Principal's Report

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE 31st July 2023

Senior School Subject Selection for 2024

Students in Years 10 and 11 visited the senior school expo on Wednesday to find out about subjects being offered for next year and ask teachers questions. There were also experts on hand and displays from our local providers La Trobe University, Wodonga TAFE and Squad Apprenticeship and Training Services.

The information session held for families that evening was well attended, where an overview was provided of the VCE and VCE-Vocational Major certificates.

Students now need to book a subject selection meeting with Ms Macklan (families welcome) to discuss ideas for life and learning after school, and what subjects might help to get them there. Once all students have put in their initial choices, blocks of subjects are created for a final choice, hopefully with minimal changes required to a student’s selection.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Sessions

Today the school hosted local health professionals - Alice Tuck, Psychologist; and Kacey Ledger, Counsellor, from Alpine Health. Alice and Kacey provided mental health and wellbeing sessions with the Year 7 – 10 students. The sessions were interactive and introduced concepts and activities around physical and emotional self-care, communication, awareness (of self and others) and making mindful choices. This session will be followed up with a further session, planned for October.

In August, students in Years 8 – 10 will be participating in the award-winning educational program, Courage to Care Upstander Program. Being held in Wodonga, students will be involved in an educational experience that promotes acceptance of diversity by educating about the dangers of racism, prejudice and discrimination; transforms bystander behaviour to Upstander action and inspires participants to act in their own communities.

School Mobile Phone Policy update

The ban on phones during school hours is to help reduce online bullying, filming/photographing without the permission of others and reduce the amount of time young people are on a screen. All phones confiscated are returned to students at the end of the day, unless families have a specific request.

The updated policy can be found in Compass and on the school website. Promotion of the policy is underway to ensure everyone is aware of the consequences, with:

1st offence: Device confiscated and handed to office.

2nd offence: Device confiscated and handed to office. Phone call home.

3rd offence: Device confiscated and handed to office. Phone call home. Phone to be handed in daily for a week.

Continuous offence: In-school suspension, negotiation with home for a positive outcome.