BENTLEIGH SECONDARY COLLEGE Newsletter

Bentleigh Secondary College 2020 1

“Being the best you can be”

The right to learn.The right to be treated with respect.

The right to be safe.

Newsletter BENTLEIGH SECONDARY COLLEGE

MS HELENE HIOTIS

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

12th Edition15TH DECEMBER 2020

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you well for the festive season and hope that you have a relaxing and enjoyable break. It has been a particularly positive year for our school and our work in making progress on the school improvement journey. I know for many of you the year has brought achievements and challenges on both the work and home fronts.

Have a wonderful and safe break.

Starting dates for 2021: Meet at 9am in designated areas listed below.

Wednesday January 27, 2021 - PUPIL FREE DAY STAFF ONLY

Thursday January 28, 2021

Year 7 Assembly in the PAC

Year 10 in S01/S02 (old Gym)

Year 11 in S03/S04 (new Gym)

Year 12 in the Piazza @ 8:30am for Group Photo

Friday January 29, 2021

Years 8 and 9 Assembly in S01/S02 (old Gym) and all other classes to Home Group.

Information to be forwarded. General Email Information:

General Information/Inquiries – [email protected]

Finance – [email protected]

Wellbeing – [email protected]

Enrolments and Transitions – [email protected] or [email protected]

ICT Help Desk/Inquiries – [email protected]


ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL REPORTSMS JENNY VLAHANDREAS, ACT. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL - CURRICULUM, FEEDBACK AND PRACTICEThe final week of the school year began with the celebration of student achievement at our Presentation Evening on Monday 14 December. As much as random events, like a pandemic, have a profound impact on society, it is comforting to know that the structures of places like schools do not allow the recognition of student achievement and importance of celebrating as a community to be diminished. Correne Harry and Mary Tzimourtas are to be congratulated on their enormous effort in putting together such an uplifting and professional event for our college community to enjoy. It was wonderful to be able to join our Year 12 students and properly farewell them and wish them every success for the future.

Early Commencement reflected that kids do miss school and the engagement and interaction that school provides as our attendance was outstanding. Staff have taken up the opportunity to reflect on the teaching programs and to adjust them according to the requirements of our students. All staff need to be proud of their effort and professionalism in creating a vibrant learning experience for our student’s in Early Commencement.

Forward planning for 2021 with the Leadership Team, has focused around the 2021 AIP with the department goals of Learning Catch Up and Extension, Happy, Healthy, Active Kids and School Connectedness, data using our Analytics platform guided by Jesus Camacho Morles and finally examining the way we connect with our college community, facilitated by Tracey Ezard. All staff will be involved in PL on Wednesday 16 December which will rotate around these themes.

2020 has been a challenging year and as we have emerged from the uncertainty that had become our new normal, it is an opportunity to reflect on our personal qualities and strengths that this challenge has helped us all to identify. We can keep learning, we do adapt and we are reminded of what things are truly important to us. My family has been my safe haven this year and I am looking forward to spending quality time, enjoying the unique ways in which they bring me love, laughter and joy and I hope to be able to reflect this back in many ways.

I would like to thank all the parents, carers and students who have sent so many messages of support and encouragement this year; these mean so much because nothing is more important than the wellbeing of every student and this is what we strive to achieve at Bentleigh Secondary College. Finally, I wish everyone all the very best of health and happiness with your loved ones over the holiday season.

Take care.


MR ARUN KARUNARATNE, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, WELLBEING, ENGAGEMENT AND PATHWAYSWhat an extraordinary year it has been! We were challenged in ways we could never have imagined, it pushed us to our limits. However we have come together as a team and pulled through and achieved many successes. At Bentleigh Secondary College we have had the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our students online and onsite.

Our staff has overcome various challenges to support the Bentleigh Secondary College community. Thank you to the incredible staff who have played a huge role in supporting the different programs that have assisted our students and their families achieve their set goals. I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate all the hard work from our Student Engagement, Wellbeing Team and Pathways Team. No challenge was too great for our teams, we trusted and worked together in achieving success.

Finally, to all our students, congratulations on making it to the end of this incredible year! I encourage you to reset over the summer break and take some time to set new goals for 2021.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year!

MR MARC KOENIG, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, ENGAGEMENT AND CONNECTEDNESS

It is my pleasure to introduce the 2021 Sub School Team:

2021 Sub School Team

Head of Wellbeing Mr Wayne Davis

Head of Wellbeing, Engagement and Leadership (Senior Years 10-12)Dr Michael Lyristis Head of Year 12Ms Rebecca GemmolaHead of Year 11Mrs Courtney Fraraccio (Mon-Tues) and Mrs Kyle Dark (Tues – Fri)Head of Year 10 Mr John Karydis Head of Wellbeing, Engagement and Connectedness (Middle Years 7-9) Mr Mitch Wedderburn Head of Year 9Ms Mary PapastergiouHead of Year 8Mr George Tissera Head of Year 7Ms Lindsay Wilson I have been impressed with the positivity shown by students in taking on the challenges of a new year level. All senior students receive holiday homework. It is imperative that students complete this work and are up to date and ready to start next year.

For English reading the set text and making annotations is a great way to get ahead.

Despite the pandemic we have been busy continuing to improve our school grounds. The Year 7 area and Wetlands Court area have had shade sails and synthetic grass put down. These areas have been well received by students. Next up is the Wellbeing area which is being completed this week before Christmas.

