Newsletter 12 May 2023
Principal's Welcome
Return to Term
Our students have made a good start to Term 2 and adjusted to the new times without any major concerns. We're looking forward to the Winter Sport season getting underway this coming weekend and hope to see a lot of you there to support your child. Beanies and Umbrellas will be available for sale at the Coffee Van & don't forget that all proceeds from the coffee van (and BBQ) go to the building of our new sister school in Timor Leste!
Staffing Updates…and fancy exploring a career change?
We have had two new teaching staff begin with us this term and are currently advertising for food technology and wood technology teachers for Semester 2. Please feel encouraged to help us by advertising these positions to those who might be interested. This includes someone who might be interested in a career change into teaching and who has experience in these areas and is willing to undertake a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (or perhaps already has this qualification). We'd be happy to have a conversation with anyone who might be interested and support them to come and have an experience following one of our staff for a day or two. We know many people are undertaking 'career changes' at the moment, so if we can be of help (and you may be of help to us!), please reach out through hr@assumption.vic.edu.au. Angie Dalgleish would love to have a chat with you. An early career teacher starting salary is $75,000 (plus Super) and increments every year to the top of the scale ($112,000).
In unrelated news, the College Leadership Team is shuffling roles a little bit at the moment (all for good reasons!). Deputy Principal – Wellbeing, Peter Augustin is on Paternity Leave, so Senior Deputy Principal, Vaughan Cleary will undertake Pete's role over the coming 2-3 weeks. When Pete returns, I am heading off to Cambridge University (UK) to participate in their 'Advanced Leadership Program' and then to have a few weeks break (and maybe do some teacher recruiting!). I'll be back in Week 3 of Term 3. In the interim, Vaughan will be Acting Principal.
Vaping
There has been a significant increase in the use of e-cigarettes (vapes) amongst the Australian population, with current research indicating that 7.6% of Australian teens have vaped. We think these numbers are conservative. The College has implemented a number of proactive strategies to educate students on the dangers of vaping and are working to continue to improve our messaging to students. Over the holidays, we installed numerous Smart Sensors across the College, which identify and send alerts when vapour or smoke is released into the atmosphere. It would be fair to say that we've been surprised by how frequently they've been going off, and several of you have now been contacted by the College with our concerns for your son/daughter. Like smoking, vapes are banned on school sites.
We appreciate that having conversations with adolescents around topics such as these can be difficult. There are lots of professionals who can provide advice and strategies on how to discuss some of these challenging topics. Last month well-known parenting author Maggie Dent, released a short podcast on how you can open up a conversation around vaping with your children. One clear piece of advice is to begin the conversation referencing your child's friends, rather than their own thoughts and behaviours (e.g. 'So what do your friends think about vaping?').
Looking for some new parenting support?
A newly curated list of online resources has been prepared by our Wellbeing leaders for parents:
There are many great podcasts, books and online resources which support parents to build positive and impactful relationships with their teens. We have created a new page on our website to hold some that we think are valuable:
Assumption TV: (Range of short videos/ information fact sheets with further supports)
The Assumption College Parents Association pay for a subscription to allow all its parents access to this extensive range of resources from expert Child Psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg ranging from Sleeping issues to School Refusal, Vaping to Managing Friendship groups. New topics and content are updated monthly to address relevant trends amongst adolescents.
The Imperfects: Creating Emotionally Intelligent Humans – Lael Stone (1 Hr 6 min podcast)
A powerful conversation with Primary School Principal Lael Stone. Lael's work is centred around building and developing strong connections, relationships and listening skills with young people, which are key to understanding how we can best respond when they may be struggling to manage their reactions/ responses (as best we can!).
Daniel Siegel – Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain
A podcast with Dr Dan Siegel, which seeks to explore some of the content covered in his book explaining how the teenage brain works and why they respond and react the way they do. As well as providing strategies for how we can support our young people to develop their own internal moral compass to be able to make kind, compassionate and courageous decisions.
Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness: (70 Minute documentary on Amazon)
A short documentary from Hugh vanCuylenburg from the Resilience Project on Gratitude/ Empathy and Mindfulness. One of the key messages is on the long-lasting positive impacts that acts of kindness can have on our own wellbeing and mindset.
If you are accessing or finding other great resources that would be beneficial to share/ promote, then we would love to hear your feedback. Please feel free to email them to jenny.mckay@assumption.vic.edu.au.
Mothers Day
Each year we partner with St Patrick's Primary School to host either a Mother's Day or Father's Day breakfast. This year St Pat's are taking responsibility for Mother's Day, so our students and their 'significant female people' are invited to join us all for a Breakfast in the St Patrick's Hall from 7.15am. We look forward to seeing you there.
Prayer for the 'Mums Who Are…'
To the Mums who are struggling, to those filled with incandescent joy.
To the Mums who are remembering children who have died, and pregnancies that miscarried.
To the Mums who decided other parents were the best choice for their babies, to the Mums who adopted those kids and loved them fiercely.
