From the Principal 

As we head into the second half of Term 1, I want to thank all members of the CESC community. We are still facing challenges associated with COVID-19, as we continue to navigate both staff and students having to isolate. As a school we are doing our best to minimise disruption to learning and thank everyone for their understanding. 

With masks no longer mandated in secondary schools I am noticing a slight up-tick in covid notifications. I encourage everyone in our community to still consider wearing a mask, especially in classrooms. I also note the media reporting a rise in infections due to a new variant that seems to be more infectious, another good reason to consider popping a mask on.

It has been fantastic to see staff and students extending their learning, through once again getting out into the community. With excursions, incursions and sport in full swing. 

To celebrate International Women’s Week, I was lucky enough to take a group of young women from CESC to Bunjil Place to hear from Australian of the Year (2021) Grace Tame. We were all impressed with her courage, she is an outspoken advocate for survivors of sexual assault and her foundation is now working to change legislation across the country to ensure it is the victims that are protected, believed and supported. She challenged everyone in the audience to “make some noise”. I hope to see our girls take the challenge on in the future.  The Grace Tame Foundation

Instructional Model

Our college has developed an Instructional Model to reflect our high expectations of how students and teachers work together to help us continually improve. It is designed to help teachers to guide students though the phases of classroom learning. It gives students support to be active learners who; understand the purpose of each lesson, work towards their learning goals and reflect on their growth.

This term, we have launched our Instructional Model with students within their Home Group classes. We are wanting to teach our students about our model so that they can actively engage with it in the classroom.

We are also proud to now involve all of you, our school community, in our shared vision for the teaching and learning practices at our college. 

To present this to you, our students have developed a video explaining our Instructional Model and how it will help guide teachers to design, and deliver, the best possible learning opportunities for all students. 

We hope that this video highlights to you the value and importance of this model in helping all our students to achieve their full potential.

Focus: Prerequisites for Learning 

There has been a significant focus on re-establishing high expectations as students have returned to on-site learning at CESC in 2022. We have appreciated the support as we focus on adherence to College routines, policies and procedures. In line with this, the College Leadership Team will commence a focus on the prerequisites for learning, after the long weekend. This includes:

1. Being on time
2. Being in correct school uniform
3. Being ready to learn (correct materials for class)

Staff will continue to assess uniform as students enter the room, mark attendance promptly and accurately, and check students have brought all the correct materials to class (including a charged laptop). Parents/guardians can expect to receive notifications via Compass if their student in not meeting the expectations of the College. For students that have recurring notifications in these categories, parents/guardians will be invited into the College to meet with Year Level Leaders to better understand why expectations are not being met and develop a plan to bring about positive change. It is our intention that this proactive approach will support students to achieve their best learning outcomes and to ensure fair and accurate feedback is provided as part of the interim reporting at the end of term. 

For those unfamiliar with our interim reporting, staff will report on the following areas at the end of term 1:

• Behaviour: Follows the classroom procedures and teacher instructions
• Ready to learn: Punctual to class, prepared for class with the required equipment, demonstrates a positive attitude to learning
• Engagement in class activities: Participates actively, stays on task, seeks feedback on learning tasks
• Evidence of effort in learning and assessments: Well maintained and up to date workbook, seeks help when required, completes and submits learning tasks
• Progress towards achieving growth in learning: Showing growth in the development of key skills, knowledge, and behaviour. 

We appreciate your support in this endeavour. Please reach out to the relevant Year Level Leader with any questions or concerns.

Important dates that impact the school day.

Term 1

Thursday 7 April - Remote Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences. (No classes for students in Year 7-11, in lieu of attending conferences. Year 12 classes (VCE/VCAL) run as per normal schedule.

Term 2 

The term begins for students on Wednesday 27 April, as Monday 25 is ANZAC Day and Tuesday 26 is a Curriculum Day (which is pupil free).