Principal Team Editorial

As the term draws to an end, a term that feels like the longest in history, I would like to pay tribute this week to our partners in the education of our young people, our parents. Never would we have anticipated the year we have had, a period of enormous upheaval and change, that has required a different way of doing things. Our students have been learning from home this year, more than they have been at school, and that has impacted the family environment and dynamic more than anything else in our history!  Some parents have lost their jobs, are working less or are working from home, but regardless the support that our students and staff have received from parents has been enormous. Our staff have appreciated the partnership that has existed this year with parents playing an expanded role in the education of their young people, despite all of the challenges that they have faced. Moreover, parents’ ability to keep students motivated and enthusiastic during remote learning has ensured that we have achieved more success than would have otherwise been expected. 

Parents too have developed a better appreciation for the abilities of our hard working and committed teachers, and have a greater understanding of the challenges that our staff have faced during this period. In the end, despite a once in a 100 year pandemic and all of the disruption that has been caused, if anything this period has brought our community together resulting in us being closer than we have ever been.

Unfortunately, I need to farewell staff who are finishing with us at the end of this term. Firstly, one of our multi-cultural aides Li Ai, who was replacing Tina Lin on maternity leave is leaving at the end of this week. Our international students have benefited enormously from her support over the last year, and on behalf of them and the staff on the international team I offer my thanks and wish her all the best. 

Sadly, we are also losing Zoe Carolan who has been promoted and is taking on the role of Assistant Principal at the new Pakenham (Henry Rd) Secondary College. Fortunately, Zoe will be continuing to teach her Year 12s in term 4 until they have completed their exam. Zoe is a skilful teacher (Victorian Teacher of the Year finalist in 2019), however it is in her role as Leader of Mathematics and Numeracy that she has had the greatest impact. Zoe has been an outstanding leader of the Maths team and the improvement in learning outcomes in this area has been the most significant throughout the entire school. Zoe will be an enormous loss, but her promotion is overdue recognition of her capacity and skill and we are excited for her in this new challenge. Mark Oudshoorn will be moving into the role of Leader of Mathematics and Numeracy from the start of term 4. Mark is an equally capable leader and we look forward to him leading further improvements. 

Peter Kelly is also taking long service leave in term 4 and he will be replaced by Tina Prapas who has completed a number of teaching roles with us over the last few years.

Yesterday (Thursday), I met online with students who were interested in the future of the Presentation Ball. I informed them that after consultation with various groups including Parents Association and College Council, that we will not be continuing to run Presentation Balls in the future. Instead, this event will be replaced by a major formal (possibly Year 10 and 11) that could be attended in both years. The decision was made due to a number of considerations including the workload on staff, the amount of formal events (4) over three years (Year 10, 11, 12) and the costs in Year 11 (Pres ball and NT tour in the same year). We look forward to working with students to advance the concept of the cheaper and less intensive event that will act as a replacement.

To all our community members, have a great break (if you get one) in the holidays and we look forward to the return of students in term 4.

Kevin Murphy

Principal