Principals' Report 

Executive Team Report   

Usually when I write this final newsletter report I would be congratulating our VCE cohort who would have received their final results and begin making decisions about work, study or perhaps travel plans for the following year. However, not this year!  2020 has changed the rule book and we have navigated unpredictability, challenge and adversity. As we all look forward to a positive 2021 and beyond it is also important to note the achievements and learnings gained as we worked through this year. It has not been what we expected.  Many significant school and life milestones have been missed, however, we have also surprised ourselves with our versatility and resilience, both at school and in the community. 

We need to take advantage of the skills we have learnt and use them in our practices going forward, processes may never be the same again. Who knew we could work from home, conduct course counselling interviews, Information Evenings and College Council meetings on Zoom and Webex.  Our students and staff managed their work in different ways, and we should be proud of their diligence and the collaboration which occurred. We have also been so very well supported by parents/carers, many of our families had to juggle the whole team working at home at once. Our communication channels were open and information flowed freely. Thank you all for your engagement in the learning process. 

Our student leadership team were also active and creative, they missed many rites of passage usually afforded to leaders, yet stepped up beautifully with Instagram, competitions and general activities to maintain connection. 

This year, VCE results will be provided to our students on December 30 and we will have a team of staff attending at school to access the data and make contact with students to provide any career counselling or emotional support that is needed. 2020 is certainly the year that keeps on giving! 

Thank you, to all members of the College Council for their work and support throughout this year. I would particularly like to thank our School Captains, Blair Tink and Sarah Whitebrook, for their contribution to the Council this year and to our College in general throughout their time at Koonung. I wish them every success in the future and encourage them to stay in contact with us as they move into the next phase of their lives. We have also valued the enthusiastic input from Katinka Schmid who worked along-side our parent and staff representatives. I would also like to thank Geoff Spicer, our President, for his calm and inclusive leadership. 

School Review

On Thursday 3 December the final Panel day for our review was held. During the course of this process a large number of focus groups were conducted by Brian Collins and the Challenge Partners. These sessions allowed staff members, students and parents to give their perspectives on a range of issues. The discussions were robust and useful and allowed the panel to formulate their terms of reference and then move towards formulating goals. The outcome of the day was a series of potential goals for our new strategic plan and some possible actions. (see below). The reviewer will now go prepare our final report.

The goals suggested are a logical continuation of the work we have been conducting over the last four years and also prior to that. Ultimately, it was a very positive experience, both our reviewer and Challenge partners did “challenge” us and were very thorough in their examination of our school. However, it was also a celebration of the successes of an excellent school.

Suggested Goals for the new Strategic Plan

Goal 1: To improve student achievement in all areas of learning across the school

Goal 2: To build student voice and agency to improve student engagement in learning

Goal 3: To develop the connectedness, resilience and wellbeing of all students

AIP (Annual Implementation Plan) 2021

As a response to Covid 19 and the impact of remote learning on the Victorian community, DET has mandated a GOAL 0 with 3 mandated Key Improvement Strategies which all schools must work towards in 2021. Fortunately, they align very closely to our goals and focus and are very strongly our core business so our AIP direction is set for us.  We are able to determine the actions we will work on to achieve them. 

The mandated Key Improvement Strategies are:

• Learning, catch-up and extension priority  -   identifying student learning needs and providing programs to support them.
• Happy, active and healthy kids priority –  providing programs to support engagement and wellbeing of students, staff and families, including linking with allied health services.
• Connected Schools priority – providing opportunities and methods for communication and involvement in school and local events for all members of the college community.

Small Group Tutor Program

The Department of Education and Training has provided each school with a significant amount of money to support students who may have fallen behind during the remote learning period. This funding, combined with money to support the Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Program, will allow us to target specific needs of identified students. We have employed staff to provide small group support to these students with co-teaching and small group arrangements for 2021. 

Revised timetable structure for 2021

In Term 1 this year we undertook a review of the structure of the timetable at Koonung Secondary College. While our ten-period day provided significant flexibility, aspects of this structure were creating challenges particularly in the area of room utilisation and student movement throughout the day. Despite our best efforts, there remained some 30 minute periods in core subjects and both staff and students were unhappy with this situation. It was also identified that the two week timetable created some confusion. As a result, we made the decision to move to a one week timetable with five 60 minute periods each day from the start of 2021. This structure will enable us to reduce movement around the school and ensure that we utilise space efficiently while we await the completion of 6 new learning spaces in the new Middle School building.

The times for the periods are listed below:

We look forward to welcoming all students back at the start of 2021 to our new, simplified timetable structure.

Statewide Orientation Day

Thank you to the Middle School team and all staff who were involved in the running of Orientation Day on Tuesday 8 December. Despite continuing changing criteria and the program looking very different than our traditional day, the students and parents were very happy and it was an extremely positive day. Parent information sessions were run via Zoom and there was great attendance. The format allowed us to answer questions which were asked via the chat function and Allira provided a very informative and warm session.

We had a number of student leaders and volunteers who acted as guides for the 9 classes on the day. As always, the students were fabulous role models for our College, they were helpful and responsible mentors to our incoming students. These students gave up a pupil free day to come in and support the Middle School.

Next year we will have another 9 classes of Year 7 students with a cohort of 210 students as our enrolments continue to grow.

Staffing

As we reach the end of another school year, we take the time to bid a fond farewell to some staff members who are leaving us, either permanently or for some well deserved leave.

• Daniela Nardelli has accepted a Learning Specialist (Curriculum Innovations) position at Bundoora Secondary College.
• Ewa Oaten will be transferring to Heathmont College as their Mental Health Practitioner.
• Paul Guardiani is relocating to Geelong, and has accepted a position at Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College.
• We also give our best wishes for a restful break to Anthony Hasseldine and Tony Sensi, who are taking leave for 2021, and Lauren Hughes, who will be on leave in Term 1.

PFA Morning Tea  

Thank you to the PFA for providing a morning tea for the staff on Wednesday 16 December.  

We are all very excited with the anticipation of sampling a home-made Devonshire tea. It really is a lovely gesture and will be greatly appreciated.  

Artists in Schools  

Check out the mural produced by David Foote’s Year 9 Urban Art class with Brett Ashby. This  

project was sponsored by Whitehorse Council and received financial support from materials  

from PFA. It certainly brightens up a dull area. If you get a chance have a look at the video  

link on our Visual Arts page of this newsletter.

Merry Christmas everyone, let’s look ahead with optimism to 2021. 2020 has challenged us in many ways, however, it has also shown us the value of flexibility and resilience. We have all learned a great deal, I am sure. Next year will be an exciting one as we start our new strategic plan and see the Capital Works project begin to evolve. 

Capital Works Program 

We are currently in the tender process stage of the capital works program. Tenders close on 23 December and we look forward to seeing the commencement of the building program early in the new year. 

Important parent information

New parking arrangements: Box Hill Crescent

Families are advised that Whitehorse City Council has implemented a ‘No Stopping 8-9am and 3-4pm School Days’ parking prohibition along the west side of Box Hill Crescent between Cairo Road and Belmore Road. We trust that families will appreciate the increased safety for their children that this action creates. Please also note that the bus zone has also moved in order to further reduce congestion. The new bus zone is now located closer to Cairo Road.

Stace Kerr

Business Manager