Principal Report

A reflection on 2024

When reflecting on 2024 at Koo Wee Rup Secondary College, I'm extremely pleased with our progress as a college. 

 

We have undertaken upgrades to the school, including technology upgrades in classrooms and physical updates, including building painting, courtyard upgrades, new garden spaces, new locker bays, the installation of more CCTV cameras throughout the school for student safety, and the development of a centralised wellbeing team space, to name a few.

 

We have introduced/re-introduced programs into the school, including lunchtime activities, music and sporting opportunities, a great camps program, a Hands-on Learning Program and an expanded wellbeing team.

 

We had our School Review in Term 3, which assisted us in identifying the key areas we are doing well in and where we need to focus our attention next—this forms our new four-year strategic plan.

 

This year, we redefined our Leadership Team for 2025, which is made up of existing leaders and new leaders who have joined or will join the college in 2025. With this Leadership Team comes a clear vision for improvement/success, a united approach and instructional leadership to ensure the best possible outcomes for each and every one of our students.

 

We have begun to gain accreditation for School Wide Positive Behaviour which provides a framework that we are implementing to ensure a calm and orderly learning environment. This work has included the redefining of our school vision, the creation of a behaviour matrix that outlines the expected behaviours of our students, and the implementation of classroom routines (our entry, exit and cue-to-start routines). This year, we have re-established our school values based on feedback from all stakeholders in our school community. Our school values of Connection, Respect and Growth are now central to all of the work we do as a college.

 

With all of this work, it has not been without its challenges. In the middle of the year, our community was shaken by the sudden and unexpected death of recently retired Assistant Principal, Leonie McGinley. Further to this, our college has been through a period of instability in recent years, and our students and parents will no doubt have seen, unfortunately, like many schools and workplaces at the moment, the impact of staff shortages. I'm pleased to say though, with some strong recruitment strategies made by the college, we are currently in a position of being extremely close to being fully staffed for 2025. This is a very strong indication of the direction and hard work that our team has put in to make Koo Wee Rup Secondary college an exciting place to be.

 

Having worked in a range of settings in the past, I can say that Koo Wee Rup Secondary College is a school where staff are focused on what is in the best interests of our students and provide them with excellent opportunities.

 

I know I am proud to be the Principal of this wonderful school, and I hope that our current students and parents feel a strong sense of pride in being a part of this college. 

 

I wish all families a safe and restful break and I will see you in 2025!