From the Leadership Team

Curriculum Day – Care and Respect

During our recent Curriculum Day, teachers worked in table groups alongside experienced mentor teachers to unpack student data, discuss key findings and reflect on effective classroom practice.

One highlight was having GEC students work alongside teachers to analyse the Student Attitudes to School Survey data. A key focus that emerged was the importance of teachers actively circulating around the classroom, scanning the learning environment, and interacting with students to support engagement and learning.

Thank you to Madame Loveena, Melanie Mattsson, and the School Wide Positive Behaviour Working Party for creating such a dynamic and meaningful day of professional learning.

Care and Respect for Our Environment

Thank you to all students and staff who demonstrate care and respect for our environment by placing rubbish in bins and recyclable items in recycling bins. To make this even easier, one of our recycling bins will be relocated closer to the soccer field. Our Sustainability Leaders are also encouraging students to bring nude food (lunches without excess packaging) to help reduce waste and keep our school clean and sustainable.

Parent/Carer, Student and Principal Working Bee

Sunday 15 March | 2:00pm – 4:00pm - Meet at the General Office

Families and students are warmly invited to join our Working Bee. If you have them, please bring gardening gloves and any gardening equipment (such as a rake). Our focus will be tidying and improving our garden spaces, led by Paul McNeill. Many hands make light work - thank you in advance for your support.

Bikes and Scooters

Please continue to ensure bikes are securely locked. The Principal Team and Sub-School teams have been greeting students at the beginning and end of the day to remind students to lock their bikes and walk bikes/scooters safely into school grounds. We are currently investigating additional ways to support safe storage. If you have ideas, please speak to a member of SRC.

Self-Defence Workshops

Self-defence workshops will run weekly on Friday lunchtimes 1.30pm to 2pm. These sessions aim to empower students with basic strategies and techniques to support personal safety and confidence. 24 students have signed up on the club expo day. No food in the Gym.

Location: Multi-Purpose Room (Old Gym C)

Inclusion, Wellbeing and Learning Support

If you notice your child experiencing wellbeing or learning difficulties at school, please contact the relevant Year Level Coordinator (YLC) as a first point of contact. Often, a quick conversation with the YLC can help identify concerns early and put supports in place promptly.

If you have specialist reports (for example, from a psychiatrist or paediatrician) or allied health documentation that includes recommendations — such as ADHD, ASD or other diagnoses — please email these to the school.

Sean Hogarth, Assistant Principal and his team, will review the documentation and determine next steps. This may include creating a Targeted Support Plan or organising a Student Support Group (SSG) meeting with the family to discuss how we can provide an Individual Education Plan. The team will consider how recommendations can be adapted to suit the learning environment at Glen Eira College, whether information should be added to the student’s profile, and how often supports should be reviewed.

Support options available may include:

Homework Club
Literacy and Numeracy in-class tutoring
Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP)

Interschool Sport update

On Interschool Sports days, classes at school continue as normal. All students are encouraged to sign up for a team, but students who are not part of a team are expected to attend school.

Each term there will be a range of interschool opportunities for students of all year levels to participate in. Students should ensure they are in the GEC Sports Google Classroom to receive updates - the code is 3fw4i6s and or speak to Mr Bengue the Sports Coordinator.

VCE & VCE Vocational Major Information Night

Our VCE and VCE Vocational Major Information Night was held on 19 February 2026. Thank you to our Senior School Team, led by Jeff Micallef and Mark Oudshoorn, for their organisation and support. Families asked thoughtful questions and received clear, specific advice. Feedback welcomed please email Mark.Oudshoorn@education.vic.gov.au

Here are some useful links:

VCE

VCE Vocational Major

For careers and pathways advice please contact Chris Kotsonis Chris.Kotsonis@education.vic.gov.au or pop into the library to visit Chris.

Year 7 Meet and Greet Night

Monday 16th March 5.30pm to 6.30pm

This evening will provide a wonderful opportunity for parents, carers and students to connect with one another and meet the Junior School and Wellbeing teams. Please meet at the Welcome Mural. Invitations will be emailed shortly.

Parents and carers will also have the opportunity to meet teachers during Student

Conferences, to be held on: Tuesday 31 March | 12:00pm – 7:30pm

Child Safe Staff Briefing

All staff are regularly briefed on the Child Safe Standards, with formal updates provided twice each year at staff meetings. In addition, all staff complete annual mandatory reporting training to ensure they are well equipped to support and protect every student in our care.

Child safety is something we take very seriously at Glen Eira College. If you ever notice behaviour that concerns you, or if your child shares something that makes you feel uneasy, please don’t hesitate to contact me or a member of the Principal Team. We value working in partnership with families to ensure every student feels safe, supported and respected.

Professional Learning Communities – Teacher Professional Learning

As part of our Professional Learning Communities, teachers are continuing to focus on high-impact teaching strategies including Do Now’s, the use of mini whiteboards, and regular checking for understanding to support student learning.

Students have been provided with a mini whiteboard in their planners, and whiteboard pens and erasers were included on the booklist. Students are asked to bring these items to each class so they can actively participate in learning activities.

For families needing to purchase additional supplies, affordable options are available at stores such as Kmart and Daiso.

Emergency Management Drills

At GEC, we conduct one emergency management drill each term to ensure all students and staff are prepared and know what to do in the event of a real emergency.

This term, we will be completing an emergency evacuation drill. During the drill, all students and staff will evacuate to Glen Huntly Park. Students will leave laptops and learning materials in their classrooms and move safely to the evacuation point, where they will line up in their homegroups (e.g. 7A, 10B, 12A). Attendance will be marked and cross-checked before students return to class.

It is important that these drills are taken seriously so that everyone is prepared and able to respond calmly and safely if an actual emergency occurs.

In the event of a real emergency, parents and carers of affected students will be contacted as soon as possible. Communication to the broader school community will be provided once information and messaging has been approved by the Department of Education.

Warm regards,

Jane Thornton on behalf of the Leadership Team