From the Principal
It is with great pride that I thank all members of the GEC community for all that you have done to make 2020 a successful year for our students and our college. Our entire community has really had to work out of our comfort zones to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students in an extraordinary year.
I am so proud of our students, staff, parents and community. I appreciate the work that you all do in supporting our students to achieve the very best they can in all aspects of their lives at GEC.
I would like to thank Jonathan Lock - Council President and the School Council, Parents and Friends Association and all other volunteers who contribute so much to the College.
It was wonderful to be able to welcome over 190 new Year 7 students to Orientation Day. Our peer support leaders did a wonderful job in supporting our new students.
I am extremely proud of our Year 12 students who have done marvellously well in dealing with much of their year on line. The senior school team and myself will be at school on Wednesday 30th December which is the day students receive their results. Students are welcome to school to share their success and seek any guidance or support needed from the senior school team.
Strengthening Vocational and Applied Learning for School Students
The Victorian Government has announced a $38 million investment to create a new single Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) that will give students flexibility to combine academic and applied learning in line with their interests, strengths and career aspirations.
The new single VCE senior secondary certificate will mean students no longer have to choose between doing VCE or VCAL. This will start to be implemented from 2023.
The move to a single certificate follows a review by former Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority CEO John Firth that found the change would provide all Victorian students with the best opportunity to develop both academic and practical vocational skills.
The review found evidence of outstanding programs across the state but that more needed to be done to ensure all young people had access to the training that engages them, delivers high demand skills and leads to quality jobs.
Our school will receive funding for a Jobs, Skills and Pathways Coordinator to support the delivery of our vocational and applied learning programs. Their job will be to provide advice and support for students choosing vocational and applied learning programs. They will also work with training providers and employers to ensure that students get the most out of their learning and training.
Our school will also have access to a Jobs, Skills and Pathways Manager to provide practical support to our school to deliver high quality vocational and applied learning programs.
Work has started and will continue in 2021 to support the introduction of a new vocational specialist pathway in the VCE.
The integration of a vocational and applied learning pathway within the VCE will offer high-quality pathways for all students so they are better prepared for lifelong learning and can transition more smoothly through school, further education or training and work.
Students currently completing VCAL or VET will not be affected by these changes. This includes students undertaking VET as part of their VCE. The new vocational specialist pathway, embedded within the VCE will commence in 2023, and a fully integrated certificate will commence in 2025.
Students can continue to commence VCAL in 2021 and 2022. Transition plans will ensure all students enrolled in VCAL will be able to complete their senior secondary certificate.
Further information and advice about the transition to the new vocational specialist pathway for students will be provided to you in 2021.
Coming to Glen Eira College Term 1, 2021
I’m very pleased to advise you about the School Breakfast Club program commencing term 1, 2021. Our new School Breakfast Club will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 8:00am to 8:30am in our kitchen garden located behind the Food Tech rooms.
Our School Breakfast Club aims to ensure students start the day with a healthy meal, to improve concentration throughout the school day and help students make friends and strong social connections. Our kitchen garden will be a warm and welcoming space for students to enjoy a great start to the day!
To start up and run a successful Breakfast Club, we will seek assistance from our 2021 student leaders and members of the SRC. Teachers and Education Support Staff will also be invited to attend, assist and engage with students each morning. We also encourage our highly valued members the Glen Eira College Parents Association (GECPA) to come on board and get involved.
If you are available and interested in assisting on one or more days, please contact our Breakfast Club Program Coordinator: Kelli Lawson
Phone: 9571 7838
Email: kla@gec.vic.edu.au
For more information about the School Breakfast Clubs Program visit: www.foodbank.org.au/VIC/school-breakfast-clubs-in-action/
Staffing
We say farewell to:
- Rod Gregory, Simone Genovese and Grace Gao and thank them for their wonderful contribution in working with our students during their time at GEC and we wish them all the best at their new schools.
- Shaun Reynolds and Alicia Davey but only for a year or so while they take leave.
- Maria Anbar but only for term 1 while she takes leave.
As our numbers continue to grow we are in the wonderful position of recruiting excellent teachers to the college.
We welcome back:
- Emma Nishikubo - Japanese
- Ounsane Siriamphone – IT and EAL
We welcome:
- Angelika Melches - Japanese
- Christopher Zuccala - French and Humanities
- Eleanor Lindberg- English
- Rosa Liu - Maths
- Kristina Lecluyse - French and Commerce
- Hannah Gardner – French
- Erinn Murray- Science
Finally, I wish all students and families a happy and safe holiday. I look forward to seeing our students ready for the 2021 academic year on Friday 29th January.
Sheereen Kindler
Principal