Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Carers
The 2020 school year is nearing its end and for most of us 2021 can’t come soon enough. It has certainly been an unprecedented year in education. Who would have believed that in April we would be teaching and learning from home and that teachers would be wearing masks on their return to school? Thank you once again to the school community for working together under challenging circumstances for the common purpose of educating our students.
It is that time of the year where our students celebrate their learning in 2020 and prepare for a successful 2021. On Tuesday we held our Orientation Day and students across the school spent the day with their new teacher and class in their 2021 classroom. Please note that classes and teachers are still subject to change and in a few cases the teacher for next year has not been finalised. We welcomed over twenty new students and all left with smiles on their faces at the end of the day. We all have much to look forward to in 2021.
Last Friday was our Year 12 Graduation and, while the format was a little different due to the COVID Safe environment, it was an emotional afternoon as our students all read their speeches reflecting their educational journey. All students will be participating in further education or employment next year and we wish them all the very best for the future. Thank you to Peter Hitchener, Jane Bunn and Matt Preston for the video messages that they sent to our students.
Staff Farewells
Kirrily Lamers was the Acting Principal when she left our school at the end of term 1 to take up the substantive Principal position at Rosanna Golf Links PS. Kirrily commenced at Concord School as a teacher at Lower Primary in 2004 and after moving to Ivanhoe East PS for a few years she returned as Assistant Principal in 2015.
Kirsten Coulter will leaving Concord School at the end of the year for Ascot Vale Special School. Kirsten has worked at our school for more than 20 years in the primary areas of the school and has positively changed the lives of hundreds of students and many teachers with her educational knowledge and passion for both student and adult learning.
Sam Birrell was our Acting Assistant Principal since 2019 and left our school at the beginning of this term to become the substantive Assistant Principal at the new Keelonith PS at Greenvale. Sam will be joined next year by Jane Black, our Acting Secondary 9/10 Team Leader, who will be moving to Keelonith PS as a Learning Specialist.
Thank you also to Jennifer Zabrieszach, Andrea Theodosis, Zee Munro, Simone Creek, Jackson Dunston and Hanna Yammouni for their contributions to Concord School.
I will introduce you to our talented newly appointed staff in the first newsletter of 2021.
See You in 2021
I would like to thank all of the staff at Concord School for your dedication in ensuring our students are ‘the best they can be’. Thanks also to our parents and carers who work so hard to support the students. A very special thank you to our students who continue to inspire us. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to Friday the 29th of January when we welcome back our students for their first day of 2021.
Please note that on the evening of Wednesday, 3rd February we will hold an Information Evening for all Prep to Year 10 families and a Meet the Teacher Evening on Tuesday, 16th February.
Survey re School Building Works
Our school has received $10 million in State Government funding to upgrade and modernise our school, including providing additional permanent buildings. We want to hear from our parents, carers and community about what you’d like to see in your school. The results of this survey will help to shape our school’s new upgrades. To have your say, complete the survey at the link below before the end of TOMORROW Friday the 11th of December.https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DHYWLFL
COVID-19 and Changes to School Operations
Some important updates have been made to school operations.
A summary of these changes are
Face Masks
Face masks are no longer required in school settings. However, they are recommended for use by staff and secondary school students when physical distancing of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained. Face masks must be carried by individuals aged 12 and over and continue to be mandatory on public transport and school buses.
Physical Distancing
Schools should continue strategies to support physical distancing among all students and staff, where possible. Density quotients continue to apply to staff areas, including lunchrooms, and those accessed by the public, such as reception areas. These now have a density limit of one person per two square metres.
Gatherings
School gatherings involving parents or other external guests no longer have a cap on maximum numbers. However, overall attendance numbers must be based on available floor space of the venue, with a density limit of one person per two square metres.
Music
Music activities, including group singing and wind and brass instrument use, can resume without specified limits.
Staff Meetings
Face-to-face professional development and staff meetings can proceed with a density limit of one person per two square metres.
School Visitors
There is no requirement to limit the number or type of visitors to school premises as long as a density limit of one person per two square metres is applied. Record-keeping must be maintained for those on site for more than 15 minutes.
With schools now able to largely resume normal activities and welcome parents and other visitors back onto their grounds, it is crucial for everyone to continue to be vigilant.
Staying home when unwell, performing regular hand hygiene and maintaining physical distance from others when practical, are important to keep everyone safe in the remaining weeks of term and into 2021.
School Council President’s Report
School Council meeting was held on Monday 7 December 2020 in which the following matters were discussed:
State Government Funding
As communicated recently in the Newsletter, Concord School has been allocated $10 million in the 2020-2021 State Budget to upgrade and further modernise the school. While we have managed to improve our facilities in recent years, this will provide us with the funding to refurbish or rebuild the rest of our school with exciting and innovative spaces that can maximise the opportunities for our students. A survey is to be sent to parents/carers and the wider community to seek input on how they would like to see this grant utilised.
Student Enrolment
Current enrolment of the school is 468 Students
Staffing
Concord and the School Council ensure that funds are utilised to directly support student learning wherever possible. As a result, the following positions have been advertised
- 6 x ES
- Speech Pathologist (Secondary)
- Occupational Therapist (Secondary)
- Discovery Centre Support (ES-1)
- Mental Health Practitioner
In addition, we have restructured the Leadership Team to provide more support to staff and students. In 2021, the Team Leader positions in Upper Primary, Secondary 7/8 and Secondary 9/10 will be performed by two non-teaching Leading Teachers. One leading teacher will have responsibility for Teaching & Learning and the other for Student Wellbeing & Engagement. The substantive Team Leaders Chris Norman, Karlie Gooding and Chris Malane (to commence in 2021) have been allocated one of these roles and will also be the overall Team Leader of the section. Therefore, the other roles have been advertised internally through an internal Expression of Interest process. These positions are- Upper Primary - Leader Teaching & Learning - Secondary 7/8 - Leader Student Wellbeing & Engagement - Secondary 9/10 - Leader Student Wellbeing & Engagement
2021 Annual Implementation Plan
An update to changes provided by DET on the 2021 Annual Implementation Plan was provided
2021 Curriculum Days – Motion was passed for 2021 Curriculum Days
- 27th January 2021
- 28th January 2021
- 26th April 2021
- 07th June 2021
Parent Opinion Survey
Results from latest Parent Opinion Survey were presented, reviewed and discussed.
Student Representative Council
Update provided on the last Student Representative Council meeting held for 2020 and reflected on the year’s achievements
Year 12 Graduation
Reflected on the special day had by the Year 12 for their Graduation held in unprecedented times and circumstances. We wish all our Year 12 Graduates the very best in their future outside of Concord and remind them of our motto “To Be the Best you can Be”
Next School Council Meeting: Monday 15th February 7pm (2020 AGM @ 6.30pm)
On behalf of Concord School Council – we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Prosperous New Year
Mark Lancaster
School Council President
Principal Awards Lunch 2020
Recipients of the Principal Awards for 2020 were invited to join myself and the Leadership Team for a lunch on Monday 7th December to acknowledge and celebrate their achievements. We enjoyed pizzas and desserts and I enjoyed getting to know some of wonderful achievers. Congratulations to you all.
Jason Coningsby
Principal