CONTENTS 1
Learning Happens Beyond the Classroom
2 Early Learning Centre Refurbishment 4 6
Elite and Emerging Athlete Progam Auslan at ELTHAM Home Economics: Creativity and Resilience in a Time of Crisis Alumni News
CALENDAR JUL 22
ELTHAM in Action
AUG 14
40 Year Reunion
AUG 25
ELTHAM in Action
OCT 9
Class of 1990 – 30 Year Reunion
OCT 14
Founders Lunch
OCT 27
ELTHAM in Action
NOV 6
Class of 2019 - 1 Year Reunion
NOV 13
Alumni Concert
NOV 20
Twilight Market in the Vines
Alumni Reflection
10 Notices Alumni Sporting Clubs 12 Swipers Gully Feature Recipe 13 Foundation News 14 The ECCA Way ECCA News
- Alumni Helping Out at 16 Community the College From the Archives
Harold Mitchell Performing Arts Centre (or via Zoom), 8.45 – 10.00am
Swipers Gully Training Restaurant, 6.30 – 9.30pm
Harold Mitchell Performing Arts Centre (or via Zoom), 8.45 – 10.00am Swipers Gully Training Restaurant, 6.30 – 9.30pm
Swipers Gully Training Restaurant, 12.00 – 3.00pm
Harold Mitchell Performing Arts Centre (or via Zoom), 8.45 – 10.00am
Venue to be confirmed, 8.00 – 10.00pm
Harold Mitchell Performing Arts Centre, 7.30 – 10.00pm Swipers Gully Training Restaurant, 4.00 – 8.00pm
Please note that all events may be rescheduled at short notice in light of the changing nature of community restrictions. The following events were postponed earlier in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic - we are hoping to reschedule them to later in the year. Stay tuned for updates. For up to date details please check the College website and Facebook events.
Class of 2000 - 20 Year Reunion Class of 2010 - 10 Year Reunion Past Staff Reunion
CONNECTIONS
Editorial
LEARNING HAPPENS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM It takes a village to raise a child.” It’s highly likely you have heard this African proverb before, but that’s testament to how relevant it remains. The reason it is often quoted is because it is true. Physical connection is incredibly important. One of the things that has stood out for me during this period of online learning is how incredibly important being around people is. Remote learning and teaching, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, has come with challenges. Something I personally found difficult teaching online was not being able to pick up on the nuances one would normally see in a classroom, such as a student with a perplexed look if they didn’t understand the content. From my computer screen I could see the students’ faces but it was harder to make that human connection.
We can’t underestimate the incredible connection that happens when you’re engaged with other people in a school environment. The situation we have found ourselves in has made us more deeply consider that ‘other’ purpose of school – and when students are not there, it becomes glaringly obvious what is missing. It is the village component of a school that leads to learning. Learning happens beyond the classroom. It happens while a student is sitting under a tree at recess, talking to the teacher who is on yard duty – all of these opportunities enhance the learnings they get in the classroom. Just imagine if this situation went on for longer and we were in lockdown for the next ten years. What would it do to our humanity? What would it do to our capacity to understand social nuances? How would we deal with difficulties if we aren’t in the space of engaging with other people?
School environments are a great way to practise being an adult and to navigate the complexity that comes with the world. The purpose of schooling and the learning that has emerged from this situation is how incredibly important social interaction is and how vital it is to be connected. There have of course been positives as well. One of the most common pieces of feedback I have heard is that students are getting a lot done. This is testament to the quality of content delivery. Like in all times of significant challenge, people rise to the occasion. Good things still happen. I want to extend my thanks to our community and to the work of staff, the Board and the Strategic Support Group for helping us navigate the challenges.
Simon Le Plastrier Principal ELTHAM College
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CONNECTIONS
News
EARLY LEARNING CENTRE REFURBISHMENT THE ELTHAM COLLEGE EARLY LEARNING CENTRE (ELC) WAS TRANSFORMED WITH A REFURBISHMENT TAKING PLACE OVER THE LAST SUMMER HOLIDAYS. The space is looking delightfully fresh, warm and inviting. We have had an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on the ‘facelift’ by our returning families, the children and new families to the centre. The ELC building was opened in 1973 with an additional classroom extended onto the building in 2000. Whilst the space had a very ‘homely’ feel to it, it was looking very tired as both the internal and external walls were the original 70s paint colours and the carpet was in dire need of replacing (we had become quite skilled at placing furniture over bare patches of the carpet). Careful thought and planning was put into the aesthetic ‘feel’ the refurbishment would create. Whilst there is a place for colour, evidencebased research has shown the negative effect that particular colours and heavily decorated classrooms can have on the emotions and ability of children to focus on working in such classrooms. Like with the aesthetic feel of the refurbishment, each day the ELC team carefully consider the design of the learning environments so the spaces are welcoming, engaging, foster a love of learning and invite children to engage with one another and build relationships. An integral theory of the Reggio Emilia Approach is that of the environment as the third teacher. This view sees the design and use of space as encouraging encounters, communication and relationships. Each space has an identity and purpose, and is rich in its potential to engage and communicate.
