Year 12 Graduation

Last week we had two signature events in the life of the school for senior students, our Year 12 Graduation and the Western Edge Cluster VET awards.

Our Year 12 Graduation on Thursday was a fantastic night. It was a great opportunity to celebrate the journey of our students through the school as they head off into post school life. A portion of my speech on the night captures this celebration.

‘I am very proud of the way the Staughton Family works together to educate and engage students. I am proud of our academic results. I am proud of our cultural events such as productions and performances. I am proud of our students, staff and community. It is very important in a large community like ours to celebrate milestones in the lives of our students. Completing Year 12 is as big as this gets for a secondary school in this way.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate those VCE teachers that are in the room tonight. Your work ethic inspires me. You go above and beyond. You believe in our students. It is important for students and parents to know that no matter how hard you think these teachers work, they do more than you know. They really care. I would like us all to thank the teachers.

I would also like to particularly congratulate Chris Wilson for organising tonight and the senior team for their work with our Year 12 students this year. They also put the hours and effort in to get this result.

Some of your best memories will come from smaller communities within our larger Staughton community. These are places where students can feel like they belong. There is something for everyone. Staughton is special in this way. As you come to the end of your time at the college I encourage you to reflect on your involvement in the life of the school. Most importantly these include the strong personal friendships you have developed over the last 6 years.’

Western Edge Cluster VET Awards

Last Tuesday night, the annual Western Edge Cluster VET awards were held at Tabcorp Park. It was a great night of celebration of the hard work and success of VET students across our cluster of local schools. I would like to congratulate the following students who won awards on the night:

Tiahna Kierney, Tamilia Colabro-Clark, Constance McNamara, Luke Jonker, Bryah Debono, Madison Saunders.

We were thrilled at the end of the night that our students won the first and second year overall VET Excellence Awards. Congratulations to Constance McNamara and Tamilia Colabro-Clark on winning these awards!

Mobile Phone Policy

As you may be aware, the Victorian government has announced a new mobile phone policy that will require students to switch their phones off and securely store them away during the school day, beginning at the start of the 2020 school year.

The policy is designed to support teaching and learning in an environment that is free from unnecessary distractions, disruptions and student inattention caused by the urge to check their phones. At recess and lunch times, students will be better-placed to communicate with each other face to face and/or be involved in activities rather than being focused on a device or on social media.

The new mobile phone policy comes into effect from Term 1, 2020. It requires that students who choose to bring mobiles phones to school must have them switched off and securely put away during school hours.

All students will be provided, at no cost, with a locker at the start of the school year. More details on the implementation of this policy will be provided before the commencement of the 2020 school year.

Child Safety

Our school focus on learning, effort and respect lived through our motto of try persevere achieve are underpinned by an understanding that Child Safety is a paramount responsibility of the school community. Staughton College has a number of guiding policies regarding Child Safety on our web site located at http://www.staughtoncollege.vic.edu.au/administration/.

Please take some time to make yourself aware of these and contact the school should you have any concerns regarding Child Safety.

DAVID LORD

Principal

We, at Staughton College, would like to show our respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our school is situated, of elders past and present. We extend a warm welcome to everyone who visits our school.

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