Principal's Update

Term 4 Highlights

It is a little hard to believe that it is Term 4. We have already had a number of highlights this term with the Year 12 VCE students prepping for their exams, revision lectures and guest speakers engaging Year 12s with the best tips and insights. The Year 10 Market Day was outstanding (as was the weather), it was wonderful to include the primary school and to hear the stall holders buzz with enthusiasm about their work, profits, and what they learned on the day. 

Believe it or not, the Immunisations were also well attended and the students getting immunisations the most courageous I have ever seen! The school also received a certificate for the highest return rate of consent cards for Year 10 – so well-done Year 10 students and families.

The inside of the portables were painted over the holidays and Mark completed more cleaning of our concrete paths. The roses are in bloom, and the school is looking very tidy. We have new bins ready to be installed which we hope will prevent the birds from throwing rubbish around and will allow us all to recycle where appropriate. 

It was very exciting hearing a couple of the VCE students practising for their German oral exam. I was incredibly impressed with how fluent they were! 

Koorie Celebration/Graduation

On Thursday night, I attended the Koorie students Graduation Dinner, which saw the largest number of Koorie students graduating since its inception. Our first student got to wear the school’s possum cloak which was met with impressed expressions of awe. Congratulations Jesseca Daly on your graduation.

2024 Planning

We are busily planning for 2024 and creating a timetable, staffing the school, and budgeting. We have received our school’s Staff Survey Results which are very positive. I will share more of this data and the Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Survey Results when I receive them. We also have data now that shows that our SPARXs program is improving students’ performance in Numeracy.

Over the next few weeks, we will begin students transition into the next year level, either with subject selection and/or parent/student meetings. As previously mentioned, students now have to sit a literacy and numeracy test to enter TAFE and as part of their senior years of schooling. These tests are relatively challenging. Building students skills in these two areas has never been more important as the modern workforce is and will continue to be required to be lifelong learners and to undertake training throughout their careers.

The Importance of Respect (one of our school values)

As some people may be aware, last week I had to make a flying trip to NZ to support one of my oldest friends (of nearly forty years) after her husband passed away from cancer. Not having flown overseas since before COVID, I was surprised at the emphasis the airline placed on being respectful and polite to their staff and to each other. This followed on from learning that in some supermarkets staff are now wearing body cams in response to customer abuse. At a recent GP appointment, the doctor too indicated that they often get abused. Sadly, in schools, this trend is evident as well. 

Teaching is a challenging job, and the vast majority of teachers across Australia are doing their absolute best, and in many instances, going above and beyond. Although it is okay to disagree, it is never okay to be abusive, aggressive, or disrespectful. I am concerned at some reports that students and parents may be using social media and email to defame or be disrespectful to and about school staff. I would hope that most adults would appreciate that it would be unfair to use social media to critique their professional work, especially in the absence of any process which also protects the rights of the worker, or allows someone the right of reply, confidentiality, and a fair hearing. Teachers now also have legal redress when it comes to slander. On the school’s website, you will find our Parent Complaints Policy, this outlines appropriate steps parents, guardians and carers can take should they wish to raise a complaint.

Good Luck to the Year 12 VCE Students 

Good luck again to the Year 12s preparing for exams – you have got this!

Vaya Dauphin

College Principal