Year 6 into 7 Information Night

We welcomed our new Year 7 students to the College this week (14/11) at the Year 6 into 7 Information Night. We had many families and students in attendance listening to a number of speakers on the night. The information shared was useful to our new students as they continue to make the exciting transition from primary to secondary school. We will again see our new Year 7 students at the Orientation Day next month (10/12). A big welcome to the Year 7 Class of 2020!

The 2020 WHSC Annual Implementation Plan

We are busy developing our Annual Implementation Plan (or AIP) for next year. All Victorian State Schools are required to have an AIP each year. The AIP sets out the school's plans to further the learning outcomes of all of its students.

Some of the areas that we will focus on next year include Literacy, Numeracy, STEM, VCE, curriculum development (including the development of VCAL and High Achievers Programs) and further gains in teacher practice.

As stated in previous Newsletters, we are excited to be able to introduce Professional Learning Communities next year. Professional Learning Communities will be an important part of 2020 AIP. Leadership, staff and students have all contributed to our draft AIP for next year and I invite families to do the same. If you would like to contribute to the development of our 2020 AIP, please contact the General Office.

Mobile Phone Policy

The State Minister for Education, Mr James Merlino, has decided that all students enrolled in Victorian State Schools need to abide by a new Mobile Phone Policy as of the beginning of the school year in 2020.

The Department of Education (or DET) have provided information to schools to assist with the use of this new Policy. The Policy stipulates that students can not have their phones out during the school day. As per the Policy, students will be required to keep their phones in a locked storage facility (eg locker) throughout the day.

As a College, we are working through the issues relating to its implementation. For example, how we may respond when students are found to have their phones in class, or how we may respond to those students who may be continually in breach of the Policy, and where students may retrieve their phones if they are confiscated through the school day.

Every effort will be made by the College to work with families to provide a locked storage facility for students. Furthermore, we will be reviewing our security arrangements throughout the College. Families are reminded though that students who bring a phone to school do so at their own risk. Families may choose to have their children leave their phones at home when they are attending school.

Please see the Assistant Principal's Report for more information about the DET Mobile Phone Policy. More information will be shared with families and students in the near future with respect to how the Mobile Phone Policy will be implemented at our College.

DET Pilot - 'Connecting With The Indian Community'

The Department of Education (or DET) have established a Pilot Program for schools to engage with called 'Connecting With The Indian Community'. Please read below from DET:

The Connecting Schools with Indian Communities (CSIC) pilot program is a new funding program administered by the International Education Division of DET. It intends to provide guidance and funding to schools to create collaborative partnerships between schools, the Indian diaspora and the broader community to foster a shared understanding of, and a sense of belonging to, our diverse Victorian community. These outcomes are designed to ensure every Victorian is equipped with intercultural capabilities and can contribute, achieve and succeed in a globally connected Victoria. The CSIC program is part of Victoria's India Strategy: Our Shared Future, which was released in January 2018.

Following a competitive review and selection process, 11 schools were awarded funding through this program, including Wheelers Hill Secondary College. You can read more about the CSIC program and the funded initiatives at https://study.vic.gov.au/en/global-learning-programs/CSIC/Pages/default.aspx

We have been working as part of the Pilot over the last few months with our Year 11 Business Management classes, and our Performing Arts Program will be a part of the Pilot with our Year 7 Music students in 2020.

Part of the work of our Year 11 Business Management classes has been to work closely with experts within the local Indian Business Community. Only recently did our students pitch and present some business ideas for a panel - the event was very successful with our students learning so much from the experience.

Our involvement with this Pilot Program concludes in June, 2020.

Value of the Week - Respect

We remembered this very special time of the year with a reading and minute's silence on the day (11/11), together with being represented at Remembrance Day services within the community; our students were incredibly respectful.

One of the community Services we attended was the Annual State RSL Remembrance Service last Sunday (10/11) at the Springvale War Cemetery. We had our Middle School Leaders in Jasmine Kleinman and Lachlan Palmer both complete a Reading at the event. They both represented the College to such a high standard on the day - well done Jasmine and Lachlan.

And Finally....

Our families of Year 12 students are reminded of the Valedictory Dinner on Tuesday 19th November (7 to 11:00pm) at Merrimu Receptions in Chadstone,

Aaron Smith

Principal

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