Assistant Principals' Report
Simon Jones
Assistant Principal
Years 10 - 12
First term is always a busy one and this year has been no exception. Senior students have settled quickly into their classes and the Jumpstart program at the end of 2018 has helped facilitate a smooth start to the year as students were already familiar with their classes and teachers. Already this year we have completed College photos, the swimming carnival in Glen Waverley and student and parent Information Evenings for Years 10, 11 and 12. We appreciate the support of all students and parents who attended these evenings which are an important medium of communication between the school and the home, ensuring that parents and students can stay abreast of the programs that students are undertaking and the important school policies and procedures that apply in the senior years of school. We trust that those who attended found these sessions worthwhile.
The first progress reports are imminent and we urge students to address any concerns that may be highlighted on them at this early stage, as falling behind can lead to a cumulative effect which may become a major hurdle unless remedial action is taken. Students need to make the effort to address overdue work immediately and can seek support from their teachers if required. I also remind parents and students that an after school homework club is held each Wednesday and Thursday until 4.30pm in the Library. Homework Club is available to all year levels, providing an excellent opportunity for students to complete work or do further study with the assistance and support of subject specific teachers.
Andrew Wynne Assistant Principal
Years 7-9
Welcome back to all parents and students of Dromana College and welcome to the first term newsletter of 2019. I hope that for all families of our college this year is rewarding, memorable and successful.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome to the college newsletter for the first time the families of all our new Year 7 students. The decision of which secondary school to send your child to is a huge one which all parents make with thought and care. As a college, we take this responsibility very seriously. As the Assistant Principal looking after your children for the first three years I look forward to working with all the college stakeholders to ensure that all students maximize their learning outcomes and achieve their educational potential as well as providing a safe, supportive and caring environment. As a college, we welcome communication and feedback from our parents and look forward to developing a partnership that benefits the education of all students. Mr. Drew King, Ms. Nicole Sim, Ms. Jo Webb and Mr. Neil Johnson along with the very experienced Year 7 and Transition Head Ms. Brooke Mollenkopf, will be there all the way to support this important period of your child’s educational life.
Welcome back to all our Year 8 and 9 students for 2019. The start to this year has been smooth, with students clearly embracing the college values, as well as the academic challenges of the New Year. It is always important to continue to grow as a learner in each new stage of your educational journey. There should be no year that this growth stagnates, even when Year 12 seems so far in the distance. These are the years of consolidating good work habits, both in the classroom and in the development of study outside the classroom. It is also the time when friendships continue to develop and positive relationships are formed with teachers, as a true learning partnership between student and teacher is vital for success later in your educational journey. These middle years of schooling are as important as any other stage of your education. Embrace the challenges, have some fun and continue to grow as a learner and as a member of the Dromana College community.
Chad Ambrose
Assistant Principal
Learning and Teaching
This year has begun extremely well. The addition of the new Year 9 area has ensured classes are running smoothly and it is great to see the classes in action, particularly the single sex Maths and English classes that all take place at the same time. Many of our new staff teach within Year 9 and the impact they are having is already evident. This year Dromana College welcomed a large group of new staff, including three Learning Specialists as part of the Leadership Team. Overwhelmingly the feedback from new staff is that Dromana College students are fantastic and that the opportunities the school affords to our students is wide-ranging, inclusive and accessible.
One of the activities all students in Years 7-9 undertake is Progressive Achievement Tests in the areas of Reading Comprehension and Mathematics. These tests enable teachers to identify individual student strengths and weaknesses and design curriculum accordingly. Furthermore the assessments are used to support students to set goals around their own learning growth in the areas of literacy and numeracy. We encourage parents to discuss the results with their son/daughter and to gain further information from teachers via parent teacher interviews, which will take place on Tuesday 12th March.