Coming

Events

Regularly check Newsletters

and PSC website for updates

at

www.portlandsc.vic.edu.au

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portlandsecondarycollege

Monday 25 November

Year 9 Exams

Tuesday 26 November

Year 8 Exams

Monday 2 December

Head Start Prep Day

(Student Free Day)

Tuesday 3 December

Course Confirmation Day

(Student Free Day)

Wed 4 until Fri 6th Dec

Headstart 2020 Yr 8 - 12

Mon 9th—Tues 10th Dec

Headstart 2020 yr 11-12

(SFD for 2020 yrs 8-10)

Tuesday 10 December

Grade 6 Orientation Day

Wednesday 11 December

Presentation Night

Friday 20 December

Last day of school.

TERM 1 2020

Tuesday 21 January

Book Collection Day

Monday 27 January

Australia Day Holiday

Wednesday 29 January

Staff return

Principal’s Report

I am at odds why these last weeks of the year are referred to as “Winding Down” when it feels like

events are “Winding Up”.

Early last week we celebrated the positive work that the Re-Engagement students have achieved this

year and congratulated the students who have graduated to go onto further education or into work.

The night was a credit to the work that the students and the staff have done this year in their

academic learning and support for local community events such as Live4Life. Art work in the form of

coasters were on sale and this money went directly back to the organisation. The Re-Engagement

campus is a credit to the community that it serves but it is also reflective of fantastic support

provided by the community and what can be achieved when students, school, families and

community work together. A wonderful uplifting night and special thanks to Katie Kelly, Jacinta

Knight, Mara Satins, Lauren Logan and Braden Dawson for the support that they have given

students.

The second celebration last week was the Year 12 Graduation night held at the Golf Club. The

students impressed me with their maturity. The warmth and friendship that existed among the

students and their families added to the ambience of the night. I would like to congratulate all the

award winners of the night and all students for the successful completion of 13 years of schooling. I

wish them all the best in their future endeavours. The Year 12 co-ordinator, Ms Joe Logan, the Senior

Assistant principals Ms Bothe and Mr Heenan and year 12 mentors and class teachers joined the

festivities and we all benefitted from the hard work that had gone into the preparation

for the night.

Year 11 exams were held last week and Year 9 and 10 exams are underway this week.

All in all with the exam marking, report writing and preparation for 2020 staff and

students will be ready for the Christmas break.

Mrs. Patricia Nunan — Acting Principal.

No : 19 MONDAY 25th november 2019

Last week saw the unveiling of a plaque in our Food Studies garden dedicating the garden to Marthina van der Veer. Mrs van der Veer, who passed away in 2018, was a dedicated French, Humanities, Food and Textiles teacher and a highly respected staff member. Year 11 students obtained a grant for this garden from

Landcare Australia and dedicated the space to Mrs van der Veer whose vision was to have a herb and vegetable garden close the Food Tech area for students to access fresh produce. Well done to everyone involved in making this happen.

No 19 25th November 2019

Creating the Opportunities

Year 10, 11 & 12 Course Confirmation Day –

Tuesday 3rd

December 2019

Dear Parent/Guardian,

On Tuesday 3rd December from 10am to 2pm, all students in Year 10, VCE or VCAL in

2020 are required to attend Course Confirmation Day.

On this day students will rotate through a variety of stations, in a similar format to University

enrolments. Parents are advised to attend. If you receive a Centrelink benefit, please bring

your details.

In order to make the day flow as smoothly as possible and to minimise waiting times for

parents we ask that where possible Year 12 students attend between 10am and 11am, Year

11 students between 11am and 12 noon and Year 10 students between noon and 1pm. Of

course, if these times do not suit please come anytime between 10am and 2pm.

Step 1 - Students will have their subjects confirmed for 2020 and receive a timetable

for Headstart. If confirmed, students will proceed to Step 3 if doing VETiS or Step 4.

If subjects are not correct, students will proceed to Step 2.

Step 2 – Correction of subjects.

Step 3 – VETiS Students only – Students will have their VETiS course confirmed and will

order and be measured for uniform if required.

Step 4 – Students will pay their Essential Educational Items fees.

Step 5 – Students will be able to collect their books if ordered from Warrnambool

Books ready for Head Start Program.

Subject Essential items are those items or services that are essential to support the course of

instruction in the standard curriculum program that the school provides. In order to provide

educational opportunities beyond the bare basics of classroom learning, the College relies on

family payments to the school budget. Each year the school programs are planned based on a

budget that includes both government and family contributions. We spend considerable time

selecting the most appropriate items and services to meet the needs of our students.

The approximate cost for your child’s subjects will be made available to you shortly. Some of

you may already have received this in the mail.

