Principal's  Report

School Review – Pre-Review Self Evaluation

The College will undertake a review of its Strategic Plan 2018-2022 in term next year.  In preparation for the review we are collecting data and feedback from staff, students and parents on how we have performed. 

Parents and guardians are invited to participate in a workshop to evaluate the College’s progress over the past four years and to set some direction for the future. Some key questions will be asked: How have we gone? How do we know? What do we need to do next? What are the major highlights of the past four years? How did our school respond to the challenges of the pandemic?

The workshop will be held on Friday 7th October 2.30-4.00pm in the Staff Centre, in the Administration Building. For catering purposes please RSVP to Angela Lawson on 9433 2666.

If you are unable to make this time, please send your feedback to any or all of these question via our email address, attention Pauline Barker: greensborough.sc@education.vic.gov.au

Staff News

At the end of this term we farewelled Meredith Dokos, from the administration team. Meredith has taken up a position as Human Resources Manager at Epping View Primary School starting in term 4.  Meredith has been a member of our staff for fourteen years and we will miss her positive demeanour and her energy. Meredith has had a busy time in the last month as she has just got married and been on a long-awaited honeymoon (the lockdowns got in the way of two attempts at setting a date!). We wish Meredith all the best at her new school.

A new addition to the office staff is Louisa Tanner who will be joining the staff on Thursday 15th September. Louisa has a wealth of experience working in other schools and it will be great to have her on board.

Congratulations to Anthony Ellul who has been appointed to the substantive leadership position of Senior School Student Engagement and Wellbeing Leader for 2023-2025. Anthony has been acting in this role for the past eighteen months and we look forward to him continuing on the leadership team.

Our other leaders, Meegan Triance, Lisa Dunne and Patricia Quan, will continue in their roles for 2022. It is with pleasure that I also announce that our Assistant Principal, Rose Thomson, will continue in her role for the next three years.

COVID-19 isolation requirements have changed – A message from the DET

Any student or staff member who tests positive to COVID-19 must now isolate for a minimum of 5 days instead of 7. If they are asymptomatic, they may return to school on day 6. If they are symptomatic, they must remain in isolation until day 7. If they have symptoms after 7 days, they are strongly advised to stay home until their symptoms have resolved.

As an additional risk mitigation, the Department of Health strongly recommends that those leaving isolation wear a face mask when away from home, both indoors and outdoors, and when they cannot physically distance. Those leaving isolation on day 6 should wear a mask for 5 days but particularly the first 2 days. Those leaving isolation on day 7 should wear a mask for 4 days but particularly the first 2 days.

Those leaving isolation should consider taking a rapid antigen test before attending school.

Meeting the Governor of Victoria

It was with an enormous amount of pride and pleasure that I accepted an invitation to Government House recently, along with many other volunteers in the Sport and Recreation Sector. The Hon, Linda Dessau AC is the state’s first female governor, appointed in 2015. Her appointment was recently extended by the Late Queen Elizabeth II to 2023. 

In 2017 the Governor was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the people of Victoria through leadership roles in the judiciary, to the advancement of economic ties and business relationships, and as a supporter of charitable, sporting and arts organisations.

The Governor is passionate about local sport, in particular Australian Rules Football, having been a Commissioner of the Australian Football League and Founding Chair of the Essendon Football Club’s Women’s Network.

It is this time of the year when Australian Rules Football is prominent locally and nationally. Congratulations to our local football teams and to our students and families who are involved in these teams. Many local teams have won premierships and some are playing in Grand Finals this weekend. 

It has been terrific to have local and national sport back in full flight and to see so many people engaged and excited. My own local football club achieved two premierships last weekend and my favourite AFL team (and that of many students at Greensborough College) Collingwood, is playing in the best round of the year – the Preliminary Final – the people’s round.

To all of our students and families who participate and volunteer in sporting teams and clubs throughout the year, I wish you all the best and I know your community thanks you for all that you do to ensure clubs and people are thriving. 

Term 3 Break

I wish all our students, families and staff all the best for a safe and restful term three holidays. Term 4 resumes on Monday 3rd October.

Pauline Barker

Principal