From the Principal

2017 has been another wonderful year. I am so proud of our students, staff, parents and community. I am truly grateful to our community and I appreciate the work that you all do in supporting our students to achieve the very best they can in all aspects of their lives at GEC.

I would like to thank our School Council, Parents and Friends and all other volunteers who contribute so much to the College.

There are many highlights of the term. Here are just a few:

Year 12 Valedictory: For the first time we exceeded the space we have at school and celebrated at the Langham hotel – a very fitting venue. Students were awarded with certificates and commemorative 'owls'.
Annual Languages Assembly: We were delighted to have David Southwick as our guest speaker. It was exciting to see so many students recognised for their success in French, Hebrew and Japanese. The results for students participating in the DELF (Diplome Elementaire en Langue Francaise) exams get better every year. The results also show that whichever option our students have chosen, a high level can be reached.
Visual Art Show – an amazing display of the wonderful talents of our students in a range of media.
The Music Festival was again a great showcase of the musical talents of our students.
The Year 10 surf camp was a huge success. The students and staff had a wonderful time and everyone learnt a few new skills.
Moving in to our wonderful new facilities.

I am very proud of our 2017 Year 12 students and grateful to all of their teachers over the years for the outstanding support they give to each and every student.

The VCE results are a huge source of celebration. Some highlights include:

15.9% of scores 90 or above ( 9.5% in 2016)
30.5% of scores 80 or above ( 11. 7 % in 2016)
One student scored a 50 in a subject taught at GEC—outstanding!
5.1% of study scores 40 or above (3.2% in 2016)
Mean study score of 29 (28.74 in 2016)
Median study score of 29 (same as 2016)
9 students awarded the VCE Baccalaureate

It is my absolute pleasure that, with a score of 99, I announce our DUX of 2017 - Elena Shi.

Our DUX is a very focused, dedicated and high achieving student. She has an outstanding work ethic, regularly in the library after school and attending any extra classes on offer by her teachers. Her sheer determination to not only succeed but also excel in everything she undertakes enabled her to be the Dux of Glen Eira College. She achieved a perfect study score of 50 for Maths Methods. I know that with such a hardworking, committed nature and mindset she is sure to succeed with her University studies and future aspirations.

Congratulations to our 2018 school captains: Ashleigh Szmerling and Morgan Edwards and Vice Captains Boris Pribil and Berenice Mickelburough.

Congratulations to our 2018 junior school captains: Ben Matthews and Jenna Casamento and to the Vice Captains Aimee Harris and Paul Palatsides.

Staffing

We say farewell to:

Lee Dalton, Fiona Finnegan, Matthew Robson, Michael Kelty, Dorit Tane, Dee Mehte and Shupu Wang and thank them for their wonderful contribution in working with our students in their time at GEC and we wish them all the best at their new schools.
Tori Mulligan – Congratulations to Tori who will be the Assistant Principal at Bacchus Marsh Secondary College. We thank you for the fantastic contribution you have made to the college over an extended period of time as Teaching and Learning Leader, Junior Sub School Leader and for significant efforts in promoting cultural aspects of the school.
Loveena Narayanen, but only for term 1, as she embarks on a teacher exchange to France.
Emma Power and Georgina Peters and thank them for their wonderful contribution in working with our students in their time at GEC and all the best as they take a year to travel.

As our numbers continue to grow we are in the wonderful position of recruiting excellent teachers to the college. We welcome:

Aaron Petersen: Assistant Principal

Alicia Davey: Leading Teacher – Numeracy Improvement and Maths KLA Leader

Casey Deng: Maths / Accounting

Sue Rio: Food Technology

Duncan La Nair: Art / Material Technology

Delanka Pieris: Pyschology / Science (Year 7 Coordinator)

Mogane Roge: French

Karen Eap – English / Humanities

Naomi Zander: English / Humanities

Despina Filippidis: Maths

Daniel Lake: Maths / Science

Also, Chris Allen will be replacing Parminder Kaur who will be on family leave in semester 1.

We will also have Baptiste Oueriagli as an intern from Telecom Lille for January to May 2018 working in the area of communications.

Finally, I wish all students and families a happy and safe holiday. I look forward to seeing our students ready for the 2018 academic year on Tuesday 30th January.

Sheereen Kindler

Principal