Assistant Principal (9/10) Report 

Report from Middle School Assistant Principal

It has been a very positive period for the Middle School, with several initiatives and opportunities supporting student learning, wellbeing, engagement and preparation for the future.

Parent Teacher Conferences

A highlight has been the strong attendance and positive conversations during our recent Parent Teacher Conferences. It was wonderful to see so many families engaging with staff and taking the opportunity to discuss their child’s learning, progress and wellbeing.

Strong partnerships between home and school are essential to achieving positive outcomes for our students. When families and teachers communicate openly, share information and celebrate progress, we are better placed to understand each student’s needs and provide the support and encouragement they need to thrive.

Thank you to all staff for the time, preparation and commitment you demonstrated in building these important partnerships with our families. We encourage families to continue to maintain these open lines of communication throughout the year.

Course Counselling and Pathways

Middle School students have also been actively involved in a range of course counselling sessions and Domain Expos to support their transition into their 2027 programs. These opportunities have provided students with valuable information about subject choices, pathways and the range of programs available to them as they plan for the next stage of their education.

Students are now busily accessing information, resources and advice to assist them in making their final course selections. These selections need to be completed online through Edval, with the completed selections then printed, signed by a parent/carer and returned to the student’s respective Sub school.

We encourage families to take the time to discuss these choices with their young person and ensure selections reflect their interests, strengths and future aspirations. This is an important step in supporting students to make informed decisions about their learning pathway for 2027.

Uniform

A continued focus for the Middle School is supporting students to meet our College uniform expectations. Wearing the correct uniform helps foster a sense of belonging, pride and equality, while also supporting the safety and identification of our students.

We appreciate staff continuing to reinforce these expectations consistently and respectfully, helping students understand the importance of presenting in the correct uniform each day. As we move through Term 3, students are expected to wear the prescribed winter uniform in accordance with the College Uniform Policy.

Students and families are also reminded of the following expectations regarding additional items and personal presentation:

• Jewellery: A minimum amount of jewellery is permitted. Students may wear a maximum of two pairs of stud earrings or sleepers per ear. There must be no visible body piercings, and items of body art must remain covered at all times.

• Hair: Extreme hair colours and/or extreme hairstyles are not permitted.

• Makeup: A minimum amount of non-obvious makeup may be worn.

• Nails: Only clear nail polish is acceptable. Fingernails must be maintained at an appropriate length in accordance with OHS requirements. False nails and nail attachments are not permitted.

• School hats: Students are permitted to wear the school hat outside the classroom.

• Head scarves and ribbons: These must be plain navy blue or white only.

• Neck scarves: These may be worn during winter and must be plain navy blue only.

Our focus is on ensuring these expectations are applied consistently, fairly and respectfully across the Middle School. We want students to understand that uniform expectations are not simply about appearance, but also contribute to a strong sense of belonging, pride, equality and safety across our College community.

We also recognise that there can be barriers for families when accessing uniform. The College has support available through the Sustainable School Shop and State Schools’ Relief, and families are encouraged to seek assistance where required.

Dental Van

We were delighted to welcome The Dental Van to Westall Secondary College, providing students with convenient access to dental care and education within the school environment.

Between 80–100 students accessed this valuable service, which is a fantastic outcome and highlights the importance of making health and wellbeing services accessible to our students and families. Students were able to access dental screening, education and preventative care, supporting the development of positive oral health habits.

Providing these services at school can help remove some of the barriers families may experience when accessing health services in the wider community.

A big thank you to the staff who supported the organisation and delivery of the Dental Van visit, and to our families for taking advantage of this valuable opportunity to support their children’s health and wellbeing.

Whole-School Literacy Focus

Across the College, we continue to strengthen our focus on whole-school literacy through our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Staff are working collaboratively to explore, implement and share effective literacy strategies that can be embedded across all learning areas.

This ongoing work reflects our commitment to improving student learning outcomes and ensuring that literacy development is supported consistently across the curriculum. Our PLC work provides an important opportunity for staff to learn from one another, reflect on practice and identify strategies that will have a positive impact on student learning.

Thank you to all Middle School staff for your continued commitment, care and support of our students and families. Your work in and beyond the classroom continues to make a positive difference to the Middle School community.

Ms Lyndal Yardas

Assistant Principal (Yr 9-10)