Woodleigh Messenger
- Learning and Living with Colour at Senior Campus
- The Nature of Expectations
- VCE End of Year Exams
- CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE TERM 4 2022
- Virtual Campus Tours Online Now
- Tenacious D-ebaters: VCE Debating Round Up
- SIS Chess Champions
- Fighting Extinction in Year 7 Science
- Year 7 Maths Presentation Night
- Calling all Woodleigh Artists, Makers and Market folk!
- Term 4 Sport
- Yarrawonga Golf Camp Reflection
- FDBA Basketball Success
- Pinch-A-Poo to help vulnerable families
Learning and Living with Colour at Senior Campus
I would like to warmly welcome our Woodleigh families back to Term 4 at Senior Campus. During the last fortnight, the return to school has been exciting, engaging and certainly colourful! Learning through ‘doing’ has been in full flight over the last two weeks.
Staff dress up for Arts Festival Celebrations
Year 9 Community Projects
Last week I was fortunate to witness the amazing work of our Year 9s and their connection with the Community Project journey. This body of work is an important part of the IB Middle Years Programme, and is a key component that all Year 9’s undertake over 6 months (15 hours minimum), beginning at City Bound, then culminating in a presentation of their work this week. Students have either worked alone, in pairs, or in groups of 3. They identified a community need that resonated with them, and then researched, planned, and carried out a project to meet that need. This process is scaffolded through an online process journal. I encourage you to ask your child to share their findings with you and encourage them to think about what potential next steps they might take to further their Community Project experience.
Ongoing Professional Learning for Staff
Our staff started the term engaging in a range of workshops showcasing their professional interests and learning throughout the 2022 academic year. A suite of learning labs were designed by our teachers across all three campuses, to build and improve holistic outcomes for students by creating and sustaining a culture of inquiry and learning. Staff explored a range of different topics that they were passionate about, and were empowered to explore these individually, collaboratively, and to trial ideas in the classroom. Our teachers have been action-orientated in their professional development, modelling life-long learning to our students. Their work also exemplifies their commitment to personal growth and an ongoing school improvement agenda in line with our new strategic plan ‘Learning to Thrive’. It’s important for our students to realise that their teachers continue to explore and inquire as adult learners and that learning is not just confined to school.
Woodleigh Arts Festival is BACK! In living colour!
It has also been exciting to finally see our school celebrate events that are regarded as ‘rites of passage’ in our community. This past week saw the return of the annual Woodleigh Arts Festival ‘In Living Colour’, a special and unique highlight of the Woodleigh School calendar. With COVID regulations, I have not witnessed an Arts Week celebration at Woodleigh since my commencement in this role. With the opening Showcase, arts activities, media productions and live performances, the week was a huge success. We could not be prouder of the young people and staff that have given their time, dedication, and energy to such an outstanding week of events and performances. Preparation, rehearsals, and the perseverance for excellence has been showcased in this year’s festival. I would like to congratulate all involved and praise the hard work of the students and staff. Congratulations!
Paul Dillion Drug and Alcohol Information Session for Years 10 to 12
We have been lucky to have Paul Dillon return onsite. Paul has a unique investment in the well-being of young people. Founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) and a former school teacher, Paul conducts drug information sessions and workshops for school students both in Australia and internationally. He provided our students with skills to navigate the risk-taking behaviour of young people and manage challenging situations. Each year Paul presents to our community with updated data and strategies and our Woodleigh students find his sessions engaging and valuable. This year, he focused on vaping, and I encourage you to access his website and podcasts to explore further insights and strategies on this topic here.
What a start to the term it has been! I look forward to watching Term 4 unfold and celebrating the year with you over the coming weeks.
Take care,
NAT McLENNAN
Deputy Principal - Head of Senior Campus
The Nature of Expectations
As we enter the final term of the school year it is not uncommon to see a spike in anxiety in our students, particularly in relation to assessments and exams. As a community we all want the best for our young people however, in this context it is helpful for all of us to be mindful of the nature of the expectations we hold and how we may project these expectations onto our young people, consciously or unconsciously.
As with everything our children do, something is only a problem if it’s causing a problem. Depending upon circumstances, some students will internalize expectations to motivate them to do “their best” whilst others will want to be “the best”, or in other words to be “perfect”. This second contention often referred to as “perfectionism” is unrealistic and can lead to well-being issues including anxiety, depression, and burnout that can impact their confidence and capacity to fully engage in their learning.
What does perfectionism look like?
The behaviours that drive perfectionism might be different depending on the child, but here are some of the common ones:
- Refusing to try anything new or unfamiliar (to avoid failing or making a mistake).
- Difficulty completing work or being slow to finish (because of constant checking or repeating to make sure there are no mistakes).
- Procrastination – because it’s easier sometimes not to start than to face the possibility of failure.
- More likely to ask for help rather than try it themselves first. Asking for help is a strength, and we don’t want to discourage that, but if the request for help is driven by a fear of getting it wrong, it can be stifling and get in the way of being brave and taking life-giving risks.
- Giving up or becoming distressed, angry, irritable, or upset if they make a mistake, or if they believe that whatever they are working on might be less than perfect.
- Tendency to think in all-or-nothing terms – if it isn’t perfect, it’s bad/wrong/stupid.
- Tendency to be self-critical.
On the flipside
Beneath perfectionist tendencies will be the makings of character strengths such as grit, determination, and courage for that can be channelled into how we respond to what’s important to them (and us) in a manner that reframes the nature of expectation into character strengths that can be nurtured, whilst simultaneously dialing down the behaviours that stifle them. Here is where you come in.
1. Let it be about being brave, rather than being right/ brilliant/ excellent (because brave is all those things). Don’t base their worth on how they perform instead make it about their character strengths that you observe eg. kindness, teamwork, perseverance, courage, hope, humour, creativity, self-regulation and so on.
