Principal's Report

Dear Families,

The first four days of this term saw a very positive start to the term with students settling back into school quickly. However, as you are aware by day five, we found ourselves back into remote learning. Thank you for your patience and support and for being able to adapt so quickly to this change, particularly as it meant some families needed to return to school on Friday morning to get their student’s laptops etc.

Our transition to remote learning has gone smoothly, taking aside the challenges earlier in the week with our XUNO platform. Our teachers are dedicated to delivering the very best lessons they can online. We are responsible for providing learning activities, study support and regular communication with you and your children. We are also the subject matter experts – a role our parents and carers are not expected to take on. The best support you can provide for your children and our students is providing a positive learning environment and lots of encouragement.

With the start of a new term there have been some staffing changes around the College. We are pleased to welcome back Assistant Principal, Frazer Thomas, after his term at Yea Primary School. We welcome Ric Gill-Atkinson to our Leadership Team as he takes on the role of Acting Leading Teacher – Literacy for Semester 2 and with this change welcome Michelle Robertshawe to the role of English Learning Area Leader. We also welcome Antoinette Rehak to the Leadership Team for the first six weeks of term as Antoinette backfills Ray Stevens whilst he is on leave. Next week we welcome Diana Beaumont to our school. Diana is picking up an English teaching load as Sarah Darling heads off on maternity and family leave.

Our Year 11 Subject selection information evening was held last week for our current Year 10 students and their families. Approximately 100 families attended onsite to be informed about the VCE, VET and VCAL courses and the various pathways they support. This information evening was a great opportunity for students to start considering their learning pathway into Year 11 and beyond. Our Year 10’s were further supported with a range of tools through their involvement last week with Success Integrated and their Shape Your Destiny program.

Due to the Year 12 students being on remote learning, the General Assessment Test (GAT) that was planned for next Thursday, 29th July, for students doing VCE Unit 3 & 4 subjects, has now been changed to Thursday, 12th August.

Another key feature of the past two weeks has been the commencement of our School Review process. Our Review commenced on Wednesday, 14th July, involving a number of key staff, School Council President Stuart Lord, two challenge partners, our Senior Education Improvement Leader and our School Reviewer. Day 1 was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many achievements of the College over the past four years and we now head into two days of fieldwork, including conversations with students, parents and staff before working to develop a new strategic plan to take us into 2022 and beyond.

Hopefully we will back to on-site learning next week and as our students return to school, we know they will be a little unsettled by the disruption to their school routine and learning. Our staff are planning for their return to make sure they feel safe and supported. We want our students to have an immediate sense of belonging once they return and I am therefore seeking your assistance to support your child to be in full school uniform, have their laptop and other learning materials with them and be prepared to keep their mobile phone in their locker.

Get Active Victoria

When children participate in regular physical activity, it boosts their physical and mental health and improves academic performance. Physical activity throughout the day also improves concentration, and the ability to retain information and solve problems.

There are many benefits to being active and getting your move on, but a lot of children aren’t moving enough, particularly while learning from home.

15 minutes 4 times a day is all it takes.

To help support your children to stay active while learning from home, families can access a range of free COVIDSafe ideas to stay active and games through Get Active Victoria.

Families should remember that whatever gets children moving, gets them active.

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program

Does your child love sport and being active? Does your family have a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card? You may be eligible for up to $200 to put towards the cost of your child’s participation in physical activities. The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and active recreation activities.

Under the program, children may be eligible to receive up to $200 to help with the cost of membership and registration fees, uniforms, and equipment.

Special consideration also applies for children named on their own Australian Government Health Care Card or residing in care services as well as temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants or international students.

Applications for vouchers in round two of the program close at 5pm Friday 30 July. For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit the Get Active Victoria website.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources

It can be challenging to process and manage changes to routines and the uncertainty that comes with COVID-19 and related restrictions – including moving to remote learning.

To support our school community during this time, resources and support are available for parents, carers and families.

These resources will help to support the mental health and wellbeing of our students and the young people in our care during this time.

I encourage everyone in our community to access these resources and take care of themselves during this time.

Services and support for students and their families

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students remains our priority this year, especially during the continued COVID-19 pandemic and while students are learning from home during the current lockdown restrictions.

We have included below a number of weblinks to support students and families with the challenges that the current lockdown may be presenting.

Health and wellbeing advice for students

This webpage provides students with links to current supports, DHHS health advice and a range of evidence informed and reputable organisations which provide mental health and wellbeing support including:

Supporting their own mental health and wellbeing
Getting help and helping someone else
Staying healthy
Staying safe online
Support for Koorie students
Support for VCE students
Raising concerns at school
Mindfulness activities

A series of videos feature students sharing their experiences of remote learning, what students hope for the future, and celebrated their previous return to school.

Tips to support your child’s health and wellbeing

Advice, tips and resources available for parents and carers to support their child’s mental and physical health and wellbeing. It covers a range of topics including:

Brad Moyle

Principal