The Grapevine Newsletter 6-4-2023
Principal's Desk
Happy last week of Term one everyone. Thank you everyone for your contribution to Robinvale’s new beginning. With your support a number of changes have been made and are under way.
Staffing update
Congratulations to Rikki Johnson being appointed the Assistant Principal Position F-6 . We had strong contenders which is promising for our college. The quality of applicant has encouraged me to put up an Expression of Interest for a second Assistant Principal Role beginning term two until the end of the year. Kate Zimmer has been appointed this position.
Congratulations to Travis Bussell who is now the Student Voice and Agency Leader. Travis’s role is to keep the College student centered and ensure their voice is heard in decision making processes at the school, and especially in their learning.
We will have five new classroom-based Education Staff begin with us next term. We extend a warm welcome to Lueni Kolofale, Yvonne Krake and Sunil (Sunny) Handy, Toni Burke and Sonia Cardin-Haw.
There will be fresh faces in the front office as well with Georgia McGinty joining us – there is more news to come, I will keep you posted as we go.
Krystl Brown was successful in the Student Support and Wellbeing Role and will be joining the Wellbeing team. She will join Kate (Assistant Prinicipal - Wellbeing Coordinator) and Travis to support Community Coordinators to ensure student wellbeing and welfare is addressed. Krystl is going to be super busy splitting her time continuing her role as Disabilities and Inclusion Administrator and the wellbeing role.
Rohan Schloithe is officially starting this week. He will be collaborating with Jack Davidson to support Information Technology at the college.
Congratulations to Celeste Hill who won the Disabilities and Inclusion Leading teacher position. Celeste will be working with Krystl to ensure students with barriers to learning and who attract funding are supported. Celeste’s role will also involve supporting teachers to adapt their planning and teaching to help those students.
Fantastic news! Tim Walsh will be returning to the college part time to teach our Year 7 students and to coach Maths staff.
Anthony Henderson Sadly, Anthony has accepted an ongoing position at Red Cliffs College. We wish him well on this new posting and thank him for his contribution to Robinvale College.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Thanks to Steph Fang for organising parent teacher interviews. The Leadership will analyse numbers but if you have any feedback could you please share it with Steph, Rikki, or Kate so they can bring your feedback to the meeting on Wednesday.
Mobile Phone policy
This is the policy (trialled term 2)
- Students who choose to bring their mobile phones to school must have them switched off and left at the front office during school hours.
- We know that some students may opt not to hand their phone into the front office. Students who use their mobile phones during school hours will be asked to hand their phone to a staff member, who will deliver the phone to the front office, where it will be stored securely. Parents and/or caregivers will be notified of this and will be asked to collect the phone.
- If a student is using their phone during school hours and refuses to hand it to a teacher, the parent will be called to encourage their child to change their mind.
- Schools have been advised that students who refuse to comply with the Mobile Phone Policy will be suspended.
- The College takes no responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen phones.
- Students with a medical exemption, will need to provide written evidence by a medical professional.
Open Day/Night save the date Wednesday May 10
The staff and I are immensely proud of the progress the college is making. We invite you, your friends and family to visit the College to our Open Day on Wednesday May 10. There will be more information to come as we finalise times and events.
Wishing you the best for these coming holidays. Stay safe.
Nat Mouvet
ICT Assistant
Are you interested in upskilling yourself with Digital Technologies?
Jack is seeking 2-3 students between year 6 and year 12 who would be interested in assisting with the use of a variety of digital resources around the school.
Tasks the applicant would be asked to assist with include,
- Setting up, Operating and Packing up the Sound Desk for school assemblies.
- Operating Drones during school events, including Athletics Days.
- Creating Music Playlists to use for the Bell songs.
- Help Moving Electrical equipment around the school.
- Assist with the Creation of digital displays.
- General Maintenance of Digital Devices.
If you are interested in applying for the position, please contact the Front Office for more information.
Kicking it in Chemistry
Term 1 has been all about chemistry in science. Years 7-10 have been exploring different concepts related to chemistry such as physical and chemical changes, atomic structure and different chemical reactions. Today, Tuesday 4th April 2023, all junior science classes completed their chemistry topic tests and did an amazing job. Well done to all junior students who have successfully completed their chemistry practical and theory tests. A special congratulations to the following year 7 students who have successfully achieved their Bunsen Burner License: Szu Qing, Leini Fanua, Christian Garreffa, Tayla Uebergang, Grace Uebergang, Indi-Lee Lingwoodock-Togo, Riley Kupper, Finau Heitonga, Tonga Hafoka, Amy Reynolds, Callum Togo, Katherine Taulango. Well done to Miss Micaela Davoli for guiding 7A!
Keep up all the good work 7-10, we look forward to exploring Biology with you all in Term 2.
