JUNE
Monday 8th June – Queens Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday 9th June – Year 7, 8 9 & 10 students return to school
Tuesday 9th June – Community Relations Meeting 4.30pm
Tuesday 9th June – Education Committee Meeting 5.45pm
Tuesday 9th June – Resources Committee Meeting 7.00pm
Tuesday 23rd June – College Council Meeting 7.00pm
Friday 26th June – Last Day Term 2
Living, working and learning remotely has been a new experience for all of us. It has provided challenges but also opportunities to grow and develop, make new connections and to support one another.
We started Term 2 three weeks ago with some idea of what teaching and learning remotely would actually look and feel like. We had plans like all schools, however, we knew these plans would evolve and change over time and they did, with the College introducing stages 2 and 3 across the next two weeks. Three weeks into remote learning, I feel we have settled into routines and structures which are both flexible but provide structure and support to staff, students and parents/carers.
During remote learning, living our College values is even more important.
Without the resilience of all members of our community (students, staff and parents/carers) I am certain, little would have been achieved. Things do not always go as planned. Sometimes technology doesn’t work, sometimes plans change, sometimes we get it right and sometimes we learn and adapt but our community has been resilient, taking challenges, working outside their comfort zone, trying new things but most importantly not giving up when it has been difficult.
Every day we are asking our students to demonstrate endeavour. Working from home without the classroom teacher being there for every period, requires students to be problem solvers and self-directed learners. We all face the challenge of staying motivated without the same level of human connectedness. Hopefully, when we come out of this environment, our community will continue to embrace these skills which will equip them for a life of learning.
I would like to acknowledge the students and parents/carers who showered the College with emails thanking our staff for the work they have undertaken to ensure each student has a learning program to continue their education throughout remote learning. Thanks also must go to our staff who have modified work, sent emails of encouragement to students, prepared countless lessons for students delivered online and supported one another during this time. Compassion begins with kindness and there has been a remarkable amount of kindness shown recently within our community.
Our students need to be congratulated on the way they have transitioned to online learning and the respect they have shown to each other and the staff on the Microsoft TEAMs platform. As is to be expected of Mooroolbark College students have risen to the occasion. Well done and congratulations.
We all know this time can be challenging so please do not hesitate to contact the College for support. The same supports are in place that exist when we are physically at school. All staff can be contacted via email and the College reception is operating remotely on 9727 8100. Contained in this newsletter is a summary of our teaching and learning and pastoral care arrangements (incorporating Stages 1, 2 and 3), contact numbers and external support services.
Remember the most important thing we can do is look after ourselves so that we can look after others. Please take time for yourself and reach out if you are struggling during this period of isolation.
Please stay safe and connected.
Regards,
ANN STRATFORD
Principal
If you require ICT support and assistance while learning from home please contact the ICT team by
Emailing: ict@mooroolbarkcollege.vic.edu.au (via Compass, College Email)
Phoning the ICT service desk on: 9727 8197
Tina Forte
ICT Manager
Despite there not being any ‘normal’ face to face classes, we continue to provide welfare support to our students.
If you have any concerns please contact your child’s coordinator, myself and/or chaplain Gill Van Der Ende. We are available to chat with students via phone or text. Parents/carers feel free to pass on our contact details to your students so they can contact us directly if they wish. Contact details below:
• John Nichol 435 463 968 or John.Nichol@education.vic.gov.au.
• Gill Van Der Ende 0400 631 552 or Gillian.VanDerEnde@education.vic.gov.au
(Available Tuesday and Wednesday but can respond to texts on other days)
Feedback from some parents/carers and students that remote learning is causing stress from the difficulty of completing work at home without direct face to face contact with teachers. We certainly want students continuing their education, however, we don’t want students and parents/carers feeling overwhelmed and stressed. If you feel the current school workload for your child (or for you) is overwhelming and unmanageable please contact/email your coordinator to modify the learning expectations for your child. The College coordination team are available to assist you.
So just remember that the ‘Wellbeing’ teams are here to support you.
Further support can be found via the website of Michael Carr Greg, one of Victoria’s top adolescents psychologists, where he discusses ways to support your child through isolation and remote learning. http://michaelcarrgregg.com/resources-2
And don’t forget we are sending out a weekly Wellbeing newsletter via compass each week with helpful information.
