From the Principal 

Welcome everyone,  

It has again been a challenging time for us, with the announcement of the snap lockdown on Thursday 27 May and the immediate transition to remote learning. We have been so proud of the way students and staff have adapted to learning remotely this time. The hard work of staff over the course of this year, learning how to use the new online learning environment of Microsoft Teams has been very beneficial. Students have also picked up the basics well.  

We were delighted to have the Year 11s and 12s back at school on Friday and hope that we will soon have the remaining year levels back with us too. 

Sadly, we have had to adapt or postpone many of our plans for the coming weeks, including: 

• The VCAA have postponed the General Achievement Test (GAT) for any students studying a Unit 3 & 4 study. The rescheduled date is yet to be announced.
• The program for International Student Assessment (PISA) testing, which our school was selected for, has been postponed.
• Our Course Expo and Selection Information afternoon/evening on Wednesday 9 June has moved to a virtual experience. More information and all the relevant links can be found later in the newsletter.
• The much-anticipated mid-year music concerts at the Clocktower in Moonee Ponds have moved to 14 & 15 July
• The Year 8 Elevate Study Skills sessions have been postponed to Term 3 because we know they will get a lot more out of a face-to-face experience.

Masterplan 

We are already very busy developing the first phase of documentation so that our Masterplan can be reviewed and updated. It is several years since the 2017 Masterplan was developed and our school population has grown. We need to ensure it meets our current and future needs.  

Once this first phase is completed, we can progress to the next stage of working with the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) to appoint architects and commence the designs for the new building. Ensuring we have the perspectives of the school community in this process is very important to us.  

If you’re yet to do so, you can complete a short survey to have your say. This will remain open until Friday 11 June. Thank you to the families and students who have contributed to the survey so far.  

Wellbeing focus  

The health and wellbeing of our school community is a high priority for us at this time.  

VicHealth have some very good tips for parents and this short video from Headspace may provide some useful tips (even if it reinforces what you’re already doing). Connect tutors are checking in with students each day during daily connect and following up with any who may be struggling. We are also being as flexible as possible and adjusting the workload and due dates for students. Please do reach out to your child’s Connect tutor if you have any questions or concerns.  

We hope that we will all be back together at the end of this week. Until then take good care, be kind and patient and stay connected.  

Best wishes,  

Sue Harrap 

Principal