2. No one is perfect. Hard things take time to learn and to master and even when the skills are there, the polish can take longer. Praise effort outcome. This can help strip away any fear or shame that can come from failing to meet expectations.
3. The most potent way to dissolve shame is to bring the story into the open. Shame thrives on secrecy. Encourage conversation around challenges and imperfections, and hold back from judgment, criticism, or helping them to feel better. Let them sit with how it feels to own their imperfections in a safe, secure, loving environment – without self-blame, without pity, and without being talked out of how they feel. This will help them learn that imperfections don’t change how great they are, how loved they are, and how capable they are.
4. Let their imperfect moments connect with yours. When the people we most adore are struggling, it is understandable that we want to “fix” things. Sometimes the best thing we can do is keep our own anxiety and discomfort in check for long enough so they can find their own way forward. This may or may not include their need for us to help, but always can always be with our support and encouragement.
5. When young people have a fixed mindset of how things “should” be in terms of expectations, things can begin to unravel. The antidote is to encourage self-compassion and this requires courage. Responding to unmet expectations with self-compassion turns down the volume on perfectionism and anxiety, theirs and our own.
6. Learning how to respond to the highs and lows life presents opportunities to foster resilience.
7. Getting things done is better than getting things perfect. Encourage them not to put things off; once it’s done, it's done.
And finally …
As parents and educators, it’s important that we keep our own expectations in check. Young people will always learn more from what we do rather than what we say. When we, as the trusted adults in young people's lives, show them that we lovingly accept the ebbs and flows that will come with life’s journey, we give them the power to do the same. This freedom and safety to be where they are and not where we expect them to be, exploring their place in the world, learning from their mistakes, and being curious to explore their own interests and passions will enhance their capacity to flourish and thrive in an ever-changing world.
In kindness & optimism,
DONNA NAIRN
Director of Counselling
Acknowledgements & further reading/ resources
https://www.heysigmund.com/anx...
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Year-12-exams-managing-stress
https://headspace.org.au/explo...
https://darta.net.au/wordpress-content/uploads/2017/03/PARENTS-2017-INTRODUCING-CHILD-TO-ALCOHOL.pdf
https://darta.net.au/wordpress-content/uploads/2022/02/PARENTS-VAPING-FS-FINAL-2022.pdf
https://darta.net.au/wordpress-content/uploads/2022/03/DoingDrugsPodcastS01E03.mp3
VCE End of Year Exams
As we bid farewell to our Year 12 students on Wednesday October 19, our attention (and theirs!) turns to the October/November examination period, commencing on Wednesday October 26.
All VCAA exams for our senior students will take place in Senior Homestead and/or the Library. Students are reminded to check their own exam timetable to confirm dates, times, and venue, before they’re scheduled to take place. The Acting VCE Coordinator, Mr Bowen, is the point of contact for any and all questions.
Our Year 11 Unit 2 exams are also scheduled to occur between Friday November 18 and Friday November 25. These will also take place in Senior Homestead and will be managed under the same conditions as our Year 12 subjects. Any Year 10 student who is currently studying a Unit 2 subject should also present for these exams as a priority against their regular timetabling for the week.
Orientation Week for VCE 2023 will commence on Monday November 28.
More formal documentation with the Year 11 Exam Timetable will be released to students and families in the coming weeks.
Please contact the Acting VCE Coordinator should you have any queries.
BRYN BOWEN
Acting VCE Coordinator
CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE TERM 4 2022
The Student Conveyance Allowance only applies to students attending the Woodleigh Campus located at Langwarrin South and students attending the Penbank Campus located at Moorooduc.
The allowance allows families in regional areas to receive help with the cost of transporting their children to their nearest school or campus. The conveyance allowance is a contribution towards transport costs and is not intended to cover the full cost and is available to students travelling by public transport, private car and private bus.
Completed applications are due by Friday 11 November, 2022. This is your LAST CHANCE to submit your application for any travel in 2022.
For further information, read on:
The Victorian Minister for Education has amended the definition of the closest appropriate school/campus (Instrument of Specification). This may impact some of our families who have been unable to make a claim in the past or deemed ineligible.
Both Woodleigh School and Bayside Christian College are registered the same and classified as same type schools. Therefore, previously if you lived closer to Bayside Christian College you would have been deemed ineligible to receive the conveyance allowance. However, parents can now apply for consideration by providing a “signed letter” to the school why the closest school of the same denomination is not appropriate for their child. You must include your child’s name and demonstrate the below points:
- The student does not belong to, or associate with, the school’s particular religion, or engage in religious activity associated with the school’s religious doctrines; and
- The relevant school’s compulsorily requires its students to engage in religious activity associated with that religion or religious doctrines.
The Department of Education and Training will review individual applications on their merits. Please note that you must still meet the main criteria listed below.
Completed conveyance application forms must be signed by the parent or guardian (page 4) must and submitted to the School.
If you have previously submitted a form and there is no change to mode of transport or address details you are not required to complete a new form for 2022.
New forms must be completed for students attending the School for the first time or existing conveyance allowance claimants who have a change of circumstances affecting eligibility. For example:
- Moving residence or changing their mode of transport;
- Changing schools/campuses. Ie Penbank Campus to Senior Campus
The Department of Education and Training’s main criteria for student eligibility is:
- The School attended is the nearest appropriate school. (or attach a supporting letter as per above)
- The student resides more than 4.8kms from the school by the shortest practicable route.
- Students are of school age 5 – 18 years and enrolled at school for 3 or more days per week.
To apply for a conveyance allowance, parents are required to complete the appropriate forms.
- Travel by contract bus: “Conveyance Allowance Application – Private Bus Travel”
- Travel by myki bus: “Conveyance Allowance Application – Public Transport Travel". Must provide prove of purchase ie copy of receipt or ticket.
- Travel by car: “Conveyance Allowance Application – Private Car Travel” will need to be completed for each student, listing all students travelling in the nominated vehicle.
