College Principal Message 

Welcome to Term 2

After what was a very busy first term, term two promises to be equally as busy and full of great opportunities. With most of the major events and extracurricular activities (Year 12 study activities, Year 7 Induction activities, Year 9 Challenge Day program, Grade 6 Discovery night/Information Evening, Athletics Day, Harmony Day celebrations and a myriad of other subject extracurricular activities) to the normal schedule almost behind us, it is now time for consolidation of our work (teaching and learning) and for students to move into a settled period of study. This is an eleven-week term, and Semester One ends on June 14 (End of Week Nine and Two weeks before the end of Term Two). Semester Two will begin on June 17.

We do have some significant events on our calendar during this term and early next term, including Year 9 Morrisby interviews, 24 to 28 June, a variety of team sports competitions, Semester exams (June 3 to July 19), several excursions, incursions, camps, extracurricular activities, Performing Arts performances. 

Wishing everyone a very productive Term 2. 

Visit of state local member of parliament, Monday, May 6

Ms Luba Grigorovitch, State Member of Parliament - Kororoit Legislative Assembly, Australian Labor Party, visited our Kings Park campus on Monday May 6.

During her visit Luba had the opportunity to meet our College Captains from all their campuses, and a number of Kings Park campus SRC student leaders. 

Our School Captains/Student leaders represented our College in a great manner, they were absolutely outstanding Copperfield College ambassadors. They discussed a number of topics with Luba and clearly described the great curricular and extra-curricular programs, offered showing their respect and appreciation to their caring teaching and non-teaching staff.

They also, very eloquently discussed the Kings Park Campus facilities and what they would like to see happening in relation to upgrading these facilities. They accompanied Luba for a tour of the campus, and they were only excited to point out some great things that were happening on site, as well as, pointing out the facilities that need to be upgraded.

Luba was very impressed with the calibre of our students, and she has promised to speak to the State Minister of Education, for extra funding and also to organise a visit to our school.

As the Copperfield College Principal, I was very proud of our wonderful student leaders, and I am looking forward to work closely with them to improve our school. 

WHY CHOOSE A PUBLIC SCHOOL?

At this time of the year, families are making important decisions about choosing a secondary school for their child. 

There is a common misleading view that if you send your child to a private school, your child will get better results.

But the facts show that this is wrong. 

A review of almost 30 academic studies revealed public schools achieve similar student outcomes to Catholic and Independent schools across a range of education indicators. (Cobbold, 2015)

The review showed there were no significant differences between the results of students from public, Catholic and Independent schools in national and international tests and also in university completion rates. 

According to the review, first year of university students from public schools outperform other students – they achieve higher grades in their first year of university than students from Catholic and Independent schools. 

For more information about the review’s findings please go to the following website:  http://www.saveourschools.com.au/public-education/studies-show-public-schools-achieve-similar-results-to-private-schools 

As an educational leader in the public school system, I believe it’s important that families know about this information because it can help inform their decision-making. 

Public schools are just as good as private schools in the area that matters most – developing your child’s potential.  The review is one of many pieces of educational research showing that students from the same social background do as well in public schools as they do in Catholic or Independent schools. 

There are other good reasons to consider enrolling your child in a public school. They include the following:

• Public schools are great value for money compared with private schools, which charge families up to $50,000 each year in tuition fees per child. Tuition at public schools is free, with families paying only for books and some essential items.
• Children in public schools learn to get on with a wide mixture of students from different backgrounds. These advanced social skills – cooperation, empathy, problem solving, understanding – are increasingly prized in the modern workplace. They equip students for success in life and in their future work.
• Public schools are neighbourhood schools.  Enrolling your child in a school within walking or riding distance to home makes it easier for you to know who your child’s friends are, to make friends with other local parents and to forge closer links with your school and your community.   
• High quality teaching is one of the biggest factors that influence student learning. That’s why public schools are intensifying their efforts to enhance the skills of their teachers through mentoring, peer and student feedback and other forms of professional development. 

Public schools are the backbone of our nation’s education system. They express our Australian egalitarian values. They provide opportunities for all children to succeed, no matter where they live. They give all children a fair chance to reach their potential and lead a fulfilling life.

As Principal of a public school for several years, I am extremely honoured and proud of my current and also previous school communities. I am also proud of the outstanding achievements of public-school students over the years. 

I encourage parents/guardians to book a tour with our Junior Campus Principals, Mr Gruis and Mr Petheric - Kings Park Campus and Ms Chiodo and Mr Atherton- Sydenham Campus to visit the school to see it in operation. Matching your child’s needs with the right high school is crucial to your child’s future success not just at school, but also in their future pathway. 

Rediscover the wonders of Reading! 

The world of reading continues to change daily with the addition of digital books (eBooks), tablets, mobile apps, and may other technological alternatives. 

However, the printed, hard-copy world is everywhere in our society, and it doesn’t look to be going anywhere any time soon. 

Roughly one in five people in Australia suffer from reading difficulties, with many thought to be undiagnosed or with minimal support. These people, as well as English language learners, encounter daily challenges with reading. Reading is not just for high school students or any other educational institutions, it is everywhere and unavoidable and for those with reading difficulties it can not only be challenging but also stressful, frustrating, and demoralising.

At Copperfield College we believe in “Learn to read before reading to learn” and we place a huge emphasis on both Literacy and Numeracy skills. Therefore, the school provides Literacy/Reading and Numeracy intervention programs for many Year 7 to 9 students, ensuring that no student falls through the cracks. Students are identified through formative assessment, triangulated data and placed in the right intervention program in consultation with the parents. 

The school community prides on improving students learning and future pathways/lives and of course mastering reading, as mentioned above, is the bedrock for success in anything our students choose to pursuit. 

Nick Adamou

College Principal