The Grapevine Newsletter Friday 17th October 2025

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks at the College, with many activities, achievements, and events taking place across all year levels. We continue to be proud of our students for the way they represent our school and embrace new experiences.

Welcome to New Staff
We are delighted to welcome Holly  Bateman to our school community. Holly has joined our teaching team in the Primary area, and we are excited to have them as part of our staff.

Primary Regional Athletics
Well done to all students who represented our school at the Primary Regional Athletics. It was a great day showcasing effort, teamwork, and determination — congratulations to everyone who participated!

Year 5/6 Doxa Camp
Our Year 5/6 students have had a wonderful week away at Doxa Camp in Melbourne. They have enjoyed a range of exciting activities and experiences. Students return this Friday, and we’re sure they’ll be very tired after such a fun and busy week!

Happy Campers – Year 3/4 Camp
We wish our Year 3/4 students all the best as they head off on Monday for their camp to Echuca. We’re sure they’ll have a fantastic time making memories, learning new things, and enjoying their time away with friends and teachers.

Congratulations – Young Writer’s Award
A big congratulations to Peyton (Year 12) who has won the Swan Hill Region Young Writer’s Award! Peyton’s creative fantasy story follows a girl who finds herself in a world without social media. What an achievement — well done, Peyton!

Soccer Clinic
Students have been enjoying the Soccer Clinic, building their skills and teamwork while having lots of fun on the field.

Student-Free Day – Monday 3rd November
A reminder that Monday 3rd November will be a Pupil-Free Day. Teachers will be working on student reports for 2025. Please note that Tuesday 4th November is a Public Holiday, so students will enjoy an extended long weekend.

Parent Teacher Interviews - Student-Free Day – Monday 17th November (Week 7)
There will be another Student-Free Day on Monday 17 November (Week 7). This will for Parent Teacher Interviews. Students are not required at school, but they are expected to attend their interview in full school uniform with a parent or carer.

Year 12 Farewell
Our Year 12 students will have their last day on Wednesday 22 October. We wish them all the very best as they prepare for their final exams and take the next step in their journey beyond school.

WELCOME NEW STAFF

Welcome, Holly Bateman !

Holly joins us from Melbourne, where she grew up in Skye. She attended Skye Primary School before continuing her education at Patterson River Secondary College. Holly went on to complete her Primary Teaching degree at the Australian Catholic University.

Before beginning her teaching career, Holly gained valuable experience working in a range of primary schools as an Education Support person. She then began teaching at Casey Fields Primary School, where she taught Grade 3 for a term before moving to Prep, where she taught for a year and a half.

At the College, Holly will be working with Miss Purcell and Ms Johnson in  teaching the Years 4 and 5 students .

First Impressions:
“I love the town and how close everything is, as well as the strong sense of community here. Everyone has been so welcoming and has made me feel at home.”

PRIMARY ATHLETICS REGIONAL FINALS

On Monday 13th October, Roselyn Eroi and Violet Kaisuva represented Robinvale College at the Loddon Mallee Primary Track and Field Region Finals in Bendigo .

Roselyn Eroi competed in discus, while Violet Kaisuva competed in the 200m track and long jump events. Both students were in high spirits and held their own against some well-trained opponents. Students reported that they are “eager to train for their 2026 return”.

YEAR 5/6 DOXA MELBOURNE CAMP ADVENTURE

Students from Years 5 and 6 have enjoyed an exciting week in Melbourne as part of the Doxa Melbourne Camp. The program offered a wide range of activities and experiences in and around the city, giving students a fantastic opportunity to explore, learn, and have fun together.

Day 1:
Students began their adventure exploring the Queen Victoria Market, followed by a Street Art and Laneway Tour at Hosier Lane. After dinner at Grill’d, Melbourne Central, they enjoyed an evening of swimming and Wipeout fun at MSAC.

