From the Head of Campus' Desk

Parent Satisfaction Survey & Learning and Teaching

Dear Parents/Guardians

 

The 2021 school year is now well underway as we complete Week 3 of this term. One of the most noticeable things I see as I walk around the school is how happy the children of all ages are and how much they enjoy the company of others. Having worked at a number of schools over my time in education I know this environment is something very special that I cherish and don’t take for granted.

 

At the end of last year, we conducted our annual Parent Satisfaction Survey. Thank you to those parents who responded as this survey has again given us invaluable insight into the feelings, thoughts and perspectives of our parents. The results highlighted areas where we are tracking well and other areas that we need to devote additional attention to. I hope you will persevere through the full length of this article as I would like to share some of the findings in this newsletter issue and the next couple of newsletters, beginning this week with a focus on the area of Learning and Teaching. There are some live links embedded in the article to help you explore some areas in greater depth.

 

Pleasingly, so much of the overall feedback was very positive. Perhaps the most positive response was shown in the ‘Christian focus at Heathertonquestion. I do tell prospective parents that we seek to be an authentic Christian school in practice and not just name, so it is pleasing that the Christ-centred heart and focus of the school is coming through. Other very strong areas identified were the existence of a good learning environment which helps children to have a positive outlook on learning, that the teachers are dedicated and have a positive attitude, and that the facilities are good to excellent. If I compare Heatherton with the previous schools that I have taught at I would definitely agree with these positives. 

 

I want to address a few areas raised.  One is to do with our subjects offered. We do cover the requisite curriculum areas outlined in the Victorian Curriculum framework for Prep to Year 10. In fact, we go beyond this with additional and valuable subjects such as Christian Life, the Grade 4 Year in the Yard program, additional Technology electives in Grade 5 to Year 8, other electives such as Outdoor Education and Hospitality, our Year 9 Year of Challenge program, and our brand new core subject in Years 7 to 9, the E School (teaching students enterprise and entrepreneurship skills and mindsets). 

 

Our VCE subject offering is not as broad as would be available onsight at a larger school (though no school, no matter how large, can actually offer all VCE subjects due to timetable constraints). This is one of the trade-offs against the benefits of being a smaller school that include smaller class sizes, additional relational and nurturing benefits (eg. students are known individually and supported to achieve their best). Our size also works for us as we can provide a great degree of flexibility in supporting students to increasingly create their individual pathway and can, if they choose to, expand their subject choices through enrolment in external providers such as the Virtual School Victoria, and VET or VCE VET courses – the range of these is huge and students are supported in their selections as part of their careers and course counselling from Years 9 to 12. (For further subject information, please see the Year 7 to 8 and 9 to 10 Elective Guides, plus the VCE Handbook, all located on our HCC College website). We have plans to further broaden our onsite VCE offerings as we do grow in the future.

 

We are working to enhance our extra-curricular activities as this week we have launched a Clubs program for Secondary students to be initiated and run by students – thereby increasing the range of activities and experiences whilst also providing invaluable leadership experience (in line with our Strategic Priorities). We are also examining how we can initiate a similar program into Primary, whilst still providing additional extra-curricular programs such as swimming, camps and mission trips, music and band programs, Junior Engineers, to name a few.  

 

Finally, we are enhancing our support of students in their subject choices as they both consider and prepare for their futures beyond school. Our Careers advisor, Christina Douglas (who is also our Head of E School), works with students from Years 9 to 12 in helping them identify their strengths and God-given areas of interest, giftings and passions, this then helps them in planning their individual pathways ahead and informs their subject selections and course of study or work beyond school. The amazing HCC Careers Website is well worth a look! This process will be further enhanced through the E School. 

 

Our students are being continually equipped with the necessary attitudes, aptitude, skills, and passions to seek to honour God in a wide array of pursuits post HCC. Our Class of 2020 is a perfect illustration of this as students are this year either studying or training in such diverse fields as Aeronautical Engineering at ADFA, Biochemistry (leading to Dentistry), Engineering, Law, Science, Interior Architecture, Fine Arts, Business, Exercise Science, Fitness, Hospitality, Hotel Management, Equine Studies, Real Estate and Sound Production – what a diverse array of interests and giftings within our Graduate class as they make their way forward in life. 

 

In closing, I acknowledge that we, like any school, organisation or business, have strengths and areas to improve. Please be assured that we are continually examining our practices and programs and seeking to build on our strengths and improve ourselves as we serve God, our students and families. We cannot be all things to all people and we will continue to strive to be true to our College Vision and Mission. I thank you for your feedback and for working in partnership with us as we help to raise your child in the ways of the Lord. The next newsletter will focus on feedback given in the area of Environment and Social factors. 

 

Phil Eastman

Head of Campus