PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

I feel like I say it at the end of every term, but it is again, hard to believe we are at the end of term and that we have completed one quarter of the year. 

As a community this term, we have had a sustained focus on building relationships, especially amongst our younger students.  Our school values of Courage, Integrity and Community have been central to our conversation with students, as we continue to grow as a community.  We have been really pleased to see the strengthening of positive behaviours and attributes to learning this focus will certainly continue in Term 2.

It has been a very successful term across the board in so many ways, with co-curricular activities such as preparation for the State School Spectacular, instrumental music programs, open night, sport, alumni program presentations, camps, and excursions all back into the swing of things and even NAPLAN for our Year 7 and Year 9 Students. 

We have once again been able to enjoy the very many enriching activities of school life. These activities really help to create communities within community, and allow for our students and staff to make connections and bonds with their peers beyond their classes and across year levels. I think we all agree that the long-lasting memories of school stem from these types of events, and we encourage all students to engage with the many, varied opportunities on offer. 

Best wishes to students, staff, and families for a relaxing and enjoyable break over the holidays. I know I am very much looking forward to connecting with family and friends, hitting the gym to burn off the calories of the excess chocolate I will consume, reading a book, taking in a game or two of the footy and if the surf is good, watching and enjoying the Bells Beach Pro!

Kokoda Track Student Leadership Experience

I was so pleased to hear yesterday afternoon from our group of 16 students and 3 staff who have been trekking the Kokoda Track in PNG, that they had successfully completed the track and are enjoying some down time in Port Moresby before flying back to Australia and their families this afternoon. I’m sure the feeling of pride is shared by many within our community for this group for successfully conquering the third-most challenging trek in the world in a place that is so significant to so many Australians and families. I cannot wait to hear from the students and staff next term who have just experienced such a special experience together. A big thank-you to Nick Chudoschnik, Amanda Dickson and Ben Cook for leading and sharing this experience with our students.

Victorian School Sports Awards 2022

On Monday I was again an extremely proud Principal who was invited to attend the Victorian School Sports Awards hosted at the MCC Dining Room in Melbourne to acknowledge 34 students from across the state who had achieved outstanding success in their chosen sporting fields in 2022. 

Western Heights College and one of our feeder primary schools, Fyans Park PS, were the only schools outside Melbourne with students to receive awards. I was so pleased to sit with Tanielle Knight, who completed Year 12 in 2022, and her parents to see her receive the prestigious sporting blue award for achievements in basketball. Jobe Davies also received a sporting blue award for his outstanding achievements internationally in Football (Soccer) in 2022 with his parents and Principal from Fyans Park Primary School, Darlene Cameron, proudly watching on. Jobe is a current Year 7 student attending WHC in our SSP Soccer Program and Accelerate Learning Program. 

It was a wonderful occasion celebrated at the home of sport in Australia, the MCG, and we are very proud of both students, their families and support people for both Tanielle’s and Jobe’s achievements. We wish them every success this year as their journey into elite sporting pathways continues.

Sad news

Last week we were saddened to learn of the tragic passing of two of our former students. Ben Dines and Liam Moreland (Year 12 Class of 2020) tragically lost their lives in a road accident. We offer our deepest sympathy to their family, friends and loved ones during this very sad time.

State Team Selections

Congratulations to our Year 10 students Georgia Tyrrell and Addie Baars who were recently selected in the U16 Victorian Country Football Team. We wish them well in their up-and-coming matches. We also congratulate Maisie Corcoran and Nyapath Machot who were recently selected in the U16 Victorian Country Basketball Team to contest the National Championships in Perth later in the year. We also congratulate Fletcher Pulleine and Kye Kelly who have been selected as emergencies for their state respective teams - a fabulous achievement. We wish all students well and are very proud of their achievements. 

A big well done to one of our Head Basketball Coaches, Kaleb Sclater for being selected in the very prestigious National Young Emerging Coaches Scheme by Basketball Australia. Kaleb is one of the nation’s brightest and emerging basketball coaching prospects and we are proud of his selection into this program to continue to further develop his coaching skills which our students benefit from daily.

Term 2 Return Date

Term 2 for students will commence on Wednesday 26 April. The college will commemorate and acknowledge ANZAC Day with a full school assembly on the afternoon of Wednesday. Monday 24 April is a Teacher Professional Practice Day (staff attendance only) and Tuesday 25 April is a public holiday to observe Anzac Day.

Student Achievement – an invitation

Can I take this opportunity to remind the families of our school community that we are always willing to hear of and share the deeds of our students in their sporting, academic, performing arts or community-based pursuits external to our college. We have, on a regular basis, students who are involved in a quite extraordinary array of activities and it is always a pleasure and with great pride that we seek to share those outcomes with our wider school community. We are proud of our people and enjoy celebrating the achievements of our community.

Take care and be safe,

Fiona Taylor

Principal

Child Safety at WHC

Western Heights College is a child safe organisation committed to protecting students from all forms of abuse.

Our College has stringent protocols in place and endeavours at all times to be fully compliant with the Child Safe Standards set out under Ministerial Order 870.

Our College has the following documents and policies in place to achieve compliance with the Standards. All of these documents are available for downloading on our website or contact the school for a copy. 

1.       Commitment to Child Safety

2.       Child Safety Policy

3.       Child Safety Code of Conduct

4.       Child Protection Policy and Procedures

Annual privacy policy reminder for 2023

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.(found on the college's webpage)

Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice, found on our website. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents and carers on the webpage. This information is also available in 10 community languages:

* Amharic

* Arabic

* Dari

* Gujarati

* Mandarin

* Somali

* Sudanese

* Turkish

* Urdu

* Vietnamese.