PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Term 3

Principals Newsletter Report 26/7/24

 

Welcome to term 3! We have been greeted with a very busy 2 weeks as we launched into term 3 with pathways planning and course selection for 2025 well and truly in full swing.

 

This term, we will be continuing with the Course Selection process and Course Counselling. We highly value the conversations happening within families as you explore the exciting range of possibilities for each student's individual program. Our teachers received training last term to provide the best support for students and families during this process. Please ensure that your child completes their Course Selection by the specified date for their year level to assist us in organising their top preferences. A big thank-you to Brenna Loe, Holly Ryder and all staff involved in Wednesday evening’s very successful course planning evening.

 

Term 3 Staffing

Last Friday we wished Madalyn Anderson well as she commenced her family leave. Allesha Fecondo is Madalyn’s replacement who has taken over teaching Year 12 VCD and Art, along with art across year 7-10. Allesha is a high experienced practitioner, and we have no doubt she will make an impact in our school community.

Brett Edmonds also completed his last day at WHC today. After 14 years of service to our school community we wish Brett well in his new position. A replacement for Brett will be confirmed early next week.

 

Good luck

Good luck to our U15 Boys Bill Turner Cup Soccer Boys and Coach Joey Didilcia who have progressed into the round of 32 and hopefully the round of 16 stage of the prestigious Bill Turner Cup Competition. This competition has been conducted for 45 years and is a competition for the best schools (government, catholic and independent schools) across Victoria, NSW, ACT and Queensland. The boys will travel to Albury next week to play matches over 2 days. We are so proud of them and can’t wait to hear of their results.

 

 Curriculum Day

On Tuesday 3rd September, it will be a pupil free day as teachers continue their professional learning with Dan Petro. Dan is a behaviour analyst and a director of Behavioural Resources Australia Pty Ltd where he utilises his extensive professional history of developing positive behaviour support and intervention programs including providing the implementation training.For over 35 years, Dan has provided professional services in two distinct settings: education/family support, and the public safety/emergency services sector. Originally from California, Dan's clients have included families, school districts, education departments, human service organisations, and public safety/emergency services agencies. His academic degrees include a Bachelor’s in Behavioural Science, and a master’s in counselling psychology. We are looking forward to work with Dan to support our work with our students in our care.

 

Year 7 2025

WHC is very excited to have send out offers for Year 7 places for 2024 this week. We now look forward to running selection processes for the SSP and Accelerate Learning programs commencing next week and to welcoming our new students and their families into our college community early term 4 to begin the transition processes.

 

Train Travel

A reminder to students to ensure they are travelling with a myki card and tap on and off if using public transport or public trains. Students who don’t do this, run the risk of being issued with on-the-spot fines. If any student or family is struggling to obtain myki cards or active balances, please talk with our college well-being team who can support students and families to apply for emergency funded myki cards.

 

Mobile Phones

Students are not to be using mobile phones in schools in Victoria according to the Ministerial policy formally issued by the Minister for Education under section 5.2.1(2)(b) of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).

 

Students are reminded that they must hand over their mobile phone during morning mentor meetings and it will be returned to them at the end of the day in the afternoon mentor meeting. There are no exceptions to this rule unless you have a formal medical reason to have this phone on you during the school day.

 

Congratulations

A big congratulations to all our soccer, AFL, netball, basketball and hockey teams who recently represented our college at a variety of local and regional levels. I encourage you to read the in-depth reports in the sporting section of the newsletter.

 

 

2024 Attitudes to School Survey Results

Our 2024 Attitudes to School Survey results have been supplied to schools. We are generally pleased with the results which have shown an overall trend in year 7-12 data increase positively.

 

2024 NAPLAN results

This year’s 2024 NAPLAN results have recently been mailed to all our Year 7 and Year 9 families. Some students will be receiving achievement certificates because of their results at next Fridays Celebration of Success Awards Ceremonies. The Year 9 Achievement certificates are designed to celebrate students who receive the highest level, irrespective of where they start. Certificates are jointly signed by the minister for education and the VCAA CEO. It was pleasing to see our results have shown some gradual improvement from the last few years.

 

 

Have a great weekend,

 

Fiona Taylor

Principal