- Combined travel: Each appropriate form will need to be completed as above, e.g. drive further than 4.8km to catch public transport (Private Car/Public Transport).
Please note for Woodleigh Campus families: If you live within 4.8km of public transport (ie one of our Myki buses) and choose to travel by private bus or car you will not be eligible to claim the conveyance allowance.
The School will lodge 4 claims a year (1 per Term) with the Department of Education and Training. The Department will reimburse the school and the allowance will be credited to your fee account in instalments. Completed applications need to be received by Friday 12 August, 2022 to be included in the claim.
- Contract Bus Reimbursement is determined on the basis of the shortest practicable route from the student’s residence to the school and not the actual distance travelled in the bus.
- Public Transport The cost of fares is fully refundable.
- Private Car Reimbursement is made on the basis of the one-way distance travelled per vehicle and the number of students in that vehicle. Payment is made to the family operating the vehicle.
If you have any queries please contact Robyn Kent on 5971 6100 or email rkent@woodleigh.vic.edu.au.
Virtual Campus Tours Online Now
Ever wanted to let your friends and family know what Woodleigh is like on the ground? Ever wanted to show off a bit, and let them see just how green the grass is on the other side of the fence? Well, now you can!
Just give them a holler and tell them to head over to the Woodleigh You Tour, and they can traipse around the place to their heart's content. Minimbah, Penbank, and the Senior Campus are all accessible, all the time, from anywhere in the world.
So, have a look yourself, and pass the link on, let everyone know what we’re up to, learning to thrive tucked away in our havens, here on the Peninsula.
ADAM LIDDIARD
Director of Community Engagement
Tenacious D-ebaters: VCE Debating Round Up
L to R: VCE Debaters Alex Mathews, Bridget Richards and Tealia Holmes, Y12
It is impossible to conclude the 2022 debating calendar without mentioning the amazing VCE Debaters. Most of this group started their debating journey when they were in Year 10, joining the Debaters’ Society of Victoria, alternatively known as the DAV, C-Grade competition. The team rallied together throughout the various lockdowns during 2020 and 2021, their coach’s long service leave, finishing their campaign with an assortment of awards and recommendations.
During Year 12 and the A-Grade competition, the Woodleigh Team has continued to compete and has been undefeated all year long, until the Quarter Finals which took place in week one at Wesley College. When I say defeated, this was an incredibly close score, and although the team was very disappointed the girls need to be highly commended. To make it this far in the DAV competition they have defeated many teams from other schools that have massive debating programs/reputations. They have become a force in the debating world.
Each member of the team has been awarded best speaker at some stage. Tealia was selected in Year 11 to train with the state team, Alex progressed to the Plain English Speaking Award State finals, and Bridget (after receiving multiple best speaker awards) was awarded a Swannie, placing her in the top 1% of A-Grade debaters in the Mount Eliza region.
I have really enjoyed working with this group. The core team - Bridget Richards, Alexandra Mathews, and Tealia Holmes, with additional members from Year 11, Gemma Churchill, and Ruby Reynolds - have been such a pleasure to work with. I have admired their tenacity and resilience and feel honoured to have been able to work with such a marvellous group of students.
MARNEY POPE
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator
SIS Chess Champions
On Thursday 8 September the Woodleigh Chess Team competed and won the 2022 Southern Independent Schools’ Chess Championship.
It was a really exciting day with approximately fourteen local independent schools competing. We all watched the active scoreboard very closely with growing anticipation as we saw the Woodleigh score approach the top.
Congratulations to the whole team:
- Ranita Marantelli, Andrew Stroessenreuther, Harvey Whiney (year 7)
- Hywel Matthews, Innes Thistleton (year 8)
- Finn Coster (year 9)
- Kota Chadwick, Ronan Coster, Griff Matthews and James Longley (year 10)
And special congratulations to Ronan Coster, who was awarded the third-best overall player of the day.
The entire team is now looking forward to the State Championships which will be held in Term 4.
MARNEY POPE
Chess Coordinator
Fighting Extinction in Year 7 Science
In year 7 science students are currently studying a biology unit titled Fighting Extinction. A major focus is learning about native species and the threats that they are facing due to habitat loss, feral animals, and other factors. This week students have been meeting and greeting some of our resident native species to find out how they live, how they interact with their environment, and the things we can do to help ensure they thrive.
DEREK KIRK
Year 7 Science Teacher
Year 7 Maths Presentation Night
How can you sketch the Batman symbol using mathematical equations in Desmos? How can we compare the leap height and distance of frogs and toads? How does the ramp angle and take-off velocity affect the jump distance of a motorbike?
These are just some of the problems investigated by our Year 7 students in Maths in term 3, culminating in a Maths Presentation Night for parents during STEAM Week, where students communicated their finished projects and investigations.
At the end of what has been a very busy term, special thanks go to the Year 7 Maths teachers - Rosie Cian, Karen Somkiat, Greg Davies, Cass Kitto and Glenn Ogier – for their hard work in preparing the students for the evening. Thank you also to the other staff who attended on the night and/or helped support the preparation for the event.
CAM MACINDOE
Acting Learning Area Leader - Maths
Calling all Woodleigh Artists, Makers and Market folk!
The Arty Market is back in 2022, and we need you!
Thought about starting a little creative side hustle? Got a killer cordial recipe? Need an excuse to get started? We need Arty Market stallholders for our upcoming whole-school event.
The Arty Market is a quintessentially Woodleigh occasion; a celebration of handmade, artisanal, quirky products, artworks, jewellery, food, and homewares designed and/or made by YOU!
We welcome stall holders who are students, staff, parents, and alumni. If you've been thinking about it, now's your chance! We will support you with signage, a trestle table, and assistance with setup.
The market will be held on Friday 2 December from 4pm - 8pm at Senior Campus, in the Visual Art Centre and Agora areas of the campus. Pop that date in your diaries folks!
