Principal's Report

Principal's Report

Dear Families,

What glorious weather we have experienced these past two weeks!  Our students have been out and about in the sunshine during breaks enjoying the natural warmth in the air.  As the weather improved again this week, the last of the scaffolding came down and the muddy patches dried up. Our capital works program finally ended on Monday after five and a half long years of planning and implementation. The school grounds have improved significantly, and our buildings are first-class, with our pride obvious as we tour prospective families. Our new classroom spaces are quiet and conducive to learning, rather than open-planned and noisy.  The rooms are centrally heated with reverse cycle air conditioning and heating, and have new furniture, screens etc.  Staff and students are enjoying the new areas in both primary and secondary school. 

The new art and technology precinct is utilised by our secondary students and for primary assemblies.  On Monday our students gained access to the brand-new bathroom facilities that are clean and fresh with direct air flow through the area. Our students requested new bottle-filling stations and drink stations through our leadership and voice forums and were grateful to see that their voices were heard when they gained access to the new facilities. Our Arts team will provide time later in the year for families to visit the area and showcase their program. The new design technology room was handed over on Monday, signalling the conclusion of the works. 

In our two capital works projects we expanded the college to a P-12 with an upgrade that gives students and staff better and more modern facilities. In stage 1 we constructed a new senior centre that includes classrooms, an open-plan study area, toilets, a kitchen and a staff workspace. We also refurbished and rearranged science classrooms, prep and storage areas, and staff administration spaces. In stage 2 we refurbished and rearranged the college administration, refurbished secondary science and open planned learning spaces into primary classrooms, staff workspace, and a STEM room. We constructed a sensory garden for student use. We refurbished classrooms into dedicated art and technology spaces with a staff workspace. We refurbished the former visual arts room and woodwork area into a new larger design technology space. The school library which was sinking due to the local soil conditions has been underpinned to level the floor. 

We extend our appreciation to the teams at Constructive Group and Balmain and Co. who worked in partnership with us throughout the two construction projects to ensure the projects ran to schedule.  Our team of architects at Crosier and Scott: Tanya, Belinda, and Mark worked tirelessly during our two capital works projects to bring our vision for the college to reality and to ensure we stayed within budget.  Tanya Micallef our key contact from the firm worked with the principal team, the Victorian Schools Building Authority, and the construction group fortnightly to oversee the two projects. We couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved for our Altona Community and know that within our new facilities, we can continue to service our local community with an exceptional primary and secondary school. 

The college council is currently awaiting a schedule of further works to asphalt and the gymnasium floor from the Victorian Schools Building Authority. This is part of the planned maintenance audit undertaken by the department last year. 

Enrolment requests for 2024 in both prep and year 7 have been received and offers have been sent out to prospective families. There is a short time frame for families to confirm their placement. If you know of families in the area who have not yet sought placement for prep, please let us know. There are families who were unaware of the new process for prep enrolments for the coming year. Information sessions will be held in term 4 for new Year 7 families and our prep transition program will commence in term 4 as well.  They all have amazing facilities to learn in as they begin their school journey.

Reminder: Tomorrow August 4th is a curriculum day at Altona College. The school will be closed, and the outside hours program WILL NOT be operating. Families will need to make their own arrangements for their children to be supervised. 

Wishing all our families a relaxing weekend.

Julie Krause