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The new flooring has created flexibility in regards to how and where learning spaces are set up. Art experiences such as painting can now be placed anywhere in the room, utilising the natural light coming through the windows. Previously, such experiences had to be set up in the same place on tiles, and this was also the case with meal times. With greater flexibility with learning spaces, utilising elements such as natural light, ‘nooks’, the installation of interactive whiteboards and digital projectors, and the purchase of purposebuilt furniture have all added a new dimension to teaching and learning. We have observed the children engage in the learning spaces and with the learning resources in different ways – with more curiosity. It has also seemed to provoke more collaborative learning as children share their discoveries with one another. We extend a warm welcome to anyone wanting to come and visit the ELC to see these beautiful learning spaces in person.
Kathryn Barclay Head of Early Learning Centre
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ELITE AND EMERGING ATHLETE PROGRAM STRIVING TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH ATHLETIC POTENTIAL TO THRIVE. Students undertake training sessions twice a week with additional coaching sessions in selected sports offered at various times of the year. Here is some feedback from EEAP participants: “I improved my skills and became a lot stronger and less prone to injuries, which helped me to have my best season in my sports.” Josh Northey “Having a professional program written by Core Advantage that caters for my current needs and ability is an amazing thing. It has been really beneficial in helping me perform the best I can in the pool.” Stephanie O’Donnell
The Elite and Emerging Athlete Program (EEAP) aims to develop greater awareness of elite pathways, assist in developing and achieving performance goals, nurture future career aspiration, and foster general health and wellbeing benefits. The EEAP was initiated by ELTHAM staff Lesley Moulin and Nicole Howard. They started with an idea to develop a basketball academy for ELTHAM College students due to Nicole’s coaching background in the WNBL and Lesley’s high-level playing and coaching background. Training aspiring basketballers by developing their ball skills and shooting, led them to realise that the program could be expanded to include athletes in an array of sports, with a focus on nurturing the development of a growing body with correct strength and conditioning techniques. In 2019, 18 successful applicants from Years 6 – 8 became the initial participants of the EEAP, with representatives in basketball, swimming, cycling, AFL, kayaking, tennis and soccer.
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This year the program expanded to 24 students, with students involved in sports as diverse as hockey, volleyball, triathlon, calisthenics, running and tumbling, in addition to those from the initial intake. The program is strongly complemented by Core Advantage, a high performance company who work with elite youth and professional athletes throughout Melbourne. Core Advantage staff provide initial fitness testing and screening to create an athletic profile. They use this information for the development and implementation of individual programs for EEAP participants. Throughout the process Core Advantage are able to detect muscle and biomechanical deficiencies, correcting poor technique and laying the groundwork for improved strength and power outcomes, as well as injury prevention into the future.
“It was great to meet and be surrounded by other like-minded students from various year levels who also wanted to better themselves in their sport. This gave me a boost with my mindset and we were able to motivate each other when training in the gym together.” Lawson Franzmann “I have found the EEAP program very beneficial, as not only do I feel improvements but I see improvements within my results. It also helped as a rehab plan, as towards the end of last year I was overcoming an injury, so it helped speed up my recovery.” Emma Rao Applications for the program open in late February each year. For further details of the program, please contact me on cseckold@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au
Craig Seckold Director of Sport
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CONNECTIONS
News
AUSLAN AT ELTHAM OUR PROGRAM WITH EXPRESSION AUSTRALIA IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND LEARN A VALUABLE AND FUN SKILL.
Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is the oďŹƒcial language of the deaf community of Australia. There is no written form of Auslan; it is a visual form of communication that uses hand, arm and body movements and facial expressions to convey meaning. Auslan was added to our long list of wonderful co-curricular activities last year to help interested students gain an understanding and ability to communicate more effectively with current Year 6 student, Luca, who is hearing impaired. While advances in technology have supported Luca to learn effectively in the classroom, communicating with peers across a busy playground can sometimes be diďŹƒcult. 6
His family, who are all learning Auslan, linked the College up with Expression Australia who have created a bespoke curriculum and supplied teachers for our co-curricular Program. Expression Australia are the same group that translate for government press conferences which has been a fantastic real world link for students learning the language at school. As Luca is heading into Senior School next year, it is important that the students he will be interacting with understand how to communicate with him. With this in mind, our Auslan sessions have been made available to students from Year 3 up to Year 8. Junior School students have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know their Senior School peers and learn from their experiences while studying the language together.
Despite learning remotely in Term 2, Auslan continued virtually with weekly Zoom sessions overseen by teacher Haining Lu. Students learnt finger spelling (letters of the alphabet) and other important areas of communication, as well as areas of interest. Auslan is a wonderful, interactive language that we hope to continue to have as part of our program.
Kate McCracken Deputy Director, Junior School
CONNECTIONS
News
HOME ECONOMICS: CREATIVITY AND RESILIENCE IN A TIME OF CRISIS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO COOK WITH A DASH OF INGENUITY. I recently began the sourdough journey. Inspired by friends, colleagues and conversations in Home Economics networks, my curiosity grew. I wondered if any other families were making sourdough at home. A silver lining of remote learning and life in isolation has been the steady stream of emails and discussions in classes from students asking about recipe adaptions when faced with food shortages. The impact of not being able to readily access the supermarket has forced us to think creatively when it comes to meal preparation. Exploring ideas and problem-solving together in class has enabled not only a greater understanding of food security, but encouraged deeper thinking and enriched the learning experiences in our own backyard. Across the Home Economics modules, with various themes and titles, we have always: •
Created foods from raw ingredients to learn the foundation skills, while simultaneously reducing our footprint and not relying on more highly processed packaged foods
•
Considered packaging waste when using prepared ingredients such as bottled sauces or marinades
•
Compared the cost of ingredients to understand how foods such as pancakes made from scratch are more cost-effective than the ‘shake in a bottle’ type
•
Whenever feasible, utilised our home-grown ingredients
•
Dehydrated meals for Outdoor Education journey programs
•
Explored recipes from across the globe to gain an understanding of how food travels over time
Whilst baking Cornish Pasties in our remote classroom, a student mentioned their mother was baking sourdough. Others piped in sharing a similar experience. The sourdough discussion flourished, with many different ideas of how to use sourdough discard, and finished with tips as to how to make sourdough starter biscuits! Since March we have shifted in conversation from “I can’t, because I cannot get …” to “what could I use, or would this work?” Let’s hope this silver lining of problem-solving is here to stay.
Jane Norton Home Economics
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ALUMNI
News
ALUMNI NEWS for alumni to stay connected with us, particularly through our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and of course this 'connections' magazine. Reunions are exciting events and we will hopefully be able to reschedule these at a later stage. We would love to hear from you and share your successes with our community. I invite all interested past parents, grandparents, students and staff to attend our committee meetings and join our Alumni Association. If you have ideas, initiatives, exciting life events or an in-memory notice that you would like to share, please contact our Alumni Coordinator on alumni@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au
Cherry Demir (Class of 1992) President of the ELTHAM College Alumni Association
"Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that." — Ally Condie
2020 began with ELTHAM Alumni assisting the College with tours during Open Day. It was inspiring to see our alumni speak of their positive experiences within the College to prospective students and parents.
There is no word more relevant in today’s current situation than ‘connection’. The value of communication and support has been the driving force behind the strength displayed by our community during the COVID-19 crisis.
The ELTHAM College Alumni Music and Performing Arts Committee (ECAMP) also provided a nostalgic performance during Open Day by reconnecting former band members as part of a reunion performance. We look forward to seeing many more opportunities for alumni to connect through music and performing arts.
The ELTHAM College Alumni Association has reinforced connection within our community through our dedication to keeping alumni informed and also helping form authentic relationships that can provide lifelong support to our community.
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We exercise our commitment to staying connected with our community through Alumni E-News, which is emailed to alumni four times a year and contains stories and updates. We have several other avenues
Alumni Association Meetings Conference Room, ELTHAM College, 7.30pm – 9.30pm 4 August 2020 6 October 2020 1 December 2020
facebook.com/ElthamCollegeAlumni alumni@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au linkedin.com/in/elthamalumni
ECAMP performing at Open Day
ALUMNI
News
ALUMNI REFLECTION
I even met my future wife Gina (nee TrenchThiedeman) in our year level. We had mutual friends at school – a handful of years after graduation we reconnected and eventually married. We still maintain a close group of mates from our time at ELTHAM College. After school I jumped into several courses of tertiary study, including Public Relations, Tourism Management and Criminal Justice. I worked on mega yachts in the French Riviera, backpacked around parts of Europe and eventually lived in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. It was there that I worked with local craftsmen building chalets made of raw stone and timber.
