Principal Report
Koonung Secondary College
As we approach the end of term, I am pleased to reflect on the success we have had over the past few months at our College. I am proud of the positivity from our staff and students, and constantly impressed of how our students live our College values, especially in how they demonstrate respect to their peers and staff, and their resilience in their learning. I observed an example of this resilience recently during the NAPLAN testing period. Love it or hate it, NAPLAN is part of schooling in Australia. At Koonung, we use NAPLAN to identify the learning growth and needs of our students in the key 21st Century skills of Literacy and Numeracy. I am proud of how well our students performed during the NAPLAN testing as the online aspect did not always run smoothly this year. Our students showed a positive attitude towards the testing, and a deep resilience when the online aspect didn’t always work. This is a testament to their hard work and dedication to their education and personal growth.
I also want to acknowledge the recent Parent/Student/Teacher conferences, which were held back on-site. It was fantastic to see our College community come together and engage in meaningful conversations about our students' progress.
Throughout the term, we have had many successful College events, such as the Year 7 BBQ, Swimming Carnival, Cross-Country, and District Swimming, Information Evenings for Years 9 to 12 and a return to a full excursions program for students in all Year levels. I love seeing how our students and staff interact at events such as the Swimming Carnival and Cross-Country, or events such as the fundraising for Valentines Day or the World’s Greatest Shave. As Principal it is great to see so many students, staff, and parents come together in support of our students’ growth.
I also want to acknowledge the success of our Year 7 Camp. It was a well-run three days in which our students were able to form connections and friendships that, for many of them, will be lifelong. The camp provided our students with an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, learn new skills, and develop their teamwork and communication skills. The camp complements the focus in Term 1 to support students to build relationships as they transition from primary school to secondary college. I am proud of our students for approaching the camp with such enthusiasm and making the most of the experience.
One of the highlights of this term was the positive start to our new VCE Vocational Major program. It has been fantastic to see our students undertaking TAFE courses and finding employment in various fields such as plumbing, building, hospitality, childcare, and sports coaching. The program has opened up many opportunities for our students, and I am excited to see how it progresses.
I am pleased to report that our students have been participating in the Victorian High-Ability Program Masterclasses. These classes challenge and engage our students, providing them with opportunities to explore their interests, expand their knowledge, and develop their skills. It is great to observe our students pushing themselves to achieve their full potential. This is just one activity in our overall approach of supporting students to achieve at their absolute best in their studies.
Another highlight of this term was the successful visit by students from Matsudo in Japan. These exchanges are a great opportunity for our students to learn about different cultures, develop their language skills, and form connections with students from around the world. I was impressed with how our students embraced this opportunity and engaged with our visitors, making them feel welcome and learning from them in return. A big thank you to the staff, students and families for supporting the visit from students from Matsudo.
In my first term at this school, I have noticed how embedded our school values of Excellence, Collaboration, Respect, Endeavour, Resilience, and Creativity are. The strength of our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Program has been evident in the way our students conduct themselves daily, both inside and outside the classroom. I am proud to be a part of a College that has such a positive culture.
The end of Term 1 also marks the final day in the impressive and outstanding career of Michael Kyrkou. Michael has been an educator and leader in schools since 1983, and has spent over 20 years in the Koonung community both teaching and supporting students academically, emotionally and socially, but also leading, mentoring and coaching countless teachers through his various roles, wisdom and interactions. Michael retires at the end of this term having exceptionally served the Koonung community and we wish him all the best with his retirement.
Finally, I would like to thank all our teachers, staff, and parents/carers for their hard work and dedication to our College's success during Term 1. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable break, and I look forward to seeing you all back for another successful term on Wednesday 26 April when students return.
Andrew McNeil
Principal