PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

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RIYADH VISIT

Last week we hosted a visit by 3 Principal Class officers from Riyadh International School and one from the Primary School.

They undertook class visits, shadowed the Principal Class and met with our group leadership to discuss McKinnon’s journey.  Mr Ron Lake an ex DEECD Regional Manager is in charge of the Riyadh school and sent these women to learn from a successful Melbourne school.

It was another opportunity to showcase excellence at McKinnon.

COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

Our work continues with the self-study for the Council of International Schools.

Mr Hughes and Mr D’Ambra have been very impressive in their guidance of the school staff through this process.

Our school has revamped the school guiding principles - Vision/Values/Beliefs have been modified and they were endorsed by the School Council.

VISION

McKinnon Secondary College fosters a love of learning.  We aim to assist our students to become global citizens who can actively participate in the emerging and interconnected world of the 21st century.  We encourage them to recognise that a strong sense of belonging, social responsibility, empathy, compassion and knowledge of the world are required to make a positive difference to the quality of their own and others’ lives.  

We strive to understand and respect the cultures and experiences of all of our members through our teaching and learning. We celebrate success, respect diversity, encourage creativity and cooperation, and promote community participation.  

The McKinnon Secondary College community looks forward to the future with hope and optimism.

VALUES

RESPECT - INTEGRITY - RESILIENCE - COMMUNITY - CREATIVITY - SUCCESS

AIMS AND BELIEFS

We believe that every student is capable of taking the next step in his or her learning, working within a learning environment which maximises the potential for this to take place in all of our classrooms.  We aim to:

develop confident learners who are: prepared to take well-reasoned risks; adaptable enough to respond to the challenges and opportunities of the global community; resilient enough to persevere when challenged; and resourceful enough to take some measure of responsibility for their own learning.

support all members of our school community in their pursuit of greater wisdom, knowledge and insight.

challenge and encourage everyone to strive for personal excellence.

acknowledge and celebrate each success.

develop students’ understanding of the connections between the local community and the complexities of the globalised world.

give our students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate leadership through local and global participation.

provide a caring and safe community in which everyone feels a sense of belonging, ownership, pride and personal responsibility.

foster a school community characterised by global literacy and cultural awareness in which all members respect each other’s rights, and care for the physical and emotional wellbeing of others.

• develop in everyone the wisdom to contribute and the willingness to serve all the communities to which they belong.

LANGUAGE PERFECT

This was an impressive undertaking at the school and really captivated staff and students. There was healthy competition with a passion for language learning.  It was the first time we participated and the results will be showcased at the next General Assembly but very impressive outcomes have been achieved.

I would like to thank Josh Kamener for his enthusiasm and commitment and the LOTE faculty in general for getting McKinnon involved in this great initiative.

AUSTRALIAN WEEKEND SUPPLEMENT

Congratulations to our entire school community!  A liftout in the Australian newspaper last weekend is another success story for McKinnon Secondary College.  We were named No. 7 in the top 50 Comprehensive Public Secondary Schools in Australia.  May the tradition of excellence continue.  A link to this liftout can be found in our President’s report.

EXAMINATIONS

The examination period has concluded.  All examinations have been undertaken with care and precision and have given students invaluable opportunities to demonstrate knowledge.

I acknowledge and thank Mr Kan, Mr Evans, the Head of Sub-Schools, Student Managers and Mr Glenister for their due diligence with the exams.

JUNIOR MUSIC CONCERT

Congratulations to the Music Faculty and students involved in the Junior School Music Concert held on Wednesday evening.  It was a showcase of musical talent and a great celebration for the dedicated efforts of staff and students.  I thank family, friends and staff who attended to support our junior students.

The standard of every performance was exceptional and I felt extremely proud.

CONGRATULATIONS

The Melbourne Youth Music Concerts were held at the Clocktower Theatre in Moonee Ponds last weekend and I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the McKinnon students who were involved: James Morrissey (Year 10) Camille Stone (Year 11) and Misha Machlak (Year 11) who performed and were impressive musicians.  I wish them continued success.  Well done.

Misha will also be representing Melbourne as the Melbourne Youth Orchestra tours to New Zealand to play alongside the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Youth Orchestra and the Christchurch City Choir.  He will be playing Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, a piece which requires an enlarged orchestra choir and features vocal soloists.  This tour is taking place during the upcoming school holidays.  I am sure we will see Misha’s name in lights for his musical talent.

CONGRATULATIONS

It is with great pleasure that I announce that Antonie Van Zyl (Year 12) has been selected to represent McKinnon Secondary College in the Victorian Schools’ Rugby Union Championships to be held in Sydney in June and July this year.  

We wish Antonie all the very best in this tournament.

PHILOSOTHON

Eight McKinnon students from Years 7-12 have been selected to participate in the 2014 Australasian Philosothon: 

Adam El-Hori and Chad Aizicowitz (Year 7),

Geordan Tyzack (Year 8), 

Lochie Carey and Gideon Stein (Year 9), 

Oscar Abram (Year 10), 

Daniel Ledda (Year 11) 

and Tom Turner (Year 12).

Our students will be travelling to Perth over the school holidays to engage in philosophical dialogue with students from sixteen schools across Australia and Singapore.  They will be accompanied by Ms Rocca and Mr Fernandez.  They will spend four days and nights boarding at Hale School, with accompanying teachers, completely immersed in intellectually rigorous daily activities and integrating with fellow student philosophers.  They will be listening to lectures, viewing a film, contributing to community of inquiry discussion and reflecting.

Philosophical themes are engaging within themselves, as they pertain to everyday life as we know it.  The experience of philosophical inquiry is useful for grappling dilemmas in our ever changing global society and necessary if humans are to flourish in a good life within our complex world.

More information about the event and current topics is available at www.philosothon.org

I wish them all tremendous success!

ROGAINING

The annual rogaining expedition was held last weekend in Linton in regional Victoria.  47 very enthusiastic students participated and once again much success achieved.  I would like to acknowledge and thank the following teachers: Ms Bourke, Mr Baker, Mr Machin, Ms Roden, Mr Zachest and Ms Mauger for their efforts and attendance with this event.  A tradition of participation, excellence, dedication and enthusiasm has been continued.

MEDIEVAL DAY

The Medieval Day is one of the highlights of the year for the Year 8 students.  I would like to thank Mr Cukierman for his organisation and commitment to this event and I commend the following teachers for their participation: Mrs Max, Ms Jones, Miss Buntine and Mr de Carlos.  

It was one of the most impressive medieval days held at the College.  The Year 8 students were exemplary in their dedication, commitment and behaviour.  

Their costumes were worn despite the very inclement weather.

TASMANIA

I wish the Year 11s currently participating in our end of term Tasmania Tour all of the very best. I thank Miss Andrieux and Mr Blackmore for their organisation of the tour and I know staff and students participating are very excited.  I hope they return with fond memories.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Two leadership positions were advertised state wide.  The selection process has now been completed and I would like to announce the successful recipients:

Lachlan Noble – Assistant Principal 1 (Head of Senior School)

Jason Jewel – Leading Teacher – English Learning Area Manager

Congratulations to both of them.

THANK YOU

I would like to convey my heartfelt thanks to Mr James Gioutlou, who has a dental practice in our local community.  His donations to the College Building Fund assist us to provide the modern facilities our students deserve.  His continued support this year to McKinnon Secondary College has been outstanding and I cannot thank him enough for his generosity.

END OF TERM

Thank you to all staff, students and parents for a tremendous term.  Your support has been invaluable.  I hope you all enjoy a well-deserved break and I look forward to your safe return next term.