Campus Principal Report

Firstly I am thrilled to take over the role of Banksia Campus Principal. I started at Banksia many years ago and am excited to be back. I am looking forward to working with my new leadership team and staff, some who I have worked with in the past and those who are new to the College. Most of all I look forward to getting to know all the students. I have always believed change is a good thing! It revitalises us, challenges us and keeps us on our toes. It allows us to look at things from a different perspective and change the way things are done. 

I have always believed that the ‘look’ of the school has an impact on the culture and therefore the learning environment within which our students will flourish.  A quick walk around and I can see many things that will make our school look great. Little adjustments with big impact (and some big developments) as the year progresses.   

From my perspective, what a great and smooth start it was to the year. Within five minutes of the start of day one, all the students were in their rooms, vindication of the Headstart program at the end of last year. The new Year 7’s met in the centre and had a number of days of orientation, learning about their new ‘home’, making new friends and settling in. Great work by the year 7 team ably led by Mel Hoskin and Rob Juchnevicus.

The goodwill, humour and relaxed nature of the staff and students at Banksia has set the tone for the year. We know it has been tough but we can thrive. 

There are a number of activities and excursions starting to fill our calendars again, a return to normalcy over the longer term, an indication that all will be well. As the year progresses and the protocols around covid relax, we envisage a full program for students.

Tuesday was ‘photo day’. Getting 800+ students neat, tidy and photographed is a challenge, especially on hot days! The ES staff took a leading role and the day went very smoothly. A big thank you to Emma Utatao and her team. Catch up day should get all the students who were missing (as well as staff) .

Richard Hastings

Campus Principal - Banksia Campus

I’m really pleased with how the 2022 school year has started off. Being new to the role of Campus Principal, I’m feeling my way and learning new things every day. The staff have been really supportive and there is a great feeling at the Campus. Having spent the last 5 years in the Junior School as Assistant Principal, I’m familiar with most of the students on Campus, which is wonderful. I’m loving the new position so far! The students have hit the ground running and slotted straight back into learning seamlessly. The Principal Team have been conducting classroom visits to touch base with staff and connect with students and their learning. We’ve been so impressed and proud of the teaching, learning, engagement and culture at the campus. 

We have a really large cohort of Year 7s this year. Rebekah Vass and Trent Bower (Year 7 TTL and TTM) have done a brilliant job of the Induction Program to help settle the students into high school life. Year 7’s had an incursion from ‘Project Rockit’ which explored the positive potential of technology, upskilling students with online skills to build connected communities, support wellbeing and navigate harmful experiences. The Year 9s have also had an incursion from ‘Livin’- they are a group that aims to break the stigma surrounding Mental Health. Student Voice 2022 is well and truly underway. The Student Voice leaders worked hard on creating memorable Valentine’s Day celebrations for the campus. The Year 11 and 12 VCALs attended an excursion to the Immigration Museum and we received some really lovely praise about them from members of the public. We also have auditions coming up for the ‘Wakakirri Story-Dance’- which is a national program for schools that develops student engagement and wellbeing through participation in the performing arts. 

We continue to have a focus on Student Wellbeing, particularly after the impact of the last two years. We are broadening our wellbeing team with some more positions currently being advertised. 

We have had some recent smaller construction projects- A new Year 9 ‘Interventions Classroom’ suitable for a small group of 8-12 students, as well as a brand-new Pathways Office which will house the Careers Officer and Head Start Coordinator and provide students with a collaborative space to work with these staff members on their future pathways.

Keep up the great work Acacia. 

Natalie Fode

Campus Principal - Acacia Campus