Next Week is National Science Week which provides students and their families with opportunities to view our world through the eyes of all things SCIENCE!. Teachers have planned some exciting science experiences next week with the secondary science teachers leading the way with a mix of the week's science focus being related to the deep blue (oceans) and careers in science.

Our virtual learning spaces continue to be a wonderful place to visit while students undertake remote and flexible learning programs. It is important to share the range and variety of learning taking place in our online forums and to celebrate the work and learning being enjoyed. Each student’s home is a learning hub where study nooks, desks and chairs have been set up and where students are supported by parents motivated by a thirst to learn.

Congratulations Featherbrook College 2020 Preps! You reached a milestone of 100 days of being at school this week!

Congratulations Acacia!

An exciting part of our educational provision at Featherbrook are the opportunities to provide for our senior students in the secondary years, experiences that explore the realms of possibility. Where the sciences and the arts intersect, true creativity abounds. And so this has been the case with the photographic products of our Year 8 and 9 students. The photos tell the story. Enjoy!

I had a very important job to do today as co-judge and special guest in the year 4C and 4D learning space. The students had been set the task to 'put all of their mathematical brilliance and skills of multiplication and division into creating a masterpiece game.'

I had the pleasure today to spend the afternoon session with our most senior students, Year 9. The curriculum at this level is diverse and demanding. The teachers work with students who are on the cusp of considering their possible career pathways. Our programs need to cater for this age and stage of development and decision-making.

I was visited today in my office by two Year 8 students Skyla and Mahnoor. They came bearing a gift...a herb box fully complete with a potted plant which I am told, will grow some green peas.

Building on my past blog post, the 3 art rooms we have at Featherbrook College may be considered more like art galleries in the making.

Visiting our Visual Arts spaces always leaves me with a sense that I have been on a walk through a gallery, so imaginative and stunning are the works of art produced. With knowledgeable and creative art teachers by their side, all of our students are afforded opportunities to be their most creative selves.

Finally the day arrived! The anticipation of it was palpable and the excitement equally so! Prep to Year 9 students ALL returned to school after weeks and weeks of learning remotely. Friends meeting up with friends after so long meant that smiles were on everyone's faces!

What is National Reconciliation Week? National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia..

Congratulations to our PRC award recipients. Arshia, Ivy and Muhamma who have been recognised this week for reading the most books for the week.

Importantly our students returning to school from a period of remote learning and trying to make sense of the impact on their lives by COVID 19, need support and an opportunity to connect with each other and their feelings.

It was a sight to behold today as our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students came through our 7 open gates, welcomed by teachers and staff equipped with hand sanitiser and a warm smile.

5001 House Acknowledgements were earned over the last fortnight and two thirds of those were given to students for showing High Expectations.

Enriching our remote and flexible learning programs through The Arts has been a key feature of term 2 learning. As our teachers work so closely in teams ordinarily, they have been well positioned to work together to build a vibrant and varied remote learning experience for our students. Clearly the students have been enjoying the challenges provided beyond the literacy and numeracy learning tasks.

Ordinarily our students, staff and parents would be celebrating the achievements of our students at each assembly where the now, much coveted House Award is recognised through weighing the house tokens that have been earned by students in classrooms and in the playground. Instead, remote learning has resulted in House Tokens being awarded 'virtually.'

I am constantly amazed and delighted at the breadth and depth of creative talent we have at Featherbrook College. Equally, I am humbled by the willingness of our students who generously share their creations when provided the opportunity to do so.

This week students were learning about free range eggs and were challenged to make some style of egg dish. For many, this was the first time they had ever made an egg dish before which is egg-citing. This coming week they will be designing chicken coops!

Students were asked to design a prototype of a product that could be used during the pandemic of COVID-19. Students created solutions to opening doors without using their hands to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Some really great designs were inventive and some students even trialled their ideas at home with whatever materials they had on hand.

I have been most fortunate this week to have joined many of the webex meetings from prep through to the upper primary end of our school. What has been most noticeable is the way our college values of respect, collaboration and high expectations have been evident as students have engaged in the online space with their peers and teachers. Further, I have been privileged to see the broad range of interests our students have and their willingness to share these.

Left : Illusionary Drawings by Rhea Year 5 /6

As we launched Webex Meetings across the whole school on Monday, following a trial last week, it was the measure of our fabulous Featherbrook teachers that the creative use of this virtual space has already begun to evolve.

Ms Samantha Clement greeted her year 1 students this morning in the WebEx meeting space with a hearty welcome and a real treat.

Food Technology teacher Kait Oliver set a remote learning challenge for the year 7 students for term 2. In recognition that core curriculum areas are to be prioritised, the food blog challenge has been an enjoyable enrichment opportunity for the students.

ANZAC Day will be commemorated this coming Saturday in many of the homes of our students. Teachers provided the students in year 5 and 6 through their remote learning options, activities ad tasks that would support a deeper understanding of the sacrifice of those who have served to ensure our freedom in our wonderful country.

