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

During Week 7 of this Term, the Phoenix Connect team took 87 of our Year 9 students on a three-day camp to Roses Gap. The camp forms a significant part of the curriculum for the Phoenix Connect program and allows students to form connections with their classmates and develop their communication and team work skills.

Over the course of the three days, the students were able to undertake a range of activities including rock climbing and abseiling and the giant swing. Each of these activities presented different challenges to the students and encouraged them to step out of their comfort zones.

With such a large cohort of Year 9’s, it took a team of eight staff members to coordinate and manage the group. Each group and their teacher rotated around the different activities for the three jam-packed days. The smaller groups allowed the students to connect and support each other, allowing their…  grew and developed.

We were lucky to get some sunshine and warm weather that was perfect for the water activities like canoeing and raft building that resulted in most students getting a bit wet.

Throughout the camp there were standout examples of students stepping out of their comfort zone and conquering their fears. For some, this was a fear of walking backwards of a cliff, for others it was about working with people they may not have worked with before. However, every single student gave it their all and were able to all get something different out of this camp.

We would like to thank the Roses Gap camp grounds team who did a mountain of work to accommodate the growing Phoenix Connect group and manage to coordinate, feed and house each one. Another big shout out to the Phoenix Connect team and the supporting staff who attended as it is a huge task to manage such a large group and every single member of staff did so to help create a safe and fun environment for the students.

Many of the students have learnt something about themselves throughout this camp and have created deeper connections with their classmates. They will continue to develop these connections in the subsequent term of Phoenix Connect and grow to be the best they can be.

On Wednesday, our Year 12 students invited their mentors to lunch; where they were able to chat, play card games, enjoy some laughs and get in some mentor-mentee photos.

We know from our work with The Resilience Project and the feedback from our students across the last two years is that these opportunities to build positive relationships and foster belonging (for students and staff) were the parts of school our young people have missed the most during Covid times.

While the weather tried to rain on our parade we managed to push through and complete our annual Athletics Sports at Llanberris Reserve on Tuesday 8th March. By the smiles on our kids faces, the day was enjoyed by all and we saw some exciting events play out. Throughout the day, the leader board change several times and in the end the final scores were very close.

Congratulations to Cornish!

I think everyone who participated were winners – WELL DONE EVERYONE! Thank you to our senior students who came along and assisted students and staff – your efforts were very much appreciated. A huge thank you to our wonderful staff for running events, marshalling and performing first aid. Thank you to Mr Andrew Greed for recording results and keeping us sitting on the edge of our seats with the announcement of results and updates. Students in Years 3-6 who came first in events will be invited to represent the College in the upcoming District Athletic Carnival on Tuesday 5th April.

Ms Tangey and Miss Hucker
Sport Coordinators

Years 7-12 Students

Please complete the following form if you would like to participate in our talent show:

Phoenix Factor Talent Show Form

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).

Our Year 10 welding class have been learning about working safely when welding. We identified breathing in the fumes are a hazard of welding which can make you feel unwell and lethargic. To help prevent this hazard, we learned that drinking milk puts a lining on your stomach that will help alleviate this issue.

A massive thank you from Inglenook Dairy for supplying our Year 10 welding class with samples of their full cream milk. Yum!

Our VCAL students were fortunate enough over the last 4 weeks to complete industry visits with Haymes Paint to learn about risk management. We were able to complete tours of their site in Mitchell Park, discuss risk management procedures in action and think deeply about safety in the workplace.

We thank Haymes for having us onboard!

Dear Phoenix Community,

We are excited to announce that rehearsals are underway for our 2022 Phoenix P-12 Community College Production, The Addams Family Jnr.

Production is a very special time for all involved and it deserves to be remembered forever. This is why this year we have decided to fundraise to help with the cost of the production, in particular the purchase of specially made t-shirts that represents this year’s production.

The hot-cross buns will be purchased from Bakers Delight at a cost of $8.50 per 6-pack in flavours such as Choc-Chip, Apple & Cinnamon and Traditional. Each purchase will result in a reduction in the cost of each shirt.

Just think… freshly made hot-cross right before Easter, lightly toasted with butter dripping from it. Yum!

Please jump onto the QKR App, type Phoenix and click on Hot Cross Buns. Then follow the process. Here is a how-to guide: Qkr-User-Guide

Orders need to be placed before Friday 1^st April. No late orders will be excepted. The collection date will be Thursday 7^th April at 3pm outside the College Theatre. A COMPASS reminder will be sent out closer to the day.

If you have any enquiries contact us on (03) 5329 3293.

Thank you,

William Matthews, Alex Patterson, Lana Ford and Tahanyth Webster.

Planning for a safe and supportive school community

On Friday 18 March 2022, Phoenix P-12 Community College is participating in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). The NDA is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying.

The theme for the 2022 NDA is Kindness Culture. Phoenix P-12 Community College demonstrates Kindness Culture by promoting inclusiveness, respect and community belonging for all students.

Planning for a safe and supportive school community requires a whole-school community approach. Whole-school responses to bullying prevention build positive and supportive school environments by incorporating strategies for intervention at all levels, inclusive of students, teachers, parents and carers.

