Principal's Report
Beginning Term 3 :
Principal's Report
Since the commencement of Term 3, it has been pleasing to see our students return from the holidays refreshed, re-energised and ready to begin another busy and productive semester.
This term is particularly significant for our Year 12 students, who are well on the way to completing their final year of schooling in the secondary sector. Over the coming weeks, they will complete their Unit 4 SACs and SATs and begin preparing for their final examinations early next term. We wish all our Year 12 students, across VCE/VM, every success as they work towards completing their studies and preparing for the exciting opportunities and pathways that await them beyond South Oakleigh College.
To support our VCE 3/4 students we continue with our Mentor program where past students and those who have achieved a 50 study score in specific subjects are invited to provide additional support, outside the classroom to our VCE students. We welcome back Lauren Olver our DUX of 2025 - who has already been well received by our students as they value the tremendous insights she can provide in understanding the demands of VCE in individual subjects. This will also help our alumni remain connected with the College and strengthen the thriving learning community we continue to build.
Course counselling is now underway, with students selecting their courses and subjects for 2027. This process also marks the beginning of our planning for classes and staffing for next year.
If your family is planning to move out of the area and/or your child will not be attending South Oakleigh College in 2027, we ask that you please inform your Year level leader as soon as possible. This information is important in supporting us to plan effectively for the year ahead.
The Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0) and Professional Learning.
The VTLM 2.0 is based on the Science of Learning, whereby learning is defined as a change to long-term memory. The teaching practices that are considered of highest impact in relation to the model are commonly used in schools and classrooms. The research base that informs the science of learning provides further insight into which of these teaching practices have the greatest impact in different contexts and stages of learning. This also extends to adapting existing practices and adopting new practices. It is highly valuable for schools to be able to focus on professional learning as new research and evidence become available and expectations of our profession evolve.
This year, two of our key school improvement priorities have focused on strengthening teaching and learning across every classroom, while continuing to build positive and respectful learning environments. Together, we believe these priorities support our goal of ensuring that every student is known, supported, and challenged to achieve their best.
Alongside this curriculum and teaching work, we have also been strengthening Positive Classroom Management Strategies.
These strategies help create calm, predictable, and respectful classrooms where students understand expectations and are ready to learn. Staff professional learning has focused on how routines are explicitly taught and reinforced, so that students know what to do, how to participate and how to contribute positively to the learning environment. These two areas of work are closely connected. High-quality teaching is most effective when classrooms are orderly, respectful, and focused. Likewise, positive classroom routines are most powerful when they support engaging, well-structured learning. Together, they help students develop not only their academic knowledge, but also the habits and behaviours of respectful, resilient, and responsible learners.
Working with all staff this initiative aims to strengthen our practice to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for all students.
NAPLAN - Individual results can now be accessed on Compass. We ask parents and carers to take the time to read the documentation provided and remember this is a snapshot in time. We use NAPLAN data, and many others forms of data to triangulate student results. This provides a holistic picture of progress over time.
The NAPLAN proficiency standards include 4 proficiency levels for each assessment area at each year level:
- Exceeding: the student's result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.
- Strong: the student's result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.
- Developing: the student's result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.
- Needs additional support: the student's result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.
I am very pleased to report that at both the Year 9 and 7 levels the NAPLAN collective scores are very strong. At Year 7, it indicates that our feeder primary schools are doing a terrific job in preparing students for high school and, at Year 9 we are adding significant value to student learning. Data for Reading, Spelling, Numeracy and Writing is above similar Schools and State for all measures. A truly amazing result and a testament to the quality of teaching and learning at South Oakleigh College.
The Wizard of Oz - Youth Edition
Our College production of The Wizard of Oz - Youth Edition is well on its way with rehearsals preparing our students for their performances later in August. It is wonderful to see the production grow each year, with increasing numbers of students contributing both on stage and behind the scenes.
We warmly invite families, friends, and members of the wider school community to come along and support our amazing cast, crew, and production team. A school production is a wonderful celebration and growth of student creativity, dedication teamwork and confidence. Congratulations to everyone involved for their creativity, dedication and teamwork. From the performers and backstage team to the sound and lighting crew, every student and supporting staff plays an important role in bringing the production to life.
This year’s show promises to be another amazing theatrical experience for all and we look forward to seeing you there - so book your tickets now.
https://www.trybooking.com/DNMOD
Helen Koziaris
College Principal