From the Principal

Welcome to the very first edition of our school newsletter.

The school newsletter is an integral part of the communication used by schools to share important, detailed, and regular updates with parents. It's a way to help our current school community feel more connected to the everyday workings of the classroom and to showcase a glimpse of school life for prospective parents. It is also a place to celebrate the many successes that this brand-new school will have. 

Our aim is to produce our newsletter monthly, and to make it available on our brand-new website to be accessible as of the first day of Term 2. I will of course let you know of our website details when it is launched.

First Term Reflections

Reflecting on Term 1, I want to acknowledge the commitment that both the college foundation staff and our school community have put into supporting Yarrabing Secondary College in its first term of existence. Over this term, our teachers and students adjusted very quickly to our new beginning while maintaining a sense of structure and routine. They showed adaptability throughout this term. We are fortunate to have a hard-working, caring and dedicated team of staff who prioritise our students. I thank all of our teachers, our teaching assistants and our support staff, who collaborate tirelessly and who always go above and beyond to ensure that every student gets the best experience possible. Alongside this, our students deserve recognition for their passion for learning. Thank you also for the support and partnership of our parental community.

In terms of our term’s work, the first term of the school year has started well for our Year 7 students. The enthusiasm they bring with them when they first joined us never ceases to amaze me. Students have come prepared, wearing their new uniform, with their books and equipment, all ready to learn. Importantly they have been displaying a positive attitude towards their learning. At our assemblies, we continually stress the need for students to work with their teachers to achieve their highest level in their learning.  We also emphasise our school values of Respect, Responsibility, High Expectations and Collaboration.

The Year 7 Student Coordination and Student Support Team has worked well together and together with our families have ensured that our foundation students have had a very smooth and successful start to their secondary education. It is important that communication between home and the school is strong. Research recognises that in order to be successful in school, students need support from both the home and school and that a strong partnership with parents/guardians and support people will make a great difference in their child’s education. 

Strong positive relationships are at the core of success is schools. 

Research is clear that when positive bonds are formed between students and teachers, classrooms become supportive spaces in which students can engage in academically and socially productive ways. Through these relationships, students learn about socially appropriate behaviors as well as academic expectations and how to achieve these expectations. Also evident in research is that when schools and families work together, they can determine areas of priority and how best to work together to maximise their students’ pathways.

I wish to take this opportunity to invite all prospective 2025 Year 7 students and parents and guardians to the College’s Information Evening on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, from 6pm to 7.00pm. The program on offer will begin with a short welcome and it will then be followed by a tour of approximately an hour in length showcasing some of the exemplary programs that are offered by the College.

I look forward to Thursday 28 March 2024, our last day of term which will end with the colour explosion event and student cross country trials at Frontier Park. I know there is much anticipation and excitement in the student body about this day.

I do remind our families that school will end for the term at 2:30pm on Thursday 28th March.

Finally, I would like to wish our students and families a happy and safe Easter. I hope you all manage to have restful break.

John Mitsinikos

Foundation Principal

E-Scooters - latest advice

Legal e-scooter use:

You can legally ride an e-scooter in Victoria if:

• you ride on shared-use paths (not on footpaths) and roads up to and including 60km/h
• you are at least 16 years old
• you wear a helmet
• you do not travel more than 20km/h
• you do not use your mobile phone
• you do not carry a passenger (dinking)
• a licence is not required to ride an e-scooter
• e-scooter will be treated the same as bikes by other road users

Legal e-scooter definition:

A legal e-scooter is defined as a vehicle designed for use by one person and:

• has a maximum speed capability of 25 kilometres per hour when ridden on level ground
• transports a person while the person is standing
• has 2 wheels (one in front of the other)
• has a footbed between the front and rear wheels
• is steered by means of a handlebar
• can be propelled by one or both of the following: one or more electric motors or person pushing one foot against the ground

An e-scooter that falls outside the scope of this definition is considered an unregistered motor vehicle and is liable to significant penalties. In particular, the e-scooter must not exceed the maximum speed capability of 25 kilometres per hour.

Offences while using an e-scooter:

Offending whilst riding an e-scooter may result in loss of any driver licence or permit held. Victoria Police may enforce laws including:

• unlicensed riding
• unregistered motor vehicle
• failing to wear a helmet
• riding on a footpath
• careless riding
• using a mobile phone while riding
• riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs

To enforce these laws, Victoria Police can:

• stop riders and require them to state their name and address
• require the rider to undergo alcohol and drug testing
• impound privately owned e-scooters if relevant offending is identified
• impose on-the-spot fines if offending is identified
• issue charges to appear before a court if offending is identified
• issue an immediate driver licence ban if offending is identified

For any additional information about e-scooters, please refer to the VicRoads or Victoria Police websites.