From the Principal's desk

Principal Update

Well the last few weeks really have had a bit of everything!! 

The frequent alerts regarding positive COVID-19 cases across our campuses and the need for us to react to these alerts by contacting families reading Close Contact status and in some cases Campus Closures has certainly again tested us all in what continues to be an ever changing world in which we live. 

As always, the focus for all staff at the college has been to ensure as much as possible that needs of all students continue to be met and as I write we have over 600 students across our college engaged in Remote Learning due to isolation requirements. In some of these cases teachers are completing this work from home whilst in other cases this work is being completed whilst on-site at the Campus. There really is so many things for us to be aware of and I cannot understate how amazing every member of our college community - families, students and staff have been through this period. Simply sensational.

Through it all our Year 12 students were tasked with sitting the longest exam of this VCE exam period as they prepared and sat their 3-hour Year 12 English exam which was held on Wednesday. The mere fact they arrived for this exam when two days earlier their campus was closed and many of their peers were already in isolation is such a huge testament to the courage and resilience of these students. Without fail we continue to look to our students for this example and their positive approach is simply insatiable. Huge credit goes to the team of staff around our learners who support this work every day.

It seems apparent these crazy days are here to stay for the near future anyway. Our way through this is as a united team, a team who picks up after each other and pitches in when it is their turn to give. We have demonstrated these traits so often over the past two years and through what we hope and anticipate is the final stretch - these behaviours have never been more important.

TLI to Continue in 2022

The recent release of the 2022 Indicative Budgets for DET schools includes the welcome return of Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) funding. As we all know this program and our wonderful team of tutors have done so much to support our students develop their learning through 2021 and we are very grateful that this program will feature as a support for our students in 2022.

Farewell Year 12 Class of 2021

Ironically, the first day that we were all back together marked the last day of classes and formal attendance for our 2021 Year 12 cohort. The students enjoyed a day of celebration that began with obligatory ‘decorating’ of the school yard and entrances. Some glad wrap, ‘streamers’ (in the way of toilet paper - quite a symbolic nod to the last 2 years!) and shaving cream were decorative items of choice. Students were then able to enjoy a day of activities with their teachers as they celebrated the end of their 13-year schooling journey. 

Again, this year the NBC students outdid themselves in their ability to celebrate this occasion in a responsible and inclusive manner. Thanks also to all staff who supported this important rite of passage moment.

Efforts now turn to exams and completing some finishing touches to work requirements - a task that again we know our students will complete successfully.

COVID Response Processes

Included below is some information regarding the guidance that the college must follow in the event that we are to identify Probable Close Contacts (PCCs) of a positive COVID case that has been on-site. As families would be aware this is a process that we have needed to enact a number of times already and will more than likely need to repeat in the weeks to come. So with this in mind some of the steps in these processes that are worth highlighting are:

PCCs - 

‘Probable Close Contacts’ are determined by the school and are identified following strict criteria. All PCCs will be advised of an exposure date and are required to isolate (7 days for full Vacc. and 14 days for non-full vacc.); be tested both immediately and on Day 6 or Day 13. These requirements only extend to the PCC - it does not include household members or close contacts of the PCC. Only those identified as PCCs should be tested and isolate.

Families will be informed if their child is a PCC either by phone, by email, by text or a combination of these communication methods. Please note that due to the need to contact PCCs quickly there will be times where email and text are used instead of a phone call.

School / Campus Closures 

The decision to close a campus is made by the DET and is determined according to both the complexity of the PCC list and the capacity to notify all PCCs. The decision to close will generally be finalised late in the evening prior to the closure date and is intended to only be quick. As such we all need to keep an eye out for alerts via Compass and be ready to swing into a learn-form-home situation. 

We continue to be grateful to all families for their ongoing support and understanding in this space.

Congratulations

A heartfelt congratulations to Ross Dullard who will leave his role as Campus AP at Wexford to take up the Principal role at Alvie PS. We are thrilled for Ross and know he will provide his school community with such positive leadership. Ross has made such a positive contribution to our school, working across a number of our Campuses and we thank him sincerely.

With Mr Dullard's departure we are very excite to announce that Kate Sykes - who has been acting as Campus Assistant principal at Wexford - was successful in gaining this position in a substantive (full-time) capacity. Ms Sykes has already made such a positive impact and this appointment allows her and the Wexford leadership team to continue this great work.

Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge

Throughout 2021, students across our college participated in the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge.  In P-2 the students had to read a minimum of 30 books. Students in years 3-10 needed to finish reading at least 15.  Overall, 406 students from prep to year 10 successfully completed the challenge. That equates to 26% of our eligible students.  Each of our successful candidates will receive a certificate from the Victorian Premiers; past and present.  These will be sent to the school in term 4. 

Recognition must go to the Literacy and English teachers, as well as the ES staff, for their commitment and record keeping.  Thank you to the library staff on each campus; Maxine Tippett, Shirley Muxworthy, Melissa Cropley, Marijana Kozdra, Claire Telfer and Toni Hionis. They supported the staff and students with borrowing and recording the titles on the challenge website.  Without their commitment, we would not have achieved such a wonderful outcome for our students.  Congratulations to everyone involved.

Regards,

Scott Diamond

College Principal