HPSC Newshamper

Principal's Report

It is a busy time at the college. Our curriculum programs are in full swing, we have commenced our School Review, we have been fielding enrolment enquiries, implementing professional learning to further build staff capacity including implementing Professional Learning Community (PLC’s), supporting students who may be isolating, preparing for the Year 7 Explore Transition Camp, continuing rehearsals to help prepare for our school production of Aladdin Jr. and much more!

 

School Council

Thank you to the following parents who have nominated to join our School Council for 2022. 

We welcome Kerry-Anne Fisher as a new parent representative.

Our 2022 Council will comprise of the following members

  • Luke Delutis- President
  • Wayne Haworth- Executive Officer
  • Vicky Methven- Parent Rep
  • Kakoli Rawat- Parent Rep
  • Kerri Sumner- Parent Rep
  • Kerry- Anne Fisher- Parent Rep
  • Paul Broecker- Staff Rep
  • Kelly Krieg- Staff Rep
  • Rabecca Mphande- Staff Rep
  • Carlos Macasarte - Student Rep
  • Fareshta Karimi- Student Rep 
  • Max Eldridge- observer
  • Ayman Youssef- observer
  • Andrea Philipsen- Business Manager

 

Thanks to Mr Paul Broecker for his leadership in creating an Education Sub-Committee of the School Council. This Sub-Committee will meet monthly and engage in discussion and provide feedback about the learning programs offered to students. Thank you to all parents involved.

I look forward to working with you as we strive to further improve our learning community.

I wish to take the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank the following members for their contribution to our School Council for 2021 staff included Karen Shiel, Lynda Carter, Melissa Crocombe and Wendy Gates.

 

Explore Program Year 7 to Lady Northcote

This week, our Year 7 Explore students and staff are excited as they head to Lady Northcote Camp. This fantastic camp is a place where students can enjoy the great outdoors, challenge themselves and strengthen connections with their peers and staff. I am looking forward to hearing the stories and seeing photos of fun and joy. Thank you to Mr Brad Andrews and the Year 7 Team for their leadership in planning, organising, and facilitating this important event. 

 

Curriculum Day- 11th March

The staff focus of the Curriculum Day on Friday 11th March will be on Curriculum Planning and documentation. This will include undertaking more work on the Teaching and Learning framework at HPSC, deepening our work on Learning Dispositions, and further discussions on School Wide Positive Behaviours. On this day Michael Francis from Melbourne University will be working with staff on Assessment. 

 

School Values- Respect, Learning and Working Together

Students are adjusting to returning to face-to-face learning. For our Explore Program students in Year 7, the last time they had a year of interrupted learning was when they were in grade 4; For our Year 9 students, it was when they were in Year 7. The adjustments for some students can be significant, for others less so. These adjustments can be in the form of routines and learning but also in relation to social development. During this transition stage and into the future it is vital that we come back to our school values of Respect, Learning and Working Together as these should always underpin our work.

 

Everyone deserves the right to be shown Respect and in turn, must show respect to self, others and to our environment. Respect is not only in person but extends into the online space and cyber safety which are equally important.

 

Everyone has a right to Learning and to achieve success. The opportunities for success are enhanced when students attend school often and on time. It is not okay to be away. Absence creates gaps in learning and disadvantages students. Maintaining a high level of attendance improves opportunities for success via excellence.

 

By Working Together (as part of a team), we can achieve more. Working together helps to develop the skills of collaboration, compromise and understanding. These skills have been consistently noted as forming part of the 21st century skills vital for success in our fast-changing world.

 

Parents and carers play a vital role in re-enforcing these values.

 

Cyber Safety

On the 17th March guest speakers have been arranged to visit our college to reinforce the important message around social cohesion and cyber safety. 

 

Senior School Information Evening- Wednesday 16th March

All staff at the college are highly committed to improving outcomes for our senior students. Although we do have many high performing students, too many students miss vital learning opportunities. On Wednesday 16th March 6.30pm to 8.00pm in the RPAC, I request the attendance of all parents/carers and students of Years 10-12 VCE and VCAL. With a strong partnership between the school and families, together we will raise expectations and outcomes for our students. I look forward to seeing you there.

 

Student leadership

Our student leaders play a significant and vital role at our college.  Modelling positive behaviour, showing initiative, proposing new ideas and providing feedback are some aspects of their work.

 

Congratulations to our Students leaders for their work in leading our first whole school assembly a few weeks ago.  

 

Recently, several student leaders attended the Secondary Youth Leadership Conference. Thank you to Ms Aria Sunga and Ms Saira Qureshi for supporting our student leaders. 

Our student leaders are currently in the planning stage of our Anzac Day Commemoration Assembly which will take place early in Term 2.

 

Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS)

I have previously mentioned how as a school we are very lucky to have been offered a place in the Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) Program, as only 100 school across Victoria were accepted into this program. Physical and mental health and wellbeing of young people is vital, and this program adds to the suite of wellbeing services offered to our students. In partnership with the local Southern Cross Medical Centre in Hampton Park, three Doctors comprising of male and female GP’s will work on a roster, sharing the work to support our students. A Doctor will be on site each Thursday for appointments. I am expecting this program and the new DiSS building to be fully operational by the end of this week.   

 

Bike Safety

To ensure bicycle safety, it is law in Victoria for all cyclists to wear a bike helmet. This expectation extends to all students at HPSC.  Also, all students must check to ensure that their bike is roadworthy; this includes fully functional brakes. All bike riders must bring a bike lock to ensure that their bike remains secure throughout the day. Spot checks will be made to ensure that all students riding a bike to school are staying safe and meeting expectations. From the start of Term 2, all students wishing to ride a bike to school must apply for a bike pass. More details will be available soon about this.      

 

Thank you for your continued support of our college.

 

Wayne Haworth,

Principal