School Council 

School Council meetings will be held on Tuesday in Week 3 of each month.

School Council President:                Todd Sprague

School Council Vice President:     Julie Buick

School Council Treasurer :                Anna-Lisa Tewma     

School Council Executive Officer   Kerrie Heenan

School Council members                  Fiona Adrichem, Harry Agrios, Michael Benfari, Jessica Heatley, Theodore Kiosses, Fenella Russell, Annette Spence, Derek Whiteside

SUB COMMITTEES FOR 2017/18

Sub Committee meetings will be held in Week 1 of each month.

Education

Convenor: Chris Beare

Members: Fiona Adrichem, Harry Agrios, Michael Benfari, Julie Buick, Maria Parks, Fenella Russell, Todd Sprague, Warren Tofts

Finance

Convenor: Anna-Lisa Tewma

Members: Chris Beare, Kerrie Heenan, Amanda Kent, Theodore Kiosses, Marion Small, Warren Tofts

Buildings & Grounds and OHS

Convenor: Bill Panas – B&G, Fiona Walker - OHS

Members: Theodore Kiosses, David Tewma, Derek Whiteside - together with the members of the OHS subcommittee

Fundraising

Convenor: Annette Spence

Members: Fiona Adrichem, Harry Agrios, Josie Benfari, Liam Brooke, Samantha Egan, Connie Ellul, Jessica Heatly, Chris Kilmartin,  Theodore Kiosses (if available), Belinda Pattison, Jodie Reid, Fenella Russell, Natalie Serra, Helen Skendaris, Jessie Stengewis

REPORTS TO SCHOOL COUNCIL

Acting Principal’s Report – Warren Tofts

Enrolment is 368 at Early Years, 455 at Middle Years totally 823 at the moment.  We currently have 38 preps enrolled for 2018.

Staffing:

John Baratta and Michelle Napolitano started at the beginning of the term: John in the Year 7 team and teaching digitech, whilst Michelle is in the Year 6 team.  Both have fit in extremely well.  Dave Collins was also employed for this semester to fill a PE ‘overflow’ timetable and can also be used for a range of covers as people are absent.  Dave has worked at the school as a CRT and therefore is knowledgeable in our school’s programs and processes. 

Kerrie remains on leave, having one week left.  Chris Beare, in the second last week of term 2, broke her shoulder and is currently off work on Work Cover and so I had to take on the position of Acting Principal.  That also necessitated Chris Kilmartin taking on the acting Assistant Principal role on Early Years to cover my position.  Maria Parks continues in the role of acting Assistant Principal role for Chris Beare.  Both have been doing an incredible job in those positions.  Bill Panas is now back from his leave and we need to acknowledge the amazing job that Marcus Abney-Hastings did in Bill’s absence.  I personally would like to thanks all three for giving me such wonderful support over the last four weeks.  Cindy Chapman and Marc Heenan, both having had four weeks LSL, began back yesterday.

Programs:

We had a successful Middle Years Expo night which also contained the Year 8 & Year 9 Elective Information sessions; both of which were full to capacity.  The Expo night was again a great success at showcasing the wonderful opportunities that are afforded our students. 

The Preps celebrated their 100 days at school and they, and the teachers, attended school dressed as if they were 100.  There were some fantastic costumes and everyone had an amazing day of celebration.

All the Principal Class attended the North Eastern Melbourne Area Principal Forum at the MCG yesterday.  The focus of the forum was on Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change; particularly looking at the literacy improvement strategies that form part of the Department’s FISO (Framework for Improving Student Outcomes) initiative.

The August Census and Supplementary Census have been completed and formed quite a large component of the past month’s work.  The collected data is used in multiple ways, including being used for budgetary outcomes for 2018.

We received the Attitudes to School Survey Results, which, on first glance, are extremely positive across all year levels.  A deeper investigation of these results will take place across the next month or so and will be presented to the whole staff.

NAPLAN results were released today and will be analysed over the next couple of weeks.  More information to come in reference to that.

After attending a number of meetings as our school’s representative I would like to acknowledge all the work Kerrie does with the new tech schools in the area.

Education Sub-Committee Report – Maria Parks (acting convenor)

The Elective Handbook for Year 8 & 9 in 2018 was discussed including changes: food technology will be the only technology offered due to not being able to secure a permanent wood tech teacher; Academy selection will not prevent students from participating in other similar domains; academy ‘in class’ components will run in the new ‘Extend’ block.  Students will not be able to elect for two academy as classes will run concurrently. 

Changes from four teaching sessions a day to five a day were discussed.  Possible changes to lunch time of 30 minutes, finishing at 3pm require further discussion and feedback.  Semester 1 Report process went smoothly.  Parent/teacher interviews were positive with many parents booking in to talk to teachers.  Some policies were reviewed and require more work before being submitted for approval. 

Year 2 sleepover was outlined.  The Year 1 dinner happened this week.

Finance Sub-Committee Report – Anna-Lisa Tewma (convenor)

The financial reports for June & July were approved.

Building & Grounds and OHS Sub-Committee Report – Theodore Kiosses (acting convenor)

The upgrade to the telephone system has been completed.  The drainage completed in front of the year 1 and 2 pods, more top soil is required.  Crushed rock was laid around the new basketball area.  Investigations still underway for the school oval irrigation.  A possibility of shade sails over the EY fitness gym and the little sand pit at Early Years will be discusses.  As the school is now 10 years down the track, we need to refresh the carpet and paint work in the learning spaces on both campuses.

Fundraising Sub-Committee Report – Annette Spence (convenor)

Woolworth Earn & Learn boxes are at Plenty Valley, South Morang Central & Rivergum supermarkets.  There is also a box at Early Years, and one coming for Middle Years.  Father’s Day Stall preparations are underway. Upcoming events are a Christmas raffle, Out Of Uniform day and on the Night Under The Stars evening – a cake stall, sausage sizzle & slushy machine.

Middle Years School Captains’ Report – Grace C., Thomas R., Naomi T.

City Experience

On the 3rd, 4th, 14th and 15th August the Year 9’s had City Experience.  This year the days have changed from being over one week to groups of days spread across a few weeks.  Our goal has been to improve travelling skills on public transport in a series of different events, to put our knowledge of transport to the test and to expand our comfort zone in the real world.  Some places we attended were: the Shrine of Remembrance, the Melbourne Museum and the National Gallery Victoria.  Some days may have been a challenge but we all found it quite enjoyable.

School of Rock

At the end of term 3 the 5/6 MAD students, Drumline & Senior Band attended School of Rock.  It was an amazing experience as they yet again got to perform in front of an audience but also watch other performances from schools all around Victoria.  All three performances were outstanding and our music teachers were all very proud.  A