Taylors Lakes News

From The Principal Class 

Welcome

On behalf of all staff, a warm welcome to the 2022 school year, particularly to those students and families who are new to our college community. There is a very positive and calm atmosphere throughout the school.  Our focus has been on settling students back into routine of face to face learning; ensuring that they are aware of the College’s expectations of them as learners and members of the community, and that they are supported to feel connected, protected and respected.  Our final enrolment numbers are close to 1390, a slight drop to last year, given we have decreased one homegroup in Year 7.

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the following new staff to the College this year:

 

Teaching Staff:

  • Matthew Wilson LT: Junior Sub-School Leader/Food Technology
  • Nisha Rani LS: Numeracy/Mathematics
  • Ricco Dezan -  Business Management and Commerce
  • Andrew Nguyen -  Mathematics and Science
  • Yunaki Wang -  Psychology and Science

Educational Support Staff:

  • Stefanie Lofty - Dance
  • Vivian Santilli - Finance and Excursion Support
  • Bayley Strachan - Student Counsellor
  • Carmela Vandeloo -  Integration Aide
  • Aylan Yildrim - Daily Organisation
  • Jennifer Malbon -  Mental Health Practitioner
  • Dylan Mamo - English Tutor 

Welcome back to Gabriella Raponi, Bridie Cavanagh, Vince Antonetti, Alysha Monaco and Bronte Minou who all return from leave. Louisa Norwood will continue her Assistant Principal position in a part-time capacity; hence, her position will be backfilled by Theresa Burlak. 

What to expect this year

The College is in its first year with the implementation of the new College Strategic Plan. This includes the delivery of high quality curriculum, instruction and assessment in every classroom across all learning areas to improve the growth and achievement of every student. It is also involves creating a differentiated learning environment in which students are intellectually engaged, have active student voice, in a culture in which the health and wellbeing of students is central to the learning success of students. As a college, we have already seen improvement in a number of these areas in the previous strategic plan.

 

The College will further embed a professional learning community approach and the further development and documentation of a sequential curriculum and assessment plan across the college, within the learning areas and capabilities, within sub-schools  and for student cohorts and individual students.  This is important so teaching teams continually evaluate and modify teaching practice, establishing agreed processes, to enable greater consistency in teacher judgements of student learning based on a range of evidence together with formative assessments showing planned progressions in depth and breadth of learning for all students. This is also important so teachers continue to design challenging activities that involve student voice and choice and deep understanding as well as modifying and adapting instruction to each student’s ability and providing feedback to assist all learners to continually challenge their learning. Specific improvement and growth in VCE and VCAL, Reading, Writing and Numeracy will continue to be a focus for the College.

 

In addition, a priority is to continue to minimise student absences by actively promoting and prioritising inclusion and engagement across the school community including proactive measures for early intervention, recognising positive behaviours and promoting psychological and social wellbeing through the creation of inclusive and safe spaces and pastoral care programs.  Finally, this year also sees the further expansion of the College's Football Academy with the introduction of the AFL stream at Year 9. This will run alongside the successful Soccer Academy.

Facilities Upgrade and Improvements

As the college continues to improve the learning environment for all staff and students to excel in, a number of projects have occurred over the break ready for the new year.

  • Student Support Centre Redevelopment – new offices and offices erected; painting. The Junior/Middle Sub-schools will be located in the SSC; the Senior Sub-School will be located next to the Study Room
  • Careers Room Redevelopment
  • Student Support Services Office Development
  • Painting of Doors in the Admin Building
  • Development of an Outdoor Learning Area in Science 
  • Upgrade and painting of external walls of S11, S15 and S8/S9 (back wall) - (including removal of old rusted walkway coverings)
  • Continual roll out of window tinting and new security cameras.

The gymnasium upgrade commenced on Wednesday February 23rd 2022.  The builders site offices have been erected at the back of the S portables, near the cricket nets. Temporary fencing around the building site has already been erected as well. The project will commence with the upgrade to the gymnasium and utility works behind the gymnasium (priority works 1 and 2). The delay in start is due to material availability. It is expected that the building works to the sports facility will take to the end of July to complete. 

 

All of these improvements provide better learning facilities for students in our college. With the exception of the DET capital works grants for the gymnasium and oval upgrade, all other of these projects are totally school funded, from funds we raise through the generous support of parents and careful financial management at the school level.