Principal's Report

Five weeks to end of academic year!

It is important that during the last few weeks of 2019 that all students continue to come to school on time, in correct uniform with their equipment ready to learn. All class time is precious and provides us with further opportunity to continue to build knowledge and skills in your children. Attendance is critical and directly correlated to both academic success and social success. Sometimes students struggle with connecting with others - this is made far more difficult when they are not at school everyday. 

 

I would also like to thank all of you in supporting the school with our education about what is appropriate on instagram and other social media platforms. We all enjoy using technology to connect with others, however, we all need to continue to work together to help students understand the moral ethics on how to use and respond to social media.  In the newsletter I also provide information about the state-wide Mobile phone policy which is the beginning of acknowledging that some students need tighter boundaries in regards to the use of their phones.

 

Teaching and Learning - Visit from North Eastern Area Director – Stacey Gabriel.

The College was visited by the newly appointed Area Director in Week 2 of this term. We were able to share information about the educational strategies that we have chosen to implement at the College and discuss how they may have contributed to the student learning growth that is reflected in not only the Year 7 NAPLAN data but internal collected data sets. The decision to include an independent reading program supported by the library, and literary circles rather than the model of reading the same novel for the whole class has positively impacted on our reading results. The Scaffolding Numeracy framework and the work begun using reciprocal teaching strategies in Maths is clearly enabling Middle school students to continue to develop these skills. Again a very different model to working continuously from the one text book. As a new College we are very proud of the learning growth that our students are achieving.

 

NAPLAN Results

Our Year 7 NAPLAN results demonstrated a very high level of growth compared to similar schools and the state in the areas of Reading, Numeracy, Spelling and Grammar & Punctuation. Writing was more in line with similar schools and the state but provided us with rich information on the particular skill set of the current Year 7 cohort. It is also important to acknowledge the excellent work of our local primary schools as the results reflect their programs and the educational approach the College has taken with our Middle School Students.

 

Student Agency and Curriculum Program work 2020

Term 4 began with a strong focus for our Year 8 students on pathways moving forward. Our school community responded very positively to the Year 9 Information sessions for 2020. This was supported with a very well organized day for Year 8 students with guest speakers about the importance of considering and exploring strengths, the future of work and the types of training and further education available. Speakers were from the Hume LEN (Local Employment Network), Futures for Young People Australia and ONTCC (Outer North Tech Traning Centre). ONTCC has also provided the opportunity for our students to experience ‘taster’ courses on their site in the future.

 

2020 Enrolment Update

The College has now 420 confirmed enrolments for 2020.  The College will have for 2020:

Year 7 – 8 home group classes

Year 8 – 6 home group classes

Year 9 – 6 home group classes.

 

It was important to allow for many families that are moving into the area to access their local high school. Enrolments continue to come in daily and we are predicting that more families will also move into the area of the summer period. All families in our zone are welcome. Both our recent tours  were both booked out and well attended with a decision made to put on a third tour in late November. It is exciting for us to receive such positive feedback about our College.

 

New staff for 2020 and still recruiting!

It has been a very busy time at the College planning for 2020. It is a privilege to be part of interview panels to choose teachers for our students. Like many new schools  we will continue to recruit until near the end of the term.

The College has successfully appointed teachers to the following positions:

Mel Broders                                        Art Teacher

Nancy-Maree D’Aspromante      English/Humanities

Serene Kotob                                    English/Humanities

Christopher Menzies                      PE/Health/Maths

Jonathon Cram                                Maths/Science

Sandie Ambegoda                          English/Humanities

Emily Rose                                         English/Humanities

Maria Cuzzupe                                 Food Assistant

Nadia La Macchia                           Spanish Language

Salvador Ortiz                                  Spanish Language

Tiffani Meier                                      Maths/Science

Jacqueline Taylor                           Maths/Science

Bianca Marasco                               PE/Health/Science

Jasmine Almatrah                          English/Humanities

Anthony Asta                                     Leading Teacher – Timetabling & Educational Leadership