School Council Elections

Dear Parent/Guardian

Melton Secondary College is holding its annual School Council Elections.

I would like to encourage you to consider joining our school council and helping us to provide an outstanding education for our students.

Please click on the links below for nomination forms.

sch5Acouncilel.pdf

sch5Bcouncilel.pdf

Completed Nomination Forms must be returned to the General Office by Wednesday 28 February 4.00 pm. 

There are three Parent Member positions vacant to be filled.

An election will be held if the college receives more nominations than there are positions vacant.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss becoming a School Council member.

Kind regards

David Reynolds

College Principal

2017 Yearbook

Keeping Cool At School

As we head towards the summer months of the school year, I wanted to remind parents/carers about ways in which the College is able to assist your child to remain comfortable during warmer weather.

Cooling in classrooms

All classrooms will have mechanical cooling or air conditioning available.  The Department of Education is working with the school as part of the modernisation project to increase the power supply to allow for a higher use of air conditioning.

Drinking water

Students are permitted to bring a bottle of water into classes and are encouraged to increase their water consumption during warmer weather.

Please note that while students are permitted to cool themselves by splashing their face, arms or hands with water, they are not permitted to splash other students, or engage in ‘water fights’.

Hats

All students are encouraged to wear a College hat when they are outside. The Uniform Shop has two styles available, a peak hat and a bucket hat. These hat styles were added to the College Uniform at the request of the Student Representative Council.

Uniform

The MSC Uniform provides cooler options for students including shorts, dresses and short-sleeve shirts. In recent warmer days, some students have been observed wearing the winter jacket despite the higher temperatures. Parents are asked to assist students to make uniform choices appropriate to the weather and ensure that they attend school in full school uniform.

Please note that students who attend school out of uniform (clothing or hats) will be asked to remove non-uniform items. Students may also be sent home to change into correct uniform.

Shade

There are a range of shaded areas both inside and outside where students are able to sit or play during recess and lunchtime.

Staff remain vigilant in monitoring and supporting students to be comfortable on days of high temperature.

You can support your child as well by making sure that he/she has a College hat, a water bottle (frozen is a great idea for the really hot days) and is dressed suitably for the weather.

David Reynolds

College Principal

WEC VET Awards Night

The second WEC VET in School Awards was held  at Tapcorp Park on 12 November. Congratulations to the students who received VET awards in the following programs:

Automotive:

Year 1 Endeavour Award – Jeremy Wall (Year 10)

Year 2 Outstanding Award – Brenden Fischer (Year 11)

Creative Industries & Screen and Media

Year 1 Outstanding Award – Declan Porter (Year 11)

Year 2 Endeavour Award – Sebastian Caiafa (Year 11)

Early Childhood Education &  Care

Year 1 Endeavour Award – Emilee Mowlam (Year 10)

Electrotechnology

Year 2 Outstanding Award – Jacob Anderson (Year 11)

Engineering

Year 2 Outstanding Award – Jacob Spence (Year 11)

Salon Assistant

Year 1 Endeavour Award – Chloe Stokes (Year 10)

Year 1 Outstanding Award – Emily Reeve (Year 10)

Sport and Recreation

Year 1 Most Improved – Tayla Peatling (Year 10)

Principal Award

Year 2 Salon Assistant - Kayla Henderson (Year 11)

VET Excellence Award

Year 1 Student – Emily Reeve (Year 10)

School Captain Candiate Speeches

On Wednesday, our ten candidates for 2018 School Captain spoke to the student body at assembly and asked for their vote. All staff and students get to have their say on who they think the best leaders for the school are. The leading candidates will then have an interview with a panel made up of Principal Class, teachers and students.

The 2018 School Captains will be announced at the Year 12 leavers assembly on the 25^th of October. You can watch the students’ speeches here: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55Q5vAmcQQJAR9pystqMHGtLbqywy66F

Diversity Week

Melton Secondary College will celebrate the diversity of our school population during our Diversity Week from August 7th to August 11th.

We share the Melton City Council vision, where every member of our community belongs.

http://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Services/People/Cultural-Diversity/I-Belong

This is a time for us to enjoy the richness of each individual’s distinctive characteristics, beliefs and cultural heritage. Melton Secondary College is a growing community which also means there is growing diversity. At this time we like to remember both the things we have in common as human beings and the amazing range of things that makes each one of us unique.

