Principal- Jodie DobleCollege Council President- Paul WoodsAssistant Principal- Mike JaremczukAssistant Principal- Estelle AlderBusiness Manager- Jayne Thompson

Emerald Secondary CollegeThe Bush Telegraph

Emerald Secondary College is a Learning Community

Term 1 - 2017:10th February 2017

Important Dates:FEBRUARY:Mon 13: School PhotosMon: 13: School Council Nomination Forms available from officeTue 14: Yr 7 Welcome BBQ 6pmMon 20: Close of School Council nominations - end of dayTue 21: School Council elections

Every Thursday: Homework CLub 3.20pm - 4.30pm in A7

In this Issue:• From the College Principal• Yr 7 Welcome BBQ• Secondhand Uniform Shop• Homework Club• Yr 7 Snapshot• Rotary Club Deb Ball• Host Families Wanted

From the College Principal:Access to ExcellenceIt’s always a pleasure to report back to the community on how well all of our students are settling back into the routine of learning. This extends to our new year 7’s who are finally understanding the combination locks, locker bays and our ten day timetable.This week we held our first whole school assembly to formally welcome everyone back, welcome our new students, our New Year 7 classes and our new staff to the College.

• Felicity Wooden has joined us as the coordinator for whole school Wellbeing.

• Mr Creagh has come all the way from sunny QLD to join the English team

• Mr Wong has come all the way from Perth to join the Science and Maths team

• Mr Fairburn joins our Maths team• Mr Vear is bringing a wealth of expertise to our College as our

Head of Information Technology• Ms Clayworth has come to Australia via the UK to join our

Humanities team• Mr Boffa joins our PE team to cover Mr Ogden’s classes• Ms Clarke joins our PE team to cover Ms Mauger’s leave• Mr Martin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our

Technology teamWe would also like to welcome back Ms Donders and Mr Watson to our PE team, Jem Seamer who has been successful in gaining our Outdoor Education trainee position, and Mr Pitkin to our English team.VCE SuccessI would like to formally congratulate our class of 2016. Next week we will be hosting our Class of 2016 reunion and I hope to speak to our students in person then. At the Valedictory Dinner, students are asked if they are happy for the school to share their success with our community. Below are all the students who scored an outstanding ATAR over 82+ and have all successfully gained their preferred university and pathway choice. VCAA take all student’s individual study scores into account and ranks them against students across the State from both private and State schools. With a wonder achievement of 96.9, Callum Boreham achieved one of the State’s top scores and became our 2016 College Dux.Congratulations to the following students scoring over 82+

Callum Boreham, Mackinley Scott, Hayley Brockwell, Gaya Dykstra, Caroline Jones, Bailey McCracken, Leilani Simpson, Tessa Butler, Todd Downing, Alicia Rhodes, Lachlan McCracken, Magenta Townsend, Brynne Hymus

Ready to LearnAt Emerald Secondary College we work collaboratively to support all our students in their academic, social and emotional development to help them achieve their personal best. It is important for our students to allow us to help them to learn and to do so we ask them to think about the three pillars of ‘ Ready to Learn’

• To arrive to class on time• To arrive with the correct equipment• To come to school with a positive mindset and attitude to learn.

This was launched at the start of the year at our First Day Conferences and is already happening across the College. Please contact our staff if you have any questions or concerns around our ‘Ready to Learn’ program.

School PhotosOn Monday the 13th February we are taking the official school photos of our students. Information has been sent home. There will be a catch up day for any students who are absent on this day as well as the opportunity for sibling photos. Please contact the main office or Jo Cameron for further information.

UniformBeleza reported to the College at the end of January this year that they were either running low or have run out of stock of specific items. These can now be purchased at PSW as part of the transition to the new uniform. Beleza Pakenham currently stock:

• Girls winter skirts• PE uniform• School fleece• School jacket• Some senior school items

PSW Officer currently stock:• Girls summer uniform ( summer dress, shorts, summer logoed shirt)• Boys summer uniform ( shorts, summer logoed shirt)• Boys winter uniform ( long Pants, shirt)• Unisex College jumper• Optional school back pack with laptop section.

We understand this can be confusing for our families and ask for your consideration and support in this matter. Can I reassure you that only the 2018 Year 7 students will need to wear the new uniform, all our current students will not have to wear the new uniform until 2020 and can wear the current Beleza uniform until then..Priority ReviewAt the end of 2015 and the start of 2016, the Education Department reviewed schools performance data between 2011 and 2015. This included student achievement, student attendance as well as parent, staff and student attitudes to school. Although as a school we are celebrating the many wonderful successes we achieved in 2016 including our NAPLAN results, student learning growth, VCE results and positive feedback, the department triggers had already been put in place. This term we will conduct a review of our programs, processes and attitudes about our school. This will enable us to continue to build upon the many excellent practices we have in place at Emerald Secondary College which supports all our student’s learning, engaging our parents and families and really meets our moto ‘Access to Excellence’.

School CouncilOur final 2016 School Council will be held on February the 21st this year. At this stage four of our parent position are available for nomination and election. The official notice of election and nominations will commence on Monday the 13th of February with nominations closing on the 20th of February. Nomination forms can be collected from the main office from Monday 13th February and must be returned to the College main office by 4pm on Monday 20th February.School council is an excellent way to get involved in our school and plays a key role in schools working as a team to provide the best possible educational outcomes for all students. Key areas include raising funds, maintaining and improving school grounds, creating interest about the school and promoting the school positively within the wider community, discussing the direction and strategic plans and many more integral aspects to the College. Jodie Doble College Principal

YR 7 WELCOME TO FAMILIES EVENINGAll Year 7 students and their families are invited to attend an evening

getting to know other families and teachers at the school.

TUESDAY 14th FEBRUARYat 6pmin the

EMERALD PERFORMING ARTS CENTREThe presentationwill be followed by a BBQ

SECONDHAND UNIFORM SHOP:We urgently need junior and senior uniforms to sell in the secondhand uniform shop. Items must be freshly laundered, tagged with name, phone No. and price and can be handed into the general office.

Here is a Snapshot of the first few days for our Year 7 students at Emerald Secondary College

A Project of The Rotary Clubof Emerald & District Inc

2017 Debutante Ball

Applications are now being accepted

SATURDAY 17th June 2017

For further information and to download an application form, go to www.

emeraldrotary.org.au

Forms are also available at the School Office

Looking for Host FamiliesESC is hosting another group of students and staff from our Japanese sister school, Mimasaka Senior High School from Thursday 16th March until Saturday 1st April and we are looking for families who can host one of the students. We are particularly in need of families who can host male students. If you can help or would like to know more about the exchange program, please contact Daisuke Kawakami by calling the College, via Compass or at kawakami.daisuke.d@edumail.vic.gov.au.

Daisuke KawakamiLanguages Coordinator