Assistant Principals' Reports 

DREW KING

Assistant Principal | Junior School

As we embark on another school year, we all knew the summer heat would come when school returned. Last year saw so many wonderful achievements, propelled by Dromana College’s commitment to delivering unparalleled educational experiences for our students. 

The arrival of our 2024 Year 7 cohort marked a nervous yet exciting time for a new generation, their crisp white uniforms signalling a readiness to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of Dromana College. With the help of our wonderful and dedicated coordinators and form teachers, the transition from primary school to secondary school was overall calm and smooth, with clear expectations set and a wide range of new opportunities offered in our extensive curriculum program. Our “Meet the teacher” event was a huge success, providing parents with a glimpse into their child’s academic journey and fostering a sense of partnership essential for everyday learning and growth.

Term 1 unfolded with the usual carnivals of swimming and athletics, with the weather being kind so all students could showcase great sportsmanship and school spirit for their house. The term also saw NAPLAN being launched where both year 7 and 9 students set records in attendance and a great sense of personal best.  

The final week of the term saw Year 7 students embark on a journey to Phillip Island Adventure Park. They immersed themselves in a range of activities, including swimming, surfing, navigating rope courses, visiting Amazing Things and the Penguin Parade, forging memories that will last a lifetime.

Meanwhile, our Year 8 cohort transitioned from planet 7 into their new year 8 world, starting the year fantastically in their full school uniform and off to a strong start. The coordinating team and form teachers have all been involved in offering the students a range of recess and lunchtime activities, which have proven to be popular.   

For our Year 9 students, Term 1 also presented the challenge of NAPLAN, with pastoral sessions dedicated to literacy and numeracy skills. To commemorate the conclusion of these assessments and the hard work from our students, they were treated to a free lunch by the souvlaki van.  The Year 9 students also competed successfully in their district sports day and securing victories in girls cricket boys volleyball and girls fisbee. Additionally, students have been enjoying their F block elective subjects, gaining further insight into their career’s pathway.

The Year 9 students also competed successfully in their district sports day, securing victories in girls' cricket. 

Looking ahead, I encourage all our students to continue seizing the opportunities available to them in our wonderful college. Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Easter break. 

See you all in Term 2.     

SIMON JONES 

Assistant Principal | Senior School 

The term has flown by but nevertheless we are all ready for a break after a big and eventful first term. I have been greatly impressed by the approach of students across the senior school, who have applied themselves diligently to their studies and are generally doing the best that they can. Our year 12’s have lead the way for junior year levels to follow in all aspects of school life. The way that they participated in both the whole-school swimming and athletics carnivals was exemplary and has set a very high bench mark for future cohorts to live up to.  In conducting weekly primary school tours for prospective students and families, our senior students receive regular compliments for their respectfulness and application as well as the way that they wear our College uniform with pride. 

Looking ahead, term 2 is another busy one as we complete the first half of the year with mid-year assessments and then move in to the mid-year exam program. The VCAA GAT is a part of this on the 18th of June and all year 12 students as well year 11’s doing a year 12 subject are required to sit for this important exam. Students will be given preparation in the lead up next term. 

In cases where the latest progress reports show that work is required, it is vital that students address this over the holidays so that they return for term 2 up to date with their studies. There are only 6 weeks of classes in term 2 before we move into exams and final mid-year assessments and so remedial action needs to be taken now if required, before it is too late. 

But first things first, I encourage everyone to have a rest and enjoy the Easter break. Have a great Easter, stay safe and we look forward to seeing everyone again for the start of second term.

STEPHANIE PEARCE

Assistant Principal | Teaching and Learning

It is hard to believe we are at the end of Term 3! It has been a productive term filled with great achievement and progress.

This term we celebrated our NAPLAN results for the Year 7 and 9 cohorts, and what a cause for celebration they were! As a learning community, we can be proud of all students, who have collectively achieved results across literacy and numeracy that not only are above like-schools and the network, but are also abovr the state!

Below is a summary of the percentage of Dromana College students who achieved results of an Exceeding or Strong proficiency level (The top 2 proficiency levels) in 2023 and how these results compare to the state.

A special shout-out to our Year 9 Boys who collectively achieved results in numeracy that were 20% above the state average - a phenomenal achievement!

Additionally, it was pleasing to see participation above 80% in all tests. Well done to all and thank you to our Year 7 and 9 families for your support and encouragement.

