Year 7 to 12 students sit mid-year exams

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO MR RICHARD ARMITAGE!!! THREE articles by Richard Armitage, Commerce teacher at Springvale Secondary College, appear in the May edition of Compak, the Journal of the Victorian Commercial Teachers Association. Richard is a regular contributor to Compak and has had many articles published. We are very proud of Richard’s achievements and Springvale Secondary College students’ are very fortunate in having such an experienced and professional teacher..

Student Leaders – Inauguration Assembly

At the school assembly on 26th May, the school community acknowledged a special group of students who stepped up to a great and noble challenge – the challenge to take on a Leadership Role within the school community.

Student leaders were inducted for the Student Representative Council, School Captains & Vice Captains and Joining Forces.

I explained to students (both the inductees and the main student body) that leadership is a two edged sword – it comes with Privilege and with Sacrifice.

• The privilege of representing others
• The privilege of influencing others
• The privilege of have ‘little privileges’
• The privilege of authority and respect.

I pointed out to students that the privilege of authority and respect is not automatic, it must be earned - through the way they conduct themselves and fulfil their duties.

I also explained that with privilege comes responsibility and sacrifice;

• Giving up personal time for meetings and activities
• At times - putting others’ needs ahead of their own
• Exposing themselves to criticism by others – as it is rare that you can please all of the people all of the time.

I commended these students for having the courage and conviction to take on a challenge that not only presents an opportunity for them to make a difference, but also presents the risk of exposing their faults.

I reminded students that we all have strengths and weaknesses – it is the very nature of being HUMAN. But I explained that in taking on these roles they were going to enhance and develop skills and knowledge that would ultimately lead to greater self-confidence, and the confidence to take on even greater risks and challenges - in the knowledge that their strengths far outweigh their weaknesses.

I explained that they would grow in wisdom and understanding - of people and the way we interact with one another and that these qualities are highly valued in our society. They will be qualities that will make them highly attractive to prospective employers and will place them in great stead for promotion within their chosen field of work – whatever that may be.

I noted that these are the qualities that are often associated with jobs that attract the highest salaries.

I left the student leaders with some words of advice:

• Leadership is about listening - listening to the people you represent and serve
• Leadership is about integrity - listening to your heart – to know what is right or wrong
• Leadership is about courage – the courage to act - after you have listened to others and your heart

I wished the student leaders all the best for 2005, and hoped that their courage in stepping forward is rewarded through the things they can achieve for the students they represent and lead, and the learning and wisdom they can gain in undertaking these roles.

Mark Kosach—Principal

Ray Daniels – Celebration of 40 years service to School Education in Victoria

At the school assembly on 26th May this year, the school community celebrated the achievement of a great milestone in the long and illustrious career of Mr Ray Daniels’ - 40 Years Service to school education in Victoria.

Mr Daniels was employed in 2004 by the Clayton/Springvale/Westall Cluster of 10 schools to lead our Innovation and Excellence Project - working to enhance teaching and learning practices across the cluster to ultimately improve Education Outcomes for students in all 10 schools.

Mr Daniels is based here at Springvale Secondary College.

His career commenced after graduating from Monash University in 1969 with qualifications to teach English and History. He started teaching at Williamstown High School; moving on to Blackburn South HS; followed by 3 years at the United Nations International School in New York City.

He returned to teach at Boronia HS and later took up a Principal position at Hamilton SC.

In 1995 he was appointed as Principal at Coomoora SC, from where he later retired in 2001. Mr Daniels returned almost immediately to teaching at Doncaster SC, from where he was appointed as our Cluster Educator in 2004.

In observing Mr Daniels in his work with us, it is clear that after 40 years, he is still passionate about teaching and learning and that his passion has driven him throughout his career. His passion for learning has not been limited to being the teacher either, as Mr Daniels returned to University and completed his PHD in Education at the University of New South Wales in 2002.

