Principal's Report
When coincidence ventures into territory that would appear to be planned, we call it serendipity, fortunate events aligning in a seemingly planned manner, even though no such planning occurred. With Stewart's time away from CHS and a busy year for us all to undertake, a pivotal occurrence, in the shape of our four year review has concluded this week, just one day after our Year 12 students of 2020 returned for their homecoming. It seems that these events were serendipitous as the review process marks the end of our previous strategic plan and the birth of new focus for CHS.
Students will have noted our visitors observing classes across their fieldwork days and possibly have been part of focus groups. Nearly all staff were interviewed and a thorough audit of our policies and procedures took place. Our review, when complete, can be accessed as a matter of public record, with our reviewers highlighting many facets of our school culture.
From students, terms such as 'community', 'respect' and 'belonging' resonated in focus groups and staff reported high levels of passion and enthusiasm to build a documented and viable curriculum, accessible to all students via COGs, as structured around our Instructional Model.
The 'calm and orderly environment' was another featured highlight, alongside the burgeoning sense of pride our students have, especially those who consider themselves 'lucky' to be part of our school (ironic when teachers feel lucky to have them as students).
Many anecdotes were shared, such as our lead reviewer positively influenced before the review began as he was lost and three students led him to Reception, chatting about the school in glowing terms. All students seemingly know our values of Excellence, Integrity, Curiosity and Community, with a genuine sense that they are worthy values which reflect our school and who we are; not just in our finest moments but everyday, including in the face of adversity and also when we need to rely on others.
Whilst we have made large gains in attendance, student voice and agency over co-curricula involvement and high level teaching, our attainment in NAPLAN, and student voice and agency over class based learning were cited as areas for improvement. Students' ability to rebound from setbacks and to face the social and educational challenges were also not as strong as other aspects of wellbeing. Therefore, our new goals are centred around raising achievement for all students and including them in the learning experience beyond the completion of work, moving to greater levels of collaboration. We will also focus on better preparing students to face challenges and adapt to difficult circumstances 'as into every life some rain must fall'.
For those of us part of the school based review team, it has been an exercise in validation to know that what we feel we have accomplished is indeed what others see in our school. We left our final day of the review invigorated knowing that we have succeeded in achieving what we set out to accomplish several years ago: the creation of a safe and inclusive school that offers students the chance to learn and privileges the learning experience.
With a new voice leading our school for the remainder of the year and a new strategic plan to put into action, we are eager to meet the challenges of improving outcomes for all our learners and continuing the host of events, clubs, camps, excursions, incursions and inspired teaching that powers our school through each period, day, week and year. To ensure that students take greater ownership of the learning process and add better defences against challenges to their armoury of life skills, are indeed noble aims for teachers and families to strive for.
I am immensely proud of the school we have become in such a short period of time and have cherished the opportunity to lead our school community for the beginning of 2021. Well done CHS on handling the challenges that 2021 has already produced and let's see how well we can take on the rest of the year.
Homecoming
Although a long time in the making, possibly stretching back to images of parents led by Cate Hall on the front page of the Leader campaigning for a High School for Coburg, the Homecoming was finally realised last Monday with a gathering of 2020 graduates, their parents and members of the Coburg High School Historical Group.
This event was promised to students last year when restrictions forced us to leave behind not only our plans for a grand farewell in the San Remo Ballroom, but any physical gathering at all, with our televised 'live from Stewart's Office' presentation and very slick short film in the style of 'You Can't Ask That' taking its place.
Although this may have been an otherwise simple affair, we all relished the opportunity to meet in person, not be required to wear face masks and to simply enjoy the banter that we missed out on with the students who we, as a school, grew up alongside.
As a special guest for this event, Professor John Matthews, an eminent epidemiologist with the University of Melbourne, visited to share his life story beyond the gates of Coburg High School. As a graduate of the class of 1957 it was with a sense of genuine awe that we listened to the highlights of his 63 years since graduating. With time in Papua New Guinea tracing the spread of Kuru to the cannibalism performed by those eating their dead relatives as a token of respect, to stints at Oxford, and position as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Australia, it was thought provoking that someone who went to school a mere few hundred metres up the road from where our school now stands, has had such a varied and accomplished life - a life of learning that has continued to this day, as Professor Matthews, now in his 80s, is currently working on limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Like any story, there was sadness too, as the love of his life, Coralie Chatfield, also a Coburg High School student who became his wife and partner in research, sadly passed away. A note that struck deep with the assembled students who gazed at their classmates and took note of their friendships without taking them for granted.
As Professor Matthews concluded his speech, it was with words of the future that he beckoned to students to continue their learning and maintain their friendships regardless of the different paths they chose to pursue.
Read Prof. John Matthews speech here:
Class of 2020 Memorial
The 'garden facility' which was constructed by parents, staff and former students was officially dedicated to the class of 2020 and serves as an example of leaving the school in a better state than how students found it. This project could not have been completed without the assistance of Haydn Burns, whose donation of time and expertise united those working on this project and resulted in a beautiful creation that will provide seating and shade beneath an already established Tristaniopsis Laurina, AKA 'Water Gum'. Already our current Year 12s are looking to outdo this effort and although their plans to 'dig a pool or possibly small lake' might need to be reigned in, we admire their spirit.
Indigenous Focus at CHS
At Coburg High School we acknowledge the
the Wurundjeri people as the traditional custodians of our land and pay our respects to
to their elders past, present and emerging. We especially acknowledge our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and staff and acknowledge the wrongdoing perpetuated by a nation which at best failed to see them or respect their culture, and at worst committed acts that we seek to redress to this day.
This year we have a particular focus on Indigenous perspectives in both the curriculum and the co-curricula spheres of our school community. Sam Morley's position as Indigenous Support Leader for 2021 will be further cemented during two dedicated training retreats which span several days each, in order to up-skill our staff and community. We will also hold our dedicated Indigenous Focus Day with events being led by Wanyara, an Indigenous group who bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander games, art, dance, language, history, ceremonies, songs and stories to organisations. A timely event, as we end the opening phase of the school year, is our Welcome to Country, delivered by a local Wurundjeri elder in Week 9.
School Captains
As the class of 2020 gathered for the final time, our current school Captains from the class of 2021 has been working hard for their year level and their school. Having met with the school review team and with principals, their first order of business has been to lock in a Year 12 Formal.
Our Captains this year are Paramita Sharma, Illya Gunn and Leahana Burgess. They invite all students with feedback, initiatives, concerns and questions to contact them via email or in person - although with Year 12 study to complete, they are busy!
Basketball Academy
We now have 51 students enrolled in our Basketball Academy which trains daily before and after school under the guidance of Mike Torres and Michael Fortune. It has been a good start for the academy and it is hoped that the dedication to sporting excellence helps to further engage students in our school and further their personal aims of becoming champion players.
Solar Power for CHS
For many years there has been discussion about reducing the carbon footprint of Coburg High School through the use of solar energy. With our expansive flat roofed buildings and predominately day time use, solar energy has been a notable absence which school leadership and school council have been keen to rectify. CHS has been successful in obtaining a Greener Government School Buildings grant of $122,000 for a 99.9 kilowatt solar system. This is a tremendous investment in renewable energy for our community and a terrific example to students of putting our values into action. Many thanks to all those who have worked on this project and grant application.
Meet the Teacher Night
Thankfully we were able to run our annual 'Meet the Teachers Night' at CHS this year to welcome parents and carers of our Year 7 cohort. This event took place in the week prior to the lockdown and how thankful we were for a beautiful evening, good company and a great turnout from families and staff. Thank you to Angela Schneider's team for organising this event.
Gary Vella
Acting Principal