Farewell to our Year 12s

On Friday 18th October, Year 12 students enjoyed their final day of College events before settling down to study for their VCE exams and/or embarking on their future career pathways. Friday’s farewell commenced with an early breakfast at school put on by their teachers and followed by a student parade around the College. Students then returned to Padua for a year level assembly and some amusing games and activities with their homeroom teachers before being dismissed for the final time at the College. The Year 12 team provided the opportunity for the students to enjoy some time together as a cohort as well as the opportunity to reflect on their journey.

On Friday night, staff along with students and their families farewelled Year 12 students at the 2019 Graduation Ceremony held in the Sheehan Stadium. Year 12 students were presented on stage and were recognised in front of their family and peers. Congratulations to all of our Year 12 students who have now finished their Secondary Education and are about to embark on their next adventures. We are extremely proud of the award recipients and of each and every student who has completed this educational milestone. Year 12 students should be very proud of themselves. I thank them for their Leadership; they have been great ambassadors and role models.

Year 12 Award Recipients:
Community Award: Evana Miesen
Abbi Rogers Award: Nicole Portelli
School Spirit Awards: Swen Anthony and Cassandra Nguyen
Peer Awards: Crizel Vanguardia and Chantelle Bird

"Excellence in History Education by a Secondary Teacher" Award - History Teacher Association of Victoria (HTAV)

Recently one of our teachers, Ms. Carissa Lock, was awarded the "Excellence in History Education by a Secondary Teacher" Award. The HTAV Awards Panel, consisting of two volunteer Board members, two individual members, the Executive Council and Rosalie Triolo - Senior Lecturer of History Education at Monash University were the judges of this award.

Carissa was a well-deserving recipient of this award. We are fortunate to have her as part of our school community. Many of your children will have been taught by Carissa over the years and it would be wonderful for you to have a chat with your child about their time in a History or Humanities class with Ms. Lock.

2020 Subject Selections

Current Year 9 students will be interviewed this week to finalise their Year 10 electives for 2020 and once completed current Year 8 students will then be followed up for their Year 9 electives.

Year 12s

What a great farewell was experienced by our departing Year 12 students and staff. Colour, activities and laughter were in abundance all morning last Friday and I would like to compliment our Year 12 students and thank Ms Wright, Ms Lock and Mr Coates along with our Year 12 Homeroom Teachers for our Farewell Morning and Graduation Mass. The Mass was a lovely service led by Father Patrick. The formal presentations ran smoothly and both our 2019 and 2020 College Captains spoke admirably. I hope all families enjoyed the opportunity to share the experience with their child along with joining teachers and friends for supper.

Year 12 VCE students are now on SWOTVAC until Tuesday, 29th October. VCAA exams begin on Wednesday, 30th October until Wednesday, 20th November.

As already communicated by Carissa Lock (VCE Coordinator) and Emma Wright (Year 12 Coordinator), students need to be at College at least 30 minutes before the exam published reading time to ensure smooth entry into the exam venues. Students may wear casual clothes.

Melbourne Cup Day

Tuesday, 5th November is Melbourne Cup Public Holiday. The College has a mid-term break on Monday, 4th November, however VCAA exams will still operate that day.

End of Year Exams & Timed Assessment Tasks

Years 7 & 8

Apart from Timed Assessment Tasks that will operate in normal class times, all Years 7 and 8 students will do a Timed Assessment Task in Mathematics, English, Humanities and Science at the same times. These assessment tasks will take place in Padua Exam Centre or Osma Exam Centre starting Wednesday 6th November and take the place of the normally timetabled class. Please see timetable attachment.

Year 9

Year 9 students will undertake exams beginning Monday, 11th November. Elective exams will take place in normally scheduled class times. Exams in Mathematics, English, Science and Humanities will take place in the Osma Centre. Please see timetable attachment.

Years 10 & 11

Years 10 and 11 students will finish formal classes on Friday, 8th November. Years 10 and 11 exams will then run from Monday, 11th November to Tuesday, 19th November. Students are only required at school when they have exams. All returning students will then be involved in Jumpstart classes for 2020. The exam schedule for Years 10 and 11 students is attached.

Friday 25th October is an optional casual clothes day for students.

The day is being used to raise funds for our group of 33 students and staff who are heading to Perth along with thousands of others to take part in the Australian Catholic Youth Forum in early December.

Our group of pilgrims has been preparing for months under the guidance of staff led by Sr Mary Sarah, and have also met with students of other schools undertaking the same Faith journey.

Students who wear casual clothes in support on Friday are asked for a $2 donation.

On Tuesday 15th October, the Year 11 Physics class went on an excursion to O’Brien Icehouse at Docklands, where they participated in Curling.

Curling is a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a target area which is segmented into four concentric circles.

The day concluded with three laps around the track at Ace Karts in Albion. The students were required to gather data and calculate the speed of the stones and go karts using the formula for speed s=d/t.

Sharon Cody

Student Support

Year 9 Italian VET Studies

The Year 9 Italian students have just finished a VET unit on learning how to write and respond to invitations in Italian. To conclude the unit the students worked together to write an invitation to the other Year 9 class and invited them to a 'themed' class party. They had to specify the time, location, if there was a theme, what and what not to bring and what they were required to wear on the day. The students organised activities and props as well as snacks and the lunch itself. Following the first party, the other Italian class reciprocated and held another party to say thank you. It was a fantastic experience and it was wonderful to see our students using the Italian language in a positive and enjoyable way.

In Year 9 VET Italian we have been studying how to write invitations in Italian and respond. For that unit we invited the other Italian class to lunch. We had organised for pizzas to be delivered to school, as well as food and drinks to be brought by the hosting class. We played some Italian games such as tombola(bingo), we had a photobooth, we played stick Sicily on the map of Italy, we played Jenga, and we even had a piñata. Before we knew it, lunch was over. All I can say, is that it was really fun. - Lilly Portelli (9C)

Ms. Michelle Montalti & Ms. Louise Crocitti - Italian Teachers

VCE Languages Classes

We salute our Year 12 Italian and Indonesian students who have finished their VCE Languages classes last week. All the best to Sarah Clewer, Adelaide Hansen and Dylan Hassan who sat their Oral Examinations today. We wish them all the best for their future endeavours.

Claudia Russo

Languages Domain Leader

The Rockbank Football Sporting Club are recruiting for the upcoming 2020 Season.

Football

Seniors, Reserves and Under 19.5’s Men

Open Age Women

Netball

Open Age Women

Based at the Ian Cowie Reserve—Westcott Parade Rockbank

For more information refer to the website: www.rockbankfsc.com.au or email footballoperations@rockbankfsc.com.au or call Gavin Sporle 0450 947 109.

Matt Embling