Principal's Report           

Welcome Back to Term 4

We are excited to commence our final school term for 2021 knowing that all our students and staff will be back on site by the end of the month. We have missed having our community together and are really looking forward to the return to face-to-face for all teaching and learning. 

The first stage of the road map back to school has commenced. Last Tuesday, our Year 12 students eagerly returned to reunite with friends and teachers. The earlier return date for Year 12 students was welcomed, especially after two years of uncertainty during their final years of schooling. The VCE students have been committed to their lessons as they prepare for their final written exams which commence on Wednesday 27 October. Year 12 VCAL students have been able to return to complete their programs, which for some students also includes attending a TAFE or another Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to complete specific industry-based units of competence.  I would like to commend all of our Year 12 students and Year 11 students undertaking unit 3-4 studies for the positive way they have returned for their studies under extraordinary circumstances. 

I have been asked on occasions, how does a student succeed under such circumstances?  

Firstly, what is our measure of success?  Many would argue that success is measured by academic results, including NAPLAN and VCE. However, a score alone should not be the sole measure, nor will it define a student’s future success.  Yes, scores are important, but equally so is a student’s social and emotional growth and physical wellbeing. To be clear, many of our students will have grown in a multitude of ways through their remote learning experience.  They have learnt to problem solve, be flexible and have become adaptive learners.  They have had to become self-motivated and mindful of the need to work together and with teachers in different ways, both on and offline. Many will have made use of resources available from home and many have increased their ability to independently seek advice, access wellbeing support and new ways to overcome challenges.

Pursuing success under these extraordinary circumstances has taught our students to keep driving toward their goals, even if the road ahead gets rough. This has built their resilience which will no doubt serve them well in the years ahead.

But what if a student has not coped?

We are aware that some students may need additional supports for their return, it is for this reason our proactive planning has led to new initiatives with needs-based teams to help students to move forward. This includes:

Tutor Support

For the remainder of this year and in 2022 we will be continuing to maximise tutor support for students for whom we identify learning gaps and for extending our high achieving students who may not have shown the same growth rate as prior to lockdown. This includes:

• reappointment of tutors for 2022
• extending existing literacy and numeracy programs, one on one and group tuition, Quick smart, numeracy intervention programs (NIPS) and homework club.
• additional staff ratios to provide early interventions for learning gaps identified
• implementing strategies and programs that will continue the growth experienced by high achieving students who thrived during lockdown
• individual and group support for VCE programs and expert practitioner support where required.

Wellbeing Engagement Hub

This is an exciting initiative. We are the first school in the area to establish a new ‘Wellbeing and Engagement Hub’ developed by experts to assist students feeling anxious or in need reengagement support. This new hub has been developed in partnership with the Department of Education and Training and CHYMS Adolescent Health Unit. This hub is a fantastic addition to our existing wellbeing services. Suellen James an experienced allied health nurse was appointed for the development and operation of the hub. Suellen has worked in schools, hospitals and other locations which has included setting the directions for wellbeing programs in schools. Suellen joins our other student services team member and is on site three days a week. Currently we have been allocated resourcing to refurbish the existing space with the appropriate furniture and sensory items.

Get Fit Get Active 

Physical activity has a huge potential to enhance our wellbeing. Even a short burst of 10 minutes' brisk walking increases our mental alertness, energy, and positive mood. 

On site we will encourage student participation in regular physical activity which can increase student self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety. Once restrictions are lifted, we will resume our Get Fit GeT Active Club and Breakfast Club.

The Road Map

Whilst many parents may be happy to see students return on the dates indicated, many may have had mixed feelings; happy to have some return to normality, a sense of relief from juggling working from home whilst supporting one or more children learning remotely, concerned for your child’s wellbeing with cases of COVID still in existence or concerns about your child’s progress. 

