From our Principal

As we draw to the end of a huge term 2, I would like to thank our entire community for your support throughout. 

An 11 week term is exhausting for everyone and we appreciate the support of families in ensuring their student is at school and ready to learn. For families it is 11 weeks of making daily lunches, drop offs and pick-ups, and asking "What homework do you have?". And for students it's keeping up their energy levels to give their all, from interschool and house competitions to end of semester exams. 

So we wish everyone an amazing two weeks of school holidays, and hope you are able to spend time resting and reflecting so we can be ready to hit the ground running on Tuesday the 16th of July.   

Science Fair

Grade 4-6 students from Glenroy Central Primary, Fawkner Primary, Meadows Primary and Westbreen Primary attended our school for the 2024 Primary School Science Fair. Students participated in activities in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Digital Technology and a great day was had by all. 

Thanks to Joanne Pampanella (Community Engagement) and Michelle Stephenson (Science Leader) for running the event, to Rachel de la Paz for photography, and to Daryl Croke, Michelle Bullen, David Woolcock, Tristyn Holland, Geraldine King, Cansu Ucali, Tom Fisher, Fidan Gul, Peter Hammond and Kate Peach for facilitating the activities throughout the day, and to our fabulous supporters at Glenroy Lions who provided the sausage sizzle.

Big Freeze

This year’s Big Freeze was a great fundraising event for this brilliant cause. We raised $1668.10 through a casual clothes day and beanie sales, and built awareness of this insidious disease. Thanks to the staff who went under the bucket, and to Lisa Huntley and the student leadership team for all of their work in preparing the day.

Indigenous Installation Opening

Thank you so much to those of you who could make the opening of our Indigenous Welcome Installation. We were joined by Peter Khalil MP, representatives of Kathleen Matthews-Ward MP, Merribek CEO Sue Bolton, Director of Community Cathy Henderson, Early Years and Youth Manager Eammon Fennessy, Director City Infrastructure Anita Curnow, Barry Hahn and Nuray Jarkan from Youth Services, DET Regional Director for NWMR Angela Singh and Elder Perry Wandin who also performed the traditional smoking ceremony. 

Excerpts from my welcome on the day for those who were unable to make it:

Today’s opening of this installation is a very visible promise to our community:

Is a promise of our commitment to work together to ensure the diverse community represented at Glenroy College are seen and heard.

 

It is a promise to ensure that student voice and agency is heard at every level of the work we do here

 

And it is a promise to continue the important work of the Marrung strategy, ensuring that the rich and thriving culture, knowledge and experience of our First Nations peoples are celebrated, that our system is inclusive, responsive and respectful of Koorie people, and that every Koorie person is empowered to achieve their potential, succeeds in life, and feels strong in their cultural identity. 

 

The acknowledgment of country that I traditionally use here at Glenroy College notes our commitment as a school to continue in the footsteps of those that have come before us. To recognise that the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation are the first educators of this country, and to commit over and over again to honour their stories and traditions, and play our part in the unfinished business of reconciliation. 

 

So, as we go about our day, I invite you to join me in this affirmation, and note that Now More Than Ever, no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue. And we at Glenroy College will be proud partners in this mission.

Glenroy College School Vision

As part of our Annual Implementation Plan, we have agreed to renew and refocus on our School Vision Statement. This aspirational declaration is a statement of our purpose, and a clear map forward for what we see as the future of Glenroy College. The current draft Vision can be found below, and we welcome feedback from students and families. Please reach out to me if you have thoughts you'd wish to share.

Glenroy College is an inclusive community where we share a passion for lifelong learning. ​ 

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Our dedication to high quality education enables students and staff to engage in a broad curriculum with diverse and collaborative learning opportunities. We challenge and support all students to achieve personal success, understand their own wellbeing, and face the future with resilience, empathy and optimism.​​ 

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Through strong relationships and community partnerships, our students experience authentic opportunities to "Aspire Together" and impact our world in positive ways. 

Term 3

We are unashamedly working to make Glenroy College a place that everyone feels welcomed and accepted, so in term 3 we will be having a whole school focus on our college value of Respect with a theme of "You be you, I'll be me"

Respect always starts with understanding what makes us unique. 

Even though we are individually made up of lots of different cultures, beliefs, and experiences, we are 99% the same and agree on 99% of the same things, and bringing together our differences make us all better. 

By respecting each other’s differences, we can create a place where everyone feels valued and understood.

Time will be spent with students and staff on reworking our expected behaviours matrix, and we will be looking for ways to further recognise the amazing work that our community do in this area of Respect. 

Communication

That’s all for this newsletter, but don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and keep your eyes open for COMPASS and email notifications.

Have a great term break!

Andrew