From the Principal

In the brief time during Term 2 when we had all our students return to school, I was asked to visit Mr Attard’s Year 10 Advanced Maths class.

I was invited because each student had achieved 100% attendance during our first effort at Distance Learning Mode (DLM). I was very impressed with this group of young men and women. They had set themselves clear routines and adjusted well to the requirements of learning from home through self-discipline and dedication to their studies.

This second stint is no different. It will be important for students to learn from their experience with DLM. Students will be required to demonstrate ownership of their learning and to establish a routine that provides a balance between, learning, screen time and physical activity.

This attention to wellbeing will be the key to sustaining effective learning and teaching for the next few weeks.

The role of parents has also never been more significant in this current environment. While staff will work hard to set engaging lesson content, the role of parents in supporting their sons and daughters to maintain a sustainable and realistic routine will be critical to successful learning.

This second lockdown has already provided our College community with the opportunity to demonstrate outstanding creativity and innovation.

Our successful VCE/VCAL Subject Selection Information Evening for Year 10 students and families held last week is just one example. Our Parent-Teacher Interviews will also move to a virtual landscape, and our College tours will be prerecorded and offered live to potential parents and students.

Our assemblies will once again be a montage from our student leaders and rather than a live performance our Year 10 students will develop their love of Shakespeare via online webinars.

The forced changes of a lockdown have challenged staff to think creatively and develop alternative methods of communication. I encourage parents to continue to engage with the new and varied opportunities that arise this term.

For those students who are on-site, the learning is very different with social distancing, hand sanitiser and now face masks all required as you will see from the photos above. Even our library staff are working behind sneeze guards and modelling best practice hygiene by wearing a face mask. Students are also being temperature checked as they enter the College.

This year has demanded constant agility. Our staff and students continue to demonstrate resilience and will emerge as flexible problem solvers who rejoice in change. What outstanding preparation for a bright future.

Looking Ahead

From the Deputy Principal Staff

New COVID-19 Regulations

Earlier this week, the Victorian Government announced that those in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire must wear a face covering when they leave home from 11.59 pm on Wednesday 22 July 2020.

Face coverings will be mandatory for people aged 12 and over. These measures will slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and help protect our school community.

All secondary school students who are attending onsite for Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) or onsite supervision will need to wear a face covering, including when travelling to and from school.

Students or staff who have a medical condition – including problems with their breathing, a serious skin condition on the face, a disability or a mental health condition – are not required to wear a face covering. If students have a medical condition that precludes them from wearing a mask, families need to contact the College nurse, Ms Michelle De-wys on 8099 6000 or mdewys@sfcc.vic.edu.au.

The school does not provide masks to students. The Department of Health and Human Services website has advice about face coverings including:

• which different types can be used

• how to make your own

• how to safely wear one

• how to safely remove it.

Students who do not have a suitable mask will not be able to enter the College grounds. Parents/ guardians will be contacted and asked to take their child home. Thank you for your support in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and keeping our school community safe.

From the Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching

As we enter the first week of term and return to Distance Learning Mode (DLM) for our Year 7 to 10 students and the second week of term for our VCE, VET and VCAL students, we thank our parents/guardians for their patience as we navigate this new learning experience.

If you have any learning or academic concerns, please contact the relevant subject teacher or learning support leader. For assistance with wellbeing issues, please contact your child’s Homeroom teacher.

It is important to focus on the positives your child gained through the Term 2 experience of DLM. This may include more independence and ownership of learning, better problem-solving skills, chances to show initiative or identification of their preferred learning style. Encourage your child to continue to use and further develop these skills.

Our teachers will continue to provide students with a range of engaging, motivational, creative, and innovative classes in either DLM or face-to-face classes depending on the year level.

Our Year 10 students can use the distance learning experience to help identify the way they learn best, the types of subjects they are most suited to and the type of pathway they should undertake in 2021.

DLM reminders

• During DLM all Year 7 to 10 students are required to be online from 9am to 3.20pm for lessons and 8.45am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for Homeroom.
• Year 11 and 12 students have face-to-face Homeroom each day.
• Year 7 and 8 students have 60-minute lessons, with a 15-minute break at the end to reduce screen time and enable them to move around and refresh.
• Year 9 and 10 students lessons have 75-minute lessons as per their Semester Two timetables. This provides sound preparation for moving into the senior years of learning in 2021.
• Teachers are available to answer student questions during the scheduled class time and will respond to emails from 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays.

