From the Principal
Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends
We have had a super charged start to the year with Easter arriving just in time for us all to catch some breath before we embark on another great term at Frankston High School. There have been our series of very successful camps, including our most recent New Zealand Athletics trip. I can’t wait to hear from our students and staff about the great experiences they had competing internationally. Semper Squads have had students attending in droves celebrating the joy of physical activity with a nutritious breakfast before school, whilst breakfast club is packed out three mornings a week, where students can share some rest time in a welcoming environment socializing with others, before school begins. It is difficult for me to choose what to write about with all that has occurred, but here goes. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of the newsletter.
CONGRATULATIONS AND MANY THANKS TO PARENT/STAFF REPRESENTATIVES ON SCHOOL COUNCIL
I am pleased to introduce you to parents and staff who are members on School Council. I am listing all parents and staff on School Council, in order for you to know who to approach if you have concerns or any positive feedback to share. These parents and staff play an integral role in representing the school community, and in so doing, informing the governance of our school.
The parents/community representatives are:
Mr David Cross , President
Mr Daryl Durack, Vice President
Mrs Vera Roberts, Treasurer
Mrs Nicole-Ann Fidge, PFA representative
Mr Bruce Howden
Ms Melissa King
Mrs Shez Cantlie &
Mr Brian Coghlan
Also, in particular, I would like to welcome our new parents on School Council:
Mrs Michelle Kapnoullas &
Mr Mark Rickinson
Our staff representatives on School Council are:
Ms Suzanne Caldwell
Ms Cathy Hogg
Ms Kylie Williams &
Ms Helen Wilson
We are indebted to our parents and staff for the great volunteer work they do in representing our school community on School Council. School Council is our governing body which ensures that Frankston High School keeps moving onwards and upwards by leading Australia in providing excellence in teaching and learning for our students. Minister Merlino has mandated that all school councils have student representatives. Next term we will be undertaking a process that will be determined by the government to appoint student representatives on our School Council.
It is at this time we farewell a long standing parent representative on School Council; Mr Gil Garnier. Gil served on School Council for eight years and has had both a son and daughter successfully graduate from our school, who are now both studying at University. Gil’s career in the tertiary education sector enabled him to contribute passionately in School Council discussions with his never-ending positive ideas for school improvement. We wish Gil every success and happiness for the future.
PUT TUESDAY 19 JUNE IN YOUR DIARY: HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FRANKSTON HIGH SCHOOL
2018 is an important year in our school’s Accountability Cycle. It is a year of review where all members of the community are invited to contribute to evaluating our achievements over the last four years whilst identifying areas for ongoing improvement. On Tuesday 19 June at 6.30pm our usual School Council meeting will be an open meeting whereupon all parents will be invited to contribute to our self-evaluation. The recommendations from the self-evaluation will be presented to an independent reviewer who will visit and assess our school in Term 4, helping us to develop a new Strategic Plan for the next four years (2019-2022). Parents are encouraged to attend this forum to have their say about what they feel the priority areas for improvement should be. I am looking forward to meeting with you and especially hearing from you at this gathering.
STUDENTS RECOGNISED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY IN THE TOP OF THEIR ACADEMIC FIELDS
ABBY STRANGWARD WINS SOMERSET NATIONAL NOVELLA COMPETITION
The Somerset National Novella Writing Competition provides an opportunity for serious student writers to have their writing appraised in order to encourage them in their literary growth. It gives me great pleasure to announce that Abby Strangward (Year 10) has won this prestigious award. Abby’s novella was ‘Backyards’ and, knowing Abby’s passion for writing, I am sure publishers will be sourcing her great work in the future.
HARRY STUART, SELECTED TO REPRESENT AUSTRALIA AT HEIDELBERG SCIENCE SUMMER SCHOOL
Last year Harry Stuart (Year 12) was selected from thousands of applicants from across Australia to participate in the Australian Youth Science Forum. This provided Harry with the opportunity of working alongside renowned scientists, inspiring him with an understanding of the passion and curiosity scientists have for finding answers to questions they have about life and for acquiring knowledge and skills that help improve life for us all on this planet. The latest news is that Harry has been selected to represent Australia at the International Youth Science Forum at the Heidelberg Summer School in Germany in July. Harry is now earnestly embarking on a fundraising mission to help meet the costs required for participation. If you have some ideas to help Harry with his fundraising, please contact the school and we will put you in touch with Harry. We know this wonderful experience will inspire Harry to continue to excel in his studies whilst planning a future Science learning pathway.
SO MUCH MORE TO SHARE..
I have so much more to share because of all the good news stories that have happened this Term, but I think enough is enough from me. However, just quickly:
It was great to meet an excellent turnout of parents at our recent Year 7 Meet and Greet evening, which explains why we have such a lovely new cohort of students beginning at our school. Also congratulations to our swimming team who became District Swimming Champions and won gold, with many individuals and all our relay teams competing in Regional Championships this week. Congratulations to the rowing team who recently won gold, silver and bronze in State Championships and to our many athletes who achieved personal bests and won in some cases gold and, if not, were ranked in the top 20 of Australian athletes in their field of endeavour at recent Australian Track and Field Championships in Sydney. Thanks also to the many parents and students who worked hard at our recent Working Bee, mulching, weeding and planting. Our grounds continue to thrive and look beautiful thanks to your hard work on a very stormy, typical Melbourne weather type of day. I am so thankful to the combined efforts of our staff, students and parents for enabling Frankston High School to have such a great start to the school year.
Wishing everyone a well-deserved enjoyable Easter break with family and friends.
Mr John Albiston
Principal