Principal's Post 

Michael Phillips

The House athletics was successfully held at Proclamation Park on a sunny Monday, earlier this week. Thanks to the prefects for their leadership, well done to all who participated and congratulations to Freeman House on their hard fought victory.

This week has been the first of two weeks where online NAPLAN testing is occurring for our Year 9 and Year 7 students. There have been various reports in the media about the issues in some schools but our students have taken it all in their stride with very little disruption. Well over 1000 tests have already been successfully completed and logged with ACARA.

The Generations in Jazz Nationals at Mt Gambier saw all our students and ensembles perform well, exhibiting great evidence of their growth in musicianship and performance. Particular congratulations to our Senior Stage Band who finished third in their section and to Daniel Watson for his selection in the National Super-band.

Due to the Federal election, the 2019/20 State Government budget will not be delivered until next week, three weeks later than usual. It is expected to be tighter than in recent years and with priority being given to meeting election commitments.

For our Senior School building project, we are on schedule to go to tender within the next fortnight! The cost estimates based on detailed design work have come in slightly under budget and there are tender options to the value of 8 % of the project identified, which makes us hopeful of a favourable tender outcome.

Next steps will see the Department select up to six builders to tender for the project and they will have 4 weeks to put their proposals together. All going well we will be able to appoint a builder before the end of Term 2 and set up for commencement by the start of Term 3.

In the lead up, we will be completing some early works, including establishing a 5 mod relocatable near the existing cricket nets, relocating IT classrooms into 807 and 808, establishing a new Middle School office near room 204/2015, building a new Careers centre in room 106 and relocating the VCE common room and study centre into 109, re- establishing the International and Chaplaincy office in the old Junior School space. In addition, we will be working on plans for student and staff movements and car parking.

Michael Phillips

Principal