Associate Principals' Report 

Student Voice and Leadership Opportunity

As has been mentioned previously this year, Fairhills is continually looking to make improvements to the school.  We are reviewing how things have occurred in the past and a key part of this process is listening to the views of our students and wider community. We are committed to implementing change based on the needs of our students.  We want to make Fairhills a safer, more positive and orderly learning environment.

As part of these improvements we want students to take on a greater leadership role within the school. This term we will be looking to regenerate the Student Representative Council (SRC) with students from each Year Level being given the chance to nominate for a leadership position. Being selected as a student leader is not just about attending SRC meetings – we want to develop the skills and abilities of each student leader. These leaders will need to be talking to and listening to their community, be able to clarify the issues of the students they represent and advocate on their behalf.  Student leaders should have an increased sense of responsibility to help others and to model leadership principles and values.  

Student Voice is not simply about giving students the opportunity to communicate ideas and opinions; it is about students having the power to influence change. We have already used the feedback from student forums last term to influence changes to a new teaching and learning model we are building at Fairhills. The Fairhills community will also be aware of discussions around improvements to the uniform, that will continue to include student voice as a key part of the process. The school is also looking to make improvements to our timetable structure and curriculum offerings. Student voice and leadership will play a key part in these important developments.

I would urge all students to consider the opportunity to take on a leadership role within the school and help drive the changes to make Fairhills High School a better place for all. Something that many of us had hoped was finished with, but again we found ourselves as a school community in the situation of having to move into remote learning mid-way through the term. 

Paul Donaldson

Associate Principal 

Instructional Model

Welcome back to staff, students and parents after our latest lockdown.  After speaking to staff and students, I can confidently state that everyone is pleased to be back at school and relieved that some sense of normality has returned to our lives.

We are pleased to share the school’s new FHS Instructional Model with our community.  Although it has taken some time to refine, we are all pleased with the final result.  The Model aims is to share best practice amongst our teachers, and it provides guidelines to inform students of requirements of the stages of the learning process.  Staff have worked collaboratively to create this document.  The Model, seen below, will soon appear in all the classrooms, and it will become an important part of further improving the teaching and learning at Fairhills High School.

I encourage our community to examine the Model and provide feedback.  Your opinions are important to us.  

Karen Dean

Associate Principal