The goal for next year will be to improve the worn areas around the oval and put new fencing along Chesterville Road to name but a few. Fingers crossed Working Bees can be run again in 2021. If there are any further ideas I encourage students to contact their SRC Representative or email me directly ([email protected]). Patrick Kethers and Kobi Gabay We Salute You - Students who take on extra responsibilities to make their school a better community are at the heart of what makes a good school. As our flag monitors, Patrick and Kobi of Year 8 have exercised the necessary formality and respect for this important position. They have done an outstanding job.


YEAR 7 ORIENTATION DAYMs Lindsay Wilson, Head of Year 7This year’s Orientation Day for the 2021 Year 7’s looked a little different to how it usually does, but that didn’t stop our enthusiastic future year 7’s from putting their best foot forward and enjoying their first day at Bentleigh Secondary College. The apprehensive but eager future Year 7’s were greeted with big smiles from the Principal Team and their future teachers where they were given an opportunity to get a picture with their future school uniform and the Bentleigh Orientation day photo wall. Once inside the school gates the future Year 7’s were sent on a scavenger hunt to find their classroom. To start the day off with a bang and to ease their nerves, the day began with a virtual school performance of some magic tricks from Cosentino the magician. After the magic show and lesson, the students were given the opportunity to ask Cosentino a variety of questions to gain some insight into his tricks, his time at school and what it’s like being on TV.

After the show the students participated in a range of activities to get to know each other and their homegroup teacher. The students wrote letters to their teachers, spent sometime in the Year 7 outdoors precinct and participated in some fun getting to know you games with the Year 10 peer support students. The Year 10 peer support students also read through the Year 7 Smart Guide and answered any questions the Year 7’s had about what high school life is really like.

I’d like to thank all of the future Year 7 students for coming along to our Orientation day and to all the Bentleigh staff for their help organising this day and ensuring we could provide a safe and sanitised environment for everyone. We’re all looking forward to getting to know our 2021 Year 7’s after the summer holidays.


The Victorian High-Ability Program (VHAP) is an online program where students of very high ability in either Maths or English engage in both synchronous and asynchronous learning with a teacher using Virtual Schools Victoria Online, the Moodle-based Learning Management System (LMS). The High-Ability Practice Leader (HAPL) Anna Boukouras, has supported the students’ participation from their school.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION Student Selection Only students who have been selected by the Department of Education and Training were able to participate in the program. As part of the selection process, the Department analysed student achievement data to assess student readiness and ability to participate in this program. Selected students were offered a place in up to one course each term. This is to balance the load on students of additional course work outside of core subjects and to minimise the impact of missing more than ten regular classes per term.

RATIONALE This program focused on tasks that stimulated students’ critical thinking, problem solving and creativity – enriching their understanding of English and mathematics. The program did not focus on accelerating students through core Victorian Curriculum content. Students have been pushed out of their learning comfort zones and many high-ability students may not be accustomed to this type of challenge. Students were reassured that being challenged in this way is an important part of learning.

MASTERCLASSES Students who participated in VHAP were also provided with the opportunity to meet other students in their local area who are undertaking the same course, in a face-to-face masterclass (which was delivered virtually). These masterclasses provided opportunities for students to connect with like-minded peers across the state, in order to reflect on their experiences and delve further into some of the big ideas of the course. COURSES A Whole New World of Mathematics (secondary mathematics Years 7 – 8) This course will stimulate student curiosity and love of mathematics, while also building their repertoire of mathematical skills. Students will explore topics that are not usually included in the secondary mathematics curriculum, such as networks and paradoxes. They will be able to explore new concepts, apply new knowledge to practical situations and investigations, and are encouraged to critically examine their problem-solving skills and strategies.

OR

Hope in Dystopian Times (secondary English Years 7 – 8) This course will challenge students to delve into the genre of dystopia in order to consider what makes or breaks a ‘perfect society’. A variety of texts will be studied, including novels, short stories, short films and music/film clips. Students will compare and contrast texts, identifying common or recurring themes, patterns and messages. Supported by a large range of stimulus material, they will undertake both analytical and creative writing tasks, and workshop responses with their peers.

VICTORIAN HIGH ABILITY PROGRAM - TERM 4Ms Anna Boukouras, VHAP Leader


Here is our first Maths cohort of VHAP Students from BSC for Term Four:

Left to right: Jessica Parkin, Nicola Marwick, Phoebe Solomon, Jackson Kivi and Roger Song.

Absent: Sam Wood.

Students chosen for Maths and English from Year 7:

Left to right: Maxim Prokopyuk, Noah Clifford, Maslin Lockyer, Zachary Trowbridge, Urvansh Shah, Sunday Meagher.


PRESENTATION NIGHT PHOTOS








IMPORTANT DATES

26 Jan AUSTRALIA DAY

27 Jan Staff CommenceCurriculum Day 1

28 Jan WELCOME BACK to Term 1, 2021Years 7, 10, 11 and 12 CommenceSchool Photos, Years 7, 11, 12 and StaffYear 7 Devices Distributed @ 3:30pm

29 Jan Years 8 and 9 CommenceSchool Photos, Years 8, 9 & 10Special Group PhotosHouse AssemblyYear 7 House Activities Pd 5 & 6

1 Feb Year 7 Music Recruitment Day in PAC Pd 1-4

2 Feb Whole School Welcome Assembly Year 7 Music Recruitment Night 7pm in PAC TBC

5 Feb House Swimming Carnival 9:15am @ Carnegie Pool

10 Feb Bands Commence Rehearsing

15 Feb House Chorals Incursion Pds 1-6

24-26 Feb

OES 3/4 Grampians Camp

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BENTLEIGH SECONDARY COLLEGE Newsletter