Parent Opinion Survey 2017

WE WANT OUR PARENTS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK

Our school is conducting a survey to find out what parents think of our school. The Parent Opinion

Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education and Training that is conducted amongst a sample of randomly selected parents at each school.

It is designed to assist our school in gaining an understanding of parents’ perception of school

climate, student engagement and relationships with our parent community. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement

strategies. 

The survey will be conducted online by ORIMA Research Pty Ltd and only takes 15 minutes to

complete. The survey can be accessed via desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile at any

convenient time within the fieldwork period from Monday 7^th August to Sunday 27th August.

Approximately 40 per cent of parents will be invited to participate in this year’s survey. All

responses to the survey are anonymous.

The online survey is available in English, Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Chin (Hakha) and Hindi.

Survey language guides will be provided in a range of languages including Albanian, Bengali,

Burmese, Cantonese, Dari, Filipino, Greek, Gujarati, Indonesian, Japanese, Karen, Khmer,

Korean, Macedonian,Malayalam, Pashto, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Sinhalese,

Somali, Spanish,Tagalog,Tamil, Telugu, Turkish or Urdu.

The survey results will be reported back to our school at the end of September and the

information will be shared with School Council and through the Melton Mail. One example

of how we used last year’s Parent Opinion Survey results was to plan an improved

2017 Y6-7 transition program for our students. 

For further information, please speak to you child’s teacher or visit: 

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/management/improvement/Pages/

performsurveyparent.aspx

SBS Documentary - Testing Teachers

Responses to the documentary received so far

“I have just watched the first two episodes of the SBS feature on new teachers. It is such a strong portrayal of what it takes to be an effective teacher. What strikes me is the importance of having intelligent, emotionally strong and resilient young people entering the profession and also the absolute necessity that they have supportive and empathetic principals to guide them.” Judy Crowe, President Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals

“There might be some people out there who think that anyone can teach, or teachers get school holidays and they only work this many hours a day. They’re looking superficially but what they don’t see is the deep intensity of what it is to learn how to each and to be a teacher. Teachers put their hearts out there and they put their energy out there and I think that that might surprise people” Kitty Van Cuylenberg TFA Associate

ATHLETICS SPORTS – FRIDAY 5^th MAY

Our Athletics Sports will take place on Friday 5^th May at the Melton Athletics Track, 82 Bridge Road, Melton South, 3338.

Attendance:
The Athletics Sports is a compulsory part of the school’s curriculum and it is therefore necessary that all students in Years 7 – 12 attend. Absence notes are essential for students not in attendance at the Athletics. 

Organisation of the day:
All students are required to attend Homegroup or Year Level Assembly at 8.51am where attendance will be marked. Years 10, 11 and 12 will be required to meet in their designated assembly areas. Students will be briefed on events and the organisation of the day. Once this process is complete, students will be taken by bus to the venue.

At approximately 2:30pm, students will be transported to Melton Secondary College via buses and will be dismissed on arrival at school, approximately at 2.45pm.

If weather conditions are poor (rain, extreme cold), regular classes will run for the day. Students will be expected to attend school with their Student Kit and be ready to complete scheduled periods.

Unfortunately, students who have not returned a consent form will be unable to attend the Athletics day. An alternative program will run for students not attending, as all normal classes will be cancelled. Students who attend school will be dismissed at 2.45pm. 

Clothing:
Students do not have to wear school uniform to the Athletics Sports but are expected to wear clothing or costumes in appropriate House colours. Clothing should be “Sun Smart”. We encourage students to “SLIP, SLOP, SLAP” so caps and hats other than the school uniform cap may be worn. Clothing displaying inappropriate words or images is not to be worn. Competitors are especially recommended to compete in House colours. Students are expected to encourage and support all students in their events.

                                                HOUSE COLOURS
  Djerriwarrh           Kororoit            Pywheitjorrk          Yangardook 
    Green                    Blue                    Yellow                      Red

Food:
The Melton Hockey Club will provide food at the venue, at a cost, and it is suggested students bring a small amount of money to purchase any food and drink. However, students are encouraged to bring other food or drink that they may require.

We welcome parents to the venue to attend the athletic Sports. The address of the venue is:

Melton Athletics Track, 82 Bridge Road, Melton South, 3338. 

