“Inspiring and empowering members of our school community to achieve their full potential in an inclusive and supportive environment.”

The end of the year is nearly upon us and a break over Christmas is well-deserved. It has been a tough year but I am proud of how our school community has banded together to overcome many adversities. I also want to thank the school community for being on the school improvement journey with me.

In the next few years, I have no doubt that Fairhills High School will be the school of choice in the Knox area, as all members of the school community will feel a stronger sense of belonging, pride and connectedness to the school. In turn this will lead to improved academic growth for all students.

School Philosophy

Please see the school’s new philosophy that was ratified by the School Council in November. The philosophy defines and directs our purpose, objectives and focus.

Fairhills High School is a learning community for all. It is the school’s duty to provide every student with the learning environment to thrive in.

Our values ensure we build and maintain respectful and positive relationships. The School Wide Positive Behaviour Framework, high expectations of community members and consistency of teaching practices via the FHS instructional model enables a supportive and orderly learning environment for our students.

We focus on innovative and engaging learning strategies that capture each student’s interests at their point of need.

Through our personal growth programs our students are given the necessary learning and life skills to overcome any obstacles they will face at school and beyond.

2022-2025 School Goals

We now have our three key goals and nine key improvement strategies (KIS) for our four-year strategic plan.

Achievement

Goal 1 - Improve learning growth for all students

KIS 1: Increase staff capability to deliver a data-informed effective pedagogy

KIS 2: Increase the capabilities of staff to deliver inspiring learning built upon a guaranteed and viable curriculum

KIS 3: Develop a culture of high expectations

Engagement

Goal 2 - Empower students to be effective learners.

All students are actively and positively engaged in their own learning growth

KIS 1: Build whole-school student voice and agency

KIS 2: Effectively use feedback to improve student outcomes

KIS 3: Identify and build learner characteristics and dispositions

Wellbeing

Goal 3 - Improve the wellbeing and connectedness of all students

KIS 1: Develop and embed a collaborative commitment to SOLE

KIS 2: Support the needs of all students to progress their learning in a positive environment.

KIS 3: Further enhance extra-curricular and community initiatives

We will finalise the targets for these goals and KIS by the end of the year. Schools who have high expectations set targets higher than similar schools. Therefore, as we are developing a high expectations culture, we will be setting targets that stretch us but are reachable with perspiration, commitment and supports embedded in all aspects of school life.

2022 Return to School Interviews

The 2022 year will commence with Return to School Interviews for Y8-12 students. The interviews will run on January 31 and run from 11am-6pm.

Students are required to wear full school uniform and are expected to attend with a parent/carer.

The interview will run for approximately 15 minutes and consist of:

Expectations

Learning e.g. materials
Attendance
Uniform

Distribution of relevant information

Handbooks
Term 1 planner
SAC planner (for VCE students)
IT information

With an opportunity for students and parents/carers to ask questions and provide important information.

Information will come out before the end of the year and provide families with plenty of opportunity to make a booking.

Christmas Break

I hope you have an enjoyable break over the holidays and get an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones. I look forward to us all having many enjoyable, stimulating, and positive learning moments in 2022.

Regards

Ian Van Schie

Principal

Year 8 Humanities