APC Newsletter February 2023

FEBRUARY 2023

WE'RE NAMED ONE OF THE BEST 01

GREAT IB AND VCE RESULTS Late last year we were able to bring you the news of our year-12 students’ stunning success in VCE, lifting our average median study score from 30 to 32.

We can now tell you that our International Baccalaureate team replicated this achievement, gaining the IB equivalent of 32 as well, with students gaining a Median Study Score of 5/7 and a median ATAR of 88.15.

There were some amazing individual achievements as usual, with three subject scores of 7. Dux Alize Lemm achieved 97.9 and a diploma score of 40.

THE CLASS OF 2022 DURING VCE EXAMS.

IMPORTANT DATES FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY

Year 7 Immunisations

WEDNESDAY 15 MARCH – TUESDAY 28 MARCH

NAPLAN for Years 7 and 9

TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY

Swimming Carnival MSAC

FRIDAY 24 MARCH

WEDNESDAY 8 MARCH

THURSDAY 6 APRIL

Parent/Student/Teacher interviews (in person)

Student Out of Uniform day Last day of Term 1

MONDAY 24 APRIL MONDAY 13 MARCH

Labour Day public holiday

First day of Term 2

These numbers of course aren’t everything, but they do confirm the incredible hard work put in by our students and their teachers over their six years here at APC. And they show that our high challenge, high demand philosophy, where we support our students to achieve their best, is the right approach.

With university courses beginning next week, we wish those who have chosen to go to university the very best with their studies – and hope those who are starting working life every success for the future.

INVITE FOR STEM STUDENTS The City of Port Phillip has invited female students studying STEM to a special event to celebrate International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 9.

NEED TO KNOW

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The theme is “Bridging the Gender Digital Divide” and the council hopes girls and their parents will come along.

Ally Watson AOM, the founder of “Code like a Girl”, is keynote speaker.

COVER: JOE HILDEBRAND AND PASI SAHLBERG CHAT TO STEVE COOK.

The event starts at 6pm. Numbers are limited and RSVPs are essential. To RSVP go to https://www.trybooking. com/CGCIC

DROP OFF AND PICK UP ZONES

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ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR CAMP DISCOUNTS?

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OUR PRIVACY POLICY

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PRINCIPAL'S SAY

APC NAMED ONE OF THE BEST SCHOOLS IN AUSTRALIA

Last year was one of major success for APC, highlighted by the amazing performance of our VCE and IB students, whose hard work paid off with top class results.

our teachers, innovation across every aspect of the school, and an academically demanding curriculum that parents want to challenge their children to succeed.

Our median study score of 32, including 35 for our SEAL cohort, puts us in the top 2 per cent of public schools in the state.

In short, an insistence on creativity and excellence in everything we do.

Most pleasing was the across the board improvement in our ATAR rankings, allowing so many of our students to get into the university or TAFE course of their choice.

This year has started rather spectacularly, with APC being chosen by world education expert Pasi Sahlberg as one of the top schools in Australia, as reported by the Herald Sun last week.

When our college began in 2011 many thought it fated to fail, especially after its previous incarnation had been unable to attract local families.

We turned this around by creating the sort of school our community wanted, with a positive and supportive environment for students, investment in the professional capabilities of

The most pleasing aspect of all this to me is that we have created a great community school – one that parents know they can send their children to with absolute confidence that they will get as good an education as anywhere else, have a chance to develop their full personal, creative and academic potential, and enter the world with confidence. That’s why enrolment pressure remains strong.

I want to reassure you that, having reached this level of success and maturity as a school, we are not relaxing, but intend to continue to surprise and innovate and make this an even more supportive, creative and exciting place for students and teachers alike.

This is already happening. Our year-7 students have settled in well and our year-12s started the year with our inaugural VCE and IB study camp to

get them on their way and develop a supportive and encouraging study environment.

Welcome to another exciting year!

Steven Cook Foundation Principal

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STAFF AND STUDENTS

TACKLING YEAR 12 TOGETHER

At the start of term we launched our inaugural Year-12 Study Retreat.

It’s an overnight camp combining study seminars with team-building activities – fun stuff such as raft building – designed to foster friendship and mutual support.

Year-12 is easier when you have the support of your friends.

This very first Retreat, held in the cool regional town of Kyneton, was a huge success.

