Delahey Campus Principal Message
Welcome to the final campus principal’s report for 2022 here at the Delahey campus. There’s no point making a comment about how the year has ‘flown’ because it’s one of those wonders of life that we know occurs every year, yet we always make a comment about it as
though ‘this year’ was somehow different to previous years.
Another one of life’s mysteries is that of a senior campus ‘winding down’ in Term 4. This is most certainly not the case. Of course, our Year 12 classes officially finish in October, but those teachers are either working during their regular class times with groups of students who come in for last minute exam instruction, or they are planning courses for next year.
Speaking of Planning Time, the ever-changing Study Designs in each subject, not to mention our new VCE-Vocational Major program means that courses, assessments, curriculum maps and schedules need to be re-created so that all teachers are ready come day one next year. We do not have discretionary time at our disposal. Collaboration is key here, and I’d like to take this opportunity to say how proud we are of the way in which teachers from across the college are coming together during planning time to ensure our student’s learning outcomes are the highest priority.
Year 12 exams are now but a distant memory for our class of 2022. We await results with excitement (and a little anxiety) on Monday December 12. The college has built a strong
post-results check in with all our students so that if needed, tertiary preferences can be altered as a result of the student’s ATAR. Our campus leaders and pathways leaders will be making many calls and seeing many students in that 48-hour period between results and changes of preference.
The 2023 Year 12 VCE-Vocational Major Transition was held during week 8 (earlier than the VCE) because of the new senior secondary certificate starting next year. The team wanted to ensure we had a captive audience with a continuous attendance rather than giving students a couple of weeks of down time and then refocusing their energies on returning to school.
Good idea!
Our Year 12 Formal was held last week at Melrose Receptions. It was an absolutely magical night and really, one of the highlights of the teaching profession. For our teachers and leaders, it was just something surreal looking at the young men and women who ‘only yesterday’ were shy, open eyed Year 7 students about to embark on secondary schooling…my how the 6 years fly. A special thanks to our Student Management Team for its smooth and successful operation.
There is only one more ritual left for our class of 2022 and that is our Year 12 Awards Night on Wednesday December 14 at the Hyatt Place in Essendon Fields. This night is incredibly special because it adds the transition from child to adult we see at the Formal with the celebratory theme of their learning here at Copperfield College. It is also special because
families are also present to share in this genuinely special moment. A variety of awards and certificates are conferred and the focus is on both VCE and VCAL achievement. Again, a special thanks to our Student Management Team for their organisation of the evening.
Year 10 and Year 11 exams have also been completed for another year and now we begin a week of Transition for Year 11 (VCE & VCE-VM) and Year 12 VCE. Year 10 students have traditionally undertaken their exams here at Delahey and just like the Delahey Experience Day, it is a cross campus collaboration with Teaching and Educational Support staff. Transition week really kicks off 2023 (in December 2022) with a full timetable in operation here at Delahey with pretty much all teachers teaching the classes they will take next year. The day will start with an assembly in the gymnasium.
The last real routine we have here at the Delahey campus will be our Course Confirmation Days, which run on the 12th and 13th of December. Students and parents/carers come in to check their courses for next year one more time with our Team Leaders and Pathways Leaders, make any changes (these are minimal) and check in with General Office about any payments that can be made.
Finally, just a quick fact. Next year, over 250 of our class of 2023 have ordered and paid for their commemorative Year 12 jacket. This means that almost 4 out of every 5 Year 12 student will be proudly wearing the jacket that symbolises the school that we hope they will hold dear to their heart for the rest of their lives. Our average number over the last decade was around
140. This year, we thought we’d done an amazing job getting 220…I gotta say, 250 is ‘next level’
That’s enough from me. On behalf of Dan Sullivan, we’d like to wish our Delahey community a safe, happy and healthy holiday. To those leaving us, don’t forget, you’ll always be a part of the Copperfield college family. See you all in 2023.
Mr Renato Carinci and Mr Dan Sullivan
Campus Principals