Principals Report

Wow, what a first term it’s been!  It’s not surprising that we’re all feeling a bit tired and no doubt ready for the break when you look at the volume of activity across the College.  We’ve had our new Year 7s settle in and enjoy Welcome Week and camp, and at the other end of the school years our Year 12s have been non-stop with their learning and assessments and also settled in with their camp in the first week of term.  We’ve run NAPLAN for our year 7 and 9 students over a 2-week period, had multiple camps and excursions go out, as well as numerous sporting teams represent the College.  Our Year 11s were busy with dance lessons after school and showed off their skills at the Presentation Balls in mid-March and our Year 10s have started preparing for Work Experience next term. 

We’ve also seen our new College Captain team whole-heartedly embrace their roles by presenting at assemblies, information sessions and College Tours and our newly appointed Student Representative Council (SRC) have approached their role with enthusiasm and a desire to get lots of initiatives underway.  Additionally, our Production Team is in full swing ready to put on an amazing show in just a few months. It really has been a fantastic term of learning and enrichment.

On the 16th March we held the College Investiture Ceremony where we presented our Year 7 scholarship recipients, SRC, College Captains and the Ray Ohlsen Perpetual Scholarship. This was a wonderful evening and well attended by recipients and their families.  I was particularly glad that Ray’s family were able to join us to present the scholarship in their late husband/father’s memory.   We were treated to a performance by Keyanah Butcher who sang a number from Freaky Friday, the 2023 College Production. I would like to thank Hazel from Gisborne Cottage Flowers for donating the beautiful floral table display for the evening. It was one of those events on the calendar that gives you a warm fuzzy feeling. 

With a change in timing this year our Year 11 students have already undertaken 12 hours of dance lessons and had their special night on the dancefloor with not one but two Presentational Balls held in mid-March (our 2023 Yr11 cohort is so large, we ran two events this year).  It’s always lovely seeing our young people learning and performing these traditional dances – a rare opportunity in this day and age.  I’ve no doubt they all enjoyed themselves and going by the big smiles and general vibe on both nights, all family and friends did also. 

I would like to congratulate all students who participated in the NAPLAN tests during March.  These can be daunting but we try to approach these with a sense of calm and that they’re just another part of the curriculum and school routine.  I’m happy to report that we had a high participation rate and all students approached the tests positively.  Well done to all involved.

I would like to call out the amazing achievements of some of our current and past students.  Congratulations to Oliver J of Year 7 who recently competed in the Whip Cracking Titles in outback NSW and placed 3rd in his age group, Finn M of Year 9 for being selected in the Victorian Representative Team for Basketball and Ruby Watts (class of ’22) who has been drafted to Carlton’s AFLW team. Amazing achievements by these young people!  If you’re aware of other achievements of our students please let us know as we’d love to celebrate them.

Before signing off, I want to let you know that I am taking a period of leave for 6-weeks from the beginning of Term 2.  During this time Russell Wigginton will be Acting Principal and Simone Moore will step into Russell’s Assistant Principal role.  I have complete confidence in their ability to lead the College during my absence so don’t hesitate to reach out to them if needed.

I wish everyone a safe and happy term and Easter break.

Sarah Rose, Principal