Our students were fantastic, they were engaged throughout and it was a wonderful experience for all. A great way to start the year.

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STAFF AND STUDENTS

CLUBS SELL THEIR WARES

Last week APC’s Inspire clubs held their annual fair, looking for new members.

Held in the Danks Street Hall, lots of excited students came along and checked out the fun new and old clubs to join, serenaded by APC’s very own punk band, The Mansplainers.

One of the most popular new clubs was the Cheerleading Club, with 55 new members intent on bringing a taste of the good old USA to APC. Think pom poms and chants.

Board Game Club, F1 Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club… the list is endless.

The fair was even visited by the Herald Sun looking for the inside scoop of what makes APC so successful!

Thank you to our fantastic Student Leadership and Inspire Clubs Coordinator, Fiona Wright, for making our clubs such a huge success.

You can find a video of the fair on our Instagram account.

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STAFF AND STUDENTS

DATA RELATIONS ARE ALL RELATIVE

Our year 12 Artmaking and Exhibiting students attended a guided tour of ACCA’s new Data Relations exhibition, which featured installation artworks exploring how data sets rule our lives.

Upon their arrival, students were asked to put on plastic shoe covers to enter the artspace which replicated the feeling of being in a medical clinic.

This excursion allowed students to consider the possibilities of creating their own immersive and participatory art spaces.

A favourite of many was Machine Listening, which involved sitting in a dark room with 360° speakers playing voice actors performing a script written by a machine learning program.

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STAFF AND STUDENTS

STAFF PUTS THE BAND BACK TOGETHER Not content with teaching our students how to be musicians, our staff have started teaching themselves how to sing.

Led by maths and IT teacher Dennis Wang, our APC Staff Choir has started rehearsing for another year. The collection of professional singers, amateur singers and shower singers is looking to replicate its 2022 Single Show Tour.

No doubt you will be hearing them in the courtyards on practice days, which are alternate Mondays at 3.30 pm.

APC COMMUNITY

SECOND HAND UNIFORM TEAM SMASHES SUMMER SALE Recently our second hand uniform sale was held in the Danks St Campus courtyard.

Our wonderful volunteers did a brisk trade in blazers, dresses, trousers, ties, sports gear and everything else our students need.

It’s great to be able to help parents with the costs of schooling while being part of the recycling revolution.

All money raised at these sales goes to the school for projects to benefit our children.

Donations of clean, current and 'in good condition ' APC uniform items are always welcomed and anyone who wants to pass on uniform items they

no longer need can drop them off to Danks St reception any time.

Our thanks to the second hand shop team led by Tania Slotboom and her mum.

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STAFF AND STUDENTS

MATHS ACADEMY HAS A BEAUTIFUL SET OF NUMBERS This year APC launched its Maths Academy to great enthusiasm. Within two weeks it had gained 30 members from years 7 to 11.

The Academy’s chief wrangler, Maths Teacher Rachael Gore, described 30 as a beautiful number, perfect for pushing even greater enthusiasm for mathematics at APC.

This isn’t another maths class, Rachael says, but a club where the emphasis is on fun, games and competition.

parents. At the end of the year the students will be running a maths game day to get parents involved.

Academy members are now preparing for their first inter-school competition in March.

There are several places still available in the Academy, so those who find maths interesting and fun should come along and get involved.

The aim is to spread the word about the importance of maths and the enjoyment it can bring, including to

If you are interested, just email Rachael for all the details.

APC COMMUNITY

AHOY THERE, FEMALE SAILORS Albert Park Yacht Club wants to help mums and daughters develop a special bond by learning to sail.

The club, which is an APC partner organisation, has developed a special program for girls and their mothers (or another special female adult in their lives).

Rear Commodore Peter Naismith said the program suited all ages and was ideal “for people who weren’t really sport-minded”.

“It’s a great team sport, it gives you confidence and it allows girls and their mums to bond together over a new experience,” he said.

“You’re learning in the safe environment of Albert Park Lake but you’re still up against the elements.”

Over 10 lessons, participants will learn how to rig and sail a yacht with basic knowledge of racing.

The club is keen to hear from eight daughter and mother/other pairs who might be interested and will work with them to determine the best days and times to run the program.

For details, contact Rear Commodore Peter Naismith.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up Zones As we start the new year, we would like to remind all parents and carers of the importance of student safety during morning drop-off and collecting them in the afternoon.

