Melton Mail

Principal's Report

David Reynolds - Principal

Student Learning Progress

Melton Secondary College students are flourishing, achieving progress with their learning and setting themselves up for a bright future. During first semester we have been implementing a new Independent Reading Program for students in Years 7 & 8.  Reading is fundamental to success in school and students need to be able to read texts which are increasingly more complex as they progress through the year levels so their skills need to develop quickly. The Junior Independent Reading Program is in its early stages, but we are already seeing an increase in the number of students borrowing books from the library and reading whenever they have spare minutes. We know that this investment in our students reading skills will set them up for a more successful future and we know we will have more success if reading is supported at home as well. The Community Engagement sub-committee of School Council will be looking at ways that the college can work with families to support higher rates of reading at home. Stay tuned for some great ideas and information in the next edition of the Melton Mail.

Increased Student Voice

At Melton Secondary College we believe that the voice of students should take equal place along with parents, staff and the community when it comes to decision-making at the highest level. For this reason, our School Council has had student members for some years now, currently filled by our school captains, Winona Duka and Jacob Azopardi. This year the state government made changes to the legislation to add a new Student category of membership for every government school council. What this means for us is two more students will join our school council making a total of four. At the start of next term, students at all year levels will have the opportunity to nominate for one of the two new places and if there are more than two  students nominated, an election will be held. Compass News Feed has more information on this topic and nomination forms.

Student Voice in the Classroom

The Department of Education recently released a new initiative designed to increase student involvement in classrooms. Titled Amplify, this initiative requires schools to involve students in all areas of the running of the school. At Melton Secondary College we have already put in place a number of these strategies. One of these is the Pivot survey which is used by teachers twice each year in order to gather feedback about teaching and learning in their classrooms. The first Pivot survey results have recently been returned and teachers will be discussing the feedback with students over the next few weeks. 

High Resolves Student Leadership

On Thursday 28 June, student leaders from Years 7-9 participated in the Collective Identity module as part of the High Resolves Global Citizenship Program. The module explored the central idea that we all belong to one single, yet diverse human race. Students took part in a simulation, played games, and shared their own ideas and experiences.

The first activity had the students move around the room to explore different elements of their own identity and compare them to their peers. Students were then immersed in the fictional world of the ‘Star Games’, where their life opportunities were determined by how well they did in a series of challenges and the star sign they were assigned. After competing in the challenges, the students reflected on how stereotypes and ‘us versus them’ thinking plays out in the real world. The students then took part in two other small group activities that explored the best ways to counter divisive messaging. At the end of the module, each student was asked to complete their own ‘I resolve to’ card, making a specific commitment to take a global citizenship type action in the following days or weeks. Please see below for some examples.

 

High Resolves is a not-for-profit, non-religious, non-partisan, educational program that motivates high school students to be purposeful global citizens and to develop the mindsets and skills they need to lead their communities, and the world, to a brighter future. More details can be found at www.highresolves.org.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) 

Information sessions are being run for parents who wish to learn about the NDIS and have a children who are:

  • Students receiving Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) funding for Vision Impairment;
  • Students enrolled at a Specialist School exclusively for students with Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability;
  • Students with disability transport program (Specialist School Bus, taxi or conveyance allowance);
  • Personal care support at school (Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) funding at level 4, 5 or 6; and/or Medical Intervention Support (MIS).

Please go the the Community page in this edition of the Melton Mail for details.