Principal's Message

Welcome to another edition of the College Newsletter. 

It has been a busy and successful Term One at WHSC.  There has been a real positive ‘buzz’ about the College this term with students and staff really happy to be back on site.  Whilst challenges remain with COVID–19, we have been able to work well with families to ensure a high-quality teaching and learning program for our students.  Our staff has been outstanding given the dedication and care they have afforded our students throughout the term, and we continue to enjoy wonderful support from families as we best support our College Community. 

It has been pleasing to see the return of so many co-curricular activities at the College this year.  Students have really missed out on these opportunities in recent times. To have activities such as Sporting Carnivals, Interschool Sport, Performing Arts events, Excursions, Incursions, and Camps back on the College Calendar is just fantastic for our students.   

College Tours are back in earnest every Wednesday morning with many prospective families checking out the College.  Our Tour Program was well supported by our successful Open Night held just last night (Thur 7 4 22) whereby hundreds of people were in attendance to learn more about our great school.  The success of our College Tours and Open Night demonstrates a strong level of interest in our College. 

We had a great turnout at our Parent Teacher Student Conferences held last week (Thur 31 3 22).  Many families took the opportunity to catch up with our teaching staff to check on the progress of their children.  The Conferences provide an insight into how students are progressing across their subjects, and the feedback shared by teaching staff is invaluable to the ongoing development of our students. 

We are currently involved in some high-level planning involving a few areas of importance to the College.  For example: 

• we continue with our work to introduce more Developmental Rubrics at the College.  Developmental Rubrics aim to measure the rate of learning growth providing students and staff with a clear indication of how students are tracking their learning on an ongoing basis.  Developmental Rubrics are being used in the Mathematics and English Domains, and they are being trialed in other Domains too across the College.  A ‘Growth Not Grades’ approach is important here to best measure student progress.   
• Recent Professional Development Days are supporting our work in further developing the writing skills of students, together with furthering our understanding of making strong and meaningful connections with students.   
• We are preparing for the Strategic Review process later in the year (commencing Semester Two) 
• We plan to introduce our new Early Commencement Program later in the year where all students will take up their next year’s subjects at this time.   
• Some initial planning too is underway with respect to the Senior School Certificate Reform which will see more Senior Secondary Certificate options for students in Victorian schools so that all students have access to the pathways that will set them up for a successful post-school transition.  Students will be able to choose between the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the new VCE Vocational Major* (*interim name).  The VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) is a new program within the VCE and will replace Intermediate/Senior VCAL from 2023.  There is also what is called the Victorian Pathways Certificate as part of the Reform, and this Certificate will replace VCAL at the Foundation level from next year.  Busy times at Wheelers Hill Secondary College! 

Please be reminded that today (Fr 8 4 22) is the last day of the term and students are to be dismissed at the earlier time of 2.30pm.  Furthermore, Cycle One Reports are to be distributed to families via Compass this afternoon (Fr 8 4 22); please spend some time over the school holiday period reading through these Reports. 

In closing, I announce that I will be taking on the Acting Principal role at Packenham Secondary College next term.  There is a process underway to fill the Acting Principal position here at Wheelers Hill Secondary College for Term Two, and I wish the WHSC College Community all the very best next Term. 

Perspective is a wonderful thing.  I look to the devastating conflict in Ukraine, and the destructive floods in NSW and Queensland and we have a lot to be grateful and thankful for - be sure to have a safe and enjoyable school holiday break everyone with family and friends, 

Regards, 

Aaron Smith 

College Principal