GREATER SHEPPARTON COLLEGE – PLANNING THE NEXT STEPS

Shepparton’s four secondary schools merge as of January next year to create the Greater Shepparton College (interim name). I’m the Executive Principal, and I want to keep you updated about how we are preparing for that. The merger will be staged over two years. We have created a School Council Advisory Group to assist the four existing school councils and school community with that upcoming transition.

What is a School Council Advisory Group?

This group represents the school community (school staff, students, parents and community) with 18 representatives.

Who is involved?

One parent/community representative from each of the current four secondary school councils
Four principals (one from each of the existing secondary schools)
One Department of Education & Training (DET) staff member from each of the current four secondary schools
Four student representatives, one from each of the four secondary schools
Executive Principal
DET Senior Education Improvement Leader

What do they do?

Contribute to designing the new school uniform and branding
Propose the make-up of the interim school council which will operate in 2020
Assist with the process of naming the new school
Help develop the new school’s vision and values
Work with existing secondary school councils to plan how to honour their schools’ histories
Communicate back to each of the four current school councils regarding the merger process

How often are their meetings?

We will meet every four to six weeks.

Who makes the final decisions?

The school council advisory group provides advice and recommendations to the existing four school councils, who make the final decisions.

When will this group start?

Our first meeting was held in April 2019 and will continue until the end of the year when the new interim school council starts operating.

Financial Support for new school uniform

Minister for Education James Merlino visited Mooroopna Secondary College on 16 May 2019 to announce a one-off only payment for students enrolled with Greater Shepparton College (interim name) in 2020, to assist with the cost of a new school uniform.

All government school students enrolled at Greater Shepparton College (interim name) will be provided with a $200 voucher to be redeemed at local uniform suppliers, so that all students can be wearing a consistent school uniform from the start of next year as we progress with our single school model. This voucher will provide each student with a uniform package consisting of two sets of summer uniform and one set of summer sports uniform.

Parents and students from the four current secondary schools are undertaking a joint process to design the new school uniform. Families will receive their uniform vouchers during Term 4 this year.

Next Round of Information Sessions

Greater Shepparton College’s (interim name) vision is to give students the knowledge and skills to thrive throughout their lives.

As a school, we recognise that each student has different strengths, interests and ways of learning and to support these different styles we have developed a broad-based curriculum that will cater to all students. Our focus must be aspirational, for all of our young people and with a strong health and wellbeing focus.

We held Year 7 information sessions during May 2019 at McGuire College which appeared to go very well. Our next round of information sessions will be oriented towards Year 8-9 students in 2020, and then Year 10-12 students in 2020.

Come and hear about our programs for next year. Dates and locations follow.

Day & Date	2020 Year Levels	Time	Location
Wednesday 12th June 2019	Years 8 and 9	6.30-7.30pm	Shepparton High School 31-71 Hawdon Street, Shepparton
Thursday 13th june 2019	Years 8 and 9	6.30-7.30pm	Mooroopna Secondary College Echuca Road, Mooroopna
Monday 24th june 2019	Years 10, 11 and 12	6.30-7.30pm	Wanganui Park Secondary College Parkside Drive, Shepparton
Tuesday 25th June 2019	Years 10, 11 and 12	6.30-7.30pm	McGuire College 92-100 Wilmot Road, Shepparton

The school leaders and I look forward to meeting you.

Regards,

Genevieve Simson

Executive Principal, Greater Shepparton College (interim name)

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