VUSC News Issue Six
BREAKING NEWS!
I am very excited to announce that Victoria University Secondary College has been allocated $23.94 million in this week's State Budget to begin building our new facilities at the Cairnlea campus!
This is well deserved for our students and community, and we look forward to sharing more information with you as it comes to hand, including our architectural plans and designs.
Junior Student Success Evening - Wednesday 29th May 6.00pm – 7.00pm
I strongly encourage all families of Year 7, 8 and 9 students to attend the Student Success Evening on Wednesday. The evening will provide families with strategies and advice to effectively support their children with their learning at home including their review of Cornell Notes, organization, wider reading and wellbeing. A light supper will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there.
Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea - Thursday 23rd May, 2019
At both campuses last week, staff took part in the Biggest Morning Tea to raise money to help the Cancer Council beat cancer. The morning tea was in tribute to our beautiful Julie Smith who served as the College Board Vice President for the past seven years and passed away recently from this dreadful insidious disease.
Staff Professional Development Day
Friday 10th May was a student free day so that staff could work on one of our major goals to extend students’ learning in vocabulary. Vocabulary knowledge is fundamental to being an independent and successful reader and writer, and is comprised of the words that are understood when heard or read. Improving literacy (reading, writing and vocabulary) is one of our major goals this year.
The aim of the day was for staff to:
• Identify Tier 2 vocabulary in a text
• Use Tier 2 vocabulary in a writing draft
• Improve and develop common understanding on the quality of writing
• Have staff work in Professional Learning Teams to plan the use of Tier 2 vocabulary in writing
Staff came prepared with two student writing samples in a particular genre of writing, in which students were asked to use Tier 2 words. It could be a paragraph, quick or power write, short essay or a practical report. Maths teachers were asked to bring Cornell Note summaries that students have completed. Our staff are regularly engaged in professional development and they are always improving which results in better opportunities and outcomes for our students.
DET Leadership Conference in June
Each year the Department of Education and Training (DET) runs a professional learning program for all Principals. This year’s program has been developed to inspire strong instructional leadership that delivers real student outcomes, with workshop sessions aligned to the four Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) priorities, which are:
• Excellence in teaching and learning
• Community engagement in learning
• Professional leadership
• Positive climate for learning
The Principal team will be attending the conference for two days each.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN testing occurred from Tuesday 14th through to Thursday 16th May for all Year 7 and Year 9 students. These tests give us invaluable information about how much our students are improving and act as a guide for us to determine areas we need to focus on in the future to improve our students’ learning outcomes.
The Importance of School Attendance
Research over many years consistently indicates that there is a direct correlation between high attendance at school and high academic achievement. In 2015 the Department of Education amended its policy regarding Exemption from Attendance at School. Under the revised policy, an exemption can only be applied for: Exceptional circumstances, Employment in the entertainment industry, Participation in an elite sporting event, Participation in an elite arts program.
In accordance with this policy, family holidays, reunions, student part-time employment and other social activities requiring extended leave DO NOT qualify for an attendance exemption. Parents are requested to support the school by organising family holidays and overseas trips during school vacation times. Please note that any absence from school is to be explained on Compass.
Congratulations
Congratulations to our Rugby League Coach, Tony Adam for being appointed once again as the Australian School Boys Rugby League Coach by the NRL. Tony will be taking the Australian team to England to play in November this year. Well done once again Tony!
Child Safe Standards
In 2016 the Victorian Government introduced seven Child Safe Standards following the inquiry into institutional child abuse. Our school has stringent policies and procedures in place to comply with all seven Standards. These policies are available on our website at www.vusc.vic.edu.au and include our Commitment to Child Safety which I have attached below.
The Department of Education and Training (DET) is undertaking an audit of 13 per cent of government schools during Terms 2 and 3 in 2019. Our school will be part of this audit. This is to assist schools to comply with legal requirements and to monitor the overall compliance level of all Victorian government schools.
If you have any queries or concerns about child safety in our school, please contact me to discuss.
Enjoy the rest of the term.
Elaine Hazim
College Principal