Julian McCartney – Class of 1999 My journey at ELTHAM College began in kindergarten. I continued into the first term of Prep; then my family moved so I went to a different primary school. Secondary schooling took me to an all-boys school, and after a number of years I decided it was time for change. Seeking a unique and inspiring environment, I came back to ELTHAM College for VCE. On my Orientation Day, I walked into the Reception Office and saw
a big old photo commemorating students from every year level. As fate would have it, I was in the photo! It had been taken during my first year at the College. That sealed the deal. Stepping into a co-ed environment as a teenager took some adjusting. I realised pretty quickly that there was an even playing field between students in my year level. There was always someone open to brainstorming creative concepts, to let off steam on the soccer pitch or to just be silly and have a laugh.
When I returned home to Melbourne in 2006, I undertook an apprenticeship specialising in traditional furniture making and restoration with a master craftsman. I completed my studies and set my sights on contemporary design, working with locally established modern furniture designers. At the same time, I started my own brand and opened a workshop in Collingwood. After a few years I grew out of that space and moved the Glencross Furniture workshop to a bigger location in Thomastown, where I now specialise in bespoke handcrafted timber furniture that tells a story for clients across Australia and beyond.
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ALUMNI
Notices
COMMUNITY NEWS NOTICES
Engagements
Births
Courtney Zeuschner (Class of 2004) got engaged to John White on 19 April 2019. Their wedding is planned for September 2020 at the State Library Victoria.
Mackenzie Stanley (Class of 2014) and Nicole Burgess (Class of 2012) became engaged on 24 January 2020 at Massaros in Kangaroo Ground.
Francesca Hepburn Day, born 8 April 2020, daughter of Tyson Day (Class of 2007) and Alexandra Cox (Class of 2008).
Madeleine Vabre (Class of 2013) became engaged to Luke Bofinger in July 2019. The couple plan to get married in November 2020. Chris Raff e (Class of 2016) proposed to classmate Hannah van der Heyden (Class of 2016) on 4 November 2017.
In Memory Notices Former staff member Joe Sassone, who taught in the Year 9 City Campus, passed away on 11 June 2020. An enthusiastic and caring educator, and a genuinely wonderful man. Archer James Vallance, born 26 April 2020 to Ashleigh Gaff orini Vallance (Class of 2009) and Joel Vallance.
Harriet Lampard, born 19 November 2019, daughter of Emma Lampard (Stokes, Class of 2000) and Mark Lampard. A little sister for Arthur and Eleanor!
Please email us at alumni@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au if you have celebrated a loved one, have a story to share, or recently welcomed a new baby (and we will send you a gorgeous ELTHAM Alumni onsie). 10
Marianne Bulmer (Class of 1983) passed away on 17 May 2020. Mother of Dean (Class of 2011) and Kate (Class of 2014), and sister of Caroline (Class of 1987) and Karen (Class of 1980). Gill Rayson passed away on 31 March 2020. Gill was the wife of Mark Rayson (Class of 1988) and mother to Christine (Class of 2016) and Josh (Class of 2013). Sarah Tonkin (Class of 2000), daughter of Richard and Pauline Tonkin, passed away on 13 December 2019.
ALUMNI
Sport
ALUMNI SPORTING CLUBS RECCC News
Enquiries: reccc.general@gmail.com
Our 2019 – 2020 season had many memorable moments and the club enjoyed another successful year both on and off the field. The strength of the club is supported by the large number of teams we field across all playing categories. We fielded six Senior DVCA sides (an increase of one additional side on the previous year), a Veterans over 40s team and an over 60s side, with a number of these teams playing finals cricket. We continued to field our All Abilities Team, with player numbers expanding and all six games played without any rain interruption. We had strong representation across DVCA Junior Cricket, with seven teams participating (one of our strongest representations in recent years). We continued to develop our Girls Cricketers within the club ranks, fielding under 13s and under 15s teams, both of whom made their Grand Final and both finished runners-up. A key focus of the club is to continue to develop our Junior players and ensure RECCC is a destination club for those within the local community. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of Senior and Junior coaches who are strongly committed to the players. We look forward to another great season in 2020 – 2021, albeit there may be restrictions in terms of our pre-season, our lead-up preparation and/or the actual season itself.