John Nichol
Well-Being Leader
CSEF 2020 applications remain open until the end of Term 2. Parents/carers holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply.
If your student is new to Mooroolbark College in 2020, or you have recently become eligible to apply, please download and complete the below form, and return to the College via email with a copy of your Heath Care Card or Pension Card.
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/health/CSEF-Application-Form-2020.pdf
Schools can direct any available CSEF to purchase devices or technologies for eligible students. This includes unallocated funding from a prior year.
If you would like to know more about using your CSEF to purchase 4G technology equipment, please contact the ICT Department at the College.
Year 7 and Year 10 immunisation program will be:
Please note, the vaccines offered through the secondary school program are available at all council community immunisation sessions unless otherwise stated on the booking site. Appointments can be made on the Yarra Ranges Council website by using this link or by phoning the Yarra Ranges Council on 1300 368 333 and the contact centre will assist you.
The vaccines recommended are:
Year 7 students (or age equivalent):
Human Papillomavirus (2 doses over 6 months), Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis
Year 10 students (or age equivalent):
Meningococcal ACWY
If you have any further queries, please contact Carmel Gibbs on mooroolbark.co@education.vic.gov.au
Term 2 2020 has begun in a very different environment to anything we may have experienced in the past. Many changes and adaptations have taken place to ensure that the delivery of the Senior School programs are able to continue.
The VCAA has made a number of administrative changes to the Year 12 calendar that will allow all VCE/ VCAL students sufficient time to complete their various courses.
• Change of GAT date (TBA)
• 2 week extension for Units 1 & 3
• Exams will be held in December
• Revised Unit 4 study designs (reduction of content)
• VCAL programs extended
Students have responded positively in the use of Microsoft Teams and their positive engagement in classes has been reassuring. VCAL students who have not been able to continue with their Structured Work Placement will be given an opportunity to do so later in the year.
Students undertaking a VET study have been able to continue with their course as all providers are actively delivering their programs. The VET providers have different delivery processes. Most have some form of online learning classes as well as rotational practical classes where appropriate, adhering to the social distancing and health safety requirements. Where attendance at an institution is not possible, alternative activities have been planned.
Senior students are being provided with regular updates in regards to Pathways information. Links have been posted in their Teams year level group and on Compass. Students should regularly check Career Tools for updates on video presentations and webinars that are provided by various Tertiary Institutions.
Jenny Roache
Senior School & Pathways Leader
The Year 9 Food Studies Class have been tasked with completing a stock take of their pantry/shopping list and using these ingredients as the base of creating a family meal. The students had to record the safety steps that they followed, create a sensory analysis after eating it, as well as writing up the recipe
Perie Edmonds
Foods Technology
Check out the products our Year 10 students have made at home for the Barkers Bakery Dessert Challenge CAT. They have been researching and developing their ideas over the last month. Their efforts are very impressive. So proud to be their teacher.
Betty Metaxas
Food Technology
Mrs Stratford met with College Student Leaders in a virtual meeting. The meeting consisted of College Captains, Senior House Captains, Middle School House Captains, Sports Captains, The Arts Captains and the SRC Executive. It was a great opportunity to talk about how our student body is managing remote learning and strategies to help students remain connected to the College and each other. Watch out for the College Captains address which will be posted on Compass over the next few days.
During week 1, we conducted our first remote learning home group challenge for the term. Students and staff were tasked with building a creative sculpture using materials from their house. Congratulations to all of the students and staff that entered. There were so many fantastic entries.
Congratulations to the following entries:
1st place – Ciara Delaney – Blue House (20 house points)
2nd place – Cooper Williams – Red House (10 house points)
3rd place (tie) – Acacia Pearce – Yellow House (5 house points)
3rd place (tie) – Jemma Luke – Green House (5 house points)
Matthew Neil-Holland
The Arts KLA Head
May 2020
ARRANGEMENTS FOR TERM 2 – STUDENT LEARNING AND HOME GROUP
During the first 3 weeks of Term 2, Mooroolbark College has progressively rolled out its online learning and pastoral care arrangements in 3 stages.
This document summarises the 3 stages and provides the most up to date information for parents/carers and students.
