Principal's Report
Principal Report
Welcome back to Term 4!
As we embark upon another busy term, I do hope that our students and families enjoyed the break and took the opportunity to recharge and connect with loved ones. The commencement of Term 4 signifies a time of challenge, excitement and activity at our College. This is particularly the case for our Year 12 students.
Our Year 12 students are in the final stage of their secondary schooling with all students in revision mode for their upcoming exams. I would like to acknowledge our Year 12 teachers, who always go above and beyond to ensure that our students are ready for their external examinations. I would also like to thank the many Year 12 teachers who over the break delivered lectures and practice exams at the College to further prepare their students for the VCAA exams that are fast approaching. With formal Year 12 classes ending today, next week sees our students attending Masterclasses for each of their subjects. This Masterclass week has long been embedded into our program and has proven to be very successful for our students, providing them with an opportunity for further targeted revision so that they enter their final exams calmly and confidently.
At this time of year, the shared experiences of our Year 12 cohort often serve to shed a light on what it means to belong to our school community. In my address to students in year level assemblies last week I spoke about the importance of appreciating the opportunities that are on offer for them at EDSC. It is very evident, when talking to Year 12 students, that they are acutely aware of this and feel immense gratitude and pride in being members of this school community. My hope is that all students feel this way and this awareness does not take until the last year of schooling to emerge. I discussed the importance of having high expectations of self and of others. We all have responsibility as members of this community to behave in ways that ensure everyone can truly be the best versions of themselves and that they feel included, supported and safe. This leads to positive outcomes for all. Outcomes that will see our students grow, mature, learn and achieve. My challenge to all students is that they always strive to be the best that they can be and that they encourage others to do the same.
As this term unfolds over the next 11 weeks, we complete several crucial assessment tasks across all year levels and seek to consolidate the knowledge gained throughout the year. We will bid farewell to our VCE class of 2024 after the complete their final VCE exams in November. We will welcome our new students during Orientation Day in December and we will further prepare for the academic challenges of 2025 in our VCE Orientation and Advance Programs in the first two weeks of December.
Never a dull moment!
The VCE Class of 2024
Our VCE Unit 3 & 4 students are in the final preparations for their upcoming examinations, which for most students begin on Tuesday 29 October with the English/EAL exam.
This stage of the year can be quite demanding for our students and their families. In such circumstance, experience suggests that it is best to attend carefully to the basics – this includes establishing and implementing a study plan, ensuring a balanced diet and regular sleep patterns, maintaining periods for recreation to clear the mind and relax, and turning off mobile phones and social media forums whilst studying or sleeping. Finally, it is important to make use of the availability of teachers for support and guidance right up to the exam itself. The fantastic resources and last-minute tips provided by teachers can be overlooked or under-estimated in this busy period, however, I would encourage all students to maximise the use of their best resource – their teachers.
On Thursday 24 October, we will hold our Valedictory Dinner for students and their parents at The Grand Receptions, 90 Cathies Lane, Wantirna South. Our Final Assembly once again for students and their families, will take place on Friday 22 November in our Sports Stadium (this is after the examination period).
On behalf of our College community, I sincerely wish our students all the best in their examinations and for their future pathways.
Please note that due to the Final Assembly and the celebrations for our Year 12 students on Friday 22 November, all students in Years 7-11 will be dismissed from the College at the conclusion of Period 4 (12.40 p.m.).
Term 4 events are well underway
On Monday evening we opened our Annual VCE Art & Technology Exhibition with the presentation of student work in The John Landy Centre. An exciting and diverse range of Art and Visual Communication and Design folios were on display, a result of the creative processes of our Year 12 and 11 students who have undertaken Unit 3 & 4 VCD and Studio Arts studies in 2024. The standard of the displays, including the Media Studies films - shown on Tuesday evening in the Performing Arts Centre - was once again very high and a testament to the effort of our students and the technical support, mentoring and guidance of our teachers. Thank-you to all teachers involved in providing this opportunity for our students to publicly showcase their incredible talents.
The Spring Music Concerts
Our annual Spring Music Concerts were held in our Performing Arts Centre last night with both of them a sell-out. These concerts were once again a wonderful celebration of our Instrumental Music program and offered something for young and old. Special thanks to our Music Director, Norm Grimmett and Head of Instrumental Music, Carl Williams for their organisation of the evening. Both concerts were compered by our Music Captains Katrina, Cici, Avneesh, Issac, Jenica, Ashley and Sophie, who did a wonderful job educating the audience about each of the musical items selected.
It has become tradition at our Spring Concerts to formally recognise our Year 12 Music students, many of whom have been in the music program from Year 7. A highlight of the evening was Norm Grimmett’s heartfelt acknowledgement of these students who have provided us with so much joy over their time at EDSC. The support of our wonderful parent community was also acknowledged. The evening concluded with our phenomenal Chamber Strings, conducted by Carl Williams, performing ‘Vanishing Pointe’ and ‘Tico Tico’. There would not be anyone in the audience who was not in awe of their talent.
A big thank you to our wonderful Parents and Friends Association who provided supper at the interval break between concerts - as always they did terrific job. Thank you to all who assisted.
New buildings
Members of our community will have noticed further building works taking place at the College this week. We are in the process of having our new double storey portables installed in readiness for 2025. This process of bringing in the new buildings will continue this weekend and Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. I appreciate everyone’s patience with the impact this is having on traffic and parking in the mornings.
We have been very pleased with the progress of works being undertaken and have every confidence that it will create a smooth start to 2025.
Cycle 5 Reports
A reminder that Cycle 5 reports will be published next Friday (25 October) and I encourage all families to access the Compass Learning Management system to view those reports. Following this, our Year 10 and Year 11 students will commence the final phases of their course studies before preparing for end of semester examinations in November. For our Middle School Year 7-9 students, it is equally important to ensure that their academic year concludes in a positive and productive fashion that will act as a springboard to continued academic progress in 2025.
EDSC Success at EMR Track and Field Championships!
Four of the best track and field athletes at the College have advanced to the SSV State Finals after competing at the EMR Track and Field Championships held at the Tom Kelly Athletics Track in Week 1 of Term 4. The following students received gold medals on the day and will represent EDSC at the SSV State Track and Field Championships on Monday 21 October at Lakeside Stadium (Albert Park).
Gold Medals
Marcus – 1213 Boys Long Jump
Lucie – 1213 Girls Triple Jump
Levi – 14 Girls 90m Hurdles
Flynn - 1820 Boys 800m and 1500m
Other highlights from the day were:
Silver Medals
Tara – 14 Girls Long Jump
Bronze Medals
Flynn - Open Boys 3000m
Samir - 1820 Boys Javelin
Tara - 14 Girls Triple Jump and 14 Girls Discus
Hans - 16 Boys Javelin
Jaimee - 15 Girls 800m
Raima - 14 Girls Javelin
Man Chun - 1213 Boys 400m
Congratulations to all students who represented us on the day!
Karen Boyle
Principal