It's free to have a stall at The Arty Market, however, a $20 stall donation would be welcomed. This donation contributes to the materials used for our student stalls; any profits on the day will be carried over for next year's event.
We look forward to seeing you there!
KAREN CHARLTON-MILLS
On Behalf of the Arty Market Committee
Term 4 Sport
Term 4 allows our students to get involved in a wide variety of sports as new seasons begin for FDNA Netball, FDBA Basketball, SIS Weekly Sport, and our Sailing program.
The FDNA Netball season runs across Term 4 only, a short season, which is ideal for new players to join in and experience this community-friendly competition. The FDNA competition runs on Fridays after school, and most of the teams we compete against are from other local schools. All games will be played outside while we await the completion of the incredible new facilities at Jubilee Park, Frankston. The focus of this competition in Term 4 is on player development, teamwork, sportsmanship, and community interaction.
The FDBA Summer Season runs until the end of Term 1. We are excited to see eight Woodleigh teams represent Senior Campus this season. We have teams competing on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
A reminder to all involved that games run up until 19 December and resume in 2023 from the 30 January.
Incredibly, there are now over 1000 teams entered into the FDBA Summer Season. To accommodate all these teams, multiple venues will be used, so please check the weekly fixtures carefully for venue details.
Our FDBA and FDNA programs are open to all students, regardless of experience.
Term 4 SIS Sport Competitions
The Term 4 SIS Weekly Sports season commences in Week 2, with Woodleigh students having the opportunity to represent the school in the following sports:
Junior Sport (Year 7/8)
Mixed Tennis
Girls Basketball
Girls Volleyball
Girls Softball
Boys Basketball
Boys Cricket
Boys Touch Rugby
Intermediate Sport (Year 9/10)
Girls Basketball
Girls Softball
Boys Baseball
Boys Basketball
These competitions take place during the school day on Thursday and Friday afternoons and consist of a 5-round season.
We are also excited to get our Sailing program underway for the 2022/23 season. Training begins on Wednesday 12 October at Mornington Yacht Club under the guidance of Will McKenzie (team coach). The John Middleton Trophy series begins on October 26 at Davey’s Bay Yacht Club, as we build towards the school championships in 2023.
For students looking to enhance their fitness outside of a team sport, lunchtime fitness training is offered by qualified staff at lunch in the Gym Mezzanine on Mondays and Thursdays throughout Term 4.
The benefits of physical activity and being a part of a team extend well beyond the physical. We encourage all students to find their sporting passion and get involved in our extensive offerings.
BEN DAVENPORT
Director of Sport
Yarrawonga Golf Camp Reflection
Golf camp is by far one of the best camps I have been on. If you like golf, or are looking for a new hobby, golf camp is the one to choose.
Some of my highlights included playing at Black Bull Golf Course, a beautiful golf course on the edge of the Murray River. There is lovely greenery surrounding the whole course, and the facilities are very modern.
It really surprised me how much my golfing posture and swing have changed in the week at camp. The golfing pointers provided by the pros were really helpful and the slightest tips changed my golf shots so much.
This camp was also very social, where I got to meet other people from different year levels, and it was very inclusive as we played golf and had a trivia night (which my group won). A couple of times we got to go into Yarrawonga town. We got to walk around the shops, and we ate eat out every night, with rib night being the best.
So overall I’d rate this camp pretty highly, it was super chilled and fun.
EMMA MARTIN
Year 8
FDBA Basketball Success
At the end of the Winter Season, we were fortunate to see four Woodleigh teams qualify for Grand Finals, in addition to our Woodleigh Vipers, who reached the semi-finals.
It all started on Monday night in the final week of term 3, as our U16 Girls Woodleigh Wolves faced off against the top-placed Flinders Phoenix. Our Wolves valiantly stayed within a few plays of the Phoenix deep into the second half. However, Flinders got away late to take the win 28-16. With the support of coach Lee Burch, this team has made immense progress throughout the Winter Season, and I can’t wait to see them continue in years to come. Well done to Charlotte Calvert, Lyra Colarossi, Zoe Heffernan, Drew Hodgson, Harper Lee, Bella Marden, Amelie Ogier, Milla Purton-Smith, and Juliette Whinney on their Runners Up placing in U16 Girls D
Wednesday night saw a third ‘Woodleigh Derby’ of the season, with the Woodleigh Wombats meeting the Woodleigh Whirlwinds in the Grand Final. Squared at one win a piece for the season, there was more than bragging rights on the line this time. In a tense first half, both teams brought the heat as the Whirlwinds – led by Liam Doyle-Toombs – took a 5-point lead into halftime. The Wombats came out and utilised the fast breaks to hit the front, and in the face of a late push from the Whirlwinds, including a swished three-pointer, the Wombats held on to win 42-37. Across three games this season, the aggregate margin in three ‘Woodleigh Derby' matches was only 13 points.
Congratulations to Whirlwinds consisting of Declan Bowker, Henry Brown, Sonny Collins, Noah Cullen, Felix Doughty, Coby Stewart, and Archie Williams on their Runners Up finish, and to the Wombats of Brodie George, Asher Griffith, Tom McKee, Will Muir-Simpson, Ollie Rivett, Rupert Tiedemann, and Will Loxton-Banks on their Premiers placing in U16 Boys D2. Special mention goes to Tom McKee, who was awarded MVP for the Grand Final.
This coming Saturday (at the time of writing), our U14 Boys Woodleigh Whippets will be contesting their U14 D1 Grand Final. Best of luck to Flynn Gleeson, Blake Gordon, Finn Griffin, Barnaby Jeffs, Xavier Kavanagh, Charlie Pullar, Woody Sheezel, Jummy Tserimetha, and coach Aidan Bolch. They progressed through their Semi-Final by defeating the first-placed Rowellyn Rockets 26-16.
As we move into the Summer Season, we are very excited to see the Woodleigh Basketball program expand to 8 teams, with an additional U16 Girls team coming on board.