In the short time Mr Daniels has been with us, he has earned enormous respect from those he has worked with and we have been very fortunate to have him on our team.

On behalf of our School and Cluster communities, and all of the students and staff he has worked with and inspired over the past 40 Years, I congratulated Mr Daniels on this great achievement, thanked him for his service to school education in general (but particularly for his contribution to the Springvale Community over more than 8 years) and hoped that he can continue to feel the passion to help us improve the learning outcomes for our students for many years to come.

Mr Daniels accepted a certificate from the Department of Education & Training, recognising his achievement, as well as a small token of appreciation from us here at Springvale Secondary College.

Leadership Assembly April 26 2005

Badges and Certificates were presented to our College leaders for 2005 along with presentations to successful sporting teams.

• College Captains: Nydane Reth, An Huynh
• Co-Curricular Captains: Linda Cheng, Kristian Clancy
• Sports Captains: Moe Oo, Chay Le Cheng
• SRC Captains: Tung Vi, Juderson Juarez

House Captains

• Red—House Captains: Antony Chea 10A (Captain), Pwit Phyu 9A (Vice-Captain)
• Gold—House Captains: Vincent Vu 10A (Captain), Alexandra Bryant 7B (Vice-Captain)
• Green—House Captains: Minh Le 11B (Captain), Navy Pham 9A (Vice Captain)
• Blue—House Captain: Lana Srey 11B (Captain), Vinh Nguyen 9A (Vice-Captain)

SRC 2005

• Year 7: David Kim, Damaris Krolikowski
• Year 8 Ly Duong, Ryan Jones
• Year 9 Navy Pham (Secretary), Jenny Nguyen
• Year 10 Ryda Prum, Thanh Luu
• Year 11 Tung Vi (President)
• Year 12 Juderson Jaurez (Vice President and Treasurer), Linda Cheng (Fundraising Leader), Kristian Clancy (Publicity Leader)

Joining Forces Leaders

• Tuesday Group Adam Ivanovic, Navy Pham, Ngan Sam, Chhay Houy Pang
• Wednesday Group Stans Sitanilei, Noor Muhammad Khorasani, Emmanuel Duku, Gold Deng, Delia Toloa, Tuvao Paese, Murtaza Torkamanyar
• Thursday Group Jarryd Agravante, Antonia Feliciano, Vu Nguyen, Tutai Kaleta, Dan Tran, Jenny Nguyen, Pwit Phyu

Pennants were presented to the following teams who won the Inter-district sports finals — Year 7 Tennis, Year 8 Softball

Pennants were presented to the Cross Country Team that came second in the Southern Zone

CAREERS

Reminder—

UMAT TEST This test is compulsory for anyone interested in applying for Medicine, Dental Science, Oral Health and Physiotherapy and Optometry at Melbourne Uni and Medicine, Pharmacy, and Pharmacy/Commerce at Monash. Go to acer.edu.au./unitest/umat.

Closing Date is Friday 10 June. Test Date is Wednesday 27 July. See Mr Thompson for details.

Useful Websites for those considering apprenticeships or outside employment-www.newapprenticeships.gov.au www.otte.vic.gov.au- this site gives information about the benefits of education and training and what steps you need to follow.

Reminder to all students particularly those doing VCE to visit our Careers Web page on our local intranet for all sorts of useful information. Click on ‘Local Careers News’ on our school website.

LIBRARY

2005 Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge – June update

More than 300 books have been added to the Booklists for the second half of the Challenge.

Your challenge is to read 12 books by 16 August this year, 10 or more from my recommended Booklist. I will send a signed certificate to all students who meet this challenge.

Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge Booklists for Years 7, 8 and 9 are at … http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/vicprc/booklists.htm

June additions - http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/vicprc/pdfs/7_8_9additions_1June.pdf

Complete list - http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/vicprc/pdfs/7_8_9booklist_1June.pdf

How are you going? Have you read your 12 books yet?