Principal's Report

I can’t believe we’ve already completed four weeks of term 3! So much has happened in such a short time. We’ve changed the way our school operates, being a phone-free school. I’ve enjoyed seeing increased student interactions and more conversation. School is a calmer place without the pressure and interference of social media. Our students are from a generation who don’t know life without technology and it’s been a huge adjustment for some. I’ve proud of our students taking the opportunity for a “digital detox” from their phones. Interestingly, many are saying that they’re happy not to have their phone!

Unfortunately, social media use continues to impact students at home. I urge parents to become informed about social media & monitor their child’s use of social media. The Government has just updated the e-Safety Website, which contains information and advice for parents, young people and schools. It also contains a “report abuse” page to report cyberbullying, image-based abuse and illegal and harmful content. https://www.esafety.gov.au/report

Every opportunity!

I’m so proud of the way our Year 12’s conducted their final days at school. They took the time to farewell their teachers and fellow students and organised a fabulous Celebration Day. Leaving school forever is something they’ve dreamt of for so long but it’s still daunting as they move onto the next phase of their lives. I hope you get the results you worked for!

Please come along to our Art Show this Friday night and Saturday. We have a range of art on display and our College Band will be performing on Friday Evening.

Our Band has been gigging in the community at the IGA day last Friday and the Kite festival over the holidays.

I hear a whisper about the talent at our school and a Production in the wind for next year! Stay tuned for an announcement on that front soon!

Every student matters…all staff care

Attendance

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day.

Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results, including VCE, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes. Each missed day is associated with progressively lower achievement in numeracy, writing and reading.

It’s never too late to improve attendance. We have 15 days until Headstart, where our students our students will commence their 2020 academic journey. It is important that all students engage actively in their learning during this period and attend each day.