From the Acting Principal 

In the blink of an eye, we are in Week 6. It has been another busy and positive week in our classrooms, out and about on the sporting field and in co-curricular activities.

Mrs Bradbeer and I walked through several classrooms this week and we enjoyed seeing the variety of activities that were occurring, students were very proud to show their work and to tell us all about the information they were learning.

We welcomed our excited 2023 Year 7s on Thursday for their Orientation Day. Students enjoyed a day of activities designed to encourage connection and to support students to feel comfortable in their new surrounds. I wonder how many parents remember their first day at secondary school and the mix of nerves and excitement? I thank Mr Hawthorne for all his work to support this important transition stage.

New 2023 students also participated in the Junior School Orientation Day, which was a wonderful opportunity to meet their classmates and teachers for next year. 

Our Class of 2022 are almost done! After today, the majority of our students will have completed their VCE examinations. I thank Mrs Bonnett and her team for their extraordinary work to ensure such a smooth examination process. We now look forward to Wednesday 16 November for the Year 12 Valedictory Service and Dinner. This is a very special opportunity for our Year 12s and their families to stop and reflect on their time at the College.

The highlight of the week, however, was the Year 9 Micah evening on Monday. Despite not finishing the program like we would have liked, the Year 9s had a great day hiking through the Grampians. The afternoon concluded with a BBQ for families and presentations where students recapped the highlights of each of the main components and thanked the staff that supported them during the year.

Miss Andrews shared a few words from the students on how they viewed the Micah experience. 

• Challenging. Exciting. Eye opening. Friendships. Family. 
• Challenging, enjoyable, memorable, eye-opening, independence.
• Fun, challenging, detox, memorable, humbling.

My sincere thanks to Miss Amy Andrews, Mr Ben Hawthorne, Mr Joachim Rymarz, Mrs Sharnah Malseed and Mrs Helen Henry for making the year possible. It was a wonderful year for our Year 9 students to bond, develop and step outside their comfort zones.    

After 14 years of loyal service to the College, Ms Matilda McGoon has accepted a new challenge to develop her teaching and to further her qualifications. Matilda has been the face of Hospitality in the College, preparing hundreds of students for a secure future in the industry. Her work coordinating student teams to support College and community events has been outstanding. She has been a long-standing mentor in Berry House and as Head of Clay Target Shooting, has led the College Shooting team to great success over a range of local and State competitions. Matilda has a real heart for her students. Her recent role has Head of VET has seen her administrative skills and knowledge of VET and work based placements support students in the senior years.

We wish Matilda all the best in her next endeavour.

Miss Kristen Waldron

Acting Principal