Succcessful Swimming Carnival

This week I think we had the very best swimming carnival we've ever had! A big statement, I know, but the sun shone, but not too much, the water was warm, but not too hot, and the competition was fierce but not too aggressive. There were so many smiling faces as the children and staff enjoyed the opportunity to be out in the fresh air and to be together as a whole college - we don't have many of those opportunities. Sincere thanks go to our Leader of PE and Sport, Mr Dave Black, and to every single member of staff who used their unique skills to make it a great day. Thank you also to all the students who competed, dressed up or got involved. It was a fantastic day.

Honour Roll Assembly

Congratulations to our Honour Roll students for 2016, who were presented with their recognition certificates at the assembly last week. We are incredibly proud of them, and of all Year 12 students from last year who worked incredibly hard to achieve at such a high level. Honour Roll students have received an ATAR over 90, putting them in the top 10% of the state. A special thank you to the parents of Year 12 students - it was a big year for you as well!

Our dux, Ashleigh Carolan, received an ATAR score of 99.25, putting her in the top 0.75% of the State.

Compass Training for Parents

Next Thursday evening, between 6.00pm and 7.00pm we are offering an opportunity for parents to come to the College to see Compass in action, and to actually log on and see what is available. We will be in the Theatre and then move to a computer room. Please let us know you are coming by sending an email to wantirna.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au

If we get replies, we will be here ready and waiting! If we don't get any replies, we won't be here.

Thank you to the parents who opened the letter I sent out during January with your logon details and instruction book for Compass. If it got lost in the pile of papers on the kitchen bench, now might be the time to drag it out and have a look.

Please keep your logon separate to that of your child. At times you will receive a notification asking you to verify your child's absence, and it needs to be the parent who sends the reply.

College Council Election

Each year we call for nominations for College Council, so parents and staff can have an input into the governance of the College. People are elected to Council for a 2 year period, and sometimes parents finish early when their child leaves the school.

So, I now call for nominations for the following positions:

1. Parent Representatives : 4 positions

2. DET Staff Representatives: 2 x 2 year positions

3. DET Representative: 1 casual vacancy for 12 months

Nominations forms are available from the General Office from Tanya Mackenzie, or email to tm@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au

You can either self nominate, or be nominated by a member of your electorate - a parent if you are a parent or a staff member if you are a staff member. Signed forms should be returned to the General Office. Nominees should also include a 200 word statement of what they will bring to the position, which we will use should there be an election.

Nominations will close on Friday 3 March at 4.00pm.

If we receive more nominations than positions, we will then hold an election.

Below is some information from DET about school councils.

WHAT IS A SCHOOL COUNCIL AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally constituted bodies that are given powers to set the key directions of a school within state-wide guidelines. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.

WHO IS ON THE SCHOOL COUNCIL?

For most school councils, there are three possible categories of membership:

• A mandated elected Parent category – more than one-third of the total members must be from this category. Department of Education and Training (DET) employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not engaged in work at the school.

• A mandated elected DET employee category – members of this category may make up no more than one-third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.

• An optional Community member category – members are co-opted by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DET employees are not eligible to be Community members.

Generally, the term of office for all members is two years. The term of office of half the members expires each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.

WHY IS PARENT MEMBERSHIP SO IMPORTANT?

Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help inform and shape the direction of the school. Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

DO I NEED SPECIAL EXPERIENCE TO BE ON SCHOOL COUNCIL?

Each member brings their own valuable life skills and knowledge to the role, councillors may need to develop skills and acquire knowledge in areas that are unfamiliar to them. What you do need is an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.

HOW CAN YOU BECOME INVOLVED?

The most obvious way is to vote in the school council elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant. In view of this, you might seriously consider

• standing for election as a member of the school council

• encouraging another person to stand for election.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO STAND FOR ELECTION?

The principal will issue a Notice of Election and Call for Nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March unless the usual time line has been varied by the Minister. If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent category.

DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not engaged in work, are eligible to nominate for parent membership of the school council at that school. Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the Notice of Election. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt in the mail following the receipt of your completed nomination. Generally, if there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.

REMEMBER

• Ask at the school for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do

• Consider standing for election to school council this year

• Be sure to vote in the elections. Contact the principal for further information.

Dropping Students at School

Parents who drive into the carpark to drop students off before school are taking a risk. Staff drive carefully, but young people shouldn't be walking through a carpark - it is dangerous! Please drop them off in Ameysbury Avenue.

Sue Bell

Principal