Assistant Principal (Years 7-9) Report 

Dear students, parents and guardians,

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the students on your dedication to your studies this Term and the support given from your parents and guardians. Year 7s, you have taken a huge leap into Secondary College and shown bravery, care and dedication to your start and studies here at Westall. Well done!

Our new staff to the College have made a seamless transition and supported our young people in their growth and development. Our new teaching staff have begun our Professional Learning modules from our Westall Institute of Teaching. All teaching staff and provided with 75 minutes each week to collaborate with each other, developing best practice and aligning their teaching and learning strategies to consistent practices we have at Westall, such as the Explicit Direct Instruction Model and the Westall Way Positive Behaviour Framework.

Last week we held our Westall Expo to provide prospective students and families and opportunity to explore our school in action and see a snapshot of the wonderful opportunities at Westall Secondary College. I am extremely grateful to work with a team of dedicated staff and students who worked together to showcase our College. Thank you for all your contributions and I look forward to following up with families who attended the Expo.

WELLBEING AT WESTALL

Wellbeing has been recently recognised by the Department of Education as crucial and valued of equal importance to learning. Wellbeing is the development of the capabilities necessary to thrive, contribute and respond positively to challenges and opportunities of life. 

Westall Secondary College has a team working together to help strengthen the wellbeing of each and every student here at Westall. We have a dedicated wellbeing team, including a Wellbeing Coordinator (Jo Kuzma), Mental Health Practitioner (Meaghan Morley), an Adolescent Health Nurse (Christalia Formoso), a Youth Worker (Tia Junior) and 3 therapy dogs. We also have a support team within each sub-school that can notice and inquire about students’ wellbeing, including a Director of Learning, Year Level Coordinator and Extra Support Staff. We all work together to plan and implement a Wellbeing Program that is contextualised to our school, to help strengthen students’ overall wellbeing both inside and outside of school. Over the next 2 Terms each student will be involved in 6 wellbeing workshops to help strengthen their skills and capabilities in self-care, resilience, online behaviour, attendance and sleep hygiene. 

There are some great resources available on the Department of Education with guidance to help strengthen your child’s mental health and wellbeing at home, and how to work with your school and seek help if you have concerns. Click on the link below to explore the toolkits available. 

Mental health and wellbeing toolkit for parents and carers: https://www.vic.gov.au/parents-mental-health-toolkit

I hope you all have a lovely break over the holidays and look forward to seeing you all back in Term 2!

Ms Alice Paget

Assistant Principal