From the Principal
Dear, Parents, Staff, Students and Friends
I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter break. As I greeted our students on their return, many expressed a great sense of excitement and happiness in returning after the holiday break, which is of course, music to my ears. Students have a strong sense of belonging to our school community due to the many engaging and challenging programs we offer, and the special friendships they make with their teachers and other students. This is why attendance at school is so strong, allowing students to excel and achieve their full potential in learning. Already in the first weeks of term our students are doing us proud.
Students Honour Australian Defence Forces in Anzac Day Services
Last week our students participated in very moving Anzac Day events. A special thank you to Mr Russell and the students, Jacob Massey Chase (Year 12), Bart Heeren (Year 12), Tyler Smith (Year 12) and Jack Rabbidge (Year 11), who presented to members of the Frankston RSL last Wednesday to honour all former and current service men and women.
On Thursday, the school held Anzac assemblies. Mr Russell, and a team of students who are passionate about history, shared the story of the landing and bloody battle at Gallipoli. Jack Green (Year 10), led the Vocal Ensemble in providing a very emotional rendition of ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ followed by Molly Ash (Year 9), singing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ with Anzac crafted lyrics that pulled at our heart strings, as we remembered the many Australians who, in the past and more recently, have lost their lives at war. Stella Cowan (Year 9) read her poem, written as a tribute to the ANZACs that you will have the pleasure of reading in this newsletter. Students acknowledged the reverence of this occasion by standing for the last post with a minute’s silence. Thank you to Ms Sally Bredin and Ms Peta Laughlin for the music and to Mrs Sarah Bahramis on the organisation of the assemblies.
On Saturday, 25 April, Mr Russell also inspired our students, Olivia Wood (Year 12), Tyler Smith (Year 12), Jacob Massey Chase (Year 12), Jack Rabbidge Year 11), Jonathan Van Toor (Year 11), Emily Smith (Year 10), Lillian Wells (Year 10), Skyla Jennings (Year 10), Bridin Walker (Year 10), Tyler Goodridge (Year 9), Eilis Peters (Year 9), Sian Nugent (Year 9), Eily Walker (Year 8) and Jade Roberts (Year 8), to represent Frankston High School by speaking at the Dawn Service in Frankston followed by participating in the march. Such very special experiences for these students who were outstanding representatives for our school. Our talented art students produced a stunning piece of artwork for the local Anzac commemorations.
History Club Members: Hot on the Trail of World War 1
Ms Robinson, like Mr Russell, is another passionate teacher of history. She has involved her History Club members in an active investigation of a previously unknown Frankston soldier; Private Arthur Ernest Bolger. Private Bolger grew up in Frankston and was just 3 days into his first tour of duty when he was killed during the Gallipoli campaign. The History Club, in collaboration with the Frankston RSL sub-branch, have undertaken an investigation to tell the story of this great Frankston man’s life. A special mention to Ilya Glinin (Year 8) who spent the school holidays researching online records for two medals belonging to Private Bolger. The Frankston Leader have featured our students great historical endeavours in a two page spread. If you would like to read this article, it is in the Frankston Leader online paper published on 20 April 2015.
Learning Culture of Excellence Built on Motto, Vision, Values and our New Mission!
We are so fortunate to have a learning culture of excellence at Frankston High School where teachers and parents join together to inspire our students to be the best they can be. Our students respond by doing their best always, often exceeding the high expectations of our teachers and parents. Our learning culture of excellence is guided by a strong ethos delivered by our Motto, Vision, Values and most recently, our newly introduced Mission statement.
Motto: Optima Semper (Best Always): In our community everyone lives and learns by this motto because we know that when we do our personal best, we will become the finest people we can be.
A few years ago we introduced the school’s vision: ‘Together we become purposeful
learners’ which is underpinned by our school values (Respect, Responsibility, Persistence, Integrity, Empathy and Optimism). Our students are taught about our values by teachers and parents and show behaviours which uphold our values which then allows them to be purposeful learners in all that they do.
However more recently we realised that we were yet to clearly identify the attributes that are required by a purposeful learner. Consequently, we developed our very recently published Mission statement which describes the attributes our students need to develop if they are to become successful learners in the 21st Century. Times are rapidly changing and we need to change how we teach and learn in order for optimal acquisition of these attributes to occur. Our mission is:
At this stage, our Student Leadership team has been working on understanding the Mission and preparing to present their understandings to the wider school community. Discussions about the motto, vision, values and mission have also been undertaken with all Year 7 students. Over the ensuing newsletters we will discuss in greater depth, each of the attributes and how each is reliant on constantly improving our learning culture, to ensure each of our students, upon graduation, are demonstrating each school attribute and value exceptionally well. In class, students will also be learning about our Mission as the year progresses.
In Conclusion
I am looking forward to catching up with many students, parents and friends at the Debutante Ball, Chaplaincy Dinner, and at our magnificent production of Hairspray just to mention a few of the wonderful events on offer at our great school.
Mr John Albiston