Three key characteristics outlined in the national definition of bullying distinguish bullying behaviours from other forms of peer aggression behaviours which do not constitute bullying. The key characteristics of bullying include:

1. power imbalance
2. deliberate intent to cause harm, and
3. ongoing and repeated behaviour.

While the following behaviours of peer aggression do not constitute bullying, these behaviours may still be serious and require intervention at home and at school:

• arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
• single acts of social rejection or meanness, or
• isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.

It is important for our entire school community, including our staff, parents, carers and students to have a clear understanding of the definition of bullying to be able to distinguish these behaviours from peer aggression, and correctly identify and respond to incidents of bullying.

The full national definition can be read here.

Knowing the types of bullying behaviour can also help you identify if the incident is bullying, or peer aggression. While neither of these behaviours are tolerated at Phoenix P-12 Community College, they do require different management strategies, and the first step for responding is to correctly identify the behaviour.

Bullying complaints will be taken seriously and responded to sensitively at our school. Students who may be experiencing bullying behaviour, or students who have witnessed bullying behaviour, are encouraged to report their concerns to school staff as soon as possible. If you believe the behaviour constitutes a crime, or is a serious incident of cyberbullying, please refer to the Bullying. No Way! website for information on how to report to other authorities and gaining further help.

You can read the Phoenix P-12 Community College bullying prevention policy https://phoenix.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-Bullying-and-Harassment-Policy.pdf  to learn more about our school’s process for managing incidents of bullying.

For more information, please visit the Bullying. No Way! website for additional resources.

The new animation series for the 2022 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA), Be Kind Online, encourages young people to block content, report it, and support each other if they see or experience cyberbullying.

The series communicates to young people that it is important they know that they are not alone and help is always available.

For Years 3 to 6

Video Platforms and Cyberbullying:

For Years 7 to 12

Consent to Share:

You can find more information at https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/

Additional Resources:

1. The eSafety Guide is a handy resource for parents/students to help them keep up with the ever increasing number of weird and wonderful apps they can often find themselves at: The eSafety Guide Website
2. A comprehensive parent guide on common problems young people can encounter when online and how parents can help them – Online Safety – A guide for parents and carers.
3. A guide for the parents of our little learners and how to help them build healthy relationships with technology and the online world – Early Years – Online safety for under 5s.

The Academy of Industry students are making dog kennels, similar to these images below, as part of a ‘Managing an Enterprise Project’.

These enclosures would suit a medium to large dog and very sturdy construction. They are made with a DuraGal steel frame base and weather resistant form ply for the front, back and base of kennel. These materials will make the kennels long lasting and very durable.

There are two sizes to choose from:

• 1200mm wide X 1500mm long X 1000mm high – $450
• 1200mm wide X 1500mm long X 800mm high – $450

Orders and payments can be made via Eftpos at the General Office.

For any further information about these kennels, please contact Brendan Johnston at the College on 03 5329 3293.

Basketball Ballarat are proud to announce that we will be once again running our Adroit Insurance & Risk Junior Holiday Camps which is perfect for the ages of 6-13 of all genders and abilities. The program will run on Wednesday April 20^th and Thursday April 21^st from 9:00am until 2:00pm at Selkirk Stadium (formally known as BSEC).

Improve your skills, develop techniques, enhance your game, meet new friends, and ultimately have fun! The camps are perfect for children aged between 6 and 13 years catering for the beginner who has never picked up a basketball to an experienced basketball player. For more information about the program please head to https://ballarat.nbl1.com.au/pages/adroit-insurance-risk-holiday-camps.

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 (up to 20 hours) courses 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.

Business Administration Skills

Administration supports all types of industries and allows you to work across all parts of the workforce. Develop your administration skills using Microsoft Applications and learn how to type business letters, emails, touch typing and book appointments.

The next class commences Wednesday 27^th April, 2022.

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.

12 noon on Friday 25^th March 2022 – Community Lunch – Voices of Victoria will be attending.

VCOSS want to hear of your experience and hopes of recovery from COVID-19.

What your needs are to live a good life post COVID-19.

Interviews will take place in a relaxed environment at the Ballarat neighbourhood Centre and will include a free lunch.

$20 Gift vouchers will be provided in recognition of your participation.

Bookings are essential – https://www.socialplanet.com.au/activity/view?id=2443

What’s happening?

No Interest Loans (NILS)

Borrow up to $5000 with NILS for the purchase of a vehicle that is used for transport.

This includes cars, motorcycles and mobility scooters. Please note this does not include recreational bikes, boats or caravans.

Vehicles can be purchased from a dealer or through a private sale.

Or perhaps you need a household appliance, a new laptop for school or your car registration is coming up?

Good Shepherd offers a lifeline with No Interest Loans up to $1500 available to eligible Australians.

• No interest
• No Fees
• No Charges

All money is transferred directly to the person. Check your eligibility or enquire today at: www.nhvic.org.au/nils, or phone 03 9606 0117, or email lee.kerr@nhvic.org.au

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.