Assistant Principals' Reports 

Matthew McLaren-Assistant Principal (Whole School Wellbeing)

2023 at Dromana College has been a fantastic year of events, personal bests, and inspirational moments driven by an overwhelming positive school culture, which is co-created by our amazing students, staff and wider learning community. Student wellbeing is a vital element of our college's individual and collective academic and co-curricular success. From our school-wide positive events such as R U OK? day and IDHOBIT day through small groups and individual support, we aim to maximize our positive well-being message to empower all our students to succeed within and beyond the classroom. 

To promote student wellbeing and a positive attitude toward education in 2024, students and their parents/guardians may wish to consider the following: 

On Holidays: 

• Encourage students to get active in the outdoors and explore local walking tracks or sports grounds.
• Reconnect students with broader family relationships, which can be a support network throughout the year. 
• Help students stay connected with their friends, ideally face-to-face where possible. 
• Encourage reading. You can assist with this through access to a new book, and remember, library membership is free. 
• Focus on spending quality time on the simple things, e.g. a quality chat whilst walking on the beach. 
• Engage in hobbies or other creative pursuits, such as learning a musical instrument. 
• Encourage structure and responsibility through delegated jobs around the home. 
• Consider volunteering at a local community group or club. 
• Be safe around water and swim between the flags if on the ocean. 

          Before returning to school: 

• Resume sleeping patterns that align with the school week – This might mean setting an alarm. 
• Find books, bags, shoes and the rest to ensure that there is no last-minute panic. 
• Remind students they might be tired on the first week back at school and to be kind to themselves when readjusting. 
• Reassure students that if they ask for help, our staff are there to assist them. 
• Begin positive conversations around school and check in on student preparedness regarding any holiday tasks they need to finish in preparation. This could also be starting a conversation about English texts or even reading them in solidarity with the students. 

On behalf of the Wellbeing team, I would like to wish the Dromana College learning community a safe and enjoyable summer break and look forward to seeing everyone in 2024.

Simon Jones Assistant Principal Senior School

It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. As always it has been very satisfying to see the growth in our students throughout the year and the way that they stepped up to the next level in Jumpstart was evidence of this. It was a very smooth transition and the students took on their new classes with a great attitude. The VCE results were exceptional and a validation of the hard work of the students and teachers. We look forward to celebrating with and congratulating all of our year 12 students on their accomplishments at the upcoming Valedictory dinner this week. The Celebration Evening at Frankston Arts Centre last week was also a wonderful event where deserved recognition was given to many of our hard-working and high achieving students. Similarly, the Sports Awards evening was enjoyed by all and showcased our many sporting triumphs throughout the year. Congratulations to all who were invited. As you can see it has been extremely busy and I am sure that we are all ready for a Summer break. I wish all members of our school community a peaceful and happy Festive season and look forward to doing it all again next year.