Principals Update

I firstly want to thank families for their support of the first of our Focus Weeks which has targeted compliance with the Mobile Phone policy.  The focus weeks are a strategic initiative of our Engagement and Wellbeing team, made up of leading teachers and headed up by Assistant Principal, Russell Wigginton. Ensuring a safe and vibrant school culture and community is not possible without families working in partnership with the school. To assist in any discussions you have at home with your child/ren about the Focus Weeks, we’ve provided detailed outlines of these and the rationale for each in the following sections of this newsletter.  I thank you for your continued support of these initiatives.

Recently we’ve seen students involved in a variety of activities across the College including the Swim Sports, Boys cricket, Student Representative Council nominations, and our Production team bringing the cast and crew together for the first time (this includes students from GSC and Kyneton High School).  Our Year 7 cohort is preparing for camp next week – delayed due to the extreme weather experienced two weeks ago, and I’m personally looking forward to the annual College Investiture Night in a fortnights time where we will formally invest our 2024 College Captains, SRC, and House Captains, as well as present the Year 7 scholarship awardees and this year’s recipient of the Ray Ohlsen Perpetual Scholarship.  

As you may have seen on the College Facebook page, we are delighted to announce a new relationship with No.430 Squadron (Macedon Ranges) Air Force Cadets.  This is a wonderful youth development opportunity for the young people of the Macedon Ranges with an interest in the air force cadets program, not just students of GSC.  I would like to thank School Council for their support of the proposal and to Amanda McKie, Facilities Manager, for her extensive work in fostering this new relationship and seeing it come to fruition.  A recruitment day is scheduled this Saturday 2nd March at GSC. Please refer to details later in this edition for how to register your interest.

Our Capital Works program continues to make solid progress with the slab for the new Admin/Wellbeing building being poured over the course of the last week.  I’ve no doubt we’ll notice regular changes to the site as the works become more visible now that they’re above ground. 

Finally, our School Council is an integral part of our College Governance structure and parent membership on this council is critical.  You will have received a direct email on the 19th February 2024 advising of the Call for Nominations to School Council that is currently open.  If you are interested in nominating to School Council please contact the College Business Manager, Dawn Hinrichsen by phone or email for a nomination form.  The closing date for nominations is the 9th March 2024, and should the number of nominations exceed available positions, an election will be conducted.

Kind Regards,

Sarah Rose

College Principal