NEWSLETTER
17th March, 2016
TERM 1, ISSUE 4
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
A number of policies are changing at the College and shortly you will have access to these policies through the College website. We encourage you to go through the website and familiarise yourself with the information that is
available online. We will be keeping our newsletter short and would like you to visit the website for more information about events and photos which accompany them.
A new School Management System (SEQTA) is being used at the College to record attendance and take note of pastoral care issues which arise throughout the day. Later on in the year parents will have access to this information including ongoing reporting of your child’s progress, this is an important and valuable step that the College has taken
to ensure that parents are constantly kept up to date with their child’s progress and education. The SEQTA portal
for parents will be available for parents to access towards the end of the year.
Please ensure that all medical information for your child is up to date. We need to ensure that in case of emergency
we have the most up to date information. If you are unsure about the information that we have please contact the
College Office. If your child’s medical condition changes at any time, please inform the College Office.
Sareh Salarzadeh
Principal
* Please refer to the College Website for up to date information and College policies.
MARCH 2016
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
18
Year 3 Incursion
(Living and Non-Living
Things)
21
HARMONY DAY
(wear orange)
Year 7 Immunisation No. 1
22
23
Year 7 Camp Information Session 4.00pm
- 4.30 pm (at least one
parent must attend)
YEAR 11 RETREAT - BAYPLAY LODGE, BLAIRGOWRIE
24
25
TERM 1 ENDS
GOOD FRIDAY PUBLIC
HOLIDAY
MESSAGE FROM THE
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ACADEMIC
MESSAGE FROM THE
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATION
VCE Holiday Classes
This week VCE students from the College (particularly
those in Year 12) will receive very important information
about upcoming VCE Holiday Classes. These classes will
run as normal scheduled classes and are compulsory. New
content will be covered in these classes and students may
also be assessed or have SAC tasks during this time. These
classes are always important and very beneficial for all
students. Students who are unable to attend should discuss their valid reason for not attending with the appropriate teacher prior to the class. School uniform is obviously
not required and students are permitted to bring their mobile phones. Please bring all of the required materials. The
Holiday class timetable is busy for the March/April holidays, but it is important to note that in the June/July holidays it will be Ramadan and therefore it is unlikely there
will be many (if any) holiday classes during this time.
Term One Interim Reports
Parents will receive Interim Reports prior to the conclusion
of Term One (Thursday 24th March). These reports provide
some information about the standard of a students’ performance over the course of Term One. These reports analyse
a range of important considerations such as standard of
work, behavior and overall effort. If you have any questions or concerns regarding information that is presented
to you regarding your child and their interim report then
please get in contact with the classroom teacher to communicate this.
We want to ensure that parents, teachers and students are
working together collectively to ensure that students
achieve their potential and communication about the results on the interim report can assist with this. In some
cases a teacher may have requested an interview with a
parent/guardian. If this occurs please contact the office to
make an appointment for the beginning of Term Two with
the teacher so the information provided in the interim reports can be discussed further. Students will receive a Formal Academic Semester Report at the conclusion of Term
Two and our Parent Teacher (+Student) Interviews will
take place for Secondary on Wednesday 22nd June and Primary School on Thursday 23rd June.
VCE Study Periods
VCE students are allocated a set amount of study periods
each week. These periods are extremely important in
achieving academic success with regard to SAC and Examination results. At present, some students are not using
study periods to their advantage. There is no doubt that
this will negatively impact the ATAR score of these students if they do not improve their current level of output.
Well done to those who are using their study periods effectively. Hopefully, you will be rewarded for your hard work
by achieving positive results. A study period timetable has
been developed to ensure effective supervision and support
of all VCE study period students. Furthermore students are
regularly encouraged to seek support from their subject
teachers during their study periods. Study period guidelines are going to be clarified with students to ensure the
study environment is conducive to positive revision and
homework completion.
Tim Campbell
Tournament of Minds, or ToM as it is affectionately
known as, is a brilliant problem-solving program for
students across the school. I have been fortunate
enough to have been involved with ToM for a few years
and my own children have been involved in it and
loved the experience.
Tournament of Minds aims to enhance the potential of
our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time
management, and the discipline to work collaboratively
within a competitive environment.
Students are required to solve demanding, open-ended
challenges from one of the following disciplines:
Science Technology
Social Sciences
Engineering/Mathematics
Language Literature
It is an opportunity for students with a passion for
learning and problem solving to demonstrate their
skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant and public
way.
The objectives for Tournament of Minds are clear:

Provide the stimulation of real, open-ended chal-
lenges

Develop creative problem solving approaches and
techniques


Foster cooperative learning and team work
Promote knowledge and appreciation of self and
others





Encourage experimentation and risk taking
Expand and reward creative and divergent thinking
Stimulate a spirit of inquiry and a love of learning
Develop enterprise
Celebrate excellence
This year at Mt Hira College we have three teams involved, two junior teams and one senior team. Basically the students need to work together in a collaborative
manner. They practise with a long term problem and
they also practise reacting to spontaneous problems
that they have no time to prepare. It really is an exercise in team work, communication, fast thinking and
creativity.
Good luck to the students of Mt Hira College!
Julie Parker
On Wednesday 16th March, our Year 6 School Captains and Vice
Captains, embarked on an epic journey to Phillip Island to take
part in the 2016 Coastal Ambassadors Program. This year long
program focuses on sustainability, environmental conservation
and awareness. During our visit, we learnt all about this wonderful program and how we can do our bit to help the environment.
We even bought back a possum box, handmade by Meryem,
Akram, Suni and Ezzidin, to install at school to provide a safe
house for any local wildlife. During Term 2, our Coastal Ambassadors will be launching a project that will make a difference to our
local environment. We will need your help, so stay tuned for more
details. In September Meryem, Akram, Suni and Ezzidin will head back to Phillip Island to present Mt
Hira's environmental journey and the results of their project to the other Coastal Ambassadors from all
around Victoria as part of the Kids Teaching Kids initiative. We are really proud to be involved in this fantastic program and can't wait to get started!
Meryem, Akram, Suni and Ezzidin did Mt Hira proud on the trip, demonstrating our school values beautifully and their excellent behaviour and exceptional manners were praised by the Coastal Ambassadors
program director.
- Sarah Phillips
Cyber Safety Incursion
Mt Hira College has formed an affiliation with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and together facilitated cyber safety workshops in an active attempt to eliminate issues before they arise. Students from Years
6-8 and 11-12 participated in the sessions on Tuesday 15th March. The incursion proved an invaluable
source of practical information for students, however, we request that all parents assist in the education
of internet safety. Any parent who does not feel they have adequate knowledge of internet safety is encouraged to explore the information presented below. Additionally, all parents are welcome to book an
appointment with Mr. Stock if they are seeking help with regard to protecting their children in this area.
Parents are encouraged to develop their understanding of the dangers associated with incorrect internet
use. The Cybersmart program is designed to help you work with your children so they have safe and positive experiences online. The Cybersmart program is a national cybersafety education program managed
by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, as part of the Australian Government's commitment to promoting online safety for children and young people. Please visit www.cybersmart.gov.au to
access the following information for parents.

Parenting online

Cyberbullying and unwanted contact

Protecting personal information

Inappropriate content

e-Commerce and e-Security
The program is specifically designed to meet the needs of its target audiences of children, young people
and parents. Please feel free to contact the College should you require further information or assistance.
Mr. Andrew Stock
Head of Middle School
AWARDS - RE
Haleema Mezensof (8C) for displaying excellent Quran reading skill and
excellent behaviour in class.
STUDENTS WITH VALUE
AWARDS
Hanif Inaaya (5k) for outstanding quality of work
Khalil Muhtasim (4s) for exemplary behaviour
Photos of these students will be displayed on our website
THANK YOU
Thank you Muhammad Abdullah for always displaying Mt. Hira values
and for being courteous to all those around you. Miss Natasha really
appreciates your wonderful demeanour.
Thank you Abdullah Zeybek for your leadership skills and for reminding others to display Mt. Hira values. Your soccer skills are fantastic
and I am so glad to see you shine inside the classroom and outside.
Miss Natasha is thankful to you and proud of you for displaying this
excellent behaviour.
HARMONY DAY
Harmony Day will be held on Monday 21st March, it celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. It is a day for all Australians to embrace cultural diversity
and to share what we have in common. The central message for Harmony Day is that ‘everyone belongs,’ reinforcing the importance of inclusiveness to all Australians.
At Mt Hira College we will be celebrating Harmony Day with the wearing of the Harmony Day colour of Orange,
whether clothes or accessories and we will also be enjoying a meal together. Please take note of the letters that
were sent home in regards to the specifics of the day.
H
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