Principal's Report

Term 2 started positively with Open Day and Night, tours for prospective enrolments, a cyber-safety presentation evening, KIOSC excursions, interschool sport, careers activities and more. There was a real sense of normality as a school as teachers were preparing students for the mid-year assessments and for Year 10 work experience. We were certainly aware of being COVID Safe and therefore the reappearance of the virus in the community was disappointing, especially when it meant we had to return to remote learning. The commitment, support, and efforts of our teachers and students for our fourth lockdown period provided much needed continuity for learning and identification of individuals and families requiring additional health and wellbeing supports.

In the Classroom

I enjoy the opportunity to visit classrooms to engage with our students. There are many highlights during these visits, for example: In the Junior School, I saw students working in mathematics classes on rich learning tasks.

The tasks, designed in response to student feedback during curriculum development, increased student engagement and learning. It was great to witness students displaying their understanding of mathematical concepts through practical application. This lesson also highlighted our staff commitment to continuous improvement through use of genuine student voice and agency. Prior to these activities, a group of Year 8 students had worked collaboratively with the maths teachers on what is taught and how it is taught in. What better way to empower students to be co-designers in their learning!

We were certainly hoping that we would not have to be disrupted again this year, for our students’ continuity of learning and equally for their health and wellbeing. However, during the term all students have reengaged with Remote and Flexible Learning and have been magnificent in their purpose and commitment. I thank their wonderful teachers, the IT team, and families for their support of our students. At the start of June our Year 11 and 12 students returned to campus for a series of assessments and the completion of Unit One examinations. The ongoing support of the Senior Team and our teachers have ensured that these students have experienced little disruption to their studies, and our student leaders have been incredibly proactive in keeping the cohorts connected and positive throughout

Smart Watches at School from the beginning of Semester 2

Students will no longer be able to wear their smart watches at school when they return after the semester break. In line with the Department of Education and Training's ministerial order regarding mobile phone usage, “mobile phone” refers to mobile phones and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone, such as smart watches. Smart watches, in most cases, function in a similar way to mobile phones; to communicate, transmit information, and receive notifications and like phones, thereby making them a distraction to student learning. Already the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) have also published in their examination advice that “students are not permitted to bring into examination any electronic devices including smart watches and fitness trackers.” In line with the ministerial order, students are not permitted to wear smart watches at school. Students who bring their smart watches to school will be requested to keep them in their locker until the end of the day. Students will continue to be able to wear regular watches to school that cannot transmit information.

Annual Implementation Plan

The end of the first semester is a good opportunity to reflect on the three overarching goals and targets that we set as a College and the progress we have made towards achieving them.

Goal 1:

To improve the achievement and leaning growth of all students.

Goal 2:

To improve student engagement, voice and advocacy, inspiring students to be empowered learners.

Goal 3:

To build leadership capacity to create high performing teams for whole school improvement.

We are well on track towards achieving our goals, already reaching many of the targets through:

consistent application of the Scoresby Secondary College Instructional Framework
maintaining high expectations
continuous curriculum development and review for all subjects
student learning extension and catch up
prioritising happy active and healthy students employing two new student services members who have commenced this month
professional leadership coaching for existing and emerging leaders
expanding student voice and agency

Members of Education Policy Committee (EPC), a sub-committee for College Council, regularly receive reports on our progress towards the goals, in addition to hearing updates about teaching and learning and providing input into policy development. The next meeting will have Ms Michelle Deboer present the teaching and learning strategies used by mathematics staff and how they have engaged students in using their voice so they have agency in ‘What’ and ‘How’ mathematics is taught.

Uniform

As the weather has been extremely cold, students should be wearing warmer clothes. The College jumper is very warm especially when combined with the jacket. The winter uniform is compulsory. A reminder to check all items are correctly fitting and items are not lost over the break. Students should be returning on day one having checked the policy in their planner on the requirements. A number of students have been reminded about adjusting their skirt length as they have grown taller and to not bring incorrect school bags to school. There are two weeks to prepare.

2022 Enrolments

Our College is growing and while our school numbers may not be large, we offer every opportunity to our students that a larger school would offer. I thank the staff for their commitment and their willingness to give the extra time and effort to run such a rich co-curricular program and teaching staff for such a rigorous, engaging and enriching the classroom program.

Next term we will be welcoming more new students and our transition team led by Ms Emily Phibbs will commence the start of the Year 7 2022 transition process.

End of Term

Throughout this busy term I have been surrounded by so many committed staff, families, and other members of our school community in and out of lockdown. I thank each and every person for the role you have played in inspiring and working collaboratively with students to ensure they have every opportunity to experience success.

I would particularly like to acknowledge the leadership of Mr Chris Knight over this past week whilst I have been on medical leave.

I wish all students and staff have a relaxing and safe break and I look forward to welcoming you all back on Monday 12 July.

Mrs Gail Major

Principal