College Theme for 2015 ‘Seek God with all your heart’

Prayer for Refugees Almighty God look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry. Bless those who work to bring them relief. Inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts and guide the nations of the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and peace. Amen.

College Vision Thomas Carr College is a dynamic Catholic learning community, guided by the Gospel.

Excellence and opportunities to develop are pursued.

Through our hope and service to others we shine our light into the world.

Volume 19 Issue 9: June 19 2015

From the Principal Dr Watson Farewell for Mr Martin Enright Last Thursday, I represented the College at the Mass and Farewell of Mr Martin Enright as Principal of St James the Apostle Primary School following 21 years of outstanding leadership and dedication to the school and parish. Many people spoke warmly about Martin’s leadership, his care for the school community and his desire to provide the best possible primary education for students within the St James Parish. Martin’s time as Principal of St James began before the establishment of Thomas Carr College and as such, he has truly seen the growth and development of our great College. Martin, on Thursday night, recounted those years when he would travel down Sayers Road, with no development on either side. We wish Martin the very best for the next stage of his life and thank him most sincerely for his support of Thomas Carr College over the past 19 years. Please find a letter from Martin at the end of this newsletter. Feast of Corpus Christi Recently the feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated. It is an important feast within the Church liturgical calendar. Mr Michael McGir provides the following thoughts on this feast: Corpus Christi, which means ‘the body of Christ’, is an expression which is often used to describe the Eucharist. Most people are aware of body language. When you walk into a room you can tell if the atmosphere is tense or relaxed. When you turn up for work, you often know what kind of mood your boss is in before she or he opens their mouth. When you ask somebody to go out with you, you can tell from their posture and expression whether they like the idea or not. In all these cases, the shape of someone’s shoulders, the way they stand and the way they hold their arms communicate a great deal. The Eucharist is God’s body language. It is an open gesture of welcome, one which asks us to come and sit at God’s table and say what’s on our mind. It is a gesture of love, one which embraces us and is willing to suffer for us. It is also a gesture of challenge, one which asks us to reach out to others. Student Wellbeing Drama Festival On Thursday Year 9 Drama students represented the College in the annual Student Wellbeing Drama Festival. The aims of the Festival are:

to empower school communities to focus on student wellbeing

to support student wellbeing initiatives across the whole school

to promote school participation in the arts

to use drama and film as ways to explore issues relevant to students’ lives

to encourage excellence in the presentation of short performances and films that can stimulate, move and entertain audiences

Coming Events

JUNE

Tues 23: Board Meeting

Thurs 25: Year 12 Careers Day

Fri 26: Last Day of Pentecost Term

Mon 29: Bursary Applications Close

JULY

Mon 13: Assumption Term Begins Student Free Day

Tues 14: Students Return for Term 2

Fri 17: AFL Victorian Girls Football Tournament

Sat 18: St. James Dinner Dance

Tues 21: Parents & Friends Meeting 7.00pm

Thurs 23: Year 9 Parent Information Night – COMPULSORY 7.00-8.30pm

Fri 24: College Cross Country and

Winter Sleep Out 6.00pm – 9.00am

Mon 27: Careers Development Week begins

Tues 28: Year 7 Subject Selection Assembly and Board Meeting

Wed 29: Year 11 Subject Selection Assembly

Thurs 30: Staff Faith Day – Student Free Day

AUGUST

Mon 3: Vocations Week commences and Year 8 Mercy Exchange Program

Thurs 6: Year 10 Dinner Dance

Fri 7: Senior School Subject Selection and Year 10 Course Confirmation Day

Mon 10: Mid Term Break

Tues 11: Parents and Friends Meeting 7.00pm

to encourage active participation in theatre making and film making for aspiring writers, directors and performers in a supportive environment, thus fostering growth and interest in the arts.

It was a great event that profiled the Performing Arts within our Catholic schools. I thank Ms Georgey and Mr Pomasan for working with the following students who performed on the evening: Paris Ballan, Trent Ballan, Sian Donazzon, Dennis Haikalis, Tara Hume, Jeremy Keogh, Zala Martin-Dong, Georgia Mercieca, Jean-Louis Mirindi, Thomas Pinto, Taylah Roberts-Castano, and were awarded ‘Excellence in Script Writing’. Musical Soiree On Wednesday June 17 the College presented the Semester 1 Musical Soiree. Parents enjoyed an evening of music that included a jazz band, brass ensemble, woodwind ensemble and performances from the Year 7 Honours Band, the Westgate Concert Band and the Concert Band led by Mr. Stark and Ms Spiteri. Thank you to staff who assisted Mr Morse our Director of Music, in preparing the production that included Mr Banks, Mr Parry, Ms Spiteri, Mr Brazil, Mr Rattigan, Mr Stark, Mr Kahoun, Mr Ruberto and Ms Stark. Battle of the Bands Also on Thursday, at the College, the annual Battle of the Bands was held in the Gym. A night of entertainment was provided highlighting the talents of our students. It was wonderful to see so many students being prepared to compete in this competition. Congratulations to Werribee Secondary College who took out first prize. Jarod Glossa of Year 7 came second who played solo guitar and sang an original song and Chellsea Espinosa in Year 12 took third place. Thanks and appreciation to Mr Morse and our staff, Mr Rattigan, Mr Brazil, Mr Stark, Ms Spiteri, Mr Kahoun, Mr Allen and Mr Cathcart for assisting in the production of the Battle of the Bands. Reports The conclusion of Semester One brings with it summary reports of all assessment tasks and exams for each student at the College. These reports provide for parents a summary of their child’s progress and achievement over the course of the Semester. It also provides useful information from teachers regarding students’ achievement, application and commitment to school work, homework, assignments and exams. All this information is provided through the Parent Access Module (PAM). I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the many students who have achieved excellent results and comments in their Semester 1 Reports. The pursuit of academic excellence is something that must remain part of the culture of Thomas Carr College. For those students whose Semester Reports indicate that they have not fulfilled their potential this semester, please use the information and comments provided by teachers to make the necessary changes to study habits at school and home. Remember it is never too late to make a start! Student Achievements Congratulations to Samuel McAdam who has been awarded an Academic Scholarship at Thomas Carr College. Samuel will be joining the College in Year 7 2016. Assumption Term The beginning of the Assumption Term commences for students on Tuesday July 14. The commencement of a new term for students does allow us to take stock and refocus for the last half of 2015. It is my hope that Semester 2 will allow our students to continue to work co-operatively with all members of the College community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all students for their contribution to Thomas Carr College during Semester 1 and wish all families all the best for a well earned term break.

