Deputy Principal Message
James Roberts
Stop, Drop & Go
Parents and carers are asked that when dropping off or picking up your young people, that you use the Stop, Drop & Go zone at the front of the College and refrain from dropping off or collecting your young people from the following areas:
- Trade Training Centre carpark at the rear of the College
- Corner shops carpark
- Daycare Centre carpark
- Please observe the 'no parking' signs on Sunbird Drive
Scooters & Bikes - Helmets
We are seeing more and more students riding to school on either bikes or electric scooters which is great to see. The upgrade to the bike racks is nearing completion which is also assisting - thank you to Lee Slatcher and the VET Construction students for their work, along with Family Connect for funding the project.
Can I please ask that all parents and carers check that their young person wears a functioning helmet - able to be done up under the chin and is free from any cracks or damage. Additionally, could you please have a conversation with them about responsible riding, especially around pedestrians, cars and roads.
Please be mindful of the new legislation that prohibits students under 15 from riding electric scooters unsupervised.
Staffing
Teacher shortages are being felt across the nation and not even large metropolitan secondary colleges have been spared. A more mobile workforce, as well as an ageing workforce, coupled together with fewer people entering the profession are all contributors. Staff wellbeing has also been highlighted as a factor working against us.
Be assured that the College leadership is very aware of this and is constantly working to maintain quality teaching and continuity of learning within the available resources. There is no perfect solution at present and from time to time you may have concerns about your young person’s learning. We ask that you communicate these concerns to us if/when they occur to ensure that we can continue to do the best for your young people.
Attendance
‘Showing up’ is the first step in succeeding in anything. Unfortunately, we have a significant number of students who fail to meet the minimum benchmark of 90% attendance (1 day absent each fortnight), making it very difficult for them to achieve a level that truly reflects their ability.
As a mainstream school that operates a face to face program, teachers are not resourced or trained to teach both online and face to face at the same time. So, we expect that students are only absent because they are unwell or have an important appointment that cannot be scheduled outside of school time. In both cases we would question the ability of a student to focus 100% on the lesson if accessing online. Using the line, “you can access the lessons on Canvas” as a reason for not attending classes is a bit like playing xbox NBA 2K23 and saying you can play basketball. At some point you need to show up the courts and put the ball in the hoop to prove it.
Kind Regards
James Roberts
Deputy Principal