Sandringham College News

We value inclusion and parent voice.

Student Attitudes to School Survey

 

Each year the Department of Education and Training run a survey of student opinions to gather data that can be used at a school and state level to make improvements so that we can better support student learning and wellbeing. We are really proud of our Attitudes to School Survey Data in 2023 and we thank the students for their honest feedback about our school. 

 

Following the release of the survey data, we spoke to a focus group of students at each year campus and asked some questions around the data. In particular we were interested in the following areas

  1. Inclusion being positive vs Perceptions of LGBTQI+ and Respect for Diversity being less positive.
  2. Advocate at school being positive vs teacher concern having a high negative response.

The feedback provided indicated that we need to work on the following:

  • Negative comments between students outside of the classroom 
  • Greater emphasis on celebrating and embracing difference and uniqueness
  • Education for students on how to respond appropriately when in a challenging situation - avoiding hate speech or comments that target a student's unique identity in a negative way
  • Teachers making evident their care for students - greeting students entering the classroom, checking in on student wellbeing in class, increasing student voice and agency in the classroom. 

We are really excited to have new staffing profile in 2024 with teacher Tim Clifton rejoining our school as the Learning Specialist for Student Voice and Agency and an Assistant Principal at each campus responsible for student wellbeing and engagement - Michelle Lynch (Bluff Road Campus) and Cody Gunn (Holloway Road Campus). We have invested in these roles to support all students to thrive and have success at Sandringham College. 

 

UPCOMING CHANGES - parents have your say!

We have been discussing a series of changes for our College to support the changes we are seeing in our students and the small but important changes we are seeing in facilities and student numbers. I ask parents to read the following information and provide any feedback around proposed changes via the QR code/code below. The parent feedback survey will be open until NOVEMBER 24. https://forms.office.com/r/JgWeZGHxgt

 

 

 

Uniform

We have spoken to the students and are proposing the following changes to the school uniform for 2024. These changes will need to go through school council for ratification

  1. Introduction of new sports shorts - second option for students to chose from
  2. Introduction of a single small nose stud - all students permitted to have one but not a hoop 
  3. Introduction of school beanie for winter

For discussion for 2025 - reflecting current trends on work wear for adults 

  1. Introduction of a tailored winter shirt with a logo
  2. Removal of tie from uniform 

 

Students to cross campus

 

Next year we have timetabled as many Year 8 and 9 music, dance, theatre and HPE classes as possible in our new facility at Holloway Road and the Year 9 Djeembana Program will be based at Holloway Road all day Wednesday and P 5& 6 on a Thursday. Classes running Period 1 & 2 or Period 5 & 6 may be scheduled in this facility. Bluff Road parents who drive their children to school are asked to drop off and pick up their children from the new car park area outside the High Performance Centre.

 

Extra yard duty has been put in place to support students to cross campus and Year 7 students may be escorted across to undertake classes by their teacher.

 

Drop off and pick up point at Holloway Road 

Holloway Road parents are asked to drop off and pick up their children at the new drop off zone in the car park outside the High Performance Centre. The boom gate will be open before and after school for drop off and pick up. During the school day parents will need to drop off and pick up from Holloway Road.

 

Bell times

To facilitate cross-campusing for students and staff we have added 10 minutes to the end of recess and lunchtime. The new bell times for 2024 will be as follows. We will commence these Bell times in Headstart but will shorten periods during the day to conclude the day at 3pm for the Headstart period.

 

Changes to school camps

Commencing in 2024 we will be changing our camp offerings for students. We have made this decision based on the low attendance numbers at some camps and based on our belief that camps should have a purpose and be focussed on exposing students to broader experiences or on building relationships and skills.

 

Year 7 Camp - February 

Three day camp aimed to support students to develop friendships and to become familiar with staff and the culture of the school

 

Year 10 City Experience - February

A two day experience aimed at supporting students to step up to senior studies and to support the year level to gel as a positive cohort.

 

New Caledonia Language Tour

A seven day language immersion camp for students studying French

 

Camps we are looking at for the future - these will be cost dependent

  • Northern Territory Tour for Year 10 & 11
  • Performing and Visual Arts Tour to NYC or London
  • Chinese Language immersion tour

In addition to this we have added the following

Year 12 Start up day at Monash University - Wednesday 31 January 

Year 8 Big Day Out - Date TBC

 

Year 9 Relocation to Holloway Road in 2025

Considering the growing numbers at our school and the capacity to run the school effectively, I am beginning the discussion about the possibility of moving our Year 9 cohort to Holloway Road as of 2025. The advantages of this include

  1. Access to the new facilities at Holloway for more students without having to cross- campus
  2. Ability of older students to role model positive social and study behaviours to younger students
  3. Healthier numbers at Bluff Road - 400 students - with dedicated locker areas and toilets for each year level and with more space to play
  4. Ability for teachers to work across the age appropriate learning bands as set out in the Victorian Curriculum - 7&8/9&10/VCE and VCE-VM
  5. Better support for Year 9 students around pathways and careers education
  6. Opportunity for Year 8 students to step up as leaders and to be supported to develop leadership skills and capabilities.

Teachers are highly in favour of the proposal, and once explained to students, they too can see the advantages of the move. We would need to consider the following before making any decision:

  1. A dedicated study/social space for Year 12 students
  2. How to ensure we don't isolate a small group of teachers at Bluff Road and how we continue to grow their skills and knowledge to teach up to VCE/VM.

I look forward to hearing from parents regarding these proposals and I thank you all for being positive and active members of our school community.

 

Amy Porter

College Principal