PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Principal’s Newsletter Report 1/11/24
It’s been a hectic 2 weeks as we wind into week 5 of term 4.
It is obvious that many students and staff are feeling the busyness of school and life now in how they show up to school. Our mindset, belief system, and inner voice are a huge part of how we show up. If we believe the labels, listen to society, and tell ourselves we won’t succeed, then we won’t. On the other hand, if we tell ourselves that we are knowledgeable, committed to the task, can find the resources we need, and we know who to ask for help when needed – we have a much higher chance of success.
Recently, I have challenged our students and our staff around how they “show up” to school for themselves and for those around them. I have asked them; what mindset are you bringing to school every day? This mindset resonates closely with our school value 'Courage'. In the words of Nedd Brockmann, the young man who ran from Cottesloe Beach to Bondi Beach in 47 days to raise 2.5 million dollars, and most recently ran 1000 miles around an athletics track in Sydney and raised over 2 million dollars again, “you just gotta show up every day and get comfortable with the uncomfortable”. To do this takes great courage, and I’m hopeful that our community are doing this consistently everyday as they approach their learning, complete exams, and be part of our school community.
Year 12 Exams
On Tuesday of this week, our Year 12 students began their final examination program with their English and EAL exams. I wish our students all the very best as they complete each of their final exams.
Victorian Education Excellence Awards
A big congratulations to our team of staff including Ricki O’Shannessy, Georgia Pike, Lily Fowler, and Zac Larkins supported so strongly by our KESO Sarah Upton and our KEK Ilona Rose Silwa who were recently finalists in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards for Outstanding Koorie Education.
In 2023, WHC committed to creating and maintaining a school environment that empowers Koorie students to feel valued, respected and culturally strong. Members of the executive team at the college participated in the Murri Matters Training program. Inspired to adopt the ‘Engoorie’ principles of development to evolve and strengthen Indigenous culture and engagement at the college, they have since initiated many positive developments in support of their Koorie students’ learning.
Initiatives include the redefining of the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support model with a more culturally sensitive lens, a new collaboration with the Koorie Education Workforce, Jobs, Skills, and Pathways team, the co-creation of Career Action Plans for all Koorie students, and a new First Nations traineeship program to mentor Koorie students at the school.
Although not taking out the award, we are very proud of the team for being short-listed as a finalist and we will continue to commit to this ongoing journey of supporting our Koorie students in our community to reach their potential.
World Teachers Day
While this is traditionally celebrated across the world on the first Friday of October, as this coincides with school holidays, in Australia we celebrated this day on Friday 25 October.
World Teachers' Day is an opportunity to say thank you to the teachers who continue to make a difference today – and everyday – to children and young people’s lives. I am very proud of our teachers at Western Heights College who strive to do this every day.
The Geelong tertiary Futures Program (GTFP) for Year 9 Students
GTFP is an exciting initiative that engages Year 9 students in education by providing an in-depth preview of a broad range of tertiary studies. The program is delivered by The Gordon TAFE in partnership with Geelong secondary schools. Our Year 9 students this term have been engaging regularly at the East Geelong campus.
The flagship program is now widely recognised as an example of good VET pathways delivery and engagement, and the Career Previews remain highly successful, with high engagement and positive feedback from both students and teachers.
Early Commencement Program (ECP 2025)
On Monday 25 November, all students in Year 11 and 12 (and 2025 Year 10 students studying a VCE subject) will commence one week of the early commencement program to enable the students an opportunity to obtain a head start with their learning 2025. A timetable will be released shortly for students for this program. It is imperative that all students attend this program until its completion on Friday 29 November, which will be the last day of 2024 for current Year 10 and 11 students.
End of Year Dates for 2024
- Year 12 Graduation GMHBA Stadium – Thursday 21 November
- Last day of classes for 2024 Year 10 and 11 students – Friday 29 November
- College Awards Evening Thursday 12 December (GMHBA Stadium)
- 2024 Report Feedback by appointment only – Thursday 19th and Friday 20 December.
$400 School Saver Bonus
In Term 4, 2024, families with a child enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025 will receive the one-off $400 School Saving Bonus. The $400 School Saving Bonus provides families with support for education-related costs, such as school activities or school uniforms and textbooks.
* The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home-schooled students, TAFE students, or students attending kindergarten in 2025.
Please check your junk mail regularly to make sure you do not miss an important email.
To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, download the School Saving Bonus Information sheet for government school parents and carers or visit vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus.
Enjoy the next fortnight,
Fiona Taylor
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.
- Commitment to Child Safety
- Child Safety Policy
- Child Safety Code of Conduct
- 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 college's 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