Principal's Report
Principal's Report
I would like to begin by warmly thanking all students, staff and families for welcoming me in the first few weeks in the role of Principal. I am really enjoying getting to know everyone, much more deeply, than in my previous role at Wurun Senior Campus. I’ve noticed how supportive the whole Collingwood community is, and the vibrancy of activity throughout the school day. There is much fun and enjoyment happening as the students engage in their classes and with their teachers. I enjoying working with the team of leaders and the fantastic administration team. It shapes to be a fantastic 2025 and I’m looking forward to playing my part in this whilst Angela is on maternity leave.
Chris Astley
The passing of Chris Astley was a shock for the Collingwood College community and particularly for our Collingwood Alternative School (CAS).
Chris was a longstanding and central member of the Collingwood College community. Chris first started at Collingwood College in 1985 and was the Campus leader at Collingwood Alternative School for decades.
He cultivated the existing CAS program and was a strong advocate for students and families during his tenure.
Collingwood Alternative School has remained a safe place for so many young people as a direct result of Chris’s work. Chris was a reservoir of kindness and patience and embodied his values of inclusion and understanding every day at Collingwood Alternative School.
He has made an enormous difference to countless student’s lives and leaves us with an outstanding long-lasting legacy that will continue to inspire us all.
I would like to pay my respect to Chris and acknowledge his enormous contribution to school council over many decades.
Thanks to Melanie Singleton for her work as the Campus Principal of CAS during this time and for contributing these pictures of Chris, doing what he loved – teaching music and art.
Term 4 Staffing update
Scott Duncan is set to return to the Assistant Principal (Primary) position on November 11th. Welcome back Scott!
I’d like to thank Bianca Maxwell, Elly Louchart and Hannah Sykes for stepping into the Assistant Principal, Leading teacher and EAL support role during this time.
We are further down the track of workforce planning. At the end of November and we will be able to share class teachers and any other key leadership roles for 2025 via Compass news and our newsletter.
Roof upgrade
The building works for the roof are imminent. This will be divided up into sections, to minimise disruption and allow the school to continue to function. During Term 4, some ceiling improvements (replacement of tiles, clearing of gutters in the administration building) will start to take place. Sanding and re-painting of the Drama floor in the Music building will begin. Painting of water damaged surfaces will occur across the school during the January school holidays.
The roof of the Main Building is set to be replaced during Term 1. This will involve decanting the top floor of classrooms in the main building for the duration of this time. We are making preliminary plans about how we can plan for Science classes. This will involve significant planning, and we will keep the community informed, particularly our secondary students on the room changes for Term 1.
Theatre refurbishment
We have completed the design development phase. The design is set to be endorsed by School Council to move to the next phase of Tender documentation. The VSBA and consultants are looking to finalise Tender documentation by December 13th this year. With all things going to plan, a start date of mid next year is forecast for this building works.
Thanks to Sarah Adams and Emily Jones who have continued to play important roles in the design development phase led by Angela Watters.
It will be an amazing refurbishment that will allow further community use. Exciting news and further updates down the track.
Year 12 Graduation
Friday 22nd October marked the graduation ceremony for our Year 12s. For many this was an emotional occasion for students and families, marking the end of their compulsory schooling. For some, they will continue to strive to complete their exams in this next 3-week period and for others completion of final projects will see them achieve their Year 12 VCE or VPC certificate.
From the Collingwood College perspective, many received awards for excellence and outstanding effort in many subjects. Listed below were the award winners.
Arts
1. Abi Quin for excellence in Art Creative Practice
2. Juliet Jobson for excellence in Art Making and Exhibiting
3. Helki Sprod for excellence in Visual Communication & Design
4. Summer Rae for excellence in Media
5. Alkira Aares for excellence in Music
6. Zahra Ford-Kleyn for excellence in Theatre Studies
English & Languages
1. Keegan McAteer for excellence in General English.
2. Alex Edwards for excellent attitude and work output in English Language.
3. Lola Kavanagh - consistent work and exceeding expectations in VCE VM Literacy
4. Lucien Kelly for excellence in Literature.
5. Leo Huang for excellence in English as an Additional Language.
6. Alex Edwards for excellence in Chinese 2nd Language.
Humanities
1. Remi Carr for excellence in Sociology
2. Sha’Quilla Williams for excellence in Business Management
3. Alex Edwards for excellence in Economics
4. Hannah Morgan for excellence in Philosophy
5. Sha’Quilla Williams for excellence in Extended Investigation
6. Estella Richardson for excellence in Legal Studies
7. Tadgh Bryant for excellence in History Revolutions.
8. Harlo de Winnaar for excellence in Classical Studies
Mathematics
1. Ocea Goeby for excellence in General Mathematics
2. Kaya Jackson - outstanding initiative and consistent focus in VCE VM Numeracy
3. Zachary Sugarevski-O’Neill for excellence in Maths Methods
4. Leo Huang for excellence in Specialist Mathematics.
Science
1. Leo Huang for excellence in Chemistry.
2. Ocea Goeby for excellence in Biology.
3. Zachary Sugarevski-O’Neill for excellence in Physics
4. Mia Kotsopoulos for excellence in Psychology
5. Summer Rae for excellence in Health and Human Development
6. Ocea Goeby for excellence in Environmental Science
7. Jetta Guiney-Shepherd for excellence in Outdoor Education
8. Marco Thomas-Rezo for excellence in Physical Education
9. Makari Saar for excellence in Food Studies
The Long Tan Award and The Future Innovators Award
The Long Tan Award recognises students who demonstrate leadership and teamwork within both the school and the broader community.
This award goes to the following two students: Myeesha Mohammad & Rosie Maslin
The Future Innovator award recognises students exceptional abilities in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. science and mathematics. The students
receiving this award have demonstrated a passion for innovative learning in these subject areas.
This award goes to the following two students: Tadhg Bryant & Jeslyn Loeu
Learner Competency (New Metrics) Award
This series of awards recognises students who displayed the capabilities and elements of lifelong learners. Those with a committed approach to their studies, those who were able seek and use feedback effectively and those who were sought to achieve their best across many subject areas were considered for this award. The following students were our inaugural recipients of this new award category:
Mathematics - Amber Seymour-Jones
Science – Jeslyn Loeu
PE/Health – Marco Thomas-Rezo
Visual Art- Lance Martin
Humanities- Harlo de Winnaar
Design - Finn McMahon
Performance – Laszlo Boetker-Smith
Englishes – Kat Dawson
We are very proud of all our Year 12 graduates and look forward to bringing you more news in future newsletter editions about their destinations and pathways.
Kind regards,
Chris Millard
Acting Principal
Dear Parents/Carers,
This is gentle reminder regarding our voluntary Family Financial Contributions request for 2024.
Whilst Government funding is provided to every public school to fulfil the standard Victorian curriculum, it is contributions made by parents/carers that help ensure that our can continue to offer the best possible additional opportunities, facilities, and resources to develop to foster student learning and a passion for education.
With your continued financial support, we will be able to achieve this by contributing to the cost of consumables and resources that our students require throughout the 2024 school year. Any financial contributions you make will also assist in the development and maintenance of our school programs, our library and our buildings and grounds.
You can make contributions to the school at any time via Compass course confirmation, located in the top right corner of the Compass Parent Portal. You can also contribute over the phone, or in person at the school office.
If you need any assistance with this, please do not hesitate to contact us at the office by phone 9417 6681 or via email Collingwood.co@education.vic.gov.au
If you have any queries, would like to set up a payment plan or need support for any payments, please contact our Assistant Business Manager Kristina Smith.
Chris Millard
Acting Principal