Newsletter 21 July 2023

­­­Acting Principal's Welcome – Vaughan Cleary

Term 3 News

 Welcome back to the start of term three. After a decent mid-year hiatus from classes, it was great to see so many students looking refreshed and excited to be back for semester two. This has resulted in a significant increase in the quantity of staff we have working for the college. The past month has been particularly busy as we have needed to hire staff to replace outgoing staff in addition to putting on additional staff to cater for the growing needs at the school.

Staff news

First of all, we welcome back Shemalah Anthony from maternity leave and Nick Brooke-Anderson from travel leave. We have appointed three new staff to leadership positions. Joining the leadership team is Christopher Knaggs. Christopher joins us from Thomas Carr College. He is a highly respected Business Manager who will be a great asset to us. Robert Youl is our new ICT manager. Robert joins us from McKenzie Aged care group. Tiffany Scott joins us from Parade College in the role of Risk and Compliance Manager. Tiffany has extensive experience in a number of sectors including work for Victorian Police, Aged Care sector, RSPCA 

legal and Government Agencies. 

We welcome to the teaching staff Shane Wheeler, Brad Ornsby and Uzma Malik. Shane also joins the boarding community. Joining our administrative team is Gabrielle Meli and Marnie Wills who will be sharing the front reception role. Nicole Hickson joins the finance team. It is great to have so many new staff welcomed to the Assumption community.

We also welcome back Kate Fogarty after her time overseas on leave!

Building Updates

Over the past term, there has been extensive work done in a range of building projects. Our new Animal Studies and Agriculture home is near completion. This building (Drusilla) will have over the coming weeks staff and students moving in. The Shandon House is also near completion. Over the coming month, Shandon House will become the home of a range of staff, including the Principal, Business Manager and members of the Administration, Community Development and Finance teams. Due to the landscaping work still needing to be done in front of Shandon House, the front reception will remain where it currently is until further notice. We will keep you informed of any updates over the coming weeks.

Co-curricular

As winter sport comes to a close over the coming weeks, I would like to express thanks to all the students and staff who have participated. Thanks also to the parents for supporting the school's co-curricular sport program. It has been nice to have so many parents at games and enjoying the student’s participation. Congratulations to the Equestrian team for a successful weekend in June at the VEIS Showjumping and Dressage final. Likewise, to the First Girls Netball Team, who represented the college so well at the Marist Championships in Perth over the holidays.

Key dates

Finally…some key dates

Below are some key dates for the rest of the term and early next term. For full calendared events please see PAM. We wish all of our students competing in co-curricular activities all the best for the last couple of rounds of the term. 

  24 July Learning Mentor Group Subject Selection Discussions

  2 August Year 9 onsite retreat

  3 August Year 10 onsite retreat

  15 August Assumption Day celebrations

  18 August Staff Sabbatical Day- (Student free day)

  21 August  Academic Interviews 9 am -7.00 pm  (Student free day)

  24 August Music Soiree

  25 August 2024 Subject Selections Due

  28 August Onsite Year 11 retreat

  1 September Father’s Day Breakfast

  8 September Dance Concert Evening

  15 September Last day of term 3 

2023 Marist Netball Carnival

On Sunday the 18th of June, Assumption's First's Netball team travelled up to Perth to participate in the National Marist Netball Carnival. The Carnival was held by Newman College, who also hosted our opening mass, dinner and awards night. As a team, we are so grateful to have experienced this carnival together, allowing us to create new friendships with Newman College and Sacred Heart Adelaide. Our First's Netball Team consisted of Emily Fitzgerald, Molly Skehan, Isabella Feltracco, Chloe Eyre, Ruby Trimble, Maisie Wilson, Jordyn Beattie, Emma Chapman, Ella Daly, Jorden Fonua, Rebecca Gray and Olivia Pearce, along with our team leaders Melissa Mercuri and Victoria Burns. 

Throughout our 4-day trip, Monday and Tuesday were spent playing Netball in order to cement our position on the ladder. As a team,  we won 7 of our 12 games, along with finals being conducted on Wednesday. Although finals didn't exactly go our way, we ended on a high, mixing around positions and concluding the trip with laughs, smiles, and enthusiasm. During the competition, everyone continued to stay positive, enjoying our time with each other, even though certain games didn't go our way. As a team, we continued to be there for each other when times were tough, blocking out the strong competition, and carrying on building and strengthening our relationships with one another. 