Brad Purvis, President
Turtle News
Enquiries: ben.r.crellin@gmail.com
It is fair to say our season hasn’t panned out how we’d expected. When the reality of a football-free winter became evident due to the coronavirus crisis, we had obvious issues. We knew people would cope without the exercise. We knew they could survive without the competition and that most would thrive without freezing cold nights in Research in June. But how could we help our players, volunteers and families feel connected to their club without being physically present? Zoom meetings were held, phone calls made, Messenger chats opened and lots of online quizzes and games were played. These were great ways to stay in touch, but the real answer came through a connection with our community. On Saturday mornings, instead of playing football, the Turtles have been travelling around Banyule, Nillumbik and Darebin delivering care packages to families in need. Each family has received toys, activity packs and clothes, as well as a three-course meal. The project has been conducted in partnership with the 3081 Angels, a charity that provides baby goods to those in need. Equally as appreciated as the care packages seem to be the short conversations and friendly interactions we've been able to have with the families (whilst observing strict physical distancing). We've met some amazing people and have some new Turtles fans! It has been incredibly heartening to see the level of support this project has received from our past and present playing group. At this stage it is unclear what this season of football will look like. However what is clear is that the Turtles connection still holds strong.
Ben Crellin, President 11
SWIPERS GULLY
Recipe
CAULIFLOWER SCHNITZEL WITH FIELD MUSHROOMS AND PAPRIKA SAUCE RECIPE
Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
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2. Remove outer leaves and cut the cauliflower lengthways through the root into slices about 3cm thick.
Ingredients 1 cauliflower 50g flour 2 eggs, beaten 100ml milk 100g breadcrumbs 75g parmesan cheese 4 tsp. olive oil Sea salt fl akes to taste
For the field mushrooms 4 large field mushrooms, stalks removed 1 garlic clove, crushed 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. rosemary, finely chopped 2 tbsp. parsley 50g breadcrumbs 40g butter 30g diced onion
Paprika sauce 1 onion, finely diced 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 tsp. paprika 200ml vegetable stock 4 tbsp. sour cream 20ml lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste Wilted spinach 30ml olive oil Spinach
TREAT YOURSELF AT SWIPERS GULLY TRAINING RESTAURANT For great food and excellent value phone 9437 2222 for bookings during the school term.
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3. Put the flour on a large plate with ½ teaspoon salt. Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl and mix with the milk, and on a different plate combine the breadcrumbs and parmesan. 4. Coat each cauliflower steak with the flour mixture and pat off any excess. Dip in the egg/milk mixture and then the breadcrumb/cheese mixture. Set aside. 5. Heat a frying pan to a medium temperature (hot oil can be dangerous so do not leave unattended). To test the temperature, add a cube of bread to the hot oil; it should sizzle straight away. 6. Fry the cauliflower for 3 – 4 minutes on each side or until deep golden-brown. You may have to do this in batches. 7. Place cauliflower on an oven tray and cook for 15 minutes. 8. Meanwhile fry the mushrooms on both sides in a frying pan with olive oil for 2 – 3 minutes. Place on a baking tray. 9. Melt butter and add onion, breadcrumbs, parsley and rosemary until combined and then season. 10. Add this stuffing inside the mushrooms and bake for 10 minutes. 11. For the paprika sauce, fry the onion and garlic and cook gently for 2 – 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the paprika and cook for a few seconds more while stirring. 12. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Simmer until the liquid has halved. Add the sour cream and simmer for 1 – 2 minutes before adding the lemon juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. 13. For the spinach, heat a large sauté pan and add the olive oil, cooking the spinach for 1 – 2 minutes or until wilted and then season.
Patrick Murphy Hospitality Trainer
FOUNDATION
News
FOUNDATION NEWS LITTLE FLYERS .As you will be aware, the Foundation’s primary source of revenue is derived
This ensures that the experiences we are providing to children at home have a direct relationship to the current planned and spontaneous learning being provided in our centres.
We held great enthusiasm for 2020 until COVID-19 turned our world upside down. In February our centres were negatively impacted firstly by families electing to delay their start dates due to the virus, then early business closures and stand downs saw lots of families staying at home with no need for childcare. Since then many businesses have closed and many employees have been asked to work from home, once again diminishing the demand for care for their young ones.
In addition, every week, one room at each of our centres posts a video to our website of an educator conducting group time. This may involve a puppet show, singing a song, reading a book, or conducting a class in yoga, dance or mindfulness. The videos are available to families from all of our centres and showcase the educating talents of our team.
from the operation of six early education and care centres, branded Little Flyers Learning Centres.