If you are in the situation where payment may be difficult, there are a range of payment plans

available for those parents/students who are not in

receipt of Centrelink payments.

These options can be discussed and put into place by contacting the College Business

Manager, Ms Michelle Boreham. This can also be done on Course Confirmation Day.

continued next page……….

Course Confirmation Day continued…..

Payment of fees can be

made in a number of

ways.

Additional costs payable

on the day include your

child’s Booklist cost.

This amount will be

confirmed on your

advice card which will be

posted to you prior to

Course Confirmation Day

by Warrnambool Books.

We understand that starting your child in Senior School is an expensive undertaking. We

have been running an article in the newsletter outlining this day but have not been able to

send your exact amount until after students completed their subject selections which only

finished today.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday the 3rd of December. If you cannot attend, please

send your child along with the necessary funds.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Kindred

Payment Options

Explanation How to set this up

Centrepay Centrelink will take payments out of your fortnightly benefit and give it to the school. This can be done as a once off or regularly.

You can apply for Centrepay deductions:

On line at

http://www.humanservices.gov.au /customer/services/centrelink/centrepay:

By completing a Centrepay deduction form (available from the College’s Business Manager).

Please bring your CRN details with you.

Cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card

Cash or cheques paid directly to the General Office. EFTPOS is available.

Paid in person or via the phone using your credit card.

Direct De-posit

Make a payment on Internet Banking using: Bank Australia

BSB: 313140

A/C: 12067508

Account Name: Portland Secondary College

Direct Deposit at home on Internet making sure you put a description or family code in.

Year 8 Clean Ocean, Clean Beach Day

- and lots of follow-up actions!

Year 8 students collected a massive 150 kg of waste at

Murrell’s Beach on 4 November. We cleared the beach

of rope, plastic, bottles, bottle tops, plastic bags, wood

and fragments of plastic – all potential hazards to ma-

rine life and a source of polluting microplastics.

The beach clean-up is one among many actions by stu-

dents to tackle the problem of plastic pollution. In the

Indonesian classroom in term 4, we covered the topic

of marine debris in Indonesia and how environmental

issues connect countries and communities. Students

also explored alternatives to single-use plastics, crafting bamboo straws and pens, a ‘nude food’ day promotion, making reusa-

ble shopping bags and more.

As for the marine debris collected at Murrell’s Beach, students documented and classified the waste into 42 different catego-

ries ito input into the Australian Marine Debris Initiative. This will feed help efforts to address the problem of plastic pollution at

its source. In the PSC Science Labs, students also investigated sand samples under the microscope to detect microplastics and

simulated how plastic moved in ocean currents.

Some of the debris has been put to good use; students have created collages and sculptures. The message from all these ac-

tions in clear; reduce, re-use and recycle for a Clean Ocean, Clean Beach.

A big thanks to the PSC Science Team, Sally Jensen of ResourceSmart Schools, Department of Fisheries, Ms Mitchell, Mr Elijah

and Ms Nunan for supporting the program.

L2P Learner Driver Mentor Program

The Glenelg Shire Council L2P Learner Driver Mentor Program is currently seeking eligible young learners who need assistance with getting driving practice.

The Glenelg L2P Learner Driver Mentor Program is delivered by Council in partnership with VicRoads through TAC funding. The program provides eligible learner drivers aged 16 and under 21 years of age with the opportunity to gain driving practice with trained volunteer mentors for a minimum of 1 hour per week, while also providing access to driving lessons with a professional driving instructor.

Participants use program-dedicated vehicles to gain the mandatory 120+ hours of driving practice. Support is provided to participants once they have completed their logbook requirements to undertake their driving test in a L2P Program vehicle. The driving test cost is not covered by the program.

Please Contact for more information

Rachel Brough

L2P Program Co-ordinator

Glenelg Shire Council

Phone: 55222334

Email: l2p@glenelg.vic.gov.au

FAMILY HOLIDAYS

While it is not ideal to take family holidays in

school time we understand at times it is

unavoidable. If you are planning to take your

child out of school for a family holiday DET

requires the following process takes place:

1. Make contact with your child’s Mentor

to arrange a meeting. Ideally this would be

done at least two weeks prior the absence

2. At your meeting your Mentor will fill out

an ‘Educational Absence Approval’

form. This will be signed by both the mentor

and Parent.

3. Work will be provided for your child to

do while they are absent.

Attendance …….

Do you think 95% attendance sound like a

good attendance rate? This is still equivalent

to 10 days away from school in a single year.

Being away from school impacts on a Stu-

dent’s learning, social groups, self-esteem

and routine. We ask

Parents to please only

keep your child away

from school when they

are genuinely sick.

