Night of Excellence

We celebrated the outstanding achievements of our students for 2023 at the Night of Excellence.

Students were acknowledged for:

high levels of academic achievement,
high levels of endeavour, effort and commitment to learning
outstanding achievement in learning domains
exemplary demonstration of the College values as judged by their peers
outstanding achievement in special curriculum and co-curricula programs
outstanding community service and contribution to the life of the College.

I would like to congratulate the students on their fantastic achievements and their families for the support you have given them and the College.

I would like to thank all of the staff for their work with our students and for our school this year.

It was a wonderful night with our guests including Colin Brooks, MP for Bundoora and Kate Lansbury, School Council President. The Greensborough Rotary Club President, Joe Cassar, also presented the George Upton Awards.

This year we celebrated staff service as well and this too was a highlight of the evening.

Congratulations to all award and service recipients. You will see the program with award recipients in this newsletter.

VCE Results

Our students achieved commendable VCE results this year. I would like to acknowledge the staff who have impacted these results this year and over the past five years for these students. Everyone in our school has contributed to the improved outcomes for our VCE and VCAL students. The Class of 2023 is to be congratulated, with many students receiving unconditional early offers to tertiary courses. I would also like to acknowledge our Pathways Practitioner, Jane Alexander, whose knowledge and expertise in the area of course counselling and selection coupled with her care and compassion for our students continues to result in excellent destination outcomes.

For many of our students achieving the VCE certificate has been their desired outcome. We have also seen wonderful outcomes for our students in the VCE Vocational Major course, with many of them taking up apprenticeships and traineeships as a result. Well done to students, staff and families!

Here are some reflections from our top students for the year.

Adnan Wassouf

I attended and graduated from Mill Park Heights Primary School. The things I most enjoyed at Greensborough College were hanging out with my mates, and using my study sessions to further increase my understanding of subjects, while also helping others.

I plan to get into an engineering/biomedical course at either at The University of Melbourne or at RMIT University.

Isabella Baulch

After graduating from Norris Bank Primary School, I went to Greensborough College for the remainder of my school years. Perhaps the most memorable aspect of high school was how inseparable my year level became throughout our schooling years. The endless support I therefore gained from my cohort was invaluable during VCE, and is something that I will forever be grateful for. In future, I wish to travel before further studying the arts at University.

Caleb Reading

I attended St Mary’s parish primary school.

When I first came to Greensborough, it was scary at first, but when I did eventually open up to it, I found a welcoming community of students and teachers. High school was a fantastic time for me, especially once I reached the senior levels, being allowed the freedom to explore what I found interesting, and the teachers really helped me in that regard with how many questions I asked. Overall, I did enjoy my time at Greensborough and I am still bittersweet over leaving.

Then came year twelve VCE, and it just destroyed me, I couldn’t handle the stress, and if it was left to fester, I probably would’ve dropped out. Luckily I was thrown a lifeline and was allowed to shove the most stressful subject (English for me!) to the next year, with that added space I was able to make it past the finish line, even if by the skin of my teeth for certain subjects, and while it was just as scary and nerve wracking as being a day one year 7 again, I am glad I did my VCE over two years.

As for what I want to do? I honestly don’t really know yet, I have been bouncing around different ideas, engineer and teacher being the main two, mechanic or some other trade trailing behind. I’m hoping to figure that out while I do Uni; Chem engineering for the time being, but I expect that to change a few dozen times while I’m there. But before all that I’m taking a gap year, I’m sick of education for the time being.

Hana Park

Following my Grade 6 graduation from Rosanna Primary School, I commenced my secondary education at Greensborough College. From these last six years, I will always remember how tight-knit my year level became throughout our time here. We started out as a small cohort and ended up even smaller, giving us the opportunity to know one another on a level that other year levels may not have gotten to experience. In the coming years, I hope to attend university and study the arts.

Staff News

On Wednesday, we will say goodbye to some staff members. We thank them for their commitment and contribution to our school community and for their teaching and support of the students during their time at the College. We wish all of these staff members the very best in their future endeavours. We say farewell to:

Patricia Quan - Retirement

From the outset of Patricia’s career, in 1986 at Lakeside Secondary College, Patricia’s moral purpose in education was clear. She had the role of Equal Opportunity Coordinator for three years, championing the rights of all, promoting girls’ education, women in leadership and ensuring fairness and equity for all.

From 1993 to 2006, Patricia continued to take on leadership roles that focused on building teacher capacity. She explored other horizons through Teacher Professional Leave and then in the Northern Region as an instructional leader, coach and consultant. Patricia is a system person and she has been a passionate stalwart of state education as a student, teacher and leader.

