Principal's Report

Welcome back

I would like to start this first newsletter for 2021 by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which Reservoir High stands, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to their elders, both past present and future, as well as my respect to all other First Nations' peoples part of the Reservoir High community.

Welcome back to all staff, students, parents and carers and a special welcome to our new families.  This year we welcomed 120 new students into Year 7 and many other students to Years 8-12. We feel privileged that you have decided to join the Reservoir High community and inspired to continue to work at our hardest in order to achieve excellence and success for you and your children. 

It has been a fantastic start to the 2021 academic year. All students started on Thursday 28 January and it was very pleasing to see all students, in all Year levels, settled into their new learning by the start of Period 2. Thanks to all of our students and families for being prepared to begin learning on the first day and to our exceptional teaching and support staff for organising first day assemblies, providing all students with lockers and locks, timetables and programs and being ready to learn in classrooms by 10am on the first day.

While our February Lock-down was the last thing we wanted to experience in 2021, I was again immensely proud of how our staff, families and students handled remote learning version 3.  I am sure I am not the only person hoping that we don't have to go through it again, but it was very pleasing to see that the strong relationships and connection of students to their peers and teachers meant that learning continued strongly during our lockdown. 

Our Vision and Mission

Reservoir High School's  vision is to build resilient and reflective learners who strive for excellence and value diversity through showing respect for self, others, and the community. We do so in a learning environment built on a culture of respectful relationships. We are a high expectations school; we have very high expectations not only of student achievement, but of respect for self, others and the whole learning community. We operate with the mantra of Being Kind, Being Safe and Being Fair at all times. 

The School’s mission is to ensure our students are successful learners; literate, numerate and empowered to be critical and creative thinkers in a changing world. Reservoir High’s objective is to create an engaging environment which enables all students to be able to achieve their personal best.

New Staff

Reservoir High continues to grow, and as such I would like to introduce you to our new staff for 2021:

Natalie Manser - Assistant Principal

Jodie Purches- Learning Specialist for Innovation and Excellence and Science/Maths

Hayley Pantalleresco- Eng/Hums/Psych

Tracy Sarroff- Studio Art/Visual Arts

Norrian Rundle- Numeracy

Will Chen- Literacy/Numeracy

Thilakaratne Kandambi- Grounds

School Captains 2021

While they have already hosted the 2020 Principal Awards, I look forward to working with our 2021 School Captains. Reservoir High has exceptional Leadership programs, an active SRC and in 2021, will be expanding the Student Leadership roles and opportunities in the school. Our School Captains for 2021-

Celebrating 2020 

It is interesting to use the word celebration when we reflect on the year that was 2020, but even through the lockdown(s), the two periods of remote learning and the difficulties associated with the pandemic for our school and wider community, there is much to recognise and celebrate.

Outstanding VCE Achievement and Transition Pathways

For the 7th year in a row, the VCE results of our students continued to improve. There is no doubt about the difficulty of the VCE and VCAL in a 'normal' year. The events of 2020 added an extra layer of complexity  in the extra adversity and difficulties of learning from home. Despite this,  the results of our students are exceptional. 

I am also extremely pleased to announce that 100% of our VCE students were successful in securing Tertiary pathways through their VTAC applications, with 94% of students achieving their first or second preference. This is a spectacular outcome, a vindication of the hard work from our students, families and staff and makes me immensely proud to be a Principal of a school that supports every student to achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations. 

I would like to acknowledge our 2020 School Dux, Anastasia Typou and congratulate her on her achievement. 

Anastasia now moves on to her Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Psychological Science double degree while pursuing her goal of representing Australia in the Olympics in her sport of Tae Kwon Do. 

For the second year in a row, our students average ATAR was again better than the state average and 35% of our students achieved an ATAR that placed them in the top 25% of the state. We are immensely proud. 

Well-being Support

Throughout 2020, Reservoir High continued to prioritise the well-being of our students. With a wide range of supports from activities and clubs, to system support in the sub schools, and targeted support from our dedicated Well-being Leader, School Nurse, Mental Health Practitioner, Chaplain and external agency support such as Headspace, our students well-being and connectedness remained a key focus of our work 

Student Attitudes and Attendance

2020 also saw the introduction of continuous reporting, a new approach to skills based assessment and increased use of technology to support our excellent teaching approaches.  Our students told us that these approaches catered to their learning needs, made them feel more connected to their peers and teachers and we saw a marked increase in the stimulated learning perceptions of the students.

What was successful in 2020? 

 We have learnt a great deal from the year that was 2020. There were many learnings that will benefit every student in our community; both in 2021 and beyond. 2020 reinforced that learning cannot just be replaced by technology and screens. Our students have told us this in forums, you as our parents have told us this and expressed your concerns about too much 'screen time' and our use of evidence based practice in learning reinforces that learning cannot just be achieved via a computer screen. We know that real learning happens in an environment of respect, where relationships and connection are the key starting point. Our Instructional Models support the use of explicit teaching, direct instruction and modelling, and also build key 21st Century skills through inquiry and design thinking and the building of digital literacy skills. 

Digital Literacy, Computer use and BYOD

Reservoir High is a Microsoft 365 school. In 2020, we completed the Microsoft Schools Transformation Project. This saw a significant number of staff trained as Certified Microsoft Trainers and all staff complete training in using the M365 tools to enhance teaching and learning.  Our learning as a staff of how to use digital technology to enhance student learning is on-going. 

