Volume 11, September & October - Trafalgar High School
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Integrity ~ Collaboration ~ Aspiration ~ Excellence
Trafalgar High School, Locked Bag 1 TRAFALGAR, 3824
Phone: 5633 1733
Volume 11, September & October
PRINCIPAL’S ADDRESS
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
How fantastic it has been to have students and staff back on site and to hear the buzz of activity around the
school. The school had an almost unnatural feeling whilst in the period of remote learning but has quickly returned
to a vibrant and energetic place.
Whilst we have returned to school with a focus on re-establishing routines and a ‘business as usual’ approach, we
have been keenly aware of the need to provide the support and gently easing into school life for students. At
Trafalgar High School we talk to the students about their ‘go to’ person, that every student should have a trusted
adult in the school they can seek out when in need of support. We have been providing the time for students to
debrief about their experiences (in particularly in the Multi-Purpose Period) and reminding them of the support
available and the importance their ‘go to’ person. If you think your student/s need any extra support please do not
hesitate to contact us. We also have the services of a doctor from the Trafalgar Medical Centre on site whereby
students can directly speak to a medical professional. This occurs every Wednesday. If you want to discuss this
service please feel free to call either David or Belinda in welfare.
We did return to school to our four year review process. This is conducted by the Education Department to review
the goals we set ourselves in our four year Strategic Plan. Whilst the timing wasn’t ideal and did present some
challenges in our COVID Safe environment, we will be on track to develop our new plan and set our new
directions for the next four years. I will share this with you once we have completed the process.
This week is our final week for our year 12 students. We are very proud of our year 12 students, the way they
have bonded together to support each other throughout the year, the resilience and agility they have shown.
These are qualities we always aim to teach our students, but the learning has been real life for the students this
year. Our senior VCAL students have successfully completed their certificates, in very challenging circumstances
with work placements nor their VET providers being able to accommodate their practical component
requirements. Once again, the flexibility and agility, shown by the students, employers and RTOs has been
exceptional to ensure success for all.
Some of our students have received early offers for universities and some have commenced employment.
Whatever pathway chosen by our students I do hope they can think back on 2020 with some fond memories, in
particular with the relationships they built.
As our VCE students move into their exam period next Monday, we still wanted to provide all of our year 12s the
opportunity to celebrate together and mark this important milestone. The students have participated in discussions
with the senior team about how we can manage this in our current environment and in the safe and respectful way
we expect. On Friday the students will be participating in classes in the morning and then having a ‘bring your own
picnic blanket’ lunch with staff followed by a parade in the yard to show off their costumes. We have also
organised for the students to decorate a wall tile, which will be displayed permanently in the senior study area.
I would also like to thank our parents/caregivers for your participation in our interviews that occurred for our senior
students via phone. The interviews for our years’ 7, 8 and 9 are occurring next Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday afternoons.
I do hope you have managed to enjoy this beautiful weather in what is a long weekend for many people.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Kind regards
Jane Mersey
Principal
COMING EVENTS
MONDAY 2ND NOVEMBER PUPIL FREE DAY
WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER CASUAL CLOTHES DAY—POSITIVE EDUCATION DAY
10TH—12TH NOVEMBER JUNIOR PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS (3:40—4:40)
23RD—27TH NOVEMBER YEAR 10 & 11 EXAMS
30TH NOV—4TH DEC HEADSTART
7TH—11TH DECEMBER YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE
SCHOOL NURSE MESSAGE
The return to school is an important and hopefully welcome step
Students who are heading back to the classroom next term are facing unusual challenges, and one of
them is anxiety about being separated from their families after months of togetherness and the return to
an environment that now looks different. For some students it will trigger anxiety they may feel about
leaving their safe harbor from the pandemic. When students go out now, they’re often reminded not to
get too close to other people, to keep their masks on, to use sanitizer, to wash their hands.
There is an anxiety in the air and it is felt by all of us, “Are we sure it’s safe to go back? And are other
people safe? And is it safe to touch this?”
With all of this anxiety and uncertainty around it is important to reassure them whilst also encourage
them to be careful and preparing them to be flexible in case the situation changes again.
Here are some pointers:
Validate there feelings- You want to validate their anxieties or fears and let them have some space to
express that. But you don’t want to feed it too much and you want to help them think of something they
can do about it
Help them think positive - Help kids focus on positive things is to try to get them to talk about the
good things about school. What are they looking forward to? What did they enjoy the previous day?
Practise separating - For those who are anxious about being apart, our experts suggest practicing
separation, starting in small ways and building tolerance for more and more independence
Have a routine – Get back into your predictable routine in preparation for return to school
Emphasize safety measures - We can’t promise our children that we won’t get sick, but we can
express confidence that the schools have done months of planning to minimize risk and keep
everyone safe
Encourage flexibility - Since there is a possibility that students who start school in person may be
expected to switch back to remote learning, at least for some periods of time, it’s helpful for them to
know that you’re prepared for changes that may occur.
