Associate Principal, Operations Report

I have been very impressed with the industry and approach of our Year 10 and 12 students as they Step Up to Years 11 and 12 classes.  Study sessions in the library have been efficient and strong working sessions and teachers report good engagement in classes.  Those students I have spoken to report effective starts to their new courses of study.

These ten days or so provide a clear view of the necessary work habits and content which students will encounter in their VCE subjects in 2017.  It should be expected that there will be tasks set which students should complete over the break before they return at the end of January.  These tasks are set so that next year’s courses can be managed effectively – the importance of students commencing the year up-to-date cannot be emphasised enough.  So there will be books to read, some exercises to complete and other tasks to perform over the next eight weeks.

The manner in which the Step Up period has been handled suggests these holiday requirements will be well met also.

Years 7-9 students are currently sitting their Semester two examinations so they will have been busy preparing for these exams.

To complement this hard working end to the year, we join together as a whole school to celebrate the nearness of Christmas with our Carols Service next Wednesday evening at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.  The Service commences at 7.30pm and there is always a good crowd.  Choirs will perform some Christmas hymns and songs and there are some old favourites for the congregation.  Students are reminded that they should bring at least a gold coin to give to the Christmas Bowl Collection.

The following day, next Thursday, is the final day of school.  The School will be dismissed at the usual time and our international boarders will head to the airport as we head off to various holiday ventures.  Earlier on Thursday, the Old Fashioned sports, involving students from Prep to Year 11, take place.  This is a wonderful way to enjoy the final morning of school.  At the Senior School, we then move to House Lunches and, later, a final assembly.

Staff remain at school for a few more days, finalising reports and completing other tasks.

It is a very busy but positive period of time for us all.

Mr Neil MacLean