Bulletin

Wellbeing and Engagement 

Shannon Ross

I would like to warmly welcome all staff, students, parents, guardians and community members back to school for the 2023 year. 

 

We have some exciting changes within the wellbeing and engagement space which we think will make a huge difference to the way students experience support at Woodmans Hill Secondary College. 

 

 

Home Group Changes

 

Who do I call about my child? 

In previous years, our Year Level Coordinators/Leaders have been the first port of call for all families. This is changing in 2023.

 

In 2023, your child’s Home Group teacher will be your primary contact for your child. 

 

The Home Group teacher has 20 minutes EVERY DAY to communicate, get to know, support and encourage your child. This relationship will be the most important one for them in the course of their education each year. 

 

It will assist you to develop a relationship with a member of staff who knows your child well across all aspects of their school life. 

 

Please see below an outline of the home group teacher’s responsibilities for 2023. 

 

Responsibilities

  • Primary contact between school and home 
  • The Home Group teacher is primarily responsible for their students’ overall wellbeing and development, both academic and social. 
  • Building strong relationships with all students in their home group 
  • Using compass to track learning, wellbeing, behaviour and attendance of home group students  
  • Primary prevention and low level intervention and support (for behavioural purposes if needed) in home group
  • Identification of students in home group who may need adjustments to support engagement with learning
  • Identification of behaviours for merits to acknowledge positive and high performing students in home group
  • Contribute to the development of individual education plans and support student learning goals in home group 
  • Conference with students at least once per term to reflect and develop learning goals in home group
  • Explicit teaching of Respectful Relationships, School-Wide Positive Behaviours to home group
  • Support students within their home group with organisation and learning behaviours 

 

Your child’s home group teacher will contact you (via email) within the first week, to introduce themselves and explain the best method of communication with them for 2023. 

 

The most effective method of communication with all staff (who teach each day and across the week) is EMAIL and we ask parents to ensure that they are able to access Compass and aware of how to email through this system. 

 

Parents are still welcome to call the school if they have an inquiry but it may take slightly longer to get a reply/response/answer. 

 

 

Attendance

 

Your child’s attendance at school is critical. 

 

“Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results, including VCE & VCAL, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.

 

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.” 

 

‘Department of Education and Training – Every day counts’

If your child misses: 

 

What do I do if my child is absent from school?

 

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify their school as soon as possible on the day of absence using one of the following methods: 

 

 

Online

Log the absence directly using Compass. 

 

Telephone

The school office on 5336 7264 and let the staff know your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason. 

 

Text

Hate calling? We now have a dedicated text line on 0498 464 155 which you can use. In your text please include, your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason.