Due to the current pandemic, please continually check COMPASS and the online newsletter for important information and sudden changes in the College’s timetable.

Student free days will be confirmed throughout the school year. 

Term 1

Term 2

2022 – Term Dates

Congratulations to Rowing Coordinator, Perri Fenton, and the teams around her for preparing our students for last Sunday’s Head of the Lake. Although we were depleted in number – the crew that rowed raced strongly and finished third.

Congratulations to all students who participated in the Athletics Carnival on Wednesday. What a superb day!

Which sporting house will be athletic champions?

Stay tuned for the results…

This year Phoenix P-12 Community College has combined with The Resilience Project (TRP) to inspire happiness and build Resilience, in order to help make the topic of mental health more accessible for students and teachers, parents and guardians, families, and those members of the wider community.

The research is clear; the more positive emotion you experience, the more resilient you will be. For that reason we focus on three key pillars proven to cultivate positive emotion; Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM).

Discover who TRP work with, and learn more about how to practice Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness in your daily lives here.

A big start in music this year!

It is so, so good to know we will be teaching in the music rooms all year and scheduling performances in for our students. We have nearly 150 students in the music program and this year growth has been such a delight to see.

Six ensembles/bands have restarted rehearsals after two years of ‘stop, start, stop’ with very few performances. The 2023 Year 7 Information Evening will have our Senior Band performing at the front of the school on Thursday 17th March at 5pm.

Our String Ensemble and string soloists are putting on a soiree in our Community Hub on Tuesday 5^th April at 7pm.

There are still lessons spots available in woodwind, brass and mallet percussion. If you would like your child to participate in Instrumental Music Program at Phoenix P-12 Community College, please complete an Enrolment Form, located below, and email a copy to john.netherway@education.vic.gov.au with “Music Program Enrolment” in the subject line.

Alternatively, you can return the form to the General Office (Sebastopol Campus). Forms are processed in order of receipt, please be prompt to avoid disappointment.

On Thursday 24th February, some of our Phoenix student leaders attended a Sustainable Futures event at St Patrick’s College. They experienced a presentation from film creator Damon Gameau about innovative options for a global sustainable future. Students were encouraged to see both the challenges we face as a result of climate change but also the real solutions that are available to us.

From left: Kristi-Lee Hatchard, Joshua Shaw, Lachlan Jew, Lachlan Kynoch, Damon Gameau, Isla Edyvane and La Paige Prendergast.

As part of our Year 10 Geography studies, students visited Woowookarung Regional Park to complete a fieldwork excursion. Using fieldwork skills, students observed examples of both environmental change and management at a local site that continues to evolve in use. It was amazing to have our students out in the field, demonstrating their abilities as emerging geographers.

From left: Sophia Sheppard, Tamara Duncan and Tyrone Masters.

From left: Jacqui Phippen, Blythe Kelly, Hailey Rosendale, Denzel Wallman and Aidan Whykes.

What is Empathy? And what is Kindness?

Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place. Essentially, it is putting yourself in someone else’s position and feeling what they must be feeling.

Kindness is a type of behaviour marked by acts of generosity, consideration, or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward. So, as you can see how Empathy and Kindness can complement each other.

Congratulations to the students below who have been recognised for consistently demonstrating and practicing empathy and kindness at Phoenix P-12 Community College. Each of the following students were presented with a GEM Certificate for their positive behaviours in our Village assemblies.

Upcoming Events

The Resilience Project has recently released their upcoming Public Talks dates for 2022. Below you can find the dates, times and locations for Ballarat. Join Hugh Van Cuylenburg as he walks you through his journeys and tells stories of the incredible people who have inspired him and The Resilience Project to spread happiness.

If you wish to experience Hugh talk and learn more, please visit the The Resilience Project Events website page.

Expedition in New Zealand (13 Nights)

Contribute to a sustainability initiative, get immersed in Kiwi culture, discover Wellington and sharpen your leadership skills on a remote six-day trek. With you and your team tackling fresh challenges each day, this once-in-a-lifetime experience proves just how much you’re capable of. It could change the way you see yourself and the world, forever.

This exciting adventure is open to students in Years 10, 11 and 12.

For more information please:

• Contact Mr Alex Patterson (College’s Program Coordinator)
• Download and view the PDF: Phoenix P-12 Community College – 2022 World Challenge – New Zealand
• Visit the link: https://weareworldchallenge.com/trips/eutp3l4/

Ballarat Police are concerned with the recent large gathering of young people at Victoria Park last weekend and the potential dangers for young people should future events occur. It appears the gathering was organised via social media and shared widely which resulted in hundreds of young people attending.

The next big step for Delacombe Town Centre will feature further retail and fast food development but is also expected to include community facilities otherwise lacking in the rapidly growing area including a possible new library.

At a council meeting last week Ballarat Council voted to adopt the City of Ballarat Libraries and Learning Strategy 2022-2027 and the City of Ballarat Libraries and Learning Strategy 2022-2027 Action and Implementation Plan which includes new libraries at DTC and Wendouree.

The plan includes concept designs and feasibility studies for a new Delacombe Town Centre Library and Community Hub, which is scheduled to take place this year and next, and the same at Wendouree.

Photos: Adam Trafford – The Courier

You can read the full article here – The Courier – Plans outlined for next stage of development for Delacombe Town Centre

Neighbourhood Houses welcome people from all walks of life. Our inclusive programs and activities, provide opportunities for community members to enrich their lives through connections they might not otherwise make. The Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre (BNC) is located on the Phoenix College site behind the new basketball stadium in the Ballarat South Community Hub.

Adult Education Class of the Week

BNC is an approved Learn Local provider (pre-accredited learning) offering short courses (up to 20 hours) with small classes (between 6-10 learners) during school terms. All our courses are designed for learners to build confidence and skills, with many catering to learners who have not achieved Year 12 or an equivalent qualification and require support to return education, training or employment.

Find a Job: Retail

Ballarat’s retail sector is growing. Keep ahead and learn what employers are looking for, what skills they want. With ongoing expansions at Stockland Wendouree and the Delacombe Town Centre this is an opportunity you can’t miss. If people are your thing, this could be for you!

Activity of the Week

BNC brings people together to connect and participate in our local community through social, educational, recreational and support activities. From our volunteers in the community garden growing food for the Our Kitchen Social Enterprise to our weekly community lunches, we offer a range of services and activities to our community.

What do you think about Covid?

BNC and Neighbourhood Houses Victoria are working together to help the Victorian Council of Social Service answer 2 questions relating to how you feel about COVID-19.

To help us gather this information, take the two minute survey.

Note: No personal information is collected.

What’s happening in March?

• Community lunches are back each Friday at 12 noon – 2 courses for $10. Call reception (5329 3273).
• 8^th March – Motorised Mobility Devices – Vic Roads Safety Session – https://www.socialplanet.com.au/activity/view?id=5376
• 9^th March – Safe Seats Safe Kids – https://safeseatssafekids.com.au/events/sebastopol-9-march-2022/
• 18^th March – Harmony Festival – https://www.socialplanet.com.au/activity/view?id=5329
• 25^th March – Voices of Victoria: Listening Tour – https://www.socialplanet.com.au/activity/view?id=2443
• Do you need the services of a Justice of the Peace to witness or certify a document? Feel free to pop in and bring along your documents! A JP will be here at the Centre every Wednesday 9:30am – 11:30am and Friday 10:45am – 1pm or call Wayne Jones JP (0422 833 262) Mon – Fri between 5pm – 7pm to arrange a private appointment.

BNC Newsletter

We publish a newsletter every term to let our community know what we have planned for the term (only 4 per year). We also occasionally send out a special edition if there is something urgent or of community interest to share. Read the current newsletter here.

If you would like to sign up for the newsletter, you can do so on our website on the bottom of the page: www.ballaratnc.org.au

Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre
11 Tuppen Drive, Sebastopol
Phone: 5329 3273
Email: reception@ballaratnc.org.au
Website: www.ballaratnc.org.au

Do you know any Alumni that are kicking goals in the real world?

E-mail our Alumni Coordinator, Kirby via alumni@phoenix.vic.edu.au

Register Your Details

Stay updated with Alumni Achievements and Stories via our Alumni Facebook Page.