ANZAC Day will be commemorated this coming Saturday. At a time when many would congregate at dawn services across the country, COVID 19 has impacted the events this year. The Returned Services League (RSL) has elected not to hold dawn services or parades.

Featherbrook College from its inception just over 3 years ago has based our work, our learning, our teaching and our vision, on the 4 core values that have been the pillars of our community building.

Today's blog builds on previous suggestions for parents to consider how best to set their child up for success as they embark on learning remotely from home.

We encourage you to start and finish each day with a simple check-in. These check-ins can be a regular part of each day.

In the morning, ask:

• What are you learning today?

• What are your learning targets or goals?

• How will you be spending your time?

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Today, I further share remote learning suggestions and good practices from The Department in my blog. Schools have now been advised that remote learning for all Victorian Government Schools will be in place for Term 2. This blog builds on previous suggestions for parents to consider how best to set their child up for success as they embark on learning remotely from home.

Student Responsibilities

These responsibilities should be adjusted according to the age and stage of your child:

• monitoring digital platforms and communication often to check for announcements and feedback from teachers

• completing tasks with integrity and academic honesty and doing their best work.

Today, I further share remote learning suggestions and good practices from The Department in my blog. These suggestions may be considered good practices more generally, when creating an effective homework space and environment. The following suggestions are designed to help parents to establish expectations and routines.

Establishing routines and expectations

• Start and end each day with a check-in with your child.

• Encourage healthy eating habits and drinking enough water.
  

Whilst the Department of Education and Training has not at this current point in time, indicated that remote learning for students will commence in term 2, ahead of the possibility, I will be sharing remote learning suggestions and good practices from The Department in my blog over the coming days. These suggestions may be considered good practices more generally, when creating an effective homework space and environment.

In 2019, Featherbrook College focussed on the ResourceSmart biodiversity module to progress the college’s contribution to a more sustainable world. Not only was the learning for our students engaging and enriching furthering their appreciation for the critical purpose in protecting and promoting biodiversity, the module has been a hurdle for our college to attain our ResourceSmart School third sustainability star.

During this difficult time YMCA continues to offer care for children at Featherbrook regardless of there being only one child attending or 10..

Perhaps like at no other time in recent times, is it important to look beyond our immediate circumstances and to give what we can to others, to vulnerable others. The recent bushfires devastated so many rural communities. Our very special Australian indigenous animals suffered greatly and we at Featherbrook College have sought to play our part in rehabilitating surviving animals, indeed species which, in some cases are fighting for their very survival.

Whilst the official National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence yesterday was postponed, our teachers and students felt that we at Featherbrook College would use the day to denounce violence and to promote kindness and consideration of others.

Learning continues at Featherbrook College across all areas of the curriculum - literacy, mathematics and of course our specialist classes. Of note are the beautiful creations of our Year 7 students. These stunning ink and pastel art works are a sight to behold.

A BIG shout out of thanks to our Featherbrook College community who have been so generously donating chocolate Easter goodies for our Easter Raffle.

How very fortunate we were today as our planned House cross country was not stymied by the potential of inclement weather. The clouds parted and the sun shone through as our runners lined up in their respective groupings.

One of the joys I have as Principal of our wonderful Featherbrook College, is that as I move from learning space to learning space, I see the considerable range of programs we provide on a daily basis.

The artistic talents of our Featherbrook students continues to be evident in this new school year. Teacher, Louise Johnson provides our young students with knowledge of visual arts techniques through the lens of inspiring artists. Jackson Pollock featured this week and will in the coming weeks through the medium of 'ink'.

Students in Year 1 - 9 enjoyed a varied and entertaining assembly yesterday. Whilst not entirely the whole school, as Prep children will join us in the March whole school assembly, the stadium was very full with students, staff and the many families that enjoy coming to our assemblies.

Students in Year 3 -6 gathered together in the stadium to enjoy their first assembly for 2020.

Students in Year 1 and 2 gathered together in the stadium to enjoy their first assembly for 2020. .

Some of our families who make their way to school on the Whisper Boulevard side of the college will have been watching the evolution of the school crossing on Whisper Boulevard, near the corner of Regal Road.

Welcome back to all of our Featherbrook families. The 2020 school year has begun and our students and their families showed considerable keenness to meet with friends, their teachers and of course to start their learning journey for the year.

The much anticipated Year 9 camp began today. Boarding a bus at 9am this morning, our senior students made their way to Maldon in central Victoria to experience a little bit of the Victorian gold rush era, to learn a little bit more about themselves and their peers and to become a little fitter through some bike riding, rock climbing and swimming. Importantly, our senior students will bond together ahead of a year of academic challenge. They will return to school with a vigour and focus that will support their learning pathway endeavours in this, their final year at Featherbrook. .