From the Principal's Desk:
Principal Report
Our Year 6 Enrolment Information Evening was a great chance to show off all that is good about Woodmans Hill Secondary College and reflect on how far we have come over the course of the last 14 months. To see each stage of our building and renovation program being used to such an effect was something to behold, but what was more inspiring was the learning that was being showcased. I am so proud of the staff and students who gave up their time to show our community what Woodmans Hill means to them. And what was clear from the questions, comments and interactions from our new families was the excitement they felt to become part of our journey.
I shared with the families that attended the fact that Woodmans Hill are in a unique position because our growth is not based on major housing developments, but a reflection of the trust that our community has in the support we give to your sons and daughters. That we had to run two sessions to meet the demand of numbers is a clear indication of the progress we have made in reigniting community belief in our school.
I do not take that trust for granted and I am committed to making the links between home, student and school even stronger. The number of parents who nominated to be part of the College Council is really encouraging and signals a willingness from our community to get involved and work together to keep improving. As principal, I can see the progress that our teachers are making in adopting best practice and this is balanced in the increased willingness of our students to be ready to learn.
Our students are pretty amazing!
It is through the shared values that you instil at home that we can make this happen. What I would like to see happen is that you feel you can contact me to share your ideas on how we can build the best school for your children together.
Hard work is the foundation of all success and we are fortunate to have so many students who realise this. Last night reaffirmed my belief that our students shouldn’t have to travel out of their neighbourhood for increased educational opportunities or step outside the state system to be assured of the best grades or the best trade opportunities: we believe that we can achieve amazing outcomes with the facilities, resources, staff, students and community that we have here at Woodmans Hill Secondary College.
And this means that we should never compromise on our values or our high expectations around behaviour or engagement. The safety of students and their right to learn and grow always has to be our priority. We are realistic and experienced enough to recognise that teenagers are custom built to make errors of judgment, but they are also hard-wired to learn and develop more in their high-school years than at any other point in their lives. We design our programs to provide a context for them to learn and grow be that socially, emotionally or academically: all parts are of equal importance when you consider the whole child - your child.
The safety of your children is what drives all our decision making. In the last few weeks, we have been forced to constantly reassess the implications of COVID-19 as we reflect on the global impact that this is having. As a community, we must look after each other and our open communication is important. I will continue to keep you updated with regards to guidance received from the department. Can I ask that any student who has flu like symptoms stays at home until they can be tested and given the all-clear? We have members of our community who will be made exceptionally vulnerable if exposed to COVID-19 and we need to work together to minimise risk.
Our expectations are that unless ill, our students will turn up to school, in full uniform because they are connected and proud of their school, respectful, determined and ready to do better today than they did yesterday.
And last night really hit home to me and made me think hard about something that I already knew and value: At Woodmans Hill, we know that we are better when we work together.
We also highly value working with parents and carers to meet your child at their point of need in terms of academic, emotional and social development. As a parent of three children I want them to do their best and I want them to grow and be able to make a contribution in the lives of others. Most importantly for them, I want them to be good people who are happy. (9) Our values of respect, determination and the pursuit of personal excellence run through all that we do because we know that these are the values we share with you. We promote respectful relationships within our curriculum because it matters and we are extending our wellbeing team to ensure that we can provide wraparound support for each child. As principal, I have high expectations of our students in terms of learning and behaviour and I know that they wear their Woodmans Hill uniform with pride.
We are a school that understands that your child is going to have highs and lows over the course of the next 6 years. They will be faced with setbacks and challenges in high school and at Woodmans Hill we recognise that in those moments that appear the most challenging real learning and growth occur (10): as a learning community we are committed to being there, alongside you, to support your child every step of the way.
And as a school we are also unique in that we are growing at a really consistent rate without the benefit of major housing developments: our growth is based on the trust that our community places in us. Students shouldn’t have to travel out of their neighbourhood for increased educational opportunities
or step outside the state system to be assured of the best grades or the best trade opportunities: we believe that we can achieve amazing outcomes with the facilities, resources, staff, students and community that we have here at Woodmans Hill Secondary College.
So please- make the most of this evening to ask some questions and to get a feel of what we are all about so that you can make the right choice for your child’ future and I look forward, over the course of the next 6 years, to meeting in this auditorium to celebrate the many successes I know your child will have at Woodmans Hill.
Thank you and please enjoy your evening.
Stephan Fields
Canteen
Maree our Canteen Manager would like to let our Woodmans Hill Community know that - lunch orders can be taken for the canteen @ 8:45-9:00am daily.
Country Bus Travellers
Reminder to all country bus travellers that you must catch the bus from the school to the interchange.
This is a Department requirement and students are not allowed to walk to the interchange due to Safety Concerns.
Personal Accident Insurance and Ambulance Cover
Parents and Guardians are reminded that the Department does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students.
Parents and guardians of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs. Please note that if First Aid trained staff at Woodmans Hill believe an ambulance to be necessary they will ring for one immediately. Parents and Guardians are not consulted prior to this decision being made.
Student accident insurance/ambulance cover policies are available from some commercial insurers.
Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage.
CSEF - Camp, Sport & Excursion Fund
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) will provide payments for eligible students to attend camps, sports and excursions.
Families holding a valid means-tested health care or pension card or are temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. $125 per year is paid for eligible primary school students, with $225 per year paid for eligible secondary school students.
Payments are made directly to the school and are put into the student account.
CSEF applications are open. Parents or legal guardians are required to submit a new CSEF application form each year.
Please contact Jenny at the office for a CSEF form to apply as soon as possible.