Staff

Communication

On occasions parents may require a staff

member to phone them in relation to a

student matter at school. Please allow at

least 48 hours for the staff member to

return your call. Often staff are required to

attend meetings both before school and

after school and complete yard duties as

well as their teaching load.

Thank you for your

understanding and

support.

Visiting Parents

All parents and visitors to the

College are asked to report to

the General Office immediately

they enter the school grounds

via Fawthrop Street only.

The Office staff will then locate

the staff member or student you

wish to speak to. Please do not

wander around the grounds.

Jo Kindred – Assistant Principal

Collecting and recycling

plastic bottle caps

Year 10 Global Perspectives classes and

PSD are collecting plastic bottle caps to

support Envision Hands to recycle them to

make prosthetic hands. Please save and

bring plastic bottle caps to school and drop

off at PSC to Student Services or the Li-

brary. Also a big thank you to Margaret and

Agnes cafe for helping us to collect caps.

Any questions please contact Christine Hart

or Janelle Collins.

NOTICE TO PARENTS

THERE IS TO BE NO PARKING IN

THE STAFF CAR PARK, FOR

MORNING DROP OFF OR AFTER-

NOON PICK UPS.

PLEASE USE THE DESIGNATED

PARKING AREAS OUTSIDE THE

SCHOOL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

UNDERSTANDING.

Attention all Parents!

Local Police have contacted the school con-

cerned about the following car parking issues

in Fawthrop and Must Street:

Parents please do not park in the ‘No

Standing’ zone in Fawthrop Street, large

fines apply.

Please do not drop off/pick up your child

whilst travelling through the angled car

park area.

Students should not be running across

the road, ducking and weaving through

traffic to be collected on the other

side of the road.

Allow enough space either side of the

school flags in Must Street; it is an of-

fence to park too close to school cross-

ings.

Thank you for your support.

Doctors in Secondary Schools at Portland Secondary College

Wednesdays at the Doctors Pod.

Appointments can be made via Welfare Office, Student Services, DISS@portlandsc.vic.gov.au any

time of the week, or visit the Doctors Pod on Wednesdays to make an appointment. Talk to Michelle

Cables, Tania Beard or Mrs Hart if you have any questions about the service.

Portland Secondary College has been supporting the successful Doctors in Secondary Schools

(DISS) program since 2017. Previously PSC have conducted feedback and surveys and this will

occur soon. There will be an opportunity for parents, staff and students to be involved in this

process, and a flyer will be in later newsletters to inform of the dates and logins.

Christine Hart -

PSD & Student Support Coordinator PSC.

Facebook Page .…..

The Portland Secondary College Facebook page is a popular way

for parents and students to keep up to date with what’s

happening at PSC — upcoming events, news items and daily

activities.

We have now created a new Facebook page called PSC 2nd Hand

School Items For Sale where parents and students can buy and

sell second hand uniform items. You must request to

join the page as a member pending approval.

Please contact the school if you require more infor-

mation regarding this page.

Attention

Parents!

Need to know more about

Compass Student

Manager?

Take the opportunity to learn

more about Compass.

Lessons & enquiries for

Parents are available from the

General Office.

Students Required to Leave Early

Sometimes it is necessary for Parents/Guardians to pick up a child early from school.

If this needs to happen please ring before coming to collect your child and we will en-

deavour to have them waiting for you.

If this is a pre-organised appointment please send a note with your child detailing the

time of the appointment so they can show their teacher/office staff and be waiting for

you in the foyer.

Whilst we understand that emergencies do occur and this may not always be possible

we would appreciate at least half an hour’s notice.

Ideally it would be better to make appointments either side of school hours.

Mission Statement

To develop creative, articulate, respectful and resourceful young

people able to contribute positively to the global community.

Must Street Portland 3305 (P.O. Box 452)

Phone: 55 231344

Fax: 55 234449

E-mail: portland.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au

Web Site: www.portlandsc.vic.edu.au

EFTPOS details. BSB: 313140 Acc: 12067508 Bank: Bank Melbourne

Wise Words.

If You Never Try You’ll Never Know!

EFTPOS is available for your convenience at the General Office.

Do you have a few hours free?

Our Canteen staff are always looking for volunteers to assist in the canteen. Please contact the school 55231344 if you can assist.

Thank you for your support.

Uniforms

School Jumpers

(size 10-22) $50

(size 24 & 26) $60

School pants (tailored)

$45

(72cm—107cm)

Plain navy caps $10

Draw cord shorts $20

(s - xl)

Tailored shorts $25

(10 youth - 107cm)

Kilts $75

(size 8—26)

Jacket $85

(xs - xxxl)