RSC News

From the Office 

Progress Reports

Ringwood Secondary College’s Progress Reports are observations that occur on two separate occasions during the year. 

Importantly, they connect to our determination in building a growth mindset and a ‘can-do’ attitude. The 8 Positive Learning Behaviours are important in all aspects of life. When learning we often benefit from stumbling or questioning what we do know, and when we come through these situations, we are strengthened. Good learners use these 8 strategies to build their ability to be reflective, resilient and curious about themselves, their community and how they build knowledge to understand the world.

These reports capture teachers’ observations of students and identify the student’s learning strengths and challenges. Often, students who are very persistent may benefit from asking more targeted questions or using feedback more carefully. Some students may benefit from making sure they take notes and know their deadlines so that they take more responsibility for their own learning. Therefore, a teacher’s observation, ‘needs attention’ is not a criticism: instead, it is an invitation to set a goal to improve this learning strategy. Parents/guardians and students are strongly encouraged to look at these progress reports along with the teacher feedback in the Compass Learning Tasks.

 

The progress reports are available on Thursday 31st of March at 10:00 am. The Compass Portal will be open for bookings from Thursday 31st of March 10:00 am until Tuesday 5th April at 10:00 am.

 

Parent student teacher interviews will take place on-line on Wednesday 6th April 12:00 – 8:00 pm. Students are urged to be a central part of these interviews.

 

Agatha Fedrizzi

Acting Assistant Principal

 

Welcome to 2022 from the RSC College Council! 

The College Council had to have their first meeting in February on Zoom, so it was very exciting when we gathered on Wednesday evening 16th March to actually have our meeting in person! Although Council continued to meet and work hard throughout the Pandemic, it was very challenging spending many months on Zoom, so there was a buzz of enthusiasm and positivity for our March General Meeting, followed by our Annual General Meeting (AGM).  

 

Every year, early March is the time for the College to open nominations for the annual Council Elections for those positions that need filling for a two year term, and to form our new Council for 2022. There were spaces for three new parent members, two new student representatives and one new DET staff member. We were pleased that all positions were filled (except for one parent member). 

 

On Wednesday evening we firstly had our March general meeting, which was then followed by our Annual General Meeting (AGM). 

 

The newly formed Council for 2022 with current and new members:

Karen Carden – Secretary 

Maria Allison – Acting Principal, Acting Executive Officer and member of Resources sub-committee

Joe Gleeson – Business Manager and member of Resources sub-committee

Teresa Lodge – endorsed as a Co-opted Community member and Council President, Executive member and on Resources sub-committee

Adam Bryant – Parent member & RSC Chaplain

Terry Bebe – Co-opted Community member and member of Facilities sub-committee

Ian Roadnight – Parent member and Chair of Resources sub-committee

Sarah Szubanski – Parent member, Vice President, Executive member & Chair of Policy & Education sub-committee

Andrew Philp – Parent member, on Resources sub-committee & RSC “Raise the Roof” Campaign 

Grant Jack – new Parent member (sub-committee tbc)

Michael Ward – new Parent member (sub-committee tbc)

Jackson Smith – Year 11 – new Student Representative member

Noah Philp – Year 11 – new Student Representative member

Agatha Fedrizzi – AP and DET member and on Policy and Education sub-committee

Shayne van der Heide – RT Director and DET member

Corey Lucas-Evans – DET member

Felicity Mason – new DET member (sub-committee tbc)

 

Council members are very impressed that 4 students nominated for Student Representative, therefore a ballot was required. This shows our college student cohort are very active and enthusiastic in wanting to be involved in leadership and student voice. We would like to warmly thank both Trevin Tirikawala (Year 7) and Aeon Yu (Year 7) for nominating for Student Representatives. We commend you both and encourage you both to stay involved and continue your leadership ambitions and student representation in the many other leadership and student representative opportunities the college offers. Council members warmly welcome the two students that were successful in their nominations and are now our two new Student Representatives for 2022. Congratulations to Jackson Smith (Year 11) and Noah Philp (Year 11). We look forward to having you sit on Council in 2022! 

