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The Grapevine 16-09-2022

Principal's Message

As we come to the end of Term 3, I reflect on what has been achieved this term and would like to thank our staff for their hard work in providing so many great opportunities for our students to engage in learning, extra-curricular events, camps and activities.

Please join me in welcoming Jack Holyoake who joins us as an ongoing teacher from Term 4. Many of you will already know Jack from this term in his role as a CRT. Jack will be moving to Robinvale over the school holidays, and we are excited to have him join us as a permanent staff member.

Congratulations to our senior students who sat the GAT last week. Despite the disruption from the local bird life who were eyeing off their lunch, our students remained focussed, driven and calm during the test. Well done to all of our students for their efforts.

Our students did a fantastic job of presenting their student led conferences on Tuesday afternoon to their learning coaches and their parents/carers. It was the highlight of the term as we got to share with our students the learning goals that they have achieved, as they reflected on their learning and engagement for the year to date. Thank you to all of the parents/carers who were able to attend their child’s student led conference. We welcome any feedback from our parents/carers on how we can improve this event for next time. If you have any feedback, please call or email Assistant Principal, Graeme Smyth Graeme.smyth@education.vic.gov.au

Thank you to our parents/carers for accommodating our teacher professional practice day on Thursday 8^th September. Our staff were thankful for the opportunity to catch up on the administrative aspects of their roles, with many teachers using this time for collaborative planning, assessment preparation, mandatory training and marking. Our education support staff undertook professional development on the new legislation around confidentiality, information sharing and the updates to the child safety standards.

Did you know that as of the 1^st July all organisations that work with children are required to demonstrate that they are meeting the expectations of the updated child safe standards. Student safety is a priority for our college and as our staff and College Council undertake additional training in understanding and implementing the updated child safe standards, it is important that our school community also understands the role each of you play in also protecting our children and ensuring that every single one of our children is safe and looked after. Our school policies have been updated to incorporate the new child safe standards. You can find these policies by going to the website link below or calling the front office and requesting a hard copy of the policies be sent to you.

College policies:

https://www.robinvale.vic.edu.au/policies-reports

At the beginning of Term 4 we will be having a sale on uniform items. We are wanting to clear out some older stock while providing an opportunity for students to get real bargains. Set uniform items will be available for only a gold coin donation with all proceeds going to the State School Relief Fund. Keep a look out for more information.

Attendance – Every Day Counts! You will have recently seen the reminders we have communicated regarding attendance. Please remember that if your child is absent from school for any reason, parents are required to notify the school of the reason for this absence by providing a written note, or where this is not possible, a phone call or email. Family vacations, shopping, extended absences and unexplained absences are not considered approved reasons for leave and parents/carers have a legal responsibility to make sure their child is attending school regularly. Every student should be aiming for 100% attendance, with anything under 80% attendance considered too low. If you have received an attendance letter, please take the time to discuss these absences with your child, provide reasons for the absences and send this information back to the school. Your child’s learning coach and community area coordinator are more than happy to meet with any parents/carers who would like further support in improving their child’s attendance.

A reminder that mobile phones are not to be used at school. Students are required to lock their mobile phone away in a locked locker or it can be held securely in the safe, in the front office. Students should not be using their mobile phones to pay for food at the canteen. We have seen an increase in the amount of students having their phones confiscated recently and it is important that we have parent/carer support in reinforcing this message. While mobile phones are a great communication tool, it is not necessary for students to have them during the school day. During learning time, mobile phones create a distraction to learning, have a negative impact on positive social interactions, increase the likelihood of bullying and harassment and are directly linked to some students not making good choices that are respectful and responsible. Mobile Phone policies are mandated across the state of Victoria, for all Government schools. We respectfully ask for support from all of our parents/carers in enforcing this mandate and abiding by our school policy.

Please be advised that for the first 6 weeks of Term 4, I will be on sick leave while I undergo my final surgery, having my right knee replaced. I am looking forward to being back on my feet, fitter and healthier than ever. In the meantime, I will leave you in the trusted hands of Stephanie Shanahan, who will be stepping in as Acting Principal during that time. Thank you to Rikki Johnson also who will be taking on the role of Acting Assistant Principal, during this time.

