Northcote High School Newsletter

School Council Update

Dear Northcote High families and friends,

 

It’s been a busy time for School Council in recent months and we would like to update you on some important matters.

 

 

COVID-19 Vaccinations

The Northcote High School Council strongly encourages eligible parents, staff, and students to take advantage of the opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as available, and to discuss any concerns with their GPs. 

 

This will help get students back to onsite learning as soon as possible and minimise any further disruptions to students' education. It will also lower the risk of transmission between students and school staff, lessen the dangers to those with vulnerabilities or health conditions, and enhance the safety and wellbeing of the whole school community.  

 

 

School Principal – departure of Sue Harrap

We would like to recognise and express our gratitude for the significant work and input of Sue Harrap in her three years as Principal at Northcote High School. Sue has been a passionate and enthusiastic leader of our school and some of her achievements include (just to name a few!):

  • Tireless promotion of our school building needs and advocating for capital funding
  • Rollout of the junior years’ Northcote Model
  • Establishment and implementation the School Improvement Team
  • The implementation and rollout of the Thrive Empower Fund to assist students and families in financial hardship and Innovate Fund to finance student-led projects
  • Led the school through the challenges of the move to online teaching and learning and various technology upgrades and digital learning platforms
  • Supported and encouraged the student-led process to renaming school house ‘Batman’ to ‘Cooper’
  • Support and development of our International Student program.

On behalf of the school community, we thank Sue for her leadership and diligence and her enthusiasm for Northcote High over the past years. We wish her all the best in her new role as Principal at Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School.

 

 

Principal Selection

School Council will now work with the Department of Education and Training (DET) to seek a new Principal for Northcote High.

 

We are very pleased (and grateful!) that Chris Jones has agreed to continue as Acting Principal into term 4.

The process (and timing) for selecting a new school principal is subject to strict DET process and protocols and broadly includes the following:

  • There are six compulsory criteria that applicants must respond to, and we are in the process of finalising an additional community criterion, which provides an opportunity for the school council to frame a criterion informed by the specific context and leadership needs of the school.
  • Once the selection criteria have been finalised, we will advertise the role for a period of at least 2-3 weeks.
  • A selection panel will be finalised and will include the DET Senior Education Improvement Leader for our region, president of school council, an elected parent-member of school council, an elected staff representative from the school and another practising school principal with relevant experience (not from our local region).
  • Once received, applications are reviewed by the selection panel and a shortlist is decided.
  • Shortlisted applicants are interviewed and, if School Council approves of the successful applicant, it will provide a recommendation that the nominated person is appointed to fill the vacant principal position.
  • The DET Secretary will consider the recommendation made by the school council and either accept or reject the school council’s recommendation.

If we are successful in appointing a new school principal, that person’s likely start date will be term 1, 2022. We look forward to updating the school community in due course.

 

Building progress

School leadership and School Council are working with Kerstin Thomspon Architects, the Department of Education and the Victorian Schools’ Building Authority to finalise the school masterplan and identify our priority project for the funding we received in the State Budget 2021-22. This builds on the feedback we had from the school community in term 2.  We look forward to sharing this with the school community in the coming months.