Newsletter Issue 13

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been another busy few weeks at Broadford Secondary College, with plenty happening both inside and outside the classroom as we move towards the final part of Term 3.

Today, our staff participated in a productive pupil-free day, with a strong focus on curriculum planning and professional learning. Days like this provide valuable time for our staff to work collaboratively, strengthen teaching and learning practices, and plan for the needs of our students. Thank you to our families for your support and understanding in making this important professional learning time possible.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in our school production of Mamma Mia! It was fantastic to see the incredible amount of work from our students and staff come together on stage, with almost four sold-out shows and outstanding support from our community. Productions like this simply don’t happen without an enormous commitment behind the scenes. From our performers on stage to those involved in music, costumes, sets, lighting, sound, backstage support and organisation, everyone involved should be incredibly proud of what they achieved. A big thank you also to the families, staff and community members who came along and supported the show.

Continuing with performing arts, a group of our students recently had the opportunity to represent BSC as our College Band at the North Eastern Victoria School Music Showcase in Wangaratta. The band did an amazing job, including a fantastic performance of Teenage Dirtbag. It was great to hear this classic from the late 90s living on with another generation! Congratulations to all of the students involved for representing BSC with pride and showcasing their musical talents.

There are more opportunities for our students to perform coming up, with the Annual BSC Talent Show taking place at school on September 7 during long lunch. Whether it’s singing, playing an instrument, performing with a band or sharing another talent, we would love to see plenty of students get involved. Performing arts provide a great opportunity for young people to build confidence, creativity and self-expression, while developing the courage to step outside their comfort zone and have a go. Sign-ups and auditions will take place during recess and lunchtime in the Music Room, and I encourage families to have a chat with their child and give them a little encouragement to put their hand up and take part.

A group of our Junior School students recently had the opportunity to visit the Yakult manufacturing facility, where they gained firsthand insight into food production and the range of careers available within the industry. Students toured the facility and observed the bottling, filling and packaging processes, while learning about career pathways in areas such as food processing, quality assurance, nutrition, engineering and production management. It was a valuable opportunity for students to see a real workplace in action and connect their learning at school with potential future pathways.

Outside of school, many of our BSC students are busy representing local sporting clubs, with finals now underway across a number of competitions. This weekend, a local Under 16 netball team made up entirely of current and former BSC students will compete in a semi-final after a fantastic season. We wish the whole team the very best of luck. We also know there are many other BSC students competing in finals and sporting events across the region this weekend, and we wish them every success. It is fantastic to see so many of our students actively involved in sport and representing their local communities.

Finally, a reminder to families that students should not be using AirPods or other headphones during class time unless directed by their teacher as part of a learning activity. Mobile phones also need to remain locked away in accordance with our school expectations. We are increasingly seeing AirPods become a distraction from learning, particularly when students are wearing them during teacher instruction or independent work. Being fully present, listening to instructions and engaging with teachers and classmates are important parts of learning. This will be an area of focus for us moving forward, and we would appreciate families reinforcing these expectations with their children at home.

There continues to be plenty happening across BSC as we head towards the end of Term 3. Thank you to our students, staff and families for the many different ways you continue to contribute to our school community. Whether it is performing on stage, representing BSC or a local sporting club, exploring future career pathways, or simply coming to school each day ready to learn, there is plenty for us to celebrate.