Assistant Principals' Reports

Simon Jones

Assistant Principal - Senior School

First term is always a busy one and this year has been no exception. Senior students have settled into their classes well and the Freshstart program at the end of 2021 helped to facilitate a smooth start to the year as students were already familiar with their classes and teachers. Already this year we have completed College photos, the swimming carnival and athletics carnival. 

Progress reports can now be accessed on the Compass portal. We urge students to address any concerns that may be highlighted on them at this early stage, as falling behind can lead to a cumulative effect that can become a major hurdle unless remedial action is taken. Students need to make the effort to address overdue work immediately and can seek support from their teachers if required. I also encourage parents and carers to book a time with teachers at the upcoming parent-teacher afternoon on the 4th of April. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and to discuss progress and improvement strategies face-to-face.

I also remind parents and students that after school classes are held every Wednesday and Thursday in the Library and are available to all year levels. These classes are an excellent opportunity for students to complete work or do further study with the assistance and support of subject specific teachers. 

Andrew Wynne

Assistant Principal - Junior School

What a great start to 2022! After two years of disruptions with students transitioning between on campus and home learning, it finally feels as if we have turned a corner towards some sort of normalcy and consistency.

Excursions are now being planned with some certainty, the school grounds are again buzzing with frenetic activity, musical performance nights, in school incursions and parent nights are again on the agenda. Shortly, our new Year 7 students will be attending the Phillip Island camp and I am excited to be able to participate in this important activity. In short, we are learning to live with COVID and I feel confident that school shutdowns are now a thing of the past. I have been amazed at how our students have adapted and pivoted with every challenge and I thank all parents for their hard work and support over these two challenging years.

On a personal note, I would like to wish the whole school well for the remainder of 2022 and beyond as I head off for extended leave prior to retirement. It has been a privilege to work with the students at Dromana College for over 20 years and as the Junior School Assistant Principal for the last 15 years. Although always challenging it has been a hugely rewarding period of my life and to be part of a school that has excelled and thrived is a personal highlight.

The relationships I have developed over 40 years of education on the Mornington Peninsula with students and their families are the reason why teaching is such a wonderful career. As a local living on the Southern Peninsula, I look forward to seeing the students I have worked with over so many years and hearing stories of their lives and reflect on our wonderful experiences at Dromana College.

Good Luck to all and have a great year!

Stephanie Pearce

Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

It has been a positive and productive start to the year with all students now settled and enjoying their classes for Term 1. Dromana College is committed to providing an extensive teaching and learning program that supports all students to pursue their passions, as well as exploring new interests in a supportive and challenging learning environment. This year we are proud to offer greater breadth in our Junior School curriculum with the addition of new subjects such as Women in Technology, Commerce and Global Politics. Our students can also access a wide range of extra-curricular programs that are offered adjacent to the school day. In 2022 we are excited to have over 300 students pursuing enhancement in athletics, journalism, musical theatre, cycling and art amongst many others. 

Our collective focus for this year is learning. We pride ourselves on holding high expectations of all students and are in the process of implementing a whole school goal setting framework that will support students to set similarly high expectations of themselves. As part of this work, we were fortunate to have Elevate Education present to each year level at the start of the year in areas including study skills, memory and mnemonics, time management and exam preparation.  The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. An integral part of our high performing culture is that our students are equipped with the tools and strategies they need to be successful. 

Dromana College will be moving to NAPLAN Online in 2022. As part of this transition our Year 9 students took part in a Coordinated Practice Test in March to familiarise themselves with the digital literacy requirements of the new NAPLAN platform. I speak on behalf of the whole Year 9 team when I say how impressed we were with the behaviour and attitude of our Year 9 cohort. Every student upheld our college value of Personal Best and the results from early diagnostic tests in both literacy and numeracy are already a cause for celebration. We look forward with optimism to celebrating the growth and achievement of our Year 9 students again in May. 

I would like to give a special mention to the new staff that have joined our teaching team this year. They have already established great relationships with their classes, and I have every confidence they will have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of their students. Welcome!

As a school we are not returning to normal, but instead embracing a return to better. I think it is important that we find a way to leverage our experiences and learnings from the last two years to our advantage. I am always so reassured by the efforts of all members of our school community and I am motivated for a successful year onsite at our wonderful college.