Principal's Message
We Grow Through Connection
Dear Students and Families,
In our final Newsletter for the year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our College Community for another successful year at Pakenham Secondary College.
One of the features of our College is the strong sense of team work that exists amongst staff, students and families. It is this strong sense of team work that helps deliver stronger outcomes for our students, and I thank our families for their outstanding support of our great school. There is a real sense of community at Pakenham Secondary College and our College Motto of ‘We Grow Through Connection’ will continue to serve us well as we strive to work together to further improve the learning and wellbeing outcomes of our students.
I would like to thank our dedicated staff. Our staff are committed to growing and improving the outcomes of our students and they work tirelessly in support of their learning and wellbeing – I cannot thank my colleagues enough for all their hard work in 2024.
I would also like to thank our College Council for again working in the best interests of the College in 2024 – your work and support of our school has been outstanding. Finally, I would like to thank our students. Our students have worked hard throughout the year to make the most of the wonderful opportunities provided to them. I thank our students for their efforts together with the pride they demonstrate in being an important part of their school.
Our recent Presentation Evening (5 December) was a huge success with many families and staff in attendance to acknowledge the achievements of our students. The Cardinia Cultural Centre allowed for a real sense of occasion as we worked through the many Awards being presented to our students. We congratulate all our Student Award Recipients.
Our recent Orientation Days (9 and 10 December) allowed us to welcome our new Year 7 students for next year were also successful. Many activities were provided to our new Year 7 students to help them with their transition to our great school.
The End Of Year Program this year was filled with fun activities for our students and we thank families for engaging with the Program in 2024. Our End of Year Program also allowed us to work through some planning for the year ahead and participate in some professional learning on key topics important to our staff in supporting students.
I again congratulate all our Year 12 Students (VCE and VCE Vocational Major Students) on their results. In respect to the 2024 Year 12 VCE Results, there are many highlights this year. For example:
100% Completion Rate for VCE and VCE VM
Several of our students have an ATAR of over 80
Our students achieved Study Scores above 40 in subjects such as Data Analytics, Art making and Exhibiting, and General Mathematics
An increase in the Average Study Scores in General Mathematics
We congratulate our VCE College Dux for 2024 in Jelyzza Flores, and our VCE Vocational Major (or VCE VM) Dux in Alana Kirwin – congratulations Jelyzza and Alana on your wonderful achievements of being the College Dux for your VCE Programs this year.
We are very proud of all our Year 12 Students, and once again we congratulate the Class of 2024 on their efforts and achievements - we wish them all the very best with their future endeavours.
Two areas of focus for our College Community for 2025 will be:
Student Engagement – how can we further engage our students with their learning?
Student Learning Growth and Achievement in Literacy and Numeracy
We have developed some Actions to guide and support us as a College in these areas of focus for next year, and we are very much looking forward to the work and leadership required to further improve student outcomes. Please contact the College (pH – 5945 1433) should you have any queries about the year ahead.
Our Buildings and Grounds – it will be a very busy time at PSC over the Summer School Holiday break with a number of projects to be implemented and completed by Day One of Classes, Thursday 30 January, 2025. For example, painting and landscaping works, together with a new Bike Shed and Locker Bay will all be in place for Day One next year.
The interest in our College is enormous. Our enrolments across the College for 2025 will be in excess of 1040 students from Year 7 to 12 and this number represents a huge increase in students at the College in the space of three years. Our Year 7 enrolment for 2025 for example will be 250 students which will increase from 175 Year 7 students in 2024. The interest in our great school is strong due to the great outcomes we are achieving for our students.
Our Semester Two Reports will be distributed to families via Compass on Friday 20 December, and I would encourage Parents and Carers to read through these Reports with their children to best understand progress, effort and achievements across the subjects provided.
In closing, I again thank students, parents, carers and staff for another wonderful year at our great school, and I hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable Summer Holiday Period; take care everyone,
Regards
Aaron
Aaron Smith
College Principal – Pakenham Secondary College