Not only did our team win the Spirit Award, but each individual achieved something on their own. Within our team, 4 girls were recognised throughout the competition, including Jordyn Beattie being awarded player of the day on Monday, Chloe Eyre receiving player of the day on Tuesday, Rebecca Gray being named in the Highly Recommended team, alongside Emily Fitzgerald being selected for the All-Australian Team. Aside from this, every girl within this team helped us achieve our wins, playing strong, dedicated, and committed games! Our strong defence was led by Ruby Trimble, Emily Fitzgerald, Jorden Fonua, Jordyn Beattie and Isabella Feltracco. Our midcourt was taken on by Olivia Pearce, Rebecca Gray and Maisie Wilson, who transitioned the ball well to Chloe Eyre, Molly Skehan, Emma Chapman and Ella Daly, who each put up multiple shots, gaining strong leads on our opposition.   

-Jordyn Beattie

Australian Sheep and Wool Show

We are thrilled to share the amazing achievements of our Assumption College students at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Our students embraced the challenge with passion and dedication, making us proud with their exceptional performances.

Congratulations to Maxwell (5th), Sienna (5th), Darcy (3rd) and April (6th), who placed in their respective age groups, and Ebony for winning her age group in intermediate! The team also competed in the schools interbreed competition, with 'Benny' taking home 3rd place in a very tight competition!

Mia and 'Arnie' won ‘Best Ram over 2 ½ years' in the schools class, and Nick and 'Benny' won 'Best in Show over 1 ½ years' in open class! What a massive effort from the entire team. 

These ribbons and accolades are a testament to the hard work and dedication put in by our students. However, the joy and experience gained from this event go far beyond the awards won. It was a collective effort, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the parents and families of our team members for their unwavering support throughout the journey.

Equestrian Report

The Victorian Equestrian Interschool Series Grand Final, held on Saturday, June 17th and Sunday, June 18th, at Werribee National Equestrian Park, showcased competitive fields across all classes. Participants delivered impressive performances in both dressage and show jumping events, with personal bests being set and achieved. Here is a summary of the notable achievements of the riders:

Dressage Event:

• Darcy Macaulay and Parklands Faltango achieved Reserve Champion at the event.
• Darcy and Parklands Faltango emerged as the Champion combination for the series, securing their qualification to represent the Victorian School team at the Australian Interschool Equestrian Championships in September.
• Darcy has been selected as the Dressage Captain of the Victorian team for the national event.
• Tamsyn Harvey and Misty Night consistently performed well throughout the series and attained 6th place at the event. They also finished 6th in the series.

Show Jumping Event:

• Alanni Cavanagh and Lilly of the Valley display their competence as a team, showcasing their strong connection and enjoyment of show jumping. They achieved 4th place at the event and finished 6th in the series.
• Alira King and Lethal Flame, a relatively new combination demonstrated their connection as a combination. They achieved 10th place at the event and finished 5th in the series.
• Chelsea Maher and Yankee Song showcased growth as a combination, delivering honest and considerate rounds finished mid field.
• Deacon Parker and Jack in a Box displayed significant development as a combination throughout the year, resulting in 6th place at the event.
• Zara Yunghanns rode Buck with bravery but chose to retire after the 2nd round, prioritising the well-being of her horse.

Overall, the Victorian Equestrian Interschool Series Grand Final witnessed impressive performances and highlighted the achievements of talented riders across various disciplines.

Student Achievements - Darcy

Bravo Darcy Macaulay and Parklands Faltango for qualifying to represent the Victorian School team at the Australian Interschool Equestrian Championships in September and being named the Victorian Team’s Dressage Captain.

Student Achievements - Emily

We would like to congratulate and wish Emily Fitzgerald the best of luck for next week as Emily heads to Perth. Emily will be flying out next week and competing from the 29^th of July in the Under 15 School Sport Victoria team to represent Assumption College and Victoria in the nationals tournament. This is a huge achievement for Emily and we are so excited to hear about all the successes of the tournament. Good luck Emily! Assumption College will be cheering for you at home.

Student Achievements - Mackenzie

Mackenzie has been selected to represent Team Australia at the 2023 World Cadet Taekwondo Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 25th - 31st of August! With her incredible performance, earning three gold medals at the Oceania President's Cup, Australian Open, and the selection event, she has proven herself as one of Australia's top young Taekwondo athletes. Let's show our support for Mackenzie as she competes against the best in the world in the 12-14 years u152cm bracket.