All the best to our VCE students who need to be using these school holidays to begin revising for their end of year exams.

Please have a safe and relaxing school holidays, stay healthy and we look forward to having all of our students return for Term 4 on the 3^rd October.

Congratulations Under 16's Football Team

Congratulations to the Under 16 Robinvale Euston Football Netball Club Premiers for 2022. Especially to our Year 9-10 boys from the College who played this season. We are so proud of you all.

Community Liaison Officer

Hello, my name is Talia Tuitupou. I am employed as the new Community Liaison Officer. Although I am part of the Health and Wellbeing team, my role is to specifically work with Pacific Islander and LBOTE students and their families to better the communication between families and the school.

I aim to provide support for students to improve their attendance, engagement, pathways and connection to school. I will strive to see them reach their fullest potential. I am heavily involved in church ministry and am the current youth leader of Sunraysia UPC. I work Mondays to Thursdays at Robinvale College and am contactable through reception. I look forward to being able to work closely with Pasifika and LBOTE students and families to enhance each student's schooling experience.

GAT 2022

Year 12s, Year 11s doing a Year 12 subject and Senior VCAL students, sat the GAT on Wednesday 7th September. Everyone was on time on the morning and ready to go. This was the first year that VCAL students sat the GAT, and also the first time VCE students sat the new format of two sessions across the whole day.

Indigenous Literacy Day

Wednesday the 7th of September was “Indigenous Literacy Day”. Classes at Robinvale College enjoyed listening to stories about Indigenous Australians’ culture. The stories were shared and discussed and a variety of follow up activities related to the stories were completed. Indigenous Literacy Day Celebrates Stories, Cultures and Languages.

“We are proud of our culture. We are proud of our language. Our stories. And songs.”

RUOK Day

The school celebrated RUOK day last Friday. The student enjoyed a free BBQ, live entertainment, games and a visit from local services in the community.

Who is ARDOCH

Ardoch is a children’s education charity focused on improving educational outcomes for children and young people in disadvantaged communities. Their 2025 vision is to become Australia’s most impactful education partner supporting children in disadvantaged communities.

Their mission is that every child’s potential should be realised through full participation in education. This belief inspires ARDOCH to increase engagement in education, build aspirations and enhance learning outcomes of children in disadvantaged communities. They mobilise community and workplace volunteers to support schools and early childhood services.

ARDOCH - Learning Through Lunch Program

Students in Year 5/6 have been learning about hospitality for 4 weeks through the ARDOCH Learning Through Lunch program. During this time the students learnt about the hospitality industry and job opportunities within it. The students made taco salad, toasties and fruit kebab, they also have created their own restaurants with place ments to enjoy a lunch with a taco salad, toastie and fruit kebabs, that they designed and cooked themselves.

Work Experience

This week our Year 11 students took part in work experience locally in Robinvale and Melbourne. This is an amazing opportunity for our students to get a feel for possible career pathways as they enter their final years of schooling. The students in Melbourne completed an ‘Amazing Race Activity’. This gave them a chance to orientate themselves around the city and they also visited Luna Park. Thank you to the following bussiness for assisting the students in experince work in felds of choices;

Superior Fruits, St Marys School, RDHS Allied Health, Aroona Farms, Robinvale Leisure Centre, Select Harvest, Fishers IGA, Navy Crib Point, Euston Club, M Salon Hair Design, S & M Neyland, Fotia Engineering, The Langham Melbourne, Victoria Police Melbourne, The Victoria Hotel, Kids on Collins and Murdoch Children’s Research Centre.