There is no cost for students or parents. On arrival, please inform a member of staff of your attendance.

Student Leaders at Melton Secondary College

L to R - Mat Garro (Vice Captain), Steph Novak (Captain), David Reynolds (Principal), 

Breanna Argyle (Vice Captain) and Ben Akok (Captain)

Steph Novak (Captain)

Achievements:   2017 MSC School Captain, 2016 Yr11 Sports Champion, Melton Youth Positive Role Model Award

Best subjects:   Health & Human Development, Psychology and Maths

Leadership:  School Council, Student Representative Council, Vic SRC Congress of Student Leaders

2017 Goal:   Maximise VCE results and leave a positive impact on MSC

Ben Akok (Captain)

Achievements:   2017 MSC School Captain, 2015 Long Tan Teamwork & Leadership Award

Best subjects:   Health & Human Development, Business Management

Extra Curricular:  Chess Team Captain, Trombone player in School Band, School Council and Student Representative Council

2017 Goal:   85+ ATAR, Win State Chess Championship

2018 Goal:  University of Melbourne, Finance

Student’s Advice:  Keep working, no matter how hard it gets

Breanna Argyle

Achievements:   Year 11 Academic Excellence Award, Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholar,

2016 Science Specialism Award and Esprit De Corp Music Award.

Best subject:   Biology 2016 Study Score of 47

SBS Documentary

I wanted to give parents, students and staff another reminder that Melton Secondary College will feature in a three part documentary series titled Testing Teachers to commence on SBS, 8.30 pm on April 19th.  As you may recall, documentary filming occurred over 2016 and followed two first year teachers and their students at the school. Melton SC is one of three schools featured from around Australia. Each of the three schools is set in very different parts of Australia, but all share the same challenge of making sure that school is a place where every child achieves high rates of progress in their learning. Melton Secondary College is working tirelessly to ensure this is the case for our wonderful students.

The central aim of the documentary is to provide an insight into the work that teachers and students do to achieve a high quality education when research tells us that background continues to have a significant impact on educational outcomes .  

Through the lens of first year teachers at Melton SC, we see the highs and lows of school life and the great work being done across our school to help our students achieve academic growth, develop positive attitudes about themselves and their learning and develop aspirations that propel them forward.  

As a community, we should be prepared to see everything from classroom scuffles, arguments between students and some disengagement, right through to students excelling and thriving in a range of different settings.  

I’m very proud of the two featured teachers, Kitty and Emmanuel and the students they taught last year.    Every one of them continues to make outstanding progress as leaders and learners in our community.

I encourage you to watch this documentary and if you would like to do so, to provide feedback to the school after each episode. We will provide you with details about how you can do this at the start of next term.

SBS Documentary - Testing Teachers

Melton Secondary College is one of three Australian schools featured in a new SBS documentary. The first media release occurred this week with the trailer scheduled to go to air soon.

Please see the release information below.

Six teachers, three public schools, one aim: to make a difference in young lives.

Testing Teachers airs Wednesday, 19 April at 8.30pm on SBS.

Premiering on Wednesday, 19 April at 8.30pm is SBS’s three-part observational documentary, Testing Teachers. With unprecedented access to three public high schools across Victoria, Western Australia and Northern Territory, Testing Teachers follows six first-time teachers overthe course of 12 months as they start their new career as teachers.

Testing Teachers, an SBS three-part documentary series, explores the wide and varied challenges facing students, teachers and schools in low socioeconomic communities – including Melton, Southern River (in Perth) and Tennant Creek (in NT).

Across the series, viewers will be introduced to the reality of educational disadvantage in Australia, and the critical role that all teachers play in breaking the cycle of disadvantage – student by student, school by school.

Viewers will meet two young, committed and passionate Melton Secondary College teachers who are determined to make a difference as they begin their teaching journey.

We see them share their first days in the classroom as they meet their students, colleagues and parents.

We’ll watch the teachers develop over the school year as they begin to unlock the potential of individual students, and share their desire to drive systemic change in Australia.

The college agreed to participate in the documentary as it shares our very strong belief that all children deserve the very best education regardless of their socio-economic background. We have worked with Teach for Australia for the past five years and the program has brought many talented young graduates who have developed into outstanding teachers.

