Assistant Principals 

As usual, the start of the year is a hive of energy with teachers working alongside students to create positive classrooms that understand the challenge of learning. This was a common theme at the opening assemblies at each year level where students were invited to take on at least one new opportunity this year and to embrace uncertainty so that they will taste the absolute excitement of victory when they learn something new.  

Learning is not easy: it’s not meant to be and when we acknowledge that, it is easier to admire your tenacity when you witness yourself pushing at a topic or task that is challenging. Many of us are in awe of Ash Barty and the way she zones in and smiles at herself even when she doesn’t play her best shot. Her resilience and gentle self love are qualities that we can emulate to help us enjoy learning. This too was a central message in the Year 12 Master Class. Kati Recinos discussed the importance of positive self talk and essential difference between good and bad stress. Her presentation notes have been added here for your information. There was a real buzz of energy in the room showing that our year 12 students are keen to enact changes to build their own tenacity and self-love.  

Our resilience as a community continues to be visible as we again embrace the uncertainties that COVID presents to us. Through our collective and responsible use of masks, RATs, air purifiers and social distancing, we help to keep our community as safe as possible knowing that those vulnerable to infection are protected by our collective efforts. These were the key reasons for the need to change our Swimming Carnival to a more targeted swim meet, and has also been one of reasons why there will no longer be a Year 11 Ball. Our energies will be focused on making sure that our successful RSC based year level formals at the end of the academic year can be events where students can dress to impress, connect as a whole cohort and celebrate all the year has offered.  

A new method of connecting to families will be introduced this year with Parent Connect which replaces the PCTA. This approach will not require a commitment to attending regular meetings; instead, there will be a number of opportunities for wider variety of parents, guardians and families to share their ideas about how to make Ringwood even better. Initially some of these will be virtual but eventually (hopefully) there will be informal evening events. The invitations will occur via the newsletter and Compass posts, so if you have some burning questions or ideas about how we can be a better community, please consider being part of the upcoming Parent Connect sessions. There are many other opportunities to be part of the Ringwood Secondary College community through the Music Association, School Council, Chaplaincy program and working bees. If interested, please email agatha.fedrizzi@education.vic.gov.au  and your message will be forwarded to the appropriate person. 

On a curriculum front, staff energies are focused this year on ensuring that our students are more active participants in classes so that learning happens with them not to them. At a staff meeting, Year 11 students Alyssa Solidaga and Jackson Smith provided student perspectives on how to improve student agency in the classroom. Their maturity and confidence was evident and their suggestions resonated and will embolden staff to entrench more discussions into classes. Together we always do better! 

On that note, our College is galvanising staff and student reflections to create this year’s Annual Implementation Plan which is the document that all staff use for consistent processes around meeting students at their point of need. One particular area of focus is a new state-wide Priorities goal comprised of two Key Improvement Strategies Learning and Wellbeing. 

Our new staff have settled well into College life as have our Pre -Service teachers. In this round we have 3 PSTs from Deakin University who are on a 10 day observation placement and are enjoying their experiences at the College with their mentors. They are observing as many classes as they can. 

From the Assistant Principals: 

Agatha Fedrizzi, Eleni Stathatos and Matt Tucker