Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome and welcome back to 2024

I wish to welcome back all staff, students and families for the 2023 school year. We have officially welcomed our new Year 7 students as well as a large number of new students across Years 8 to 12.

I wish to formally acknowledge and welcome all of our new staff joining our college community in 2024:

Fahim Arabzada – Humanities/Maths/Generalist
Loania Ausage – Instrumental Music (Voice)
Leana Bailey – VM/Y12 Team Leader/Careers
Jacqueline Cleary – Librarian
Niamh Crosbie – Humanities
Jess Fagan – English/Literacy
Annette Gardner – Maths/Science
Kelly Hatfield – English/EAL
Troy Hickmott – Health/PE/Maths
Bridget Hofing – Health/PE/Y7 Team Leader
Kamal Kaur – Maths/Literacy/Tutor
Sarah Litsas – English/Humanities
Richard Naylor – Instrumental Music (Guitar/Bass)
Sarah Rahman – Maths/Science
Tajallah Sadaat – Reception
Kate Stone – Learning Specialist: Inclusive Practices
Rubi Sultani – Wellbeing (Educational and Developmental Psychologist)
Grace Terdich – Leading Teacher: Sub School Leader
Tigi Thilangika – Maths/Science PRT

Staff and Student Start Up Programs

As we do each year, we commenced the 2024 school year with a staff start up program of one day. Over the course of this day, staff worked together to unpack our 2024 goals and targets, review and refresh on important whole school policies and processes and undertook professional learning. Our focus for professional learning was positive classroom climates and how staff can use entry and working protocols to create positive learning spaces. It has been great to see many teachers using this to bring classes into their learning spaces and will no doubt support us in making sure we make every minute of learning time count.

Our students engaged with start up programs at each year level ranging from 1 day to 3 days in length. Students engaged with important lessons to help them get set up for success, including ICT sessions, goal setting activities and even fun home group challenges to connect back together after the holidays. This contributed to a really positive start for the 2024 school year.

2024 Annual Implementation Plan

For 2024, our main priorities are focused under the three headings of Learning, Engagement and Wellbeing (see summary below). Importantly, the work under these actions is not new work for our college, but rather building on the fantastic work and growth we have achieved in the last two years. Activities related to these actions will feature heavily in our work and communications as a school over the course of this year.

Holiday works and upgrades

Whilst our students and staff were enjoying their summer holiday break, we had a number of improvements to our physical buildings and facilities occurring. I wish to thank our Business Manager Mr Craig Kendall, as well as our Maintenance Team Mr Colin Mallows and Mr Ethan Jobson for their hard work and time to get these works completed, as well as ensure our spaces were ready for staff and students on day 1 of the year.

A summary of facilities works and improvements included:

B1 and B3 – new table tops and stools
A6 – new stools for students
A5 – seats on student stools replaced
New lockers delivered in C Block and repainting of locker bay
New media laptop trolley installed
Gym courts cleaned and re-sealed
Replaced garden retaining walls
Repainting of exterior Staff Room to Library
Re-surface gravel roadway behind courts
Tram for Hands On Learning – ground works completed and tram delivered
Concrete walkways – grinding of surfaces
Air conditioners in several spaces
Sub school offices re-furnished
Lounge space in E Block relocated
Roof and gutter issues being addressed in a number of locations.

Ms Eloise Haynes

Principal

NEWSLETTER

Issue 1 · 14 Feb 2024

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