To those experiencing frustration or desperation in infertility.
To those who knew they never wanted kids, and the ways they have contributed to our shared world.
To those who mothered colleagues, mentees, neighbourhood kids, and anyone who needed it.
To those remembering Mums no longer with us.
To those moving forward from Mums who did not show love, or hurt those they should have cared for.
Today is a day to honour the unyielding love and care for others we call 'Motherhood,' wherever we have found it and in whatever ways we have found to cultivate it within ourselves.
Mary our Good Mother, pray for us and for all the 'Mums who are'. Amen
(Thanks to Hannah Kardon, Pastor at Elston Avenue United Methodist Church)
Join Us for an Unforgettable Senior Production!
Assumption College is thrilled to present its senior production of Roald Dahl's timeless classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. With more than 60 students involved in bringing this magical adventure to life, this production promises to be a visual and auditory feast for all ages.
Our talented students have been rehearsing tirelessly, perfecting their roles and practising their songs and dances to transport the audience to a world of pure imagination. The show runs from May 25th-27th, and tickets are selling out fast. Don't miss your chance to join Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka on their sweet journey through the mysterious chocolate factory.
Tickets are available now, and you can secure your spot by clicking on the link below. We look forward to seeing you at this unforgettable performance!
Easter Liturgy
On the last day of Term 1, our students participated in a special Easter Liturgy where they came together as a community to remember and reflect on the story of Easter. Our students presented a moving interpretation of the early followers of Jesus who gathered around a simple meal of bread and wine to share their experiences of Jesus' life, work, betrayal, suffering, death, and most importantly, his resurrection. This special occasion allowed the students to connect with the deeper meaning of Easter and the powerful message it holds.
ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance for all the service women and men who have served their country. This year, the sun rose on a day filled with solemn tributes and ceremonies across the country. We were proud to have students participate in ANZAC Day Services, especially those who represented Assumption College at the Dawn Service and the March. Darcy was among those who represented the 4/8 Lighthorse Regiment, participating in the ANZAC Parade at Kyneton and at the Gisborne Local Nursing Home. Well done to all the students who took part in the ANZAC Day Services. We will continue to remember and honour the ANZACs, now and forever.
High-Performance Programs
The past few weeks have been a flurry of activity at Assumption College, with several exciting programs underway. First, the Liverpool FC International Academy Australia Holiday Clinic kicked off with a bang, despite the rain on the first day. The young football enthusiasts had a blast working on their technical skills, playing games, and making new friends. The sun was shining on the following two days, and the group took their skills outside, showcasing their talent and enthusiasm on the pitch.
In addition to the Liverpool FC clinic, we are also proud to be partnering with Cricket Victoria and Essendon Football Club to provide our students with opportunities to pursue their passions and develop their skills. The High-Performance training sessions have officially started for both of these partnerships, and we are thrilled to be able to offer this program to our students. These partnerships are a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality coaching and development programs, and we can't wait to see the amazing things our students will achieve.
2023 Careers Expo
Save the date! We are thrilled to announce that on Friday, May 26th, 2023, we will host our highly anticipated Career's Expo at the Gonz.
Open to both students and parents, the Career's Expo will feature a diverse range of exhibitors from fields such as the Defence Force, Universities, and industry experts. From 10.00am to 2.00pm, you'll have the chance to engage with professionals, gather invaluable information, and gain insights into your desired career path.
When you arrive, please remember to check in at reception to make the most of your experience. For those driving, convenient street parking is available, or you can utilise Gate 1 if you're a parent.
We can't wait to see you there!
Important information regarding parking on and around school grounds
Financial Assistance - CSEF
The Victorian State Government's Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps ensure no student will miss out on the opportunity to join educational activities. CSEF is provided to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities. If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. New applicants should contact the school to obtain a CSEF application form or download it from HERE. You do not need to complete a new application if you have previously applied. You only need to re-apply if your child has enrolled at a new school or family circumstances have changed.
Alumni Call Out
Attention all alumni of Assumption College! We would love to hear from you and feature your story in the next edition of Shandon Calls. If you have any updates or interesting experiences to share with the college community, please reach out to Kate Boulton, our Enrolments & Community Relations Officer, at Kate.Boulton@assumption.vic.edu.au
As a past student, you are an important part of the Assumption College community, and we value your contributions to our newsletter. Whether you have a success story to share, updates on your life after college, or just want to say hello, we want to hear from you.
Don't miss the opportunity to be featured in the next edition of Shandon Calls. Get in touch today! And if you want to catch up on the latest news and updates from Assumption College, check out the latest edition of the Shandon Calls by clicking the link below.
Term 2 Key Dates
12 May St. Patricks Mother's Day Breakfast.
18 May - Year 7 Retreat.
19 May - Year 8 Retreat.
25,26,27 May - Senior Production.
26 May - Careers Expo.
1 June - VCE Dance & Music Night.
6 June - Champagnat Day.
12 June - King's Birthday Public Holiday (Student Free Day).
17 June - School Holidays begin.