Principal's News

The Twilight Open Evening and Careers Expo was a tremendous success thanks to the hard work and dedication of many staff and students. The Careers Expo is a wonderful opportunity for our students to gain access to and have the chance to discuss with the post secondary school providers the requirements to gain access to their courses. Defence Forces, Universities, TAFEs, Apprenticeship providers, Group Training organisations, they were all here during the day for the benefit of the Year 12, 11 and our Year 10 students from Catholic Regional Colleges St Albans, North Keilor and Caroline Springs.

The Year 10 students spend time at Sydenham during the day exploring the campus with student and staff guides, hearing about the various subject offerings available as they start to make choices for next year and attending the Careers Expo. There are very few schools that can secure all of the post secondary providers to their school. These organisations receive many requests but given the number of students at most schools they traditionally attend the larger Careers Expo events or require students to go to their Open Days. With almost 1500 students through the expo during the school day and another 3500-4000 people on site in the evening at Catholic Regional College Sydenham, the event is a massive undertaking and very much worthwhile for all involved.

The Learning Areas at the College join the exhibition space with students currently enrolled in subjects on hand with staff who teach the subjects to explain what each Learning Area offers and answer any questions. There were displays, activities, many students on hand to answer questions and the opportunity for families to work through what can be a confusing time for students and parents alike.

The announcement of a new book hire scheme and the new BYOD (bring your own device) program coupled with the launch of the New York Study Tour & reimagined Italy Tour saw families attending the required information sessions in The Crate receive information and insights.

Year 10 students who have enrolled at the College received their subject selection information so as to be able to select their course for 2017 and 2018. Many Year 9 families also attended the Twilight evening to avail themselves of the opportunity to learn more about the senior secondary pathways available. Those students who undertake a course of study at Sydenham while still in year 10 have a range of opportunities to select from to enhance their results as they progress through the College.

NEW COMPULSARY CHILD SAFE STANDARDS

Child safe standards are being introduced for all Victorian schools from 1 August 2016. The College has been working on the compliance for the new standards for some time. During July, every school Principal was required to complete:

• an online compliance self-assessment against the child safe standards as set out in Ministerial Order No. 870, and
• a statutory declaration, declaring that the information provided was true and correct.

Since then we have been working diligently on a School Action Plan to ensure the College maintains the highest standard for protection for all young people in our care and specifically those aged under 18 years. to help schools achieve compliance.

All Victorian schools have to meet a minimum standard for the care, safety and welfare of children. While we have a range of policies and procedures to promote child safety and minimise the risk of harm to students, the new Ministerial Order and Standards increase expectations for all in schools not just those who have been mandated to report in the past like registered teachers.

The new child safe standards, being introduced for all schools from the 1 August 2016, require us to build on these existing policies, procedures and practices and commit to zero tolerance for child abuse. The standards are about protecting children which is the responsibility of every person in a community.   

Parents should know that the College has been reviewing and reworking our key governance documents –vision and mission statements, as well as relevant policies and procedures around student safety and wellbeing to capture the zero tolerance message of the child safe standards. The inculcation of all in our community will follow with training, induction and building the capacity of staff, students and families to understand how to further enhance and ensure the safety of children.

The specific areas for focus that may differ slightly from previous undertakings will see us as a community look to ensure we:

• develop and  maintain community knowledge and expertise from our staff, families, Parishes, College Council and all who may come into contact with young people at this College;
• record the school’s commitment to zero tolerance for child abuse by way of a change to our Mission and Vision Statements which have been included with this newsletter;
• introduce a newly developed a child safety code of conduct for all staff and train staff in their understanding of this code of conduct;
• modify the recruitment processes to include questions, documentation and a commitment to the code of conduct when employing any person at the College;
• introduce a new policy that outlines how volunteers and contractors are inducted and approved to undertake their role at the College;
• work with students through our Pastoral Care Program so as to increase student knowledge and empowerment. This is especially important in senior secondary so that our students might support and provide peer support to others especially younger students;
• engage with you, our families, in parent-school partnership programs which will incorporate this significant requirement. Your input and involvement is encouraged and most welcome as we embark on the new partnership initiative. We are committed to making certain that safety of our young people is a whole of school community undertaking and this must include in making some decisions around child safety as well as the promulgation of the policies so that they are truly lived out;
• have processes and protocols in place that will allow all to know that we have timely and appropriate responses to child abuse incidents and allegations; and
• we have also made a number of modifications, as was appropriate, to the school’s physical environment including replacing doors with full glass panel doors.

By working together and making the necessary changes we can commit to zero tolerance for child abuse and ensure that Victoria’s children are safe and supported. I am sure that every family will agree that this is one of the most important undertakings any community can make and together, we can ensure it is a reality for all children.

Video explaining the Child Safe Standards - Catholic Regional College Sydenham

Much work has been done to ensure that the College continues to be a safe environment for all. The Ministerial Order detailing Child Safe Standards that all schools have been required to comply with and address saw the College engage staff in a series of discussions launched with the video below. Families will receive more information on policy and procedural changes as we continue to review our practices. All young people should feel safe at school and a zero tolerance approach to child sexual abuse is long overdue. The staff of Catholic Regional College Sydenham welcome this new legislation and hope that all children across Victoria will be safe from harm as a result. 

NEW YORK AND ITALIAN STUDY TOURS

INFORMATION EVENING

The information evening for the two international study tours was  held at the College in The Crate Theatre on Monday 8 August from 7pm. Deposits are due for both the Italian and the New York Study Tours now. Applications were available for collection from the stall at Twilight Open Evening. The following provides some details for families so that you might consider these opportunities if you missed the information on the night of the Twilight Open Evening.

Parenting Adolescents 

The College has been provided access to a range of resources for familimes which we will make available through this online newsletter each fortnight. From short videos to information sheet and support strategies as we approach the exam period. The tips, tricks and ideas are designed to support schools and families to work collaboratively for the benefit of the young person. We hope you find the range of resources useful and informative. 

Breendan J Watson OAM

Principal of Catholic Regional College Sydenham