Principal's Report 

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Congratulations to all students and staff for their excellent work this term, settling back into being back onsite fulltime. 

It hasn’t been easy and staff and students have faced many challenges throughout the term with illness, Covid, Covid close contacts and a myriad of other things that impact people. At last count we have had 253 weeks of student absences and 29 weeks of teacher absences directly due to COVID or close contacts absences only. Staff have continued to place work on Compass to ensure no student is disadvantaged with their learning and have taken on extra classes to ensure that we could stay open for every student every day.

Without doubt, it has been a tiring term for everyone - it is the first full term onsite for everyone since 2019! 

Even with all of this going on in the background, we still celebrated our Annual Debutante Ball on Friday evening. It was a lovely evening and every student looked just lovely in their suits and dresses. They were an absolute credit to their families and each other on the evening.

Our student leadership team has come along in leaps and bounds. They organised Harmony Week and all the activities each day, along with assembly and a student led, cross year level Learn 2 Learn session – absolutely amazing and congratulations. 

As we move into Term 2 and the weather gets cooler, can I please remind everyone to ensure that your children continue to RAT test twice weekly. RATs are available for collection at the front office if you need them. Please use this break from school to make sure that your child has the correct uniform ready for Term 2. Hooded jumpers are not accepted at Maffra SC and students will be asked to remove them if they are being worn so, please support us by ensuring your child does not leave home with one on. We introduced a soft shell, fleece lined navy jacket for extra warmth and these are available to be ordered for delivery in time for the cooler months ahead.

On Tuesday 26th April we have a student free day and all staff will be working with teachers from the other secondary schools in our network. The focus for the day will be on curriculum, assessment, moderation and VCE data. This is the first time we have organised a consistent student free day across our schools and look forward to sharing expertise and learning from each other.

Students will start the following day on Wednesday 27th April and we have our 2023 Year 7 Information Evening on Monday 2nd May.

School Council 

At the AGM held on 28th March, we welcomed many new parents to our School Council. I am extremely excited as we begin our new Strategic Plan to have such a diverse range of parents who are committed to ensuring Maffra Secondary College is a positive learning community where all individuals are accepted, inspired and empowered to succeed.

Our School Council is made up of the following members:

Council President – Peter Neaves (children in Year 7, 11 and 12)

Vice President – Marisa Huts (child in Year 7)

Convenor of Finance – Hans Simon (community member and previous school council president)

Kristy Phillips (child in Year 7), Daniel Shugg (child in Year 7), Natalie Bedggood (children in Year 7 and 9), Donna Francis (child in Year 10) and Derek Harms (child in Year 12).

I would also like to welcome Megan Webster (Year 10) as our student representative who will be joining Baxter Mather (Year 11) for his second year on school council.

We still have one remaining community member position available. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me at the College early in Term 2.

I would like to thank them for the extra commitment they are prepared to make to the College in taking on the responsibilities involved in this important role.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

By the time this newsletter is published we will have started our Parent/Student/Teacher interviews. If you have not yet booked an appointment to meet with your child/rens teachers, please contact the front office to book these in as soon as possible.

We hope that parents and students find these to be valuable in terms of meeting your child/ren’s teachers face to face and discussing their progress as we end Term 1.

Facility Development

Over these holidays we are excited to be putting in a half basketball court located between the gym and the Senior Years Building. We have a large shade sail being installed currently with the vision to provide an outdoor area for senior school students where they can spend time together and feel connected to this part of the school, supporting the move to the new Year 10-12 sub school.

We have also been successful in receiving the approval for accessibility funding which will allow students with a disability to access areas of the school that are currently challenging. We are working closely with the Victorian School Building Authority in the early stages of this and hope to have work commencing later in Term 2 which will include improvement to school surfaces, making our ramps compliant and buildings accessible for wheelchairs.

I will provide further updates as next term progresses so everyone is informed of the different stages of building work.

Update on Staffing

Our Learning Specialist – whole school literacy improvement, Jodie Dore, is finishing up with us this term. Jodie will be a huge loss to the College in her leadership of Literacy and across the 7 and 8 English team. She will certainly be missed. She has made a significant contribution to the College since beginning in 2021 and has a vast knowledge of contemporary education and the needs of 21st Century learners. On behalf of the College, I would like to wish her all the best for the future.

Due to the short notice, I have appointed Mrs. Merran Bradley to the 7A English, Humanities and Learn 2 Learn class. Merran is a qualified primary trained teacher who has been working with us since last year as a tutor in English classes across Years 7 8 and 9. Mrs Rebecca Jackson who joined us at the beginning of the year as an experienced English teacher will take over the 8C English class.

Mr Gerard Abdoo, our Chaplain will also be departing at the end of May. He has picked up a new position as a Chaplain in Lakes Entrance and will be relocating with his family. We have not been able to replace Gerard, however Mr Dylan O’Shanassy will lead the Boys Program and we are currently recruiting for a person to develop and lead a Hands-on Learning program.

House Cross Country

On Monday we held our House Cross Country during Period 3 and 4. All students were taken by bus to the Morrison Street Reserve. The weather was clear and the sun came out in time for the cross country but the ground was extremely wet due to the rain the day before. Students came dressed in House colours which added to the atmosphere. Congratulations to all of the students and staff involved. Thanks to Mr Brett Hudson for his organisation of this event. 

Next term we look forward to the House Athletics in Week 5.

Have a safe and relaxing break over Easter and we look forward to seeing everyone back here refreshed for Term 2 on Wednesday 27th April, 2022.

Ms Jennifer Roep

Principal