This presented us with a challenge: to provide the highest standard of education and care for those children attending the services, but also to stay in contact with all of our children who were isolating at home with their families. To achieve this we prepared a ‘home curriculum’ which followed as closely as possible the curriculum and programming occurring in our centres. Our operations software, QikKids Journeys, allows our families to share daily learnings through the Daily Journals section. Using the Intentional Teaching section in Daily Journals, educators suggest ways families can follow learning at home.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff who have continued to attend work each day through these turbulent times, putting their own health at risk to ensure the wellbeing, educational and social development of the children in our care. We are very proud of our staff. They are our heroes at this time, whether educating children at our centres or educating those at home.
Iain Cowan Eltham College Foundation CEO
Caroline Springs 1 The Crossing 9363 7622
Eltham North
296 Ryans Rd 9431 4947
Laurimar
35 Flaxen Hills Rd Doreen 9717 3741
Laurimar Township 9 Bulimba Dr Doreen 9717 8074
Melbourne City 544 Collins St 9614 3011
Kids on Collins
600 Collins St Melb 9629 4099
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ECCA
News
WELCOME, CONNECT, SUPPORT THE ECCA WAY Reflecting on 2020 2020 was never going to be a normal year. The extraordinary bushfires that ravaged large swathes of Victoria over the summer were an ominous sign, and our welcome events at the start of this year were dominated by stories of exhaustion, devastation, gratitude, care and communities rallying together. By the time we gathered for our annual ECCA planning day in the first week of March, our focus was clearly on how we could support our community this year and contribute to the wellbeing of students, staff and families at ELTHAM. Then the coronavirus struck. The first few weeks of isolation were a time of inward focus for many, as we all came to terms with a new and very different-looking reality. As we have adapted to remote learning and working, we started looking at how ECCA can continue to welcome, connect and support ... from a safe distance. Our ECCA Social Reps in each year level have played a pivotal role, checking in with families at various times. While some year levels have enjoyed a break from social gettogethers, others moved their year level offerings online. Sadly, our annual Mother's Day stall in the Junior School was cancelled in Term 2, however a creative smorgasbord of ways to spoil mum was sent to families from our new Mother's Day Coordinator Vanessa Johnson via Family News.
Junior School Captain Asher La Ferlita hosting games at the welcome sizzle. ideas for celebrating mother’s day at home prepare a home day spa for mum Get Mum’s dressing gown and slippers ready and tell her that she has an appointment at the home spa. Run a nice hot bath with essen�al oils or bubble bath and bring her to the spa. You could put a face mask on her, massage her hands, put some music on or just leave
Mum
her to relax with some chocolates or a glass of wine! *Use the home spa menu print out a�ached to fill in the details for Mum’s spa day
create memories with family portraits at home Get dressed up in your Sunday best or put some fancy costumes on and take some memorable family portraits on the front porch, in the backyard or in
The ECCA Committee of Management moved its monthly meetings online and has continued considering staff applications for support for various initiatives across the College.
Mums favourite room in the house. Prac�ce se�ng the �mer on your ipad beforehand and go and have some fun experimen�ng with photos. Print your favourite photo out and paste it over the frame print out below. *Use the family portrait print out a�ached to paste your favourite family photo onto
watch a movie she chooses
An important consideration for ECCA at this time has been around balance – how do we balance supporting the community without burdening families with too many online social offerings? With just about any activity you can think of now available online, ECCA has made a deliberate decision to step back and use this time to plan for how we can connect with families once restrictions on social gatherings have eased.
have a backyard picnic or head for a trail walk
We look forward to connecting with families in person later in the year and continuing to work with the school on ways to support the wellbeing of our community during this extraordinary year.
create your own fancy restaurant at home
Pack a picnic lunch with her favourite foods and set up a blanket in the back yard or on your deck. You could also pick up a picnic lunch from a local cafe and have a car picnic or head for a walk on one of Elthams beau�ful local trails. The following places offer take away packs The health bar - 5/1637 main rd research - 8-2pm - near the aqueduct trail zen den cafe - 736 Main rd eltham - 8-2:30pm - cross the road and hit the trail the main cafe - 5/906 main rd eltham (in coles arcade) - 7-10pm second home - 21 Brougham St eltham 8-2pm - offering mother’s day high tea packs
Set the table at home with your best dinner plates, napkins, fancy glasses and candles. Tell Mum to dress up and be ready by dinner �me to go to a special restaurant. You might want to give your restaurant a crea�ve name or make a menu and dress like a waiter too. You can cook dinner with Dad, an older sibling or order dinner from a nearby restaurant. Serve mum her beau�ful dinner, some dessert and favourite drink at your fancy home restaurant!