From the Deputy Principal Students

We begin this week with another period of distance learning for Year 7 to 10 students.

In last week’s newsletter I offered some general tips on wellbeing during this time. The College Wellbeing team is well placed to support all students and we will continue to provide advice for parents and guardians as we navigate through this time.

There are ways you can help your teenager deal with stress. If you'd like to understand more about this, I encourage you to visit ReachOut’s page on stress and teenagers.

It can also help to talk to other parents in the Reach Out forums page for tips on teen stress or to share your own ideas with others.

Many resources are available from the Resilience Project, a program the College has been connected to for the past two years.

Teachers will use some of the Resilience Project activities found in the student diary to support their students during Distance Learning Mode.

The wellbeing principles are easy to follow and supported by research that shows practising them every day will help you feel happier and more resilient. Follow this link to read more  The Resilience Project - At home learning

Other useful links for parents:

• How to have a great conversation
• Tips for supporting a teenager who is stressed
• Surviving Year 12 (for parents)

A reminder that if you or your child needs assistance please contact our wellbeing counsellors or psychologist, or contact Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Year 8 Homeroom Recognition Awards

Our Year 8 homerooms are encouraged to work together this term and earn an award for their efforts.

The Recognition Awards are a whole-class award, given when all students in a homeroom or elective have demonstrated excellent behaviour, attitude, and effort for a lesson.

The initiative began a few years ago as a way of encouraging and motivating students in the second half of the year.

A class can earn a certificate for:

• Attendance (on time, completing attendance quizzes or responding to posts)
• Contribution and participation in class activities/calls
• Completion of work
• Attitude and etiquette

All students must meet or exceed expectations in these areas.

If a class earns 10 certificates, they will receive a hot chip lunch provided by the Year Level Coordinator.

When 20 certificates are awarded, the homeroom can buy lunch of their choice and have it delivered to them by the Year Level Coordinator.

The certificates will be displayed in each homeroom and any lunches earned will be provided when students return on-site.

The Year 8 Domestique Awards will also continue this term and are designed to reward students on an individual level.

Jordan Reithofer

Lawrence House Leader

It’s a Draw

Glasheen and Daffey claimed the top spot in the Rejuvenate in June Challenge at the end of Term 2.

Both houses finished with 54 points, followed by Reed with 22 points.

Rejuvenate in June involved about 20 students who completed a simple and achievable task each day. Despite the return to classes on-site, all participants still enjoyed taking part in the challenge.

Different weekly bonus challenges also allowed students to showcase the healthy meals they had been eating and highlight mindfulness activities. It was great to see so many students get involved.

Congratulations to everyone who participated and achieved every daily challenge not only during June but also during the last three months. You all did a great job. Don’t forget to stay healthy and safe.

How to Support your Child in Distance Learning Mode 2.0

Returning to Distance Learning Mode (DLM) for a second time means we can all reflect on what worked well the first time and what we may need to change or improve.

As parents and guardians, you may be wondering how you can support your child’s learning during these trying times. Motivation may be a little low and concentration levels may have waned however, there are ways to keep students on top of their studies while also keeping their minds healthy and their bodies active.

The importance of routines, optimal learning spaces and breaks from the screen are just some things we can do to make these days a little brighter.

Top tips for learning remotely

1. Don’t work on weekends
2. Eat to be smarter
3. Get moving and get outside
4. Reduce the screen time
5. Don’t sit down all day
6. Create checklists
7. Create a study space
8. Communicate with your teacher
9. Set alarms
10. Stick to a routine

Memory games and brain breaks

Memory games are founded on sound science and are considered one of the best ways to ensure that our brains are working at their optimum.

They help to improve a child’s critical thinking skills, exercise the brain, sharpen problem-solving skills, improve spatial skills and enhance visual perception.

Below are links to some websites that feature memory games ideal for both students and families.

https://sharpbrains.com/brainteasers/

http://freebrainagegames.com

http://faculty.washington.edu

Library News

Each year the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) brings children and books together to celebrate Book Week. 

Throughout the year, the CBCA works in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers and other organisations to bring words, images and stories into the hearts and minds of children and adults. 

Unfortunately Book Week has been postponed in these challenging times but that doesn’t mean books don’t arrive for your reading pleasure. 

The library has a full selection of this year’s award nominated books. If you are on-site you might like to borrow one, or if you are learning from home, you can use you the EPlatform app to borrow an eBook.

Happy reading.