Assistant Principals' Report
Dromana College
Simon Jones
Assistant Principal
Years 10 - 12
The very important subject selection process for current years 9, 10 and 11 students for 2019 is underway. The Career Expo and Information Nights for our current year 9 and 10 students was held recently and was well supported by our families. It is most important that both students and their parents/guardians take advantage of this opportunity so that they are fully informed when it comes to making important decisions about subjects for next year and future pathways. Current Year 10 students will be making a very important decision about their pathway for the remaining 2 years of their school lives, whether it be the VCE or VCAL pathway, and as such students are encouraged to be diligent and proactive in this process.
The course selection information is now available on the College website (click on ‘Curriculum’ tab and select the relevant section), and is another invaluable resource in helping navigate through this process. Following the Information Evenings, students have scheduled individual course counselling sessions prior to making their final choices and submitting their selections online.
Parents are encouraged to take an active interest in this process and to contact the College if there are any questions or concerns in relation to the subject selection process. It is very important that due thought and consideration is taken when making selections as it can be difficult and disruptive to make later changes to programs, and in some cases this is not possible. It is also worth noting that whilst all students are required to make selections for next year, promotion to the next year level of schooling is entirely dependent upon effort and results in their current year and each student’s progress will be reviewed at the year’s end.
Andrew Wynne Assistant Principal
Years 7-9
As we head towards the end of term with the days slowly getting warmer and longer, it is worth reflecting on the achievements of our junior students over the last few months.
The Year 9 students are now in the process of choosing their future pathways through the subject selection process. This is an important stage in their lives, pointing our young people towards their future. I am pleased that so many are opting to choose VCE subjects as part of their course, giving them challenges and preparing them for the rigours of Year 11 and 12. I am extremely proud of the Year 9 students, they are a fine group of young people and it has been a privilege to work with them over the last three years.
The Year 7 students have now really settled in and are embracing the values and programs of our college. They have participated in the school production, dance and music soirees, and a myriad of sporting and cultural events. They are developing into a cohesive and high performing group and they will continue the fine tradition of our college developing fine young people.
Most pleasing this term however, has been the attitude and hard work of all our students. While such special events are the “icing on the cake”, the core purpose of our college is for students to
strive for their individual best and become great citizens.
Well done to all!
Steph Pearce
Acting Assistant Principal
Learning and Teaching
In the first week of Term 3, we welcomed many students and their families to the college for the Senior Careers Expo. It was a well-attended evening that provided student’s with knowledge about their pathway options and the many opportunities available to them as they begin their journey into the senior school. It was great to see that students had invested so much time and thought into their subject choices for 2020. Thank you again to all of the staff who attended the Expo, it was a fantastic display of the broad and exciting curriculum program we offer here at Dromana College.
Our Classroom Voice Surveys were rolled out across all subjects in Year 7 earlier in the term. These surveys aim to provide students with an additional platform to give feedback about their classroom experience. Our teachers are then encouraged to reflect on this feedback to further improve the quality of our teaching and learning programs. So far these surveys have been a great success, with lots of insightful conversations taking place between teachers and students.
On Tuesday 30th July we hosted the LEAP Information Evening for Year 7 2020 students. LEAP is the Learning Enhancement Acceleration Program, a program specifically designed to address the needs of academically gifted students who share a love of learning. The LEAP curriculum has been developed to challenge and engage these students across a range of learning areas, with a focus on developing higher order thinking skills. If you are interested in being part of our Year 7 2021 LEAP cohort, please see the Dromana College website for further details.