Australian U15Women's Hockey Champs

(in full VIC goalkeeper uniform)

From the Deputy Principal Ms McDonald A Night to Shine If your son or daughter has achieved an excellent outcome in a pursuit outside of the College, we encourage you to share the exciting news with us. We require the name and Homeroom of the student and some details about the particular achievement to be highlighted. A photo would also be great to include in our slideshow. Please forward these details to the relevant Year Level Co-ordinator or Head of School by the end of the Assumption Term so that we can ensure its inclusion in our presentation. The Beacon Award The Beacon Award recognises achievements of our students. Selected students will be presented with a certificate of commendation and their names will be published in each edition of the Beacon. A maximum of 5 students per level may be recognised each fortnight. The criteria is:

Evidence of learning which is consistently exemplary or displays great improvement.

An action performed by a student(s) that supports the Catholic ethos of the school

Evidence of behaviour which is consistently exemplary or displays great improvement

Active and purposeful involvement in a college or community event Congratulations to the following students:

Year 7 Ella Roberts; Audrey Wong; Amy Virgona; Luke Cavanagh; Bradley Florence.

Year 8 Georgia Rankins; Lina Umberto-Adriano; Hannah Spratling; Rosa Kidane; Rohann Matthews.

Year 9 Amelia Rojo; Elizabeth Howell; Rudo Manomano; Grace Newland; Grace Newsham.

Year 10

Year 11 Kaitlyn Godden, Ricky Cassar, Thomas Funcich, Austin Deppeler, Luke Gleeson

Year 12 Samoana Petaia, Julius Torres, Chellsea Espinosa. Carla De Pasquale, Breanne Lambert

Good Samaritan Campus Leadership Awards

Excellence Award for participation Mark O’Brien

Development Award for participation Jacob Gergis and Nathan Balshaw

Sports Award -Elizabeth Howell 9-SILVER Elizabeth was selected in January this year as the goalkeeper for Victoria in the Australian Under 15 Women’s Hockey Championships conducted in Queensland in March. Elizabeth was recently selected to represent her region (Western Metro Wildcats) as the goalkeeper playing in the Victorian Under 15 Junior State Championships to be conducted here in Melbourne at the State Hockey Centre in June and July 2015. Elizabeth has played hockey as a goalkeeper for 6 years. She plays for the Altona Seagulls Under 15 Shield side as goalkeeper, and recently she was asked to train with the Altona Women’s Premier League side, providing her with a great opportunity to develop new skills and game knowledge. Elizabeth has played for the Victorian Indoor Hockey side on two occasions (2013 and 2014), finishing as runners up against NSW in the State Grand Final in 2014. This year was the first year that Elizabeth had trialed for selection in the (Field Hockey) Victorian State side and she was very proud and excited when she was selected in January this year. Recently Elizabeth attended the Junior State Championship Regional trials and was selected as the goalkeeper for the Western Metro Wildcats in the Junior State

Regional Hockey Championships being conducted over the upcoming school holidays at the State Hockey Centre. Highlights for Elizabeth have been when she attended goalkeeper coaching clinics with Ashlee Wells, Rachael Lynch and George Bazeley, three current Australian Olympic and World Champion goalkeepers, and of course when she was selected for both the Regional and Victorian state sides.

From the Business Manager Ms O’Neill Office Hours during Term Break

Please note the following changes to the operating hours of the College Administration

Offices during the upcoming term break:

DATE FRONT OFFICE/ RECEPTION

BUSINESS OFFICE

Monday 29 June to Friday 10 July

Open 9.00am to 12noon and 1.00pm to 3.00pm

Open 9.00am to 12noon and 1.00pm to 3.00pm

Monday 13 July CLOSED for Professional Learning

CLOSED for Professional Learning.

From Tuesday 14July Normal hours of operation 8.00am to 4.00pm

Normal hours of operation 8.30am to 4.30pm

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these reduced operating hours. Fee Payers on pre-approved Payment Plans using regular cash, cheque or EFTPOS instalments are asked to attend the office during the hours of operation, as indicated above. Fee instalments paid by Direct Debit and Credit Card plans will continue on the advised scheduled dates. Fee payers can also continue their BPay and Direct Deposit arrangements during the term break, even on dates when the Business Office is closed. Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, excursions, outdoor education programs,camps and sporting activities. Eligible families will need to apply for the CSEF through the school. A payment of $225 forsecondary school students will be paid directly to the school to be used towards camps,sports and excursion costs for the benefit of the student. For further information please seethe flyer in this edition of the Beacon or contact the Business Office on 8734

2453.Applications Close 26th June 2015.

