Principal Report

Today marks the end of the first semester of learning for 2024 and it has been a great way to finish off the term. It was wonderful to see the college community spirit in action today at lunchtime with two key fundraising activities being held to raise awareness and funds for both the RSPCA and Cancer Research. These two events have been almost entirely student driven and supported by a great team of staff. I would especially like to shout out to the staff who willingly allowed themselves to be ‘soaked’ or to shave their heads for a good cause. I know the students very much appreciated their efforts and the amount of funds raised as a result is nothing short of impressive. Look out for articles about the fun that was had later in this edition of the Gazette as well as on our Facebook page and other social media accounts. 

Across the term, we have seen many wonderful student and staff achievements with sporting teams winning many matches and competitions, debating teams being triumphant over much larger schools with more resources, many of our instrumental music students performing for friends and family in our new Performing Arts Centre and staff receiving awards for their studies in education. Our Year 12 cohort have finished their Unit 3 studies in both the VCE mainstream and VCE-VM courses and are now well into their final units of their secondary schooling. For them there is really only one term left to go before they start preparing for exams or completing their final units to start the next steps of their journey. For them these holidays may provide their last real rest before that last leg begins. 

Looking to next term, there are a few changes that happening about the place: 

In staffing, we have some new people joining us including Mr Proctor who will be teaching science, and Ms Zarogianis who will be replacing Ms Ganis who is on leave for the term, in the Mathematics area. We also had a new Business Manager, Tracie Edgell start with us these past two weeks. Tracie has come to us from Koonung Secondary College and will be overseeing the school’s administration, finance and HR process amongst many other things. We will be welcoming back Ms Chiodo after her semester of leave as well to take some junior art classes. 

We also have some staff members stepping up into positions of responsibility for the term and deserve congratulations, this includes Ms Olivia Grant and Ms Samara Kennewell who will be acting as the Disability and Inclusion coordinators while Amelia Vance is on leave. Mr Shane Hunt also takes on an Acting Assistant Principal role for Semester 2. Shane will be overseeing Facilities and Maintenance and OHS in Term 3 and then stepping into Ms Nina Ling’s role as Assistant Principal of Equity and Inclusion in Term 4. 

Mr Jean-Michel Seago will be leaving the college at the end of this term and heading off to take up a position at Wheeler’s Hill Secondary College in Semester 2. Mr Seago has been teaching Maths and Science at Heathmont for a year and a half and we wish him well with his move to his new school. 

Some other changes include works occurring over the holiday period where we are redeveloping the outdoor basketball area to provide better seating and access for students and to improve the look and safety of this area. We will also be installing a gathering circle area adjacent to our indigenous garden in front of the stadium. These works will likely finish very early in Term 4 and be available for student use for the rest of the year. We are very excited about the positive ways in which this will help to lift the appearance of the college grounds. We are also hoping to be able to resurface our school oval before the end of the year and are working to secure funding to support this project. 

Lastly, I have some information to share from School Council regarding our uniform distribution company, KLAD sport. Lee from KLAD has informed me that there Rowville shop location will be moving to Noble Park as of the 1st of September – details can be found later in this edition. KLAD are offering 20% off all uniform purchases instore from the 1st of September to the 15th of October. They will also have free express shipping for all online orders which can be made at www.klad.au

That is it from me, I wish everyone a safe, fun and relaxing mid-year break. Stay warm everyone and see you back on the 15th of July. 

Kerryn Sandford

College Principal