Principal's Report

Maximising learning growth to ensure all students can thrive

It is hard to believe that we have already reached the end of Term 1 for 2024. It has been an exciting term at Lilydale Heights College, full of opportunities for students to learn and grow.  Throughout the term, our teachers have been deeply engaged with their Learning Teams, focusing on an Action Learning Task (ALT) centred around 'Using evidence to Demonstrate Learning Growth'.  This initiative empowers teachers to utilize evidence effectively in pinpointing the learning needs for selected students, devising strategies to foster their learning growth, and then using evidence to measure that growth. 

Recently, our teachers shared their progress with their Learning Teams, and it was exciting to hear the many different and innovative approaches that our teachers are using to tailor their teaching to meet their students point of need. I was fortunate enough to sit in on the Year 8 Learning Team presentations and it was incredible to see how our teachers are using various forms of data and evidence to determine the learning needs for their students and then planning their teaching to meet these needs.  

Numeracy Success

Based on our positive VCE Further Maths data, our Numeracy Team were recently invited to present to the other 19 Secondary Schools in the Outer East. The focus of the presentation was to outline what we have been doing in the area of numeracy that has resulted in such successful learning growth and achievement data. Introduced by Tim Wright (Assistant Principal) and presented by Jodie Smith (Learning Specialist Numeracy) and Justin Turner (Maths Faculty Coordinator), this presentation highlighted the many numeracy strategies that we have been implementing over the last seven years. The team received incredible feedback based on their presentation, including statements such as ‘Outstanding’.  Since this presentation, the Executive Director for School Performance has recommended that the other areas in the state get in touch to ask our Numeracy Team to present to them. As a result, the team were invited to present to the Area Leadership School Improvement Team at the Department of Education. Comments from this presentation included ‘how impactful it was hearing about the work and how the Region’s leadership team can now talk with other schools around what you (we) are doing’. The Team have also now been invited to present at the Area Leadership Team in Shepparton! This is well deserved recognition for the amazing work that all our staff are doing within the numeracy area and once again confirms the incredible education we are providing at Lilydale Heights College.  

Japanese Presentation success.

Penne Evans and Richard Myddleton also recently presented at the Japanese Language Teachers Association of Victoria. Lilydale Heights College has been implementing an innovative project for Year 8 Japanese about Feudal Japan. We teach this at the same time as Humanities does Feudal Europe. We use a methodology called CLIL (Content Language Integrated Learning) to teach parts of the topic entirely in the Japanese language.

The presentation was highly valued by participants and four schools are now planning to implement the unit that was developed here. One participant commented that she was impressed by our ‘knowledge, passion, and skills to put it together so beautifully.’ The Japanese Team have done an incredible job in designing and implementing this unit. This once again highlights how our passionate staff are developing engaging and exciting learning opportunities for our students.  

Open Night

We recently hosted our Open Night for prospective parents and students. It was a fantastic evening with students and staff coming together to showcase Lilydale Heights College. I would have to say that this may have been our most attended Open Night with 650+ people registering their attendance (not counting families who arrived without prior booking). This incredible interest in our school makes us extremely proud as it recognises the positive reputation we have within our community and reaffirms our commitment to providing high quality education to our students.  

Staff Recognition

I wanted to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution that our Office Manager Jo Taylor has provided to the Lilydale Heights College Community. Jo has worked at the College for the last 40 years. Prior to that, she was a student here for six years! Congratulations Jo on this incredible achievement. Lilydale Heights College is lucky to have you. 

Water safety over the school holidays – Some resources from the Department of Education

We know many families head away during the school holidays to locations near water, including lakes, rivers and beaches.  To help families stay safe around water these school holidays, we have included below a range of water safety resources: 

Surf Life Saving Australia’s Beachsafe website where you can view a location and the closest patrolled beaches (available in 132 languages – click on the ‘Select language’ tab). This information is also available in an app which you can download from the Beachsafe website. The app includes videos with tips for visiting Australian beaches, in 8 languages: English, Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Malay, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.

Vic Emergency’s Get to know our warning signs website, including posters translated into Arabic, Dari, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.

Life Saving Victoria’s Water safety tips.

Holidays and Return to School

I would like to thank our students, staff and families for their support this term. At the beginning of the year, we launched our clear vision of Maximising learning growth to ensure all students can thrive. Throughout this term, it has been extremely rewarding to see this vision come alive within classes, staff professional learning, committees, working parties, meetings and faculties. This truly is a whole school focus and directs all our attention to what matters most – supporting and improving the learning for all students. 

KEY DATES FOR THE END OF TERM 

Wednesday 27 March

• Last day of classes for Term 1
• School ends at 3 pm
• Parent Student Teacher (PST) Conferences will be held onsite from 4 pm – 8 pm

Thursday 28 March

• Parent Student Teacher (PST) Conferences will be held onsite from 10 am – 1 pm 
• No regular classes will be held on Thursday 28 March. It is expected that students accompany their parents to their conferences and participate in the discussion of their learning  
• The General Office will close at 3 pm
• This is the last day of Term 1
   

KEY DATES FOR THE BEGINNING OF TERM 2

Monday 15 April

• All students return to school

 Thursday 25th April

• ANZAC Day (Public Holiday) - School is closed

Friday 26th April

• Student Free Day
• Staff will be involved in Professional Learning on this day
• No classes will be running

I would like to wish our entire community a fantastic holiday break. Please use this time to relax and recharge your batteries, and let’s return in Term 2 refreshed and ready for more exciting learning opportunities. 

Shane Kruger

Principal.