The Grapevine Newsletter 11th November 2022

Principal's Message

It continues to be a busy time at the College, from the Year 12 VCE students who continue to undertake their exams to the preschool students participating in their Transition to Foundation program. As the year draws to a close, teachers are working hard to support students to achieve their potential in their 2022 studies while also engaging in the many tasks necessary to ensure a smooth transition into 2023 for all students.

In the coming weeks we will see students and staff participate in transition activities including Headstart (Year 11 into Year 12) and Step Up (Year 10 into Year 11) and the whole school Transition Day as we work to prepare our students for next year. Students and Staff will also engage in a variety of celebrations including the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner, Achievement Night and end of year excursions and Activities Week. Organising and facilitating all of these activities, while maintaining the core business of teaching and learning at the College, places huge demands on our staff. However, I am proud to say that they undertake these tasks with great enthusiasm, professionalism and care.

Regarding the current flood risks, we’d like to reassure you that we are monitoring the situation closely including any potential risks to both the school and/or students’ ability to attend school due to road closures. We do have plans in place should students and staff be prevented from attending school due to flooding. This includes, if necessary, student’s in high risk areas being sent home with netbooks on a daily basis to ensure they can continue to access learning if they become cut off. At this time, we have been advised that there is no immediate risk. We will continue to monitor the situation and update you if required through SMS, email and the Robinvale College Facebook page.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Stephanie Shanahan

Acting Principal

Impending Floods

If any students are likely to be unable to get to school due to impending floods, please contact the school office on 5026 3704 as soon as possible, so arrangements can be made to provide continued access to learning.

The school can arrange for the student to take home their school allocated netbook, or provide hard copy work, or both.

HIGH Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma Forecast for Mallee today, 10 November

This message is provided by the Department of Education and Training.

A 'high' thunderstorm asthma forecast has been updated and issues for today, Thursday 10 November 2022, for the Mallee weather district.

This is in addition to a high forecast for the Wimmera district, while a moderate forecast has been issued for other parts of the state including South West, Central and North Central districts.

People with a history of asthma, undiagnosed asthma or hay fever are at an increased risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma. This is particularly of note for when students and staff are outdoors for any reason, including their return journeys.

Have asthma emergency kits readily available, be familiar with action plans, reliever medication and asthma first aid, and avoid being outside especially during wind gusts prior to a storm. Close windows and doors and turn air conditioning units to re-circulate. Remain vigilant for COVID-19 and follow isolation and testing protocols - don’t assume that all symptoms are due to hay fever or asthma.

Subscribe to Vic Emergency for updates.

Monitor the forecast here: https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/prepare/#thunderstorm-asthma-forecast

Remembrance Day Display

Thank you to Wendy Walsh for creating this beautiful Remembrance Day display. Thank you also to the staff and students who helped collect and paint the recycled bottle poppies.

Junior School Captains Molly Bivolcheff and Lyla Ikafanga repersented the school this morning at the Remembrance  Day Service at the Robinvale Cenotaph. 

Head Lice -They're Back.....

Head lice do not transmit infectious diseases – they are transmitted by having head to head contact with someone who has head lice.  You may be assured to know that head lice are commonly found in places other than at Robinvale College.  Head lice are common in school-aged children and are the most adaptable of creatures.  They have survived living solely on humans for 10,000 years!

What can you do?

I seek your co-operation in checking your child’s hair and in those instances where head lice or eggs are found, treating your child’s hair.

Please see the attached pamphlet Treating and Controlling Head Lice, from the Department of Human Services.  This pamphlet has informative guidelines regarding detecting and treating head lice and eggs.

How do I treat my child for head lice?

The attached pamphlet (as noted above) has informative guidelines regarding detecting and treating head lice and eggs.  The School also has additional information available regarding treatment and controlling head lice.  Please don’t hesitate to contact the Administration Office to obtain this information.

If head lice or eggs are found on your child’s hair you need to inform:

• The School.
• Parents or carers of your child’s friends so they too have the opportunity to detect and treat their children if necessary.

When can my child return to School?

Health regulations requires that where a child has head lice, that child should not return to School until the day after appropriate treatment has started.  Please note, this refers only to those children who have live head lice and does not refer to head lice eggs.

Robinvale College is aware that head lice can be a sensitive issue and is committed to maintaining your confidentiality

Staying safe at Schoolies 2022

If your child is a school leaver, the schoolies celebrations from Saturday 26 November to Sunday 4 December can be an exciting milestone in their lives. However, this shouldn’t mean impacting your child’s health and safety, or causing problems for the communities where they decide to celebrate.

We encourage you to speak to your child about the importance of keeping safe and healthy at schoolies. Information about staying safe at schoolies can be found at Partying safely at schoolies — Better Health Channel.

You can also follow the Good Times Great Breaks Victoria Facebook page, which provides information on what wellbeing support is available in the main schoolies destinations of Rye, Surf Coast, Lorne, Torquay and Phillip Island.

Creating a Cockatoo

Year 5/6 have been learning about procedural writing this term. Students were able to follow their steps to create a cockatoo decorated biscuit!

F-4 Community Awards

Week 4 Awards

SEL Awards for 'Asking for help'

Foundation/Year 1- Nevaeh Abinett, Year 1/2 - Gabriel McDonald, Year 3 - Laisani Waqabaca (absent), Year 4 - Sam Backus

Star of the Week Awards

Foundation/Year 1 - Evony-Mae McDonald (absent), Year 1/2 - Annabelle Morris, Year 3 - Talita Heitonga, Year 4 - Harry Pettit, Auslan - Levi Green

Week 5 Awards                                                                     SEL Awards for 'Self-Belief':

Foundation/Year 1- Vili Ale, Year 1/2 - De'Anna Bowden-Briggs, Year 3 - Raymond Backus, Year 4 - Korbin Dixon

Star of the Week Awards:

Foundation/Year 1 - Loveila Havea, Year 1/2 - Viliami Heitonga, Year 3 - Sze Lei Poh, Year 4 - Lyla Ikafanga / Clint Smith, Auslan - Zedakiah Johnson

5-8 Community Award

5-8 community award winners for attendance and positive behaviour.

Ella Gaiter, Tayla Uebergang, Riley Kupper

Taityn Welsh, Hamish Jenner, Alice Smith, Nida Babu, Zulfiqur Babu,

Year 12 Visual Communication Display

Year 12 students Adriana Falvo and Claudia Gallo have recently finished their Unit 3-4 VCD SAT folios. Students were required to write a brief for a hypothetical client with two communication needs, they then undertook research, generated ideas that were relevant to their brief.

This portfolio of work was the major assessment for the students, which they worked on throughout Terms 2 - 4. These girls did an outstanding job on their final presentations, which included them getting their logos embroidered onto staff uniforms and Claudia creating a 3D model to scale of her Florist shop.

The display is located in the Robinvale Community Library for students and the community to view until the end of term.