Dear Families,

The term has commenced smoothly with our students settling quickly back into familiar routines. As we all know with routine comes a feeling of safety and predictability. We have certainly reached the busy end of the year where events mark celebrations, transitions, and change.

I sincerely appreciate all families that took time out of their routine last week to meet with their child’s class teachers during parent-teacher interviews for the secondary school. The senior centre was certainly a hive of activity during the afternoon and evening, and I appreciate your patience and participation in seeking feedback on your child’s academic journey. As I have said many times, the partnership between home and school is essential to your child’s learning success and I thank you for taking time out of your busy weeks to check in with us.

Official Opening of our Prep to Year 12 Facilities

On Friday we were thrilled to celebrate a significant milestone in the story of Altona College - the unveiling of our newly renovated and enhanced facilities and the completion of our transition to a full Senior School. This achievement marked a remarkable step forward in providing our students and staff with state-of-the-art learning spaces designed to foster innovation, creativity, and skill development across various key learning areas.

The Honourable Melissa Horne, Member for Williamstown officially opened the new spaces, marking the end of five years of Capital Works, planning and construction and our official transition to a prep to year 12 school. Unfortunately, the weather was against us so we needed to hold a smaller celebration indoors with our preps, year 12s and representative classes.

Ava Manuell, our middle years captain proudly and capably led the celebrations producing a poignant speech on her journey at Altona College. Ava joined our community as a Prep student and I distinctly remember meeting her and Zelda, her twin sister, during school tours for prep students. Ava spoke proudly of our successes in both academic and sporting arenas through extracurricular activities and she certainly exemplifies our values in her interactions on a daily basis. Ava is a proud member of our volleyball and debating teams achieving huge success. She spoke of the growth of the college and the reality that the facilities now look nothing like they did when she joined us in prep.

I spoke at our primary assembly on Friday afternoon and commended our prep students who attended the ceremony and proudly represented our school to our guests. As I spoke I found it difficult emotionally to watch all those little faces who were just so focused on me, there wasn’t a wriggle or a murmur, they listened intently as the ceremony progressed. It just goes to show how much they have grown over the year and their understanding of what is expected in regard to our values and the respect they showed was nothing short of sensational. Melissa Horne cut the “official ribbon” to symbolise the occasion and invited some preps to join her. They stood on tip toes holding the ribbon firmly so she could cut it with the scissors which was truly a special moment.

Some families would not be fully aware of our journey as a school. However, it was through the generous funding allocated by the State Government, that we embarked on a comprehensive modernisation and expansion project, transforming our school into a P-12 educational precinct, completing $8.3million of capital works across two key stages. The stage 1 upgrade included the construction of our senior centre, complete with classrooms, an open-plan study area, toilets, a kitchen, and staff work spaces. Additionally, we refurbished and reorganised our science classrooms, prep and storage areas, and administration spaces.

One of the key highlights of the transformation was the creation of our science laboratories. These facilities are now equipped with cutting-edge technology and modern resources, providing our budding scientists with the perfect environment to explore, experiment, and innovate.

The stage 2 program focused on the realm of digital technologies, where we established a dedicated hub where students can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of coding, programming, and digital design. Our goal is to nurture a generation of tech-savvy individuals capable of harnessing the power of technology to shape a brighter future for our community and beyond.

Furthermore, the revitalised art and design spaces are a testament to our commitment to nurturing creativity and artistic expression. Students now have a platform to explore various art forms, experiment with different mediums, and showcase their talents. Art and design are not only essential to cultural enrichment, but also vital in fostering innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.

The revamped design technology space provides our students with an opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, honing their craftsmanship and design skills. Woodworking teaches patience, precision, and creativity - skills that will undoubtedly serve our students well as they face challenges and opportunities in their academic and professional lives.

The modernised primary learning building and STEAM room have been a hive of activity all year. I know the students love their new learning spaces, they are quiet, calm, and conducive to learning, unlike the previous open-plan areas.

A new sensory garden has been created where all components are carefully designed to provide maximum and appropriate sensory stimulation. The hardscape elements are as important as the vegetative elements because they become an integral part of the overall experience. For example, paths, walls, and seating all allow access, inclusivity, and interactivity within the garden.

The revamped administration facilities have enhanced the entrance into our school community providing a secure entry and exit point for students during the day and access to support as required. The staff preparation areas and break-out space provide a place to relax during well-deserved breaks.

At the celebration, we extended our heartfelt gratitude to the architects from Crosier Scott who worked with us throughout the two stages and their exceptional work in designing and constructing these amazing learning spaces. Our builders from Balmain and Co and Constructive Group worked closely with us throughout the construction stages to ensure our expectations were met. It has been a long five-year program.

I also thank you, our students, staff, and families, for your patience in enduring what seemed to be never-ending construction sites, with fencing popping up across the site. There was many an accidentally broken pipe, and areas covered in scaffolding and mud which we all worked around throughout the building works.

Additionally, I express our deep appreciation to the Honourable Melissa Horne and her predecessor Jill Hennessy for their unwavering support and dedication to the betterment of Altona College.

Year 12 exams

Our Year 12 students completed their final day of school on Friday afternoon, marking the commencement of the SWOTVAC period (study without teaching vacation) which is a time when they do not have any formal classes but rather have dedicated time to study. This period will be different for everyone, as some will have additional revision classes and each student has a slightly different exam timetable. Our Year 12 students joined in the official opening on Friday as they were the first group of seniors to access the purpose-built senior centre for all three years. Our very best wishes go with them all as they endure the nerves that naturally come with exams but we are confident that they are well prepared. The students will return for a final farewell assembly and a breakfast with staff and leadership. The formal graduation evening will be held on Thursday, November 16th at Seaview in Williamstown which is a special celebration for the students, their parents, and staff, marking a major milestone in their lives.

Principal 2024

In March 1984, I stepped inside a classroom for the first time at Kaniva Consolidated School on the Victorian, South Australian border in the middle of a mouse plague. I taught 30 Year 6 students as the mice circled around our feet. I never imagined then, where my career would take me as a very young graduate having grown up and attended what was then a teacher's college in regional Victoria. Fast forward 39 years in education and I have now spent almost 12 years as both an Acting and substantive principal. Last Friday, closed another chapter for me as a principal and teacher and I have made the decision to step away at the end of the school year and utilise my long service leave throughout 2024. I am certainly looking forward to many adventures ahead during the coming year and am very excited about what the future holds. It has been an absolute privilege to have been part of the journey of Altona College these past 11 and ½ years. The Department of Education will appoint an Acting Principal for 2024, which will be advertised state-wide and filled by the South Western Victoria Regional Office. I hope this process will be completed within the next four weeks and I will advise the school community as soon as an appointment has been made.

Thank you for your understanding with the delay in the release of the newsletter last Friday, it was certainly a very busy day here at the college.

Sincerely,

Julie Krause

Principal, Altona College

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