The roles Patricia has had through the years speaks to her passion for sharing her own knowledge, skills and wisdom and to helping others be the best they can be. Patricia has supported and nurtured many of her colleagues through the years. She has been a friendly face, an open mind and a sympathetic ear. She has been courageous in her endeavours to improve student achievement, to help those students who needed the most support and to challenge others. She has fought for what she believes is right in education; the moral purpose.

Patricia joined the team at Greensborough College in 2013. She has been instrumental in the cultural shift that has occurred over the past 7 years. Guiding teachers through Professional Learning Communities, the Instructional Model, whole school literacy and developmental rubrics. She has been the Curriculum Leading Teacher, Humanities Leader, Instructional Leader, and the Literacy and Pedagogy Learning Specialist.

Patricia’s care, compassion and empathy for students is the touchstone of her teaching practice. Students respect and value her and this is shown at Valedictory events when the graduating students show their gratitude to her.

Patricia has had a brilliant career of over 37 years that we will not forget. Thank you for everything you have done for our school community. Thank you for your commitment and contribution to state education.

We wish you all the best in your retirement. Keep in touch.

Sue Forster:

Sue started at the College in 2009. In recent years she has been on leave pursuing her catering business. Sue has decided to continue in this direction and will finish her time with the Education Department at the end of the year.

Melissa Lenten:

Melissa has been our Secondary School Nurse for six years, working with our young people to support them with their wellbeing and in delivering health promotion programs across the College. Melissa is retiring and is looking forward to grandparenting on a full-time basis.

Luke Dixon:

Drama/Humanities teacher and production coordinator in 2023. Luke has been with us since 2021. Luke is taking another direction with his writing and theatrical pursuits.

Robyn Marrett:

Since the beginning of 2022, Robyn has been our Mental Health Practitioner. Robyn is increasing her work days with Diamond Valley Special Development School which gives her more opportunity for work-life balance with her toddler starting kindergarten.

Anna Price:

Anna is transferring to Doncaster Secondary College to pursue VCE teaching.

Staff on Leave in 2024

We wish the following staff all the best as they take long service leave into next year. Antoinette Lambiase will be on leave for the year and Robyn Stephens, our Food Tech support staff, will be on leave for term 1.

Assistant Principal

A huge thank you to Gus McLean who stepped in as the Acting Assistant Principal from term two this year. Gus has done a wonderful job in this role. He has had the students wellbeing at the heart of the work he has been leading and the decisions he has made. Gus joined the leadership team, seamlessly, and it has been a pleasure to work alongside him in this capacity this year. In 2024, Gus will continue as the Year 12 Coordinator and he will take with him a whole school vision and leadership lens when he leads in this space.

The new Assistant Principal who will start on the first day of the school year is Louis Turner. We will profile Louis, and other new staff, in the first newsletter next year.

Uniform Policy 2024

The School Council has approved changes to the School Uniform Policy to be implemented from 2024 onwards. We are pleased to be able to respond to student feedback about more comfortability and flexibility with the uniform. The full details of the policy are in this newslet and parents and students are urged to be familiar with the changes.

Main changes:

1. PE Uniform may be worn on any day.

This means that if students and families choose to wear the PE uniform every day or most days it is imperative that the uniform is washed frequently and that multiple items are purchased. As you know the synthetic fabric of the polo shirt can absorb sweat and if not washed frequently, can be problematic. The uniform policy states:

“In the interest of public health, students are expected to show high standards of personal hygiene and cleanliness.”

2. Academic Uniform

All students must have an academic uniform of minimum requirements. This will allow students to alternate their uniforms if needed. The College will determine when academic uniform is to be worn. This will include, but not be limited to, excursions, school representations, school photos and awards.

Minimum requirements such as:

School dress, white socks and school shoes
Shirt and skirt, white socks/navy tights and school shoes
Shirt and tailored trousers/slacks with school shoes
Shirt and tailored/loose cut shorts with white socks and school shoes

Note that the Soft-Shell Jacket and the Rugby Polo can be worn with either uniform.

3. Facial Piercings

One facial piercing only. Anywhere on the face. Silver, gold, clear or black and unobtrusive in style.

4. Jewellery

One Plain necklace – unobtrusive in style

One Plain bracelet – unobtrusive in style

Happy Holidays

2023 has been an exciting year for the College. As the Principal, this year, it has been a privilege to be a part of our great school community and I look forward to working with the school community over the coming years to continue the growth and improvement and to cement our school as the School of Choice.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the work of the School Council and the entire school community and I wish all students, parents, families and staff a safe and happy Christmas and holiday season.

Pauline Barker

Principal

Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF)