Senior School Update

Assistant Principal's Update

Laura Higgins

Senior School Update 

As Term 1 wraps up, it’s worth pausing (briefly… because it’s been busy!) to take in the energy and momentum across our Senior School. It’s been a term full of purpose, growth, and plenty of ‘we’ve got this!’ moments as students have stepped into the year and set themselves up for success - both now and into the future. 

This term has been packed with experiences: 

• Camps and excursions, including OED Camp 

• Sporting events, with Swimming and Athletics Carnivals bringing the energy  

• Arts experiences, including Top Arts and NGV excursions 

• Senior School Assemblies, where we’ve celebrated success, reinforced expectations, and come together as a community 

A special mention must go to the introduction of the Golden Lock - quickly becoming one of the most coveted (and talked about!) recognitions in the Senior School. Awarded for excellence in attendance habits, effort, and consistency, it’s been fantastic to see students proudly earning - and defending - their primo locker bragging rights. Well done, JV!  

Across the term, we’ve held a strong line on high expectations, engagement, and recognition. Our Awards and Recognition Assemblies have celebrated students who are showing up, putting in the work, and making the most of every opportunity. It’s been particularly pleasing to see so many students accessing support, extension, and feedback to keep improving. 

All of this has taken place alongside key academic milestones, including SACs and ongoing assessment, with students showing resilience, maturity, and focus. 

Looking Ahead – Term 2 

If Term 1 was the warm-up, Term 2 is where we really hit our stride. The calendar is packed (brace yourselves… in a good way), with a strong focus on pathways, real-world experiences, and keeping that momentum rolling. 

Key highlights for Term 2 include: 

• Senior Camp – always a standout experience, building connection, independence, and a few lifelong memories (and probably a few inside jokes too) 

• Year 10 Work Experience (WEX) – a huge milestone for our Year 10s as they step out into the “real world” and test-drive potential career pathways 

• A wide range of university immersion experiences, including opportunities with Deakin, ACU, and the University of Melbourne 

• Creative Directions Day and other tertiary exposure programs, helping students explore passions and possibilities 

• ABCN “Find Your Purpose” sessions for Year 10 students 

• FMPLLEN Careers & Pathways Expo and VET Showcase, connecting students directly with industry and training providers 

• Trade & Tech Fit Expo and other hands-on industry experiences 

• Agribusiness talks and additional pathway-focused presentations 

We’ll also see some key whole-school and senior milestones: 

• GAT Day for our senior students 

• TRAG presentation for Year 12s 

• Continued assemblies and VM sessions, including the VM Youth Survey 

And because balance matters, there are also some fantastic enrichment opportunities, including: 

• VCE Art excursions 

• Werribee Zoo excursion for Year 10 

• A range of incursions, excursions, and guest speakers across the term 

Celebrations

Year 10  

Our Year 10 female students recently had the valuable opportunity to participate in the two-day ABCN Focus: Women in Leadership program, hosted at KPMG. Throughout the program, students engaged in interactive workshops, group challenges, and mentoring sessions aimed at building confidence, strengthening leadership skills, and exploring future pathways. The level of engagement from our students was outstanding, with the girls demonstrating enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to step outside their comfort zones. They collaborated thoughtfully, contributed meaningfully to discussions, and embraced every opportunity to learn and grow. 

Feedback from both students and mentors was overwhelmingly positive. Students described the experience as inspiring and empowering, noting a greater sense of confidence in their ability to lead and make an impact. Mentors commended the cohort for their maturity, openness, and active participation. We are incredibly proud of how our students represented themselves and our school, and we look forward to seeing these young women continue to grow in confidence, act as their true selves, and embody what it means to be a leader in their school and wider community. 

Year 12 

Our Year 12 students have made a really strong start and are settling into the demands of their final year with focus and determination. A reminder that holiday homework will be issued - this is an important opportunity to stay on track and consolidate learning ahead of a busy term. 

We also enjoyed a fantastic Easter Celebration together, with plenty of laughs and a great sense of community (and a few rounds of Hop Little Bunny Hop Hop Hop!) 

