Assistant
Principal Report
2021 is disappearing quickly and in less than a month Christmas will be upon us! There is a lot going on at the College as the school year fades away, but I would firstly like to congratulate our Class of 2021 who have now finished all their exams and coursework which was celebrated at a recent formal arranged by Miss Paris Hardwick. It was a really nice way to thank and send off the students.
This week our Year 10 and 11 students completed their final examinations for 2021. At the end of the exam period students began their Head Start program where they have started their 2022 subjects. This year our Head Start program has been condensed to one week and is inclusive of a range of activities and guests coming in with their aim to engage and inspire students, develop their sense of team, begin careers and pathways planning, develop life skills and to promote a relational approach to teaching and learning. It is really important for our young people to emerge from the shadows of the pandemic which is why our ‘2021 Head Start’ program has a wellbeing and engagement focus as well as specific subjects.
Activities include participating in an escape room challenge, MasterChef, Careers Action Plan, an Amazing Race within our community which will be preceded with a BBQ lunch at Henley Park (free of charge). We also have renowned positive educator, John Hendry OAM, spending an afternoon with the students focused on careers, resilience, and positive self-regard. The Local Learning and Education Network (LLEN) will also be spending an afternoon with the students to hone-in on their financial literacy. It is very important that students attend the whole week of ‘Head Start’ classes to be a part of this experience and to begin their 2022 studies.
VCAL Happenings
Last Friday Alan Ryan’s calf leading project came to fruition with students from Apsley Primary School competing with our own students in a calf leading competition. Due to the Edenhope Show being cancelled, Robyne Rainsford and Jane Francis coordinated a competition which was held onsite at the College. It was fantastic to see a number of parents and show officials come to see the hours of work that the students had put into the calves and for the students leading, it was great to get some reward for their efforts. Alana plans on expanding her project next year as she begins her Senior VCAL studies.
In Term 3 Nathan Perks had planned and organised for a Canteen service at the Kowree Sports Day which was halted due to the pandemic. He hadn’t given up on it and the Canteen service will now be operating on our Transition Day. Students from Edenhope College and St. Malachy’s have ordered an assortment of pies, pasties, sausage rolls and dim sims. Although Nathan will be officially finished for the year, he and some of his peers, are returning to school to ensure he completes this project.
As a VCAL class we have also been working hard to redevelop the Agriculture classroom. We have emptied and cleaned it, in readiness for us to paint it in the coming weeks. The class worked together to choose the colour scheme, which included researching and choosing the best flooring option for the room. It will be fantastic to have a clean, fresh and workable space for our Ag students as we continue to promote the subject.
Transitions
The past few weeks we have seen students onsite from the Kinder and St Malachy’s Primary School to participate in a range of transition activities. It is important for our young people to participate in transitions as they begin a new chapter of their lives. The recent full day transition for our 2022 Year 7 class was followed up with a parent information evening. It was fantastic to meet and greet the parents and share with them where we are moving as a College.
College Updates for 2022
We have a number of new initiatives and programs we will be unveiling in 2022 aiming to provide our young people with multiple exposures to a host of new experiences. As has been previously mentioned we will continue to work with our cluster partners in Balmoral and Goroke, to host sporting activities and experience camps together giving our young people the ability to socialise and engage with a larger student cohort. There will also be the introduction of an Interschools equestrian team, a Job Camp for senior students, quad bike training, and we will also be putting together a Field and Game shooting team. It is an exciting time here at the College and we will continue to look for opportunities for all our young people.
Chad Frost
Assistant Principal