Please note: Vehicles double parking at Danks St and stopping in Pickles St may be fined by the City of Port Phillip Parking Officers.

Below are maps outlining student drop-off and pick-up areas for Danks and Pickles St campuses.

DANKS ST CAMPUS The “Kiss & Go” drop off & Pick Up zone is adjacent to Foote Street Park in Danks St.

PICKLES ST CAMPUS The drop-off and pick-up zone for students is on Richardson Street at Gasworks Arts Park (as indicated in green).

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Privacy Collection Notice Information for students, parents and carers The Department of Education and Training (the Department) values your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal and health information that schools collect.

All school staff must comply with Victorian privacy law and the Schools’ Privacy Policy. This notice explains how the Department, including Victorian government schools (schools), handles personal and health information. On occasion, specific consent will be sought for the collection and use of information, for example, for a student to receive a health service. Our schools are also required by legislation, such as the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, to collect some of this information.

Throughout this notice, ‘staff’ includes principals, teachers, student support service officers, youth workers, social workers, nurses and any other allied health practitioners, and all other employees, contractors, volunteers and service providers of the school and the Department.

On enrolment, and during the ordinary course of a student’s attendance at a school, schools will collect information about students and their families for the following purposes: ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

educating students supporting students’ social and emotional wellbeing, and health fulfilling legal obligations, including duty of care, anti-discrimination law and occupational health and safety law communicating and engaging with parents student administration school management supporting policy in relation to student education and wellbeing.

If this information is not collected, schools may be unable to provide optimal education or support to students or fulfil legal obligations.

For example, our schools rely on parents to provide health information about any medical condition or disability that their child has, medication their child may take while at school, any known allergies and contact details of their child’s doctor. If parents do not provide all relevant health information, this may put their child’s health at risk.

Our schools also require current, relevant information about all parents and carers so that schools can take account of safety concerns that affect their children. Parents should provide schools with copies of all current parenting plans and court orders about or that affect their children and provide updated copies when they change.

When parents enrol their child in primary school, they will be asked to provide personal and health information in several ways, including via the Enrolment Form, the School Entrance Health Questionnaire (SEHQ) and the Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS) Transition Form.

The Enrolment Form is used to collect information that is essential for the purposes listed above, and requests information such as: ●

●

Emergency contacts – Individuals parents nominate for a school to contact during an emergency.

Parents should ensure that their nominated emergency contact agrees to their contact details being provided to the school and that they understand their details may be disclosed by the Department if lawful, e.g. in the case of emergency communications relating to bush fires or floods.

Student background information – Information about country of birth, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, language spoken at home and parent occupation. This information enables the

Last updated 24 Nov. 21

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

●

●

Department to allocate appropriate resources to schools. The Department also uses this information to plan for future educational needs in Victoria and shares some information with the Commonwealth government to monitor, plan and allocate resources.

Immunisation status – This assists schools to manage health risks and legal obligations. The Department may also provide this information to the Department of Health and Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to assess immunisation rates in Victoria, but not in a way which identifies students.

Visa status – This is required to process a student’s enrolment.

All schools may use departmental systems and online tools such as apps and other software to effectively collect and manage information about students and families for the purposes listed above.

When schools use these online tools, they take steps to ensure that student information is secure. If parents or carers have any concerns about the use of these online tools, please contact the school.

School staff will only share student and family information with other school staff who need to know to enable them to educate or support the student as described above. Information will only be shared outside the school (and outside the Department) as required or authorised by law, including where sharing is required to meet duty of care, anti-discrimination, occupational health and safety, and child wellbeing and safety obligations. The information collected will not be disclosed beyond the school and Department without parent consent unless such disclosure is lawful.

When a student transfers to another school (including Catholic, independent and interstate), personal and/or health information about that student may be transferred to the next school. Transferring this information is in the best interests of the student and assists the next school to provide the best possible education and support to the student. For further detail about how and what level of information is provided to the next school, refer to the: Enrolment: Student transfers between schools Schools only provide school reports and ordinary school communications to students, parents, carers or others who have a legal right to that information. Requests for access to other student information or by others must be made by lodging a Freedom of Information (FOI) application.

To update student or family information, parents should contact their school.

