Principal's Report
Principal's Report
Principal Report
Principal’s Report - May
Some exciting progress has been made in Term 2. Our newsletter highlights fantastic student achievement and development. It is wonderful to see our students engaging and challenging themselves to take on the many opportunities presented by their teachers and school.
Staffing Changes
Two new staff members joined us this term.
- Nyssa Bradsworth (student counsellor) replaced Kathryn Feil
- Rose Dallimore (administration assistant and first aid) replacing Yusuf Kocak in our administration team.
We welcome Nyssa and Rose to Collingwood.
We have also been recently informed of the retirements of two much loved staff members at Collingwood College. John Gioskos and Jane Grey are both calling time on their careers during this term. Having made over 40 years of dedicated service to education, both have made enormous contributions to their schools and students. In Jane’s case, over 35 years of contributions to Collingwood College directly, demonstrates such dedicated service and commitment to our community. We wish you both all the best in retirement and thank you for your commitment, dedication and passion for teaching students at Collingwood.
Felicia Peh is the successful candidate for the recently advertised leading teacher position – International Student Program and Language Background Other Than English (LBOTE) leader. This is a tenured position for three years. We are excited for Felicia to continue her amazing work in this role as part of the school’s leadership team.
Annual Implementation Plan (AIP)
At the beginning of this term the activities and actions were finalised in regard to our AIP in 2025. A summary of actions of some of the main actions are below.
- Implementation of Phonics instruction throughout Prep, Grade 1 and 2 as mandated by the Department of Education.
- Development of Disability and Inclusion Profiles and the documentation of adjustments throughout our curriculum.
- Become fully authorised to deliver the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) in Year 7, 8 and 9.
- A strong focus on the development of literacy and numeracy outcomes throughout each year level.
- Development of transition from Year 10 to Wurun Senior Campus, with students engaging in their understanding of complex competencies (soft skills) and the language of New Metrics used at Wurun.
- Engaging in the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (implementation by 2028) and exploring how at Collingwood explicit teaching of skills occur.
- Completing final modules of Berry Street Training to develop our teachers to be trauma-informed, strengths-based education, providing a sense of safety and connection to improve wellbeing and academic outcomes for all students.
All staff are working on goals specific to their year level within the key actions above. We will inform you of progress throughout the year.
Theatre News
In the recent state budget, Collingwood College was awarded 6.89 million dollars of confirmed funding to refurbish and renew our Theatre and Dance space.
It was fantastic to welcome newly elected federal member for Melbourne - Sarah Witty and our deputy mayor for Yarra - Sarah McKenzie to our school for this announcement. Our School Representative Council (SRC) for both Primary and Secondary, alongside our Community Liason Officers (CLO’s) - Hussein, Hassen and Badria, did a fabulous job in explaining the wonders of Collingwood and the community.
The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) will contact us to begin tender process soon. It’s another exciting project happening at Collingwood College to give our students the best opportunity and environment to achieve their best.
I would like to acknowledge the work of principal class, namely Angela and Sam, school staff – Emily and Sarah, school council, local members of parliament in supporting the school to achieve this funding commitment. Exciting times ahead!
Roof project
We are getting closer to the new roof in our main building. The works for this project will begin in the Term 2 school holidays. We can expect scaffolding to be put up around the main building to allow this project to occur. As each section of the complete, the scaffold will come down. We can expect the scaffolding to be in place throughout Term 3.
There is a short window during the Term 3 period where the carpark will also be unavailable. We will advise of these dates soon.
School Council – final parent members
It was wonderful to have so much interest in joining the school council. We welcome our final two elected members – Madelaine Hart and Haboon Elmi.
The will join the rest of the school council for 2025:
Parent members – Hannah Marshall, Geoff Rundell, Yvette Lanfranca, Darcie Kane-Priestly
Department of Education members: Sormeh Afkari, Rachel Wood, Melanie Singleton, Christine Park, Chris Millard
Student members: Owen Casey and Saturn Woodfield
After hours school care – Theircare
I encourage you to check out our new after school hours care program provider – Their care.
Theircare have recently appointed a dedicated coordinator to Collingwood – Catie Pickin. We welcome Catie and look forward to her working with our students.
Many thanks for the continued support from all families to our school.
Kind regards,
Chris Millard
Acting Principal