Community Corner

Winter Appeal provides temporary relief for the homeless in our community

Our generous school community pitched in to support those in the local community who face heightened challenges in the winter months by donating nonperishable food and toiletry items to our 'Giving Day' cause.

Our Year 12 students packed the donated items into emergency relief kits, which will be distributed by St Margaret's Church this winter Excess items were forwarded to Cobram Food Bank

Further to Giving Day, our Year 12 cohort participated in the traditional Winter Sleepout This activity aims to raise awareness for the homeless The group approached the challenging evening with a shared purpose Captain of Community Service, Caitlin Welch, said the experience was enlightening

“It’s not easy and it’s not fun It made me appreciate how lucky I am to have a roof over my head each night,” Caitlin told the Crier

Students and local police join forces to promote road safety

On 19 May, a small group of students embraced the Walk Safely to School Day initiative

Recognising that many of our students live out of town or rely on buses to get to school, we decided to organise a simulated walk to school experience

This saw a group of Foundation to Year 2 students and their Year 12 buddies walk down Campbell Road, discussing road safety tips on their travels!

We were delighted by the active involvement of several Cobram Police Officers who kindly joined our students on this walk as an extra source of support and guidance

Students and staff pay respects to the Stolen Generations at Shepparton commemoration

Below is a reflection written by Year 11 student, Madison McDiarmid.

On Friday 26 May, I had the opportunity to attend the National Sorry Day Commemoration in Shepparton.

Beforehand, I had been asked to deliver a reading. The part that I read was about a brief history of Reconciliation Week

During the commemoration, it was heartbreaking to hear the personal experiences and recollections of Indigenous people during the years of the Stolen Generations

After hearing of the hurt and suffering caused by government policies of the past, it was interesting learning about what we can do for Reconciliation as young people moving forward

One common message that was aired during the commemoration was the importance of reflecting on the past and what we can do together on the journey to Reconciliation

One of my main observations from the commemoration is that the main theme for Reconciliation Week this year, “Be a voice for generations”, can be achieved by being a brave ally to our Indigenous people and getting news on Indigenous matters from trusted sources such as National Indigenous Television (NITV).

Riding the waves of adventure: Year 9 students dive into fresh experiences

In week three of term, our Year 9 cohort embarked on a five-day camp on Phillip Island

During the camp the group had the opportunity to feed wildlife at Maru Koala and Wildlife Park, they explored the history of Churchill Island Heritage Farm, and enjoyed evening activities like tenpin bowling and laser tag

The students worked up a sweat kayaking and paddle boarding in the bay, followed by a stunning bush walk There was also the thrill of watching a penguin parade!

Then came one of the biggest highlights for many, a morning surf! Other fun experiences included visiting 'Maze N Things' and having a go at high ropes activities

The group concluded their adventure with a visit to the Chocolate Factory and did a quick pelican feed before heading back home.

The group enjoyed this bonding opportunity and the camp hosts were very impressed by their exemplary behavior and politeness throughout the week

Parents and Friends (P&F) Term Two Recap

It has been another busy term for our Parents and Friends (P&F), and their fundraising initiatives were once again well supported by our school community Here is their recap of Term Two

Fundraising

• The Mother's Day Stall raised an impressive $700 and there were a range of new products available, sourced from our amazing local suppliers

• Each of the Pop-Up Uniform Shops for second-hand uniform items generated approximately $400

How is the money supporting our students?

• We are excited to announce a donation of $2500 towards a new engraver for our Woodwork Room This machine has the capability to also be used for STEM and Art projects, as well other design needs around the school

• Additionally, $850 has been allocated towards new shelving for our Library, with further funding set to be allocated to expanding our book collection

Upcoming events

• We are planning a Trivia Night in October. Gather your friends and family for a chance to showcase your knowledge, all the while supporting our school and having a great time in the process!

• Father's Day Raffle – will be held in late August or September (date TBC)

• The Father's Day Stall will be held on 31 August and 1 September Celebrate the incredible male role models in our school community by buying locally sourced gifts at our Father's Day Stall

Get involved with the P&F Our meetings are casual, informative, and only require an hour of your time each month (rotating between Zoom and in-person)

We welcome new individuals with fresh perspectives and great ideas to join us!

Whether you can spare a little or a lot of your time, any contribution is greatly appreciated as we look to enhance the experiences of our students through fundraising and social events.