PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

It’s been a terrific start to Term 2 for our Western Heights College community. I was truly proud of our college community on day one of the term as we paused as a school to reflect and commemorate ANZAC Day.  Our student leaders and College Captains led a very moving service as we reflected on what the ANZAC spirit means to us as a school community. 

ANZAC spirit encompasses the values of courage, integrity, loyalty and teamwork – 4 values very closely aligned with our values here at Western Heights College - Community, Integrity and Courage. During the assembly the students were asked how they could show ANZAC spirit every day, here at WHC by trying to do their best at school, at home and with their learning. By taking pride in everything they do and never giving up, even if the task is difficult or challenging. By showing courage and learning from mistakes and standing up for yourself and others by always saying no to bullying or from being a bystander. We asked our school community to have integrity. Know what is right and wrong and choose to do the right thing whilst committing to teamwork and working together at school, at home and in our community. Show loyalty to ourselves and have belief that we can achieve all our dreams and goals. 

ANZAC Day is an important day on our annual calendar and at Western Heights College, and we will always stop to remember the significance of the day and the ANZAC spirit that embodies it so deeply.

Welcome to our community

At the start of term, we welcome several new staff to our community. Devlin Wollstein who joins our mathematics program from Carranballac College, Lucas Wintels who joins our Health and Physical Education Team (Lucas most recently managed the Altona Sport Stadium), Emily Gibson who joins our team of education support staff in classrooms supporting students, and Aimie Rocci returns to Western Heights College to the basketball program after captaining the Flyers in the WNBL for season 2022/2023. We wish them all well in their roles.

Professional Learning Day 

Our college will have our second whole staff professional learning day on Friday 9 June. This day will be a pupil-free day for students. Monday 12 June is a public holiday for the King's Birthday.

Marrung Educational Scholarship

Congratulations to Year 11 student Caitlin Charles who was recently awarded a prestigious Marrung Education Scholarship. Caitlin was recently presented with the award in Melbourne by Vicki Ward MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Schools, and Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, President of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI). Caitlin is a wonderful leader within our community and we are so very proud of her.

Learning Conversations attendance

It was pleasing to see so many of our families use this event to reinforce the partnership we share in forming successful learning pathways for our students. From my observations and feedback provided throughout the sessions, the interviews and conversations were valued by parents and students and the mood was very positive. Thank you for your attendance.

Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS)

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of Western Heights College. 

The AtoSS is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general. This survey has been running for nearly 20 years and is invaluable in helping schools understand student views, to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience. The survey responses also help the Department of Education understand how students' learning experiences can be improved.

Your child will be invited to complete the survey online during class time using a purpose-built secure online survey tool in the next few weeks. It is important to note that we are not in any way “testing” your child. Please note:

• Student participation in the survey is voluntary and students may withdraw at any time.
• The survey will take around 20-45 minutes to complete.

Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey from their teacher. The student login is an assigned identifier that may be used to link data for statistical and research purposes only. Personally identifiable data will not be recorded in the survey response file to ensure the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times.

The survey results will be reported back to the school in aggregate form throughout the survey period. All survey data that is made available in reports are for groups of students only so that no individual student can be identified. 

We annually share these results to students, parents and each year’s annual report.

Interschool Athletics

Congratulations to all students who are so superbly representing our college today at the Geelong division of SSV Athletics Championships. I am looking forward to hearing some of the results from the event at the end of today (Thursday) and celebrating these results in our next newsletter. Well done to all students and staff who competed today, we are certainly very proud of you.

COVID Safe and Colds and Flu Season

COVID Safe and colds and flu measures are still in place in all schools and remain the same as those communicated at the start of the year. The Compass newsfeed remains available to read for those requiring information on reporting and isolation requirements. With the colder weather now returning, we may start to see more disruptions as staff and students are required to isolate. Thank you for your ongoing support in reminding your children about implementing COVID Safe measures both at school and in other settings.

Keep smiling and enjoy your weekend,

Fiona Taylor

Principal

Child Safety at WHC

Western Heights College is a child safe organisation committed to protecting students from all forms of abuse.

Our College has stringent protocols in place and endeavours at all times to be fully compliant with the Child Safe Standards set out under Ministerial Order 870.

Our College has the following documents and policies in place to achieve compliance with the Standards. All of these documents are available for downloading on our website or contact the school for a copy. 

1.       Commitment to Child Safety

2.       Child Safety Policy

3.       Child Safety Code of Conduct

4.       Child Protection Policy and Procedures

Annual privacy policy reminder for 2023

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.(found on the college's webpage)

Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice, found on our website. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents and carers on the webpage. This information is also available in 10 community languages:

* Amharic

* Arabic

* Dari

* Gujarati

* Mandarin

* Somali

* Sudanese

* Turkish

* Urdu

* Vietnamese.