Principal's Report

“Knowledge will bring you the opportunity to make a difference.”

Unknown

We continue to increase our knowledge in the education of young people to maximise their learning opportunities. Last week the DET held the Education State School Leadership Conference: leading Learning for Excellence at the Convention Centre. Peter, Deb and I attended 1 day each. It brought together leadership across the state over 5 days to hear from local and international presenters. It was an opportunity to “thread knowledge together to enhance what we do for our students.” Minister Merlino spoke about how we needed to now build on the work that we had been doing under the Education State initiatives. He reflected on Canadian educator Mary Jean Gallagher’s words that we were working towards “everyone learning how to be better and do better.” There was a strong focus on high ability/high achievers in his talk. He finished by telling us there was going to be “truly a system wide approach to highly able students.”

I was fortunate to attend 2 sessions on the day I attended. The first was on Collaborative leadership presented by Dr Peter DeWitt. Dr. DeWitt comes form the USA. He discussed the 6 influences that matter most in a school to make the difference; assessment capable learners, instructional leadership, collective teacher efficacy, teacher professional development and learning, feedback and family engagement. It was particularly valuable in affirming the work we are doing at the college and where we can improve moving forward. The next session was about the new work order run by Alex Snow who is the Head of Research at the Foundation for Young Australians. He shared with us the forces of change that our young people will be experiencing. His research explores how automation, globalisation and flexibility are impacting on the school to work transition. He has also tried to better understand what it means to be smart in our modern world where humans will be working alongside smart machines. Alex also shared that 75% of employers are experiencing a skills shortage but this has not been interrogated further and he hopes his future research will provide further clarity around this.

Arctic Project

We have been linked with Anne Burke an educator who is part of an exciting Arctic Project where she will be joining 90 experts in their various fields from 26 countries on an Arctic Expedition. The goal is to find creative solutions to climate change and to determine how it is impacting on the Arctic. Our involvement will be through our Marine Care Ambassadors and the work they have been doing with Steve Seddon and the Climate Watch App. Anne has provided a range of links that give more insight into the work of the project leader-Sir Robert Swan. More information to follow in coming newsletters.

·A taste of Sir Robert Swan and the Arctic expedition Anne is attending in June 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz6tyRq6brg&t=14s (3.5 minutes)

·Facebook page Anne Burke Consultancy-Anne will post up to date relevant data re the Arctic, global warming, sustainability etc on this page. https://www.facebook.com/anneburkeconsultancy/

·Very short interview with Sir Robert Swan, why and how he has been fighting the 2041 mission for 40 years. (6.5 minutes) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=538115363298963

·Great Ted Talk: 2041 ClimateForce was founded by polar explorer, environmental leader and public speaker Robert Swan, OBE. As the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles, Swan has dedicated his life to the preservation of the Earth’s poles by the promotion of recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change. 2041 ClimateForce’s mission is to build on Swan’s dedication by informing, engaging and inspiring the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, to be sustainable, and to know that now is the time for action in policy development, sustainable practices, and future Technologies. (16 minutes) https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_swan_let_s_save_the_last_pristine_continent?language=en

·In 2017 Robert returned with his son to walk to the south pole using only renewable energy believing if you can survive in such an extreme environment on only renewable energy it is transferrable to our everyday lives and in 2041 when the Antarctica Treaty is resigned, there will be no need to carve it up for resources/money.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izAoe2iBDLo (26 minutes)

·2041 website (Sir Robert Swans resources mainly sustainability and Antarctic as he hasn’t been to the Arctic at this stage) http://www.2041.com/education/

EDUCATION PERFECT LANGUAGES VIC and SCIENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Students have been busy competing against other students from around the state, country and world.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students who will receive an award certificate for their achievement over the last fortnight.

11 recipients - Education Perfect Languages VIC Championships 2019

Name Award

Felix Lichte EMERALD

Connor Tasci SILVER

Nicola Trachuk SILVER

Tiffany Woolacott BRONZE

Bjorn Steguweit BRONZE

Max Reaburn BRONZE

Marvin Bassford BRONZE

Byron Zrcevic BRONZE

Marcela Ljutic CREDIT

Sofia frigo CREDIT

Luca van Dort CREDIT

9 recipients - Education Perfect Science Championships 2019

Name Award

Felix Lichte GOLD

Isaac Roberts BRONZE

Eric D’Souza BRONZE

Charlie Meystowicz BRONZE

Jacob Dorman BRONZE

Max Reaburn BRONZE

Teah Kinney BRONZE

Maya Desylva BRONZE