Principal's Message-

Laura Spence

Dear students, parents and carers, 

What an outstanding start to the term has been made by all students and staff!

It was lovely to meet so many of you at our recent Parent Teacher conferences earlier this term.  Hearing our students speak with pride about the work they have completed in class is always such a gratifying experience.  These meetings are a critical part of our students’ growth and development as learners as we foster strong working relationships between parents, carers and school staff.  I would highly encourage you all to attend our next round of interviews which will take place in Term Three on Thursday 4th September.

While not officially released yet, we have had a sneak peak at our NAPLAN data and I am pleased to say that, similar to previous years, our school has experienced growth across all key learning areas.  Our positive data reflects both our targeted teaching approach and the introduction of our classroom routines, all of which are evidence based and designed to maximise student success and achievement.

Over the coming weeks, students have the opportunity to complete the Attitude to School Survey (AtoSS) which provides the College with valuable information which we use to guide future policies and planning.  We ask all students to reflect holistically on their time at the College as they respond to each of the questions.

Anytime is a good time to discuss social media and use of mobile phones with young people. I ask that parents take the time to talk at home about why the Victorian Government’s phone ban in schools is so important. The two key areas you can raise are engagement with learning and the distraction a phone causes, and safety associated with phones and the dangers of social media, and photos/videos and sharing. I like to compare a young person getting a phone to an 18 year old buying a car; there is a rigorous process to attain a driver’s licence and be safe on the roads. Unfortunately we don’t have licenses for phones and social media, so we must continually talk to our children about phone use. Our College policy is linked here:  https://www.mcclellandcollege.vic.edu.au/images/2022_PDF_Policies/Mobile_Phones.pdf 

The recent weeks we have changed from our summer uniform to our winter uniform, just in time for the temperature drop. The way our students wear their uniforms is a great source of pride for McClelland College; we are a clear stand out against other schools in our presentation. When in full school uniform our students demonstrate ownership of their presentation and commitment to our school community. If you are having any financial difficulties with uniform, please contact your child’s year level leader or the front office for support. Many parents also haven’t used the full $400 of their School Saver Bonus from the start of this year which PSW can help with. 

Earlier this week, the VCE VM Careers Expo was a resounding success, with our senior students showcasing the wide range of potential careers open to students once they leave McClelland.  It was fantastic to see these students speaking so passionately about the diverse jobs and pathways which exist in the wider community.  I look forward to seeing what they achieve over the coming years, and extend them an invitation in advance to return to the College to share their experiences to future cohorts of students.

While we are on the topic of future pathways, there will be a Year 9 / 10 Information Night held at the College on Monday 30th June.  This session will provide details regarding the all important choice between VCE and VCE VM which students make in the lead up to Year 11.  With the significant changes made as a part of the Senior Secondary Reforms, this choice is more vital than ever.  More information can be found later in this publication, however I would highly recommend that all Year 9 and 10 students, as well as their parents and carers, attend the evening.

Last week, the Senior Formal provided our Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to let their hair down before their mid-year exams.  How proud I was to see our students representing the College in such an impressive manner.  The staff at the Sandhurst Golf Club were thrilled with their behaviour and look forward to inviting them back to the venue next year.

Speaking of exams, we wish our VCE students all the best as they begin their mid-year assessment period.  While these exams do not directly contribute to their VCE grades, they are an amazing opportunity for them to practice speed writing to time under pressured conditions.  We ask the school community to ensure that they are extra quiet around the PAC and Senior Centre over the coming weeks to allow our VCE students the best opportunity to succeed. 

And finally, the newest addition to McClelland, the Early Childhood Centre, is growing in leaps and bounds.  The College is excited to be a part of the Department’s birth to graduation initiative which aims to foster stronger links to the wider community.  We look forward to the Centre becoming operational in early 2026. 

Reminder from last COG regarding traffic during construction, for parents who currently drop their children off at Belar Ave, please consider dropping students on Alexandra Avenue (where we have a second and convenient college entrance), Karingal Drive, Lindrum Avenue, or at Ballam Park instead and having them walk to school from there. It’s a win win for students to get extra exercise, and for you to have less time on the busy school section. Take the time to also discuss with your child the importance of road safety and being alert (phones away!), as well as respect for our neighbouring residents. Reminder that McClelland College students should not be dropped off near Ballam Park Primary School, and should not walk through the BPPS car park at any time of the day.

Council would also like to remind our community that Belar Avenue is ‘Permit Zone’, which they may have to reconsider once the ELCC is completed. The permit parking is only on the residential side of the street opposite the school, with the 5 minute drop-off and pick-up restrictions on the school side. Please do not park in this zone prior to pick up in the afternoons, and consider parking further away from school where it is permitted (eg Ballam Park) and having your child walk to your car, this will allow a greater turnover over vehicles looking to access the 5 minute parking zone, and assist with our neighbouring residents use of the road.

The rest of this term includes starting Semester 2, Course Counselling for Years 9 to 12, not two but three Snow Camps, and many more exciting events and learning opportunities. Please encourage your child to get involved with the many offerings at McClelland and continue to connect with peers and our staff. 

Thank-you everyone for your positive engagement so far this term. 

Kind Regards,

Laura Spence