Principal Team Editorial

It’s been a smooth start to the term with students and staff returning to school with a strong focus on our core purpose - learning.

On Wednesday, staff spent the day engaged in collaborative learning and planning to ensure we have the foundations in place to deliver high quality learning and teaching across the College. We have high expectations for our leaders, staff, teachers and students with a strong belief that every student can achieve outstanding outcomes that will support them to be successful in their chosen pathway. 

This week we conducted year level assemblies where we introduced core classroom routines that are fundamental to great learning outcomes. Building on our already embedded entry and exit routines, teachers will be using consistent strategies to harness attention and foster greater participation in class, particularly during the explicit instruction phase of the lesson. Anita Archer, a leading educational expert in Explicit Instruction provides a short overview of what quality explicit instruction should look like, and what it shouldn’t look like, in the following clip. 

'We have... a strong belief that every student can achieve outstanding outcomes' 

ANZAC Day 

Every year our ANZAC Day assembly is a significant event on our school calendar. Last week we were privileged to have two outstanding guest speakers present to students, staff and some parents. 

John Coleson, a Vietnam Veteran (who went on to become Principal of Wellington Secondary College  when he returned from service) delivered a powerful speech that resonated with all of us. He spoke of service and mateship, and connected the ANZAC spirit that was evident 110 years ago to our own relationships today and how we treat each other. 

Our second speaker, Sergeant Chris May, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, spoke passionately of his commitment to serving the community and serving in the Armed Forces alongside his brother. His story of being wounded and the uniform he wore on that day now being on display in at the Shrine of Remembrance left a strong impression, and we had many students staying behind after the assembly to speak with both Chris and John. 

Next year, we will be inviting parents and families to join us at our assembly and stay for light refreshments afterwards as we acknowledge this important day and pay tribute to the Service men and women who embody the ANZAC spirit. 

NEW - Environmental Sub-Committee

Tue 13 May, 5pm, General Staffroom

To support our Do The Right Thing campaign that was launched last year, an Environmental Sub-committee has been formed which will start meeting this term. The purpose of a school Environmental Sub-committee is to promote environmental awareness, sustainability and responsible practices within the school community, and foster a collective responsibility for taking care of our environment. Our Environmental Sub-committee will meet once a month on the same evening as our other Sub-committees. Our first meeting is scheduled for Tue 13 May at 5pm in the General Staffroom. Parents, students and/or families are welcome to attend. 

Save the date

Next Parent Forum: Tue 20 May, 6pm

Carrie Wallis

Principal