Thank you to our coaches Lee, Liam, and Aidan for supporting the growth of our young basketballers.
TOM ANGELICO
Assistant to the Director of Sport
Pinch-A-Poo to help vulnerable families
Hi, I’m Phoebe Azzopardi, I am a Year 10 student in Homestead 1. You might remember last year I did a fundraiser for Pinch-a-Poo. I collected donations from across all 3 campuses and I collected over 700 hundred toiletry and sanitary products. This year I am hoping to achieve the same thing.
Pinch-a-Poo is an organization that supports the 1 in 5 Australians families who have to make the choice of buying food or personal hygiene products each week. Their vision is to make sure that every Australian has access to basic hygiene products. Pinch-a-Poo is run by an amazing lady, Kate Austin. Kate was a part of a domestic violence situation and had to leave immediately. Her first instinct was to grab her toothbrush and run. She knew that wherever she went, at least should could brush her teeth.
Click here to hear more about Kate’s story.
How you can help
I will start collecting donations from Tuesday 11 October. I am hoping to have all of the donations collected by 25 November. There will be a box at reception for all of the donations. Pinch-a-Poo is a really easy way to help out the less fortunate. All you need to do it pick up an extra toothbrush, toothpaste or some other toiletries when you go shopping.
Please only donate unopen items.
Items that they are in desperate need of include:
· Roll on deodorants
· Toothpaste
· Toothbrushes
· Face washers
· Singe Use Soaps
· Hairbrushes
Other items to donate:
· Shampoo/conditioner
· Body wash
· Body Lotion
· Deodorants
· Kids Toothbrushes
· Kids Toothpaste
· Razors
· Dental products (floss, mouthwash etc)
· Hair ties
· Sanitary Products
· Hand Sanitiser
· Skin care
· Hair care
· Makeup
· Lip Balm
· Fragrance
· Shaving cream
· Baby care
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the cause visit me in Homestead 1, email me at azzop24@woodleigh.vic.edu.au or visit Pinch-A-Poo.
Thank you in advance,
PHOEBE AZZOPARDI
Year 10
As we enter the final term of the school year it is not uncommon to see a spike in anxiety in our students, particularly in relation to assessments and exams. As a community we all want the best for our young people however, in this context it is helpful for all of us to be mindful of the nature of the expectations we hold and how we may project these expectations onto our young people, consciously or unconsciously.
As with everything our children do, something is only a problem if it’s causing a problem. Depending upon circumstances, some students will internalize expectations to motivate them to do “their best” whilst others will want to be “the best”, or in other words to be “perfect”. This second contention often referred to as “perfectionism” is unrealistic and can lead to well-being issues including anxiety, depression, and burnout that can impact their confidence and capacity to fully engage in their learning.
What does perfectionism look like?
The behaviours that drive perfectionism might be different depending on the child, but here are some of the common ones:
- Refusing to try anything new or unfamiliar (to avoid failing or making a mistake).
- Difficulty completing work or being slow to finish (because of constant checking or repeating to make sure there are no mistakes).
- Procrastination – because it’s easier sometimes not to start than to face the possibility of failure.
- More likely to ask for help rather than try it themselves first. Asking for help is a strength, and we don’t want to discourage that, but if the request for help is driven by a fear of getting it wrong, it can be stifling and get in the way of being brave and taking life-giving risks.
- Giving up or becoming distressed, angry, irritable, or upset if they make a mistake, or if they believe that whatever they are working on might be less than perfect.
- Tendency to think in all-or-nothing terms – if it isn’t perfect, it’s bad/wrong/stupid.
- Tendency to be self-critical.
On the flipside
Beneath perfectionist tendencies will be the makings of character strengths such as grit, determination, and courage for that can be channelled into how we respond to what’s important to them (and us) in a manner that reframes the nature of expectation into character strengths that can be nurtured, whilst simultaneously dialing down the behaviours that stifle them. Here is where you come in.
1. Let it be about being brave, rather than being right/ brilliant/ excellent (because brave is all those things). Don’t base their worth on how they perform instead make it about their character strengths that you observe eg. kindness, teamwork, perseverance, courage, hope, humour, creativity, self-regulation and so on.
2. No one is perfect. Hard things take time to learn and to master and even when the skills are there, the polish can take longer. Praise effort outcome. This can help strip away any fear or shame that can come from failing to meet expectations.
3. The most potent way to dissolve shame is to bring the story into the open. Shame thrives on secrecy. Encourage conversation around challenges and imperfections, and hold back from judgment, criticism, or helping them to feel better. Let them sit with how it feels to own their imperfections in a safe, secure, loving environment – without self-blame, without pity, and without being talked out of how they feel. This will help them learn that imperfections don’t change how great they are, how loved they are, and how capable they are.
4. Let their imperfect moments connect with yours. When the people we most adore are struggling, it is understandable that we want to “fix” things. Sometimes the best thing we can do is keep our own anxiety and discomfort in check for long enough so they can find their own way forward. This may or may not include their need for us to help, but always can always be with our support and encouragement.
5. When young people have a fixed mindset of how things “should” be in terms of expectations, things can begin to unravel. The antidote is to encourage self-compassion and this requires courage. Responding to unmet expectations with self-compassion turns down the volume on perfectionism and anxiety, theirs and our own.
6. Learning how to respond to the highs and lows life presents opportunities to foster resilience.
7. Getting things done is better than getting things perfect. Encourage them not to put things off; once it’s done, it's done.
And finally …
As parents and educators, it’s important that we keep our own expectations in check. Young people will always learn more from what we do rather than what we say. When we, as the trusted adults in young people's lives, show them that we lovingly accept the ebbs and flows that will come with life’s journey, we give them the power to do the same. This freedom and safety to be where they are and not where we expect them to be, exploring their place in the world, learning from their mistakes, and being curious to explore their own interests and passions will enhance their capacity to flourish and thrive in an ever-changing world.