The Science Department
Year 12 Leadership Camp - Lake Cullulleraine
The overnight camp at Lake Cullulleraine involved team building activities to help and provide leadership skills the students in their final year of school and beyond. The students enjoyed be water activities & guest speakers from Headspace and Mallee Family Care. Thank you to Mr Henderson, Ms Ford and Miss Fang who attended the camp with the students.
Introducing our new staff
Micaela Davoli
Hi, my name is Micaela, I was born and raised in Robinvale. Some of my hobbies include painting and reading. At 18 I chose to further my studies, majoring in Biology and minoring in English education at Victoria University. Now graduated, I have been given the opportunity to work at Robinvale College as a Science and English secondary teacher.
Travis Bussell.
I am a Robinvale local; having been born in Mildura and raised in Robinvale. I have enjoyed an exciting life in our region and believe that the Robinvale-Euston community, and Sunraysia as a whole, has so much to offer. I appreciate the rural lifestyle and being able to take things slow with my two young children.
I attended Robinvale Consolidated School during my primary years and Robinvale College (then Robinvale P-12 College) for my secondary education. I received a sporting scholarship in 2011 and would use this opportunity to study Sport and Recreation with Victoria University until 2013.
My work experience has seen me involved in largescale Agriculture, Hospitality, Family Services and Education. For the best part of the last decade, I have been employed by not-for-profit organisations with a focus on education and wellbeing, especially that of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I have spent a lot of time based in schools and enjoy the opportunity to assist young people on a day-to-day basis. I take great pride in having contributed to positive life outcomes of individuals and their families.
My position within Robinvale College is that of ‘Student Voice & Agency’, along with assisting the school’s wellbeing team. I also spend some of my time working one-on-one or with small groups of students needed some extra assistance. Each day is different for me as I am taking on some extra roles within the College Community. I will be facilitating the College’s student representative council (SRC) in the near future and have been appointed to the College Council as a DET representative. I have aspirations of taking on future exciting positions within Robinvale College when the opportunity arises.
My first impressions of Robinvale College upon my return are the new and returning staff; they are excited to be teaching the future leaders of our community. From administration to the classroom, Robinvale College staff are energised and ready for a massive year of learning. Students have a great sense of pride in the school and in the wake of the recent Harmony Day celebrations at the school it is not hard to see why; Robinvale College is a diverse, inspiring and dynamic place to be. I am looking forward to the future of our local educational hub.
Our Place ~Who we are
Cindy Hinterholzl
Cindy is the Partnership Manager for Our Place -Robinvale, an initiative of the Colman Education Foundation.
As the Partnership Manager for the Our Place Robinvale site she works with the community, service providers and government to increase opportunities for education, health and wellbeing for the community.
Cindy has been in the Robinvale/Euston community for the past 13 years where she has developed strong and respectful relationships with stakeholders in the early years, health and education sectors and instilled a keen desire for all children, young people and families to be happy, healthy and successful in reaching their potential.
To learn more about the Our Place approach be sure to visit www.ourplace.org.au, where you will also find a page dedicated to Our Place Robinvale. If you would like to keep up to date with all things Our Place Robinvale you can also follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OurPlaceRobinvale
Amanda Healy
Amanda Healy is a Community Facilitator for Our Place Robinvale. She has lived in Euston for seventeen years and is married with three boys. You may have seen Amanda around, both her and her family are actively involved in the local community through various sporting clubs and voluntary work.
Passionate about her community, Amanda has established a career in community development and has worked in this space for the past five years, recently moving on from co-ordinating the HIPPY Robinvale program at RDHS. She has completed her Diploma of Community Development and intends to further her study in the future.
Laura Masasso is a Community Facilitator for Our Place Robinvale. Our Place is an initiative of the Colman Education Foundation and has a 10-year commitment to the Robinvale community.
Laura moved to Robinvale fifteen years ago, is married, and has eight children who are now adults and are working in and around Robinvale, Euston, and other parts of Australia. Laura has previously worked at Robinvale College as the Chaplain and the wellbeing co-ordinator for many years where she successfully broke down the stigma towards mental health and the barriers that many young people face when it comes to seeking help. Laura also established a team of professionals that worked onsite, attending to the different age groups and needs of the families in the community, and made it easier for families to not take time off work and travel for these appointments.
Laura’s family also established SassoHub, over ten years ago. This retail shop repairs, builds, and sells computers, and mobile phones and are also a sending agent for Western Union, Moneygram, and Ria. The shop is a friendly and welcoming environment that helps the community as much as possible.
Laura is compassionate, and loving, and is always willing to help wherever she can. Laura also loves the diversity in Robinvale and would like to see more organisations resource and equip every growing need in Robinvale. Laura is very much looking forward to continuing to support the community through her role with Our Place and meeting more community members.
Stomp Workshop
Students in years 3-8 participated in a Stomp workshop. Students all thoroughly enjoyed the session.
