dandenong high School Issue Nº 13 | AUGUST | 2019 Newsletter DANDENONG HIGH SCHOOL IS AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH EVERY STUDENT IS ABLE TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS Principals message Term 3 began in a This term we also welcomed 17 students and 2 staff whirlwind of activ- from Sakuyakonohana High School, our sister school ity as we prepared for in Japan. As well as participating in a special “ the School’s 10 Year Australianised” program at the school, we also took Anniversary celebra- our visitors on a trip to Healesville Sanctuary, a tions. This celebration shopping spree at Chadstone, trampolining fun at acknowledged three “Bounce” and a walking tour of the city on a Sunday significant events. The morning. Strong relationships were built between 10 Year anniversary of students and their families. A special thank you to the new school, along our host families, some of whom invited two stu- with the official open- dents to stay with them and their generosity was Susan Ogden - Principal ing of the LRC and the incredible. They opened their homes, shared their Senior Visual Arts wing and also an announcement culture and made sure our guests were provided with regarding Government funding for Stage 4 of our unforgettable experiences. re-development. The Deputy Premier and Minister Students in Years 9 to 11 are currently undertaking for Education, James Merlino, and Gabrielle pathways counselling to support them in making Williams, Minister for Women, and the local their subject selections for next year. Year 12 practice member for Dandenong were special guests along exams will take place in the last week of Term 3, with with Martin Culkin our previous school Principal. In a feedback and revision program for all VCE students his speech, which included the announcement of to be implemented in the first two weeks of Term 4. funding to complete our building program, Minister A highlight of this term has been the school production of Labyrinth based on the 1980 Jim Henson and Merlino commended the school on its David Bowie classic film. Student achievements were extraordinary regeneration and even described showcased in the Production, the quality of which Dandenong High School “as one of his favourites”. was simply outstanding. The performance included students from Years 7 – 12 and the interpretation The school choir, with a solo performance by of this challenging text was creative, innovative and Emmeline Nkondogoro, moved the Minister to above all joyful. It was a celebration of our talented students and teachers and the performance was a real tears. It was a wonderful occasion where students, success. teachers and politicians together, recognised our amazing school. Address: 92-106 Princes Hwy Dandenong VIC 3175 | Phone: (03) 9792 0561 Email: [email protected] | website: www.dandenong-hs.vic.edu.au H0use News BANKSIA HOUSE CALLISTEMON HOUSE In this edition of the newsletter, We welcomed our parents in to we would like to highlight our the school for Parent Teacher focus in Banksia House. Interviews this term. It was valuable for students, parents and their teachers to meet to discuss Our attendance remains learning and future areas for strong and we are incredibly improvement and development. proud of the attitude of our students towards their learning. We are excited Our Year 9 students have continued as our top year to communicate the attendance of our Year 7 level attendees, closely followed by our Year 7 students at 91.78% and our Year 10 Students at students. Staff and students in Callistemon are maintaining a focus on attendance and building 92.56%. All year levels are incredibly close to positive relationships and positive language around 90% which is fantastic. our learning. Well done! Our Senior Students have been involved in Pathway Well done to all of these students and to each interviews, choosing their subjects and courses for year level. As we know, daily attendance is 2020. We are grateful for the advice and support of the Careers team at the school who advise all important so students don’t fall behind socially our students throughout their time at school, in and developmentally. A child missing one day a preparation for their future pathway. fortnight will miss four weeks in a year and more than a year of school by year 10. It is important Students in Callistemon have participated actively that children develop regular attendance habits in Interschool sport competitions and represented at an early age. We encourage all students Dandenong High School with pride. We congratulate them on their efforts and achievements. to continue attending and to really raise the bar before the end of the Year. We would also We also congratulate Ethan T. from Year 7 who won appreciate families contacting the School if the Australian Judo Champion earlier this term. He students are absent on a daily basis. will be representing Australia again later this year and we wish him every success. Our Student Leaders have created a Banksia We celebrated our outstanding singers who Student Voice Team. Together, they share participated in Chorales this year with a pizza lunch. morning tea once a week to discuss possible areas They sang with passion and enthusiasm and we were for improvement. Our hope this Term is to create all extremely proud of their efforts. A big thank a culture where social service is not only driven you to Mr.Lee and Miss. Lepustin for their support by the SRC but owned by the entire House. The and energy throughout all the rehearsals and the Team are running a competition between year final performance. levels to raise the most funds. This has bought We welcomed local Primary school students to an energy we have not seen before and so far we the school as an audience for the production dress have raised $1144.00, which is remarkable. rehearsal of Labyrinth. We were extremely proud of the performances of all students, particularly Our Banksia Student Agency Team (spanning those from Callistemon House. Well done to Austin. Yr. 7-12), focus on the teaching and learning S for his outstanding performance. culture within the House. Our Students have We are looking forward to continuing these completed a survey to explore how we can create successes for the remainder of Term 3 in positive learning experiences. The next step is Callistemon. for the students to present the data to staff, to strengthen our cohesion in line with the Schools focus. We are incredibly excited by all of this work. We cannot wait to share with you the growth of our community and the impact of this work on our students and staff. H0use News DARWINIA HOUSE EUCALYPTUS HOUSE At the end of term 2, we It has been a busy term in had the House Chorales Eucalyptus House, Ms Katsoulis Competition. The theme this is on leave and I, Ms Chatham, year was to select a song have been Acting House Leader, from the first 50 years of the joining Mr Greaves and Ms school, and then choosing a Vrondou as the leadership song of choice from the 1970’s team of the House. Ms to present. Darwinia selected Hoyune has also returned to “California Dreaming” and the ABBA song Eucalyptus from leave. The highlights of the term “Mamma Mia”. The students sounded spectacular have included varied learning experiences for and were overjoyed to come equal third. students. We have had also had a focus on attendance Our Year 7 Students have participated in the this year as we know that students improve Youth Empowerment Conference, Atefah R. and their learning and social connections when they Shasvini G. attended in representation of the attend every day. We have been celebrating those group. Additionally Ann J. and Cindy T. attended students with 100% attendance each month. the celebration of ten year anniversary of These students have their names on display and the new school, the official opening of the a certificate to keep. At the end of semester one LRC and Senior Visual Arts area, as student we had nearly 20 students who had not missed a representatives of the house, alongside the single day of school – a fantastic achievement. We house Captains Wenjie L. and Sahar A. The Year hope we have even more by the end of semester 7 group have also produced dioramas as part of two. their Science classes, demonstrating the learning of ecosystems in a creative way. Students of The focus of term 3 has been on pathways. Our year 8, 9, 10 and 11 have been investigating their year 9 students have had a focus in Learning pathways options and selecting subject choices Tutor on the World of Work, culminating in a for next year. Year 8 and 9 students attended an presentation by all House groups. They are now expo displaying information regarding subjects getting prepared for their City Week activities available to them for 2020. Our Year 9 students which take place in week 8 of this term. are busily preparing for City Week and have celebrated their World of Work learning at an Our senior students, in Years 11 and 12 have Assembly early in the term. The Year 12 group had guest speakers from Deakin University are busily preparing for final assessments and attend their Learning Tutor classes presenting practice exams, which are to take place in Week 10 information on University pathways to the Year of the term. They are also preparing themselves 11s and to the Year 12s, how to apply for SEAS. for the future, with the help of the careers team The year 12 VCE students are, of course, in the who are assisting students with information last few weeks before their course work is about tertiary applications.