Principals Report

We are well and truly in the middle of term one and the weeks are already passing us by rather quickly, often with so much to do. Many of our programs are up and running; we have had a really successful Year 7 camp, the Year 11 and 12 Information Evening was exactly that, informative and supportive.  Students have been completing the Resilient Youth Survey, and our House launch was received well by students and staff. We have also had a great day out at the Swimming sports, and school photos have just been taken. We have crammed a lot into the first five weeks of term, with a lot more to come! 

As well as these activities our teaching and Education Support staff have been busy working hard in their delivery and support of lessons, but also in their own professional learning. Schools are places of learning after all! All staff have completed their Child Safe training on Mandatory Reporting, and Anaphylaxis. These are both mandated and a regular commitment for all teachers across Victoria. They ensure we keep up to date with the latest advice, so we can provide the highest levels of care for your child. Individual staff are also studying, and are involved in professional development, this includes Shannon Ross who is completing a ‘Masters in Instructional Leadership’ at the University of Melbourne, Kate Wilmott who is working with the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership in the ‘Teaching Excellence Program’, and Shannon O’Shea who is working towards her Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice through the Australian Centre for Career Education (ACCE/CEAV). Each one of our staff are demonstrating the principle of lifelong learning and the school values of determination and striving for personal excellence. 

Additionally, a group of teachers and leaders, including myself are enrolled in the Professional Learning Community (PLC) training. We have run the PLCs at Woodmans Hill over a number of years, but we are committed to refining our practice and open to additional learning that this course will provide for us. The Department of Education definition states:

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are an approach to school improvement where groups of teachers work collaboratively at the school level to improve student outcomes.​

Professional learning community (PLC) schools start from a simple idea: students learn more when their teachers work together. 

Building a PLC is a proven way for schools to increase student learning by creating a culture that is:

• focused on continuous improvement by linking the learning needs of students with the professional learning and practice of teachers
• committed to professionalism
• fuelled by collaborative expertise.

Woodmans Hill sits within the Central Highlands City Network, a group of around 28 primary, secondary, and special education schools. I have the privilege of representing the school at the Principal level meetings, but there are opportunities for other staff within the network to work together. I like to look at the network and collaboration with other schools as addressing the problems of practice that schools cannot address themselves. One forthcoming event for our staff is joining others from the network in looking at Trauma Informed Practice. We have also had the pleasure of ‘hosting’ Little Bendigo Primary School on the fire danger days. LBPS and Woodmans Hill have a close relationship and when needed, they enact their Fire safety plan and use our Theatre for the day. The collegiate spirit between network schools is evident here and on so many other occasions. 

Woodmans Hill are also part of several Communities of Practice (CoP – yes another of the many acronyms in education!). These CoPs are generally geographically focused, and we work closely with several of our feeder primary schools, namely Caledonian and Canadian Lead Primary Schools. Our current CoP is around attendance. The job of Principals within these groups is to look for alignment in our work, to benefit all students across the education system, not just in individual schools. We hope to align and further refine our practices, including consistent messaging and expectations about attendance. Put simply attendance is vital for your child’s success, and good attendance is not only beneficial to supporting their progress, but an expectation of the school and Department of Education. Your support in helping your child to have good attendance is crucial, and I offer this quote from the former American NFL coach Vince Lombardi;

“the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary!” 

Some days it is hard work to get to school (or indeed work), but by doing so that will help us all to have success. Together this success will be greater. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of Woodmans Hill Secondary College. 

Graham Broadbent

Principal