Principal's Report

Principal's Notes

School Council

The nomination period for election to the parent electorate of school council closed on Friday March 9 and it is my pleasure to thank and welcome to school council Ms Kylie Short and Mr Simon Parker, who were elected unopposed. Ms Short has already served a term of two years on council and Mr Parker joins us for the first time. Parent membership on school council is vital as it provides the council with additional and diverse viewpoints and skills and provides a direct contact between the school administration and families. I look forward to continuing to work with Kylie and to the fresh ideas Simon will bring to the school decision-making processes.

Open Night

On Wednesday May 2nd our annual Open Night will be held. The evening will commence in the Ion Whykes Theatre at 7.00pm with an overview of our school and in particular the programs within the junior years. Our school captains will speak about their years at Healesville High School, younger students will also add their perspective, there will be a musical performance, junior school leaders will provide information and there will be a principal’s address. Families will then be able to tour the school on their own or to participate in guided tours of the school. The evening is predominantly focussed upon presenting and promoting the school to prospective 2019 Year Seven students and their parents but please feel free to attend the evening even if you do not have a student entering Year Seven next year. May I also ask that you mention the evening to any of your contacts who may have current Grade Six students. We welcome the opportunity to speak with as many people as possible about our school.

Computer Room

I am pleased to advise that work has been completed on a new purpose-built computer room at the school. We have invested significantly to allow our students access to a classroom designed specifically for desktop computer-based study. The room is equipped with 25 new computers, a printer, a new 60” television screen and appropriate furniture. This room adds to our two existing computer rooms, our MAC laboratory, the already extensive range of desktop and notebook computers spread across the school and supplements the BYOD program at Junior School. We will continue to investigate opportunities to further develop the already outstanding physical resources of our school and I would welcome your input into this process.

Rookie Band Concert

Yesterday evening the instrumental music department placed the new Rookie Band on public display. For the first time, a Rookie Band concert was held and I can’t begin to describe how proud the children and their parents were, and how proud we were of the children, and of our music program. These students, under the expert guidance of the instrumental music teachers, have made remarkable progress in just a few short weeks and I look forward with anticipation to their next public performance at the Work in Progress concert in June. Thank you to all parents and family members for attending the concert yesterday and thanks also to Amanda Morrison for coordinating the music program and for arranging the evening. Thank you also to instrumental music teachers Josh Licht and Andrew Darling (and Amanda) for demonstrating your obvious passion for music and for teaching students.

Parent –Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher interviews will be held this term during the evening of Wednesday March 28 and throughout the day on Thursday March 29. The interview times are Wednesday 3.40pm until 5.30pm and 6.30pm until 8.00pm; and Thursday 10.00am until 11.40am and 12.30pm until 2.30pm. I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday or Thursday and I encourage you to speak with as many of your children’s teachers as you can. Students are expected to attend interviews with their parents/carers and formal classes will not be held on Thursday March 29.

Athletic Sports

A great day of competition and fun was had by all on Tuesday at the Knox Athletic track. A report on the day will appear elsewhere in this edition of ‘Happenings’ and I would like to thank all staff members for their work on the day, all students for their involvement and in particular, Mr Mehra for his expert organisation and leadership of the event.

Allan Rennick

Principal