From the Acting Principal

Building works update

I’d like to thank our wonderful staff and students once again for their ongoing patience and cooperation throughout these building works.  This first stage of our Capital Works project commenced all the way back in December and it has required some unavoidable disruption and inconvenience, but the end is in sight.

A significant part of the project is the installation of a new heating/cooling system.  Now that the cooler weather is upon us, temporary heating units will be installed this week until the new system comes online.  Students may wish to wear additional layers underneath their winter uniform to help keep warm, but a reminder that such items must not be visible and the expectation remains that the uniform is worn correctly.

Respectful Relationships and consent education

Last year, Auburn High School joined the DET Respectful Relationships initiative as a Partner School, working with Lead School, Auburn South Primary School.  This important work forms part of our school Strategic Plan.  All schools are now required to provide respectful relationships education to students to help embed a community-wide culture of respect and equality.  The Respectful Relationships work closely aligns with our school values of Diversity and Respect, and helps foster the safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environment we enjoy at AHS.

Consent education has been topical in the media recently, and has been mandated by the Minister for Education to be taught across all year levels from Foundation to Year 12.  Our Leading Teachers for Curriculum are working closely with the Wellbeing Team to develop teaching resources that are aligned with the Victorian Curriculum and that are age-appropriate, accessible and well-suited to the needs of our particular student cohorts.

A session was conducted last week with our Year 11 and 12 students on the topic of respectful language in the context of gender stereotypes.  The workshop was very well received and our students engaged in the discussion with great maturity.  All year levels will take part in a consent education session before the end of Term 3, and the broader Respectful Relationships work will continue in its planning stages this year ready for implementation in 2022.  A parent workshop will also be held to support parents to continue the conversation at home, helping to form a strong partnership between home and school to progress this important issue within our community.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Year 9 students Caroline Marcel and Phoebe Ketsakidis, and to Year 7 student Sophie Lei, who participated in this week’s Ainger Peck Public Speaking Awards.  It was a very strong field with students participating from a number of local schools.  I commend these students on their aspiration and significant efforts in preparing for their presentations, and for proudly and confidently representing our school in the community.  Further detail about the event can be found further in this newsletter.

Congratulations also to Year 12 student, Dohun Yun, who was nominated for the 2021 Global Learning Awards.  Dohun has now been named as a finalist in the Academic Excellence category.  The Awards presentation will take place in July.  Well done to Dohun on his consistent demonstration of our school DARE values and on being such a positive role model in our school.

Curriculum Day 18th May

Tuesday 18th May is a student-free day.  Teaching staff will be taking part in a day of collaborative professional learning focusing on implementation of student writing strategies in our teaching practice.

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