From Director of Catholic Identity Ms Berardinelli As we come to the conclusion of the Pentecost Term let us give thanks for all that has been and for what is still to come. It is a busy time of the year with examinations, report writing and our new Semester commencing. It also is one of our coldest times of year. Let us think of those who are homeless on our streets; men, women and children. Some will have some sort of roof over their head, however, many will have little warmth as they try to sleep. How many will have a warm meal? Whether homeless, sleeping rough, couch-surfing or living in unheated rooms, may we devote our prayers and thoughts to those who need our help most. This week we commence the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. The St Vincent De Paul Society makes a real difference in the lives of 1 out of 18 people in Australia. When you support Vinnies, you are helping them do what they do best: rebuild lives. A donation bin has been placed under the stairs near our Front Office for winter donations for those who are homeless in our local community. Donations needed are; warm socks, blankets, doonas, non-perishable food and toiletries (e.g. toothpaste, tooth brushes, shavers, shaving cream, soaps, shampoo and conditioner, tissues,

brushes, combs, etc.). As we brace ourselves for another very cold winter, some people need hope more than anything. So remember, our donations provide that hope. Our ‘College Vinnies Conference’ are currently preparing for our ‘Annual Winter Sleep Out’ hosted on July 24-25, in the College Gym. This is one of their major outreach events for the year. Participants will gather at 6pm for prayer and a guest speaker. The evening will then include dinner actually provided by a St Vincent de Paul Soup Van. The evening will follow with outreach learning activities and viewing of a homelessness documentary called ‘The Oasis’. In the morning, participants will gather for a Pledge of Service Ceremony in the College Chapel. If any student would like to attend for part or all of the evening please RSVP to Ms Shirley Dagmang our Social Justice Coordinator. shirley.dagmang@thomascarr.vic.edu.au A journey of faith and religious experience - ‘Charism Study Tour’ Over late June and July I will be participating in a Charism Study Tour with Ms McDonald sponsored by the Principals’ Association of Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools (PAVCSS). I feel extremely blessed to have been presented with such an opportunity. We will be visiting a variety of sacred sites and places of worship firmly placed at the heart of our Christian Faith; an invaluable opportunity to explore religious diversity and soak up a wealth of religious heritage from the following countries; Ireland, Spain and Italy. The itinerary is excellent study with guided tours allowing for open discussion, questions and reflection. The Charism Study Tour will be marked by prayer, Mass and visits to various sacred sites, some included below;

Tour of Blessed Edmund Rice’s home town, founder of the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers

Tour of the Mercy mission and charism including the founder of this congregation Catherine McAuley,

Visit to the Mountain Shrine of “Our Lady of Aranzazu”

Explore sites related to the life of St Ignatius & St Francis Xavier

Visit the Rivo Torto Church; also the Basilica of St Mary of the Angeles, containing the Porziuncola, an ancient chapel called the “Blessed Virgin Mother of God”.

Visit major sites of St Francis of Assisi and St Clare. This trip will most certainly enhance my knowledge within faith education and nurture my deep sense of spirituality. The high point will be visiting Ireland and Italy particularly since these two countries were the place of birth of my parents. It will be hard to sum up briefly all the emotions I’ll experience in this time but assure you that the joy, thanksgiving and spirit of communion will flood my heart and will always remain with me. I cannot wait to connect my experiences back within the RE classroom and continue to draw out links to nurture our strong Catholic Identity.

From the Senior Director Mr Scarlata Examination period Congratulations are extended to students across the College for the way in which they prepared and conducted themselves during the examination period. Congratulations also to all the staff who supported the students in their exam preparation together with organising and supervising the exams. It will be important for students to reflect upon their exam results when they become available and to find time with their subject teachers to discuss further improvements. Semester Two begins next week A reminder that Semester Two commenced on Monday June 15. Your child should have received his/her semester timetable which will reflect timetable changes. Changes will mainly affect students in Year 7 -10 whose semester subjects will be different.

Semester Summary Reports Semester Summary Reports contain the academic grades students have received for their Learning Area Assessment Tasks (Years 7-10) and Unit 1 SACs. Year 12 Summary Reports contain only ‘Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory’ (VCE) or ‘Competent/Not Yet Competent’ (VCAL). The College will be using SIMON to report a summary of your child’s assessment. Feedback regarding each of the assessments completed throughout the semester can be located via the Assessment link in the Parent Access Module (PAM). There is no feedback for semester examinations in the student’s Learning Area. Semester One Summary Reports will be published via the PAM from 4.00p.m. Monday June 22. The report format will be as follows: 1. Cover page listing subjects and subject teachers 2. For each Learning Area:

a) Unit/Course description b) Work Habits c) Student’s attendance for that subject throughout the semester

3. Years 7 – 10: a list of assessments and their percentage results will be published along with the AusVELS level achievement.

4. VCE Unit 1: the report will indicate “S” (Satisfactory) or “N” (Not Satisfactory) for each outcome as well as a percentage mark for the assessments.

5. VCAL: the report will indicate “Competent” or “Not Yet Competent” for each VCAL subject.

The report contains the following descriptors: Not Assessed: The ‘Not Assessed’ descriptor is used for a student who did not submit or sit the assessment. Absent: The ‘Absent’ descriptor is used for a student who was absent for the period of the assessment. Subject Selection & Compulsory Year 9 Parent Information Night Subject Selection information will be available before the end of term, to our community. The information will detail the 2016 subject offerings as well as the restrictions that are placed on selecting courses of study. A subject may be offered, but this is not confirmation that it will run the following year. Elective subjects (including VCE subjects) only run if sufficient numbers of students (determined by the College) select the study. Before any selections are made, consideration should be given to:

Academic ability

Subject interest

Alignment with pathways

Pathways choice: VCE/VCAL

Information

Cost (VET courses incur fees)

Early in the Assumption Term, students will be attending subject selection assemblies where the process will be explained in more detail. Year 9/10 Parent Information Night Current Year 9 and 10 students and parents must attend the Parent Information Night on Thursday July 23 commencing at 7.00p.m. in the College Gym. At this presentation, parents and students will hear in more detail the various pathways in the Senior School as well as the opportunity to speak with Heads of Learning. Parents will be asked to register their attendance upon arrival. Below are important Subject Selection assembly dates for students

CURRENT YEAR LEVEL DATE

Year 7 Tuesday, July 28

Year 8 Tuesday, July 21

Year 9 Wednesday, July 23

Year 10 Thursday, July 23

Year 10 Course Advice Day Friday, August 7

Year 11 Wednesday, July 29

All Subject Selection material is due to Homeroom Teachers by no later than:

Middle School Friday, August 21

Senior School Friday, August 7

Year 9 iD9 Program -2016 The iD9 program for Year 9 students has been running for a couple of years and has been slowly expanding. iD9 (the subject) was introduced in 2013 and city experience was also revamped at this time. The Good Samaritan Campus (GSC) program was introduced in 2014 and then expanded in 2015. It is now planned that the iD9 program will take the next step in 2016 by fully integrating all aspects of the Year 9 curriculum into the iD9 program. The characteristics of the 2016 iD9 program are listed below. All periods will be doubles (100min) and homerooms will be gender based ie 4 x girls and 4 x boys. Forming homerooms according to gender will remove some of the issues we currently have with the GSC program and the city experience program (which will still be continuing – similar to current programs). The program will consist of the subjects and period allocations listed below. Each of the subject areas will have a different focus to the current curriculum being offered and will link in with the themes that have already been established.

Subject 2016 period allocation

2016 time allocation (minutes)

2015 time allocation for equivalent subjects/s (minutes)

Communication 7 700 650 (iD9)

Investigation 7 700 650 (maths/sci)

Challenge Elective 4 400 250 (current elective allocation) x 2

Enrichment Elective

4 400 250 (current elective allocation) x 2

Personal Development

2 200 50 (pastoral period)

R.E. 2 200 200

P.E. 2 200 250

ACS 2 200 200

Total 30 3000 3000

Mind & Body 1.2 4 x 30min sessions time to come out of

Communication and Investigation time

Communication continue current subject (combination English and Humanities (iD9))

Investigation Maths and science combined

Challenge These are non-academic project/skills based electives. Students do ONE per semester

Enrichment- These are academic based electives designed to develop skills before specialisation occurs in later year levels.Students do ONE per semester

P.E. Physical Education - conducted differently to regular P.E. at other levels

R.E. Possibly incorporating a social justice/community service theme

Mind & Body Activities to raise students’ activity levels and prepare them for the learning day ahead. All activities are undertaken in a 30 min block twice a week for 3 to 4 week rotation period. May include fitness, pilates, target sports, etc).

A current Year 8 Parent Information Night will be held on Wednesday 29 July, 7.00 pm, where aspects of this new program and Year 9 subject selection process will be explained further.

From the Head of Senior School Mrs Knurek At our final assembly on Friday 19 June, we acknowledged the work and achievements of many Senior School students. It was also the occasion to unveil the 2015 Year 12 Banner. This year the design was done by Christopher Micallef who is to be congratulated for the work he has put into following the design brief. The last week of the Pentecost Term will see a reduced Senior School as Year 10 students will be involved in the Work Experience Program, which is an important part of the Career and Pathways program at the College. In previous years, staff have enjoyed visiting students at their work placements. Please take advantage of the holidays to review your son or daughter’s uniform: a number of students need to look carefully at their winter uniform, with particular reference to length of girls’ skirts and boys’ long trousers. Blazers may need to be dry cleaned. I thank you for your assistance with this. Year 12 Students A reminder that the last day of term for Year 12 students is their Reflection Day. This is part of our Catholic Identity and is a compulsory day for all Year 12 students who are expected at the College from 8.40 – 3.20pm. Students who are absent on this day without a medical certificate will receive a Saturday detention. The Year 12 jackets Year 12 jackets will be handed out to students on the last day of term. These can be worn to and from school on normal days instead of blazers. Please note that the College blazer is still expected to be worn for formal functions. Year 12 Graduation Information Evening on Thursday August 27, 2015 Parents are reminded of the compulsory meeting for all students graduating from Thomas Carr College on Thursday August 27 at 7.00pm. At least one parent/guardian will need to attend this night where the College will outline its expectations of students over the final week of their secondary schooling at Thomas Carr College. There will be a number of guest presenters, including a representative from Victoria Police. As outlined in a letter from the Principal earlier this term, students who do not attend with a parent/guardian will not be able to participate in the graduation events and ceremonies. Year 11 VCAL project On Tuesday June 2, the Year 11 VCAL Group B class organized a cupcake fundraiser in support of Beyond Blue. Once again, the organization and preparation of the cupcakes was undertaken by the students with great success. My thanks to the students for their commitment and enthusiasm and for all who assisted and supported them in this activity. Term 2 has been an extremely busy term and we are fortunate to have a team of dedicated staff in the College. I thank all Senior School staff for their care and work with the students this term. Holidays are important for rest and recreation but also provide an opportunity to take stock and prepare for the following term. I trust you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