In kindness & optimism,
DONNA NAIRN
Director of Counselling
Acknowledgements & further reading/ resources
https://www.heysigmund.com/anx...
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Year-12-exams-managing-stress
https://headspace.org.au/explo...
https://darta.net.au/wordpress-content/uploads/2017/03/PARENTS-2017-INTRODUCING-CHILD-TO-ALCOHOL.pdf
https://darta.net.au/wordpress-content/uploads/2022/02/PARENTS-VAPING-FS-FINAL-2022.pdf
https://darta.net.au/wordpress-content/uploads/2022/03/DoingDrugsPodcastS01E03.mp3
As we bid farewell to our Year 12 students on Wednesday October 19, our attention (and theirs!) turns to the October/November examination period, commencing on Wednesday October 26.
All VCAA exams for our senior students will take place in Senior Homestead and/or the Library. Students are reminded to check their own exam timetable to confirm dates, times, and venue, before they’re scheduled to take place. The Acting VCE Coordinator, Mr Bowen, is the point of contact for any and all questions.
Our Year 11 Unit 2 exams are also scheduled to occur between Friday November 18 and Friday November 25. These will also take place in Senior Homestead and will be managed under the same conditions as our Year 12 subjects. Any Year 10 student who is currently studying a Unit 2 subject should also present for these exams as a priority against their regular timetabling for the week.
Orientation Week for VCE 2023 will commence on Monday November 28.
More formal documentation with the Year 11 Exam Timetable will be released to students and families in the coming weeks.
Please contact the Acting VCE Coordinator should you have any queries.
BRYN BOWEN
Acting VCE Coordinator
The Student Conveyance Allowance only applies to students attending the Woodleigh Campus located at Langwarrin South and students attending the Penbank Campus located at Moorooduc.
The allowance allows families in regional areas to receive help with the cost of transporting their children to their nearest school or campus. The conveyance allowance is a contribution towards transport costs and is not intended to cover the full cost and is available to students travelling by public transport, private car and private bus.
Completed applications are due by Friday 11 November, 2022. This is your LAST CHANCE to submit your application for any travel in 2022.
For further information, read on:
The Victorian Minister for Education has amended the definition of the closest appropriate school/campus (Instrument of Specification). This may impact some of our families who have been unable to make a claim in the past or deemed ineligible.
Both Woodleigh School and Bayside Christian College are registered the same and classified as same type schools. Therefore, previously if you lived closer to Bayside Christian College you would have been deemed ineligible to receive the conveyance allowance. However, parents can now apply for consideration by providing a “signed letter” to the school why the closest school of the same denomination is not appropriate for their child. You must include your child’s name and demonstrate the below points:
- The student does not belong to, or associate with, the school’s particular religion, or engage in religious activity associated with the school’s religious doctrines; and
- The relevant school’s compulsorily requires its students to engage in religious activity associated with that religion or religious doctrines.
The Department of Education and Training will review individual applications on their merits. Please note that you must still meet the main criteria listed below.
Completed conveyance application forms must be signed by the parent or guardian (page 4) must and submitted to the School.
If you have previously submitted a form and there is no change to mode of transport or address details you are not required to complete a new form for 2022.
New forms must be completed for students attending the School for the first time or existing conveyance allowance claimants who have a change of circumstances affecting eligibility. For example:
- Moving residence or changing their mode of transport;
- Changing schools/campuses. Ie Penbank Campus to Senior Campus
The Department of Education and Training’s main criteria for student eligibility is:
- The School attended is the nearest appropriate school. (or attach a supporting letter as per above)
- The student resides more than 4.8kms from the school by the shortest practicable route.
- Students are of school age 5 – 18 years and enrolled at school for 3 or more days per week.
To apply for a conveyance allowance, parents are required to complete the appropriate forms.
- Travel by contract bus: “Conveyance Allowance Application – Private Bus Travel”
- Travel by myki bus: “Conveyance Allowance Application – Public Transport Travel". Must provide prove of purchase ie copy of receipt or ticket.
- Travel by car: “Conveyance Allowance Application – Private Car Travel” will need to be completed for each student, listing all students travelling in the nominated vehicle.
- Combined travel: Each appropriate form will need to be completed as above, e.g. drive further than 4.8km to catch public transport (Private Car/Public Transport).
Please note for Woodleigh Campus families: If you live within 4.8km of public transport (ie one of our Myki buses) and choose to travel by private bus or car you will not be eligible to claim the conveyance allowance.
The School will lodge 4 claims a year (1 per Term) with the Department of Education and Training. The Department will reimburse the school and the allowance will be credited to your fee account in instalments. Completed applications need to be received by Friday 12 August, 2022 to be included in the claim.
- Contract Bus Reimbursement is determined on the basis of the shortest practicable route from the student’s residence to the school and not the actual distance travelled in the bus.
- Public Transport The cost of fares is fully refundable.
- Private Car Reimbursement is made on the basis of the one-way distance travelled per vehicle and the number of students in that vehicle. Payment is made to the family operating the vehicle.
If you have any queries please contact Robyn Kent on 5971 6100 or email rkent@woodleigh.vic.edu.au.
Ever wanted to let your friends and family know what Woodleigh is like on the ground? Ever wanted to show off a bit, and let them see just how green the grass is on the other side of the fence? Well, now you can!
Just give them a holler and tell them to head over to the Woodleigh You Tour, and they can traipse around the place to their heart's content. Minimbah, Penbank, and the Senior Campus are all accessible, all the time, from anywhere in the world.
So, have a look yourself, and pass the link on, let everyone know what we’re up to, learning to thrive tucked away in our havens, here on the Peninsula.