 

We would also like to warmly welcome the newly elected Parent and DET members. A big welcome to DET member Felicity Mason, who is a PE Teacher, and enthusiastic about joining Council and contribute to our advocacy in realising a new Sports and PA Facility. A huge welcome to our new Parent members Grant Jack, whose son is in Year 7, and Michael Ward, whose son is in Year 9. Our new Parent members bring a diverse skill set, whose contributions will enhance, assist and grow our hard working Council, which will help keep the wheels turning at our College, and will contribute to our continuing advocacy and agency to develop many exciting and innovative plans for the college both for the year ahead and into the future. We would also like to acknowledge Maria Allison, for continuing in her acting roles and working extremely hard as Acting Principal, Acting Executive Officer on Council, as well as still teaching a VCE class!  

 

Council members also acknowledge and warmly thank all the outgoing committee members. Joe Gleeson is stepping down as a DET member, however he will still attend Council as Business Manager. We also warmly thank 2021 Head Prefect and Council Student Representative Lucy Philp, and 2021 Music Prefect and Council Student Representative Charlie Lodge. We thank you all for your hard work and valuable contributions and student voice Council over the last 2 years.

 

Principals Report:

Maria Allison referred Council to our on-going School Strategic Plan (2020 – 2024) and then presented to Council the new Annual Improvement Plan (AIP) for improving student outcomes. This was presented for attestation and review, then, as President, I will sign it with DET and Council will endorse it at our next meeting. 

 

Maria then updated us on the progress of the Capital and environmental works at the College. The Disabled Access Ramp is almost completed, with the concrete being poured on Wednesday morning. This ramp is very exciting and will increase RSC’s inclusivity and equal access for all both down to the oval area and around the school. Maria also updated us with the very exciting progress of the new STEAM building (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), whose capital works should begin during the school term break and early in Term 2. There is a decanting process to be completed to empty the old buildings for demolition, which Council acknowledged will be a huge task for the RSC staff in the near future. 

 

Maria updated Council on all the goings-on in the College, including staff who have left, new staff and staff positions that RSC are currently advertising. Maria also spoke of the many successful events that have recently happened at the College, including student leadership positions and Prefect Investiture, and the following successful events: Music Recruitment evening; the RSC Mental Health Day and other events. Maria also spoke of the amazing annual RT Car Show that was on Friday 18th March! The Car Show is a very popular event and supports the Chaplaincy Program and Ringwood Training.  Maria also spoke of the latest Covid Safe Practices School Operations Guide being implemented, as well as the progress of the on-going Government funded Tutor Program.

 

RSC Business Manager, Joe Gleeson, updated Council of the current finance and recourses report. Joe spoke of things being very challenging with the new DET changes to the School Fees structure and operations but was optimistic that the College would continue to balance the College budget and finances in he best possible way moving forward into 2022. 

 

Ian Roadnight reported on the news from the Resources sub-committee, including our plans to update our Future Directions Paper to incorporate all our current and future plans, advocacy, projects and working parties, including the plans for a new Sports and PA Facility, and our exciting “Raise the Roof at RSC” Capital Fundraising Campaign. 

Terry Bebe updated Council with the latest Facilities and OH & S works, improvements and repairs under the leadership of Facilities Manager Chris Saulsbury. Shayne van der Heide optimistically reported a robust and healthy Ringwood Training, and although enrolments are very high, RT continues to be challenged for enough space to operate, and to have continuing low hiring rates, due to the Pandemic. Shayne spoke of being confident that this will improve and also read out some highly positive and encouraging external feedback from a participant in several RT Welding courses. Council members were very pleased to hear this feedback and Shayne assured us that it will go onto the RT website in support of our awesome Ringwood Training RTO. 

 

I would like to wish the whole college community all the best for the remainder of this busy, challenging yet exciting Term 1, and look forward to reporting to you all after our next meeting in April, Term 2. 

 

Take care, stay safe and go well,  

 

Teresa Lodge

Council President 

March 2022 

Facilities Report

We continue to move closer to the new building and wait expectantly for the announcement of the builder. 

Lots is happening around the College:

  • The creation of two new Woodwork rooms is getting closer. Wiring is roughed in and walls knocked out. The old rooms 208,209 and 210 will replace 201 and 203 
  • Oval-recently fertilised and looking terrific.
  • Air Conditioner re-location-Due to the demolition of the old buildings we are moving almost new air-conditioners from the old buildings to areas such as the PAC (Room 700) and cave.  
  • Oval ramp-concrete pouring is in full swing on the last section and hopefully the project will be completed by the end of term. 
  • STEM Centre-Tenders are submitted and we now await the announcement of the builder. By the end of term holidays expect to see some exciting developments. 

Chris Salisbury

Facilities Manager