Share and explore home learning experiences- As staff, Making time to explore and learn about
our students’ experiences, particularly home-learning experiences, will be an important part of this
initial transition – both for pastoral and teaching and learning reasons. Our students will need time
and space to readjust to school-based learning.
What should I do if my child is struggling to get back into “school mode?”
Remember that your child will be dealing with the stress of the ongoing
crisis differently from you. Create a supportive and nurturing environment
and respond positively to questions and expressions of their feelings.
Show support and let your child know that it’s not only okay, but normal,
to feel frustrated or anxious at times like this.
Page 2
2021 SCHOLARSHIPS
Our 2021 Rural Chances Vocational Scholarships are
currently open and close on 18 October. Senior students
who may be interested in a TAFE course or apprenticeship
next year to apply for up to $5000 scholarship to assist their
training.
We have up to 10 scholarships valued at $5000 and 10
smaller scholarships of up to $2000 to award this year
and applying is straightforward and can be in writing or by video.
BENDIGO BANK SCHOLARSHIPS
The Bendigo Bank Community scholarships are available to apply
for at the link below.
https://www.bendigobank.com.au/community/scholarships/community-bank-scholarships/
Keep an eye on the site below as further opportunities will be available from December 1st 2020.
https://www.bendigobank.com.au/community/scholarships/bendigo-bank-scholarships/
HELM 2020
Dear parents, we’d like to make the 2020 yearbook, the HELM, something unique. 2020 has
been a year none of us will forget; we’d like to invite you to share those memories, to record
what it has been like for your family and for you as a parent.
Traditional yearbooks are about students, their learning and events that happen at the school.
But 2020 has been anything but traditional and a massive amount of school life has taken place
outside the school boundaries and in your homes. So, we’d like to collect tales of what it has
been like to set up school in your house? What are some of your memorable experiences? The
funny, the frustrating, the unexpected and the rewarding? What discoveries have you made?
What were your triumphs? What made you giggle or tear your hair out?
In 2020, you were thrust into the role of co-educators and
have had to adapt to circumstances nobody could have
imagined. Help us celebrate your role as a part of the
Trafalgar High School, learning community.
Please include photos if you can! Even without a story, if
you have some great photos of your home learning
experience, we’d really appreciate them. Your stories can
be long or short – even funny quotes.
Don’t feel it’s all up to you. Please get your kids to write
up their stories and send pics too and send them to Mr
David Higgins, with ‘HELM Stories’ in the subject line.
Sending in your stories and images signifies that you
approve of their publication and that you also understand
that it may not be possible to include all submission in the
HELM. The selection of articles will be at the soul
discretion of the HELM editing team.
Page 3
THUNDERSTORM ASTHMA
Grass pollen season officially began this October.
With that it brings an increase in asthma, hay fever
and the chance of thunderstorm asthma.
Thunderstorm asthma can occur suddenly throughout
spring and summer and is associated with the
occurrence of high pollen levels and thunderstorms.
So what is it exactly??
During spring or summer when there is a lot of pollen
in the air and the weather is hot, dry, windy and
stormy people can be affected by thunderstorm
asthma. Thunderstorm asthma requires very specific
weather conditions to occur for it to trigger a health
impact on people. Spring thunderstorm weather can
cause pollen grains to burst into tiny pieces and the wind then blows them around us. When people
breathe in these tiny pieces of pollen they can get deep inside the lungs and trigger an asthma attack.
Spring weather can also lead to breathing problems for people who get seasonal hay fever. People who
wheeze and sneeze with hay fever from pollens during spring are more likely to get thunderstorm
asthma even if they haven't had asthma before.
Who is most at risk and what are the symptoms?
Those who get asthma and seasonal hay fever
Those with hay fever who have never had asthma
Those with past asthma or unrecognised asthma
Common symptoms associated with thunderstorm asthma include, chest tightness, wheeze, difficulty
breathing and coughing including a persistent cough.
To reduce your risk of having a thunderstorm asthma episode is to manage your asthma and hay fever
throughout the year, especially during spring. If you have asthma use your preventer and reliver
medication as well as have your asthma action plan updated. If you have hay fever manage your
symptoms with your usual medications as well as visiting your doctor if further symptoms develop, such
as a cough or wheeze. Staying alert to the symptoms of wheeze, chest tightness, difficulty breathing and
cough, Recognise the signs of an asthma attack or rapid escalation in symptoms such as: difficulty
breathing, laboured breathing or lips turning blue and asthma reliever medication providing little relief.
Make sure to always carry your reliever inhaler on you, keep yourself informed about the weather and
pollen count during the seasons of spring and summer and avoid being outdoors just before
thunderstorms especially during wind gusts before the rain.
For further information you can visit:
https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/living-with-asthma/resources/patients-carers/factsheets/thunderstorm
-asthma
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2069215693136454
https://vicemergency.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/115002358614-Thunderstorm-Asthma?
fbclid=IwAR0ifeM2-yCLZGofupuM6gGTKjWtN7qjWaq83EJnbGoShUoSoah35QITTm8
https://www.melbournepollen.com.au/mobile-app/?
fbclid=IwAR3AdPMlLfG950KWReIGlgARpCEBvd5d1xZyTroCG5zwvdWbYnVxLBxBG6E
or contact your local GP
Page 4
PARENT OPINION SURVEY
WE WANT OUR PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!
Our school is conducting a survey to find out what parents/guardians think of our school. The Parent Opinion
Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education and Training that is conducted amongst all
parents/guardians. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents’/guardians perceptions
of school climate, student behaviour, student engagement and experiences of remote and flexible learning. Our
school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.
A random report is generated to select the parents/guardians that will be invited to participate in this year’s survey.
All responses to the survey are anonymous. This year, the Parent Opinion Survey will be conducted from Monday
2nd November to Friday 13th November.
The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient
time within the fieldwork period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be
available in a range of languages other than English. These include: Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Chin (Hakha),
Hindi, Japanese, Somali, Turkish, Punjabi and Greek.
Please speak to the general office if you would like more information.
SKI CAMP 2021
Year 10, 11 and 12 students in 2021 are invited to attend the Trafalgar High School ski trip to Mt
Hotham. Your son/daughter will experience an environment completely different to their everyday
experiences, learn new physical skills, knowledge of safety in and around the snow, build resilience
physically and mentally, and create an awareness and respect for our local Victorian environment.
Forms are at the office or students can access it from their Compass news feed.
Proposed Dates: Week 4, Term 3 Sunday 1st August to
Wednesday 4th August 2021
Costs Include: Transport, Accommodation, Meals, 4
Ski/Snowboard Lessons, Ski/
Snowboard and wrist guards & helmet
Hire, Lift Passes, Resort Entry, Travel
Insurance
Costs Do Not Include: Clothing Hire, Lunch on Day 1, snacks/
dinner on Wednesday night
Total Cost: $ 1100
YEAR 7 DRAMA
During Term 3 remote learning, students in Year 7
Drama classes participated in online competition
scavenger hunts. The key task for focus weeks was
the completion of a sock puppet which attended an
online Teams meeting. Sock puppets were of a very
high standard and had lots of personality.
Page 5
FOUNDATION VCAL EXCURSION
On Tuesday the 27th of October the Foundation VCAL class attended an excursion with Ashley
Bannister and Tracey Taylor to Waterford Rise and Ferntree Ridge Display Home Villages in
Warragul and Drouin. Directly connected to our Project and Area of Study for Term 4, Dream
House Design – where students need to research plan and design their own dream home,
students were able to explore the display homes gathering ideas, photos and plans throughout
the day.
On return to school students were asked to create a personalized list of must have’s and must
not have’s in their own dream home, I can’t wait to see their final products and the array of
unique floor plans and designs they have chosen.
Students were also asked to reflect on the experience, here are some of the things they had to
say about the day:
The display homes were very nice and seeing all the prices for the house was eye opening on how
much money it would take to buy a home myself. I liked going to see the different styles of houses
and I liked the fancy house in Warragul.
It was nice to get out and wonder around and see it for ourselves.
I really liked the excursion to the display home on Tuesday. I got to look at homes and get an idea
of what I want to put in my dream home.
The excursion itself was pretty good not going to lie. I really like the house and seeing how they are
built and how cool they look I also like that really big house so of the house had a good front of it
and the house itself was really cool.
Some things that I learned about were how they made the houses look bigger by putting in mirrors.
Things I liked was getting to see the different houses and learning about the layouts of them.
The Warragul houses were definitely better than the Drouin ones. Drouin had a lot more houses to
look at, but they were a lot smaller than some of the Warragul ones. I picked a house from Drouin
as it was one of the only decent one that had an information booklet about it.
What I got out of this experience was seeing some amazing house designs and what I thought was
a flop. So, a positive of mine was gaining ideas for my own design and going out to see it up close.
A negative was that I can’t live in the first really cool as house in Warragul for free.
Going into the display homes was a good experience to see
what higher and lower class display homes are like and to
see the different designs in each house and seeing different
types of homes. and the homes have good size room for
each room of the house. Some of the homes I wanted to visit
weren't open and some of the designs and things inside the
home I didn't like and the look of the outside of the house. It
was a good experience because going into the display
homes because seeing the homes in person gives me a
different thought on what I would like my future house to go
for.