During Remote Learning at Mooroolbark College, learning will continue through the provision of classes through the Microsoft TEAMs platform, provision of weekly Learning Tasks (Compass) and weekly teacher feedback (Compass).
HOME GROUP ARRANGEMENTS
All students will be required to join their Home Group in Microsoft Teams at our usual time of 8.45am each day. Following this, Home Group teachers will proceed to mark the Compass roll and undertake a range of House based engagement activities.
Home Group provides a great platform to engage students with some of our `usual’ home group activities whilst also hearing how their peers are managing their remote learning experiences and managing a lack of social interaction with their peers.
REMOTE LEARNING ARRANGEMENTS
1. Students need to have their resources and textbooks with them at home.
2. Years 7 to 10 Students
Teachers will set an equivalent of one week’s worth of class work for each subject each week. This work will be distributed as a Learning Task on Compass, made available at 9.00 am at the start of each week.
The work contained in the Learning Task is due 7 days later at 9.00 am. Staff will provide feedback within a week via the Conversation function in Compass Learning Tasks.
Students in Years 7 to 10 are encouraged to use the College email/TEAMs chat to contact their classroom teachers for assistance.
All students should check Compass at 9.00 am each Monday morning (or the first day of scheduled classes) each week to receive their new Compass Learning Tasks.
Each Year 7 to 10 class will have the first lesson of each week scheduled as a TEAMs class. The actual starting time (within the period), will be communicated by the teacher.
3. Arrangements for VCE and VCAL Students
In addition to the above, VCE and VCAL Teachers will add individual lesson plans to the weekly checklist via Compass and will be on line via TEAMs, the Compass Learning Task conversation feature, OneNote Classroom or be available via email for the each scheduled period.
Individual teachers will communicate with students which method of communication they will be using during class time.
All VCE and VCAL students must make contact during each lesson with their classroom teacher and if the teacher is using TEAMs to deliver an interactive classroom, students must logged on prior to the scheduled start time.
4. Students will need to attach and submit the work via Learning Tasks on Compass.
5. Learning Tasks may take many forms, for example:
6. Parents can monitor their student’s progress by checking the completion of Learning Tasks on Compass.
7. VCE and VCAL classes may still require students to sit SACs, SATs or undertake Units of Competency.
Students can communicate with the college and their teachers via:
• College Email
Open compass email, and use studentcode@mooroolbarkcollege.vic.edu.au eg: ABC001@mooroolbarkcollege.vic.edu.au
• Microsoft TEAMS
• Compass – Learning Task conversation feature.
It is very important that students regularly check the College Email and respond to any Teacher requests in a timely manner.
For our community’s protection and safety, social media such as Facetime, Skype, Messenger, Facebook, Instagram etc, will not be used for communication between teachers and students.
Remember that we are here and available to help!
If you are unsure about anything relating to your child working at home or requiring wellbeing support, don’t hesitate to contact any of the following people through compass or their college email.
Class Teachers
Wellbeing Leader: John Nichol (0435 463 968)
Chaplain: Gill Van Der Ende (0400 631 552) Tues/Wed
Pathways: Maria Pisano (Blue House)
Eva Woodward (Yellow House)
Abbie Hansen (Red House)
Janet Whitby (Green House)
House/Cluster Leaders:
| Yellow House | Blue House | ||
| 1,2,3 | Jordan Van Keulen | 1,2,3 | Allie Grey-Smith |
| 4,5,6 | Rhonda Harker | 4,5,6 | Christopher Stephen |
| 7,8,9 | Matthew Bell (House Leader) | 7,8,9 | Andy U’Ren (House Leader) |
| Red House | Green House | ||
| 1,2,3 | Sarah Rosendale (House Leader) | 1,2,3 | Michelle Collette (House Leader) |
| 4,5,6 | Belinda Cannington | 4,5,6 | Jenny Roberts |
| 7,8,9 | Lucas Unland | 7,8,9 | Alex Scott |
The College reception is operating remotely and the standard College number of 9727 8100 is still in operation.
We are all learning about remote learning together. During the term, adjustments may be required to this structure as we learn more about the strategies that best fit the needs of our students and staff.
Regards
Ann Stratford
Principal
