Principal's Report

Welcome and welcome back!!!!

Last week we hit the ground running with Year 7s beginning their journey with us Thursday, starting the same day as our Year 12s, and all other students beginning last Friday including many students who are joining us for the first time. It has been a relatively smooth start so far, with a couple of small hiccups with aspects such as uniform supply and internet issues (not caused by us!) but we are working through them and will have them sorted soon.

I particularly want to welcome our new Year 7 parents who are joining us for the first time. I hope the start has gone smoothly for you also and that each day you are hearing positive stories about the life of Year 7s in the first few days. Being on the other side currently with my daughter also starting Year 7 this year, I know that the experience of the first week is not just nerve wracking for some of our students, but equally for some of our parents as well.

My daughter has a disability, is assisted by an integration aide and school is not easy for her. Every day, I cross my fingers hoping that she has a fun day and is happy going to school. Every day I hope, she remembers how to navigate her lock, remembers what classes she has, makes a friend or two, feels confident to speak up, doesn’t feel overwhelmed with her learning, so far she is having success with some of those factors but not yet all!

The first few weeks of secondary school are a steep learning curve, and I know that my daughters teachers are there to help and support her and I have already reached out to get their help in the first few days. I encourage Year 7 parents to reach out and let us know if their child needs that extra help. For most of Year 7, navigating the first few weeks of secondary school is not too challenging! But for some it may be the most challenging and anxious time of their short lives. If that’s the case, let us know, we have plenty of tricks up our sleeve and we can work with you to help steer things in the right direction. And whilst this message is focused on our Year 7 parents, it equally applies to all students who are finding the first few weeks challenging and again our leaders and teachers will always be there to lend a hand when needed.

Learning support in 2021

The pandemic and the period of remote learning in 2020 will lead to lingering effects on learning for years to come. For some who found remote learning difficult to engage with, learning gaps may be more profound or evident as a result. This year we have a number of programs and supports that will hopefully address those learning gaps quickly to ensure that students don’t fall further behind. The State Government has funded 6 additional staff members who will work with our senior students with the Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI). These staff will focus on building the literacy and numeracy skills of students who may have fallen behind last year. The TLI will supplement the other support program such as the Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support (MYLNS) program and Quicksmart Literacy and Numeracy. All up, and not including integration aides we have 12 staff providing extra support to students who need it, alongside and in support of the classroom teacher.

New staff in 2021

Last year we said goodbye to a number of teaching and non-teaching staff and therefore this year we say hello to some new faces. The following teachers have joined us in 2021:
Jamie Beovich (Technology)
Jacob Dyer (Science),
Taylor Dykstra (PE)
Claire Hanley (English/Drama)
Tess Murnane (Maths/Science)
Michaela Piritidis (English)
Clara Ranellone (Maths/Science)
Sarah Sleight (English, returning from family leave)
Tina Fiorentino (Art, returns from transfer to a Primary School)
Tamara Sullivan (Maths/Science)
Leanne Wilson (Maths).

As I mentioned earlier, we have recruited 5 additional staff to work with one existing staff member in the TLI and they include:

Tom Hull (English)

Alexia Mingos (English)

Joelle Gao (Maths)

Matthew Zaccaria (Maths)

Emily Hui (Maths). And finally, we were lucky enough to have our funding for a Mental Health Practitioner confirmed for 2021 and we are excited to have Lea Marrison joining the Wellbeing team in that role.

College Council Elections

Within this newsletter and via Compass you will find a notice of election and call for nominations for College Council. I encourage anyone who might be considering nominating to contact me for more information particularly if you haven’t been on a school council before.

Kevin Murphy

Principal