Principal’s Message

Dear Parents and Students,

As Term 1 concludes, teachers and students are exploring the new curriculum and beginning their holiday homework. We encourage all parents to support their children with gentle reminders about their holiday tasks. I hope our new students have developed their routine and feel a part of the Sirius College family. I am sure our year previous students have made them feel valued and have inspired them to continue to succeed. Students will start the next academic term on Tuesday 17th of April. In the meanwhile, Interim Reports will be sent in the mail. Results, communication and assessment dates are available at any time on SEQTA. If you need any further assistance with the program, please contact the College for support. We continue to be very fortunate to have our school leaders, students from year 7 to 12, participate in many fundraising programs this term. All the money collected by the College will be donated to the appropriate organisations aligned with each activity. Thank you to our SRC coordinator Mrs Kiralee Cauchi and her SRC representatives for organising wonderful programs and decorating the school for events like Harmony Day and International Women’s Day.

Our mentoring program for students has started. Sirius College has greatly invested into our thriving Student Support Centre. Currently, we have four graduates coming in once a week to help our students who need further assistance. They help students in variety of areas such as English, Maths, Science and Humanities. The program also provides the opportunity for our students to develop bonds with valuable role models. Ms Jenny Li has joined this team this year; she has taken on the role of Special Needs and Learning Support Supervisor. Thank you to Mrs Eda Baskocak and her team for organising such an appreciated program for our kids.

We have many extracurricular activities and programs continuing this year. VCE extra classes have started for our Year12 students. English, Maths, Chemistry and Biology teachers have organised extra classes weekly. Other classes will be held fortnightly. These additional classes provide our students with an environment for further excelling and improving on specific content they are struggling in. Furthermore, holiday classes have also been organized. Please verify with our TLC Coordinator, Mrs. Kevser Gunduz. In addition, our Pastoral Care teachers have started their programs, where students are provided with extra classes and welfare activities. Thank you very much to all our teachers for their efforts.

Our 'learning by doing' teaching philosophy is in place. There are currently three electives focusing on this theory: Robotics, Science Project, and Farming. Students are given an opportunity to compete in a competition in the USA this year. Special thanks geos to Mr Jamie Astill and his students for their hard work. Also working hard, students in the Farming and Gardening elective are making incredible progress with our garden. Students built their garden beds and have filled with them soil. They’ve planted variety of plants and vegetables to grow. I noticed a flower when I was visiting the farm and I asked a student why they planted that flower there. She told me that specific flower attracts bees to pollenate plants to increase productivity. It was really great to see how their knowledge applies to real life situations. Thank you Mr Engin Eryilmaz for imparting such valuable knowledge.

Year 12 student Nadine Alshammary and Mrs Gordana Janev, our Legal Studies teacher, attended the National Constitutional Convention, a three day program in Canberra. Students from all over Australia discussed section 44 of the Constitution concerning dual citizenship and sitting as a member of parliament. Congratulations. We are very proud of this opportunity and encourage all students to apply for such programs.

“The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one” Malcolm S. Forbes