Day 2:
The morning started with a visit to the Melbourne Zoo, before exploring the Shrine of Remembrance and touring the MCG. Dinner was at Yassas, Southgate, and the day concluded with breathtaking views from the Eureka Skydeck.

Day 3:
Students spent the morning at Scienceworks, experiencing the Lightning Room, followed by lunch at the State Library. They then travelled to Bounce, Glen Iris, for an afternoon of energy and excitement. Dinner at The Crane Restaurant (Little Bourke Street) was followed by a fun-filled evening of bowling at Strike, QV.

Day 4:
The day’s adventures included a visit to the Melbourne Museum and IMAX, lunch at Carlton Gardens, and rock climbing at Hard Rock. Students also explored the State Library, viewing Ned Kelly’s armour, before dinner at Universal Restaurant, Lygon Street, and finishing the night at the Crown Arcade.

Day 5:
On Friday morning, students packed up their belongings and prepared for the train ride home — tired but full of wonderful memories from an unforgettable week in Melbourne.

CAREER CONVERSATION

Latrobe University Mildura came to Robinvale College this week to talk to our year 9 and Year 10 students about their career choices.  The speakers firstly spoke about what they have done in the past and what they are doing now career wise; Then gave the students an opportunity to say what they would like to do after school and what their dreams are.

SWAN HILL REGION YOUNG WRITER'S AWARD

Congratulations to Peyton Wright of Year 12 who has won the Swan Hill region Young Writer's award. Peyton wrote a fantasy story about a girl who finds herself in a world without social media. Well done, Peyton. 

The Day social media disappeared

I pry my eyes open as the morning sunlight creeps in through the cracks of my curtains. The television flickers on. “Breaking news. As of now, social media has been banned and will no longer exist. This is our final update. Goodbye.”

I rub my eyes and jolt out of bed. “This can’t be true,” I mutter.

Suddenly, the television began to glitch. Electric sparks flew in every direction, forcing me to use my pillow as a shield. There was a loud ‘BANG’, and I watched as my beloved television crumble into ashes on my bedroom floor. I swear I could feel my heart beating out of my chest, running back and forth from my toes, all the way to my head. I go to text my friends, but my phone disintegrates, and the ashes slip between my fingers.

I dash down the stairs and run through my house, going from room to room. I spot small piles of ashes where my technology used to be. My computers, televisions, even old phones. I squint my eyes as I reach the kitchen. The fridge is still running, and it has not yet turned into ashes. I think back to my school days when my teacher was teaching the class about things that are classified as technology. A fridge was one of them. 

I creep up to the fridge on my tippy-toes, just like the burglars in cartoons, and slowly open the fridge. Everything was still there. It must just be technology that you can access social media on, I think to myself.

I bolt back upstairs and quickly change out of my pyjamas. I messily tie up my hair as I scuffle out of my home. I wonder how my friend, Matilda, is coping with all of this. I sprint to her house. Just as I arrive, I see that my other friend, Ida, had the same idea.

“Isabella!” she called.

I run up to her and give her a hug. Together, we enter Matilda’s home.  Here we are, sitting in Matilda’s loungeroom, the ashes of where there was once a television serving as a constant reminder of the situation we’re in.

“Well, I think it’s great,” blurts Ida. 

“Are you insane? I can’t even see what Beyonce had for breakfast!” exclaimed Matilda. I break out in laughter but immediately stop when I realised Matilda wasn’t joking. Ida stares at Matilda for a moment, seemingly trying to figure out what to say.

“Don’t think that matters,” Ida says quickly.

“But-” Matilda begins.

“Anyway,” I interrupt before the conversation gets too out of hand. “What are we going to do? How do we communicate with people?”

“You can communicate through letters,” said Ida bluntly.

“They take ages, and I can’t send a letter to Beyoncé, or Harry Styles, or Julia Roberts, or-“ Matilda rambled. “As for your second question, Isabella,” said Ida, interrupting Matilda and looking directly at me, “we make our own fun. We don’t need social media to have fun!”.

