The adversity we have all experienced has really brought tremendous learning. People have always said you learn so much from the difficulties in life. There are many things we have been forced to do differently and we have indeed learnt so much. The remote learning forced us to change practice.

I could not be more proud of the work my teachers and staff have undertaken to engage the students in their learning. To keep relationships positive and to provide the essential well-being support.

I thank the many parents who have acknowledged the work via wonderful emails, phone calls and cards.

Please know we stand as one community. Together we will get through and emerge stronger.

YEAR 12 CLASS OF 2021

Term 4 has now begun and I am absolutely thrilled to have our Year 12s (and Year 11s doing a 3/4 study) back on campus.

We have truly enjoyed watching these beautiful souls reconnect with each other and enjoy time in class and around the school. It is absolutely joyous.

Despite the restrictions we have enjoyed some memorable moments this week and have helped build that sense of community. The cohort have truly enjoyed having the campus to themselves!

I hope they continue to handle the pressure of this time of the year but I am really reassured by how much work is being undertaken.

GAT

The General Achievement Test was held Tuesday 5 October, and with tremendous trepidation 675 students attended. I think sometimes the anticipation is worse than the actual event. It was a great success and the supervising staff could not have been more complimentary about the conduct of the students.

It was indeed a logistical nightmare but my wonderful team made sure students were cared for and supported in a calm respectful way to undertake this assessment.

TRANSITION BACK TO SCHOOL

All year levels will be returning soon and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg has produced a wonderful video about supporting students returning to school. It has been published on our website, but I also share the link here.

Although everyone is excited to return to school there is indeed trepidation, fear and anxiety. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg has given invaluable advice and makes some suggestions to assist with the return to school. I recommend this to you.

As I have seen and understood with the Year 12s they were so happy to be getting out of the house and back to school routine and structure, and it is so very important. It’s scary at first - like the ‘first day of school’, but everyone settles in quickly and we find a wonderful sense of belonging. So please know we will do all we can to make the final months as positive as possible.

VACCINATIONS

Around 210 Year 11 & 12 VCE students have now had their second jab administered. I would like to again acknowledge and express my thanks to the Carnegie Medical Centre for supporting our community by providing this important service. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Jocelyn Plate and Melanie Lynch who supervised the students. Many of the other students made private arrangements.

STAGGERED RETURN

There will be a staggered return between 26 October - 4 November:

Year 7s return Tuesday, 26 October full-time, (five days a week)
Year 8s and 9s return Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Year 10s return Thursdays and Fridays
Year 11s return for five days a week

This will of course continue until Friday, 5 November when everyone returns full-time.

VCE MONOLOGUES

The Year 12 Theatre Studies Showcase was live-streamed this week, giving these students a valuable opportunity to share their hard work with family and friends, as well as practice for their upcoming examination. Each student has had to interpret a monologue from a written script and then explain and justify their creative choices as an actor, director or designer. Congratulations to these students for creating such wonderful performances throughout the challenges of lockdown. And of course to Lucy Angell for her guidance and tremendous support.

FAMILY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Thank you to the students, families and staff who contributed to the online Family Music Festival. Your enthusiasm and talent delivered happiness to our community.

DONATION

I congratulate and applaud Doc Brown for her tremendous support of the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation. She has chopped her hair off for a very good cause. This foundation was set up after a local bayside boy died from brain cancer. It is a foundation that has helped several McKinnon families.

I thank McKinnon staff and families who generously donated to this worthy cause. We raised $5,290 plus the hair has been donated to Variety who will create a wig for a child going through cancer who desperately wants a silver wig. Thanks again, Doc. The page is still up, and people can donate until the end of October.

MONASH UNIVERSITY

The McKinnon Alumni are alive and well within Monash University. Congratulations to the following ex-students on the following appointments:

Monash Education & Teachers’ Association (META)

President (James Hardy, Class of 2018), Treasurer (Maree Taig, Class of 2016) and Education Student Ambassador Representative (Myles Kelemen, Class of 2019)

Society of Arts Students (SAS)

President (Maya Hammam, Class of 2019)

Monash Jewish Students’ Society (MonJSS)

President (Ruthie Brown, Class of 2019)

OUR RESILIENT KIDS

I also share this link to a piece written by a parent about our young people. Comments absolutely resonated!! It is titled Generation R and makes for an interesting read.

EAST CAMPUS - MCKINNON SECONDARY COLLEGE

Our new campus continues to progress well. I have attached some photos. All Year 8 and 9 2022 students will attend this campus and we hope to be able to arrange a transition visit in December. The building is indeed stunning and will provide a wonderful place to work and learn.

SCHOOL COUNCIL GYM PROJECT

This project will now be completed by the end of the year. It has had a few delays due to very wet soggy conditions but also due to Covid restrictions that have been imposed on construction.

I attach some photos and we cannot wait to be able to use this facility. I know it will make a difference!

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