NEWSLETTER: Dandenong campus (December 2005)

The 'let us know' list

1. If any of your contact details have changed, please let us know.
2. If you are planning to have contact with your student outside of SAIL hours you must let us know first and complete the contact request form.
3. If you intend to bring a friend to SAIL please direct them to the website first and direct them to apply online or just let us know beforehand.
4. Let us know if you are going to miss a Saturday by email, phone or the "Can't Come Sheet"- now also online here!
5. Please check and read your emails each week- if possible, Friday is best!
6. Please let us know before you speak publicly or publish an article about SAIL.

Docking for summer

For your diaries, SAIL 05 will end on 17 December. This will lead us into the only SAIL break for the year before we jump back on board for SAIL 06 on 18 February 2006. We sincerely hope you have a good reinvigorating break in preparation for 2006. If you are going to be away for the first sessions of 2006, please let us know via the online can’t come form.

SAIL Santa

There is rumour that SAIL’s-special-strictly-secular Santa may be making an appearance for the final SAIL of the year. Matthew and Jackie are currently in negotiations with his head elf and provisions are being made for the arrivals of the reindeer. Tutors need not bring presents for their students as Santa has taken care of everything. If, however, tutors decide to bring presents anyway please do so quietly and away from the other students. The festivities will begin at about 12noon and SAIL should be awash with all the discarded wrapping paper by 1pm.

Visitor this week

This week Pam Luizzi from the Refugee Education Partnership Project (REPP) will be visiting the Dandenong Campus to conduct some short interviews with SAILors regarding their perceptions of SAIL as a homework support program. She will be interviewing a small group of students about their experiences of SAIL – Jackie will let you know if your student/s will be involved. These will be conducted in a quiet spot outside, and we will endeavour to ensure the process causes as little disruption as possible. Pam will using this information to develop a training program for volunteer tutors, amongst other things, and hence would also be interested in talking with a couple of SAIL tutors. Please let Jackie know if you would be interested to contribute to Pam’s research.

Anonymous text messages

One curious mobile development has been the rise in the number of anonymous text messages. While we all like to entertain the idea of countless secret admirers, it would be great if all SAILors could please put their name at the end of any text to us including Bronwyn, Transport Coordinator.

Funding for passionate SAILors

Through a generous donation from a former SAILor, we are thrilled to put out the call to SAILors one and all that we have limited funds available to support Sudanese SAILors in extra-curricula pursuits about which they are both passionate and involved. If your Sudanese SAILor buddy has shown an interest in an activity for which there is a small amount of money required (ie shoes for sport, metcards to get to a drama program), please let any of us know by email. This is an ongoing offer, so please keep it in mind.

Christmas Carols – SAIL About excursion

Ever wanted to see Ray Martin in the flesh? Well, it goes to show you are human. We all do, only some of us are too coy to admit it. And here’s your opportunity!

The RVIB Carols by Candlelight happen every year at the Myer Music Bowl. While many SAILors attend with their Sudanese SAILors in tow each year any way, we are making an effort to co-ordinate the trip this year for the rehearsal night. The rehearsal night will be held from 4pm on Friday 23 December 2005. SAIL will gladly pay for an unreserved seating place for the rehearsal night for any SAILor and their Sudanese SAILor buddies. If you are interested, please email Matthew at sail@africanoz.com.

Real-life Police Academy

As if we have not often enough opportunities to fulfill life-long dreams (did we mention Ray Martin in the flesh yet?), try this for size: SAIL has been offered an exclusive tour of the Victoria Police Academy. The tour will take place on Tuesday 24 January 2006 from 10:30am including access to the mock siege set, the cars and the training facilities. There are a number of older SAILors who will be invited to join the tour as a career-guidance exercise, but there are some places still available for the date. If you and some SAILors you know would like to join this exclusive tour, please email Matthew at sail@africanoz.com.

Library News

If you have any questions about how the collection works, the stickers system, where to find a particular picture book, Dinka dictionary, stationery for your pen pal letters, mailbox, atlas etc....please ask us in the library!

Totally Trivia

The average age of Australia’s Sudanese community is 30.8 years compared with 46.0 for all overseas-born Australians and 35.6 years for the total Australian population.

Thank you for being part of the magnificent success of SAIL 05. We hope you will join us when the journey continues for SAIL 06!

Matthew and Jackie