Principal Update

Welcome to the first Newsletter of Term 2, as many of you will be aware I am Acting Principal for Term 2, Weeks 1 – 3, which has got off to a very positive start.

I would like to begin this publication by thanking all those who have supported the College’s work within the community around the ANZAC Day commemorations. These thanks are especially extended to the school captains, vice captains and other students who read so well at the Dawn Service on Mt Macedon, the Gisborne ANZAC Day Ceremony, and the College Assembly last week. I would also like to publicly acknowledge all the students and staff who provided logistical and audio set up for these events. Francis Donovan OAM, who attended our assembly and was ‘The Voice’ of the Dawn Service wrote and performed a powerful song called 'Online ANZACs', for which I have included the lyrics below with permission.

On Tuesday 29th April 2025 the College held its annual Prospective Parent Evening, which was both very well attended and received. Those present were given the opportunity to hear a presentation in the Barcham Theatre about what the College had to offer, undertake a tour of the school with both students and teaching staff and take part in student led activities in B-Block.

Within the College work continues on our Annual Implementation Plan (AIP), notably the introduction of student voice teams (SVTs) to promote student voice and seek feedback on the promotion of engagement and wellbeing, and teaching and learning. We have in 2025 already introduced mentor representatives on Student Representative Council (SRC) to increase student voice and leadership. Staff have also been involved in professional development in this space. The next steps of the work are to implement the Bully Stopper survey tool within the Junior School and build student consultation around the Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS).

As part of this newsletter ‘Policies in Focus’ section I have included our Statement of Values and School Philosophy policy, which outlines the values to our school community so that we can provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. The reason I am referring to this is because I would like to highlight agreed parent and community responsibilities around conduct and the use of social media, with regards to Gisborne Secondary College. 

“Unreasonable behaviour includes: 

• speaking or behaving in a rude, aggressive or threatening way, either in person, via email, social media, or over the telephone 

• the use of social media or public forums to make inappropriate or threatening remarks about the school, staff or students.”

We have avenues for raising concerns as outlined in our Complaints Policy.

It has been great to have Dominic Andreacchio and Liz O'Connell from Community Bank Gisborne & District onsite earlier today interviewing those students that applied for to the Magic Moments Youth Summit Scholarship.  I look forward to hearing the outcome of the consideration of their applications soon.

A reminder of some key dates, in Term 2 we have our whole school Athletics Carnival on Thursday 29th May 2025 and Year 10 Work Experience 30th June – 4th July 2025. All VCE and VCE-VM students undertaking Unit 3 & 4 subjects will sit the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Tuesday 17th June 2025, which is a pupil free day for all other students.

Finally, our school values the learning and development of our staff, and the positive impact this has on student outcomes and school improvement.  We are proud to share that two of our teaching staff, Stephanie Matters and Adriana Tavares-Green have begun their professional learning journey through the Teaching Excellence Program at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.

This program enables teachers to advance their capabilities and excellence in teaching.

Through the program, Stephanie and Adriana will grow their knowledge of teaching practice by participating in 10 in person days of professional learning and inquiring deeply into 2 areas of their practice, using the evidence-informed practice, generative AI, First Nations’ perspectives, student engagement tools and discipline-specific learning. They will also be inspired by national and international experts in the field of education through 2 dedicated conferences.

We look forward to continuing to work with Stephanie and Adriana to implement their knowledge and skills from the program that supports student outcomes and wellbeing at our school.  We are proud that we haveStephanie and Adriana representing our school and supporting the Academy in raising the status of this amazing profession!

Kind Regards,

Russell Wigginton

Acting Principal

Online ANZACs

(© F Donovan April 2025)

It took courage and risk to 

watch a mate’s back

At Gallipoli, Tobruk and Long Tan.

But we’d never neglect him 

when down and disabled 

stood with him when shit hit the fan..

(Refrain)

That’s the ANZAC way, my friend.

Yeah that’s the ANZAC way.

Don’t be a bystander online, my friend

Be an ANZAC upstander today.

Now its your turn today

Though  online is your fray

Where you’ll see people bullied and trolled.

So will you stay silent,

Leave the victim alone,

Or be an upstander who’s bold?

(Refrain)

Back in May 67, 

with our First Nations mate

we rocked up to a Sydney RSL

they said ‘the black can’t come in’

we said ‘if he’s out, we're all with him’.

We’ve been upstanders together in hell.

(Refrain)

When you’re logged in online

Let your ANZAC Spirit shine.

If someone’s being bullied in your sight. 

Don’t just sit there, call it out.

An upstander no doubt, with

Courage to do what is right.

(Refrain)