Principal Team Editorial 

Raising Expectations

This year we have introduced a number of exciting and innovative changes that we are confident will significantly improve the learning experiences and growth of all of our students.

The feedback about many of these changes, such as the increased range of subject choice at Year 9 and 10, is an example that has received extremely positive feedback from students.  

Last year, our students, teachers and parents faced a number of complex new challenges, but despite this, our community demonstrated its resilience and ability to work together to achieve great things. Whilst most of our students have had an extremely positive start to 2021, the pandemic effects from last year, have correlated to an uptick in unsettled and anti-social behaviour and we want to respond supportively but also assertively to prevent this having a wider impact on classes and in the yard. 

Whilst, as Principal, I think we have a school that is doing positive things, and one that we can all be proud of, I do not think we have reached our full potential and I am challenging myself and all community members to strive to be even better! 

Our focus, now, and always is to raise expectations, to lift the bar higher, to want and expect the best. To ensure that our students and teachers have the environment that will deliver the best outcomes possible. Our students and staff have given us feedback over the last few weeks about what that might look like, and you can expect to hear more in the coming weeks/months. 

Some immediate outcomes and examples that I would like to draw your attention to include: 

• Significantly increasing the amount of positive feedback and formal recognition of students doing positive things in and out of the classroom. (You will hear more about this soon.)
• Creating a focus group of students and teachers with a mandate to recommend further actions to achieve higher expectations.
• Implement a priority strategy that will see immediate and direct intervention and consequences for students who are abusive to staff (this aligns with work focussing on abuse in other workplaces). Students who are abusive will be immediately withdrawn from class, parents contacted, and they will be potentially excluded from school for a period of time.
• Implement a policy of higher expectations with uniform. Fortunately the majority of our students wear the uniform with pride and represent our college as we expect, however, for the few that wear hats/beanies or hoodies etc., that are not part of the uniform, they can expect these items to be confiscated, to be collected at the end of the day.
• Examining further opportunities for our students to experience amazing opportunities and experiences in and outside the classroom, with the Year 11 Cairns camp a positive example.

The points identified above are some immediate examples, there will be more to come. Every day we are focussed on improvement. To be an even better school, we have to work together. We look forward to continuing this community centred approach in our journey to make Wantirna College the envy of most schools. 

Kevin Murphy

Principal

Re published from a Compass Post 

May 13, 2021

School Uniform Myths Debunked

As we have being raising the expectations regarding school uniform over the last few weeks, it has become apparent that there are a few myths among students around what is and is not school uniform that need to be clarified.

Beanies

Big Freeze or other fundraising beanies are not and never were acceptable as part of school uniform.  As part of a VCAL fundraiser three or four years ago students were allowed to wear the beanie on one day only.  Our school uniform policy states that students may wear a navy blue, maroon or white beanie.

Hoodies

Some student believe if they wear a hoodie under their rugby jumper it cannot be seen and therefore is okay.  Hoodies are not part of school uniform and may not be worn as an additional layer over, or under, their school uniform.

Black Runners

Students are required to have black, low heeled shoes with a full leather upper.  Although we allow students to wear a shoe with a sports sole, it must meet all other requirements.  Black runners that do not have a full leather upper are not acceptable.

Track Pants because it is cold

We know that regardless of the weather the vast majority of boys choose to wear shorts all year round and an increasing number of girls are choosing the summer dress.  As a result we have recently had a number of students suggesting because it is cold that they can wear track pants.  This is not acceptable, the option for all students (male and female) in cold weather is school pants.

Overcoats

Yes it is cold at this time of year.  For this reason the school uniform includes a waterproof, polar fleece lined, soft shell jacket.  Students should not be wearing other overjackets.

To and from school

Students are representing the school in the community as they make their way to and from school. They need to be in correct school uniform at these times.

We ask that parents assist us in discussing the school uniform with their children.  If your child cannot access a piece of uniform please send them to school with a note and we will provide them with a temporary uniform pass.

Thanks for your support

Catherine Ford, Andrew Lewis, Shane Kruger, Carrie Wallis

Assistant Principals