Ida sprang to her feet and hopped to the kitchen. I followed, and Matilda trailed behind reluctantly. Ida begins rummaging through the pantry.

“Ah ha!” Ida exclaimed, pulling out a vanilla cake mix. The three of us smiled. Perhaps the day wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Time flew by as we baked cakes, sung karaoke, flew kites, had a picnic, rode our bikes around town, did some painting, and played board games.

Finally, we were back in Matilda’s lounge, as we had decided to have a sleepover. “I’ll never let you forget that you put salt in the cake mix instead of sugar,” laughed Ida.

Matilda made a disgusted face as she remembered the disappointing mouthful of cake she had earlier.

“And the fact that Matilda seemed to know every single song known to humankind in karaoke!” I added, chuckling with the girls.

“Obviously I do!” giggled Matilda as she began singing ‘What a wonderful world’ by Louis Armstrong. Ida and I chimed in and the three of us started singing in harmony.

“And the painting Ida made of Isabella!” cried Matilda, laughing hysterically. I looked over at the paintings we had made a few hours ago. “You made it look like I have four chins!” exclaimed Isabella.

The three of us burst into roars of laughter.

Suddenly, we hear distant chants. The three of us go to the window and see a huge march of people. The words they were chanting were unmistakably “bring social media back”. Perhaps some people didn’t have as good of a day as I did. But did they even try? I wished that I could’ve done something to change people’s minds. To see that there are so many things to do that don’t even involve scrolling on social media. I felt like I truly lived today. I wish they could’ve felt that way, too. Suddenly, I wake up. The morning sun seeps through the crack of my curtains. It was all a dream?! I thought.

I look up at the TV. “Breaking news. As of now, social media has been banned and will no longer exist. This is our final update. Goodbye.”

The TV disintegrated into the familiar ashes. I smiled. I now have the chance to change people’s minds.

SUN SAFETY

With the weather warming up and the UV increasing, its very important to be Sun Smart to protect our skin.

Key points

• Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can cause sunburn, skin damage, eye damage and skin cancer.

• Be a role model for your children and participate in sun protection behaviours so they are more willing to do the same.

• When the UV index is 3 or higher, make sure your child’s skin is protected.

• Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses.

• Babies under 12 months should not be exposed to direct sun when UV levels reach 3 or higher.

• Avoid the use of sunscreen on babies under six months old.

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with two in three Australians developing some form of skin cancer before age 70. This makes sun protection very important for all Australians.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can cause sunburn, skin damage, eye damage and skin cancer. UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer later in life.

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. You can protect your child from the sun by teaching them to become SunSmart and always using sun protection when UV levels are 3 or higher. It is also important to model good sun protection habits, as children learn by observing their parents’ and caregivers’ behaviour.

Sun protection times

UV radiation isn’t like the sun’s light or heat, which we can see and feel. Even on a cool day, UV can damage our skin without us realising, which is why it is important not to rely on temperature to decide whether sun protection is needed.

Check if sun protection is required before heading out (see the free SunSmart app or Bureau of Meteorology) – if the UV index is 3 (moderate) or higher, make sure your child’s skin is protected.

UV levels are usually 3 or higher from mid-August to the end of April in Victoria. UV levels are most intense during the middle of the day so if possible, try to save trips to the playground, park or beach for early morning and late afternoon.

How to be SunSmart

Cancer Council Victoria’s SunSmart Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide message is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

The number 1 tip for getting teens to wear sunscreen

We all know that Australia has among the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. And while skin cancer is often thought to be something only older people need to worry about, the reality is that melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australians aged 15-29 years.

The scientific evidence is clear, too much exposure to the sun in the first 15 years greatly increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life, so encouraging young Australians to be sun smart is a priority for Cancer Council NSW. We know that young people challenge authority, push boundaries and are a difficult group to reach with health messages.

However, recent Cancer Council research demonstrates the important role parents have in influencing their teenagers’ sun smart behaviours.

