PRINCIPALS REPORT  

We have had a great start to the 2024 school year, with lots happening inside and outside of the classroom. Students have come back with a ‘can do’ attitude and meeting the high expectations we as a community expect and value.

I must start by saying HOW EXCITING it was to receive a phone call from the Federal Government early this week stating that the college’s $1.5 million find was being increased to $7 million!! This may be great timing politically with an election looming, but we would not have had the focus if it were not for community advocates, 2023 college captains and our wonderful college community. At this stage the money will go towards renovating our Science area of the college, with an aim to be more STEM orientated.

In the next school break we will also be having our Junior school and senior School bathrooms renovated. We have been working closely with Department architects to restore our 1974 bathrooms into sleek, clean, and modern bathrooms. Fingers crossed; in the future we receive funding to complete all bathrooms across the college.

Asbestos removal and restoration of eaves around the college continue, with a plan to have them completed soon after the next school break. We thank our community for their patience and the students for being safe and principled.

A goal I have had for teaching staff this term has been to work on consistency of the beginning of all classes. Our students through their opinion survey last year said that they find it challenging to have different expectations from teachers and that some staff enforce expectations more than others. Our Leadership team are observing all teachers this term in how.

· Students are orderly and calmly waiting for the teacher outside the classroom.

· The teacher greets students using REAL SCHOOL practices and language.

· Students being READY TO LEARN and that teachers are following process if students are not.

· Are Learning Intentions clear

· Acknowledgement to Country is delivered period 1 Mondays

Unfortunately, with some technical challenges, our READY TO LEARN process has been impinged, but we are back on track and in full force to support our students to be at school on time, ready to represent our school and be proud of it, and most importantly READY TO LEARN while being HAPPY, SMART and PREPARED. I want to thank all the families that continue to support this from the home front and working with our SUB SCHOOL teams if extra support is required.

I would like to welcome Ben Davey to the college. Ben is our new Youth worker. Ben will be developing and delivering intervention programs that meet the needs of our students based on data around engagement, social and emotional wellbeing and inclusion. Ben has said he has “had a great first week, feels very welcomed and can’t wait to get started!”

Student Led Conferences are on the 5th and 6th of March. We have listened to our community and are attempting a hybrid model. Most of our families report to like the virtual interviews better, as it is quiet, focused and allows flexibility of where the interviews can be held from. We have some parents who would prefer the physical meeting with a staff member, wanting to meet face to face. Tuesday afternoon will have 3 hours of face-to-face interviews on site, with students and parents meeting from home/work via WEBEX on the Wednesday. Feedback is continuous from the college. Students receive Progress Reports each 5 weeks and Common Assessment Tasks (CATS) and School Assessed Coursework (SACs) are available for students and families to see on COMPASS. Students receive feedback verbally in class, written on work and via rubrics. We encourage students to take work home with written feedback or discuss any conferencing that has happened in class with you as parents/carers.

A reminder that families can contact the classroom teacher at any point in the year. Please do not wait for student Led Conferences to have a chat over the phone or in person regarding feedback, queries or gratitude.

A big thankyou to our staff for a fantastic start to this jam-packed term of events, teaching and learning – an exciting 2024 awaits!