Patterson River Secondary College Newsletter

Principal's Report

Welcome to 2025

It has been a wonderful start to the year. Despite a record number of enrolments, we are delighted with the engagement of our students in their learning and extra curricula activities, which has helped make for a very calm and orderly learning environment. 

 

As we have done over the last 9 years, we welcomed our 250 new Year 7 students into their first whole school assembly to applause.  We set them the challenge of adopting our school values as their own and making sure that they commit to their secondary studies and graduate to applause at their final assembly in 2030. 

 

Speaking of graduating, we were proud to see our graduating class of 2024 secure places at a wide range of Universities over the summer break, gaining spots in over 78 different tertiary course different courses, with 82% receiving a first round offer. 

 

Extra Curricula Activities 

I am constantly proud of the lengths that our staff go to run extra curricula activities and open up spaces outside of class time for students to engage in areas of personal interest. 

 

To assist students and families to know what is available, this year, we will be updating what's on each month so that students can find things to get involved in. 

 

 

In addition to activities in the flyer, students also have access to the following each day:

  • Stadium at lunch times
  • SportsHub (sports equipment at lunch)
  • Library (various activities)
  • Senior Study Centre 
  • Year Level Centres 

School Review 

Our College recently undertook a four yearly review with the Department of Education. In addition to myself, the panel involved in the review included:

  • Reviewer 
  • Senior Advisor from the Department
  • Nicole Eveston (Council President)
  • Lisa Holt (Principal Rosebud Secondary)

  • Ross Bevege (Leadership Coach)

     

    The review took place over four days and engaged heavily with our  Assistant Principals, classroom observations, focus groups (students, staff and parents) along with Student Learning and Engagement data.

The main findings from the group included:

 

Strengths

  • Embedded, positive culture
  • Calm, orderly learning environment
  • Strong relationships
  • Community focus
  • Curriculum documentation

Areas for Improvement

  • Pedagogy aligned to Victorian Curriculum 2.0
  • Empowering students as learners
  • Increase challenge / ensuring high expectations for every student. 

The panel constructed goals, targets and key improvement strategies that the school will use to develop plans to deliver improved outcomes over the next four years. We will share full findings of the review along with our new strategic plan once approved for publication. 

Open Night 

We are hosting our Annual Open Night on Wednesday 26 March at 6pm. 

Our Open Night is a great opportunity for us to showcase our school prospective parents and future students. 

School Council 

I am pleased to announce that Nicole Eveston and Virginia Veal have been elected as parent representatives on our school council. Nicole is our incumbent school council president and Virginia is a new council member (and new parent to the school). 

 

On Monday 24 March (5.30pm) we will be holding our School Council's Annual General Meeting . This meeting is open to all parents and carers who would like to attend as an observer. In this meeting we will be presenting key information from 2024 and seeking input into areas such as student learning, student engagement, student wellbeing and finance. If you would like to attend then please email the school at patterson.river.sc@education.vic.gov.au 

Reducing Late Arrivals

Late last year, we conducted a review of our absence data and found that late arrivals to school is a big contributor to student part day absences.  

 

As a result, during this term we have had a focus on reducing late arrivals to class which ultimately impacts, individual classes, teachers and learning. This has included parents receiving an email if their child has had 3 late arrivals to class. 

 

Since we have had an increased focus in the area lateness to class, we have seen positive changes and a reduction in the numbers of late students across the college. 

Updated Parent Handbook

Our Parent Handbook has been updated to reflect staffing changes and a small number of changes to procedures for 2025. You can use this link to access the handbook and save as a favourite. https://www.prsc.vic.edu.au/assets/uploads/2025/02/PARENT-HANDBOOK-2025-1.pdf 

Traffic Management

With an increase in our student population over the last few years, there has been a noticeable increase in the traffic before and after school. 

If you are driving to school to drop off or collect students it would be appreciated if you could:

  • Use the roundabout or carpark to turn around, avoiding the use of neighbours driveways. 
  • Consider picking up students in Whatley Street (over the bridge) or Milroy Crescent (back of school). 
  • Encourage your child to walk or ride to school

Other Tips 

  • Park in bus lane if you are visiting between 9am - 2.30pm
  • Avoid parking in front of the gate for Driveway 2.

In pleasing news, the Frankston City Council has foreshadowed future funding for a bike path connection between our school and the bike path running between Frankston and Carrum Station. This would take a large number of bikes off Eel Race Rd and surrounding streets each day. 

 

eBikes 

We have seen a noticeable increase in the number of students riding eBikes and eScooters. While many eBikes and eScooters are legal, these forms of transportation for students present significant safety risks compared to conventional bikes and scooters.

 

 

 

 

When is it a legal eBike?

  • Provides power when pedalling up to 25km/h
  • Maximum of 200watts 
  • Can be used as conventional bike

When is it a motorbike and must be registered?

  • Output that exceeds 200watts
  • Can't be used by pedalling only 
  • Provides power beyond 25km/h

It is clear that many eBikes being used by commuters exceed the restrictions for legal eBikes and it is therefore important that parents are aware of the bikes being used by their children to ensure their safety and avoid breaking road rules. Further information can be found by visiting https://transport.vic.gov.au/road-rules-and-safety/bicycles/electric-bikes. 

 

eScooters 

eScooters have different rules to eBikes and it is important that parents are aware that riders must be 16 years or older. Other rules include:

 

Use of e-scooters is legalised in Victoria.

You can legally ride an e-scooter in Victoria if you:

  • ride on shared-use paths (not on footpaths), or
  • ride on roads that have a speed limit up to 60km/h
  • are at least 16 years old
  • wear a helmet
  • do not travel more than 20km/h
  • do not use your mobile phone
  • do not carry a passenger (dinking).

Further information can be found via this link.

 

Private Property & Accidents at School

The Department of Education requires parents/guardians to be reminded each year that:

  • they are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs; and
  • parents/guardians can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers
  • the Department of Education does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property.

Child Safety

Schools play an important role to ensure that students are safe both at school and in the community. 

 

 

At Patterson River Secondary College we ensure that we meet our Child Safe Standards obligation and ensure that educators understand their obligations and report concerns. 

 

We also play a role assisting community members who might have concerns about the physical or mental safety of one of our students outside of school. If you ever have any concerns about a student, then please do not hesitate to contact a staff member or one of our designated Child Safety Officers:

  • Principal - Daniel Dew
  • Assistant Principal - Lisa Cavey 
  • Wellbeing Leader - Kelly Maxwell

You can find out more information by viewing our policies (available via our website) or 

www.education.vic.gov.au/protect

 

 

Mr Daniel Dew 

College Principal