Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

Firstly, a huge congratulations to all students for their efforts during Headstart. After such a uniquely challenging year, Year 9-11 students sitting their exams and then some fun and engaging activities this week, it has been wonderful to see so many students really pushing forward in their learning and starting to set the tone of their school experience in 2021.

Orientation Day – Tuesday 8th December, 2020

All of our new students starting next year in Year 7 had their Orientation Day on Tuesday 8th December. This was a wonderful opportunity to make some new friends, become more familiar with the College and get to know the Year 7 teaching team. My thanks to all staff involved in running or supporting this program, especially our Transition Coordinator Belinda Marshall, 2021 Year 7 Leader LaShay Tricker and Assistant, Mariah Stone and both Lisa Manning and Lou Regan for their administration support. As in previous years, we have run a special transition program in the lead up to this day but with the restrictions associated with COVID-19, we had to change the plans and instead run shorter activities for groups of 10 students at a time. This first experience of secondary school a couple of weeks ago, exposed them all to Art and Science activities along with a scavenger hunt to familiarise them with the layout of the school buildings. On Orientation day all students had a taster of Maths, English, Drama and Music, PE and Learn 2 Learn. It was lovely to meet all of our 2021 Year 7 students in the morning and we look forward to seeing them all back at school on Friday 29th January 2021.

2020 Awards Ceremony

To recognise and celebrate the achievements of our students across all year levels this year, we have pre-recorded this event. This will be available to all families to watch this week via Compass, Facebook and will be placed on our website. Students were presented with a range of awards for Academic Excellence, Encouragement, various subject awards and our special sponsored awards on Thursday last week in the Library. This was staggered throughout the day with the students receiving an award invited to attend.

Given our Awards night usually goes for 2.5 hours at Memorial Hall, we needed to streamline the event this year, given it is was pre-recorded. It was also not possible under the current guidelines to have our usual array of musical performances and guest speakers however we look forward to this returning next year.

My thanks must go to Cheryl Evans, Fiona Ray, Carol Caffrey, Alecia Dignan, Michael Airey and Kirsty Missen for all their work in putting the event together for us. The videos are separated into the different year levels so you have the choice to watch the award ceremony relevant to you and your family.

Early in Term 1 we will invite all Year 12 students back to the College to celebrate their achievements and present them with subject awards and present the Dux of the College for 2020.

School Captains 2021

It is always a great pleasure to announce our School Captains. Our School Captains for 2021 have been involved in various leadership positions throughout their time as students at Maffra Secondary College. They attended the school for student leadership when they were in Year 9 and have represented our College in many different extracurricular activities during their time as students here. They have a passion for student voice and ensuring that all students from Year 7-12 feel connected to our College and will actively work toward helping this to grow throughout the College. They have been wonderful role models for other students and staff during their schooling.

I am pleased to announce Jasmin Underwood and Lucas Simon as our School Captains for 2021. Congratulations.

Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program

The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars program is an academic enrichment program designed to support high-achieving Victorian and select New South Wales and South Australian border school students in realising their full potential. The program provides access to events, activities and resources to give students a head start into university. Congratulations to Katie-Rose Driffield, one of our Year 10 students in 2020, who was successful in achieving one of the Melbourne University scholarships into this program which will run for the duration of her VCE studies at Maffra Secondary College. With over 1500 applications received, Katie-Rose was a standout due to her academic achievements and community involvement. Congratulations Katie on a fantastic achievement!

Cricket Success

Congratulations, to Austin Anlezark, Ed Phelan-Penson and Bayden Dowsett who have been offered a spot in the Richmond Cricket Club team for the upcoming U16 Dowling Shield tournament. The boys have been travelling down to Glen Waverley on weekends to try out for the team and they have all been successful in selection. Good luck boys, all the best.

2020 Year Book

The 2020 Year Book is a celebration of the amazing things that have occurred by our school community this year. It highlights events, experiences and outstanding achievements by the students across our College and also finishes with unique memories from our graduating class of 2020. Copies have been provided to students last week but if you have missed out on a copy, they are also available from the front office. All Year 12 students will receive one when their final VCAA statements of completion arrive at the end of the year.

A huge congratulations to Tim Van Emmerik for his efforts to bring it together this year.

Staffing update 2021

Next year we have a number of staffing movements as a result of promotions, personal circumstances and contracts ending.

Leaving/Taking Leave:

Michael Airey – Term 1 Leave
Rochelle Salerman – Maternity Leave
David Bryan – Taking up a position at Montmorency SC.
Ms Mee – Early Childhood - Sale
Lachlan Coleman – Returning to Ballarat and seeking other employment opportunities. We may see him here as a Replacement Teacher from time to time.
Chenyi Wu - Seeking other employment opportunities
Kylie Lambert – 1 year LWOP as she takes up a Learning Specialist Leadership position at Lowanna College
Daniel Murphy – 1 year LWOP as he takes up an Acting Assistant Principal position at Kurnai College
Nicole Heber – Taking up an English teacher position at Yarram Secondary College
Sarah Whitwam – Taking up the Principal position at Bundalaguah Primary School

New staff in 2021

Liam Charles – PE/Science (replacing Jill Johnson on maternity leave)
Scott Van Dyk – PE/Maths
Joanne Barnden – English and English Domain Leader
Jodie Thompson – Art/Tech/Hums and Year 9 Leading Teacher
Jodie Dore – English and Whole School Literacy Improvement Learning Specialist
Leigh Winter - English / Humanities

We still finalising a Drama/English position which we are currently interviewing for.

Leadership Team 2021

Year 7 Leading Teacher – LaShay Tricker
Year 8 Leading Teacher – Heidi Bassler
Year 9 Leading Teacher – Jodie Thompson
Year 10 Leading Teacher – Brett Hudson
Senior School Leading Teacher – Marie Clark
Learning Specialist: Teaching and Learning – Belinda Marshall
Learning Specialist: Whole School Literacy Improvement – Jodie Dore
Business Manager – Aileen Onley
Assistant Principal – Cheryl Evans
Assistant Principal – Nathan Wallace
Principal – Jennifer Roep

We hope all students and families have a restful and safe holiday and I thank you for all of the support throughout the year. I look forward to seeing everyone back in the New Year.

School Council News

School Council President - Meg Capurso

Congratulations Julie Riley

Winner of this Year's Parents Club Christmas Hamper raffle.