The Wyndham Way
Banner Photo

From the Principal's Desk

It has been wonderful to see so many families attend the many celebrations over this term. The Arts and Technology Awards afternoon and our Art and Tech showcase, our enrichment program presentations, our inaugural Top ACTS and our music nights. The College continues to provide a platform for our students to shine and impress with their various abilities and talents, building on their creative and critical thinking, collaboration, teamwork and presentation skills. It has been a privilege to celebrate each student as an individual but also the many team successes.

 

This term we have also celebrated the success of our maths students - a list is provided in this newsletter, and we are proud of each of our sporting teams achievements. Congratulations to each of these teams of students. 

 

As we move into December we will once again take the time to recognise our students’ academic and co-curricular success at Annual Awards afternoon. The school is finalising our award recipients and we will be sending individual invites our students and their families to this annual event. Our students continue to thrive in 2025, and it is important we take the time to recognise and applaud their efforts and academic commitment. Please encourage our children to finish the year on a high note and look out for their invitation!

 

We farewell our Year 12 Cohort

During this term we were able to share some time with the Year 12 cohort at our whole school graduation assembly, year 12 breakfast, celebration day activities and of course our annual year 12 Valedictory dinner. The year 12 students have finished their formal classes, most have finished their final VCE examinations, and more significantly the end of their six years of secondary schooling.  Whilst it is always sad to have to say goodbye to the students who have been a part or our school community – academically, artistically, through their sporting achievements, their leadership and mentoring of younger students, and their daily contributions over the past 6 years – we are always left feeling enthusiastic and optimistic about their futures. I know that during their time with us that each student has gained the skills required for lifelong success and we wish them the very best as they move past our gates and join our Alumni. 

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school captains, Tala Clarete, Alice Di and vice-captains Nicole Sarmiento and Liam Powers for their leadership and representation of the student body.  They have led by example, shown outstanding commitment to their roles, and have enhanced our school spirit. They have been exceptional role models and we could not have asked for more qualified young people to successfully undertake the roles and responsibilities of a School Captain. On behalf of the school council, the principal executive team, and our year 12 students I would like to also thank the following leaders, teachers and support personnel. Firstly, our Year 12 level leader Mr Harpreet Singh, our coordinator Ms Claudia Esquivel, the Senior Years Manager Mr Edward Hatzis, Pathways leader Ms Pina Siragusano, our Year 12 tutor teachers, and education support staff, in particular Ms Kerri DiDomenico and our senior years Assistant Principal Mr Bryan Woollard. Their outstanding educational leadership, dedication, hard work and copious amounts of time and effort in providing the year 12 students with the guidance and incentive necessary to successfully complete their final year of secondary education has been excellent. 

 

To the year 12 cohort parents and carers - It has been a pleasure to work with you in partnership over the last 6 years. For those of you finishing your secondary education journey with the Wyndham Central College school community, we thank you.  

 

On behalf of the College community, I wish the year 12 cohort good health and academic success in their VCE examinations, completion of VET modules and Vocational Major course requirements. We are a very proud college who are confident that the graduating year 12 students have obtained the skills and capacity to make a positive difference in their own lives, our local community and to society. I personally thank each of them for their contributions to our WCC community and we hope that in the future they take the time to share their next journey with us. 

 

Preparing for 2026

As we are at mid-term and the end of the 2025 school curriculum programs, most of our year levels are now preparing for their final assessments and our examination period. Our staff and school are preparing for our compulsory STEP-Up classes where students will begin their 2026 studies. A reminder that all students are expected to attend STEP-Up and that the content taught will not be retaught in 2026. I ask all parents to help their child(ren) not to fall behind and ensure that they are attending all of their 2026 timetabled classes.  You will find that each of our Assistant Principals and Year Level leader reports within this newsletter, and through our continued correspondence via Compass, parent bulletins, formal notifications and letters, we will continue to share the information and processes and outline the important events and dates for all students for the remainder of the term.  It is extremely important for parents and carers to attend our re-enrolment and 2026 goal setting interviews with your child and their 2026 tutor teacher. Your tutor teacher is the main advocate for your child and spends a minimum of 3 hours a week and each school morning with you child. Therefore, it is important that as a school we provide this opportunity for staff, parents and carers and students to build a partnership ensuring our students achieve the best outcomes by catering to each of our students’ needs and aspirations.  

 

We continue to ask that parents and carers continue to support the College processes by ensuring you attend these important interviews but also by helping your children each day to get to school on time, in uniform, with their school supplies so that they are ‘ready to learn’. Please note our administration support, community hub coordinators and student services teams are always available to all families if any assistance is required.  These supports help our students reach the ‘high expectations’ we set for our community and to ensure that they are fully prepared to start the 2026 school year.

 

Gallery Image

VALE Sandra Pine

It was with deep sadness that I informed our school community of the sudden death of our long-serving staff member Sandy Pine. It was a great shock for our school community, and it has been a difficult time for our staff and students over the past couple of weeks. 

Sandy was an integral member of our student services team for more than 24 years where she has supported generations of young people who have come through the school as well as being an important member of the Werribee community. In every role she held, Sandy brought compassion, dedication, and a deep commitment to supporting students, families, and staff.

 

Her warmth and generosity created a spirit of kindness that touched everyone she met. Sandy had an incredible ability to make others feel seen, supported, and valued, and her presence made our school a better place in every way. We are deeply grateful for the many years we had with her and the love that she had for the school and the people within it. She will be remembered always with love and respect. 

 

As a school we continue to focus on the wellbeing of our staff and students and providing support. 

Our school wellbeing team have been available and are in communication with families and we have offered additional School Support Services counsellors who continue to be available to our students. 

 

The experience of bereavement and the grief process is an individual experience, and we are aware that members of our community will react differently. Therefore, we provided the following details for families but if you feel your child needs more assistance than you or we can provide, please don’t hesitate to seek further help and a referral from a health professional such as your GP.   

 

 Additional support is available through:     

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au      

 

 If you have any questions, particularly about the supports available, don’t hesitate to let us know. 

 

Funeral Arrangements. The family have been very thoughtful and know the impact that Sandy’s funeral would have on our school operations. Therefore, the family have arranged for Sandy’s funeral to be held on Saturday the 15th of November. The funeral will be live streamed, and details are available via our Alumni page. If your child would like to attend or watch the funeral, we ask that a parent or carer accompany them.  Sandy’s family have graciously asked for donations to Headspace Werribee in lieu of flowers in honour of Sandy’s wellbeing work and of their support of our college community during this time of need. 

We offer our condolences to Sandy’s family and in particular her daughter Jessica, a teacher at the school, and her three other children who are also WCC Alumni. 

 

I look forward to seeing you all over the next few weeks at various school functions and events as we continue to work together to end the 2025 school year on a high and set up for a successful 2026 school year.

 

 

Leanne Gagatsis - Principal

 

Creating a Community of High Expectations 

Respect, Cooperation and Excellence