Another area for celebration this term was the work of our student leaders, under the guidance of Student Leadership Leader Alex Woolley who developed and implemented another successful Teach the Teacher workshop for staff. The students brought their voices into discussions for school improvement in their chosen area: respect. This is one of our school's strategic targets, so it was great having the students so involved in driving improvement in this space. It was a very well-received professional learning opportunity, and I speak on behalf of all staff when I say how appreciative we are for the time and effort the students gave to this meeting. We are already looking forward to the next one!

Our Curriculum Day this term focused on Effective Collaboration and Individualised Learning. We heard from a number of staff about strategies they use to differentiate learning in their classroom, and then had time to work in our domain teams using the Improvement Cycle to evaluate and diagnose areas for growth and plan to and develop an action plan collaboratively with colleagues. It was a positive and productive day for all involved. I would like to extend thanks to our Professional Learning Team for their hard work and organisation in bringing this day together. 

The development of the 2024 book list is currently underway. New subjects and resources have been added to further enrich the breadth of our learning program across Years 7-12. The book list will be available to families on Friday 27th October. More information will be communicated via Compass early next term. Early English access to purchase texts for Year 10 and VCE will be available on Friday 15th September. Please see the Compass newsfeed for updates. 

Lastly, thank you again to the whole college community for your ongoing support during what always proves to be a busy term. Enjoy the break and I look forward to a positive and strong finish to Term 4 once we return. 

MATTHEW MCLAREN

Assistant Principal | Wellbeing

The importance of exercise to having a happy, healthy and active teenager. 

Exercise is essential for student wellbeing and success. It is also not the preserve of ‘sporty kids’ but rather something that should be enjoyed by all. Anecdotally, our staff know that students who schedule exercise multiple times into their weekly routine are more likely to have higher levels of academic success and wellbeing. This is also reflected in academic research and the Australian exercise and guidelines. So, if you want a less moody and more focus teenager exercise is a good place to start. 

What are the benefits of exercise? 

• Release of positive neurochemicals such as serotonin and endorphins, leading to a more positive mood and increased self-esteem
• Helps to optimise energy levels, sleep length, and sleep hygiene.
• It offers an opportunity for goal-directed behaviour, which gives a sense of control and the ability to cope with daily and unexpected life events. 
• A distraction from and minimisation of negative thoughts. 
• An outlet for the frustrations of daily life. 
• Reduction of skeletal and muscle tension, which increases relaxation. 
• It improves thinking and memory skills, which help in school and social situations.
• Exercise also reduces the risk of depression, helps teens feel more energetic, and gives them a positive outlook on life.

So how much exercise? 

The Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines differ depending on the age of children. For children 13–17, the guidelines recommend:

• at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity
• no more than 2 hours a day of screen-based activity for entertainment (for example, television, seated electronic games and computer use).

What if my kid isn’t sporty? 

Exercise is for everyone. It does not have to be a group or high-impact activity to reap its benefits, although exercising with others has additional social benefits. Activities such as walking and bike riding to and from school also count towards the daily total. Scheduling time to share exercise with your child can be a great start and also a great chance to chat and check in on their lives. Teenagers are more likely to share on a walk then if you just ask them. 

Model healthy exercise behaviours.You are the role model for your teens. If you make physical activity a family priority, they are more likely to be physically active. Talk about how great you feel after exercise, plan active holidays, schedule evening walks as a family, go to the gym, or work out together at home.

• Find the fun.
  Exercise doesn't need to be boring. Work together to find exercises that your teen finds fun and exciting. Try a new sport. Play music and have a dance party in the kitchen. Explore a nature trail or bike to a local park. Try a new exercise video online. Focusing on fun will make exercise something they look forward to instead of dread.
• Cheer them on.
  Notice and compliment teens when they exercise. Everyone likes to hear they are doing a good job, even teens who roll their eyes. Applaud them for their results and remind them that slow and steady progress is an excellent way to sustain healthy habits.

How do you and your child get into the exercise habit? 

• choose an activity you or your child like or have enjoyed in the past that suits your fitness levels and abilities.
• start small – build up your activity gradually. Ideally, vary your activities so you don’t get bored.
• write your plan in your diary or calendar so it’s part of your schedule.
• regularly revisit your exercise plans and try something different if it’s not working.
• Tie exercise to other interests. Not every teen wants to join a sports team, but movement can be incorporated into other activities. If your teen enjoys photography, explore hiking trails or parks for opportunities. Students can ride to the shops, or animal-loving teens could volunteer or make some money as dog walkers.