Pakenham Secondary College News

Principal's Message

We Grow Through Connection

 

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

 

It has been another great term at Pakenham Secondary College!  We have achieved so much with our Teaching and Learning and Co-Curricular Programs throughout Term Two.  We recognise our students for making the most of the opportunities made available to them this term.

 

Please be reminded that Semester One Reports will be made available to families via Compass today, Friday 28 June.  We are moving more and more to a Reporting format that demonstrates student learning growth from one term to the next. We have been pleased with how the new Reporting format has been received and we look forward to further positive feedback throughout the year.   I encourage families to read through the Semester One Report to review learning goals for the remainder of the year.

 

Given that we are now at the mid point of the year, it is timely that I remind families of our improvement agenda (as per 2024 Annual Implementation Plan) for 2024.  We are committed towards improving: 

 

- Student Attendance 

- Student Learning Growth in Numeracy and Literacy (particularly in Reading) 

 

In Semester One, we had a focus on further developing and maintaining an Orderly Learning Environment.  An Orderly Learning Environment promotes calmer and more productive learning environments, and we appreciate the support of students and families in this approach.

 

In Term Three, we will continue to reference the importance of an Orderly Learning Environment whilst focusing on High Standards in everything we do.  We will continue to work with families to help students demonstrate High Standards as students of our great school.  Our School Wide Positive Behaviour Program Theme for Term Three will be Striving for Success which will further support our approach.

 

In terms of Staffing, we congratulate the following teachers on their recent Leadership Appointments commencing from the start of 2025:

 

Leading Teacher Positions :

Year 7 - 9 Sub School Leader - Susan Banfield

Year 7 - 9 Sub School Leader - Brad James

VCE and Year 10 Sub School Leader - Nevicia Reynolds

VCE and VM, VPC and Year 10 Sub School Leader - Jo-Anne Duggan

Performing Arts Leader - Genelle Lentini

 

Learning Specialist Positions :

Literacy with English Key Learning Area (KLA) Leader - Travis Bhandari

Numeracy with Mathematics Key Learning Area (KLA) Leader - Amanda Peterson

Data Leader - Viesha Kosciuk

Teaching and Learning and Curriculum Leader - Emma Robinson

 

These are incredibly important Leadership roles within the College and we again congratulate these teachers with their appointments; we wish them well.

 

We held another very successful Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition through the week (Tuesday 25 June) with students, families and staff in attendance to view the high quality student work on display.  We congratulate our students for their wonderful work as part of the Exhibition, and we thank Emily Schinzig (Visual Arts and Technology Key Learning Area Leader) and her team for all of their hard work in organising and staging such a first class event.

 

We continue to make improvements with our Buildings and Grounds.  For example, over the Mid Year School Holiday Break, further works are planned such as painting works, a refit of B Block Bathrooms, adding further classrooms in response to growing enrolments, further improvements to the entry into the General Office, extension to B Block Classroom walls and some further general works within the College Grounds. 

 

Our Capital Works Program is now starting to really gain further momentum with the College working with DET, the VSBA and Architects as part of some design work for the Program over recent weeks.  We have now signed off on the Project Stage Endorsement and Safety Documentation relating to the Program, and next term we will move into a further planning phase – exciting times for the College. 

 

Course Selection begins early next term, and we have many different elective and pathways choices for our students moving into 2025 (NB – our current Year 7 students will continue with a Core Plus Model next year).  To assist our existing Year 9 and 10 students to choose a learning program for next year that aligns with their interests and aspirations, we will be holding a Course Selection Evening on 17 July (5:30pm-7:00pm) at the College.  We will support our existing Year 8 students at the College later in Semester 2 with their Course Selection for 2025, and we will provide any support required to our existing Year 11 students with any changes they may like to see in their learning program for next year on a case-by-case basis. 

 

At the time of writing, our Year 7 Enrolments for 2025 were currently sitting at 254 – this represents an approximate 45% increase in Year 7 enrolments from 2023.  Whilst this enrolment number is subject to change over the coming weeks and months, we should be very pleased with the level of interest in our College from the Community – we are achieving outstanding outcomes for our students. 

 

We continue to provide opportunities in the four areas important to our College Community: 

  • Learning Growth across all Key Learning Areas 
  • Sport 
  • The Performing Arts 
  • Student Leadership and Our Community 
    • our students for making the most of the opportunities afforded to them by our great school, 

We continue to have high standards for our students.  We want to see our students do well with their learning and participation at PSC.  We remain committed to learning growth where quality relationships, catering for individual difference and high quality teaching practice can provide for improved student outcomes.   As per our Motto, ‘We Grow Though Connection’, we can all grow and improve through the positive connections we have with others. Importantly, Learning Growth is Our Priority and we will do all we can to work with families to further improve student outcomes across learning areas within the College – this is the work.

 

Given that Semester One has now come to an end, I would like to thank the following:

  • our hard working staff for all of their efforts over Semester and,
  • our families for their wonderful support of the College

I am hoping students, staff and families have a safe and enjoyable Mid Year School Holiday Break,

 

Regards, 

 

Aaron  

  

Aaron Smith 

College Principal – Pakenham Secondary College