From the Principal's Desk
Scott Diamond
Dear community members
I am delighted to be able to write in this first newsletter using an online format iNewsletter. It is the final piece in the comprehensive way I hope to be able to share with you, all of the amazing things that happen in our multicampus college.
Our communication with you is a major part of the parent / school / student partnership that we have and we aim to do this well.
Currently our staff use a number of platforms that are exclusive to groups or cohorts, such as SEESAW and Google drives.
All families have access to COMPASS and this is our preferred platform for parents to access reports and monitor attendance. As you know we also can send direct messages and announcements to you on COMPASS and this was particularly useful during the past months where each day brought new announcements from the government regarding COVID 19.
A third avenue is Facebook and this is a daily update about a whole range of school things which might be of interest to you as well as some up to the minute notices about events, activities and programs.
The next two pieces of the communication jigsaw that we hope you will value are launched this week. The iNewsletter will be posted on COMPASS and Facebook but will also be an important link in our new college website.
Websites are accessible worldwide and are mostly static. They are used best as reference and under our new format it is easily viewed on phones, iPads and computers. We hope that it will become one of your favourite sites and when fully operational should have a calendar, regular highlights and of course a link to the newsletter for the wider community.
Return to Face to Face Teaching
So after 11 weeks all students returned to face to face teaching programs across all Campuses on Tuesday 9 June. With a great deal of satisfaction I can report that this was a most successful transition with over 90% of students in attendance across the college. Early morning hunger pains and a bit of tiredness aside students should be so proud of the way in which they have all worked to ensure that first week back was successful.
As we know though, this success does not come without a lot of work and some excellent support. With this in mind congratulations and thank-you to all families who have been so wonderful in following all of our college wide expectations through this return to school transition. From being aware of and using the designated campus access points to providing drink bottles for your child. Thanks also for to reinforcing the need to practice the COVID 19 hygiene practices. It really has all come together to allow our students to be fully prepared for the return to school.
This along with the huge role families took in supporting home learning programs is truly appreciated by all staff at the college. Well done and Thank you!!
The college was pleased to be able to support the distribution of devices and internet services at the start of remote learning and this was enhanced when the Department of Education & Training (DET) provided even more support through WIFI and other devices. Much of the technology used to maximise learning remotely gave us great insight into the opportunities to further broaden and enrich our teaching strategies going forward. I plan to work closely with key staff members to develop some exciting future practices in digital technologies.
Just to finish the COVID 19 topic. For the remainder of this term cross campus activities, such as Extended School Day, SEED and the Year 7&8 Specialist program will be temporarily suspended. We are hopeful that guidelines will ease over the coming weeks to allow these programs to re-start in Term 3.
Student Leaders Seminar
One very positive aspect of our return to face to face teaching was been the Student Leadership Seminars that have been held across the college. Our Year 7 & 8 and Year 9 & 10 leadership teams were involved in a full day of learning aimed at empowering them to lead with purpose and positivity as we return to face to face teaching.
The students worked on ways to best capture the positives that have come from working remotely as well as how to best promote the ‘new normal’ behaviours we all must abide by post COVID. Speaking with the students, their engagement and desire to get stuck into this work definitely provides a real sense of confidence that our students will indeed help lead this work across our school.
Thanks so much to all students and teachers involved in making this happen.
Term 3 Dates
I have been working with School Council on seeking approval to change some of the dates that you may have in your diary for Term 3 events. The COVID 19 protocols in place have raised some concerns around the viability of our Student Free Curriculum Day that is currently scheduled for Tuesday 4 August and Student Learning Conferences scheduled for 29 and 30 July. With this in mind we were given approval for Curriculum Day - August 21 and the probability of student conference days in early September.
School Photos P-8 Campuses
It is an important time of the year for many families as school photo day looms. Of course the original date was in April but School Pix, the provider, were very understanding and allowed us to get a July / August booking.
As part of regulations families need to opt out if they do not want their child's photograph taken by a third party (School Pix) and forms get sent home. The school uses these images for our records to be able to identify each of our students on secure online platforms DET CASES and COMPASS.
New personalised forms are being printed by School Pix so families don't need to worry about finding their original. If families have already pre-paid (in April) this will be honoured. The forms will be sent home in the first week back from holidays.
Although it is important to have the photo taken at your campus, this year class groups will using headshots, not gathered on a bench or squeezed together so if you are at another campus anyone except Hendy, (sadly, who are the final school) can go to another campus and have the image taken.
The campus dates are on the Save the Date section of this newsletter.
Student Reports
All families should have received a letter from the college regarding Student Report and how to access them from Compass.
If you did not get that letter please find a copy below.
School Council Update
School Council has vacancies for parent representatives. A full complement of parents is a very important part of school accountability.
At the recent School Council meeting we voted on the distribution of a flier to be posted on Campus doors encouraging any parent or carer to express an interest in joining School Council and an opportunity to attend the next Council meeting in August
BUS ZONES AT CAMPUSES
One final item is very important for the safety of our students. Outside each campus there is a bus zone where no cars should ever park, or stop during key times. Our college bus transports students to and from GELC classes and also Before and After school care.
Perhaps because we have been learning remote without excursion buses or Extended School Day buses, drivers have forgotten to follow the BUS ZONE signs, which are legally enforceable.
We do not want to report offenders, it would be much better to ask drivers to not offend.
Thank you
Enjoy reading the other entries in the newsletter and if you can find time, please look at the videos showcasing our students.