Principal Team Report

Principal's Report

Hello everyone, let me start by acknowledging the excellent way our Scored Unit students have begun the VCAA Examination period. We started with the English Exam on Tuesday with all students on time and present. It is quite a few decades ago now that I sat the English exam and not a lot has changed. It is still the ‘Big One’ but there were many smiling faces leaving the exam room, knowing that they had made it through. We wish all our students the very best for the exam period. I would also like to acknowledge all their teachers, not to forget the families who have supported them all the way. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Felicity Graham-Prowse and all the Senior School team who do an amazing job supporting students and families at this important time in our students’ lives.

It was indeed a wonderful experience for parents, carers, students and staff who attended the opening of our annual Art and Technology exhibition. It was also a joy to see the happiness and pride on students' faces as they shared their creations with family and friends. It was a beautiful confirmation of the importance the Arts play in the Learning and Wellbeing of our children. A big thank you to our guest speaker, Ingrid Wood, the Education and Public Coordinator of the Monash Museum of Photography and with whom we are building a partnership for our school. Ingrid was impressed not only by the quality of the works but by the confidence and conviction that our students spoke with about their Art. 

Celebrating student achievement is an important part of our students' educational experience. We encourage all families to attend, if they can, events such as our Sports Presentation Evening, our Art and Technology Exhibition and of course our whole school Presentation Evening on December 5. It makes such a positive difference to have student achievement  acknowledged by those around us. I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of key staff who makes things happen. Kerrie Lay and Sally Pryde continue to do a fantastic job supporting our students’ sporting endeavours while Khairi Razaai and his team in the Arts really do support our students to shine. 

 I would ask that parents and carers are mindful when planning holidays at this time of year that students do ensure that they have completed key assessment tasks and learning activities. In that vein, I would like to offer some hopefully helpful hints for our Year 10 and 11 families for the approaching exam period:

• Always have a copy of the timetable on the fridge or another visible space and tick them off as they are completed
• Try to reduce shifts in part-time jobs and let your boss know so that you are not given more!
• Ensure that your teacher has clearly explained to you the format of the exam and what is being examined
• Ensure that you have a regular study place, create a home study timetable
• Avoid leaving study to the last minute, remember study is not just reading your notes over, or someone else’s, it is about thinking about what it is you needed to learn and do you have the tools to communicate it
• Practise writing your own questions, create digital cue cards of learning
• Explain to everyone over dinner what the themes of the novel were, if you have not read, get an audio book and listen to it
• Revise with someone who keeps you on task
• Put your phone on silent when you are revising
• Create digital mind maps of ideas, theories and content

The most important message I can give students is that effort always counts. Try your best, be true to yourself and be proud of your effort.

Our College Yearbook is looking fantastic this year and we hope our families will be pleased with the result. Please remember to order your copy. Hope to see you at our Presentation Night.

Take care everyone.

Fern Brisbane

WHSC Principal