ADAM LIDDIARD
Director of Community Engagement
L to R: VCE Debaters Alex Mathews, Bridget Richards and Tealia Holmes, Y12
It is impossible to conclude the 2022 debating calendar without mentioning the amazing VCE Debaters. Most of this group started their debating journey when they were in Year 10, joining the Debaters’ Society of Victoria, alternatively known as the DAV, C-Grade competition. The team rallied together throughout the various lockdowns during 2020 and 2021, their coach’s long service leave, finishing their campaign with an assortment of awards and recommendations.
During Year 12 and the A-Grade competition, the Woodleigh Team has continued to compete and has been undefeated all year long, until the Quarter Finals which took place in week one at Wesley College. When I say defeated, this was an incredibly close score, and although the team was very disappointed the girls need to be highly commended. To make it this far in the DAV competition they have defeated many teams from other schools that have massive debating programs/reputations. They have become a force in the debating world.
Each member of the team has been awarded best speaker at some stage. Tealia was selected in Year 11 to train with the state team, Alex progressed to the Plain English Speaking Award State finals, and Bridget (after receiving multiple best speaker awards) was awarded a Swannie, placing her in the top 1% of A-Grade debaters in the Mount Eliza region.
I have really enjoyed working with this group. The core team - Bridget Richards, Alexandra Mathews, and Tealia Holmes, with additional members from Year 11, Gemma Churchill, and Ruby Reynolds - have been such a pleasure to work with. I have admired their tenacity and resilience and feel honoured to have been able to work with such a marvellous group of students.
MARNEY POPE
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator
On Thursday 8 September the Woodleigh Chess Team competed and won the 2022 Southern Independent Schools’ Chess Championship.
It was a really exciting day with approximately fourteen local independent schools competing. We all watched the active scoreboard very closely with growing anticipation as we saw the Woodleigh score approach the top.
Congratulations to the whole team:
- Ranita Marantelli, Andrew Stroessenreuther, Harvey Whiney (year 7)
- Hywel Matthews, Innes Thistleton (year 8)
- Finn Coster (year 9)
- Kota Chadwick, Ronan Coster, Griff Matthews and James Longley (year 10)
And special congratulations to Ronan Coster, who was awarded the third-best overall player of the day.
The entire team is now looking forward to the State Championships which will be held in Term 4.
MARNEY POPE
Chess Coordinator
In year 7 science students are currently studying a biology unit titled Fighting Extinction. A major focus is learning about native species and the threats that they are facing due to habitat loss, feral animals, and other factors. This week students have been meeting and greeting some of our resident native species to find out how they live, how they interact with their environment, and the things we can do to help ensure they thrive.
DEREK KIRK
Year 7 Science Teacher
How can you sketch the Batman symbol using mathematical equations in Desmos? How can we compare the leap height and distance of frogs and toads? How does the ramp angle and take-off velocity affect the jump distance of a motorbike?
These are just some of the problems investigated by our Year 7 students in Maths in term 3, culminating in a Maths Presentation Night for parents during STEAM Week, where students communicated their finished projects and investigations.
At the end of what has been a very busy term, special thanks go to the Year 7 Maths teachers - Rosie Cian, Karen Somkiat, Greg Davies, Cass Kitto and Glenn Ogier – for their hard work in preparing the students for the evening. Thank you also to the other staff who attended on the night and/or helped support the preparation for the event.
CAM MACINDOE
Acting Learning Area Leader - Maths
The Arty Market is back in 2022, and we need you!
Thought about starting a little creative side hustle? Got a killer cordial recipe? Need an excuse to get started? We need Arty Market stallholders for our upcoming whole-school event.
The Arty Market is a quintessentially Woodleigh occasion; a celebration of handmade, artisanal, quirky products, artworks, jewellery, food, and homewares designed and/or made by YOU!
We welcome stall holders who are students, staff, parents, and alumni. If you've been thinking about it, now's your chance! We will support you with signage, a trestle table, and assistance with setup.
The market will be held on Friday 2 December from 4pm - 8pm at Senior Campus, in the Visual Art Centre and Agora areas of the campus. Pop that date in your diaries folks!
It's free to have a stall at The Arty Market, however, a $20 stall donation would be welcomed. This donation contributes to the materials used for our student stalls; any profits on the day will be carried over for next year's event.
We look forward to seeing you there!
KAREN CHARLTON-MILLS
On Behalf of the Arty Market Committee
Term 4 allows our students to get involved in a wide variety of sports as new seasons begin for FDNA Netball, FDBA Basketball, SIS Weekly Sport, and our Sailing program.
The FDNA Netball season runs across Term 4 only, a short season, which is ideal for new players to join in and experience this community-friendly competition. The FDNA competition runs on Fridays after school, and most of the teams we compete against are from other local schools. All games will be played outside while we await the completion of the incredible new facilities at Jubilee Park, Frankston. The focus of this competition in Term 4 is on player development, teamwork, sportsmanship, and community interaction.
The FDBA Summer Season runs until the end of Term 1. We are excited to see eight Woodleigh teams represent Senior Campus this season. We have teams competing on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
A reminder to all involved that games run up until 19 December and resume in 2023 from the 30 January.
Incredibly, there are now over 1000 teams entered into the FDBA Summer Season. To accommodate all these teams, multiple venues will be used, so please check the weekly fixtures carefully for venue details.
Our FDBA and FDNA programs are open to all students, regardless of experience.
Term 4 SIS Sport Competitions
The Term 4 SIS Weekly Sports season commences in Week 2, with Woodleigh students having the opportunity to represent the school in the following sports:
Junior Sport (Year 7/8)
Mixed Tennis
Girls Basketball
Girls Volleyball
Girls Softball
Boys Basketball
Boys Cricket
Boys Touch Rugby
Intermediate Sport (Year 9/10)
Girls Basketball
Girls Softball
Boys Baseball
Boys Basketball
These competitions take place during the school day on Thursday and Friday afternoons and consist of a 5-round season.
