Exciting News!
It was tremendous to receive the news that as part of the Victorian Government education package $22 800 million was allocated in funding for capital works for the College. This will allow for the completion of the next stage of construction with planning underway immediately. We all know the very famous saying that "Rome wasn't built in a day" and this will be true of Edgars Creek Secondary College but we know that the current students will have the opportunity to experience the expanding facilities. As I become aware of details and the planning stages involved I will continue to communicate this to all our families. I would like to thank all of our current families for having belief in the College and supporting our School Council and myself since the time we opened in highlighting the need for the College facilities to be built in its entirety. I am hopeful that some of the buildings constructed in the next stage will also benefit and be available to the community after hours.
Student Leadership & Awards
Early in May, I had the pleasure of presenting the School Captain, Vice Captain, Student Representative Council, School Council Student Representatives and House Captains with their badges. Building student leadership capacity is one of our targets at the College. As we continue to grow more opportunities will be created that are age appropriate across the different year levels. I was proud to observe how well the House Captains led their teams in the "Amazing Race" activity as it is not easy to manage two year levels in a coordinated manner. I was also invited to listen and provide feedback to the Student Representative Council on their ideas for student engagement. All the ideas were engaging and practical - they included suggestions like an outdoor cinema evening and Mini Master Chef competition. The students had prepared their pitch and had put a lot of thought into their ideas. I look forward in seeing some of them actioned across the next semester.
School Tours
We conducted four tours early this term and over 150 people came along (this number includes many Year 5 & 6 students). The majority of the families had also attended the information evening. Enrolment numbers for 2020 will start to become apparent over the next two months. Families have all been directed to the http://www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au/ to check which is their closest school during this Year 6 into Year 7 application process. Our current numbers are now at 238 students (126 at Year 7; 112 at Year 8). We will hold tours again in Term 4 for families planning ahead. I would like to thank the many teachers who gave up their time to assist on the tours. It demonstrates for me as the Principal the level of commitment many of our staff are prepared to give that is beyond their regular hours of duty.
Teaching and Learning
The Leadership Team have been collaborating with our teaching staff in reviewing and expanding our progress reporting structures; creating and writing both elective units for semester 2 of Year 8 and planning for Year 9.
Student agency and voice is a Department of Education focus and is part of the ECSC Annual Implementation targets and goals. Our teachers have continued to work at helping students engage with the extra curricula opportunities that have been organised. Without them camps, NAPLAN, Breakfast club, Lunchtime clubs, House activities, and Interschool sport could not go ahead as successfully as they currently do. This was evident also on the Student Led Conference day as many of our families took up the opportunity to discuss student learning growth and progress.
Winter and Sports Uniform
At Edgars Creek Secondary College we are very proud of how the majority of our students present in their school and sports uniform. We have a very clear Uniform and General Appearance Policy which can be found on our website. Thank you to all the students and families who choose to follow these policies. We will continue to follow up with students and families with students who are out of uniform. A reminder that correct sports uniform does not mean wearing skins or hoodies, if cold student's should be wearing the sports jacket. Some students have been trying to wear only tights with the sports top - this is not appropriate wear and is not part of the agreed school sports uniform.
National Reconciliation Week - `Grounded in Truth: Walk Together with Courage’
This week is National Reconciliation Week. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared history, cultures, and achievements and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The College is partnering with Aurora - Lendlease in inviting Uncle Bill, a Wurrundjeri elder, to come and speak to the Year 7 students as part of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and Peoples unit in Humanities. We were privileged to have Uncle Bill conduct a smoking ceremony for us last year when we moved onto the Wollert site. It was a very special occasion to have him welcome us to the traditional land of his people. We all look forward to hearing him speak and visit us again.