From the Principal's Desk

Principal's Report

It has been wonderful to see so many families attend the many celebrations over this term. The Arts and Technology Awards afternoon and our Art and Tech showcase, our enrichment program presentations, and our music nights - to only name a few, continue to provide the platform for our students to shine and impress the whole school community with their various abilities and talents, building on their creative and critical thinking, collaboration, teamwork and presentation skills.

It has been a real privilege to celebrate their successes.

This term we have also celebrated the success of our maths students and our inaugural football academy teams who have all reached first place in many local and state competitions. Congratulations to each of these teams of students. 

Continuing to recognise our students, the school will be sending individual invites to our Annual Awards afternoon inviting our outstanding students and their families to this annual event where we will once again be able to celebrate student achievement. Our students continue to thrive in 2023 and it is important to take the time to recognise and applaud their efforts and academic commitment. Please encourage our children to finish the year on a high note and look out for your invitation!

We farewell our Year 12 Cohort

During this term we were able to share some time with the Year 12 cohort at our whole school graduation assembly, the year 12 breakfast and of course our annual year 12 Valedictory dinner. This week also marks the start of the Year 12 VCE examination period. The year 12 students have finished their formal classes and more significantly the end of their secondary schooling. Students can sometimes feel overwhelmed at this time no matter if moving into examinations, employment, or life beyond the school fence.  Whilst it is always sad to say goodbye to the students who have been a part or our school community – academically, artistically, through their sporting achievements, their leadership and mentoring of younger students, and their daily contributions over the past 6 years – I can’t help but be enthusiastic and optimistic about their futures. I hope that during their time with us that each student has gained the skills required for lifelong success.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school captains, Norma Liki and Verdannt Patel and vice captains Jaswanth Kadagala and Noah Finocchiaro for their leadership and representation of the student body.  They have led by example, shown outstanding commitment to their roles, and have enhanced our school spirit. They have been exceptional role models, and we could not have asked for more qualified young people to successfully undertake the roles and responsibilities of a School Captain.

On behalf of the school council, the principal executive team, and our year 12 students I would like to also thank the following leaders, teachers and support personnel. Firstly, our Year 12 level leader Ms Taylor Clayton, our coordinator Mr Harpreet Singh, the Senior Years Manager Mr Edward Hatzis, Pathways coordinator Ms Pina Siragusano, the Year 12 tutor teachers, education support staff, in particular Ms Kerri DiDomenico and our senior years Assistant Principal Mr Bryan Woollard. Their outstanding educational leadership, dedication, hard work and copious amounts of time and effort in providing the year 12 students with the guidance and incentive necessary to successfully complete their final year of secondary education has been excellent. 

To the year 12 cohorts’ parents/carers. It has been a pleasure to work with you so closely over the last 6 years. For those of you finishing your secondary education journey with the WCC school community, we thank you, and we will be available to continue to support your children into the future, especially with their pathway planning. Once a Wyndham Central College graduate your child becomes part of our Alumni and we make ourselves available well into their futures.

On behalf of the College community, I wish the year 12 cohort good health and academic success, both in their examinations and completion of VET and VCAL modules and in their future studies and careers. I am proud to be leading this college and I am confident that the year 12 students have the capacity to make a positive difference in their own lives, our local community and to society.

I thank each of them for their contributions to our WCC community and hope they take the time to share their future journey with us. 

Preparing for 2024

As we are nearing mid-term and the end of the 2023 school curriculum program with most year levels now preparing for their final assessments and our examination period, our staff and school are preparing for our STEP-UP classes where students will begin their 2024 studies. You will find that each of our Assistant Principal and Year Level leader reports within this newsletter, and through our continued correspondence via Compass, letters, and our weekly parent bulletin we will continue to share information and processes and outline the important events and dates for all students for the remainder of the term.  It is important to note down the dates for our re-enrolment and 2024 goal setting interviews with families. The school provides this opportunity for staff, parents/carers and students to work in partnership to achieve the best outcomes for our students. 

We ask that parents/carers continue to support the College processes by ensuring you attend these important interviews but also by helping your children each day to get to school on time, in uniform, with their school supplies so that they are ‘ready to learn’. 

Please note our administration support, community hub coordinators and student services teams are always available to all families if any assistance is required.  These supports help our students reach the ‘high expectations’ we set for our community and to ensure that they are fully prepared to start the 2024 school year.

Looking forward to seeing you at the school over the next few weeks,

Leanne Gagatsis -  Principal

Creating a Community of High Expectations 

Respect, Cooperation and Excellence