Principal's Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

 

Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program 

The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars program is an academic enrichment program designed to support high-achieving Victorian and select New South Wales and South Australian border school students in realising their full potential. The program provides access to events, activities and resources to give students a head start into university. Congratulations to Victoria Vasilenko, a Year 10 student in 2019, who was successful in achieving one of the Melbourne University scholarships into this program which will run for the duration of Victoria’s VCE studies at Mordialloc College.  There were over 1600 applications received so a fantastic achievement for Victoria!!

 

Sports Excellence Program (SEP) 

We look forward to launching our Sports Excellence Program (SEP) next year for our 2020 Year 7 students who applied and have been successful in their application to participate in either the Netball, Basketball or AFL program within their Physical Education class time, and one before school class each week starting at 7.30am. We have elite accredited coaches on staff for AFL and basketball, however, we will be utilising the services of the Inspire Sports group for our netball program and are excited to have them on board to support our program. In 2021, the program will extend into Years 7 & 8, in 2022 Years 7-9 and so on.

 

Senior School Parent Information Nights

On Monday 25 November we held our Year 10 2020 Information Night for parents and students. There was a positive turn out on the night and it was pleasing to see many parents engaged with their child’s entry to Senior School and wanting to learn more about our expectations and also about the work experience process. They received important information about the very popular Year 10 camp to Queensland and the Work Experience Program. Thanks to Year 10 Coordinator Josie Stephens, Director of Senior School Joanne Greenhalgh, Assistant Principal Andrew Moffat and Pathways Coordinator Emma White, and all staff who attended to meet our parents.

On Monday 18 November we held an information night for our VCE/VCAL parents and students in Year 11 and 12. Parents and students heard briefly from our Year 11 Coordinator Aaron Davis and Year 12 Coordinator Tim Randell on the expectations for these year levels. The main focus of the night was a presentation to parents from Elevate on how they can support students' study habits in VCE. It was a highly engaging session and parents found it most worthwhile, not only for supporting their child but also gaining some tips that can be applied in their own work environments.

 

Orientation Day

All of our new students starting next year in Year 7 will be having Orientation Day on Tuesday 10 December. This is a wonderful opportunity to make some new friends, become more familiar with the College and get to know the Year 7 teaching team. My thanks to all staff involved in running or supporting this program, especially our Year 7 Coordinators Laura Gorman and Julia Hockey; and Director of Middle School Daniel Williams. As in previous years, we are running a special transition program in the lead up to this day for students in Grade 6 identified as at risk in transitioning to secondary school. This is being run over two days this week by our Wellbeing team and Peer Support student leaders. This program has been so important in ensuring Orientation Day isn’t so daunting to them (and, of course, the start of the next year).

 

Awards Night

We look forward to Awards Night next week on Thursday 12 December. All families should have received a letter regarding the arrangements for the day with some staff and students involved with Awards Night rehearsals at the City of Kingston Town Hall from 9am-1pm. The rest of the school will continue with their Headstart program with an early dismissal at 1.30pm to allow for final Awards Night preparations. A reminder Awards Night will start promptly at 7pm. My thanks must go to Peter Walters and Catherine Boulton for all their work in putting the evening together for us and to all of my teaching staff who have an allocated role on the night to ensure the effective running of this significant event.

 

Last few weeks’ arrangements and Reports

Congratulations to all students for their positive engagement with our 2020 Headstart program to date. A reminder to parents that the 2020 Headstart program concludes for Years 11-12 students on Friday 6 December and for students in Years 8-10 on Friday 13 December. It is compulsory that all students attend school until the end of their respective Headstart program. From Monday 16 – Friday 20 December an alternative program will run for students in Years 8-9. If your child will not be attending during this week, please contact the College.

Semester 2 2019 reports will be available via the Compass Parent and Student Portals on Friday 6 December by the end of the day, and 2020 Headstart progress reports will be available on Friday 13 December by the end of the day. Please contact the College if you have any trouble accessing or if you would like a hard copy. I hope parents take the opportunity to discuss the report with their student/s including appropriate actions to put in place to address any areas for improvement highlighted.

 

Ms. Michelle Roberts

Principal