On the excursion I liked
the differences between
each house I liked that
some were big, and
some were small. The
design and furniture in
the houses were good.
The bus ride was really
fun and you taking us to
dominos and Maccas
was the highlight of the
trip.
Page 6
LIBRARY NEWS
A free trial of the ePlatform Wellness
Collection for secondary students for
one month starting Wednesday,
October 28th ( Yes I know I am late
getting this info out Sorry!) is now linked
to our school eLibrary. The ePlatform
Wellness Collection for secondary
students has a wellbeing focus and
comprises eBooks and audiobooks
which have been thoughtfully curated to
help students across different areas
such as teenage anxiety, depression,
exam stress, sleep problems, bullying/
cyberbullying, eating disorders, sports
competition/performance, etc. To
explore the list further, see: https://
wellnessau.wheelers.co/ for help
accessing the school eLibrary, contact
Ms Holmes
POSITIVE EDUCATION DAY
Positive Education Day 2020 will be celebrated on Wednesday 4 November
This year’s theme is From Strength to Strength in Tough Times.
With lunch time fun and a casual clothes day we will focus on character strengths – your own, and the
strengths of those around you, which have helped us get through a difficult year and support one
another.
Bushfires and COVID19 pandemic have thrown some enormous challenges at us this year, through
tough times we learn, develop resilience, and grow.
We encourage Students to come wearing colourful clothes to make wellbeing visible in our school, this
casual clothes day as no donation required.
Lets raise awareness and understanding of Positive Education, and to encourage students, teachers,
families and the community to learn and talk about how to grow their own wellbeing, and support the
wellbeing of those around them.
Page 7
2021 VET ORIENTATION DAY
Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the need for TAFE providers to
extend their courses beyond the completion date this year, the
Orientation Day for 2021 VET students has been CANCELLED.
The first day of courses next year will be the orientation day. This will
either be Wednesday 3rd February or Friday 5th February.
If students would like to visit the campus prior to starting next year they
can let the careers staff know and we will arrange a visit during the
headstart week this year. Please let us know by 12th November.
MONASH MENTORING PROGRAM
This year two of our Year 12 students Chloe Alison and Amber Hanily
participated as mentees in the Monash University Mentoring program.
This program supports students through their VCE studies meeting
with the student regularly to help with subject content, discuss
university life and options. Chloe and Amber both found the experience
extremely beneficial, especially the support provided through the remote learning periods. Chloe and
Amber were matched with university students who studied similar VCE subjects when at High School and
who are now enrolled in university courses that are of interest to Chloe and Amber.
Students wishing to participate in next year’s program can contact the careers office for further details as
applications are now open.
Page 8
COP & OFFERS CAREERS
Results and ATAR
https://resultsandatar.vic.edu.au/results/applicants.htm
Use this link to register and create an account to be notified of your results on the date of their release: December
30th at 7am.
Use your VCAA Exam student number to create the account. If you don’t know your number visit the careers
office or it will also be in your personal details of your VTAC account.
VTAC Change of Preference Process
Year 12 students will have until 12 noon on Monday 4 th January to change their preferences. Staff will
be available onsite or via TEAMs from when the results come out in December until the cut off date.
This link explains the change of preference process:
https://www.vtac.edu.au/y12guide.html#item-12
This short video explains preferences process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2JrJqR2F28
VTAC Offers and Enrolment
First round University offers will be released by 2pm Thursday 14 th January 2021 and students can
access them via their VTAC account and an email will also be sent to the student.
Students should accept and enrol in any first round offer received.
Need some more help please use TEAMs to contact Ms Evans or Jodie Deppeler.
This link will also help to explain the offers and enrolment process:
https://www.vtac.edu.au/y12guide.html#item-13
This video explains preferences system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2JrJqR2F28
Page 9
NATIONAL AUTHORS DAY
Hi! My name is Bec and I work in the Library. It’s hard for me
to pick only one author however Cynthia Hand’s books are
definitely high on my list. She writes fantasy and romance
novels which include a taste of some great literary classics.
For example, Cynthia’s Unearthly series plays on the witty
banter and romance you find in Anne of Green Gables when
like Gilbert, Tucker calls Clara “Carrots”. Her standalone
novel, The Afterlife of Holly Chase is a twist on Charles
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with Project Scrooge providing
positive messages of second chances and selflessness.
COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD Locked Bag
GAR, 3824
Trafalgar
A reminder that our fortnightly newsletter may be accessed via the Trafalgar High School home page
TRAFAL-
School
High
on www.trafalgarhs.vic.edu.au
1
Our email address to communicate with administration staff is
generaloffice@trafalgarhs.vic.edu.au
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