For more information about how schools and the Department collect and manage personal and health information, or how to access personal and health information held by a school about you or your child, refer to the: Schools’ Privacy Policy

Last updated 24 Nov. 21

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SOUTH MELBOURNE

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South Melbourne Districts JFC

Proudly supporting South Melbourne Districts Sports Club

@smdjfc

Be active, develop skills, make friends, have fun!

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

CAMPS, SPORTS AND EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF) APPLICATION FORM

School Name

School REF ID

Parent/carer details Surname First name Address Town/suburb

State

Postcode

Contact number Centrelink pensioner concession OR Health care card number (CRN) –

–

–

Foster parent under a temporary care order* OR

OR Veterans affairs pensioner (Gold Card)**

*Foster Parents must provide a copy of the temporary care order letter from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH). **Applicants must provide a copy of the Veteran Affairs Gold card

Is this an application for special consideration (no CRN needed)? Yes ☐

No ☐

Student details Student’s surname

Student’s first name

Student ID

Date of birth

Year level

(dd/mm/yyyy)

I authorise the Department of Education and Training (DET) to use Centrelink Confirmation eServices to perform an enquiry of my Centrelink customer details and concession card status in order to enable the business to determine if I qualify for a concession, rebate or service. I also authorise the Australian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) to provide the results of that enquiry to DET. I understand that: • DFFH will use information I have provided to DET to confirm my eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund and will disclose to DET personal information including my name, address, payment and concession card type and status.

• this consent, once signed, remains valid while my child is enrolled at a registered Victorian school unless I withdraw it by contacting the school.

• I can obtain proof of my circumstances/details from DFFH and provide it to DET so that my eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund can be determined.

• If I withdraw my consent or do not alternatively provide proof of my circumstances/details, I may not be eligible for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund provided by DET. • Information regarding my eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund may be disclosed to the DFFH and /or State Schools Relief for the purpose of evaluating concession card services or confirming eligibility for assistance.

You are able to request access to the personal information that we hold about you, and to request that any errors be corrected, by contacting your child’s school.

Signature of applicant

Date

/

/

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

CSEF ELIGIBILITY

Below are the criteria used to determine a student’s eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF).

Criteria 1 – General eligibility To be eligible for the fund, a parent or carer of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school must: • on the first day of Term one • a) b)

on the first day of Term two

be a holder of one or more of the eligible financially-means tested cards OR be a temporary foster parent, and; submit an application to the school by the due date.

For the list of eligible financially-means tested cards refer to the CSEF Policy: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/policy Parents who receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with the above.

Criteria 2 - Be of school age and attend school in Victoria For the purposes of CSEF, students may be eligible for assistance if they attend a Victorian registered primary or secondary school. CSEF is not payable to students attending pre-school, kindergarten, home schooled, or TAFE. Special Consideration A special consideration category exists for  Families on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, in community detention or are asylum seeker families  Students in temporary out of home care arrangements, including statutory kinship care For more information, see https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/guidance/eligibility Eligibility Date For concession card holders CSEF eligibility will be subject to the parent/carer concession card being validated successfully with Centrelink on the first day of either term one (30 January 2023) or term two (24 April 2023).

PAYMENT AMOUNTS CSEF payment amount The CSEF is an annual payment to the school to be used towards camps, sports and/or excursion expenses for the benefit of the eligible student.

Primary school student rate: $125 per year.

• •

Secondary school student rate: $225 per year.

The CSEF is paid directly to your child’s school and will be allocated by the school towards camps, sports and/or excursion costs for your child.

For ungraded students, the rate payable is determined by the student’s date of birth. For more information, see: www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx Year 7 government school students who are CSEF recipients are also eligible for a uniform voucher. Secondary schools are required to make applications on behalf of parents/carers so please register your interest at the school.

HOW TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM

NOTE: ALL SECTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED BY PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN 1. Complete the PARENT/CARER DETAILS section.

Make sure that the Surname, First Name, and Customer Reference Number (CRN) details match those on your concession card. You will also need to provide your concession card to the school.

If you are claiming as a temporary Foster Parent or a Veteran Affairs Pensioner, you will need to provide a copy of documentation confirming your status as a temporary Foster Parent or provide your Veterans Affairs Pensioner Gold card to the school.

If you are seeking special consideration, mark this in the form and provide a copy of the relevant documentation.

2. Complete the STUDENT/S DETAILS section for students at this school.

3. Sign and date the form and return it to the school office as soon as possible. The CSEF program for 2023 closes on the 23 June 2023.

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