From the Head of Middle School Mr le Roux Year 9 City Experience 9-Blue and 9-Gold participated in their City experience during the week of June 1 to June 5. “We visited several venues that the teachers had booked for us including the Zoo, Old Melbourne Goal, the Shrine, Parliament House, Melbourne City Mission and St. Francis Catholic Church. We learnt many new things on these booked tours such as

information about the endangered animals in Australia when we were at the Zoo and some shocking and sad news about homeless youth in the city. We even got to see some of the places on the streets where young homeless people sleep. It made us feel very great full for what we have and the fact that we have families that care about us. We also had to complete a week long self-guided scavenger hunt that took us to such places as Melbourne Star and China Town. We had to get to as many checkpoints as we could over the course of the week, myself and my group almost finished the entire scavenger hunt. We kept a record of where we had been by taking a photo at each checkpoint. The hardest part was figuring out how to use the public transport including trains, trams and buses. Sometimes we went the wrong way but still managed to organise and plan our time so we got to all our booked tours on time.” – Jemma Ebejer “The main thing I gained from the experience was probably an increased sense of independence. Our Year 9 coordinators and teachers really gave us the opportunity to be self-reliant while working in an environment that some of us don’t normally see much of. We had plenty of time to work with our friends while attending the booked tours and completing the scavenger hunt which was quite challenging at times. Overall it was a really enjoyable experience and one not to be missed.” – Chloe James “In reflecting on the City Experience I would have to say that the self-guided learning time was the best part as our homeroom and iD9 teachers had great trust in us. We had to represent ourselves well while we were in the city, as we were representing our whole school in wearing our uniforms. Myself and my group worked really well together and navigated the city quite well. We were able to get to all the checkpoints by the end of the week by helping and supporting each other throughout the week. Overall it was a very enjoyable experience and was something that you wouldn’t normally get to do in other year levels, or even at other schools.” - Anthony Silic Year 9 Country Experience “On country experience I really enjoyed the first week. It was full of fun and physical activities like the bike rides. I also enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone and doing some extra fitness, I enjoyed bonding with people I usually wouldn't talk to. The second week wasn't as good as the first as we did more classroom based work and not much physical activity. Camping out in the third week was a challenge due to the weather. Overall it was a great experience.” - Blake Barber “Country experience was actually a lot of fun, despite the countless physically demanding activities. The Physical Training had influenced me to start exercising more and try to develop more fitness when back at home. But it was a very good experience with a lot of great activities. My favourites were the 10 km walk and the kayaking. The food there was amazing as well. Overall it was a fantastic experience and would do it again.” - Mevan Fernando “Country experience was really enjoyable. This experience has helped me to step out of my comfort zone and has made me do things I never thought possible. I really enjoyed the food and the staff, they were really nice and very supportive. The activities we did were really challenging but enjoyable at the same time.” - Riley Fisher “At the start of the camp I didn't think I would like it, but once I got there and got into the activities I really enjoyed it. We had more than enough food and most of the time I couldn't even make it to seconds. The activities that we did there were very tiring and pushed us physically, but even so they were very fun. Every morning we woke up at 6:30 so we could do PT (which stands for Physical Training) with different camp instructors that really pushed us, tiring us out, but after each PT session you get to have breakfast. For breakfast you can have bowls of cereal or 4 pieces of toast. By the third week I was really enjoying myself and on the last day I was a bit sad that we had to go, but it was a very fun experience and recommend it for anyone.” - Jhayden Bernardo “Country experience was good because we learnt a lot about sustainability in that area. The staff were really nice and very helpful when doing the assignment. The food

was also really nice and there was plenty of it. The bike ride was really fun and interesting. The walk was good but I wish it was shorter. The night walk looking at glow worms was fun and they looked really cool. Country experience was really good overall, I found the full three weeks quite challenging.” - Cameron Joyce “My country experience was a fun and highly enjoyable journey as I got to get outside of my comfort zone and got to explore the environment which was really fun. The activities we did were really good and each activity really made everyone think about what we were doing. From the P.T sessions in the early hours of the morning to the 32 kilometre bike ride, it was fun and challenging. The 10k walk in triplet falls was really tiring as it was continuous steps, but the group made it fun by singing and telling jokes. The three day, two night camp was very different as we went kayaking and walking as the main activities. The food we made was really different from the food we are used to. At the campus we all interacted well with each-other and enjoyed the activities. The experience was great, and I enjoyed it a lot.” - Lukas Middle School Assembly On Friday June 19 we celebrated the end of Semester 1 with a recognition of all students in the Middle School. I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work and dedication making sure that all the students received the valued education they deserved. I would also like to thank each student for their hard work and perseverance throughout Semester 1. It was a great celebration and recognised the hard work that each student has placed into their school career. Many congratulations to all our Beacon Award Winners from Term 2 and also all the students that presented at the assembly. A huge thank you also goes to the College Band. The two pieces of music they performed were outstanding.

From the Director of Student Services Ms McCarthy eSmart We are constantly reminded about the importance of social media as an opportunity for people to communicate and to engage in responsible and fruitful dialogue with others. This can be particularly important to people who are geographically and culturally isolated from others. Social networks are an increasingly important reality regarding the way in which people today communicate, and they have great potential for creating new relationships and forms of community. Even within the Church, we are considering how social media can be used as a new opportunity for making known the Good News. Within our own College too we know firsthand that social media technologies can provide rich opportunities for communication and learning, and can be used to increase the connections between the school and its students, staff and families.

