Principal Report 

Term 2 at Berwick College has been a busy term. We have had a huge number of significant co-curricular activities including the House Athletics Carnival, the Dance Assessment and Choreography competition evenings, our wonderful production of Matilda Jr and many, many school sporting events. We have taken students on over 100 excursions this term, and the whole school rallied excitedly around our Berwick College Basketball Team that represented Australia at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational event in Singapore last week. Many hundreds of Berwick College students have represented the school proudly in their chosen area this term. 

Yet, these many co-curricular activities have not deterred from an equally inspiring curricular program this term. All students participated in a range of activities for Careers Week. We held an amazing Careers Expo and hosted guest speakers across the school. Over the term, we have also invited a number of Berwick College Alumni to speak with our students about their pathways from school into their areas of passion. Our alumni program is building in strength and it is already inspiring our current students to ‘be what they can see’. 

In Week 8 and 9, year 10, 11 and 12 students practised reviewing and recalling knowledge and skills that were acquired over the whole semester. The exam block was extremely successful in simulating the experience senior secondary exams. Feedback from both staff and students was extremely positive in the manner in which they were prepared. Students presented magnificently, clearly having taken responsibility for their learning outcomes. 

Unit 3 and 4 students recently completed the GAT, the General Achievement Test which is the first formal external test conducted by VCAA.  The test ran over two blocks in one day; Section A is 120 minutes and Section B was 90 minutes. Again, our students were well prepared and conducted themselves magnificently on the day. They have now commenced the study of Unit 4 but have taken the time to have two magnificent celebrations; the Year 12 Formal and an adventure day at the Enchanted Gardens where they took the time to remember that school is still a lot of fun!

I was so pleased to meet with so many parents across the three Parent Information evenings we held this week. We know that parent engagement with subject selection is vital in ensuring that students choose pathways that they will be interested in and successful in. All students will receive access to our completely updated Curriculum Handbooks this afternoon. I really hope that both students and families enjoy the process of reading through them as they consider their future pathways. 

The staff at Berwick College have been working extremely hard in the background in driving an improvement agenda around the teaching and learning program, and in building a culture of excellence across the school. We have reviewed the whole curriculum offering across Year 7-10 and are now in the process of documenting our exciting new learning program. 

I wish everyone the very best for the term break. Please stay safe and healthy – and make some time to rest up in readiness for the second half of the year.

Josie Millard