Progress reports have been published on Compass and we have held our Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences. It is always a pleasure to see parents and carers in the school with their students, speaking with teachers about learning progress. The partnership between the parents, teachers and the school to support students in their learning is vital and research shows that when parents are involved and attend school events, students do better in their learning.

On our Curriculum/Professional Learning Day, in the morning, staff worked on developing our school’s Instructional Model based on the Department of Education’s new model. This includes Elements of Learning from cognitive science, neuroscience and education psychology and Elements of Teaching from evidence based teaching practices which we already have in place. For the rest of the day, teachers worked on developing and documenting curriculum for Term 4 for Year 7. Next term we will start work on Year 8 curriculum.

At the end of last term, indigenous artist, Sam Richards came into the school to run a workshop for our Indigenous students, House Leaders and School Captains to create house logos. Sam’s workshop involved students learning about symbols used in art works and using these in the initial designs that students created which Sam used to create house logos (see below).

Our 4 House names are:




Thank you to Sam and the students who participated as well as Brodie McConnell and Kris Johnson.

The SRC and School Captains have supported a number of events this term. The first was the Pajama Day fundraiser where students enjoyed wearing their pajamas to school and raised $194 for the Pajama Foundation. This organisation raises awareness and funds for students in foster care. We also supported Wear it Purple Day by wearing a touch of purple and with activities run by Wellbeing at lunchtime and will support R U OK Day on Thursday September 11 with activities and fruit based supa doopers!

                       

Sports Colours Day on the last day of Term 3 - Friday 19th September.

To celebrate the end of Term we encourage students to wear an accessory that supports their favourite sports team eg. scarf, hat, beanie, jersey.

Please note this is NOT a free dress day. Students are expected to be in their full PE uniform and can wear their accessories on top of their PE uniform.

Friday 19th September is the last day of Term 3.
School will finish at 2:30pm.

Students taking the S5116 Bus, the bus is scheduled to arrive at usual departure time at 3:15pm. Last Term the bus driver notified our school on the last day of Term that they'd arrive at 2:30pm, if this occurs again we will communicate this information to students.

In the meantime, please note that your child may be waiting 45 minutes for this bus service if it cannot arrive earlier. Public Transport Victoria advised our school that they are unable to change school bus service times as it is linked with the wider network. Unfortunately, we do not have any control over this. Please consider other arrangements if the wait time is not suitable.

Enjoy the last two weeks of term and the September holidays!

Leanne Winfield

School preparations for the bushfire season

Each year, we undertake a range of activities to ensure the safety of our school and to prepare for bushfires and grassfires.

An important part of this process is communicating to parents what will happen when certain fire danger ratings are issued to help ensure the safety of students and staff.

Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is a Category 4 school.

Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in the Central  fire district.

Closure of the school due to a Catastrophic fire danger rating will be enacted when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast and related public safety messaging are confirmed. Due to uncertainties in the forecast, the timing of this confirmation may vary. Information regarding potential or confirmed Catastrophic fire danger days will be communicated to you by via Compass.

It is also important to be aware that:

• No one will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Catastrophic day.
• All bus routes that travel through the Catastrophic area will be cancelled.
• School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast for fire weather district in which the camp is located, or if the travel involves passing through areas that have Catastrophic fire danger.

As part of preparing our school for the fire season, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan.

What can families and the school community do to help us prepare?

• Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers. 
• Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, checking our website, and reviewing Compass.
• Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements if our school is closed due to Catastrophic fire danger. Further information can be found on the CFA’s website.
• Action your family’s bushfire survival plan if your own triggers are met. Our school community may be spread out across many areas and some families may be at higher risk than others. Your family’s safety is critical, so please let us know if you are actioning your bushfire survival plan and if your children will be absent on these days.
• If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan.

Families are encouraged to action their Bushfire Survival Plan on Catastrophic fire danger rating days in their district. The safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Catastrophic day. On such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children.

You can find more information on emergencies, warnings and preparedness actions here:

• VicEmergency app – that can be downloaded on your android and iOS mobile devices
• VicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226)
• Website https://emergency.vic.gov.au

• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency)
• Twitter (https://twitter.com/vicemergency)

• ABC local radio, Sky News and other emergency broadcasters

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the department’s policy?

The Department of Education annually assesses the fire risk of all schools and early childhood services with the support of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). They are allocated a category of risk (categories 0 to 6). Schools and services that are Categories 0-3 are published on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR). Schools at some risk of bushfire and grassfire are published on the Category 4 List.

The department’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy requires all schools and early childhood services on the BARR and the Category 4 List to close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district. All school bus routes which travel in or through a district with Catastrophic fire danger must also be cancelled.

The policy also requires that schools at the highest risk of bushfire (those in Categories 0, 1 and 2 of the Bushfire At-Risk Register) enact pre-emptive action plans based on the fire danger forecast for their Local Government Area (LGA).

Who issues fire danger forecasts?

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) provides public fire danger rating forecasts each day of the fire danger period using fire weather district areas. In Victoria, there are 9 fire weather districts, which are based on Local Government Area boundaries.

The department uses these forecasts when supporting schools to enact their pre-emptive bushfire actions plans.

Kris Johnson
Assistant Principal

House Challenge

It was fantastic to see house spirit in full swing this Wednesday! Students were split into their four house groups and participated in three exciting activities. Congratulations to Blue House, who were the overall winners on the day. It was wonderful to witness the energy, encouragement, and support students gave to their house members. A sincere thank you to our PE staff – Ms Emily Sloothaak, Ms Ceenita White, and Mr Brodie McConnell – for organising such a positive experience for our students.

