Principal's Report
Professional Learning Day
May 22 2019
On Wednesday of this week, staff were involved in a number of professional learning activities aimed at improving learning outcomes for our students. Sessions included: Accountability in Leadership for School Leaders, Whole School Literacy Launch, SEQTA Teach: Set-up of Learning Programs, NCCD: Compiling of records and evidence of adjustments for students. Staff worked in teams throughout the day as they moved to each session which was aligned to our 2019 Annual Action. I thank all staff for the professionalism and enthusiasm evident on the day.
Tercentenary Day
Last Friday our school community stopped to celebrate the 300th anniversary since the passing of our founder St John Baptist de La Salle. St John’s Regional College hosted 1200 junior students from St Bede’s College, Mentone and De La Salle College, Malvern. The Mass was celebrated by former student, Fr Andrew Jekot with concelebrants, Fr Brendan Lane, Fr Martin Jeremias and Deacon George Piech Meat.
Our community was honoured to host the Brother Visitor - Br David Hawke, Br Ken Ormerod, Br Cal Cusack and Br Bill Firman for the day as our students and guests enjoyed lunch together and then entertainment provided by Andrew Chinn.
It was a wonderful day that saw all students enjoy our shared Lasallian Heritage while challenged to consider living with “One Heart, One Commitment, One Life” as St John Baptist de La Salle did 300 years ago.
I thank all staff for their support of the day in particular Mr John Rhynehart, Mr Brad Heeps and Ms Helen Kelly for their co-ordination of this major event which saw over 4000 staff and students attend various schools and St Patricks Cathedral in Melbourne.
Enrolment Interview for 2020
Commencing on 4 June, our senior leadership team will begin the process of meeting our new Year 7 students for 2020. The interviews are a great opportunity to meet our young students and their families and begin the learning partnership that will carry them through the next six years. Enrolment tours and information evenings for 2020/2021 continue throughout this year with our next Open Evening:
Thursday 27 June.
For those looking for enrolment information and tour bookings please refer to our school website or contact our Enrolment Registrar Ms Symone Goodwin via the main office on (03) 8793 2000.
NAPLAN
As was reported in the press last week some schools experienced connectivity issues on Tuesday 14 May while undertaking NAPLAN assessments online. At St John’s Regional College this statewide issue affected a small number of students. We can now advise that the Australian Education Senior Officials Committee has agreed that Test Administration Authorities have the option of offering students who were affected by the connectivity issues and test disruptions on Tuesday 14 May the opportunity of re-sitting the relevant NAPLAN test, either online or on paper.
This opportunity will be made available by VCAA to affected schools in Victoria. Students may re-sit the test on Tuesday 28 May. Re-sitting the NAPLAN (Writing/Reading/Conventions of Language/Numeracy) test is optional. Students do not have to participate if they do not wish to do so. In considering whether it is in the best interests of students to re-sit the test, please be aware that the result of the second test will be the result that is recorded as a student’s result for NAPLAN 2019. Parents should contact Contemporary Learning Leader Mr Dion Spoljar with any further NAPLAN inquiries.
Cross Country
Congratulations to the House of Monoceros for their fifth win in a row in the House Cross Country Championships. I thank Sports Co-ordinator Mr Mark Alexander, Sports Assistant Miss Adrianna Grech and all staff for their coordination and support of the competition. All individual champions from the Cross Country competition will now be invited to represent St John’s Regional College in the Southern Independent Schools Cross Country Championship on the 28 May.
6th Place Phoenix House - 116 points
5th Place Leonis House - 159 points
4th Place Aquila House - 164 points
3rd Place Columba House - 176 points
2nd Place Delphinus House - 216 points
1st Place Monoceros House - 224 points
Year 11 Social
On Tuesday of this week, our Year 11 students took a break from their studies to enjoy the company of each other at the SJRC Year 11 Social held at St Mary Primary School Hall. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to dance and catch up with friends displaying some very creative masks under the ‘masquerade’ theme. I thank Ms Sonia McNally, the Year 11 leaders who organised the activity, and staff who gave up their time to supervise the event.