N E W S L E T T E R 25 November 2016 Volume 18 Issue 19 College Mission . Building on a foundation of Christian values, the mission of Aitken College is to enable students to become informed and compassionate members of the wider community by inspiring academic achievement and creativity, nurturing self worth, encouraging environmental responsibility and committing to service with and for others. Important Diary Dates for 2016 Term Dates for 2016 Wed 07 Dec Presentation Night (Years 3 to 12) Fri 09 Dec Term 4 concludes Term 4 3 October to 9 December Thought: “A happy life is one spent in learning, earning and yearning.” Lillian Gish From the Principal The VCE examinations and VCAL assessment have been completed. This gave us the opportunity to celebrate with staff, students and families at the Year 12 Class of 2016 Valedictory dinner last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to thank the students and their parents for the contributions made. Each student was presented with a graduation certificate and a gift from the College which we hope they will treasure. For 85 of the families (out of 136) this was the last child completing their schooling and hence it was quite an emotional time. Some families have been part of the College since it opened in 1999. Families were thanked for what they had contributed in establishing the school, building its culture and sense of community and for putting trust in the staff of the College with the education of their children. We wish the students of the Class of 2016 all the best for the future. We also celebrated the reunion of the Class of 2006 with a number of past students and staff in attendance reminiscing of their time at the College and sharing their stories of study, work and family. Much had changed since their time at the College; the Chapel and Performing Arts Centre was built, the Food Technology and Sports Facilities expanded, lots of footpaths, the barn and market gardens but as well there were familiar areas of the College, classrooms, science and art room, the senior school buildings. Within the group in attendance there were lawyers, nurses, teachers, marketers, social workers, construction workers and administrators. Some are married and have families of their own. Mickleham Road continues to be a source of frustration and concern. Within the last month there have been three accidents involving multiple cars in the stretch between Dellamore Boulevard and Somerton Road and you will have noted if there are accidents in the local vicinity that this channels more vehicles onto Mickleham Road. I urge you to take caution when entering or exiting the College. I met this week with the local member for Yuroke, Ms Ros Spence, to continue dialogue regarding the need for duplication and attention to the College intersection. I encourage you to continue to write to her as well as VicRoads, Hume City Council, Local Papers and the State Government to voice your stories and concerns in order that the issues remain on the agenda for discussion and resolution. I have included details below. Ros Spence State Member for Yuroke [email protected] Luke Donnellan Minister for Roads and Roads Safety [email protected] Hume Leader newspaper [email protected] VicRoads https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/contact-us/feedback-and-enquiries Mrs Josie Crisara Principal Authorised and Printed by: Mrs Josie Crisara, Principal, Aitken College, 1010 Mickleham Road, Greenvale 3059 Phone: 9333 1866 www.aitkencollege.edu.au Fax: 9333 4795 End of Semester Reports Parents of students from Prep to Year 11 will soon be issued an end of semester report, which can be accessed via the Community Portal. One of the changes to reports this semester is the inclusion of attendance details for each student. Every effort will be made to have the reports available to parents at 4.00pm on Friday 9 December. However, to ensure the attendance information is correct up to and including the final day of Term 4, it is possible that the publication of student reports may be delayed until Monday 12 December. If this is the case, we will alert all parents via email. Thank you for your understanding. Booklists for 2017 Students A reminder to all parents that Campion booklists for students in Prep to Year 10 in 2017 are due by Friday 2 December. Booklists must be submitted online at www.campion.com.au using the code ‘N6QM’. Please note that the Aitken College Digital Bundle is compulsory for students entering Years 7 to 10, and will allow students to download digital editions of the textbooks required for Mathematics, Humanities and Science. Students will be given instructions and assistance to download the digital bundle texts at the commencement of classes in 2017. Textbook orders can be collected from the College on Wednesday 18 January from 8.30am - 12.30pm and 1.00pm - 5.00pm. Alternatively, you may choose to have your order delivered to your home for a fee of $15.95. Please see the Campion website or your booklist for more details. Ms Kerri Batch College Head of Learning From the Deputy Principal Presentation Night: Please check your family diary to ensure that you have reserved Wednesday 7 December for Presentation Night. Attendance is compulsory for all students from Years 3 to 11 and Year 12 students are encouraged to be there. Students from Prep to Year 2 are most welcome to attend with their families. The Aitken College Presentation Night is a two-hour celebration of the achievements of our students in both academic and cultural activities during the year. A notice with full details for students and families has been distributed to students and will also be emailed to parents next week. Child Safety: Childwise.net has produced resources for parents about child abuse. They can be found at: http://www.childwise.org.au/page/71/resources. Parent Email Addresses: Email is increasingly being used to communicate with families; the postal mail can be very slow and printed notices can be lost in schoolbags! Hence it is very important that the College has up to date parent email addresses; if yours has been changed, please advise us by emailing to [email protected] Mr Kim Forward Deputy Principal Parents and Friends Association News Fairview Dance Party: Tonight is the night to party! All Fairview parents do not forget to bring your kids along to the Fairview Dance Party. It starts at 6.30pm and finishes at 8.00pm. The coffee van will be on site so you can sit back and relax with other parents while the kids dance the night away. We still have some spots open for helpers for the Chapel and Performing Arts Centre outside hires. Dates are as follows: Canteen helpers: • 3 December 2.00pm - 3.30pm • 3 December 8.00pm - 9.30pm • 11 December 1.00pm - 2.30pm BBQ helpers: • 3 December 4.00pm - 6.30pm • 10 December 11.30am - 2.30pm Please email [email protected] if you can help. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 28 November at 7.30pm in the Chapel and Performing Arts Centre seminar room (upstairs P24). Please come and join our wonderful group of dedicated parents. Mrs Allison Phelan Secretary - Parents and Friends Association Brookhill School Notices I would like to congratulate and thank all 2016 Year 10 and Year 11 students on their excellent work to date during the VCE Early Commencement Program. Students’ attitude and work ethic has been first class and the hard work during these two weeks will pay off when students return next year already ahead on their VCE studies. Authorised and Printed by: Mrs Josie Crisara, Principal, Aitken College, 1010 Mickleham Road, Greenvale 3059 Phone: 9333 1866 www.aitkencollege.edu.au Fax: 9333 4795 2017 Year 12 Student Learning Conference: All 2017 Year 12 students are reminded that they will start the year with our annual Student Learning Conference at Moonee Valley on Thursday 2 February. This compulsory event is an exciting and worthwhile day, which equips the new Year 12 students with study and personal management skills needed for the year ahead. Permission forms and information will be distributed to students during the day on Monday 28 November; permission forms must be returned to the Senior School Office by the end of the week, Friday 2 December. Presentation Night: I am looking forward to seeing all Brookhill students at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Wednesday 7 December for the annual Presentation Night. Mr David Murphy Head of Brookhill VCAL News As part of their VCAL Numeracy work, the Year 11 students have been involved in a number of ongoing landscaping projects. One of the tasks included cleaning and clearing the bluestone pitchers and pavement area up at the farmhouse. The bluestone rocks had been in disrepair with years of cover from vegetation and weed growth. The project was a very satisfying one, having transformed the area into a very attractive rock wall. Mrs Jenny Lilley VCAL Co-ordinator Dunhelen School Notices Presentation Night: Another reminder that presentation night is Wednesday 7 December. This is an opportunity for the College community to come together and celebrate the year. Students should attend in summer uniform and on arrival are to find their Homeroom teacher. They will be marked off the roll and will be seated with their Homeroom for the evening. As this is a compulsory event, a note should be handed to your child’s Homeroom teacher before the night if they are unable to attend.