Don’t forget, free tutoring is available in the Senior Commons after school for both English and Maths - there’s no downside to a little extra help, and it can make all the difference! 

Applied Learning 

Students have also gained valuable real-world skills through White Card training and financial literacy sessions – because with everything getting so expensive – it seems that knowing how to budget is just as important as knowing what you want to be when you grow up! 

Careers and Pathways 

One of the biggest highlights has been our extensive 1:1 Careers Counselling program across Years 10, 11 and 12. Every student has had the chance to sit down, map out their pathway, and ask the big questions (and sometimes the very specific ones!). Backed by presentations on university pathways, prerequisites, and industry insights, students are building clarity and confidence about what comes next - which is exactly what we want to see. 

Our Careers Program continues to go from strength to strength, with opportunities including: 

• The WPSC Careers Expo - bigger and better each year, and always buzzing with possibility 

• ABCN Focus sessions and mentoring, including our partnership with KPMG 

• Access Monash Uniopoly and in-school mentoring launches 

• Industry immersion experiences and excursions, including Agriculture and Horticulture 

SWBPS 

At Western Port Secondary College, our SWPBS focus continues to center on setting every student up for success, and one of the most important tools we have is our Ready to Learn Plans. Think of these plans as a “reset button with purpose” rather than an escape hatch. They are designed to help students regulate, refocus and return to learning quickly, not to avoid it. 

How Ready to Learn Plans Work 

When a student feels overwhelmed, distracted or off-track, they are encouraged to: 

• Start internally: use in-class strategies (breathing, short pause, refocusing prompts, teacher check-in)  

• Then move externally if needed: access a Ready to Learn space with a clear plan to reset and return  

This builds independence, resilience and self-regulation, skills that matter far beyond the classroom. 

What We’re Seeing (and Fixing) 

Recently, we’ve noticed some students using toilet breaks during learning time (and particularly during practice phone expectations) instead of engaging with their Ready to Learn Plan. 

Let’s be clear: The toilets are not a replacement for a Ready to Learn reset. 

When students choose avoidance over strategy, they miss the opportunity to build the very skills we are trying to develop. Our focus moving forward is to support students to: 

• Use internal strategies first  

• Access external Ready to Learn supports appropriately  

• Return to class ready to engage  

We are explicitly teaching and reinforcing this across all year levels. 

Uniform Reminder: Pride in Presentation 

Alongside our learning behaviours, we are also reinforcing high expectations around uniform. Students are expected to always wear a Western Port Secondary College polo or collared shirt underneath their school jumper or jacket. Wearing only a jumper does not meet uniform requirements. Further to this, the ‘Pelican’ logo WPSC jumper is now discontinued – please wear the up-to-date version. 

This expectation, endorsed by School Council, supports: 

• A sense of pride and belonging  

• Consistency across our school community  

• Student comfort and hygiene  

If accessing uniform is a challenge, support is always available. Students can speak with their Year Level Team or visit the Reset Centre to borrow items or access vouchers 

Looking for a simple way to start career chats at home? Our Career Conversation Dinner Menus are an easy, relaxed tool for families to use anytime. With fun, bite‑sized questions for both students and adults, they help spark conversations about interests, strengths, hopes for the future and real‑world work experiences.  

You don’t need all the answers, just a willingness to talk, listen and share. Some of the most powerful career learning happens through everyday conversations. 

Term 2 is all about getting out there, trying things, and making connections - whether that’s in a workplace, on a university campus, or through industry experiences. 

It’s a big term, but it’s an exciting one. We’re looking forward to seeing our students continue to step up, take opportunities, and make the most of everything on offer. 

As we head into the break, I want to sincerely thank our students, staff, and families for the role you’ve played in such a successful start to the year. Term 1 has laid a strong foundation, and we’re excited to keep building in Term 2. Wishing everyone a safe, restful, and chocolate-filled Easter break. Take the time to recharge - you’ve earned it!