Upcoming Whole School Assembly

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming Whole School Assembly, where we will celebrate student achievements. During the assembly, we will present a variety of awards and badges, as well as unveil our brand-new house names and logos.

• Date: Wednesday 17th September
• Time: 9:45 am
• Location: School Gym (next to the carpark)

Year 7 Camp

Camp is fast approaching:

• 7A–7E: Monday 10th – Wednesday 12th November
• 7F–7J: Wednesday 12th – Friday 14th November

The first instalment of camp payments can be made through Compass. If you experience any issues, please contact the College office.

Model United Nations (MUN)

Our students recently participated in the Model United Nations, an educational simulation where they role-played as delegates to the UN. This hands-on experience encouraged students to research and debate global issues while developing skills in public speaking, negotiation, diplomacy and teamwork. It was inspiring to see all students deeply engaged in this activity. A big thank you to Ms Kavitha for facilitating and guiding the students through this valuable program.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

We are pleased to share that our recent Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews were a great success. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet families, celebrate academic achievements and strengthen the partnership between home and school.

                        

As part of their History studies this term, our Year 7 students have been exploring the fascinating world of ancient societies. Throughout Term 3, students selected an ancient society of their choice – Australia, Greece, Rome, India, China, or Egypt,  to learn about their cultures, beliefs, and achievements. To bring their learning to life, students designed and created models of historical artefacts or sites from these societies. These models are now on display in our Ancient Societies Exhibition, showcasing the creativity, effort, and knowledge our students have developed. The exhibition highlights how each society contributed to human history, while also celebrating the skills students have gained in research, design, and presentation.

The Humanities team would like to thank all parents for supporting your child through this task. It has been fantastic to hear the students’ accounts of quality time they have spent with families during the creation of their models.

Jen O'Leary
English/Humanities Teacher

    

    

    

    

 

Check out some more images in our Gallery section of the Newsletter!

On Tuesday 26 August 2025, 36 of our students took part in an exciting full-day Model UN Bootcamp held in the Library. This immersive workshop gave our delegates the chance to step into the shoes of world leaders, sharpening their skills in research, debate, negotiation, and resolution writing in preparation for the upcoming Model UN Conference on Friday 5 September.

Throughout the day, students participated in a series of dynamic activities designed to build both confidence and diplomacy:

• Introductions & Icebreakers – learning to speak in role as their assigned country.
• Debate Skills & Rebuttals – practising sharp, persuasive arguments and direct responses.
• Moderated Caucus Simulation – experiencing the flow of formal UN debate.
• Unmoderated Caucus – moving around the room, forming alliances, and negotiating bloc positions.
• Resolution Writing Workshop – drafting their first mini-resolutions using authentic UN language.
• Resolution Presentations & Voting Drill – learning how to present proposals and formally vote, just like in the UN General Assembly.

The Bootcamp gave students a true taste of the “controlled chaos” of international diplomacy. By the end of the day, they had not only practised being confident speakers but also learned to listen carefully, compromise with others, and work creatively to find solutions.

Our delegates are now well-prepared and eagerly anticipating the Model UN Conference Day on Friday 5 September, where they will represent 18 nations in a full simulation of the United Nations.

Well done delegates! We look forward to seeing you all in action at the conference.

Kavitha Kannan

Humanities Teacher

  

Science Week is coming up at WSC, and we have an exciting program of hands-on activities, demonstrations, and challenges to spark curiosity and engagement across the school – it’s shaping up to be a fantastic week!

Here’s a snapshot of what’s planned so far:

Hands-On Fun

• Slime Making, Grass Heads, Oobleck Demo – Tuesday & Wednesday (9/9 & 10/9)

Big Demonstrations

• Schrödinger’s Cat, Coke & Mentos Explosion – Tuesday (9/9)

Displays & Activities

• Library Displays – all week
• Element Symbols Activity – Monday (8/9) or Friday (12/9)
• Eclipse Notices – Students (2–3 per class) with the support of all Science teachers

Challenges & Competitions

• Pi Challenge & Guess the Jellybeans (Library) – Wednesday (10/9)

Let’s make this Science Week one to remember!



Anita Punnoos
Teacher, Mathematics/Science Leader

In the weeks leading up to Book Week, students learnt about the Children's Book Council of Australia shortlisted books and winners. We are lucky to have many of these winning titles! There were many activities held across the school to celebrate Book Week. Students went on an adventure across the school, deciphering clues to discover the teacher of the day. I dressed up every day and students guessed which character I was from clues posted in Compass. There was also the option to search the library shelfs to guess which cover I had recreated. It was a lot of fun! 

The library hosted the practice session for the United Nations and will also have the real sitting soon. The students are very impressive and diplomatic speakers as they attempt to persuade other countries to their point of view.

This week, the library is hosting a Book Fair. This is a brilliant opportunity for parents and guardians to support the school as we build our library, as a percentage of money spent goes towards buying more books. 

We have come to the end of the Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge. The students who have completed the challenge to read 15 books since the beginning of March and log them using the portal will be getting a certificate for their amazing efforts. Congratulations to all those that participated!

Please return your library books, so that other people can also read them. Thank you for your support.



Sarah Barrett
Library Manager