Assistant Principal (VM, 9/10) Report
Mr Travis Mcintosh
Westall Secondary College
Report from Assistant Principal VM, Year 9/10
Travis McIntosh
Dear Parents/ Guardians and Students of Westall,
As we approach the end of a busy and vibrant term, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and wish everyone a restful and well-earned break.
This term has been packed with engaging opportunities that extended learning well beyond the classroom. Our Middle School students participated in a variety of enriching excursions and activities, including:
- Lit Histories Excursion to the Old Melbourne Gaol
- Monash University Campus Experience Days
- School Sports Days and Cross Country
- Visits to the Shrine of Remembrance and the Holocaust Museum
These events were carefully planned to deepen student understanding and strengthen the connection between classroom learning and the real world.
Staff Curriculum Day – Wednesday 28th May
Our teaching staff recently took part in a whole-school Curriculum Day, focusing on professional growth and enhancing teaching practices. Teachers engaged in targeted workshops including:
- Artificial Intelligence in Unit Planning – Investigating how AI can support effective and efficient curriculum design.
- Positive Classroom Management Strategies – Developing tools to foster engaging and inclusive classrooms.
- Integrating New Arrivals into Mainstream Classes – Sharing best practices to support students new to the Australian education system.
- Understanding VCE Assessment Data – Analysing statistical moderation and student outcomes to inform teaching.
- Inclusive Education Practices – Making practical adjustments to support the diverse needs of all learners.
Staff also continued to work on the Victorian Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0, which reflects a continued commitment to a knowledge-rich curriculum. While the structure remains consistent with the previous version, the updated achievement standards are designed to help teachers more effectively plan, assess, and report on student learning in an ever-evolving world.
Teachers used this day not only to reflect and review existing units of work, but also to plan Semester 2 content and assessments to ensure engaging and effective learning for our students.
Final Week of Term Highlights
Year 9 ‘Future You’ Career Education Week
Our Year 9 students are currently engaged in a week dedicated to exploring future career pathways. This timely program supports students as they prepare for course counselling and subject selection.
Year 10 Work Experience
Best of luck to our Year 10 students currently participating in Work Experience. We hope these real-world placements provide valuable insight and inspiration for their future aspirations.
Thank you once again for your support throughout the term. We’re proud of all that has been achieved and look forward to an exciting second half of the year.
Wishing you all a safe and relaxing school holiday.
Mr Travis Mcintosh
Assistant Principal (Year 9/10)
Semester One Reports
A reminder to all students and parents/carers: Semester 1 Reports will be available on Compass at 4pm on Wed, 2nd July. These reports provide a detailed breakdown of student performance in each subject over the semester. They include information on grading of summative assessments, performance in learning behaviours, attendance rates, and outcomes or unit completions in VCE, as well as achieved Victorian Curriculum subject levels (Years 7-10). The reports also serve as a great basis for discussions during the Semester 2 Parent-Teacher conferences next term. Instructions on how to access your child's report are attached below.
2026 Course/Subject Selection
As we approach the end of Semester 1, this period also signifies the start of 2026 Program/Subject selection process. This is a particularly critical time for our Year 10 students, who will be selecting programs and subjects that will influence their pathway post-secondary schooling.
Over the holiday period it is recommended that all students read through their respective sub-school handbooks to inform themselves on what programs and subjects are available to them in 2026. Sub-school handbooks which include subject information will be made available on the college website and via Compass and Teams. It is critical that parents are also actively involved in this process. Going through sub-school handbooks with your child is an easy way to create this connection. At Year 10, teachers will be recommending students in science and maths subjects, based on their CAT performance throughout Semester 1 in these subjects.
Throughout Term 3 2026 Course/Subject Selection information will also be shared on Compass to assist students and parents to stay up to date with tasks and activities that need to be completed as part of this process.
This year we will once again be running a Course Selection Parent Information Evening on Thursday, 24th of July in the Senior Learning Centre. The session will commence at 6pm and conclude at 7pm. This session is for students and parents of all year levels, however, is particularly relevant for students & parents of Year 9 & 10 who are now selecting subjects that are shaping their educational pathway into their senior years of schooling.
Term 3 Parent-Teacher Interviews
The second round of Parent-Teacher Interviews will take place in Wk4 of Term 3, on Wednesday 13th August. Parent-Teacher interviews are crucial for fostering effective communication between parents and teachers, ensuring that our students learning needs are being met. The conversations that take place during these meetings allows parents and teachers the opportunity to discuss a child’s academic progress which includes areas needing improvement and areas of celebration.
Active parent involvement is linked to higher student achievement as the conversations allow parents to engage more deeply with their child’s education, reinforcing learning and support at home. Although our preference is for students and parents to attend in person, our Microsoft Teams platform will allow the flexibility of attending online. Interpreters are also able to be booked and used to facilitate effective communication between parents and teachers. Parent-Teacher portal will not be open until Week 3 of Term 3 with instructions on how to book interviews to be made available via Compass notifications.