PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Thank you and have a happy holiday period
Thank you to the whole school community for working together to make 2022 a great year. We cannot underestimate the challenges that being back face-to-face at school this year has brought with it. We have had to support our young people to rediscover their ‘learning fitness’ and get back into good habits that promote connection and learning.
I want to thank the entire staff at SCSC for their dedicated efforts at all times to working to support our students. Your commitment and moral purpose that you bring to your work daily is commendable and I know that the students and their families appreciate this so much.
To our families, thank you for working in partnership with us to meet the needs of your young people. Whilst the road can sometimes be rocky, when working together we are far more likely to succeed with a team around a student. As we close off this year, I wish you all a safe and happy holiday period. Enjoy the time with friends and family and unwinding from the efforts of the year. We look forward to seeing you all back in 2023 after a good break.
Starting Strong in 2023
I will be sending some more detailed communications to families via Compass about some important focus areas for next year. We are committed to ensuring that we are all working to achieve consistency of high expectations for our students to create a positive and safe environment where students can engage well with each other and learn to the best of their ability.
Some important focus areas for the College community for starting off 2023 well are:
Uniform – please take the time over the Summer break to conduct a stock take on uniform. Students should have a formal uniform as well as an active uniform. Students can choose to wear the active uniform on a daily basis to be comfortable at school if that is what they choose, but they must have the formal uniform to wear on formal occasions. Please note that Dickies brand pants are not accepted as a uniform item as grey pants at the College.
Locks on Lockers – at times, students are not locking their lockers with a lock. This is a safety issue and as some of the lockers are outdoors, the ravens (yes, birds) can often get into them and pull papers/books out and ruin student work and create a mess. Please ensure that your child has a lock for their locker in 2023 as we will be ensuring that these are utilised at all times next year.
Attendance - Be at school, every day, on time – attending school daily and being on time for school will also be a focus for 2023. Some families may have met with the Sub-School Leader or Learning Community Leader of their child to make an Attendance Support Plan if your child has been noted as having irregular attendance. Students miss significant opportunities if they are not at school, so being here daily is so important. We will also be focusing on following up lateness in 2023 and inviting families in to make an improvement plan to support your child if they are demonstrating that they are struggling in this area.
Thank you and farewell
The College will be saying farewell to a number of staff who will not be with us in 2023. We thank them for their service to the College and wish them well in the next chapters of their lives:
Peter Gunning – taking leave for 2023.
Megan Wyatt – taking leave for 2023.
Adam Micallef – taking leave for 2023.
Daniel Lacey – Daniel will be taking up some work closer to home in Melbourne.
Sophie Bergin – Sophie will also be taking up employment at a school closer to home.
Noah Scott – Noah will be engaging in some travel in 2023 and exploring working overseas.
Mark Dooley – Mark will stay connected to education but also enjoy some family time.
Ben Collyer – Ben will stay connected to education but also enjoy some family time.
Patrick Hutchinson – Patrick is moving back to Melbourne and taking up employment there.
Rory Quinn – Rory has gained a graduate teaching position at Colac Secondary College.
Luci Reuben – congratulations to Luci who has been successful in gaining a leadership position (cannot disclose where as a matter of process yet). This is a wonderful opportunity for her and we thank Luci for all of her work in setting up an exceptional VCAL/Vocational Major program for us at SCSC and her valued contributions as an Indonesian Teacher also over her 8 years at SCSC.
Jess Rowbottom – congratulations to Jess who has secured a leadership position at Lara Secondary College. Jess has been instrumental in the Disability and Inclusion work of the College during 2022 and a fabulous leader and teacher in her 8 years at SCSC.
Annaleise Reid – Annaleise was a foundation staff member of SCSC back in 2012. Annaleise has been an integral member of the leadership team through her time at SCSC and her legacy will live on here in many of the programs that she was fundamental to the success of. We wish her all the best as she takes on a new leadership challenge at a new school in 2023.
Brad Foss – Brad was also a foundation member of the SCSC team in 2012. Brad has brought a level of experience, positivity, and strength of character to his time at SCSC. There would not be a staff member at SCSC that has not learned from Brad, not only about how to be a great teacher, but how to bring a strong moral purpose to the job and just be an all-round fabulous person. We will all miss you terribly.
To our entire community, please stay safe and enjoy the time with your families over the summer break.
Erin Wright
College Principal