 Our aim with digital literacy is to ensure that students are not just users of technology, but creators. To support this, and the needs our community, our approach to Digital Learning devices is-

Years 10-12-

We Operate a 1:1 Learning program using a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) model.  We provide a portal for parents to access a range of devices through EduNet, although families are free to choose any device from any provider, within our minimum specifications. The portal can be accessed by-

https://reservoirhs.technologyportal.com.au/

(Password- RHS2021 )

All classes in Years 10, 11 and 12 operate using Microsoft Teams, as well as Compass. This means that Compass is still used for parent communication, Learning Tasks (CATS and SACs), Reporting and Lesson Plans (Learning Intentions and Success Criteria are published every lesson- for both students and parents). Teams is used for resources, collaboration, and if required, video lessons. 

Years 7-9

There is no doubt about the use of devices to support, extend and enhance learning. There is also growing concern about screen time and its impact on the brains of our young people. We do not operate a BYOD program for Year 7-9. At Year 7-9, Reservoir High provisions the digital learning in classrooms.  Reservoir High is technologically rich in its use of devices to support our wide curriculum. We tailor our devices to the needs of the curriculum areas. We use a range of desk top machines, laptops, 2 in 1 devices, iPads and tablets depending on the needs of the subject area. To support our families in providing this targeted approach, we provide these devices for school use. 

We know that students have access to a range of devices at home. To bridge the use of school devices and home devices, we use the Microsoft 365 platform. Each student receives their own M365 account, which allows for the free use and download of all of the Office apps on their own at home devices (up to 5 licences) and  One Drive- a cloud based storage platform. All tasks completed at school are saved in One Drive, with it accessible from any device at home. To access the Office apps, One Drive and email through Outlook, student use their EduPass account. 

For Year 7-9, we use both Compass and the M365 tools. Just as in Years 10-12, Compass is used for parent communication, Learning Tasks (CATS and SACs), Reporting and Lesson Plans (Learning Intentions and Success Criteria are published every lesson- for both students and parents).  Compass is also used for resources and class activities. 

For further information, please see our Digital Learning Policy

Building Works

It has been a very busy summer holidays for building work. Please see the Buildings and Grounds page in this newsletter for full details. I am particularly proud to see students using our new Senior School building, to see that every Junior School (F Block) classroom now has air conditioning and computer access and that the A Block, Library and new B Block classrooms are all air-conditioned.

We are also about to begin the next Stage of our building program, with our Food Technology and Art spaces being funded for  a $4.35 million redevelopment. Architects will be appointed soon and we will begin the school community consultation phase of the master planning. 

Study Skills Program

In 2021, Reservoir High has implemented a whole school approach to study skills. This will see students in all three sub-schools taught explicit skills in how to study, how to be organised as well as self-regulation and metacognition skills. 

This program has already begun with our partnership with Elevate Education supporting students in developing study skills in all three sub schools. 

La Trobe University Partnership

Reservoir High has a long-standing partnership with La Trobe University. This partnership supports our students with curriculum programs both on campus and on the school site, as well as pathways programs, Science programs and extension, early start university study and support for VCE students. 

In 2021, this partnership is further extended with the introduction of the 'Prepare @Latrobe' program. This program is designed to eventually see all Year 11 students in the future co-enrolled in both Reservoir High  and La Trobe University, completing university program modules and creating further pathways to university study.  

At this stage we are trialling the program with the first course in 'Critical Thinking'. For current Year 11 students interested, please read the article in the Senior School News in this newsletter.

School Council Elections 

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally constituted bodies that are given powers to set the broad direction of a school in accordance with their constituting Order and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students. Each year, positions are available for parents to join the School Council for a two year period. Parents on School council provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help inform and shape the direction of the school. I hereby announce an election is to be conducted for members of the Reservoir High School Council.

Nomination forms may be obtained from the links below, at the school or via Compass and must be lodged by- Friday 26 February 2021 by 4pm 

Nominations will be listed at the school on Wednesday 3 March. 

Following the closing of nominations a list of the nominations received will be posted at the school. Ballot papers (if required) will be distributed on Friday 5 March 

The ballot will close at Friday 12 March by 4pm. There are three parent positions open for election in 2021. There is also one student position open for election in 2021. If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted in a prominent position at the school. Please lodge your nominations in paper form at the General Office of the school, or by email to anna.busuttil@education.vic.gov.au by Friday 26 February at 4pm. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding School Council on 9466 0900.

Fact sheets

Nomination forms for parents

Tutor Program 2021

We all know that 2020 was a difficult year. Whilst many students thrived during remote learning, some students found it hard to engage in their learning. In order to support students whose learning growth was impacted in 2020, Reservoir High will be expanding its support programs with the employment of 4 more Teachers in the Tutoring role. We will be tutoring students at Years 7-10, as well as supporting VCE students with targeted one on one small group Academic Coaching and mentoring. 

Our tutoring program will enhance the already extensive support and extension programs such as GRIN, Reading Recovery, Independent Reading and Numeracy support provided in the school. Our intention, as it always is, is to ensure that every learner, regardless of cultural, language or educational background or opportunity, should be extended and supported in improving their literacy, numeracy and key 21st Century skills.  Ms. Natalie Manser, our new Assistant Principal, is vastly experienced in leading high quality, high outcome programs for student learning  growth and will be developing a program to support all of our learners.