PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear Parents amd carers,

On Friday 29 November from 2 – 3.15 pm we are having an End of an Era Celebration at Footscray City College.  The celebration will focus on the successful achievements of the College as we move into 2020 to become Footscray High School.  Footscray City College has a successful period of ensuring secondary students in the area have a school of which they can be proud.  Particularly over the past few years under the leadership of Maria Bawden, the school has gone from strength to strength developing academic excellence, social inclusion, student wellbeing and community participation as mainstays for the school community.  We would like to celebrate all that is excellent about Footscray City College and invite you to the school to see classes and programs in action and to participate in the opening of the Tiny House and the environmental compost program.  The tiny house with its telescope and retractable roof will provide a unique science resource for our students and those in the precinct. The compost facility was made possible as a result of money received from the Victorian Government's Pick My Project grant and will commence operation in 2020.  

On the afternoon, students will be offering tours of the school showing our programs in action.  We hope as many of you as possible can attend.  Please email the school if you are coming as this assists with our organisation.  

Yr 7-11 Presentation Night 

On Thursday 14 November, our Presentation Night will be held at the Clocktower in Moonee Ponds.  I look forward to seeing the students who have received an award.  Celebrating student achievement in a variety of fields and endeavours is always a highlight at this time of year.  Congratulations to all student award recipients.  

School Council  

Our last school council meeting for the year and for Footscray City College will be held on 19 November. I would like to acknowledge the council for their work this year and the great support I have received from them. It has been my enormous pleasure to be part of the FCC School Council.  Parents, students and staff representatives have been supportive and provided thoughtful and considered discussion.  I have been impressed with the school council’s ability to focus on the school as a whole, and the good for all.  Thank you for this year and the work that has been achieved to ensure ongoing success for Footscray City College and the move to Footscray High School.  

Footscray City College School Council 

Karen Ingram - School Council President 

Ryan Grieve - School Council Vice President 

Ian Corcoran – Secretary

Linda Woods – Treasurer

Brett Ferguson – Parent rep

Lisa Heap – Community co-opted member 

Audrey McKenzie – SRC representative 

Charlie O’Regan – SRC representative 

John Box – DET representative

Chris Lovelock – DET representative

Timotei Schubert – DET representative  

College Facility Projects 

We have undertaken a number of substantial facility projects that will enhance the environment of the school.  

Air Conditioning / Heating Replacement – We are replacing our entire system commencing in November and it will be completed for the start of the 2020 school year.  This will be a great enhancement to the environment within the building as the building is dependent on the system to maintain climate control.  Our new system will be more environmentally effective, lower power usage and provide consistent climate control throughout the whole building.  

Canteen Upgrade – we have commenced an upgrade of the canteen area and will complete the remainder over the January holiday period.  New benchtops, commercial sink and dishwasher will add to the current facilities.

Landscaping – The area outside the main eastern door will be levelled and outdoor furniture will be installed for the students.  

Building Modifications – during the September holidays we installed additional visual modifications to assist those with visual impairments.  New lighting and color highlighting was installed. 

Science Rooms – As part of the Footscray Learning Precinct, $4.2 million has been allocated to refurbish the science area.  Science staff lead by Michelle Sanders, have been contributing to the design phase to develop plans that will ensure we have a science area that will meet the future needs of science learning and teaching.  This work will commence in May 2020 and be completed by December 2020.  

Angelique den Brinker - Acting Principal