“‘How do I succeed?’ ‘What can I do to fit in?’ As a teacher I am faced with these questions every day,” explains teacher Sophie Stamatelatos from South Oakleigh College about students arriving from Greece before they start the new school year.
“The advice I give to newly arrived students from Greece is no different to the advice I give to students of all backgrounds and to my own children at home, and that is don’t be afraid to develop a strong work ethic. Chase those dreams and don’t let go but understand that anything you want badly enough involves work.”
About 40 per cent of the students at South Oakleigh College are from Greece and in the past six months, the teacher said, there have been about 30 new arrivals.
She said the best way to get involved in the school and the Australian educational way of life is to immerse yourself in every opportunity that comes your way.
“Whether it’s participating in the Greek Parade, dancing the zorba for Harmony Day, volunteering for a leadership role or taking part in a maths competition, you don’t know what talent lies within you unless you try.”
The College places a large focus on leadership and mentoring roles. The Student Representative Council organises many fundraising and social activities including Harmony Day. The Peer Support Program involves forty Year 10 students mentoring Year 7 students, helping them make the transition to high school.
School house captain Nick Trepca, who is of Greek background and a recent arrival to Australia, encourages all students to participate.
“Students should not be afraid to show leadership. You don’t know what you can achieve if you try,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
The school encourages all students, not only new arrivals, to be proud of their culture. This year students will be taking part in the Greek National Day Parade and student competition on Pontos, and visiting Fronditha in Clayton. In 2011, Sophie Stamatelatos and her Year 8 class won the best film in the Antipodes Student Film Festival. L.O.T.E co-ordinator Phyllis Dimakakos and her students won a free trip to Crete where they performed a play on the theme ‘Migration’.
Both teachers want their students to hold the Greek flag with pride, respecting everything Australia has to offer and remembering the sacrifices of their ancestors.
As part of Harmony Day this year, students wore traditional costumes, performed songs and dances and shared food from different cultures. A broad range of cultures was celebrated including those from Greece, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Vietnam, India and Philippines.
English/EAL teacher Mr Ioannidis said: “We’re currently studying the theme ‘Identity and Belonging’ in English. I’m so proud of all my students. The Greek students danced the zorba and played a rebetiko song and my Cook Island and Filipino students sang traditional songs.
“It was encouraging to see so many students respecting the culture of other countries. The Student Representative Council and the teachers involved have done a brilliant job in bringing unity and culture to our College.”
English and learning coach co-ordinator, Chris Melki-Wegner, organised a visit to the college from the author of the novel Chasing the Valley. They conducted writing workshop classes to develop the creativity and narrative techniques of the Year 7 and Year 8 students. Students were given a tool box of skills to produce and publish a narrative piece which will be distributed amongst all students at the school. These skills helped one student achieve the highest mark possible in the University of New South Wales Writing Competition in the Year 12 category, beating both public and private schools.
“It is important to read and critique the work of other students. By reading the work of others in English and Greek I can improve my writing,” stated Year 8 student Katherine Demosthenous, who has a love and talent for creative writing.
* South Oakleigh College will be holding an open night Thursday 27 March at 7:00 pm at the college, Bakers Rd, South Oakleigh. For any details please ring Year 7 Transition Co-ordinator, Mark Picone on (03) 95792322.