PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

OPEN NIGHT

Our annual Open Night was held on Tuesday 1 May for prospective parents and students for 2019.

It is a night where staff and students showcase a little of the McKinnon magic and do so with great pride!

I congratulate all the staff and students involved for their dedication and commitment to our school community. There was a great buzz and warmth in the school and it was indeed a celebration of education at McKinnon.

YEAR 12 THEATRE PERFORMANCE

On Wednesday 2 May I was privileged to attend the Opening Night of the play ‘Jasper Jones’ performed by the Year 12 Theatre Studies students. The play took place over three nights and it was a great success. I am always so heartened to see students performing at their very best and I would like to acknowledge Ms Glanville for her efforts and support.

This week the local Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos actually named the cast and the play in Parliament.

Below is a video link of that from his Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/NickforBentleigh/videos/1841814052508692/

STUDY SKILLS

I would like to thank and acknowledge Mr Ben Rood and the Year 9 Student Managers for organizing the study skills Parent Information evening to be held next Monday evening, 14 May, 2018.

It is quite daunting to know how best to assist our children to study, revise and prepare for upcoming tests and exams.

These evenings are very well received and I thank the parents in advance who attend.

I also wish all students the very best with their pending assessments.

YEAR 9 BYTES PROGRAM

Over a period of three weekends 40 Year 9 BYTES students have been participating in Auskick umpiring at half time at AFL matches at the MCG and Etihad Stadium.

This is part of the Year 9 BYTES Umpiring Elective - 'It’s Your Call.'

The photos below were taken at the Essendon v Hawthorn match on Saturday 5 May, 2018. The students involved in that particular match were Sammy Lambrinos, Jonathan Vlamis, Jacob Whiting, Liam Walsh, Adam Paliatsos, Aithan Theofilopoulos, Harry Penhall and Thomas Natsikas.

I would like to thank and acknowledge the teachers involved, Phil De Salvo, Tim Blackwood, David Machin, Josh Cukierman, Paul King, Greg Hoskin and Chris Hudd, for allowing our students to experience this wonderful opportunity.

VOCAL NIGHT

Congratulations to all involved. There was exceptional talent on display. I would like to thank parents, grandparents and friends for attending.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge Blanka West for all that she does to develop these talents in our students.

PARENT NIGHT – MENTAL HEALTH 101

Thank you to the many families who attended Wednesday evening for what was a most informative presentation. It does indeed take a village to raise a child and working in partnership shows us to navigate some challenging times for our children.

I especially want to thank Patty Etcell (Wellbeing Coordinator) and Eileen Berry (Founder and General Manager, Parent Guides) as well as Kirsten Cleland who is a mental health Social Worker who has worked in the public mental health sector for 23 years. For the past eight years she has been the Manager of Headspace Elsternwick. This is part of the National Youth Mental Health Initiative providing a “one stop shop” of mental health, primary care, drug and alcohol and educational/vocational support to young people aged 12-25. Headspace was established to provide a model of early intervention to young people and their family and friends and see young people with social and family issues, mental health concerns as well as difficulties with school or work and drug and alcohol misuse/abuse. Also Frank Zoumboulis who has worked in private practise as a psychotherapist In Melbourne for over 20 years. His work is informed by experience and psychological theory from a psychodynamic approach: i.e. In order to feel good about ourselves and our lives we need to develop good relationships with others.  Frank is an advocate for young people having a say about what may be bothering them. He works with adults and young people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, relationship issues and low self-esteem. His early work was in public mental health nursing, youth work and child protection.

Thank you all for participating in this wonderful event.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Jemma Owen (Year 12) who has signed with the St. Kilda Football Club to play VFLW in 2018.  Jemma is also the Captain of the Sandringham Dragons women’s competition and a member of the Victorian Metro team. Best wishes on your wonderful achievement!

FAREWELL

Farewell to Alison Cody, General Manager of the McKinnon Basketball Association. After 11 years at the helm, Alison has decided to now accept a position at the WNBL Melbourne Boomers as Operational & Community Development Manager. On behalf of McKinnon Secondary College I would like to thank you and acknowledge your contribution over many years to many families in this community.  We wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.

AMBULANCE COVER

I encourage all parents to have family ambulance cover. Schools do not cover costs of an ambulance if one is called.

Sometimes children present to sick bay and a judgement is made that we call for ambulance assistance. We always do our best to look after all students and we have a duty of care while they are with us. Ambulance cover is quite cheap as opposed to ambulance cost without cover.

I also ask all parents to ensure contact details are accurate and changes to phone numbers, addresses and work details are provided to the General Office in case of an emergency.

Ambulance Victoria membership information:

Family Cover          Quarterly $23.01

                                      1 year $92.05

                                      3 year $276.15

                                      5 year $460.25

Visit the Ambulance Victoria Website for more information: http://ambulance.vic.gov.au/

TRAFFIC CONGESTION

At the start and end of each school day the traffic situation outside the school along narrow McKinnon Road is chaotic at best. Please do not park illegally or in the bus zone. Try and pick up your children a distance away from the school if possible. Please do not drive into the school at all and always take greater care on wet roads. Thank you for your support in this matter.