PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

A very warm welcome back to Western Heights College for another year of learning and a special welcome to our new students and their families, especially our new Year 7 students. We have 246 new Year 7 students who have joined us this year and around 80 new students across each year level.  It has been wonderful to engage with you all and get to know understand your goals and aspirations for learning and pathways. 

I hope you have all managed to enjoy a timely break with your family and loved ones during the new year period. Whatever you managed to do, I hope you are all feeling relaxed, hopeful, and excited for learning this year. I have certainly enjoyed time with family for the Christmas period in Port Fairy and was lucky to also get up to the Sunshine Coast for some surf, sun, pool time and time out to refresh for the new year.

This year we have also welcomed to our college several new staff and we look forward to learning more about them over the next few newsletters when we will profile each one of them. All new staff members were introduced to our college community at our assembly’s last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning. The highlight was our Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony conducted on the school oval.

New staff include -

• Jackson Ramas – PE/Mathematics
• Chelsea Nolte – Digital Technology/ Mathematics
• Cameron Kemp –English Teacher
• Bridget Powell – HHD/Health/Food Technology
• Norm Robinson – Woodwork Product Design
• Ben Peacock – Woodwork Product Design
• Narelle Shadboult – Mathematics/Science
• Christine Henderson – Biology/Science
• Renee Lane – Leading Teacher – SSP Leader
• Stacey Conroy – Learning Specialist –Learning and Engagement Coach
• Daniel Conte - Literacy Improvement Teacher
• Jamie Fryor – Literacy Improvement Teacher
• Cameron Parker - Outdoor Education/VET Sport and Recreation
• Sam Clark – Teach Today/Teach Tomorrow – Biology/Chemistry/Science

• Campbell Bishop – Physical Education/Mathematics
• Brent Watson – Year 7 LCL, Psychology, Mathematics
• Alicia Zerafa – English Humanities
• James Haworth – English/Humanities
• Leah Higginson – English/Humanities
• Stephanie Sutton – History/Humanities
• Anya Gross – Teach Today, Teach Tomorrow – Soccer Program/Science
• Patrick Love – Teach Today/Teach Tomorrow – English/Humanities
• Harley McCarthy - Outdoor Ed/VM/PE/Science

We also have a number of new education support staff joining us this year to support our programs;-

• Holly Ryder - Pathways/VET/VASS
• Brydie Fleming - Daily Organiser
• Rachel Mccracken – Education Assistant
• Jessica Neskovski- Education Assistant
• Irene Tang – Education Assistant

Annual House Swimming Sports

Our annual House Sports were be conducted on Tuesday at the Kardinia Pool. All Year 7-12 students attended the swimming sports, and it was a very successful day. A big thank-you to Joey McArlein and Campbell Bishop with their leadership for the day.

Uniforms in 2024

A reminder to all students and parents/carers that students should be in full school uniform. It has been pleasing to see so many students in correct uniform to start the school year. Our uniform is gender-neutral and seasonal neutral meaning all items can be worn year-round. Please do not hesitate if you require support in obtaining pieces of uniform to contact the colleges well-being team by emailing Jenny Eastwood at the college Jennifer.eastwood@education.vic.gov.au;

Families may also request assistance with purchasing school uniform from the following organisations: 

Smith Family Learning for Life provides support and financial assistance to help disadvantaged children stay at school. The program runs in select disadvantaged areas.

A Start in Life provides financial assistance to disadvantaged students and families to ensure they can access the same learning opportunities as their peers. For information phone (02) 9264 3017.

Opening the Doors Foundation provides education assistance for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in an independent educational institution in Victoria.

The Queen’s Fund Financial assistance with the cost of educational expenses for children. Applications must be completed by a social worker or a community agency that works with you.

Good Shepherd Micro-finance is a great initiative that has financial programs to assist families on low or limited incomes with educational costs and other expenses. One of their programs is the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) which gives access to fair and safe credit up to $1,200 for essential educational items.

Saver Plus  This is financial education and up to $500 in matched savings for education costs for individuals and families who have at least some regular income from work. For information phone 1300 610 355.

Second-hand uniforms are also bought and sold by local families on our colleges facebook page, buy, swap and sell.

Breakfast Club “Grab and Go”

Breakfast Club will run at the school canteen every Monday – Friday from 8.15am -8.45am. There will be fresh apples and non-perishable foods available such as cereal, muesli, baked beans, toast, fruit cups and milk. All students are welcome!

Online College Yearbook

One of the highlights of each year is the publication of our college yearbook. Once again, it did not disappoint. Congratulations to Vanessa Hucker on producing a creative and entertaining snapshot of our 2023 year. The yearbook captured well the terrific year we had. You can view and download a copy from the colleges website.

Open Night for 2025 Prospective Students

Our Open Night will be held on Wednesday 28 February between 6-8pm. This is a great opportunity for prospective parents and students to see our learning spaces and to hear about the rich program of learning and extra-curricular activities that we offer including our Specialist Sports Program and our Accelerate Program for High Ability Learners. Our leadership team will be visiting local primary schools with information for Grade 4, 5 and 6 students over the next few weeks. 

There will be morning tours offered on subsequent Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9.30am until May during term 2.  

Insurance and Ambulance Cover for Students

Parents/carers are reminded that the Department (and the College) does not provide personal accident insurance, personal property insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents/carers are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for their child/ren, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs.

Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage. Parents/carers can purchase insurance policies and ambulance cover from commercial insurers if they wish for their children.

Finally

Thank you also for your excellent support in ensuring that your children have been well prepared for the start of the year. We have had enjoyed a busy, yet positive start, and this is in part due to your efforts, especially with books, equipment, devices and uniform.

If you have any concerns or questions about how your child has settled in, please do not hesitate to contact their Learning Community Leader.

I wish you all well for the year ahead and look forward to working with you.

Fiona Taylor

College Principal

Child Safety at WHC

Western Heights College is a child safe organisation committed to protecting students from all forms of abuse.

Our College has stringent protocols in place and endeavours at all times to be fully compliant with the Child Safe Standards set out under Ministerial Order 870.

Our College has the following documents and policies in place to achieve compliance with the Standards. All of these documents are available for downloading on our website or contact the school for a copy. 

1. Commitment to Child Safety
2. Child Safety Policy
3. Child Safety Code of Conduct
4. Child Protection Policy and Procedures

Annual privacy policy reminder for 2024

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.(found on the colleges webpage)

Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice, found on our website. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents and carers on the webpage. This information is also available in nine community languages:

* Amharic

* Arabic

* Dari

* Gujarati

* Mandarin

* Somali

* Sudanese

* Turkish

* Urdu

* Vietnamese.

Child Safety at WHC

Western Heights College is a child safe organisation committed to protecting students from all forms of abuse.

Our College has stringent protocols in place and endeavours at all times to be fully compliant with the Child Safe Standards set out under Ministerial Order 870.

Our College has the following documents and policies in place to achieve compliance with the Standards. All of these documents are available for downloading on our website or contact the school for a copy. 

1.       Commitment to Child Safety

2.       Child Safety Policy

3.       Child Safety Code of Conduct

4.       Child Protection Policy and Procedures