We share the same commitment that is articulated in Testing Teachers that every student deserves to learn and achieve at a high rate and flourish as a healthy and successful member of our community.

We are grateful to our participating students, parents and teachers for inspiring people to stand up and take action.

We encourage you to stay tuned and find out more. 

David Reynolds

Principal

Melton Mail Newletter

Please click on the link below for the latest Melton Mail Newsletter

MSC School Council needs you

Parents Needed for School Review Focus Group

Melton Secondary College in new SBS Documentary

After a year of filming, I have been told that the SBS documentary we have been apart of is in its finals stages and will be ready to air early next term. Titled, Testing Teachers the documentary will present an insight into the highs and the lows that two of our Teach for Australia Associates experienced in the first year of their training as new teachers. Over the course of the three-part series we will see scenes where students are having fun and succeeding at their learning, but also others when students are struggling and finding the subjects and getting along with others a real challenge. It asks us to think deeply about the responsibility that we all have to make sure that every young person is safe, happy and successful and the vital role that schools and teachers play. I am confident that the documentary 'Testing Teachers' will inspire us all to work together to achieve this incredibly important goal. Further details about the release date for Testing Teachers will be published soon.

College Five STARR Values

One of the main reasons why students have settled so well into their program this year has been our strong emphasis on the College Five STARR Values. At the end of last year the Student Voice and Leadership Team worked with the College Leadership Team to develop a complimentary set of Values in Action that  show clearly how each of our values supports student learning. Having developed the Values in Action together, students and staff are building greater consistency in following behaviors that will support learning.

Ben Akok

Every student at Melton Secondary College is a star in his or her own way and every student is capable of achieving outstanding things. Some young people have had challenges that seem insurmountable and manage to turn these into success. One of our wonderful Year 12 students, Ben Akok has had plenty of challenges and is a wonderful example of how young people can struggle with adversity and grow stronger. Last week Ben was the subject of a news story on ABC TV’s 7.30 Report. As parents and teachers, there are many times when we feel proud in what students can achieve. But Ben Akok’s story should make us all proud not just for his individual achievements but for the great story it tells about our school and our community. Students certainly appreciated this at our first whole school assembly this week when, after seeing the Ben's 7.30 Report story they responded with huge and hearty applause.

Since the story was broadcast, I have received lots of wonderfully positive comments and emails. Below are just some of them:

"I just wanted to email and congratulate you on the story on 7:30 about your student, Benjamin. It was a beautiful story about a clearly remarkable young man. He couldn't be the way he was without parents (or a parent) who instill in him a strong belief in the value of education, so his parent/s are to be really commended on their excellent job...There's a lot of depressing, upsetting and anger-inducing news in the media at the moment (as a Muslim, I feel it acutely!) and the story about Benjamin was a lovely antidote. You should all be so proud of the story, and how it reflects on Benjamin, his family, and your school. Keep up the great work, and I wish Benjamin every success. I can't wait to see what lies in his future! "

"I am not sure if I am contacting the correct people, however after watching the 7:30 tonight on the ABC I felt I must contact you.

As a 75 year old Australian male I was incredibly moved by the story of Benjamin. What an inspiration to all young Australian people Benjamin is, adapting to a new country, working incrediblely hard with  his medical problems, to achieve academic levels and respect of his fellow students is an inspiration to all students, and in particular to youths from the Sudan.

Please pass on to Benjamin my respect for his efforts, and I wish him every success in his new country, an inspiration for all young people that wish to succeed" 

"Dear Principal, teachers and students

I was  really encouraged and uplifted by the story on 7.30 Report on your election of Benjamin Akok as school captain.

What a fine young man … and what a great school you have created, with the student body valuing, as they obviously do, the qualities Benjamin represents.

We need more schools like yours.

Well done … and thanks for a good news story!"

 If you have not seen Ben Akok’s 7.30 Report story you can see it by following this link: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2017/s4614153.htm

Outdoor Education Sailing Excursion to Geelong Eastern Beach

On the 12^th and 13^th of May the VCE Outdoor Education class ventured to Geelong Eastern Beach to participate in 2 days of sailing with the Victorian Sailing School. Due to the weather conditions the students were challenged to say the least. They braved some tough winds to learn some new and challenging  skills, and all came out winners.

