Principal's Report

Welcome

Well done to all of our staff, students and their families for your continued commitment to learning in Term 3. This term has required us all to adapt even further, as we saw an increased change to how we learn and work, as well as the ways in which we live. The resilience of our school community in the face of these challenges only reaffirms my pride to be the Principal of Dromana College. Learning from home, has been a significant pivot in practice for our teachers and education support staff, and only made possible through hard work and the support of parents and carers.  Thank you.  Our students, who are always the most important members of our community have remained challenged, motivated, and engaged by interesting, diverse, exciting, and relevant curriculum that catered for their needs throughout this challenging learning period. Thank you for rising to this challenge and looking after one another.

Our planning for term four is well underway and examination places are being set up in a socially distanced manner to deliver the best learning opportunities for our year 12 students upon their return to complete the General Achievement Test (GAT) on October 7, 2020.  Our planning has also recognised the importance of bringing our students back together in a manner that helps them reconnect in the physical world with their peers.  We are all truly excited at the prospect of being fully back at school during term four.  

Student Essay Response

Well done to VCAL student Kodi Galbraith whose response to ”The Shawshank Redemption”, is very relevant and thoughtful, in these times.  Kodi's answer was in response to a question regarding their film study, The Shawshank Redemption. 

Q: This film is still relevant, especially for 2020, because…...

"I think this movie will be relevant forever, every single year this movie is relevant to us but especially 2020 because of everything we have gone through. We have been living with coronavirus since March/April and it is now the end of August and we’re still living with it and it hasn’t been easy on anyone. Going through this has shown everyone you have to stay hopeful to be okay, some days are hard to have hope especially after we thought things were better and then we came into stage 4 restrictions. 

Online school has been a big change and without hope, you honestly can’t make it far and I learnt that. At the start of remote learning, I had very little hope for myself and didn’t want to do school at home at all, after a while I realised there is no other option and I had to become okay with the idea of being at home and doing school remotely. Just like in this movie, there’s no other option, they have to make what they have into something good and that’s what Andy did and look where he got, same with Red. 

2020 has shown that we need the people around us more than we ever thought, staying connected with friends, family and our teachers during this time is so important and we have to remind ourselves that some days will be hard and that’s okay but we need to remember that everything is going to be alright. Be there for the ones you love, everyone needs a little extra love right now. I know it doesn’t feel like things will ever change, but one day soon things will be better and the feeling of freedom, enjoying life and socialising with the people we love will make it all worth it. We have to stay patient and keep our hope because good things are coming to us and it's going to be so good." 

Important Parent Information

Accident Insurance Cover for Students 

Some school activities and physical education, particularly contact sports, carry inherent risks of injury. Parents are advised that the Department of Education and Training does not have Student Accident Insurance cover for students. Therefore, if your child is injured at school as a result of an accident or incident, all costs associated with the injury, including medical costs is the responsibility of the child, parent or caregiver. Some incidental medical costs may be covered from Medicare. If parents have private health insurance, some costs may also be covered through your private health insurance. Any other costs would be borne by the parents. Student Accident Insurance is an insurance policy that pays certain benefits should your child have an accident. It is a personal decision for parents which type and level of private insurance they purchase. An approved insurance broker should be contacted if you have any questions about insurance cover.

Personal Goods 

Personal property is often brought to school by students, staff and visitors. This can include mobile phones, calculators, toys, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises. The DE&T does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property.

Alan Marr 

Principal

Dromana College