year 10 teams managing to go through the five debates undefeated. This team, which consisted of Joseph Price, Andreas Oltoumis and Joseph Thorsen, then entered the finals. Their first final, when they competed against Sirius college, resulted in them winning comfortably by a margin of 3 points. However, the next final that they participated in was held at Xavier College in Kew and was against Melbourne Grammar School. Sadly, Melbourne Grammar won by only one point. The topic was: ‘That we should prioritise funding for deep sea exploration rather than space exploration’. Despite losing by the narrowest of margins, the experience of debating against a top private school was a worthy performance in a debate that could have gone either way. The fact that Strathmore Secondary College produced a team that could compete effectively against a top private school, is testament to the intellectual strength of the school.
From a practical point of view, debating has resulted in all debaters developing their speaking, listening, researching and thinking skills. While debating improves your ability and confidence for speaking in front of an audience, it also significantly improves your ability to listen effectively and with concentration over an extended period. As well, students who have participated in debating perform very effectively in the coursework tasks for Oral Presentation.
Congratulations to all the debaters who participated in the DAV Competition during 2024.
Mr. C. BassiosMr. G. WarrickMiss S. Chaudhary Ms. Lisa Lacey
Firstly, approximately 26 students from Years 9, 10 and 11 participated in the DAV (Debaters Association of Victoria) Competition during 2024. When we compare these numbers to previous years’ participation, when we had at least half these numbers, we can safely say that student interest in debating has increased significantly. Strathmore students, during the DAV competition, debated on five occasions at St. Bernard’s College as part of the Essendon Region. They debated against and defeated teams from PEGS, Sirius College, Bacchus Marsh Grammar, and many others from the region. All teams performed well: both Year 11 teams had four wins and one loss, finishing equal second in B Grade. The second Year 10 B Grade team also finished equal second with four wins and one loss. While one of our D Grade teams finished equal third with three wins and two losses, our other Year 9 team came equal second with four wins and one loss. These are our best results ever!
The second main reason to celebrate debating success Strathmore was due to one of our Year 10 teams managing to go through the five debates undefeated. This team, which consisted of Joseph Price, Andreas Oltoumis and Joseph Thorsen, then entered the finals. Their first final, when they competed against Sirius college, resulted in them winning comfortably by a margin of 3 points. However, the next final that they participated in was held at Xavier College in Kew and was against Melbourne Grammar School. Sadly, Melbourne Grammar won by only one point. The topic was: ‘That we should prioritise funding for deep sea exploration rather than space exploration’. Despite losing by the narrowest of margins, the experience of debating against a top private school was a worthy performance in a debate that could have gone either way. The fact that Strathmore Secondary College produced a team that could compete effectively against a top private school, is testament to the intellectual strength of the school.
From a practical point of view, debating has resulted in all debaters developing their speaking, listening, researching and thinking skills. While debating improves your ability and confidence for speaking in front of an audience, it also significantly improves your ability to listen effectively and with concentration over an extended period. As well, students who have participated in debating perform very effectively in the coursework tasks for Oral Presentation.
Congratulations to all the debaters who participated in the DAV Competition during 2024.
Mr. C. BassiosMr. G. WarrickMiss S. Chaudhary Ms. Lisa Lacey
Year 10 Textiles
Over term 3, Year 10 students designed their own stamp to a unique repeat fabric, which they turned into a line tote bag.
Here’s some excellent work by Annie, Cara, Carina, Dana, Marley, Hilary, Lorelai, Manha, Marley and Vanessa.
Here’s some excellent work by Annie, Cara, Carina, Dana, Marley, Hilary, Lorelai, Manha, Marley and Vanessa.