New Sports Equipment

The school has purchased new sports equipment for the students to enjoy during recess and lunch. These opportunities have been made available as a result of Active Schools – ExtraCurricular funding, which seeks to increase and promote physical activity for students outside of the classroom, with a focus on encouraging physical activity for those students that wouldn’t normally participate in enough. We will also see the completion of the artificial turf scooter track that is being built outside the Admin building. We will be purchasing a class set of scooters and helmets so that students can hire a scooter and helmet at recess and lunchtimes. Painted activities and obstacle courses etc including hop scotch, snakes and ladders, times tables, alphabet, 4 square will be getting painted on the concrete around the school yard. This will be done over the holidays.

Term Three attendance award winners for the 5-8 Community.

Year 5/6A Rea Hatt
Year 5/6B Tayla Uebergang
Years 7A Taityn Welsh
Year 7B Claudia Maynard
Year 8 Alex Chirchiglia

Each student was awarded a voucher to spend at Rebel sport.

Robinvale College and Community Debutante Ball

The Robinvale College and Community Debutante Ball training has commenced this past week, with 18 enthusiastic participants. This years debutante ball is set for Friday 21st October 2022.

Period 5 Activities

We have started a new activities program during Period 5 on Fridays at the College. This is a time for students in F-10 to end the week with an activity of their choice. Activities ranged from: Traditional Pacific Island dancing, Craft, Tabloid Games, Table Tennis, Indoor Cricket, Decorating Biscuits, Beading, Henna Tattooing, 4 Square competition and Digital Photography. Thank you to all the staff who worked hard in organising and running these activities. It was fantastic to see all students engaged and having fun on a Friday afternoon.

Rotary Award Recipient Term 1

Darcy Jenner

Darcy is always happy and has the biggest smile on his face every day. He is always helping his peers and teachers with tasks and never shy’s away from a challenge. Darcy shows respect and teamwork through sport in the community and when interacting with his peers at school. He is a kind boy who always puts others before him to make them feel included.

Rotary Award Recipient Term 2

Siosaia Felise

Siosaia is a keen footballer and basketballer. He is involved in sports within our community and school. Siosaia has a huge heart. He is always showing kindness, gratitude and respect to all around him. Siosaia is the first person to check in on others and makes sure they feel valued and included. Siosaia is a pleasure to teach and is well liked amongst his peers.

Health Alerts-Victoria

Health warning on monkeypox (MPX) | health.vic.gov.au

Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.
Monkeypox may be transmitted through skin-to skin contact, contact with infected surfaces or items, and respiratory droplets.
It does not easily spread between people, as it usually requires very close contact.
There is currently a multi-country outbreak of monkeypox.
Most cases in Australia have acquired monkeypox overseas, however some infections have been acquired in Australia.
If you develop symptoms you are urged to seek medical care, wear a mask and call ahead to make sure you can be isolated away from others.
Australian health authorities are monitoring the evolving global monkeypox situation. Information will be updated as more is known about the current outbreak. The Victorian Government is working with the Commonwealth Government to facilitate access to vaccines as quickly as possible for those most at-risk.

IMAGE: https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox

Nursing & Midwifery package

The Victorian Government has announced a $270 million nursing and midwifery package providing free degrees, training, and upskilling for nurses and midwives.

From 2023 to 2024:

Future nurses and midwives undertaking an undergraduate degree in nursing and midwifery will study for free, providing they join a public health service upon completion and stay for two years.
Former nurses and midwives will be able to update their qualifications for free to re-enter to workforce.
Current enrolled nurses will be able to become registered nurses for free.

Study nursing and midwifery free from 2023 | health.vic.gov.au

Sleep and your mood

Quality sleep is like a mental health superpower.

When you get enough sleep, it's often easier to manage your emotions. This can help you have more patience and help you deal with any stress, including relationship, work or study difficulties. Also, it can help reduce your risk of mental health challenges in the future!

Yet, it’s so common to struggle to sleep. That's because your sleep can be affected by many things – from the food you eat to feeling worried or anxious and even using your phone before bed.

So…how much is enough?

If you’re aged between 12–17 then 8 to 10 hours sleep is ideal, and 18–25 year olds should try to get 7 to 9 hours. Keep in mind that different people need slightly different amounts of sleep.

Here’s how those zzz’s can improve your headspace. They can: