Principal's Message
Mrs Josie Crisara
Developing Culture
One of our intentions at Aitken College is to develop a positive and thriving culture. Culture is a set of shared values, customs and behaviour. We have defined some of these values and behaviours with input from students, staff and parents. Our behaviour matrix describes how we show respect, take responsibility and focus on learning. These are important for establishing norms, for creating and promoting positivity (growth mindset) and reinforcing expectations.
Developing a strong and positive culture has many benefits, such as fostering a sense of belonging, enhancing communication and collaboration, improving motivation, and supporting the achievement of common goals. It is an an ongoing process that requires intentional action. It involves shaping a shared identity in order to achieve that sense of community which we all value.
With our focus on excellence and for students to be the best version of themselves students are being challenged in areas of:
- class work
- participation
- attitude and behaviour
- punctuality
- maintaining our environment
- service
- taking the next challenge
This past fortnight our community has had the opportunity to be involved in Open afternoons in the Primary School, Principal’s Lecture series (guest speakers coordinated by Mr. Ben Lawless), House Cross Country and the Brookhill Swimming Carnival. There has been a focus on the Lenten season in Chapels, staff have engaged in professional learning, including presenting to a wider audience. We have been overwhelmed with the number of parents who have completed the Parent Helper Courses and who are now able to assist in the classroom, at College activities and on excursions. When parents show an interest in school, research shows it normally follows that their children do, too.
International Women's Day
Three of our College Leaders attended the International Women’s Day event run by Hume City council with the theme “Embrace equity and equality’. We heard from a number of inspirational speakers including local, Someyya Iianbey, the current state political reporter at 'The Age'. She spoke about the importance of education in ensuring people can move out of the cycle of poverty and unemployment, the importance of positive educational role models and not allowing others to hold you back, by having good people around you. She focused on the importance of people in leadership to avoid the unconscious biases we might hold in employment, opportunity and education in order to embrace diversity and inclusivity. A true inspiration!
