Principal's Report

Welcome back!

I’d like to welcome all students and staff for what hopefully will be an exciting and engaging 2020. In particular, I would like to welcome our 274 Year 7 students and their families who are new additions to the College community. Likewise to all our new students, throughout all year levels beginning their first few days at Wantirna College, let me say that you have made the right choice, you are attending an amazing school with excellent students, teachers, programs and facilities. I urge all students this year to strive to do the best, to collaborate and form strong relationships with their teachers, to get involved in many and varied extra-curricula activities and to look after each other. This school has a strong and close community and we will continue to endeavour to harness that to deliver strong and positive learning outcomes.

New staff

We have a number of new staff beginning with us this year and therefore I would like to welcome Juanita Blair (Leader of English), Yi Li (Leader of International Program), Leigh Webster, Harriet Robertson, Cathy Ferguson, Jeffrey Wang, Amber Thomson, Paula Grinbergs, Jonathan Skovron, Surya Ganesan, Sherry White, Michael Bellm and Maggie Murnane. Likewise I would like to welcome back the following staff who have returned after various stints of family leave Alex Shephard, Ashleigh Benjamin and Rebecca Howell. All staff are looking forward to providing a rich and challenging learning experience for all students in 2020.

Facility Improvements

Thanks to our hard working facilities manager Chris Young, a number of important projects were completed during the holiday break. Importantly, air conditioners have been installed in all classrooms that previously didn’t have them. This has included an addition of approx. 40 new air conditioners. This project will considerably improve the conditions for learning especially on days like today where the temperature will exceed 40 degrees. Other projects of note include the completion of a wall in the Science and Language Centre that will prevent noise being transferred into adjoining classrooms, the painting of the two wood/metal technology rooms and the re-concreting of the path from the senior centre to the outdoor basketball courts. There are a number of other significant projects that will be completed this year and I will communicate their details in future newsletters. I would particularly like to thank and recognise those families that have paid the voluntary contributions and school fees. These contributions allow us to significantly improve and expand on the facilities and programs that we can offer. The air conditioner project is a great example of parent contributions directly impacting on improved learning experiences for our students.

Coronavirus update

As you would have seen in my previous communications, the Department of Education is taking significant steps to address concerns in relation to the virus including providing guidelines to schools on how to respond to students returning from travel in China. The advice specifically relates to students who live in or had travelled to Wuhan or Hubei Provence or students who had been in contact with someone who is diagnosed with the virus. I can confirm that neither of these circumstances apply to any of our students. We have taken a number of steps to ensure that all of our students and staff remain safe from being at increased risk of being exposed to the virus. I will continue to communicate any further developments or advice as soon as I receive them.

Kevin Murphy

Principal

College Year Book 2019

Unfortunately the College Year book arrived in the school too late for distribution last year.  It will be distributed to current students next week and Year 12 students at the alumni assembly which is coming up.  

Thank you to Mr Gene Easton and his team of students who worked on this project throughout the year.  It looks great and is a wonderful memento of 2019.

We understand the late delivery date is not ideal and as a result we are putting in place new processes this year to ensure it available for distribution before students finish school.

If you wish to buy a copy of 2019 or to order your 2020 copy please see Jacqui in the General Office.

Kevin Murphy

Principal