Within this context, however, we need to be continually reminded of the importance of the responsible use of social media and the fact that, at times, social media technology is not used in safe, respectful and responsible ways. The College is guided by a number of policies (such as the Positive Relations Policy and the Electronic Communications Policy) which inform and encourage students to use social network technologies appropriately. In 2012, Thomas Carr College committed to becoming an eSmart school. With the widespread use of digital technologies both within the classroom and in life generally, the College considered it critical that we consider our culture and behaviours in relation to the use of digital technologies that:

Takes a whole-school approach;

Embraces technology’s benefits; and

Reduces students’ and teachers’ exposure to risk. The eSmart framework guides and supports schools to implement relevant cybersafety polices, practices and curriculum. It is designed to equip school communities, particularly our young people, to be safe and responsible when using computers and mobile phones. Finally, it helps to reduce cyberbullying and other other cyber-risks. We are pleased to announce that the College has completed the planning stages and continues the process to become a fully accredited eSmart school. Our policies and processes are designed to teach students to be mindful of the dangers

and pitfalls associated with the misuse of electronic communication, and that they have a right to be in a supportive environment (be that at school, work or online) that is respectful, safe and free from violence. The College encourages parents to be mindful of their children’s online activities. Where possible, it is helpful for parents to engage in dialogue with their children about the importance of responsible digital citizenship whereby young people can stay safe and healthy whilst using digital technology, appropriate and inappropriate online behaviour, and being a responsible contributor in an online world.

From the Student Wellbeing Office Mrs Ward Parent-Teen Relationships Adolescence is a time of considerable physical and emotional changes and can be a roller coaster ride for many of the parents I speak to. As children grow into adolescents, they transition through a number of different stages on their journey towards maturity. At each stage, they have unique needs in terms of what they require from their parents. Regardless of the stage, adolescents still require guidance, nurturing, and support – even while they may seem to be growing increasingly independent and self-reliant. Here are some tips for parents to build healthy relationships with their teenagers:

Spend Time Together. Spending “quality time” with adolescents is a great way that parents can show an interest in what is going on in a young person’s life. It also helps strengthen relationships.

Stay Actively Engaged. Keeping engaged in the lives of your adolescent can be challenging for parents, particularly as many young people can present as being self-reliant, independent and critical of parental involvement. Staying connected though is vital, and is one of the most important foundations of a healthy parent-teen relationship.

Compliment displays of maturity and intelligence. Parents should look for

opportunities to praise their adolescent when they witness mature decisions, a capacity to solve problems, or logical thinking skills. Respecting a young person’s decisions is also a great way for parents to demonstrate that they regard them as a young adult.

Celebrate the Milestones. Particularly in the time of late adolescence there can

be many milestones for young people (eg. getting a job, a drivers licence etc). Parents should try to celebrate each of these events and show real pride and enthusiasm as adolescents reach these milestones.

Set Boundaries. It is important for parents to set boundaries and rules. Giving

teenagers an active role in negotiating and agreeing on consequences if rules are broken make them feel important and increase the likelihood that rules will be followed.

Say it out Loud. Parents should verbalise their feelings of pride in their children because many young people actually need to hear the words to know they are valued.

Notice Warning Signs. Parents should be aware of warning signs that a young

person is not adjusting well to the changes of adolescence. These can be things like:

Moodiness, changes in behaviour, loss of interest in activities

Reluctance to talk about studies or career

Withdrawal from old friends or difficulty establishing new friendships

Inability to sleep

Changes in eating patterns

Withdrawal from family activities

Sudden and uncharacteristic changes in behaviour – destructive, dangerous, or reckless behaviour or risk-taking.

If you notice any of these changes it is recommended you seek advice from a counsellor, psychologist or health practitioner.

From the Health Centre Ms King - College Nurse Anaphylaxis All parents have an important role in working with the College to minimise the risk of anaphylaxis. Understandably, parents of a child who is at risk of anaphylaxis may experience considerable anxiety about sending their child to School. The College has an Anaphylaxis Management policy in place which outlines appropriate management strategies, risk minimisation and prevention strategies, staff training requirements and emergency response procedures. Should your child be diagnosed as At Risk of Anaphylaxis, please ensure you have provided an up-to-date student Medical Form, and 2015 ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis completed by a medical practitioner, if you haven’t already done so. Please attach a recent colour photo of the student and medications prescribed as per the Action Plan. Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plans are currently being updated, and will be sent home for your review and signing of. A letter will be sent home a month prior to the expiry of a student’s EpiPen, reminding you of the need for a replacement. This is usually a good time to review and obtain an updated ASCIA Action Plan and prescription from your medical practitioner. For students who have also been diagnosed with Asthma, it is recommended that you obtain an up-dated Asthma Action Plan at the same time, and provide a spacer and reliever medication to be stored with the EpiPen. The College’s Anaphylaxis Management Policy has recently been updated to reflect legislative changes associated with Ministerial Order 706. The new policy can be accessed via the Colleges website – type Anaphylaxis Policy into the Search area. We thank the school community for your ongoing diligence and support Cold and Flu (influenza) Common colds and the ‘flu’ are viral infections affecting the nose, sinuses, throat and airways. Antibiotics do not work against these viral infections, but colds and the flu will usually get better on their own. The common cold is far less severe than the ‘flu’. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is caused by a highly contagious virus that is spread by fluids produced during coughing and sneezing, or by direct contact with those fluids on surfaces. There are three types of flu virus – influenza A, B and C. Older people, pregnant women and those with an underlying medical condition are more likely to develop serious complications as a result of the flu. The flu virus has a unique ability to change its surface structure. This means that people’s immune systems might not be able to effectively fight the new version of the flu that circulates each season (known as seasonal flu). For this reason, people who are at risk of complications should be immunised each year. Immunising people who are at risk of complications from the flu is the most important method we have to reduce the number of flu infections and deaths. Flu symptoms develop one to three days after infection and can last up to a week. Symptoms include high fever, chills and sweating; sore throat; runny or stuffed nose; weakness; headache; general muscle and joint pains (in the legs and back); a non-productive (dry) cough that can later become more severe and productive (sputum or mucous is coughed up). The Flu is not the common cold. Complications are more common among people with an underlying medical condition or an impaired immune system. With this in mind, we have a number of students at Thomas Carr College who fit into this category. To avoid spreading a cold or the flu, an effective way to protect ourselves and others from illness is good personal hygiene. This includes:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Throw your tissue in a plastic-lined rubbish bin after use.

