Principal's Report

Report from Westall Secondary College Principal

Dear Westall SC Community,

I hope you are all well and enjoying the last glimpse of warm sunshine as we head into the colder Winter months. 

I am pleased to share the school is running smoothly. Students are happy, engaged, learning and growing. We are all enjoying a calm, positive and orderly environment. Our grounds and facilities are looking immaculate with the latest improvement, ramp replacement works over the next 2 months. All our staffing positions have been filled, and we have added several excellent new education support staff and teachers. We have all classes covered with trained ongoing teachers and we have also been able to add staff to provide extra tutoring to students via literacy numeracy and EAL support. We recently undertook an Education Department enrolment audit, and I am pleased to confirm our biggest enrolment number in my time here. 703 students including 123 International students and 54 Language Centre students.

In more good news I would like to welcome 5 new parent reps to School Council. Welcome to Annastasia Tafaese, Dian Fikriani, Laxmi Akula, Millie Xiong and Reneta Kristiani. Huge thanks to our “big boss” Johnny Balalovski, who continues as our School Council President after many years in the role. Thank you, Johnny.

The student free day this term is Wednesday 28 May. Teachers will be working this day on Curriculum development and documentation aligned with our Instructional Model. Teachers have also just completed a PLC (Professional Learning Community) cycle of coaching and development. This cycle has been with an EDI focus, and I am pleased to share our teachers are implementing this model with fidelity and professionalism. This model is now adopted by the Education Department and being pushed and expected in all Victorian Government Schools. The good news at Westall is that we have been implementing EDI (Explicit Direct Instruction ) and our Westall Way for 8 plus years now.

Something that is new to us and all schools is the impact of Artificial Intelligence on Education and Schools. This is new and ongoing work, and we recognize that a bit like when the internet and mobile phones first started, there was fear and apprehension amongst some. I think it’s the same with AI, but what is clear is that we must keep evolving. We should use AI to our advantage but also educate ourselves and our students on appropriate use and the need to be skilled and authentic. Plagiarism has always been a no-no well before AI and what we all need to know and teach our children is that AI is a tool to help us, yes. However, simply submitting work as our own using AI, is plagiarism. Our staff will keep becoming more skilled in the use and misuse of AI and we will keep supporting our students with this learning.

I would like to share that I will be on long service leave June 12-20 (7 school days). Alice Paget will be the Acting Principal during this period. Thank you, Alice.

Returning to school council and facilities, our new parents have joined at an exciting time. We have some funds available to commit to School infrastructure projects. Our school council will be discussing possible projects over the next 2 meetings with a view to making decisions and committing funds by the end of Term 2. Possible projects include student toilets, sensory gardens, construction workshop, seating areas, passive recreation areas and sports oval improvements. Other ideas welcomed.

Until Next time,

Mr Tristan Lanarus

Principal