We are aware of the rates of COVID in the community and are following all advice to prepare and maintain a COVID safe plan. It is evident that vaccination is the best protection if as a community we are to return to a sense of normal in coming months. Most staff have already had both vaccinations with the reminder having had at least the first vaccination and the second booked for completion to meet the DET mandatory vaccination timelines. I thank all parents/carers who have provided vaccine updates for students.   

Under the current guidelines, no parents/carers or visitors are permitted on site. Only students may enter the grounds. Students must wear full school uniform (please check uniform length and items well before the date to ensure they are ready), masks and bring their own drinking bottle. Masks must be worn correctly at all times and social distancing will be required. All buildings have sanitiser which must be used. 

Unlike previous returns COVID safe plans have been further revised to minimise risks and reduce the likelihood of a whole school closures in the event of a positive case.

Students in each year level will be provided details via compass prior to their return as to their designated entry point, permitted areas they can access and movement restrictions. 

Supporting our Community

We are aware there may be families within our own community who have been significantly affected financially or emotionally from the lock down that we are not aware of. Our Student Services Team led by Ms Casey Lawson casey.lawson@education.vic.gov.au and Business Manager Mrs Vicky Kamfonas vicky.kamfonas@education.vic.gov.au may be able to link you to the wellbeing and other services for support. Any conversations are treated confidentially. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following organisations: Food Bank, our partners Thermo-Fisher Scientific and State Schools Relief for their ongoing support for members of our community.

2022 Enrolments and Transition

2021 has been a hard year for students and parents who have relocated to new areas or whose children are transitioning from Grade 6-7 as tours have not been able to be conducted and therefore students are entering schools for the first time without having been for a visit unless they have been here for past tours or Open Days prior to 2020. It has also been difficult for our Year 12 students as Open Days for many tertiary institutions have been virtual. 

If you know of anyone considering enrolling at other year level in 2022 who has not already been in touch, encourage them to do so as some year levels are almost full.  The same applies if you may be moving house and relocating to another area and your child may not be returning next year.

Year 7 2022 transitions are well underway as is the planning for our own student transition between year levels. I would also like to acknowledge the work of the transition teams and Mrs Bronwyn Haines who has had a very busy year assisting students applying for tertiary pathways and/or employment. 

At this stage we are unable to confirm if Orientation Day will be able to proceed on site in December. Principals have been informed that the Department will decide closer to the date based on health advice at the time. 

Student Voice, Agency, and Leadership

Over the break there were 4,000 participants in the Australian Council of Educational Leaders Global online conference with world leaders presenting over three days. Our college was selected to coordinate and select students from our own and six other schools to present their voice to such a prestigious audience.  I was so proud to hear each of the presenters and read members of the audience comments on the conference chat about how insightful and well-spoken the students were. What was even more exciting was that three students were selected to participate in sessions with leading experts and provide their perspective on the presentations.  Well done to Aimee Bugeja, Sam Dhillon and Hunter Russell for the incredible insights and comments you presented that inspired so many.

I encourage all students to get involved in the multiple student leadership opportunities available to students from our college. As the college numbers continue to grow, the number of student leadership positions increases. The selection process for our 2022 student leaders commences this term. 

Health and Safety

The remote learning arrangements were put in place to significantly reduce the movement of more than one million students and their families across Victoria to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) until we have met vaccine targets. Thank you to and your family for contributing to this on behalf of our college community. 

We need to maintain a safe environment and work towards having all members of our community vaccinated, so we don’t have to revert to future lockdowns, please do not send your child to school if they are unwell or they have been tested. Students who have been tested are not permitted to return until a negative result is confirmed. 

Curriculum Days

Throughout this year we have avoided holding curriculum days when students are on site. To minimise further disruptions, we have allocated our curriculum days for the last week of this term, Wednesday 15 - Friday 17 December. The curriculum days will be used to prepare for our school review which is to be held in the first half of the year, for teachers to undertake professional learning and to plan lessons in readiness for the start of 2022.

Mrs Gail Major

Principal