From the Principal

Term 3 brings time for Science Week and Book Week activities in schools across the country. These are a great way to continue promoting a love for and the value of both science and reading.

Thank you to our Science teachers who have arranged quizzes each day this week. On Friday, Year 7-10 students will travel to the Festival of Bright Ideas in Hobart.

Next week, our Primary students are excited about their Book Parade on Tuesday and our Secondary students have a number of different activities planned as part of Humanities Week.

Yesterday, as part of our Primary and Secondary Assemblies, we recognised students who had made substantial gains in literacy. This is connected to the expansion of our intervention groups this year. Students who received the Gold award had progressed between 4 and 19 levels on the program (out of 52 levels) during Term 2. Those receiving a Platinum award progressed more than 20 levels of the 52. Those making the greatest gains improved up to 38 levels. Literacy achievement is vital for progress in all other subject areas. That is why the growth for these students is so important.

While some of the older students may be reluctant to be acknowledged in front of their peers, I want them to be proud of their learning gains. I recognise that some of these students will have experienced considerable frustration over time as they have struggled to develop some of the fundamental skills that support reading and writing. I hope they can be encouraged that they have made this amazing progress. I also want to thank Mrs Klaver, our Learning Enhancement Coordinator, and her amazing team, for their work in organising and teaching the program.

Mrs Rika Terblanche is finishing up this week after a number of years working with children at the College in our Learning Enhancement area. We wish her well in her new and very different role!

It is with sadness that I share with you that Dr Sean Priest, one of our English/SOSE teachers and Year 10 Home Group teacher, will finish in his role at the end of the term. We are grateful for the manner in which he has encouraged the character development of students and challenged them to do their best academically. We pray for God's blessing for Sean as he pursues new endeavours.

Jodie Bennett

Principal