Student Achievements - Emerson

Special congratulations to year 9 Emerson Chadwick as she has made the under 15’s school sports Victorian Touch Football team. Emmerson will travel to Darwin this August (13^th-19^th) to compete in the School Sports Australia Touch Football Tournament. She only began playing Touch Football in year 7 when she joined the ACK Touch Football Program. This is now her second year of State Selection. We are all immensely proud of Emerson’s achievements and look forward to watching her along her Touch Football journey.

Student Achievements (Selections)

Mabel-Jean Flannery, AFL VIC State Team.

Miette Datson, AFL VIC State Team.

Harvie Cooke, AFL VIC State Team u/15

Tyler Sleep will be in the Victorian team representing Agriculture in the 2023 WorldSkills Australia National Championships

If you have any sports achievements you'd like to share, please reach out to our Sporting Director, Fil Simao at fil.simao@assumption.vic.edu.au

Australian Athletics Championships

Assumption College had 2 students compete in Brisbane at the recent Australian Athletics Championships.

Kirra Wright - Yr 9 came 1st in the Under 17 Para women's long jump.

Jonathan Neethling - Yr 9  2nd U/16  2,000 m Steeplechase.

Benefits of Sport for Children

Virtual Learning Program

We are thrilled to announce the commencement of a new and exciting initiative at Assumption College, launched on Monday, 17th July. This pilot program aims to offer our Unit 4 students valuable additional learning opportunities to support their academic journey.

The primary objective of this initiative is to provide students in specific subjects with a fortnightly tutorial, tailored to assist them in their preparation for Unit 4 SACs and the final year examination. Subjects were carefully chosen based on their popularity, where multiple classes are offered in Unit 4.

To provide you with more details, please refer to the flyer below, which has been distributed to all students. An updated flyer for August will be released in the coming fortnight, providing further information.

We are delighted to share that these evening tutorials will be seamlessly integrated into our Virtual Learning Program, thanks to the generous support of our dedicated staff. Their commitment to providing exceptional learning experiences for our students has made this initiative possible.

As we launch this pilot program, we are excited to witness the positive impact it will have on our Unit 4 students' academic progress and achievements. We encourage all participating students to make the most of this fantastic opportunity to enhance their learning journey.

Subject Selections for 2024

We invite you to book an interview with your child's learning mentor from 3:45 - 7 pm Monday 24th for a 15-minute discussion regarding subject selections for 2024. Bookings are still open until 1 pm on Monday.  Book now using PAM.

Enrolments for Year 7 2025 Closing Soon!

Time certainly flies when you’re having fun, and we’ve been having a great year at the College!

 Do you have a child/sibling/family friend, preparing for secondary school in 2025? Before they can join in the fun and exciting things happening at the College for Year 7, you will need to know the key dates and complete an online application form.

 Applications for Year 7, commencing in 2025 close on Friday 18 August 2023.

As you are aware, the College delivers a unique vertical curriculum and has many exciting initiatives, we are also located in a rapid growth area. These factors have led to unprecedented demand for our College, we therefore encourage you to apply prior to the closing date to avoid disappointment.

Our online Enrolment Application Form as well as our Enrolment Policy and School Fees can be found on our College website, here.

Any questions regarding enrolment can be directed to our friendly team.

Inaugural Women of Assumption College (Alumni event)

As part of our 130th-anniversary celebrations this year, Kate Fogarty, the first female Principal of Assumption College, will host afternoon tea celebrating over 50 years of the education of women at Assumption College.

This is our first official women-only event for alumnae and the many other women who have served our community over the years as teachers or allied staff.

This is a special gathering – for our women, by our women – and we welcome the opportunity to spend this time together, to create a new space to connect, listen, laugh and share.

The event will take place in the Neale Daniher Community and Sports Pavilion on Sunday the 8th of October at 2.00 pm. Please book your tickets via the try booking link below, and be sure to pass on this link to your family and friends that have been a part of our college over the past 130 years.

Welcoming a New International Exchange Student!

Exciting news! Assumption College Kilmore is eagerly preparing to welcome a new international exchange student in Term 3. This wonderful opportunity allows our school community to engage with diverse cultures.

We are seeking families who would generously open their homes to host this exceptional student during their time at Assumption College. 

If you are interested in becoming a host family and embracing this enriching experience, please read the flyers below. 

A Message from the Assumption College Bus Service

Using seat belts is mandatory for all students using the ACK Bus Service if their bus is fitted with seatbelts. If you have a child who uses the bus service and their bus is fitted with seatbelts, please remind them to wear the seatbelts.

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.