Wash your hands with soap and water, and if water is unavailable use an alcohol-based hand cleaner after you cough or sneeze.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread that way.

Don’t go to work if you are unwell and don’t send your children to school or childcare if they are unwell.

Further information can be obtained from your Doctor or through reputable websites eg http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Flu_influenza

From the Head of Sport Miss White ACS Report We have many teams currently sitting in the top 2 of their respective sports ladders and many others placed third or fourth from all year levels. This is very promising considering winter grand finals are only a matter of weeks away. I encourage all teams to continue to work hard and impress in Term 3. A reminder the Term 3 ACS Fixture can be found on the College Website, under Teaching and Learning, ACS Sports Program. Good Luck! House Athletics Carnival The curse of bad carnival weather luckily missed us this year for our House Athletics Carnival. In glorious sunshine, our 4 houses battled it out for bragging rights and the House Champions trophy. There were many outstanding individuals on the day with many personal bests and records being broken. Congratulations to Westport, Mrs Rothery and the Westport House Captains for returning to the winners circle, winning the overall House Athletics title. Galway came in a close second, whilst Moylough held off Maynooth for third place. Congratulations to all who participated on the day in the track, field and novelty events. A special thank you to the Heads of House, College House Captains and all staff who made this day possible. Individual Athletics Year Level Champions Year 7 Girls: Year 7 Boys: 1st Jemma Hodgson 1st Kurt Butler 2nd Shaneika Diec 2nd Zach Vesty 3rd Batota Budiongo 3rd Darcy Palimaka Year 8 Girls: Year 8 Boys: 1st Jade Murrell 1st Alexander Correia 2nd Monique Fegan 2nd Jayden Martin 3rd Stephanie Wojtyniak 3rd Aidan Vrins Year 9 Girls: Year 9 Boys: 1st Aluk Khalil 1st Joshua Rubite 2nd Emmanuela Arkadio 2nd Ricky Xerri 3rd Chloe James 3rd Joshua Bosiljevac 3rd Rhys Martin Year 10 Girls: Year 10 Boys: 1st Nyitur Dongrin 1st Corey Savage 2nd Alexie Barlow 2nd Ajoung Makur 3rd Natasha Graham 3rd Jack Butler Year 11 Girls: Year 11 Boys: 1st Bethany Correia 1st Kyle Thomas 2nd Janet Basioni 2nd Paul Tomelty 3rd Amy Bongetti 3rd Abbas Faiyaz Year 12 Girls: Year 12 Boys: 1st Carla DePasquale 1st Jye King 2nd Shanice Nagy 2nd Maker Maker 3rd Tahlia Reeves 3rd Michael Mirindi

ACS Athletics Carnival The ACS Athletics Carnival was held on Friday May 22 at Lakeside Stadium. Congratulations to the 100 students who represented Thomas Carr College on the day. We had many outstanding individual and team performances and the College is very proud of the way the students participated and gave it their all in every single event. We fought hard all day, competed in the right spirit even though we were not overall winners. Overall we came 7th. A big thank you to the Senior School House Captains who came along and assisted to run the field events on the day. Our next challenge is to harness our talented young athletes and prove to our competitors that we are on our way up. This however will take focus, effort and hard work. I have faith that in the next few years we will take that next step but we need to plan what we all can do individually to improve our results. We look forward with anticipation to next year’s carnival which I’m sure will see us move up the overall ladder. High Achievers on the Day

Batota Budiongo (Yr 7) 1st 200m & 2nd 100m

Natasha Dimkovski (Yr 7) 2nd 200m

Jayden Farrell (Yr 7) 3rd High Jump

Rebekah Sutton (Yr 7) 1st Shot Put, 2nd Discus

Tufui Leaapeni (Yr 8) 1st 100m, 2nd 200m & Long Jump

Emmanuela Arkadio (Yr 9) 3rd 200m

Alexie Barlow (Yr 10) 2nd 1500m

Bethany Correia (Yr 11) 1st High Jump, 2nd Long Jump, 3rd Triple Jump

Peter Hser (yr 11) 2nd Shot Put & Discus

Ronald Halapio (Yr 10)- 2nd Shot Put, 3rd Discus

Madeline Johnson (Yr 12) 1st Shot Put

Akot Manyiel (Yr 12) 2nd High Jump

Michael Mirindi (Yr 12) 2nd 800m

Shanice Nagy (Yr 12) 1st Discus Senior Girls Football- Herald Sun Shield Our Senior Girls Football Team are in the final stages of their preparation for the Herald Sun Shield which will be held on Friday July 17 at Casey Fields. The girls have been training extremely hard over the last two months under the guidance of Ms Sherlock and Ms White, and we are very much looking forward to the challenge against some highly skilled opposition. I would like to wish the squad of 30 the very best of luck. House Cross Country Carnival On Friday July 24 we will be holding the annual House Cross Country Carnival. Students are reminded that the results of this carnival go towards selection for the squad that will represent the College at the ACS Cross Country Carnival on August 21. Students are also reminded that our House Cross Country Carnival is a compulsory whole school event and a medical certificate is required should you not attend school on this day. This must be presented to your child’s Year Level Coordinator as per the permission slip. If your child is injured a medical certificate must also be presented to the Head of Sport prior to the date. This is the last of the House Carnivals for 2015 so valuable points are on the line with all four houses still in the running to take home the overall championship. It is also a great opportunity to display our house spirit and come together as a College to celebrate the life and spirit of Thomas Carr.

Mackthom Cup On Wednesday July 16 our Senior Firsts Soccer (Boys), Football (Boys) and Netball (Girls) teams will be competing in the annual MackThom Cup. Our teams have been busily preparing for action so hopefully we will be able to swing the ledger back in our favour. Mackilliop currently leads 2-0 after winning the Senior Girls and Boys Basketball earlier this term. Good Luck to all involved.

Parents and Friends Association Second Hand Uniform Shop Open during term time on Thursdays from 3.00pm – 4.00pm. Cash and cheque payments only (no eftpos available).

Community News Uniform Shop Scarfs will College logo available now for only $20.00! Normal trading hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8.15am – 4.00pm.the Uniform Shop will be closed for school holidays on Wednesday June 24 at 4.00pm and reopen on Monday July 13. Over the holidays we will be open on Friday July 10 from 9.00am-4.00pm only Any questions please phone Natalie on 9749 5969.

Classes are held at the following locations:

YMCA LEARNING CENTRE

51-71 Federation Blvd

Truganina VIC 3029

Monday and Wednesday at 7pm

IRAMOO COMMUNITY CENTER

84 Honour Ave

Wyndham Vale VIC 3024

Tuesday at 7pm

$10 per class or 10 class pass for $80

Zumba is easy to follow, calorie burning and FUN.

This Latin fitness is moving people all over the

world towards a healthy lifestyle!

Contact Mel for more information 0421 840 538

melissamolina.zumba.com

facebook.com/ZumbaWithMelissaMolina

27 May 2015

Android phones not securely deleting user data: Alert Priority High

Hundreds of millions of smartphone owners worldwide may be leaving sensitive data on their handsets that subsequent users could exploit for financial gain or identity theft. The problem occurs because a flaw in the ‘factory reset’ option of Android smartphones leaves sensitive data on the handset, despite the user’s attempts to delete the information. This issue primarily affects people who wish to sell or give away their Android smartphones. It is considered best practice to perform a factory reset of your phone before selling it, so that the next owner cannot access your data. The flaw is estimated to affect more than 500 million Android devices worldwide, including models sold in Australia. This recently discovered flaw allowed security researchers to recover data on supposedly wiped smartphones. The researchers retrieved important login information from the smartphones, allowing them to log in, sync user contacts, and read other data left on the devices by the previous owners. The flaw is believed to be present on many types and models of Android smartphones, although the list of exact models affected has not yet been established. Android versions between 2.3 (Gingerbread) and 4.3 (Jelly Bean) were found to allow access to data after the device was supposedly wiped. It is not yet known whether the latest versions of Android are affected. The factory reset option on smartphones is designed to remove all of the data that the user has put on the phone, including photos, emails, apps and passwords to sensitive sites and restore it to the factory settings. Protecting your data Enabling and using full hard drive encryption on your smartphone provides the best protection for your data. Newer Android phones (4+ KitKat and Lollipop) should give you the option to perform hard drive encryption when you first set up your phone. If you wish to apply hard drive encryption to your phone, seek advice from your smartphone vendor as the steps vary between models.

If you have highly sensitive data, you should consider not selling or giving away your old smartphone. Instead, you may wish to seek technical advice on destroying the device, including its hard disk. Alternatively, the contents of the hard drive could be properly deleted by writing random data to the drive. However, performing this action is difficult to achieve, and it is recommended that you seek technical advice when investigating this option. Despite the recently discovered flaw, it is still recommended that you perform a factory reset of your phone before selling or giving the device to others. Check your smartphone user guide or online resources to find how to access the reset phone option.

More information

Stay Smart Online has more information on protecting your mobile phone. The original flaw was discovered by security researchers at the University of Cambridge. The information provided here is of a general nature. Everyone's circumstances are different. If you require specific advice you should contact your local technical support provider.

Feedback Thank you to those subscribers who have provided feedback to our Alerts and Newsletters. We are very interested in your feedback and where possible take on board your suggestions or requests. Disclaimer This information has been prepared by Enex TestLab for the Department of Communications ('the Department'). It was accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. This information is general information only and is intended for use by private individuals and small to medium sized businesses. If you are concerned about a specific cyber security issue you should seek professional advice. The Commonwealth, Enex TestLab, and all other persons associated with this advisory accept no liability for any damage, loss or expense incurred as a result of the provision of this information, whether by way of negligence or otherwise. Nothing in this information (including the listing of a person or organisation or links to other web sites) should be taken as an endorsement of a particular product or service. Please note that third party views or recommendations included in this information do not reflect the views of the Commonwealth, or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action. The Commonwealth also cannot verify the accuracy of any third party material included in this information.

CONTACT US Facebook: www.facebook.com/staysmartonline Email: staysmartonline@communications.gov.au Web: www.staysmartonline.gov.au You are receiving this message at the address ajay.tomar@thomascarr.vic.edu.au. If you no longer wish to receive this information, you can unsubscribe.