Young people in Australia grow up with knowing they need to Slip, Slap, Slop, Seek and Slide. Yet despite having high levels of awareness about sun protection and skin cancer, teenagers are still spending more time outdoors, are more likely to tan and get sunburnt more frequently than adults.

So we did some research into teenage sun safety and here’s what we found.

Firstly, we spoke to young people

• Not only do teenagers understand the importance of sun protection, they generally have good intentions to be sun smart.
• Despite these good intentions, young people often find themselves unprepared for sun protection once they are out and about.
• Almost all teenagers we spoke to reported applying sunscreen before going to the beach or pool.
• More than one third did not pack sunscreen to take with them.
• More than half did not have a hat or sunglasses.
• The majority of young people still rely on their parents to not only supply sun protection products such as sunscreen but to remind them to use sun protection before they visit a pool or beach.

We then talked to parents of children aged 12-18 years of age

• The majority of parents are concerned about the risks of excessive sun exposure and sunburn may have their child’s health and encourage their teenagers to be sun smart.
• Almost all (97%) of parents are encouraging adolescents to apply sunscreen before heading outdoors.
• Over one third reported that they did not urge their child take sunscreen with them or pack it on their child’s behalf.
• Most parents are purchasing a single sunscreen product to be shared by the whole family.

This indicates that in the majority of households teenagers do not have ready access to their own supply of sunscreen that they can take with them when they are heading to the beach, pool or any other outdoor activity.

Used correctly, sunscreen can significantly reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. As a parent, you play an important role in your teenager’s sun protection. Cancer Council NSW invites you to join forces with us to support your child to be safe in the sun.

So what’s the Number 1 tip for getting teens to wear sunscreen?

Make sure your kids have sunscreen products to take with them. When you buy sunscreen for the family stock up on small tubes and put it in their bag if you must.

Should I send my child to school with sunscreen?

On days that will have UV levels of 3 or higher you should make sure your child is wearing sunscreen when they go to school. It is a good idea for your child to take their own sunscreen to school so they can reapply it every two hours.

Sun protection for dark skin

Although children with naturally dark skin (skin that rarely or never burns) are at lower risk of skin cancer than children with a fair skin colour, it is important to keep in mind that all sun exposure carries a risk of skin and eye damage and skin cancer. While some sun exposure is necessary for the production of vitamin D, extended and deliberate sun exposure without any form of sun protection when the UV index is 3 or above is not recommended, even for those diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. If you are concerned about your child’s vitamin D levels, or you think they are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, you should talk to your GP. See our fact sheet Vitamin D.

Treatment for sunburn

Children can get sunburnt in as little as ten minutes, and depending on the severity, it can take a few days or weeks to heal. Treatment aims to help your child feel more comfortable.

• Give your child plenty of water to drink so that they are well hydrated.

• Cool your child’s skin with cold compresses or a cool bath.

• If required, give your child simple pain relief medicine, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

• Prevent further UV damage by keeping your child indoors.

Signs of severe sunburn include blisters, swollen skin and severe pain. If your child has any of these signs, take them to see your GP.

Sometimes children can get heatstroke, along with sunburn. If your child’s sunburn is accompanied by fever, headaches or nausea and vomiting, take them to the GP.

SOCCER CLINIC

Students in the F–6 area enjoyed a special soccer clinic with Simon Zappia, a former student of the school who was back in town visiting family. Simon is now based in Melbourne as a Senior Academy Manager and coach for Melbourne City FC in the A-League. After returning from overseas, where he worked for Manchester City FC, Simon shared his skills, knowledge, and experiences with our students during the sessions.

It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from someone who attended school here and has gone on to achieve great success in the sporting world.

CAREERS UNPLUGGED

Careers Unplugged inspires year 8 students to shape their future.  6 of our students travelled to Suni – TAFE in Mildura and experienced a hands-on event that offered exciting insights into diverse career pathways, from skilled trades to cutting – edge technology and beyond.