Taylors Lakes News

From the Principal Class

Welcome

Welcome to our first newsletter for Term 2.

There have been many conversations over the last week about ‘this time last year’ - about the unknowable enormity of the task ahead of us; the rapid and detailed planning we were doing for an unfamiliar and unpredictable situation; the uncertainty and fear we felt as educators, family members, and friends; the sense of loss as we said goodbyes as an onsite community at the end of Term 1. 

 

As a College,  there is a strong feeling of gratitude as the new term begins. We are really grateful that we weathered the storm of COVID; that we are back together as a school community and moving closer to ‘normal’; and for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated and determined community at this school. I know that many staff and students felt very tired at the end of last term.  I hope the mid term break provided an opportunity for everyone to enjoy a good rest and some time together with family and friends.

 

A number of staffing changes have occurred at the beginning of this term.  From this term, we welcome Tianyi Fan (TFA) who will be taking on the Accounting/Business Management vacancy for the remaining of the year. Welcome back to Dylan Cook who also returns to Taylors Lakes Secondary College this term after being appointed to the English vacancy.  Over the break I was also informed that Allanna Procak gained a new position at Grovedale SC in Geelong for the commencement of the term. As a result, Allanna finished up at the end of the holidays with a new vacancy now in English/Humanities. We wish Allanna the very best for her new position. 

 

As you read this edition of the newsletter,  you will notice that our students have been actively engaging with the community, both locally and more broadly, in many different ways over recent weeks. Whether through welcoming parents to the college at the LEAP and Football Academy Information Evenings and parent morning tours; leading and catering for our annual breakfast, participating in sporting events and year level excursions, our students have shown themselves to be excellent representatives of Taylors Lakes Secondary College, and leaders whom we can be extremely proud of.  Their positive behaviour and attitude is regularly noticed and appreciated by all members of the College community.  

Facilities Update

The college continues to maintain a proactive focus on improving the facilities and working environment for our students and staff as it pursues an unprecedented schedule of facility upgrades and developments. 

 

You would recall that I mentioned last year that our school was successful in gaining a Minor Capitol Works Grant ($365K) for the upgrade to our gymnasium as well as $1.8 million from the State Government to upgrade the school oval. Given the school has a Joint User Agreement with Brimbank Council for our school oval, we are very lucky that the local council helps us maintain the oval to a very high level. I have advised that our oval has one of the best surfaces in the state.  Therefore, with this is mind, College Council has been working hard with the Minster's Office and provided a series of recommendations to redirect the funding allocated at the end of last year. 

 

I am pleased to report the Minister’s Office has accepted the College Council’s recommendations. These agreed amendments include an upgrade to the school's sporting infrastructure and associated ancillary works; including, but not limited to the following:

  • Upgrade storm water infrastructure to areas adjacent to the north oval
  • Upgrade surface to netball / basketball hard-court area directly adjacent to the north oval
  • Provide perimeter fencing upgrades around the existing ‘Futsal / six-a-side soccer infrastructure directly adjacent to the north oval
  • Complete the refurbishment of the Gymnasium
  • Ancillary external landscaping and student seating adjacent to the north oval

Further to the oval upgrade, the gym upgrade, that we were successful in receiving funding from the minor capital works resource, will be rolled into the oval upgrade capital works project and now named as the ‘Sporting Facilities Capitals Works Project’. This is a great outcome for the college as it will cause less issues in managing the project and be completed more quickly. The combined project funding will be close to $ 2.2 million dollars. Planning for this project has commenced with construction to begin later this year.

 

In addition to the major project above, we have also be planning to erect new sun shade covering outside the Food Technology Rooms including additional student seating.  New student seating will has also been planned to be erected in the Canteen Area and this should be finalised later this term.  A lot of work has been done in the yard as well. Work has been done on the gardens, trees have been pruned back and removed, rubbish has been removed and the bins washed and cleaned. The school has also been washed and cleaned from the outside as well. Finally all the heaters and coolers have been serviced and all other plumbing issues rectified.

Western Chances Ceremony

The annual Western Chances Scholarships Awards Ceremony was held at Deakin Edge Theatre at Federation Square on Thursday 11 March 2021. Of the 208 new scholarships awarded, Taylors Lakes Secondary College students obtained more than 20. Several TLSC students represented the school at the ceremony in front of a large crowd and a huge online audience of more than two thousand.  

It is wonderful to see so many of our students acknowledged for their outstanding academic performance across many areas of the curriculum.  Blake Farrow, pictured above, also was awarded a Dafydd Lewis Scholarship too and this will certainly support him with his tertiary studies. 

 

The ceremony was also very moving and inspiring, and demonstrated the power of education. It was viewed online by students, parents and staff who were unable to attend the ceremony.

 

Congratulations to all those who were awarded a 2021 scholarship. We thank the staff who generously gave up their time to complete the associated paperwork and to nominate students or complete renewal applications. This is genuinely appreciated.

Professional Learning Sessions for Staff

Monday, May 31st 2021, will be a Pupil Free Day for the students of the college.  Students do not attend school on this day.  On this day staff will be involved in professional learning across the day, centered around the work from the Berry Street Educational Model. This is the second day of a four day course. The other two sessions will be held in Semester 2 2021 and Semester 1 2022. Please note that the General Office will also be closed on this day.

 

On Monday, May 3rd 2021, all students will finish early at 2pm. This will enable all teaching staff to attend to a professional learning session from 2:30pm - 4:30pm centered on the use of differentiated strategies to support instructional practice in Deep Learning. Both of these professional learning sessions have been approved by College Council. 

Year 10-12 Exams  

Parent Information Evening: Monday 24th May 2021, 7pm

Years 10-12 students and their parents are invited to a Parent Information Evening on Monday May 24th 2021.  The focus of the presentation is how you as parents can best support your child through the senior years and VCE which can be a stressful time for many students and parents.

 

The presentation will include general information on effective strategies for preparing and completing exams, how to organise time outside of school in the lead up to exams, and advice on how to manage stress and remain healthy during the exam period.  How the VCE is structured and assessed will also be briefly covered. The session will run from 7:00pm - 8:30pm.  More information will be provided closer to the date whether the information will be held online or onsite. We look forward to seeing you there.