From the Principal

Dear Parents, Students, Teachers and Friends

This term I have spent a significant amount of time in discussions with every teacher about their developing practice as an aspect of their performance appraisal.  I am extremely proud to report that our teachers are devoting themselves with great enthusiasm to improve their practice, to ensure students are supported to develop attributes as described in our Mission Statement below. These attributes will allow students to thrive as lifelong learners in the 21st Century.  In order to develop attributes such as independent learning and critical and creative thinking to a high level, teachers’ design and delivery of curriculum needs to be different from how it was done in the 20th Century.  The other day, a film maker who was filming teaching and learning around the school reported to me that our Mission Statement was not just words but was alive and thriving.  This mirrors my observations as I visit classes where teachers are handing over challenging problems to students who are required to critically analyse such problems and use their creativity to find solutions.  They often do this individually or in groups with the teacher acting as a facilitator to provide support as needed.  Next term we will be launching our Mission Statement with the wider community where you will have the opportunity of seeing and hearing how our teachers and students are actively ensuring they are constantly striving to achieve our mission.  

Teaching and Learning Revolutionised in the Frankston High School Learning Hub

Finally our Learning Hub space is fully refurbished and up and running.  This space provides a learning environment that mirrors the work environment of contemporary enterprises such as Microsoft, Fuji Xerox and NAB to name a few.  The Learning Hub consists of a room (campfire area) where teachers and students meet together to brainstorm ideas to address problems.  There is a technology rich collaborative area where students can work in teams, having tables and walls to write on and laptops and TVs to collaborate with.  There is even a green area for video production.  In addition, there is a room for quiet working where individuals can work without distraction.  Furniture is ultra modern with comfortable lounge chairs, stools and also areas where students can choose to stand up and work.  Students choose how they wish to learn in the Learning Hub and teachers are available to value add to the quality of their discussions and to enhance student understanding as they struggle with very challenging projects.  We are indebted to our Learning Hub leaders, Mr Shane Hunt and Ms Lauren Costanzo, for their efforts and enthusiasm in establishing this space and for their work in revolutionising how teachers and students learn together. 

$20 Boss Program Pioneered in Learning Hub: Receives Praise From VIPs

Frankston High School’s $20 Boss program, recently featured in the Age and on the Red Symons show, was celebrated a few weeks ago with praise from a delegation of important visitors. Students have been working in teams on their businesses in the Learning Hub.  In attendance were a group of dignitaries from the Young Australian Foundation and NAB as well as Hon Bruce Billson: Minister for Small Business.  Ms Jan Owen (CEO Young Australian Foundation) is acclaimed nationally and internationally for inspiring young people to develop their entrepreneurial skills.  She is particularly passionate about supporting girls in this area hence the ‘girl power’ photo in this edition with Jan.  Mr David Bannatyne (GM Small Business NAB) also shared his wisdom about the need for young people to be great problem solvers.  Similarly Mr Billson encouraged students to believe in themselves and to volunteer for every opportunity.  I was so proud of our students who shared their enterprises very articulately and with great passion.  There were many and varied business ideas that had been created from the $20 Boss program from collecting butterfly cocoons from the zoo and embedding them in resin to sell as jewellery, to making chopping boards from recycled bench tops.  These Year 9 and 10 students and Mr Hunt are to be congratulated by willingly immersing themselves in a learning experience which was clearly enabling them to develop all the attributes outlined in our Mission Statement.  Please follow this link,  http://20boss.fya.org.au/ if you would like to read more about the $20 Boss program:

Cabaret Night Brings the House Down

Last Friday the hall was sold out to hundreds of fans who attended Cabaret Night to enjoy a show stopping night of outstanding entertainment.  

Our Senior Stage Band (who are so accomplished that they have been selected to perform with Mr James Morrison at the Long Lazy Lunch in November) shared their brilliance together with the Intermediate Stage Band,  vocal ensembles,  vocal soloists,  guitar and percussion ensembles to name a few.  It is just thrilling to think our instrumental teachers are so magnificent in being able to nurture the talents of all these young artists to such an exceptional level.  I know the audience would agree that normally you would pay $70 to over $100 to enjoy such entertainment but for a mere $10, we enjoyed world class entertainment amongst friends.  If you would like to attend the End of Year Concert, please contact the school as soon as tickets are released to avoid disappointment.  As usual, it will be another sell out event. 

Parent Student Teacher Interviews 

Thanks to parents who attended Parent Student Teacher interviews with their children.  Also a special thank you to those many parents who took the time to pass on their gratitude for the team of wonderful teachers we are so fortunate to have at Frankston High School.  As you are well aware, our teachers go way beyond what is expected to support our students with their learning and this ensures that, with students who do their best always, our students are able to obtain incredible learning outcomes.  Such a three way conversation is critical in forming a strong partnership between home and school to support our students in striving for ongoing improvement. A huge attendance clearly demonstrates that our community values learning and this is why our students frequently achieve beyond our expectations.

Students Selected to Study in Prestigious Japanese Schools

During the first week of the September holidays we farewell Nathan Keon (Year 10) who will be attending Fukuoka Daiichi High School in Japan for the remainder of the year and also Mitchell Lawrence (Year 10) and Tessa Monty (Year 10) who will be attending Linden Hall in Fukuoka.  These students have been selected due to their outstanding application to the study of Japanese.  Such first hand immersion in the Japanese culture will put them in great stead for excelling in VCE Japanese upon their return.  I have every confidence they will be great ambassadors for Frankston High School and Australia.      

In Conclusion

Wishing everyone a great break over the holidays except for our Year 12 students.  It is not a holiday break for them.  The first week should be spent studying with practising as many exams as possible under exam conditions at home.  The second week involves formal practice exams to further support Year 12 students in honing their exam techniques in preparing to perform at their best during the final exams. Looking forward to welcoming everyone back in Term 4 to hopefully enjoy some warmer weather.

Mr John Albiston