Assistant Principal's Page
Book Week
Mr Dixon and I had a disagreement this week. It was about Book Week. He probably doesn’t want me to write about it. In fact, if you are reading this now it’s because I was sneaky and got this article past him without giving him an opportunity to proof read it. Ssssshhhh, it’s our little secret.
But I digress, the disagreement was about what my own children wore as dress-ups for Book Week at their Primary School. My son dressed up as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and he looked magnificent, even if I do say so myself. I made a paper mâché head and painted it. I don’t do stuff like that normally, but it looked AMAZING. My daughter dressed as Jessie from Toy Story.
Now.
This was the issue for Mr Dixon. He argued that Jessie is not a book character. She is a movie character. This is true. But because of the success of Toy Story there are so many books about Toy Story now, surely this character can pass as a character suitable for Book Week.
I didn’t really think much of it until I read an article on Mamamia titled This Book Week Snobbery Has To Stop by Helen Vnuk. Apparently, the 'Carpark Mafia' don’t like children wearing movie character costumes, and they scoff and frown upon the parents who allow this to happen. The article explores the popular Elsa costumes that pop up during Book Week and how this doesn’t align with the aforementioned unwritten rule for Book Week. Vnuk, questions the rule, ‘maybe they have a Frozen book at home that they read over and over. Maybe it genuinely is their favourite book.’
At Wheelers Hill Secondary College our theme for Book Week was ‘Reading is my Superpower’. To have students celebrate this week and discuss books with their friends is a massive win. To have students discuss movies and movie characters is also a BIG win. Because if you think about it, if we have students expressing a connection with something out there and that connection has motivated them to read more OR find a book that is based on it – there is now incentive to read more for enjoyment.
Vnuk writes ‘Reading is good. In fact, it’s great. If there are kids who aren’t big readers but will pick up a book and plough through it because it’s about their favourite movie or favourite game, that’s fantastic. It doesn’t matter what their gateway to reading is, so long as they find that gateway.’
Our hope for Book Week this year at WHSC is the same for every year; it’s another way to promote and engage students in reading. This year, we wore capes to do it.
The Spray Jacket
So long, farewell,
The spray jacket will say good night
It'll hate to go but the fading is not right.
The time has come to fade out the spray jacket similar to the way the jacket . . . fades.
The Uniform Sub-committee, School Council and Lowes (our school uniform supplier) have been preparing for this item to be taken off the Uniform list. The jacket has had it's time in the sun, quite frankly, the jacket has had too much time in the sun.
When we start back next year our students will have the option of the warm and cosy navy softshell jacket. It might be a little too hot to wear this jacket in January during the summer heat, but each to their own.
Thanks for the memories spray jacket.
End scene.
Let the doves go.
Fade into the mist . . .
Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
Parents and students are advised that Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences will be held on Wednesday 4th September from 1 to 8 pm in the College E Block. Interim Reports will be available for collection at the school on entry to the conferences. There are no scheduled classes for the day.
Bookings for the Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences will be possible through your Compass Parent Portal from 9 am on Wednesday 28th August. The Compass link is available via the college website or by using the link: http://whsc.vic.jdlf.com.au/Login.aspx.
Research shows that active parental involvement and interest in schooling is tremendously important in improving educational outcomes for your child. Our experience is that the most productive discussion takes place in partnership with parent, teacher and student. We urge all parents to take the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress.
It is the expectation that all students and their parents will make appointments with their teachers and attend the conferences.
Reunion - Class of 1989
The graduating class of 1989 are holding a reunion (details below) and would like to invite all staff and students at WHSC involved with this class to attend.
They would also like to encourage anyone who has contact with former WHSC teachers or students from this time to forward the details of the event.
Principal's Awards
We would like to congratulate all students who received an inaugural Principal’s Award at this morning’s Whole School Assembly.
The recipients of this award were short-listed using data obtained from their Year 7 – 11 Cycle #1 and Cycle #2 reports in Semester 1. They were then presented with the awards based on staff feedback in regard to their ability to demonstrate creativity and respect.
The Year 12 Principal Awards will be presented later in the year in conjunction with the finalized results from their studies.
Congratulations to:
Year 7
Samantha LOH
Aria SMALL
Jasmine POOLE
Sophia SAIS
Caitlyn NGUYEN
Jasmine HAMILTON
Chloe BURLEY
Christopher HEYDE
Hannah WRIGHT
Kyra REDDEN
Linda PARKER
May PHAM
Shay COXHEAD
Year 8
Matilda DAVIES
Kalina STANKOVIC
Maia Jade ROONEY-HO
Amineh ARAUJO RODRIGUEZ
Tamara DEVIC
Tayla STEELE
Abigail BUTCHER
Chloe MORRIS
Simone ROOS
Alexis HOMEWOOD
Year 9
Megan NORTON
Renae VOLK
Haydee WILKE
Cerina PONNIAH
Georgia LAWRENCE
Jasmine KLEINMAN
Rebecca DAVIDSON
Regentson BUN
Luke HENRY
Chloe JOHNSTON
Laura SALDUTTO
Year 10
Jake SIA
James SMALL
Kaysea PRATT
Ashley ANDERSON
Maddison HUCKEL
Charlotte VERPLAK
Ashleigh MANGAN
Elliott IRELAND
Hayley TIDD
Sarah THOMPSON
Year 11
Emily HART
Madeleine WESTON
Hannah SIMPSON
Lauren LAVERY
Alyssa MORRIS
Bich Chau QUACH
Jemma FRISINA
Mikayla HARVEY
Iliana SULIMAN
Paige CHERRY
Claire Hanley and Andrew Dixon
Assistant Principals