Principal's Report

On Monday this week staff and Years 7, 11 and 12 students were pleased to be finally back on site at the College. On behalf of our school, I once again want to say a big thank you to all our students, parents and carers for your continued resilience and support during Term 3. I know remote learning has not always been easy, but through our collective efforts, some of our students have thrived, others have maintained their learning progress, and some have fallen behind, despite their best efforts and those of their families and teachers.

Whilst many parents may have been happy to see students, who could return do so this week, many of you may have had mixed feelings. No doubt happy to have some return to normality, a sense of relief from juggling working from home whilst supporting one or more children learning remotely, concerned for your child’s wellbeing with cases of COVID still in existence or concerns about your child’s progress.

The pandemic has affected us all. Many of our staff have also worked with their children at home, some have had family members lose jobs and some have had relatives pass away in aged care from the virus. Our staff do understand the importance of supporting students in their transition back to school and just like students, they too have the support of the leadership team. I thank the staff who entered over 1900 student contact queries or reports last term. These reports were actioned and followed up by up by the Sub School Teams and referred on to Mr Murray Cronin, Head of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Ms Casey Lawson- Student Services Leader or Mr Chris Knight who actioned and followed up.

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Supporting our Community

We are aware there may be families within our own community who have been significantly affected financially or emotionally from the lock down who we are not aware of. Our Student Services Team led by Ms Casey Lawson casey.lawson@education.vic.gov.au and Business Manager Mrs Vicky Kamfonas Vicky.kamfonas@education.vic.gov.au may be able to link you to the wellbeing and other services for support. All conversations are treated confidentially. I would like to take this opportunity to thank two organisations; Food Bank and our partners at Thermo-Fisher Scientific have already been actively supporting some families with food hampers last term.

Teaching and Learning

Term 4 is important for every student, and our teachers will continue to strive to deliver high-quality learning for everyone. Whether we are teaching remotely or face-to-face, our focus is very clearly aligned with the Department priorities for this term of making sure that every student is supported in their wellbeing, learning and transition.

For learning we will be supporting both those who need it to catch up and those who have progressed to continue to extend their learning.

As a College we have a proven record in leading student learning growth with the rate of growth for our students recognised as one of the best in the state for NAPLAN and VCE. Our successful early intervention programs including literacy classes, Quicksmart and differentiated learning by our teacher teams in the Junior School, Year 10 Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy support on Wednesday afternoon for identified students are some examples of the expertise already in place.

Victorian High Achievers Program

This term we welcomed back from family leave Ms Ellen Sawyer. Ms Sawyer has taken on the role of our High-Ability Practice Leader. This role was introduced to extend our enrichment and enhancement options for our high achieving students. Ms Sawyer will provide advice for their teacher colleagues in relation to high-ability students, coordinates students from our College to participate in the Victorian High-Ability Program and the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series and communicate the College’s approach to the education of high-ability students within our College community. This role will extend on the enrichment opportunities already offered.

This term is the commencement of the first cohort of the Victorian High Ability Program for students across the state from Years 5-8. We are proud to be represented as one of the schools with student’s selected for the first cohort. On Tuesday Zach Bissett from Year 7 was our first selected student to commence his online high ability class.

VCE Students

Students in Year 12 and students undertaking Unit 3 and Unit 4 studies in Year 11 participated in an online revision program during the first week of the school holidays. The program, which we initiated and coordinate now for all Knox Secondary Schools, provided valuable sessions to prepare our students for the exams. The presenters, all experienced Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority assessors, provided the most comprehensive sessions and resources to support students in what has been a most challenging year. I would like to acknowledge the commitment of our students shown by the high attendance throughout this program but also for their efforts last week in the General Achievement Test (GAT) and other essential assessments on site.

This week we presented our Year 12 students with a new ‘Class of 2020’ Facemask which they are wearing proudly. In the next two weeks we have organised some activities we are able to conduct within the restrictions to allow them to finish their final time at school prior to exams with some positive memories.

It is timely when discussing masks to remind all students and families that masks need to be regularly replaced if disposable and washed if fabric. The masks do dry overnight.

2021 Enrolments and Transition

2020 has been a hard year for students and parents who have relocated to a new area, or whose children are transitioning from Grade 6-7, as tours have not been able to be conducted. Therefore students are entering schools for the first time without having been for a visit unless they have been here for past tours or Open Day last year. It has also been difficult for our Year 12 students as Open Days for many tertiary institutions have been virtual. If you know of anyone considering enrolling at other year levels in 2021 who has not already been in touch, encourage them to do so as some year levels are almost full. The same applies if you may be moving house and relocating to another area and your child may not be returning next year.

Year 7 2021 transitions are well underway as is the planning for our own student transition between year levels. I would like to acknowledge the work of the transition teams and Ms Bronywn Haines who has had a very busy year assisting students applying for tertiary pathways and / or employment.

Student Voice, Agency and Leadership

Over the break, there were 4,000 participants in the Australian Council of Educational Leaders Global online conference with world leaders presenting over three days. Our College was one of five to have students selected to present their voice to such a prestigious audience. I was so proud to hear each of the presenters and read members of the audience comments on the conference chat about how insightful and well-spoken the students were. One clip has been taken from the entire conference to be shared in the conference follow up promotion. Well done to our College Captain, Shannon Toogood, for her positive perceptions presented that inspired so many.

Over the break, we also had a group of students attend the VIC SRC Conference. The student leaders have written an article for the College Magazine on this event.

I encourage all students to get involved in the multiple student leadership opportunities available to students from our College. As the College numbers grow, the number of student leadership positions increases. The selection process for our 2021 student leaders commences this term.

Health and Safety

The remote learning arrangements were put in place to significantly reduce the movement of more than one million students and their families across Victoria, to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Thanks to you and your family for contributing to this on behalf of our College community. Therefore, we can maintain a safe environment and more importantly so we do not have to revert to future lockdowns. Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell or they have been tested until results show they are clear or symptoms are gone.

Our College, in partnership with you, has shown it can be flexible and adaptable in responding to the challenges of coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to meet student needs. We look towards the return on site for our Years 8-10 students on 26 October, the end of the 2020 school year and ahead to 2021.

Mrs Gail Major

Principal