On day one we went out in 35-knot winds in 2 larger sailing boats (Dolphins), with assistance from 2 experienced sailors.  At 35 knots, these sorts of winds require significant knowledge and skills with working the boat and reading the weather conditions, so it made sense to go out with the instructors in larger, safer boats. We all came home that day dry and happy to go out for day 2.

Day 2 brought with it lighter, 25 knot winds and smaller sailing boats (Envy 4.3 Dinghies). This time the students were left to their own devise to manage the smaller 3-crew boats with guidance from the 2 instructors in their neighbouring speedboats. The students did me proud to go out in these winds and quickly, developed skills necessary to make turns and navigate their boat through a course. We lasted the  session with only one boat going for a swim. The students session with only one boat going for a swim. The students came in with smiles on their faces, some more wet than others.

This Outdoor Education class had fun, participating in a thrilling activity, designed to develop their skills and confidence in an outdoor activity thereby improving their relationship and bond with the outdoors. I believe all students walked away from these two days with a strong sense of achievement and learnt with perseverance new skills can be developed where most would not have these opportunities.

A great class, a great excursion in great conditions!

Daniel Taylor

Head of VET Sport and Recreation

INDIGENOUS = SUCCESS

Thursday 19^th May marked the first AIME session at Federation University for our Indigenous students. 12 current students in years 9, 10 and 11 joined Mr Reynolds, ex-student and college vice captain Alyssa-Kate Hanson and I to participate in discussion and activities based on Indigenous culture, identity and goal setting. The students enthusiastically contributed their ideas and shared personal insight to what it meant to be Indigenous. It was a fantastic introductory session for the commencement of the program and set a warm welcome for following sessions. The AIME mentors and coordinators were extremely encouraging and supporting and will be attending our Koori Homework Club at the college each Thursday afternoon from 3:15pm to maintain their rapport and support for our students.

Indigenous Success

The Wellbeing Team would like to congratulate Tyson and Jandamara Atkinson and Amielia Wall for being recognized for their outstanding contributions to culture!

After one AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) excursion to RMIT, Tyson was selected to be a Victorian representative at the Sydney GAME ON project where we worked collaboratively to design a smart phone application. His story has been documented and will be aired on Saturday 30^th April at 9:00am and Tuesday 3^rd May at 8:30pm on ABC3.

Jandamara has also been selected as MSC’s AIME Ambassador and will be working with AIME mentors to further develop his leadership skills for VCE and promoting the AIME program to our junior students at MSC. Jandamara has also been nominated for a YAC grant with Melton City Council and so we wish him luck for being a winning recipient! 

After participating at an AIME excursion, Amielia’s artistic flare was soon noticed and she was selected to be flown to Sydney for a COLLABORTAION project where Amielia was able to contribute ideas for artwork to be printed onto the infamous AIME hoodies.

CONGRATULATIONS to Tyson, Jandamara and Ameilia!

StartUP: TopArts and Ai Wei Wei – Andy Warhol

Year 12 Studio Arts excursion

Beginning our day by taking a stroll down one of the city’s ‘hidden’ laneways; students were exposed to an explosion of street art graffiti styles and concepts in the ever-changing alternative art space of Hosier Lane. 

Crossing the road to the NGV Australia, students were escorted to a lecture theatre where they were given a private insight into the themes and ideas, working methods, materials, techniques and sources of inspiration of a range of exhibiting artists who completed their VCE studies last year and were selected to take part in the StArt Up: Top Arts 2016 exhibition. Prior to viewing the exhibition, students had the opportunity to look closely and gain inspiration from the outstanding folios developed by the exhibiting students, giving the Year 12 an insight into the quality and quantity of work required by students undertaking Studio Arts to produce a cohesive folio of finished artworks.

The last stop on our jam-packed itinerary was the NGV International’s summer blockbuster show Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei. The exhibition showcased more than 300 works by the renowned artists in a variety of art forms including painting, printmaking, sculpture, film and photography. Highlights for this exhibition included the opportunity to view Warhol’s famous ‘Campbell Soup Can’ series in person, as well as the chance to be immersed within Ai’s ‘Bird and Caonima’ balloon installation interacting with the floating red and gold metallic balloons. The excursion has left students feeling inspired and ready for the hard work ahead of them this term!