Principal's Report

Welcome

It has been an action packed term with staff and students off to a flying start both in and out of the classroom. 

I have particularly enjoyed getting to know our Year 7 students, including spending time with them down at their camp along with speaking to a number of new families during the parent teacher interviews. 

I have also been particularly impressed with the focus of our senior students. Although changes that we made last year around student goal setting and supervised study are relatively new, they appear to be making a positive impact on the focus and dedication of our students to their studies. 

We had a new record number of interviews at the end of term Parent Teacher Interviews. While this is partly due to the increase in student population, there was also an increase in the percentage of families who made bookings. The high level of parent engagement has meant that a number of parents were unable to make bookings with a teachers as they had reached capacity. We have been investigating potential changes to the structure of our interviews to make them more impactful and to improve access. These include:

• Year 12 only interviews early/mid Term 3 (potentially online or hybrid)
• Extended meetings with Mentor Teacher and move to student led conference focusing on goal setting and pathways (similar to the existing partnership meetings)
• Changes to Term 1 interviews to increase parent access to teacher. Options include a normal face to face day along with an afternoon / evening online option. 

We will be reaching out to parents for feedback and input into potential changes later this year.  

New College Bus On Its Way!

With an increasing number of students and extra curricula programs, last year our school council analysed the cost of additional hire buses and determined that it would be financially beneficial for the school to purchase an additional mini-bus for use on school camps and excursions. This resulted in school council recently organising the purchase of a brand new Isuzu 32 seat I-Bus. 

The bus has enhanced safety features, CCTV and storage, compared to our existing bus. The school will use savings from previous hire costs and a small increase in usage charges to departments to set aside funds for replacing the existing 25 seat bus in approximately 4-5 years. 

We expect to take delivery of the bus at the start of Term 2 and are currently organising school livery / vinyl wrapping. 

School Council Elections

We recently called for nominations for school council and are pleased to announce new members on our school council for 2026-2027:

Parent representatives

Karen Armfield

Leanne Longmuir

Yuki Wei

Jana Hovic

Carrie Douthie

Caline Egede-Schroder

Staff representatives 

Angela Airey 

Catherine Blackburne 

At our first council meeting for 2026-2027, the following office bearers were elected:

President: Nicole Eveston 

Vice President: Karen Armfield 

Treasurer: Carrie Douthie

I would like to congratulate all new members and office bearers on behalf our school community for their commitment to our College. 

School councils are required, under legislation, to hold one meeting for the year to be open to any member of the school community to attend. This meeting will be held on Monday 27 April (6.30pm) where we will table our Annual Report to the School Community. To register your interest in attending this meeting, please email patterson.river.sc@education.vic.gov.au

Our Annual Report to the School Community will include written commentary to a data set of key information produced by the Department of Education:

Our final Annual Report to the School Community, including commentary in relation to student learning, wellbeing, engagement and finance will be published in our April/May review. 

Family Voluntary Contributions - Thank You!

Once again, we have received generous parent donations towards some upcoming projects, with over $32,000 donated to date (increase of $8,000 from same time last year) for targeted equipment. We have already received the funding target (or very close to) for the following items:

• Sewing machines
• Microbit accessories  
• Stage lights

I look forward to sharing photos of students using new equipment in an upcoming newsletter. 

House Points - Student Voice Initiative

Our College Captains have hit the ground running, implementing a number of new initiatives that they pitched during their election campaign. Their major joint project has been to expand and enhance our College House System. 

To support the student leaders in their project, we have appointed Mr Simon Andriessen to the role of House Coordinator and we are currently consulting with students about activities, rewards and processes relating to houses. Initial consultation has already identified that students would like to be recognised for activities such as:

• SWPS Posts 
• Attendance 
• Duty students involvement 
• Student leadership 
• Involvement in interschool sport 
• Involvement in lunch clubs 
• Involvement in extra curricula activities. 

Open Night

Last week, we were delighted to see over 600 people in attendance at our Open Night. This number does not include the many staff and students who came along to help out and showcase our school. 

It appears that applications to enrol at Patterson River will remain strong into the future. There were a number of anxious families on the night about their ability to secure a place at our school, following a year in which we had a reduced capacity to enrol students from outside of zone due to large number of in zone students. 

Our College follows the Department of Education Placement Policy (available via our website) to place students. All students residing in zone or currently have a sibling at the school are guaranteed a place. Provided that the school has capacity, out of zone students may be granted a place based on proximity or compassionate circumstances. Please see our website for further details. 

Leadership Induction Ceremony

On Thursday, 2 April, we held an induction ceremony for our elected student leaders for 2026. I am always pleased and inspired by the large number of students who commit themselves to helping our College go from strength to strength. 

Permission to Publish (Student Photos)

Last year, the Department of Education recently updated the policy relating to the use, storage and publishing of student photos. As a result, we collected updated information from families about the publishing of photos of their student. This information will be used throughout your child's time at the College. Moving forward, any changes to the consent arrangements for your child need to be communicated to the general office who can update our records.  

Position Available - Visual Arts Assistant

Due to the growth in student numbers and Visual Arts Programs, our College is seeking an enthusiastic candidate to fill the role of Visual Arts Assistant at the College. This successful candidate in this role will undertake a number of duties including equipment and resource management, assiting with dip glazing of ceramics, OH&S and more. The time fraction and days are negotiatable but likely 0.2-0.4 FTE. See https://www.vic.gov.au/school-jobs for more info. 

Mr Daniel Dew 

College Principal