Principal's Report
VCE RESULTS
Congratulations to our students on their outstanding VCE results.
Our College Dux is Isobel Jermieson, with an ATAR of 90.2. As a school we are proud that we have improved our Median VCE study score to 28.
Amongst the outstanding results, we also achieved above the State mean study scores for Maths Methods, Biology, Further Maths, VET Sport and Recreation, Information Processing and Visual Communication and Design. Additionally 40% of students achieved an ATAR rank in the top third of the State.
We wish all of our students, both VCE and VCAL, all the best with the tertiary offers process and their future endeavours. Thank you to all of the Year 12 teachers for their work with the Class of 2017.
FAREWELL TO STAFF MEMBERS
On Friday, we will say goodbye to a number of staff members. We thank them for their commitment and contribution to our school community and for their teaching and support of the students during their time at the College. We wish all of these staff members the very best in their future endeavours;
Josian Gaszik, Rachel Gramm, Francesca Rutherford, Daniel Shepley, Peter Buszko, Stephanie Woodroof, Chantelle Gianinotti, Catherine Czarnecki, Andre Bernardi, Karen Docherty and Maria Mulholland
The following staff members will be taking extended leave in 2018. We wish them all the best and look forward to their return;
Iva Belfiore Family Leave – Semester 1
Paull Meager Long Service Leave – Semester 1
Jenny Campbell Long Service Leave – Semester 1
Sharyn Niclasen Long Service Leave – Semester 1
Sue Davison Long Service Leave – Term 1
Jennifer Taylor Long Service Leave - February
2018 HIGH EXPECTATIONS
In 2018, we will have a relentless focus on High Expectations around student aspirations, learning, achievement, uniform and standards of behaviour.
As our motto states we “Strive for Excellence” and in striving for excellence we need to have a culture of High Expectations supported by actions.
STUDENT LEARNING
High Expectations in the classroom means that teachers will enable students to experience success by using different approaches that take account of and build on student’s strengths, interests and abilities. Students are expected to come to every class ready to learn, with their books, computer and required equipment. It is expected that all students complete any set holiday homework so they are ready to begin the year at the right place of learning. Enabling every child to experience success by using different approaches that take account of and build on children’s strengths, interests and abilities.
VCE STUDENTS – “At School All Day Every Day”
In 2018, all VCE students will be at school all day, every day. Students with study periods will be supervised in the study centre. The roll will be taken and expectations of behaviour in the Study Centre will be developed by the students with the Senior School teachers. This expectation guarantees an extra 250 minutes of learning time for our VCE students, where they can complete homework, study for SACs, meet with teachers and collaborate with peers. VCAL students will continue to have two days off campus and VET students will continue to have time off campus for late classes. Additionally, all VCE and VCAL classes will have a teacher allocated when the regular teacher is absent. This strategy supports our High Expectations of our senior students.
UNIFORM
To support our High Expectations, we ask families to ensure that they provide correct and complete school uniform for their children, to be worn, from day 1 of 2018. When we refer to “uniform” this includes the wearing of non-approved garments and jewellery items.
We will be contacting families immediately if students are out of uniform and implementing sanctions including confiscation of non-approved items.
RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOUR
The overarching theme of our focus on High Expectations is to help students to take personal and communal responsibility for prosocial behaviour. Respectful behaviour is the lynchpin to ensure that we have a positive climate for learning. We will be responding immediately to non-compliance and behaviour that breaches our standards. We will also provide students with examples of expected behaviours to help them modify their own behaviour.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
2017 has been a challenging and exciting year for the College. As the Principal, this year, it has been a privilege to be a part of our great school community and I look forward to working with the school community in the years to come to grow our school.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge the work of the entire school community this year and I wish all students, parents, families and staff a safe and happy holiday season.
Ms Pauline Barker
Principal