Learning & Teaching
Signing off for 2025!
Student Engagement Scale
This year, we launched the Student Engagement Scale to support students to improve their application and attitude in and out of class. Students are encouraged to rate themselves on a scale and challenge themselves to set goals to move up the scale. Our VCE and VM students from the graduating class of 2025 will tell you that great outcomes in Year 12 are only achieved when students drive and invest in their learning. In 2026, this scale will be front and centre in conversations with students, in parent meetings and in the Academic Review Conferences in Terms 1 and 3.
The Class of 2025 Morning Tea Celebration
On Tuesday morning, approx 90 of our VCE students joined us for a Morning Tea to celebrate with our Dux and Honour roll recipients (students achieving over 90 ATAR). It was a great turnout and an indication of the strength of the bond between our graduating students. Whether pursuing a career in medicine, starting an apprenticeship, taking a gap year or signing up for a TAFE course, we are proud of all our graduating students.
VIT Full Registration
Congratulations to four of my teaching colleagues who have completed their Victorian Institute of Teaching's professional inquiry project this year to achieve full teacher registration. It’s a big undertaking and a great outcome for Wayne Marsh, Robert Johnson, Greg Wilson and Jai Edwards and to their mentors, Hervaye Lobriza-Kolt, Trevor Bergshoeff, Abbey McMahon and Ben Karwan.
Year 11 and 12 in 2026
I am pleased to announce that with the departure of James Doble there are a few changes in the portfolios of the Principal team. In 2026, I will be leading the VCE team as Assistant Principal. I am excited about working more closely with our VCE staff team next year:
Michaela Piritidis & Lucy McClennan
Year 12 Year Level Leaders
Jake Collins & Mel Zulfic
Year 11 Year Level Leaders
Jenny Silalahi & Kirsten Holness
Education Support
Elise Roper
Leader of Learning Improvement
Tim Pearson
Leader of Student Engagement
Darren Hoogkamer
Leader of Pathways & Applied Learning
Tim Knowles & Tanya Notman (new Careers Practitioner) – Careers Team
Congratulations to Hervaye Lobriza-Kalt and Jessie Dennison both of whom have teaching roles in other school’s next year and we thank them for their dedication and care of our students over recent years. They will be missed by staff and students alike.
High Expectations of Behavioural & Cognitive Engagement
This year, teachers have collectively focused on embedding a range of techniques to maximise student classroom engagement, most notable is the use of mini-whiteboards to check understanding and scaffold learning. The theme of high expectations, high support and high challenge will continue in 2026 through a teacher professional development program that includes classroom observations, instructional coaching and instructional feedback. This approach will lift student learning growth and achievement which is great for our students.
2026 Resource List Now Available to Parents
To access the free home delivery offer, orders must be placed by close of business on Friday 19 December 2025 in order to be delivered to your nominated address by 23 January 2026. All Booklist PDFs are accessible on Compass in the 'Star Menu' under 'School Documentation'. Use Access Code 6XMJ
Compass & Maestro Reports Released Tomorrow
Students and families can access:
1. Compass Reports which include summaries of student achievement on summative assessments, in-class attendance percentages, ratings of student learning behaviours and our VCE students get feedback on Satisfactory completion of Unit 2. Additional feedback can be accessed through Compass learning tasks.
2. Year 7-10 Maestro Victorian Curriculum Semester Reports Dashboard. This is an interactive dashboard and you can hover over the different graphics for more information.
Wishing all of our community a restful summer break and we look forward to seeing our new Year 7 & 8's on Wed 28 January, and our new 8, 9, 10 & 11's on Thu 29 Januar
Natalie Manser
Assistant Principal
mar@wantirnacollege.vic.gov.au