Term 3 Wrap Up from the Principal

Hello and welcome to our term three wrap up.

In the last week of term two we celebrated NAIDOC week: For Our Elders. It was an inspiring event, led by community elders, including our very own Kayleen Hayward. We were welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony to the beautiful sounds of the didgeridoo. Our Elders delivered inspiring messages to our students, whilst we were entertained with Aboriginal dance and song through our students. Our Harmony Across Borders students presented some very strong messages of support to our Aboriginal students. Afterwards our special guests enjoyed traditional Aboriginal food for lunch. This was a truly amazing event coordinated by Follow the Dream Coordinator Jennet Hansen, one which ensured, everybody belongs.

Now, this term has been full of events and activities for our students. We commenced the term focussed on our health and wellbeing with daily events coordinated by our wonderful student services team. Students engaged with great enthusiasm creating a very positive atmosphere for staff and students. The week culminated with the social event of the year, the College Ball. Our students were a credit to themselves all looking absolutely amazing and representing Sevenoaks with pride.

Book Week celebrations and Wear it Purple Day were held during week six, continuing the opportunity for students to belong to our community. Students also shared their talents with Sevenoaks Got Talent, a fun filled afternoon of entertainment. Our sport teams have been great in volleyball and soccer. Our students excel at team sports, their team spirit and cooperation during tournaments make them fantastic ambassadors for Sevenoaks. Our small business students raised money for the Muslim Women’s Support Centre through their Flour in Love pop up fundraiser. Our hospitality students were exemplary in hosting the annual mocktail event. Our future scientists participated well with Science Week activities. Our term finished with R U Ok? Day which is a reminder to us all, to constantly check in on friends and family to make sure that they are ok.

We have hosted students from Cannington CC and other from across the metropolitan area as we get ready for the 2024 school year. We had an open day followed by a well-attended parent evening to support parents understand the pathways we have on offer and the benefits for our young adults and their future careers. As a part of this, many current students are benefitting from one-to-one career counselling from our counsellor Ms Tracey Walsh who is available to support students with their future choices. Our future students are making selections with Ms Trayler and getting ready for 2024.

As we moved toward the end of term three, we also moved closer to farewelling our Year 12 cohort. This cohort of students have been an asset to the Sevenoaks community. They brought to life, student voice through their participation and engagement with many committees around the College including: College ball, Leaver’s jackets, Q-munnity, Harmony Across Borders, Op Shop and of course, the Student Guild.

We will miss our Year 12 students and wish them all the best in their final exams and completing all of their course work. We are looking forward to farewelling them at our annual Presentation Ceremony on Saturday 21st October. We hope to see all of you there.

Dr Karen Read

Principal

Sevenoaks Senior College