College Principal Message

VCE 2019

We have received our VCE Data for the Class of 2019 and I am happy to report that while our median study score has been maintained at 28, we have improved our average ATAR. Congratulations to our Dux James who achieved an ATAR of 98.  And well done to all of the Year 12 students and to the teachers from Year 7-12 who have contributed to their success.

Looking Back on 2019

It has been a busy year for Copperfield College. It is the third year of our Strategic Plan and we continue to make significant inroads into establishing Copperfield College as a Professional Learning Community (PLC) with all teachers teaching the same subject meeting regularly and working collaboratively to improve student learning in their classes. Teachers have increased capacity to use student learning data to identify and close learning gaps. We have also continued our focus on improving student literacy with our intervention programs at Years 9 and 10 showing great results in terms of student’s reading growth.

Our Robotics teams competed at an international level (in Kentucky) for the first time this year and after having a strong performance in the most recent national championships in Adelaide look like qualifying for Kentucky again. Well done to our teams and the teachers who have supported them.

Staff Changes

Change is inevitable in schools and while we have staff moving on we are gaining new talented teachers. Thus far we have recruited 20 new staff for 2020, and we are still finishing off that process.

In particular we have some changes in our Principal Class. I will be finishing up at the end of this year. Congratulations to Pip Griffiths who has been appointed as Acting College Principal. We also have a new Campus Principal Brendan Sullivan who is replacing Pip.

I would also like to acknowledge some staff who are leaving us after working here for a significant amount of time. Oleh Kowalyk, Deb Crick and Deb Supriyono are retiring after more than 30 years teaching at the school. Glenn McLeod is also retiring after 11 years teaching at Copperfield. Robyn Lyons is retiring after 18 years as the Science Lab Technician at our Kings Park Campus. Robyn has supported the Science teachers at Kings Park organising experiments and other practical activities. On behalf of the Copperfield family I thank them all for their years supporting the learning of our students and wish them all the best for the next phase of their lives.

Thank you also Kellie Jasper who has been a psychologist at our Sydenham Campus and has supported the wellbeing of Sydenham students for the past 10 years. Student wellbeing is important not only for their health and happiness but is also critical for their learning. While Kellie is not retiring, she is moving to a new school and I thank her for supporting the wellbeing of our Sydenham students.

As you may have gathered I am also retiring after 17 years at Copperfield. 13 years as a Campus Principal and four as College Principal. I have enjoyed my time here and am sure the school will continue to be successful with Pip at the helm. On behalf of all the staff at Copperfield, I wish you and your families a very merry Xmas and a safe and relaxing break.

Mr Anthony Sokol

College Principal