From the Leadership Team

We have welcomed our students back into school this week after what has been a very difficult time for the Greater Shepparton community. As a college community we continue to hear about the adversity families have had to face during the floods. 

Stories of the loss and damage to homes and possessions, family displacement, experiences in evacuation centres, living with friends and other family members, to the longer-term outlook of repairing, rebuilding and refurbishing all that has been lost and damaged. 

We have been heartened though, by the spirit and teamwork that has brightened the gloom within the broader community through these difficult times. Staff and students volunteered time to support families at evacuation centres, filling sandbags and getting amongst the clean-up efforts within local communities and finding ways to assist. 

Over the course of last week staff reached out to all students making efforts to identify those in need. There was a buzz of support each day at the college, as Year 12 teachers and other staff members, able to travel in, set up workstations to provide extra tuition and advice and undertake private study sessions.

Wellbeing efforts included a distribution of food hampers, regular communications including supports from our Multicultural Liaison Officers and the preparation of health and wellbeing sessions for classes on return to school. 

There is a Flood Impact survey set up on Compass that families can access. This will provide information on the specific requirements families might have with educational needs that we can support in this interim phase. 

We are in awe of the resilience of our senior students in their preparation for exams which commenced with the English exam on Wednesday. This group of students has contended with three years of COVID and a flooding natural disaster. They have been amazingly strong and flexible throughout these challenges, and we wish them every success over the next few weeks. 

Unfortunately, the Year 12s missed out on their breakfast and Graduation Assembly last week – but they will have a wonderful Valedictory celebration on 22nd November. 

The Year 11 exams will take place on site from 14th November through to 17th November. Early Commencement programs will take place midway through November. For Year 12 2023 – Friday 18th November through to Thursday 24th November and for Year 11 2023 – Monday 28th November to Friday 2nd December. These programs are an essential component of our senior student’s education. 

Our 2022 College and House Captains have been outstanding role models and positive advocates for student leadership at our college and have created a high benchmark for those who will follow in their footsteps. 

There are many opportunities across the college for students to demonstrate and develop their leadership potential. We are currently in the process of appointing the 2023 College and House Captains, and specialist leadership roles including Koorie, Multicultural, Environmental, Music, Student Representative Council and School Wide Positive Behaviour positions. Most of these roles are for students from Year 7 through to Year 12.

This Friday, 28th November, is World Teachers Day. We acknowledge the efforts of all staff at the Greater Shepparton Secondary College by supporting the theme 'Hats off to GSSC staff'. Our staff joined in the fun by donning a special hat for the occasion. 

Dougie Souter 

Biyala Neighbourhood Principal

for the

Leadership Team GSSC

Blue Edge

An opportunity exists for Year 9 students to participate in Blue EDGE in Term 1 2023.

If you would like to know more please attend one of the information sessions: