Assistant Principal 

  7 & 8

BACK TO LALOR WITH GUSTO FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE

Despite the obvious challenges, our students and staff have returned to school with gusto! We thank our wonderful families for their assistance in ensuring a happy, safe, and exciting return to learning at Lalor Secondary College 2022.

Nowhere is this fabulous atmosphere better experienced than with the commencement of our new year 7s. This week marks completion of the week-long year 7 Orientation Program and by all accounts the program has been very well received by students and staff alike. Students are immersed in the culture, history, routines, and opportunities here at Lalor, and are set to spring into learning with positivity and aspiration for an outstanding education.

All staff really gave it their ‘all’ for the 16 revolving workshops and we thank you deeply on behalf of the children. The workshops were very demanding in planning and delivery and staff really embraced the opportunity to build connection and belonging for the students. 

Mr Garth and a merry team of supporters worked tirelessly last week and throughout to organise and schedule the new laptop computers prepared by our technology department and to deliver the roll out of new personal laptops to the kids as part of their orientation program. We are all very excited, but none more than our young students that can hardly believe their luck at taking home a beautiful computer to aid their learning.

Ms Stipcevic and art teachers were again run ragged (!) with the kids’ creation of INCREDIBLE house banners. They are a triumph, and the kids firmly believe that we have the most vibrant house program imaginable - an expectation for us to live up to which I know we will as we approach athletics day.

Many of the workshops collected valuable information about the  students as people, and allowed them to express themselves, their ideas, hopes and dreams. This information will be gold for our relationship building as we continue into the year.

I can’t help but to touch on the beauty of the panel provided by our longest serving staff for the benefit of the newest members of our community. The grace, insight and warmth of their legacy deeply touched the kids. Hosted magnificently by two of our year 8 leaders, our longest term staff painted a picture of how education has changed over the years, what they love about education, and provided some timely tips for the newest members of our community. The event was joyous, hilarious and soul-searching. A highlight was the presentation by Glenys Williams, a veteran of over 40 years at our college, whom we welcomed back from retirement to talk to our youngest students about daily life in days gone by – the ‘dunny out the back, with strips of newspaper for paper’, milk bottles delivered by horse and cart,  boiling up the copper, and the old chalk slate….this was mesmerising for the children.

Our new students are universally thrilled at the prospect of commencing their classes tomorrow as they feel they already have a substantial connection with our college. They are eager to live, to learn and to grow as young people. And they are passionate.

As one of our kids said during a workshop, ‘It’s amazing what we can achieve if we work together’.

For families eager to see why Lalor Secondary is such a school of choice, come along to our Discovery Expo  at 5pm on Tuesday 15th March. You’ll be glad you did.

Tim Cottrell

Assistant Principal

Junior School