From the Desk of the Principal's Office

From the Principal's Desk

Term two is an incredibly busy time in schools as students and teachers work hard to complete the teaching and learning for the semester. The school day has been filled with excursions to kindergartens, court houses, environmental agencies, galleries, live performances, and the list goes on. Students have also met guest speakers, both face to face and virtual, including media correspondents, judges, film makers and so on. When added to the day-to-day vibrancy of our school, all these things add to the engagement and learning that happens at Swinburne.

The 2023 Riversdale Network Leadership Conference was held at RACV Cape Schanck Resort last week and was a great opportunity for Robert and myself to learn and reflect on our leadership of the school. Speakers presented the most recent research and thinking around trauma informed education, the teaching of numeracy, belonging in schools, and how demographics is influencing teaching and learning.

All the presenters gave us many things to think about, but I would like to specifically mention the work of Dr Kelly-Ann Allen in school belonging. Dr Allen’s core work is in direct response to the widely reported global decline in belonging, particularly for students. Her research traces the further deterioration of belonging following COVID-19, and its strong associations with mental illness (both in adolescence and adulthood), wellbeing and academic outcomes, demonstrating that student belonging is an important problem to address. With the study of belonging core to Dr. Allen’s research priorities, her projects have built a conceptual and empirical understanding of what it means to belong. This is work that we will focus on to enhance student’s sense of belonging at Swinburne Senior SC. If we can continue to build a culture of belonging, then we can expect better social and academic outcomes for our students.

Swinburne Senior SC is well down the pathway of implementing the trauma informed Berry Street Education Model, and recently we had the privilege of presenting the story of our implementation to the Riversdale Network of schools that make up all schools in the Boroondara and Whitehorse local government areas. I would like to congratulate Elizabeth Reardon and Emily Barnes for the outstanding presentation that has enhanced the state school system’s capacity to implement evidence-based programs to improve student outcomes.

So impressive was the presentation that the Berry Street team have now employed Emily Barnes. Emily will continue in her teaching role until the end of semester when we sadly farewell her to Berry Street. I would like to thank her for her contribution to the school during her time here.

Farewelling Emily has presented us with the opportunity to appoint a new Leader of Year 11and I congratulate Tricia Radford on her appointment to this leadership position and as a member of the school’s leadership team.

We are also thrilled to announce our newest edition to the Philosophy and English team Jordon Horwood! Jordon brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our school and look forward to working alongside him.

We now move into end of semester and the completion of the GAT. I encourage all student to continue to work hard and give their best. The program between now and the end of

term is outlined on compass and more information will be shared through mentor sessions and using compass.  lease also refer to the GAT page in this newsletter and  make sure you are checking your emails regularly for important information.

Finally, as we enter the traditional flu season, I am encouraging all members of our community to prioritise immunisations for influenza and Covid-19. As a school we have planned for staff to easily access immunisations and be proactive in creating the safest learning environments possible. The most important action is to stay home if you are feeling unwell. Acting with others in mind will help keep us all safe and healthy.

Daryl Bennett

Principal