Jacqui Ward ECCA President
bake dessert together
do the laundry for her
make your own crafts or buy local gift guide Make Mum a handmade gi�, use the cra� cut outs below or buy Mum a local gi�. To help you show mum you love and appreciate her the following stores in Eltham comply with social distancing measures, offer phone orders and pick up services. The Little Things in Life - Gift Store 1032 Main Rd Eltham - 10am-5pm Eltham Bookshop - books & accessories - 970 Main rd eltham - 9am-5:30pm Run to the River - Gift Store - 2/9 Dudley St Eltham - 11am-2pm Dekoda - Fashion, Shoes & Accessories - 1026 Main Rd *50% off everything Mojo on Main - Fashion - Shop 6 Midway Arcarde Main Rd *Spend $100 & get a free gift
A small sample of ways to spoil mum. 14
netflix for mum while you clean
ECCA
News
Marvelous support by our Grounds and Maintenance Staff help make our events a success. Thanks Gil!
Keeping connected via a Zoom call - Year 11 ECCA.
Australia's Biggest Morning Tea at home - Sandra Diaz Cuesta and Santi Mugg Diaz.
Want to help out? We are always happy to welcome volunteers to help with ECCA events and initiatives. If you have ideas to share or time to spare, we’d love to hear from you. Please email ecca@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au
Join the ECCA Committee ECCA is run by a group of parent volunteers and staff. We meet once a month to organise community building events and discuss how we can support the College in providing a world-class educational experience for our young people. At our AGM (usually) in April each year, we elect a new ECCA committee of management, including a President, Junior School Vice-President, Senior School Vice-President and general committee members.
Twilight Market 2019 - Enjoying some delicious handcrafted icecream from one of the stalls.
If you’d like to get involved with the committee of management, come along to a meeting to see what it involves.
ELTHAM Community Association (ECCA) meetings Information Technology Centre, ELTHAM College, 7.30 – 9.30pm 19 August 2020 14 October 2020
Twilight Market 2019 - The lucky dip was a huge hit with all the kids. A big thank you to the Selkirk family for helping out on the day.
Australia's Biggest Morning Tea at home - Michael and Simone Houlihan.
18 November 2020
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COMMUNITY
News
ALUMNI COMMUNITY HELPING OUT AT THE COLLEGE With a halt on reunions in the first half of 2020 we thought we would instead focus on just some of our wonderful Alumni who have actively stayed connected to the College. Alison Riggs (middle) – Class of 1983 and Lyndon Riggs (right) – Class of 2019 Alumni mother and son Alison and Lyndon Riggs continue to bring their creative talents to the College. Lyndon, who is studying a Music/ Science double degree at Monash University, performs with ECAMP and assisted with the Steve Sedergreen workshops. He also played saxophone to accompany sister Bethany (Year 8) who was singing in the recent online assembly, with Alison on piano. A musical family, Alison, husband Paul, Lyndon and Bethany are part of the One Voice choir and Alison is an active member of Friends of Music and Performing Arts (FoMPA). “Being a teacher myself, I've always wanted to support the school my children attend as I appreciate parents who are engaged in their children's education, particularly extracurricular activities,” says Alison. “Lyndon told me that the teachers are friendly and passionate both in and out of class,” says Bethany. “It's been good to chat with teachers and other students about Lyndon's involvement at the College.” Bethany says her mum told her the current sports uniform is much nicer than “the green flannel zip-up ‘frog suits’ they wore!” Lyndon’s favourite part of remaining involved in the school is “staying connected with staff and students through the active Alumni program, Performing Arts events and Open Days, particularly while my sister is at the College,” he says.
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Naomi Spencer – Class of 1993 Naomi Spencer is both an Alumnus and a College parent, with two sons Jensen and Cole currently in Year 6 and Year 4. She has volunteered at ELTHAM College since her boys were in the ELC. “I wanted to get involved because I think school community is important,” says Naomi. “Volunteering for me is a great way to be part of the school community and meet many parents, staff and students across the school,” she says. “My kids love the school and it is nice to be involved.” Currently on the ECCA committee and an ECCA Social Rep for Year 4, Naomi also has volunteered at Open Day, the Twilight Market, the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls, and Grandparents Day, which was a highlight for her. “It is always so lovely to see and speak to both the grandparents and students on this day,” she says. She also has fond memories of helping out in the Grade 3/4 History Centre alongside other parents, painting constructions made by the Maintenance team. “It was such a fun and social day,” says Naomi.
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ALUMNI COMMUNITY HELPING OUT AT THE COLLEGE Nathan Robolas – Class of 2017 When Nathan Robolas was a student at the College he was heavily involved in sports, which inspired him to coach kids. As a Sports Coach in the Senior School, Nathan assists with the delivery of the interschool sport program along with the wider sports program ELTHAM offers. “Watching the younger kids enjoy their time in a competitive environment is something I love to witness as a coach, as is watching them develop as athletes and people,” says Nathan. “It is fantastic to watch some of the kids I coached in my first year mature and grow as they continue through their years at ELTHAM.” Having attended ELTHAM College for 13 years, Nathan’s favourite sport-related memory was winning the Senior Boys Football Premiership in 2017. “It was a memorable way to finish my time at the school as I was able to share it with a close group of friends and a teaching group that I had spent years with,” says Nathan. “It’s something that I still look back on fondly and will be something I continue to cherish about my time at ELTHAM.”
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Julian Grant – Class of 2015 As well as being an Integration Aide at ELTHAM College, Julian Grant has volunteered in both the Junior and Senior School Art departments. Having studied a Bachelor of Fine Art at Monash University, Julian was keen to give back. “I had an incredible time at school and ELTHAM challenged me, extended me and gave me the most enriching education,” says Julian. “I wanted to use the art skills I was learning at university to help VCE students. I’ve gained a lot from Melissa Klein and Jo Ruchel in particular who have generously shared their expertise and knowledge with me about art education.” Julian has also been studying a Master of Education at The University of Melbourne and is completing a Certificate III in Education Support to further his skills as an Integration Aide. He has also volunteered at College sports carnivals, theatre productions, in the History Centre and at Think ELTHAM. “ELTHAM College has given me so much and I will always be grateful – it instilled in me a great love of learning and this continues to this day,” says Julian.
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ELTHAM COLLEGE’S FIRE TRUCK FROM THE ARCHIVES
In April 1980, a much anticipated guest rolled up at ELTHAM College. The fire truck, a second-hand Metropolitan Fire Brigade Hose Carrier, arrived on the school grounds to much fanfare.
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Digby Gotts was the Year 9 and 10 Coordinator at the time and also taught Outdoor Education, Science and Biology. He recalls the day as being one of great excitement. “I remember it as being a ‘wow’ moment for the kids,” says Digby. “Fire threat was always a major part of living in the region,” he says. “[Principal] Des Davey was always looking for ways to emphasise the relevance of the school to the life the kids would be living, and living with fire was a part of that.” The fire truck, which remained available to local units in the case of emergency, was used to train students in firefighting. Digby trained Year 9 students who had volunteered for the task. “Mostly we taught techniques of hose handling, holding live hoses under pressure, doing things quickly, learning roles, acting out,” he says. “The Year 9 students’ reaction to the back push as the pressure came up was priceless – enough to bowl them over if they weren’t being watched.” “The main hose nozzle we used with the students was adjustable from full 360 fan to straight jet, allowing the hose holder to hide behind a radiation screen, which was also a valuable lesson in protecting yourself before putting out a fire,” says Digby. “Hoses getting tangled by not being unrolled correctly was always a reminder to do things correctly.”
Les Clarke and Des Davey officially receiving the fire truck. 20
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Unfortunately the fire truck didn’t turn out to be as practical an addition as hoped for. “The truck was a MFB urban pump unit, so none of the hose fittings were compatible with the CFA,” says Digby. “I think that those that could be changed were, but it was a drama. The water storage on board was minimal, as the truck’s purpose was to link to a hydrant and run a hose from there, and there weren’t many hydrants in Research. No 4WD was also an issue with the C driveways and access to other water supply steep points.” Karen Staudte, a student at the College at the time, recalls the truck as being large and noisy. “It may have been useful heading out towards Kangaroo Ground or Warrandyte for spot fires, but it had trouble on the narrow gravel roads with getting around the corners and low hanging branches,” says Karen. After three years, the fire truck was handed over to the Eltham Shire State Emergency Service, but not without having made some memories at ELTHAM College. “Soaking wet students heading off home!” is what Digby remembers. “We had timed races between teams to get water onto a target, but often targets were self-selected.”
Samantha Allemann Community Relations
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