Principal's Message

Dear Families,

As 2021 nears to an end… another rollercoaster of a year… it is an excellent opportunity for me to reflect on the amazing resilience and achievement our students and staff have displayed once again.

I am extremely proud of our students’ ability to navigate challenges and bend to the demands of the ever-changing restrictions placed on them throughout this extraordinary year.

This year once again has presented challenges and has caused us to see our lives and work through a very different lens. Again, this year we had to reassess what matters, what is worth spending time on, and what makes a difference. As a school community, we have reflected on and analysed what we have learnt because of the challenges we have had to face and we collectively have grown in confidence, we are more empathetic, and our resilience has improved dramatically because of these challenges.

Whether on site or in the remote learning environment, I am very grateful for my staff’s commitment to our students and families within our community. Their dedication, hard work, determination, and growth mindset is the reason why our students do so well.

Term 4 has been a critical time for us to re-engage students, re-establish school routines, and prepare for the successful transitions for all year levels into 2022.

Supporting students who need to catch up, and inspiring students who have progressed well to continue to excel, is central to all planning for 2022. I know some students have thrived in the remote and flexible learning environment, others have maintained their progress, and some have fallen behind despite their best efforts and those of their families and teachers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents, students, and staff for all the support they have shown the College over the last year and a half. During the year there has been so many twists and turns with new routines and rules, school closure and the back and forwards between remote and on-site learning. Through it all staff and students have been fantastic and have continued to live our college values of Respect Yourself and Others, Aspire to Achieve and Strengthen the Community and it is because of our school values our students go from strength to strength.

Our Year 12’s have been impressive beyond belief throughout this year but especially over the last few weeks. They have suffered for two years the effect the pandemic has had on their education. Regardless of their results, I know they have impressed me and all their teachers with their resilience and determination, and I have no doubt that this cohort of young people, our Class of 2021 pictured below, will be stronger and successful having been through a year and a half like no other.

The Year 12 Graduation will be held on Thursday 16th December at 1.00pm at the Senior Campus in our gym. We feel this is the best way to bring together, in a COVID safe way, our students, parents and staff, to celebrate and recognise our class of 2021 graduating students.

Be Well Be Successful day - Monday 15 November

Last year, I introduced a series of workshops on the first day of our Year 12 Step Up program, for the students completing year 12. Given the impact of remote learning, the workshops were designed and delivered to provide the students with a series of strategies and resources to maintain a growth mindset, strengthen their resilience, review their learning streets and to develop personal learning goals.

This year, I worked with some of our external community stakeholders to plan for and deliver the program again for Year 11 students. Members of my staff and facilitators from School Focussed Youth Services and Brimbank Youth planned and developed workshops about building resilience, managing change and gratitude and mindfulness.

The feedback from our 2022 Year 12 student cohort was incredibly positive and will help me to work with stakeholders and staff in 2022, to support our students in their studies and to maintain their emotional health and wellbeing. The students' feedback is shared for you to read below, so that we can continue to work together to support our students in their final year of secondary schooling:

What did you like about the workshops?

Learning strategies from each workshop about connectedness, being active, managing Y12.
Having fun and working/engaging with other students. Being motivated.
Relaxed and stress free distraction from regular school work. Timing was great, after exams.
Discussing future goals.

What are the key messages that you have taken from all 3 workshops today?

Motivation – having a healthy mindset and push through the “negatives”
Identifying strengths and goal settings
Collaboration/Team work is a key fact for y12
Resilience
Personal wellbeing – Be kind to ourselves and others

What are two or more actions that you plan to implement after these workshops? Why? When will you start? How will you reflect on their impact on your health and wellbeing?

Organisation skills – prioritising, having a schedule
Weekly goal settings – SMART goals
Practice mindfulness
Improve sleep pattern
Ask for help when needed
Implement some of the coping strategies – mediation, listen to music, exercise

What are some ideas that you would like to have more information presented on next year if possible?

The pressures of y12
Healthy coping strategies
Balancing school, work and personal life
Time management / organisation
More hands on/interactive/collaborating work, like the drums, music
More workshops revolving around team work

Staff Farewells

The following staff are leaving us this year. We thank them immensely for their hard work and contribution to the College:

Mr Le - IT Teacher

Mr Singh - PE Teacher

Ms Underhill - Tutor

Mr Cunsolo - Tutor

Mr Kirifi - Tutor / Teacher

Ms Seago - Tutor

Ms Pandzo - Tutor

Ms Rae - Education Support

We also have a number of staff taking leave in 2022: Mr Grech, Ms Kelly, Mr Gallagher, Ms Nuttall, Mr De Gabriele and Ms Narracott.

Tutoring Program

The Tutoring Learning Initiative (TLI) program for 2022 will continue as was announced by the Victorian Government. The TLI program is designed to support students whose learning has been disrupted because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

I have employed 10 tutors in the areas of literacy and numeracy to commence at the start of the year in 2022 to work with students across the college from Year 7 to 12.

Senior Campus

All Year 10, 11 and 12 students will be based at the new Cairnlea campus next year. The details are as follows:

Address: 43 Ken Jordan Rd, Cairnlea

Telephone: 8312 0200 (same as St Albans campus)

Student Absence Line: 8312 0243

Email: victoria.university.sc@education.vic.gov.au

Overdue Library Books

Parents/carers are asked to please check in with your children about any library books which must be returned this year. College Coordinators have asked students to clean out lockers and return any books borrowed from the Campus Libraries. If students have books at home which need to be returned, our Junior Campus will be open until December 16, and books can be dropped off at the office.

Finally

On behalf of all the staff at VUSC I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a safe and relaxing break. I look forward to working with you all again in 2022.

Elaine Hazim

College Principal

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Child Safety at VUSC

Victoria University Secondary College is a child safe organisation committed to protecting students from all forms of abuse.

Our College has stringent protocols in place and endeavours at all times to be fully compliant with the Child Safe Standards set out under Ministerial Order 870.

Our College has the following documents and policies in place to achieve compliance with the Standards. All of these documents are available for downloading on our website or contact the school for a copy.

Commitment to Child Safety
Child Safety Policy
Child Safety Code of Conduct
Child Protection Policy and Procedures