Principal's Report

Principal -

Mr. Tristan Lanarus

Dear Westall Secondary College Community,

We have enjoyed another successful year at Westall in 2019. For the second consecutive year, Westall has been recognised by the Education Department as a high performing school. This encompasses a range of data sets including NAPLAN growth, Student Attendance, Student Engagement, Staff and Parent Opinion Data. The rating also includes VCE and VCAL results and pathways when students leave Westall for employment and Tertiary Education. On top of all that, our school perception and enrolment as a school of choice continues to grow. We have over 600 students enrolled in 2020 and 88 new students at Year 7. Our highest number on both counts in my time here.

So . . .

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone!

In addition, special congratulations to all students on completing your 2019 program and to all those students recognised at the School Awards Assembly and Presentation Evening at Monash University. Reports will be released shortly so please look over this carefully in readiness for 2020.

2020 classes have commenced over the last 2 weeks (Head Start Program) and Activities Week is scheduled for the last week of the year. We also had our new Year 7 cohort for 2020 spend the day with us on Tuesday 10th December for the State Wide Orientation Day. I think it is a great way to keep us all focused at the end of the year and re-energise students before they head into holidays. For our Year 11 and 12 students in particular, it is very important to give them the opportunity to commence their 2020 program before the holidays so that some study and reading can be done over the Summer break.

VCE and VCAL scores and outcomes for 2019 are about to be released and by the time you are reading this, our Year 12 students will have their results. I hope you have each achieved what you wanted and needed. Please come in to the school prior to us closing on 20th December, to get support and advice from the Careers and Pathways Team.

As happens every year, there are some staffing changes. On behalf of the Westall community, I would like to thank Rochelle Travitz, Alexandra Mikhailova, Freda Gatsios, Rebekah Vass, Brett Forsyth, Michelle Ling, Amber Li and Sara Kwestroo who all finish with us at the end of this year.

Similarly, a welcome to our new staff in 2020. Jason Tickner, Divinna Arasu, Naomi Walkley, Rebecca Tomkins, Gary Bottomley, Sathy Allen and Ruth Rosenberg. There will be two further additional new staff finalised in the coming days.

Please enjoy a safe and happy holiday period. Look after yourselves and each other and enjoy the time relaxing with family and friends. Our return date for students in 2020 is 29th January.

Until next time!

Remembrance Day Service with members of the Clayton RSL