We are also excited to get our Sailing program underway for the 2022/23 season. Training begins on Wednesday 12 October at Mornington Yacht Club under the guidance of Will McKenzie (team coach). The John Middleton Trophy series begins on October 26 at Davey’s Bay Yacht Club, as we build towards the school championships in 2023.
For students looking to enhance their fitness outside of a team sport, lunchtime fitness training is offered by qualified staff at lunch in the Gym Mezzanine on Mondays and Thursdays throughout Term 4.
The benefits of physical activity and being a part of a team extend well beyond the physical. We encourage all students to find their sporting passion and get involved in our extensive offerings.
BEN DAVENPORT
Director of Sport
Golf camp is by far one of the best camps I have been on. If you like golf, or are looking for a new hobby, golf camp is the one to choose.
Some of my highlights included playing at Black Bull Golf Course, a beautiful golf course on the edge of the Murray River. There is lovely greenery surrounding the whole course, and the facilities are very modern.
It really surprised me how much my golfing posture and swing have changed in the week at camp. The golfing pointers provided by the pros were really helpful and the slightest tips changed my golf shots so much.
This camp was also very social, where I got to meet other people from different year levels, and it was very inclusive as we played golf and had a trivia night (which my group won). A couple of times we got to go into Yarrawonga town. We got to walk around the shops, and we ate eat out every night, with rib night being the best.
So overall I’d rate this camp pretty highly, it was super chilled and fun.
EMMA MARTIN
Year 8
At the end of the Winter Season, we were fortunate to see four Woodleigh teams qualify for Grand Finals, in addition to our Woodleigh Vipers, who reached the semi-finals.
It all started on Monday night in the final week of term 3, as our U16 Girls Woodleigh Wolves faced off against the top-placed Flinders Phoenix. Our Wolves valiantly stayed within a few plays of the Phoenix deep into the second half. However, Flinders got away late to take the win 28-16. With the support of coach Lee Burch, this team has made immense progress throughout the Winter Season, and I can’t wait to see them continue in years to come. Well done to Charlotte Calvert, Lyra Colarossi, Zoe Heffernan, Drew Hodgson, Harper Lee, Bella Marden, Amelie Ogier, Milla Purton-Smith, and Juliette Whinney on their Runners Up placing in U16 Girls D
Wednesday night saw a third ‘Woodleigh Derby’ of the season, with the Woodleigh Wombats meeting the Woodleigh Whirlwinds in the Grand Final. Squared at one win a piece for the season, there was more than bragging rights on the line this time. In a tense first half, both teams brought the heat as the Whirlwinds – led by Liam Doyle-Toombs – took a 5-point lead into halftime. The Wombats came out and utilised the fast breaks to hit the front, and in the face of a late push from the Whirlwinds, including a swished three-pointer, the Wombats held on to win 42-37. Across three games this season, the aggregate margin in three ‘Woodleigh Derby' matches was only 13 points.
Congratulations to Whirlwinds consisting of Declan Bowker, Henry Brown, Sonny Collins, Noah Cullen, Felix Doughty, Coby Stewart, and Archie Williams on their Runners Up finish, and to the Wombats of Brodie George, Asher Griffith, Tom McKee, Will Muir-Simpson, Ollie Rivett, Rupert Tiedemann, and Will Loxton-Banks on their Premiers placing in U16 Boys D2. Special mention goes to Tom McKee, who was awarded MVP for the Grand Final.
This coming Saturday (at the time of writing), our U14 Boys Woodleigh Whippets will be contesting their U14 D1 Grand Final. Best of luck to Flynn Gleeson, Blake Gordon, Finn Griffin, Barnaby Jeffs, Xavier Kavanagh, Charlie Pullar, Woody Sheezel, Jummy Tserimetha, and coach Aidan Bolch. They progressed through their Semi-Final by defeating the first-placed Rowellyn Rockets 26-16.
As we move into the Summer Season, we are very excited to see the Woodleigh Basketball program expand to 8 teams, with an additional U16 Girls team coming on board.
Thank you to our coaches Lee, Liam, and Aidan for supporting the growth of our young basketballers.
TOM ANGELICO
Assistant to the Director of Sport
Hi, I’m Phoebe Azzopardi, I am a Year 10 student in Homestead 1. You might remember last year I did a fundraiser for Pinch-a-Poo. I collected donations from across all 3 campuses and I collected over 700 hundred toiletry and sanitary products. This year I am hoping to achieve the same thing.
Pinch-a-Poo is an organization that supports the 1 in 5 Australians families who have to make the choice of buying food or personal hygiene products each week. Their vision is to make sure that every Australian has access to basic hygiene products. Pinch-a-Poo is run by an amazing lady, Kate Austin. Kate was a part of a domestic violence situation and had to leave immediately. Her first instinct was to grab her toothbrush and run. She knew that wherever she went, at least should could brush her teeth.
Click here to hear more about Kate’s story.
How you can help
I will start collecting donations from Tuesday 11 October. I am hoping to have all of the donations collected by 25 November. There will be a box at reception for all of the donations. Pinch-a-Poo is a really easy way to help out the less fortunate. All you need to do it pick up an extra toothbrush, toothpaste or some other toiletries when you go shopping.
Please only donate unopen items.
Items that they are in desperate need of include:
· Roll on deodorants
· Toothpaste
· Toothbrushes
· Face washers
· Singe Use Soaps
· Hairbrushes
Other items to donate:
· Shampoo/conditioner
· Body wash
· Body Lotion
· Deodorants
· Kids Toothbrushes
· Kids Toothpaste
· Razors
· Dental products (floss, mouthwash etc)
· Hair ties
· Sanitary Products
· Hand Sanitiser
· Skin care
· Hair care
· Makeup
· Lip Balm
· Fragrance
· Shaving cream
· Baby care
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the cause visit me in Homestead 1, email me at azzop24@woodleigh.vic.edu.au or visit Pinch-A-Poo.
Thank you in advance,
PHOEBE AZZOPARDI
Year 10