Principal's Report

This week has been another whirlwind, with the Public Holiday on Monday and then Report Writing Day on Tuesday. Being out of school makes me feel disconnected from my school and work. I have missed my Year 7 class, but at least I got to see them this week!

Last week, Mitch and I had the privilege of attending the Principal’s Conference in Melbourne. We were together for the first day and then I presented to a group of Principals to showcase the work of the Alpine-Towong Network, which I belong to and am part of the Executive committee. The theme of the conference was Excellence in Every Classroom, and this resonated with me very much. Mount Beauty Secondary College strives toward this goal and our targeted focus on the Instructional Model this year will help us continue our growth to maximise every class.

I also liked some comments made by one of the keynote speakers along the lines of: we all consume space on this planet, so we need to make sure we use our time well to make the most of it. From a workshop on anxiety I attended, I was reminded that “all behaviour is a message”, so we were prompted to think about what the student is trying to achieve by their behaviour – are they nervous or anxious?

Farewell

We officially say goodbye…

Belle Hungerford, our previous classroom music and instrumental music and band teacher, has been on maternity leave since 2024 and was prepared to return to work for Semester 2 this year. However, Belle contacted me recently to say that she is not ready to return to work, and as her contract was due to finish at the end of the year, has resigned from her position. We wish Belle all the best in her future endeavours and with being a mum to a nearly 1 year old.

Abramo Peghini, who stepped in to pick up the instrumental music and band position in Term 4 2024, has continued our long and proud tradition of music at Mount Beauty Secondary College and is planning to continue in this role.

Jack Turner is due to complete his 8 week placement with us as a Pre-Service Teacher next week. Jack, from Adelaide, has been an enthusiastic addition to our classes in the Health and PE Learning Areas and has introduced some fresh ideas into our school. We wish Jack a smooth transition from completing his study, to moving into work in a school and I am sure he will be snapped up quickly.