Newsletter

Principal's

Report 

Ms. Jennifer Roep

 Dear Maffra Secondary College Families, Students and Community Members,

Welcome to the 2023 school year and a special welcome our Year 7 students and any new students at other year levels who either joined us during Headstart towards the end of last year or are joining us this year for the first time. I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday break with family and friends and I look forward to a positive and productive year ahead.

This year we have 119 Year 7 students starting with us, taking our Year 7-9 student numbers to 312 and the senior school student numbers are at 248, making a total of 560 students this year. We have seen an increase in enrolments at different year levels and are at full capacity in Years 9 and 10.

We look forward to all students taking a positive attitude into 2023, staying focused on their learning as we continue to increase our expectations in the classroom for all students as well as following our 10 expected behaviours, which in turn will ensure a safe learning environment where all students can experience success. I am proud to be the Principal of Maffra Secondary College and I hope that everyone is proud to be a part of the Maffra Secondary College community. I am looking forward to the year ahead and hope that all students make the most of the opportunities and challenges that are presented to them. 

Building Program Update 

Over the last 5 months there has been a significant amount of work around the school to ensure buildings and pathways are accessible for all students. This work is almost complete, and we are near sign off stage. Some of the main work includes widening of pathways, upgrades to ramps, along with additional ramps put in to gain access to the portables and the gym. Automated doors in the library and Middle Years disabled toilets and the Middle Years building. A number of areas have also been painted yellow to ensure better visibility around steps and poles as well as the relocation of the disabled car park to ensure greater access to the front of the school.

In addition to this, we are currently in the process of having the old Education Support office next to the bus shelter demolished. Once finished, we will work with a landscape architect on the redevelopment of the upper quadrangle to make it a more usable and aesthetically appealing space for our students and school community.

Over the holidays we extended to the old facilities office which is located next to the Year 7 and 8 staffroom and our learning specialists – Mrs. Kristen Raine (Student Engagement and Community Partnerships), Ms. Lashay Tricker (Cognitive Engagement) and Mrs. Sarah Schellen (Literacy and Numeracy Improvement) are now located. We also carpeted the learning street to reduce noise and have created a usable learning space for staff and students. The senior school building has had the last of the lights replaced with LEDs as we transition to becoming a more environmentally, sustainable school.

Welcome to new staff

We have several new staff starting with us this year: 

  • Lynette Hipwell – Food Technology 
  • Leanne Venables – VM, VPC and Food Technology (Mon-Thur)
  • Aiden Harris – Humanities and English
  • Brittany Tancred – Health and PE
  • Damon Kennedy – Science Lab Technician
  • Xander Brooks – AFL Trainee
  • Penny Bohek - Youth Insearch (W, TH, F)
  • Kaara Watson – Youth Insearch (Fri)

Unfortunately, we have not been able to cover all of our classes for the start of the year. We are extremely fortunate to have some part time staff who have increased their time fractions to cover a Science and Maths teaching load and the principal team have also picked up some classes to ensure consistency for our students. I would also like to welcome Adrienne Kneebone, who is currently covering a full English and Humanities load until we are able to secure a permanent English and Humanities teacher. 

Introducing the College Leadership Team

Please don’t hesitate to contact us here at the College if you need to speak to someone.

  • Principal – Jennifer Roep
  • Assistant Principal – Cheryl Evans (oversees Student Wellbeing and Engagement and Year 7-9)
  • Assistant Principal – Marie Clark (oversees Student Learning and Engagement and Years 10-12)
  • Acting Senior School Leader Years 10-12 – Brett Hudson 
  • Acting Year 9 Leader – Leanne Kirkland
  • Acting Year 7 and 8 Leader – Ashlee Williams
  • 7-9 Literacy and Numeracy Improvement Learning Specialist – Sarah Schellen 
  • Cognitive Engagement Learning Specialist – Lashay Tricker
  • Student Engagement and Community Partnerships Learning Specialist – Kristen Raine
  • Wellbeing Leader – Emily Boyle
  • Business Manager – Leonie Allen

 Introducing the Year Level Coordinators

  • Carol Caffrey Yr 12
  • Fiona Ray Yr 11
  • Mariah Stone Yr 10 
  • David Burgess Yr 9
  • Felicity Scully Yr 7 and 8

 Introducing the Domain Leaders

  • Maths – Matthew Clark 
  • English – Joanne Barnden
  • Humanities – Leanne Kirkland
  • Science – Kristen Raine
  • Health/PE – Mariah Stone
  • The Arts – Tim Van Emmerik
  • Technology – David Burgess
  • Languages – Ainsley Butcher

 Uniform and Jewellery

Our uniform is a very important part of the building pride and connectedness in our school community and therefore I expect all students to wear their uniform correctly and with pride to, from and at school. I would like to congratulate all of students who have started off the year in a positive way in the wearing of the correct College uniform and I thank all parents for your support with this. 

Ms. Jennifer Roep

Principal