PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Welcome to the 2017 School Year

2017 has got off to a flying start at Melton Secondary College with students and staff returning to school with energy and enthusiasm. Greeting students over the first week, many have told me that the holidays were nice, but it is really good to be back, surely a great sign of how much our students want to learn and how strongly they feel connected to their school.

It is great to see our students settling quickly into school routines and following the expectations we share for successful learning. Our Year 7 students have done especially well and look enthusiastic and well prepared for their first year as secondary school students. It was terrific to see so many Year 7 parents at the first day assembly. Young people and their studies benefit enormously from parents and carers taking a regular and caring interest in their progress.  There will be another chance for parents and carers to join in at the Year 7 Family BBQ. This will be an opportunity to meet Home Group teachers and other key staff and if you have a Year 7 child starting this year, I really encourage you to attend. The Year 7 Family BBQ will be held at the College from 4.45 – 6.30 pm on Thursday 23 February. 

College Five STARR Values

One of the main reasons why students have settled so well into their program this year has been our strong emphasis on the College Five STARR Values. At the end of last year the Student Voice and Leadership Team worked with the College Leadership Team to develop a complimentary set of Values in Action that  show clearly how each of our values supports student learning. Having developed the Values in Action together, students and staff are building greater consistency in following behaviors that will support learning.

School Review

Last year Melton Secondary College began its School Review by conducting an inquiry into how we can become a flourishing school community. The aim of the review is to help us to identify the ways that we can make our school community more able to achieve the vision of Academic Excellence for every student. At the end of Term One the review team will spend four days at the college talking to students, parents and staff. They will then write up a report which will form the basis for a new School Strategic Plan. Further details about the School Review days will be published once they are finalised.

Benjamin Akok

Every student at Melton Secondary College is a star in his or her own way and every student is capable of achieving outstanding things. Some young people have had challenges that seem insurmountable and manage to turn these into success. One of our wonderful Year 12 students, Ben Akok has had plenty of challenges and is a wonderful example of how young people can struggle with adversity and grow stronger. Last week Ben was the subject of a news story on ABC TV’s 7.30 Report. As parents and teachers, there are many times when we feel proud in what students can achieve. But Ben Akok’s story should make us all proud not just for his individual achievements but for the great story it tells about our school and our community. Students certainly appreciated this at our first whole school assembly this week when, after seeing the Ben's 7.30 Report story they responded with huge and hearty applause.

Since the story was broadcast, I have received lots of wonderfully positive comments and emails. Below are just some of them:

"I just wanted to email and congratulate you on the story on 7:30 about your student, Benjamin. It was a beautiful story about a clearly remarkable young man. He couldn't be the way he was without parents (or a parent) who instill in him a strong belief in the value of education, so his parent/s are to be really commended on their excellent job...There's a lot of depressing, upsetting and anger-inducing news in the media at the moment (as a Muslim, I feel it acutely!) and the story about Benjamin was a lovely antidote. You should all be so proud of the story, and how it reflects on Benjamin, his family, and your school. Keep up the great work, and I wish Benjamin every success. I can't wait to see what lies in his future! "

"I am not sure if I am contacting the correct people, however after watching the 7:30 tonight on the ABC I felt I must contact you.

As a 75 year old Australian male I was incredibly moved by the story of Benjamin. What an inspiration to all young Australian people Benjamin is, adapting to a new country, working incrediblely hard with  his medical problems, to achieve academic levels and respect of his fellow students is an inspiration to all students, and in particular to youths from the Sudan.

Please pass on to Benjamin my respect for his efforts, and I wish him every success in his new country, an inspiration for all young people that wish to succeed" 

"Dear Principal, teachers and students

I was  really encouraged and uplifted by the story on 7.30 Report on your election of Benjamin Akok as school captain.

What a fine young man … and what a great school you have created, with the student body valuing, as they obviously do, the qualities Benjamin represents.

We need more schools like yours.

Well done … and thanks for a good news story!"

If you have not seen Ben Akok’s 7.30 Report story you can see it by following this link: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2017/s4614153.htm