HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

As we head towards the end of the term it is a great time to look back on all that has happened in the first ten weeks of the school year. As someone new to the College, I was excited to see what was on offer for students. I have been surprised by the amount and variety of activities that our staff and students have participated in this term. Considering the context of organizing events with Covid in mind, it has been wonderful to see the commitment and effort that staff have put into problem-solving these concerns. I have seen some excellent examples of “thinking outside the box” which has enabled our students to continue to experience a wide variety of activities. 

Events that have taken place this term include; all three sporting carnivals, Year 12 camp at Tathra, a number of livestock shows, mock trials, debating, offsite sport, outdoor educational activities to name a few. Explicit outcomes enable these opportunities to challenge our students to grow in their character and in their knowledge while assisting them to continue to develop connections within the school. I would like to thank all staff who have organised events this term for their perseverance and dedication to our students and their learning.

This term has also represented a shift in the nature of the College, particularly in our approach to the wellbeing of students. The most prominent of these is a shift to a stronger house-based system. This term, the Heads of House were tasked with growing House Culture. They have made significant progress in developing this in their own unique ways. Each Head of House has worked diligently to build connections between Year Groups by providing them with a wide range of experiences and challenges. They have also worked closely with House Mentors to provide meaningful activities each morning and each House Mentor has implemented wellbeing learning experiences for students. The two House Days that took place this term were also a great success and it was wonderful to see the level of involvement in the planned activities.

Over the break, I would encourage students to reflect on what they have learned and experienced this term. I would also encourage you to speak with your child about their learning experiences as this will continue to strengthen the partnerships we have. If your child is in Year 11 or 12, encourage them to take a break from study and refresh their motivation ready for learning in Term 2. I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Easter break with family and friends.

Christopher Ingold | Head of Secondary School