Principal's Message
"Be The Best That You Can Be"
Another busy term at Wheelers Hill Secondary College!
As a College Community we have achieved so much this term. I am very proud of the way that families, students and staff have banded together so successfully in order to get through these challenging times that is Covid – 19.
The Department of Education and Training (or DET) have impressed on schools to maintain a high-quality teaching and learning program, together with managing and supporting student wellbeing and attendance during the Pandemic. I believe as a College Community we have done just that and we need to be proud of our achievements.
I would like to thank our hardworking and dedicated staff. The level of care and quality of teaching that they have afforded to our students throughout the Pandemic has been exceptional. Our staff are deserving of a well earned break these school holidays.
I would also like to thank our students who have simply been outstanding. Our students have worked so well with our staff during these challenging times. They have been resilient, resourceful, committed and positive throughout, and we thank them for doing their best with their studies. I wish our students a restful school holiday period.
Finally, I would like to thank our families – your support of us as a staff has been phenomenal. I have received a number of emails from families expressing their gratitude of us as staff. I really value the partnership we continue to have with our families to best support our students with their learning. I thank our families for your ongoing support of our great school.
The Class of 2021
We must turn our attention to our Year 12 students who are in their final year of study. As we know, their VCE years have been impacted by Covid – 19 and we as College are doing everything to support them. The impending school holiday period is a time for our Year 12 students to take stock, review their studies across their subjects and revise for the up and coming exams which commence in October this year. Despite the Pandemic, we do have some plans to continue to best recognise our Year 12 students within allowable restrictions, and we will share these plans in the near future. We wish our Year 12 students all the very best over the coming weeks.
Year 6 into 7 Transition, 2022
From our Year 12 students in their final year to our new Year 7 students who are about to start with us in 2022, it is an exciting time at Wheelers Hill Secondary College.
The Year 6 into 7 Transition Program continues to support our new Year 7 students and their families with a special ‘Meet and Greet Event’ (remote) planned for Thursday 7th of October. This will be a great opportunity for our new Year 7 students to meet some key members of staff and to learn a little bit more about their new school. The special ‘Meet and Greet Event’ will be followed up with a more formal Information Evening, Thursday 11th of November. Our successful Aspire, Challenge and Enrich (or ACE) Program will also continue in Year 7 in 2022.
Parent Surveys, Term 3
Thank you to parents and carers for completing the DET Parent Opinion Survey and the Parent – Teacher – Student Conferences (18 8 21) Survey throughout the term.
Parent / Carer feedback is important as it helps the College review existing programs, initiatives and events, together with helping the College develop and implement new ideas to support our students and Community. We will bring back some summary details of both Surveys in Term 4.
Welcome to WHSC
We welcome the following staff who are new to WHSC:
Fosia Mohamud – Mental Health Practitioner
Peter Ryan – VCAL Teacher
Sarah Fortnam – VCAL Trainer (Business Studies)
Andrew Noorbergen- IT Dept
All of our new colleagues have settled in well to WHSC and we thank them for the contribution they are making to the College Community.
As mentioned in a Compass post recently, the role of the Mental Health Practitioner is different to that of a Social Worker of Wellbeing Co-ordinator. Please see a summary of the role as part of this Newsletter.
The Principal Awards, Semester One, 2021
As mentioned recently on Compass, under normal circumstances, we would have held a Whole School Assembly to best recognise the student recipients of these Awards. Due to Covid - 19 and the Current Lockdown, a Whole School Assembly could not be held this term. What are The Principal Awards? - The Principal Awards recognise those students who are seen as ‘All Rounders’ given their involvement in many areas within the College, together with their ability to align with our College Values of Respect, Creativity and Excellence. These awards were developed based on student effort, achievement and involvement from Semester One, 2021.
We were determined to recognise student Award winners which resulted in us holding special remote Year Level Assemblies last week. It was at these special Assemblies that we were able to present the Awards to student recipients. We thank Sub School Leaders and Year Level Co-ordinators for their wonderful work in staging these special events. The Assemblies were very well received and they were an important part of what we do at the College to best acknowledge student effort, achievement and involvement. Well done to all involved. Congratulations to all student recipients of The Principal Awards from Semester One this year. A full list of Award winners can be found as part of this College Newsletter.
NAPLAN 2021
We were able to achieve some very pleasing NAPLAN results this year, and this is especially significant given that we have had to work through Covid – 19 over the last two years.
NAPLAN (or the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy) assesses students at Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 in the areas of Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation, Reading, Writing and Numeracy.
As a College, we are proud of the results. Targets were met. For example, our 2021 Annual Implementation Plan (or AIP) included Targets for Year 9 and they were met:
Year 9 Reading Top Two Bands
Year 9 Numeracy Top Two Bands
Year 9 Reading - higher High Growth and lower Low Growth
Year 9 Numeracy - higher High Growth and lower Low Growth
Gains and improvements were seen in many areas. Benchmark and Relative Growth data reveals stronger results in the Year 9 areas of Numeracy and Reading, while Writing results show we are above Like Schools at Year 9. Year 7 Top Two Bands for Numeracy and Writing were well above State and Like Schools.
Our very pleasing NAPLAN 2021 results have been the result of a wonderful team effort from all concerned – well done everyone.
Cycle 3 Reports and Last Day of Term 3
Families can expect Cycle 3 Reports to be distributed via Compass on Last Day of Term 3, Friday 17 9 21. Families are also advised that we will have an early dismissal of 2.30pm on the Last Day of Term 3.
In Closing………..
Planning for 2022 is well underway. We are further developing our program and timetabling requirements to best cater for student needs. Staffing requirements are also being considered. Planning moving into any new year is significant and I thank our leaders and staff for their work here.
We await further information from the authorities as to what might happen at the conclusion of the Current Lockdown which is Thursday 23 9 21. The Victorian State Premier, Mr. Daniel Andrew, is to give a news conference this Sunday (19 9 21) outlining the State’s new road map to re-opening and an easing of restrictions. We will bring any information and updates to our College Community as soon as we are able. We all hope that we return to on site Teaching and Learning as soon as possible.
Stay safe and connected everyone. Get vaccinated where you are able to do so. Maintain a positive, hopeful and optimistic outlook as much as you can. Once again, our ability to work through the Pandemic as well as what he have has been outstanding and I cannot speak highly enough of our College Community – we all should be very proud of how well we have supported one another.
I hope that you have a restful and enjoyable school holiday period everyone.
Regards,
Aaron Smith
College Principal
Wheelers Hill Secondary College